Crossfit 90 Day Challenge - Day 5

Challenge Day 5:
3 rounds for time of:
15 Push-ups
15 Pull-ups (jump up, lower down)
30 Deadlifts, 40 lbs
30 Box jumps, 18 inch box

What I did: 13:18
3 rounds of...
15 Push-ups
15 Pull-ups (jump up, lower down)
30 Deadlifts, 20 lbs
30 Box jumps, 8 inch stair step

What I learned ....
I need to find something equivalent to pull ups on the machine down stairs or do rows or *anything* that will sub for pull-ups until I get a proper bar.  Trying on that weight machine is a little rough especially since it isn't made for pull ups - should be though, but it isn't :-/
Those deadlifts are *kill-er* - that was where I "wasted" a lot of time cause I had to slow down in order to get 30 of them!

Now if I could just start seeing the results that I'm feeling daily!!  OUCH!!  But in a good way!

A few fun snowmen ... to eat?

We've been eating snowmen in January!

Here are just a few ...

 

I forgot to take a photo ... Luckily Bean7 wasn't feeling up to eating so I snapped a shot of his portion that was left.  It's coming apart a little bit and a little squished from everyone taking their portion but you get the idea! :-D

This came from a combination of ideas...

I took this Buffalo Chicken Shepherd's Pie and made it into BBQ Chicken Shepherd's Pie

and took this topping for Beef Stew and put it on top of the Shepherd's Pie - using BBQ sauce instead of ketchup for the scarf.

 

 

Later we had Snowman Pizzas.

I took this idea for snowman pizzas and turned it into something our family could enjoy together.

Here's my gluten-free pizza...

And here is the mish mash pizza ;) just kidding ... Mr. Snowman does look a little odd but that's because we didn't have anymore dairy-free shredded cheese and I had to use slices for Bean8...

Then we also had Snow Cocoa (made with dairy-free milk) and used this sweet little snowman spoon idea to stir with :-D



 

What have you been up to?

Time for more Dishwashing Detergent

Thought I'd post this so that you can look back and see how long this one little batch of homemade dishwashing detergent lasted us .... just over a month!  I ran out last night so I've got to make some more TODAY because I'm hosting a class in my home tomorrow and the house is a wreck!

Here's the recipe again found at My Healthy Green Family:

1 cup washing soda (old recipe used baking soda)

1/4 c. citric acid (old recipe said 1/3 c.)

1/4 c. coarse salt (old recipe said 1/3 c.)

10-15 drops of citrus essential oil (Optional. Orange, grapefruit, or lemon essential oils have great cleaning as well as antibacterial properties.)

Here is where mine is a little different:
I used lemon kool-aid packets to equal 1/4 cup, 10-12 drops of Tea Tree Oil and 3 drops Oregano Essential Oil. Smells wonderful! Please click the link above to get the full set of instructions and the why's behind this particular recipe.

And yes, I've been using the orange vinegar as my rinse aid - I really like this combination!

Crossfit 90 Day Challenge - Day 4

Here is today's challenge...

Challenge Day 4:
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs
15 Crossfit sit-ups
50 Jump jacks
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs
15 Crossfit sit-ups
100 Jump jacks
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs
15 Crossfit sit-ups
150 Jump jacks
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs
15 Crossfit sit-ups
200 Jump jacks

What I did: 17:01!
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs (20 lbs)
15 Crossfit sit-ups
50 Jump jacks
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs (20 lbs)
15 Crossfit sit-ups
100 Jump jacks
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs (20 lbs)
15 Crossfit sit-ups
150 Jump jacks (did 20 counted to 10 quickly while stepping it out did 20 more repeat until 100 then repeated with 25 until 150 total)
5 Knees to elbows
10 Deadlifts,40lbs (20 lbs)
15 Crossfit sit-ups
200 Jump jacks (did 40 counted to 10 quickly while stepping it out did 40 more repeat until 200 total)

What I learned ... I need to get more weights!!  I only have the one 20 pounder and I haven't yet figured out if there is a way to do deadlifts on the machine we have downstairs. I also need a pull-up bar.

I haven't made my smoothie yet, but I'm getting up to do so right now!

