Guilty Pleasures - CrossFit vs. Strength

This past year has been dedicated to focusing on and building a strength foundation.  During this past year, I did multiple strength cycles, and I loved it.  Initially it was very hard to go from a CrossFit gym to a lifting gym.  I had to sit on the bench and rest?  What?  Silly now, but the concept of being seated and resting was foreign to me.  The strength cycles were hard, they pushed me mentally and physically, they challenged me, I cried, experienced a multitude of frustrations, and all the while and eventually...acquired results.  This past month, I have committed back to CrossFit.  Now I am having the opposite feeling again!  I am questioning myself and my training, just like I did when I focused on lifting and getting stronger.  Now I am feeling lost for not being on a regimented strength program.  Really lost!  I absolutely love the camaraderie that CrossFit offers!  And fortunately at CrossFit Amundson, he programs strength days throughout the week...but...I am lost!  I am really however, enjoying conditioning again and getting my booty kicked by a workout.  In a perfect world, I guess I would be able to strength train in the morning and condition in the evening, but I am working...so how to remedy this dilemma....I am not yet quite sure.  Still searching....and feeling guilty while doing so...

Me Against Me

C2B Pull-Ups, aka Chest to Bar Pull-Ups

So this summer, after my adventures with Mel Mel in South America...I spent some more time with Mel Mel down in Newport Beach...over a week in Newport...a week at Orange Coast CrossFit, and a weekend at The Games.  Life was unbelievable....I even did Bikram Yoga in Costa Mesa at College of India at The Camp!  Love their studio...

Anywho, this summer...I could not for the life of me...do chest to bar pull-ups.  I remember training with two friends, and they were surprised that I couldn't do them, for how "advanced" I was, quote.

So last night in my training schedule, my coach had programed 35 C2B pull-ups...I didn't know if I could even get one!...so here's what happened...I got one...I flew up high and hit my chest!  I was so stoked...but I didn't get just one...I did a total of 40 C2B pull-ups!  No, not strung together...in small sets...let me have my moment, a PR is a PR, especially going from NO C2B pull-ups!  So so stoked!  Had more in me too :)

This came with regular weekly strict pull-up practice...usually totals of 35, now I do pull-ups twice a week, plus ring pull-ups, etc.

This could not come at a better time too...the week had been extremely trying on my soul after a disastorous and toxic work related meeting...

Love that quote I found...it's perfect...


Programming by Jocelyn Forest, Co-Owner with her husband, Kyle Haynes @ Santa Cruz Strength




CLEANS



CLEAN TECHNIQUE
PHOTO BY JOCELYN FOREST
SANTA CRUZ STRENGTH

Fancy that!

Just two weeks ago, I finally had a break through on my cleans, which transferred over as well to the snatch!

Breakthrough in a Nutshell:
Do you ever notice how Olympic lifters rock back into their heels in the set up position, right before the lift?

This is key.

I have been watching and observing my amazing friend lifters...they all are pretty amaZeballs, and they all ROCK back in their heels before the lift!

So what does this do?!

This rocking back into the heels creates tension on the bar...it loads the hamstrings and glutes!

This is so essential! Without it, you are extremely limited.

Now, it's a matter of dialing in on that technique, getting comfortable under heavy loads, and getting strong as hell!

Hope this helps!

xoxo