WHAT'S THE GOAL!!

Just a brief update regarding my training...if you are on the journey with me.

Last year when training for the SFG, Eric Gahan at Iron Body Studios said to me, "Remember the goal!"  It was one of the most important things said to me during my training because I have a tendency to push my limits.  If I wanted to be a certified StrongFirst Kettlebell Instructor, I needed to not go beyond the certification requirements.

So Thursday night after the barbell class at SOS, I met with Mike Perry to discuss my training plan for the StrongFirst barbell certification.  He said I would be doing the program 3 days a week.  My response...wait!!!  what!!!!  I would only be training three days and resting four.  Really???  Seriously???

His response...what's the goal?  This plan gets you to the goal.  This program will involve initially lifting lower weights for longer reps and then really heavy weights for less reps.  My system, especially since I am older, will be stressed and needs rest.   He did say, a couple times, that I could walk....

So once again, preparing for this cert will not only involve training my physical capabilities but will also involve taming my mental desire to push myself physically.  Sometimes that is a greater challenge.

Confirmation of needing rest is in the training...What I have learned from 3 weeks of training at SOS on Thursday nights is that Friday morning my body does feel exhausted.  I don't usually sleep a lot but I find I easily fall asleep Thursday night and don't wake until 3:00 - 3:30 in the morning.  As we get older and we weight train, we really do need sleep and recovery time.

THIS WEEKS TRAINING:

 On Thursday, we trained deadlifts and military presses.  I hit 190 pounds on the deadlifts but kept the military presses to 45 pounds for now until I am really comfortable with my form.

My deadlift form gets better and better each week...little tweaks make a huge difference.

Tomorrow is a big day for me in the gym.  I need to find out what numbers I have to hit for the certification and need to determine the following for the deadlift, military press, bench press, and squat...what my max weight is at 5 reps, 4 reps, 3 reps, 2 reps and  1 rep.  Stay tuned for more information.

And that is all she wrote.  Hopefully, at some point in the process, I will have more photos to share.  I suck when it comes to photos. 

2014 - MOVING INTO 2015

Changes are coming in 2015.  Starting the new year isn't about making resolutions.  It is a time to reflect on the past year and think about the future.

In less than 3 weeks I will be 57 years old.  Each decade, each year is different.  It is so much easier being 57 than 27.  Those five decades have been the seasons of my life.  I thought Landslide was a song about aging.  I play the video on or near my birthday...always.   The line on replay in my mind...

        "Can I handle the seasons of my life?  I don't know."

It is possible to handle the seasons and accept aging when you know when it is time to make changes and know when it is time to challenge yourself.  Of course everyone's limitations and challenges are different. 

For some reason, I spent some serious time thinking about the past year.  I felt I had to analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly to move forward.  Time was spend thinking about changes I want to make and challenges I want to pursue.  Challenges come first...

So officially, well I haven't sent in my payment yet, I am going to train to become a certified kettle bell instructor.  StrongFirst will be doing a certification in Boston in August and I am accepting the challenge. 

Just so you know, the certification is a physically demanding three day event that includes a written exam and demonstrating that you can teach.  That teaching aspect is what I find to be the most daunting aspect of the certification.  I am an introvert and teaching will take me way out of my comfort zone.  The 100 snatches in 5 minutes is no piece of cake either but that is a story for another day.

The challenge isn't just about becoming certified.  It is about the road to certification.  Working at Iron Body Studios with a group of like minded women working toward the same goal is an important part of the journey.  Again, a situation way out of my comfort zone.  It is about becoming stronger.  It is about the mental challenge of not giving up...about finding your last bit of strength and pushing forward.  Part of the journey is about accepting defeat when it presents itself.  It is about overcoming defeat.  If at the end of the journey, I become certified by StrongFirst I will be a very happy 57 year old chica.  But I have a lot to learn...

Let the journey begin...I hope you will join me.

Please feel free to share you goals and challenges in the comment section!

Can I also say, part of what I hope to do is improve the blog.  I don't mean necessarily mean the content but the layout and presentation.  My computer skills are lacking and it is going to take some work to get up to speed.  Bear with me.


Side Note:
I have always thought that landslide was about getting older and thinking about the changes you might want to make as you get older. Then, when I was looking for a landslide video, I came across this.  Guess I had that one wrong. 

Link Love

Just wanted to share some recent articles that I've enjoyed....hope you enjoy them as well.  Some may be duplicates from my facebook page.

Highlighted Link:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/muscular-and-proud  -  This is a great discussion by Jen Sinkler (pictured below) on why you should never be embarrassed to be a female with big muscles. 

Food

http://www.mynewroots.org/site/2014/11/sweet-potato-skillet-hash/?mc_cid=c71373e39c&mc_eid=53cfc82a82

http://www.negharfonooni.com/2013/01/07/avocado-dressing/

Exercise

http://tonygentilcore.com/2014/12/miscellaneous-miscellany-monday-get-ups-deadlifts-and-b-days/

http://www.t-nation.com/training/timed-carries-for-traps-arms-core

Miscellaneous

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/maya-angelou-power-of-words_n_5462077.html?utm_hp_ref=pt&src=sp&comm_ref=false

http://maidenmermaid.wordpress.com/2014/05/01/be-mindful/

http://www.postconsumers.com/education/eco-friendly-facts-about-christmas-trees/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/best-books-on-making-the-most-of-later-life-1417408073

DEADLIFT PR

Deadlifting is my one of my favorite exercise.  I've worked long, slow and hard to increase my weight.

Thanks to the Radiance Retreat and Jen Sinkler I incorporated Intuitive Training method to my training...okay I only incorporated it for deadlifting but it worked.   

I reached a PR of 185 pounds a couple months ago...excitement ensured.  I felt great.  I felt strong.  Then I couldn't get close to it again.  Most I could lift was 175 and that wasn't every training session.  Damn I was frustrated.  The goal this summer is over 200 pounds.  So last Saturday I put on this shirt 

and I decided to just skipped 185 pounds.  I decided to attempt 190 pounds and I DID IT.  200 pounds here I come!!!!  I didn't mind being a sweaty mess.

Please note...selfies are obviously not my specialty especially after a tough training session.  I hate the pic but I am posting it anyway.
 
Want to learn more about Intuitive Training?  Check out Jen Sinkler's site at http://www.jensinkler.com/