Navy Lt. Michael Murphy I Salute You

This is me after, MURPH, the Memorial Day workout we did today in honor and memory of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy. He made the ultimate sacrifice for our country on June 28, 2005, when he was killed in Afghanistan.

This work out was one of his favorites, and although he referred to it as "Body Armor," it has been renamed "Murph" by the Crossfit community in order to honor the man, the soldier, the brother, the son, the one who represents so many of our soldiers that we remember and give thanks for on days like today.

Murph consists of a 1 mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 air squats, and another 1 mile run. The last time we did this WOD, I completed it in 77 minutes and 27 seconds. I did supine ring rows as my pullups and also did my pushups with my knees on the ground. Today, I did red band assisted pullups and FULL body weight pushups, no knees. I completed the day in 75:25. Not bad for a 40 year old wife and mother of two. Not bad at all for a hot mess.

It doesn't matter how strong or weak you think you are...YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW. You will never know the power that lies within you until you give it a try. You will never run a mile if you don't get up and start running. You will never do a pullup if you don't hop up on a bar and try one. You will never do a full body pushup unless you drop to the ground and try. The point is TRY!! You are stronger than you think you are! I know I am, and guess what? I am getting even stronger.

25 pounds lost, so far, since I started this blog...25 pounds...2 clothes sizes...around 15 inches...and it's only the beginning. In addition to my successes, I have seen many people, just like me, that are doing the same thing. I watch them everyday do what they never imagined they would ever do. They are doing it because they tried! So, whatever your "hot mess" looks like, GET UP and GET MOVING!!! It's about being crazy strong.

Today while I was running the last mile of "Murph," I thought about walking the last 1/2 mile. Then, I thought about Navy Lt. Michael Murphy. He never quit, he never said never, and he paid the ultimate price for this country. I began to pick up speed and completed the run while praying for his family, where ever they are today, remembering their loved one. It reminded me of the faithfulness of God to me and my family. Thank God today, and everyday, for your blessings.

Visions of Sugar Plums

I have finally made it through three entire weeks of eating the "paleo" way, as well as sticking to my Crossfit workouts. YAY!! I have dropped 7 pounds and lost 2 inches in my waist and 2 inches in my hips...IN THREE WEEKS! I would love to pat myself on the back, but I am quickly realizing that this is a marathon and not a sprint. I have discovered that this is a way of life for me and not just a six week program.

Since I have given up bread, sugar, grains and dairy I have seen significant changes in my body. I have seen significant changes in my work capacity. And, most importantly, I have become more energized and I am sleeping better. Being a stay home mom does not lend itself well to sleep depravation. :) Instead of choosing a cupcake, I choose an apple. Instead of having pasta with my spaghetti sauce, I use spaghetti squash. Instead of cooking potatoes or rice, I cook delicious vegetables.

Also, since I have given up all the comfort foods that were making me feel bad, something strange has happened. Wait for it...wait for it....wait for it. I am DREAMING of eating sugary foods and bread. HAHA!! I wish I could say that this was not the case, but I dream, specifically, of sugar and bread. I am actually eating and enjoying these foods in my sleep. I don't really know what that means. I'm sure any of you psychologists can diagnose me. :) I have bragged to all my friends that I have lost my cravings for sweets since I began eating this way. I guess if I get to dream of eating them, it's just like I have eaten it, right? haha!

So, here's to all of you out there that have "visions of sugar plums" dancing through your dreams at night. OR, maybe it's just me. But in any case, here's to you as you get crazy strong!

I am going to be posting some recipes as several of you have requested. So, here goes the first one...it's YUMILICIOUS!

Roast Chicken and Veggies

1 whole chicken

1 lemon, quartered

1 head of garlic, just cut the top off with a sharp knife...careful!

1 onion

a few squash

a few zuchinni

mushrooms

1 parsnip (you can sub carrots if you want)

fennel (optional) I just love it :)

salt and pepper to taste

Chop your veggies in nice size pieces...not too small. They are going to roast for about an hour or so.