Crossfit 90 Day Challenge ~ Day 3

First of all, some of y'all know that I was injured in the Corps.  I was told I'd never run again so just give it up after 3 years of physical therapy netted no improvement - 5% usage of the two muscles that were ripped from my hip without surgery.  I was told I would be in pain every day, not be able to walk for any type of distance without excruciating pain (just a regular trip to the grocery store had me crying by checkout), and that I would *never* run again - so just get used to it and learn a new way of life.
I tried for about 4 months before I couldn't take a sedintary lifestyle any longer.  So I started researching exercises to do without "walking or running" or lots of leg movements.  I settled on bellydancing which I had done while pregnant especially since it was supposed to be good for the hips and I knew it worked up a sweat which is what I really needed.  Long story short - within a few months I was walking around the grocery store with much less pain and not crying at checkout!  Big win right there alone.  Next I was walking quite a distance with little discomfort.  Next I was doing the slowest jog you've ever seen - 2 miles in an hour ... I never said I was fast, just that I was doing it!!  I felt pretty good when I got to running a mile in 20 minutes.  Not anywhere close to my Marine Corps standards but by golly I was doing what they said I would never do again!!  So imagine my excitment when I finally looked at my time below ....

The Challenge Day 3:
Run 800 meters
50 Squats
Run 800 meters
50 Crossfit sit-ups
Run 800 meters
What I accomplished: 25:26!!
Run 800 meters (this is a half mile (0.497) - I walked less than 30 yards when I started wheezing)
50 Squats
Run 800 meters (I jogged the ENTIRE way - going slightly slower netted no wheezing!)
50 Crossfit sit-ups
Run 800 meters (I walked less than 20 yards when I started wheezing again)
I would run my half mile, walk up my driveway, do the exercises inside the garage (which I don't do fast yet for I want to stay in good form), then walk back down my driveway before resuming my next half mile.  So by golly this means I was doing less-than-15 minute miles!!!  I checked the time only once and that was after I finished the squats and was walking back down my driveway - 7:56!!  So yeah, I'm happy ... and to think our oldest says I can't do this - does he not know I'm a Marine!?? ;-)

So I thought I'd also post my after workout shake I make.  I make "protein" shakes but I do not use protein powder at all - blech! :-x  Today's isn't as good because I completely forgot the spinach :-/ but you know what, I'll be just fine!~

1 banana
1/2 cup unsweetened, unflavored almond milk
1/2 cup filtered water
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 Tbsp organic peanut butter
2 Tbsp rolled oats
1+ tsp cinnamon

typically I would have had 1 tsp flaxseed meal and 2 cups spinach .... my morning was on a rush so I think I just forgot half my shake!

Crossfit 90 Day Challenge - Day 2

Here I am at Day 2 and barely able to use my arms to type this out!!  That's bad 'cause I have a lot of typing to get finished today lol!

Day 2 Challenge
3 rounds for time of:
7 Push-ups
21 Dumbbell thrusters, 10lb dumbbells

What I did:
3 min 55 sec
3 rounds of:
7 girl push-ups
21 Dumbbell thrusters, 5 lb dumbbells each hand

Crossfit 90 Day Challenge - Day 1

Perhaps I'll be able to keep up with this.  I have several things I really need to post - various recipes, various gadgets my honey got me, chicken updates, and so forth.... but it's been a killer month with school having started back - by the time I get used to it and under a good routine, it'll be time for finals and back to no school days for three and a half months!! (At which point you probably won't hear from me until Christmas break - that's how slammed I anticipate being between homework, studying, and simply keeping up with the children and the house.)

Anyway, the workout for today was probably not the best one to start with!!  But that's when I started so I did what I could.

In Crossfit, there is a workout of the day and you literally do it for time.  You can take as long as you need or do it as fast as you can (well the goal is to do it as fast as you can but sometimes you simply can't get those burpees any faster than one a minute lol... just kidding - sort of).  You see improvement by looking at your past times for that particular workout (for they repeat).  Our oldest doesn't think that my honey and I can do it.  I'm showing him differently - I felt like I was in the Corps again and it felt GREAT!  I loved it and only wish I had had more time to do it but I spent too much time looking at the videos and ran out of time.  Overall I worked out hard for 13 minutes... but as I said, I did not complete the workout.  Judging by the way things were going I think I could have finished in about 35 minutes.... which for my state of shape would have been excellent.

"Filthy Fifty"

 

For time:
50Jump rope

50 Burpees
50 Wall ball shots, 10 pound ball
50 Back extensions (supermans)
50 Push press, 20 pounds
50 Knees to elbows
50 Walking Lunges (50 steps)
50 Kettlebell swings, 15 lbs
50 Crossfit sit-ups
50 Box jump, 18 inch box


In 13 minutes I completed:
50 Jump Rope
15 Burpees
50 Wall ball shots (5 lb)
15 Kettlebell swings (10 lb)
50 Crossfit sit-ups (yes! Sit ups that I can actually do with my physical condition (from being in injured in the Corps I can't do most types of sit-ups))
50 Box jumps, 8 inches (my stairs)

I simply ran out of time and had to run out the door hence why I didn't finish.  Better luck next time!