New Years Eve 2011

I suck at blogging on a regular basis, so I am sorry! The last 6 weeks have been good. I did not overeat at Thanksgiving or Christmas, in fact I felt very good and not totally stuffed after both meals. I have been working out 3 times a week (except for the last two weeks, too crazy with sickness and some kid drama), and have thoroughly enjoyed being in the level 2 class and forming new friendships. A few weeks ago, Haley and Sarah leveled up also so now we all get 30 minutes more sleep and are all in class together. It is fun and I look forward to doing it more regularly!

This blog will be full of end of the year stuff as well as just general things that have been on my mind lately. Sorry for the rambling if I happen to do it, decorating cakes is my thing, not writing :)

On December 19th we did CrossFit Total which is your 1 rep max of the deadlift, press, and back squat. I will start out by saying I work out with some pretty amazing ladies, several of whom I admire for their strong lifts, all of them I just plain admire. Jenny and I are regulars in the 6:30 class and before I found out that we had a bond through her husband, I watched her and read her blog with much admiration. She pushes me to do things I did not think I could and encourages me when I am feeling not so great about what I am doing. Jenny told me that she was doing CFT at 4:30pm on Monday, so I decided I would join her. She was doing this because she wanted to to CFT with Liz and Cat. I have watched Liz lift and I have heard about how awesome she is in lifting competitions, and now I am happy to call her friend also. I had not met Cat, but knew that she was an amazing lifter and competitor. Little did I know that she was such a powerhouse in such a small package :) I was so nervous all day. What if something that I do during the day prevents me from lifting as much as I can, what if, what if, what if....jeez, get over it already. Just go in and do your best, so we did.
I started on backsquat and worked my way up to 155#, press was at 70# (boy I tried for 75 or 80 and it just wasn't there), then came the deadlift. I was working with my girls but Liz said, "Hey, you are going to deadlift over here", with her, Jenny, and Cat. These ladies are amazing..have I said that already? Just amazing. So with their encouragement and counting of proper weight, I tried 205# and couldn't get it. Next try was down to 200# and I got it. Then, Blake, (Cat's hubs and one of our great coaches) said, you can do the 205#, just get your legs closer to the bar. We counted out the weights, I went for it, and I got it! It was so heavy but it was so awesome to lift that much! Thanks for all of the encouragement that went into that day and that lift. (especially to Tristy for yelling at me to push my hips through!!)

Some thoughts on 2011 now. I came into this year fat, unhealthy, and unhappy. We had a major life event that, thankfully, we all survived and it was time to start over. I leave this year still overweight, but down by a bit, a little healthier, and full of joy. My marriage is amazing, my kids are terrific, and life is pretty darn good. We have had some crazy times, some happy times, and some sad times this year.

Missy (our oldest child) has given birth to a beautiful baby boy, JaKoby and has moved to San Antonio to teach Tech Classes for the Air Force at Fort Sam Houston. We are so happy to have her, JaKoby and hubby Chuck close for about 4 years. It has already been such a blessing to watch that sweet baby grow and know every time we kiss and hug them bye it is just for a little while.

Haley and Sarah had a good season of Volleyball, playing together for the first and last time. Haley started her senior year and Sarah her freshman year. Haley was crowned Homecoming Queen for our Homeschool Athletic organization and the next day Sarah was crowned Miss Teen Firefest.

My beautiful grandmother went to be with the Lord in early October. I was and am still so sad at her passing and selfishly want to spend more time with her, but I know that her body was tired and she was ready to go be with Jesus and my grandad. I wish we would have had a few more months so she could share in my crossfit successes now. She only got a month of sharing but everyone tells me (and I know in my heart) that she knows all of my successes!

I have muscles. Lots of them, they have been popping up all over and I find them at random times. My family is tired of me saying "Look at my muscles!", but I am so proud of them and the work I did to earn every one of them!

This past week I sent this to my CrossFit coaches: "I just really feel like I owe so much to you guys and the whole CFA family. I have just completed my first set of holidays and did not fall apart once due to stress. That is all CrossFit. I have been walking around for most of my life in a state of panic, balls to the wall, flying by the seat of my pants, craziness. I now have peace, and joy in place of that. Not to say that I don't pop out with "stressed out mom", as my kids call her, every once in a while...but she does not stay just under the surface like she used to. Since starting at CFA I have gone through loss, crazy mother in law drama, teenage drama, and two major holidays. I have not lost it, overeaten, or had a mental breakdown and for that I thank you. I walk through life with my head up and not looking at the ground and for that I thank you.

I have said it over and over, and will continue to say it. My life has been changed due to CrossFit and everyone at CFA. I so look forward to what 2012 has in store for me and my family. I am hoping that soon we can swing the finances to get Bart in with us.

Please feel free to send anyone my way who is wondering if CF is something they can do. If I can do it, anyone can. You just have to dig down deep and find the desire to change your life...one WOD at a time"

I have a friend who is going to join CrossFit next month just because of the changes that she has seen in my through facebook, we don't see each other in person, just facebook. That is so awesome to me. I want to inspire people, I was to help change lives. Please feel free to ask me any questions about CrossFit any time, I love to talk about it!!

I can't say this enough, so I am going to end 2011 by saying it again. CrossFit, the friends I have made at CrossFit Austin, and all of the encouragement I have gotten from my sister and her CrossFit Fly gym has changed my life. I am a different person than who I was on August 28th. I have been motivated by countless people, and I am eternally grateful for all of you.

I am going to end this post with a quote that I put on my Facebook earlier today.

Goodbye 2011. The last fat year of my life. That is a fact, and a promise.

Oh man, I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for me!!