Layer the bottom of a roasting pan with you veggies and season with salt and pepper.

Stuff your chicken with the lemon and the head of garlic (if you don't like garlic, just omit)

Place the chicken on top of the veggies, baste with a little olive oil for beautiful browning.

Cook in the oven on 425 for about an hour and a half, depending on the size of your chicken.

This is so yummy! My kids love it and I have also made it when we had friends for dinner because it is also a beautiful dish!

Here's to our health!!!

Max Effort = Max Day

What a great day to be me! I went into The Box today, enjoying the sunshine, and then...my trainer says, "We're gonna start finding your max efforts today." What that means is, we are going to find out just how heavy you can lift on certain types of weight lifting techniques. I had not geared myself up for that, but I'm always willing to do whatever - try whatever. I guess that is what makes me a good student. I just say, "OKAY," no matter how ridiculous or unattainable the task.

So, today...was back squats, push press, and dead lifts. Well, I am very proud to say that my max back squat is 185 pounds. I really wanted 200, but I guess that will be for another day when I am stronger/leaner...but I will get there. A push press is simply lifting weight above your head. Haha...SIMPLY. Boy, that is an understatement. My max push press is 90 pounds. And finally...drumroll please...my max dead lift was 240 pounds!!! That's right ladies and gentlemen, 240 pounds. Just one month ago, it was 220 pounds and a couple months before that, 185 pounds. So, I am improving and I am improving fast.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not tooting my own horn so loud that I am blind to all the things I have ahead of me that still aren't quite there. I look forward to the day when I can one unmodified pull up, or do a full muscle up that is all me, no modifications necessary. But, today was a big day for me and I am going to enjoy! That is, enjoy it, until I am back in the Box on Monday getting a wakeup call that makes this day just what it will be...yesterday.

So, I say all this to say that it doesn't matter where you are or where you THINK you are in the quest for health and strength. If you make the time, results will follow and before long you will be looking at yourself differently. That person you look at in the mirror is becoming, more and more, the person you knew was in there all along. And he/she is pretty fabulous and, oh yes, crazy strong!!

Who Would Have Thunk It?

"Nobody Trains to be Runner Up" is my way of motivating myself these days.

It has been a long time since this "hot

mess" has updated the blog. I've been lazy, busy, etc., etc.! Lazy and busy sounds like an oxymoron, I know. When you have a man that travels, any given day comes with it's own set of challenges. But, I am getting back on track with the posts. It keeps me accountable to know that all 2 of you that are reading :) at least can hold me to my word.

I have been at this crossfit thing for a little over 6 months. When I began, there was so much I couldn't do. I felt weak and "less than" in comparison to my crossfit buddies. But, soon my weak and "less than" feeling turned into, "look what I did today?" Who would have thought that just last week I could be doing "this" in a weeks time. In my first month I did "Cindy." That is as many rounds as possible in

20 minutes of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats. I can't remember how many rounds I managed to squeak out. But today, 5 months later, I squeak out 12 rounds and I know that I can dead lift 165lbs for 3 rounds (21-15-9), adding in handstands. Now, I would say, that is improvement. I'm still no where near some of my crossfit buddies, but I am way ahead of where I began. That's what counts to me, now.

Last week I embarked on a new challenge. I am striving to eat "paleo" and get 27 WODS (workout of the day) done in 6 weeks. I have gotten off to a good start. I am almost "afraid" to stop, haha. I am the queen of taking a mile when given only an inch, so I have to be particularly hard on myself.

But, I am working on more than just my physical health and physical strength. I am also taking this 6 weeks to ask God to, "search me and know my ways..." to help me to get rid of those things in my life that don't bring honor to Him. I want to love God and love others extravagantly. I want to be a good steward and give honor through this life that is passing too quickly.

If you want to join me for 6 weeks, let's do this. Anything is possible! I love the words of the Crossfit gym in Del Ray, Florida, "If it ain't broke, break it!" I want to break down the old building and build a new one that is stronger in body, mind and spirit than the one in which I am beginning.

So, here's what I have done so far. I am going to post my workouts to this blog in order to stay accountable to myself. Enjoy or not...it doesn't matter to me. JUST DO SOMETHING! "If it ain't broke, break it."

Monday, February 22, I did Murph. Run 1 mile, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, run 1 mile. It took me 77 minutes and 31 seconds. Not an impressive time, but I finished. :)

Tuesday, February 23, I did J.T. 21-15-9, handstand pushups, ring dips, and regular pushups. This took me 17 minutes and 10 seconds.

Wednesday, February 24, I did Annie. 50-40-30-20-10 abmat situps and double unders. It took me 46 minutes and 13

seconds. Haha!! That is an awful time, :) but it took me that long to learn how to do a freakin double under. A double under is when the rope goes under your feet twice while jumping rope. Two times under one jump is a double under. I tore my arms up on this one too. When I would miss, the rope got my arm. It looked awful but did not hurt. I am not that much of a glutten for punishment. ha!

Thursday, February 25, was a rest day....AHHHHH. All I did was 40 hollow rocks and supermans extensions.

Friday, February 26, I did 2 WODS. I started with Diane, which is 21-15-9 165lb dead lift / handstand pushup. Diane took me 15 minutes and 42 seconds. But, I felt like I had more in the tank, so I did 12 rounds of Cindy in 20 minutes. It was a modified ring Cindy, but Cindy none the less.

Saturday, February 27, I did Helen!! Helen was a doozy. It is 3 rounds of a 400 meter run, 21 kettlebell swings, and 12 pullups. I used Rx wieght for my kettlebell swings which is 55lbs. It like to killed me. I finished in 25 minutes and 29 seconds.

I rested on Sunday...a real rest...NOTHING!! haha!

Today, March 1, I did Angie...100 pull ups, 100 pushups, 100 abmat situps, and 100 squats. It took me 25 minutes and 35 seconds.

WOW that is a lot. All my posts won't be crazy long, haha!!!

I'm not training to be a runner up!! This Hot Mess will just be Hot before long...hot and crazy strong!!!

You want me to do what?

As my quest of a hot mess has progressed and continued on for several weeks now, I am finding that I am becoming stronger and stronger. But there are still times when I look at the work out of the day that is expected of me and say to myself (and sometimes to my trainer), "you want me to do what? I'm sorry, but have you forgotten who you are dealing with? Me? WHAT?"

I had that same sort of feeling today. When I checked my crossfit trainer's blog for what I will be doing tomorrow, I saw that the workout has been named, Angie." Now I don't know who Angie is or why in the world this workout is named after her, but I am certain that I don't want to know. The work out is 100 pullups, 100 pushups, 100 situps, and 100 air squats...all for time. I laugh to myself thinking, "How long will this take me?"

But, what I have to remind myself of, is that when I began, I could hardly do 10 burpees without dying...I could only jump on a 12 inch tire and barely make that...I did pushups on my knees...I was no weight lifter by any stretch of the imagination...and I certainly had not done a handstand since I was a teenager.

Now, a mere 8-9 weeks later, I have done 50 burpees when required...I jump on a 20" box...I do full body pushups (for most workouts)...I max out at a 190 lb deadlift...I can front squat 115 lbs...AND for an added bonus, I can do a workout requiring handstands!!!

I say all this...not to blow the bugle in honor of my accomplishment...but to remind us all that it doesn't matter where you begin. I doesn't matter how "strong" or "weak" your perception of your strength is when you begin. It doesn't matter how much you weigh or how much weight you think you need to lose when you begin. The only thing that matters is that YOU BEGIN!

Beginning is the hardest part!! Changing yourself, changing your schedule, re-prioritizing, making time for your health, taking time to do the work to live longer and have a better quality of life...none of these is easy, but take it from me...IT'S WORTH IT. It is worth every bead of sweat.

I have so far to go and my quest will go on and on. But, it's my quest and it is continuing and will continue! How is your quest? My words for today...BEGIN!

DON'T give up!

There have been times in my life that I have begun this quest for health and strength. In every instance, every single time, without exception, I have come to question my choices to change. Thoughts and questions come to mind..."this is too hard!" "I am sick and tired of this!" "Is this really going to be for the rest of my life?" "No one understands how I feel." I need some chocolate!"

What makes these questions different for me now than before is that my goals are different. Before the goal had been just to get skinny, not to get healthy. The goal had been to get into those skinny jeans instead of setting an example of health for my kids. The silent voices in my head telling me to quit are still there, but there is another voice...a louder voice...saying, "You can't quit now! You have a new life, a new lifestyle, a new way of living."

As I was pondering these thoughts of quitting, I was reminded of Jesus and how He, too, wanted to quit. When He knew the cross was closer than ever, that sooner than later He would lose His life in the most excruciating way, He said, "if there is any other way...let this cup pass from me." However, in His clarity, with me and all of humanity in mind, He then said, "but not My will but Your will be done."

I am by no means comparing myself to Jesus or comparing my struggle for health to be in any way equal to His sacrifice on the cross. But, what I am saying is that it is refreshing for me and gives me great encouragement to know that in great PAIN and sacrifice there is great VICTORY.

So, I am going to take my cue from the dearest friend I have and not quit and not give up. The rewards far outweigh the cost. My health not only brings joy and strength to me...but to my husband and my children, my family and my friends.

Here's to us and here's to health! Life is worth living!! Go and be strong!

Strong in Mind

I have to admit, from time to time, I have been known to be a reality show junkie. I know those of you that know me well are saying, "FROM TIME TO TIME?!" Okay...I love reality television. I love Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Top Chef, etc. etc. etc. There is something about the human experience...the vulnerability and rawness of people pushing themselves and putting themselves out there without inhibition. I have watched Biggest Loser every season since the show began. Every year I watch and wonder WHY IN THE WORLD do these people CRY over a work out? REALLY? You are running, doing pushups, lifting weights...and CRYING? Seriously?

WELL...my criticism of those tear filled folks on their own personal quest got kicked to the curb today. I went to workout with my wonderful crossfit instructor Roger King. I arrive, look up at the workout board, to see what our work out of the day (WOD) would be. As I warmed up and began learning what would be expected of me for the next 40 minutes or so, I was inspired...confident. I felt strong...after all, I have been at this quest for 3 weeks now...today starts my fourth week...I am a beast!! It consisted of 10 man makers (go to crossfit.com and see that little piece of evil, ha), 45 walking lunges with 60 pushups, 20 knee ups hanging from a pull up bar, and then conclude the round with running. Then he says, "I want you to do 3 rounds of this WOD. This is intermediate for crossfitters." I soon felt a little weak in the knees...but still confident.

After 2 rounds I was at the end of myself...I wanted to quit. The old Dixi would have stopped, stroking my ego for a job well done, and gone and had a big pepperoni pizza as my reward. The new Dixi, the 3 week old Dixi, couldn't stop. I had to go on! I had to finish. So, with much determination...and TEARS!!!!!, can you believe it? TEARS!!!! I FINISHED!!! In 48 minutes and some seconds I finished. I cried through the entire 3rd round. But, at the end I was strong. I had pushed myself to a place that I had not pushed before. No longer was I judging the tears of those people on TV in their quest for strength and health. I was joining the ranks of people who have the intestinal fortitude to push...push hard...and birth something new...NEW STRENGTH!!!

So, I say all this to say DON'T QUIT your quest! When you find yourself in unfamiliar territory, push it out...be strong and courageous. You can do it! We can do it together. Most of this battle is mental. Be strong in mind and your body will follow. BE CRAZY STRONG!!!

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Duet. 31:6