This is definitely why...........

Today was a busy day. I started the day early with teaching someone the "greatness" of kettlebells and hopefully turned her on to the ways of kettlebells for life! Then I had my 3rd frickin' MRI in as many weeks. This time it was of the right foot to check on the stress fractures. Results to come next week. Today I made it through with flying colors, I only had to go in the "doughnut hole from hell" up to my knees!
Then I spent some time working on my goblet squats and quickly moved to doing my weekly snatch test. Numbers are great, my hands are great, it's going very well and I'm happy with it. My upper body has definitely been "worked" these last few days. With the straight swinging for 10 minutes at a time for three rounds yesterday to the heavy snatches today-woof! All good. And why do I do this? Tonight I had a late doctors appointment with my wonderful GI doc. I love him. He's so damn nice. My blood pressure at my appointment was 100/66 and my heart rate was 60. Yeah, nice! That's kettlebells for ya!
Tonight before leaving for my appointment I worked with Jared for his swing workout. He's been doing 30 seconds on/30 seconds off for this week and last. This week, his form is top notch. Tonight we counted his swings. He pulled off 145. He did 8 sets of the 30/30. After wards he talked a little and he said he's feeling stronger, more stamina and he's getting faster. He wanted to count swings from the beginning, but I wanted him to concentrate on the form first, so tonight I let him have his way! He was definitely proud of himself. He's down 1.5lbs from last week! He had such a smile of pride on his face, it choked me up. His confidence went up a notch for sure today! He's looking forward to the next time they run their mile in gym class to see if it's improved. Oh yeah, that's what it's all about! That's why I went through the day of hell (aka: HKC) and this is why I am going through with the RKC. To sense his pride was more than one of those warm and fuzzy "parent" feelings, it was really great to see him so excited over it. My son...........the swinger! I'm gloating here big time, in case you can't sense it!!
I haven't done much with getting shit together to work with more autistic kids or adults yet and now I really need to get started. I've just been kind of busy getting used to the new work schedule, getting my own training in, working with others and then just basic day to day stuff that I kind of put that on the back burner. Time to do some more research and get some "leads". That feeling of working with Jared today is awesome and anyone that gets a chance to work with autistic people know what I'm talking about. To help him get to a higher level of confidence in himself sends chills down my spine. I can only hope my Mom and Dad are seeing this from above and that they have just as huge a smile on their faces as I do mine!
Being a Mom.................it's so damn great!

Tomorrow it's back to work for a few and then I have the weekend off. They are calling for temps in the 60's! YES!!! Finally, Indian summer is coming to Wisconsin! Woo-hoo, I hear Fred's name calling!!! Then again, nice weather for swinging outside!

Have a great day wherever you are!

The irony of it all.......

Isn't life just ironic at times?! Seems to always be at the wrong times though. Today I realized just how much I like running. I don't run fast and I don't care about that. What I care about is that I'm off the couch! I prefer to run by myself with my music. The first mile always sucks and always will. Running 13.1 miles was fantastic. Running in the snow can be made enjoyable. Running in the rain can also be fun, when there are no lightning bolts to dodge! It's all about the wonderful feeling you get after wards. You're dead ass tired, but yet now completely rejuvenated for the rest of the day.
Today I went to the sports medicine clinic since I've started to have pain again in my right foot. I was told that I more than likely have 3 (new) stress fractures. In a totally different spot than the others. Tomorrow I have a MRI. Yippee, we all know how well I do in the "doughnut hole from hell". They tell me my head will NOT have to be inside for this. Thank God! And if they're wrong? I will literally kick someone's ass from here to wherever! I had a Xray today while at the clinic which will take measurements of both legs from hips down to get that exact number of just how fucked up my left leg is compared to the right. Thankfully, the doc feels this will all be explained as "mechanical" and not a cause of the running...so to speak. Yes, the running is aggravating it now, but that's because my orthotics are 2 years old and pretty much just pieces of shit. My gait is off and the "extra" pounding I put on my right foot, well, it just can't be handled. So......long story short. Get all the numbers, results and then probably a new pair of orthotics and then I'm off and running folks! It's so ironic that the "thing" (aka: running) I truly laughed off and figured "no way in hell" I would ever do is the "thing" I want to do the most.
So, how do I handle the stress of my new found foot issues???????? My other thing I like to do the most! The thing that got all the fat off my frame to make it possible for me to even give running a try. YUP, here she goes again folks! Here's comes my kettlebell commercial again! It's true ladies and gents. I put myself through 30+ minutes of absolute hell in my kitchen earlier and now I'm ready for the world to park itself on my shoulders! Although I "am" getting a little tired of the world using "my" shoulders lately, I can handle it! I've got a pair of hot shoulders. Not to mention hot lats. Not to mention hot arms in general. The kettlebell "ass" is coming back. It's all good!

Today's WOD:
warm-up.........joint mobility and stretches
then....
I set the timer for 10 minutes
2-handed swings w/12kg till the timer beeped
total swings: 326
**4 minute break
Set timer again for 10 minutes
2-handed swings w/12kg till timer beeped
total swings: 344
**4 minute break
Set timer for a 3rd round of 10 minutes
2-handed swings w/12kg till timer beeped
total swings: 333
***Grand total of 1,003 swings.
Me being the "number freak" I know that I am, had I known I was at 1003, I would have done a few more just for looks! Who the hell ends at 3? Oh well, I was frickin' smoked after this. Absolutely smoked. Like I posted before, I will be doing nothing but tons and tons and tons of swings! The last set I did have to put the bell down twice to apply chalk, the hands were really sweaty and I didn't want the bell to go flying! Time down was, at best, 15 seconds.

Next follow-up appt. with doc will be next Wednesday to get all the results and make my game plan for the running aspect of my life!

Have a great day wherever you are!

Just practicing......

After having to work the weekend, I am enjoying a nice day off. It is a nice, cool, fall day in southeastern Wisconsin. It's sunny and in the low 50's. A bit breezy, but do-able. This morning I kicked my ass and then had a "annual" doctors appointment at 11am. You girls know what I mean by "annual". I love going to see her, she remembers "everything" about what's going on in my life, even though she only sees me once a year. I'm sure she makes notes and the such, but holy crap. She's good. Even down to dates and all. She asked how my 1/2 marathon in May was. Which is when I was supposed to run Green Bay 1/2. She asked how the tri's were in August and September. Right on the money with 'em all. What great customer service! And since I was just lying there on my back with my knees to my chest and feet in the stirrups, what else is there to talk about?! How cold the speculum is? How nice the ceiling tiles look with all the pretty visions of clouds passing by on them? How nice or shitty the weather is? Might as well talk about my accomplishments! I actually had quite a decent year when I sort it all out. I did 2 "official" triathlons, I did 3 others on my own. I did a 50, a 75, and 100 mile bike rides. I did my 1/2 marathon. And the best for last....I managed the flex arm hang and got my HKC!!!
I overcame gallbladder dysfunction, followed by surgery to remove the little sucker. I survived my first ever stress fractures. I survived my hours changing at work. Surviving the pay cut that goes a long with the last one may be a little tricky, but we manage. Just like we always do.
Next year my goal is to obtain the RKC. That is the 3 day workshop to receive my certification to then teach/train all the moves of the kettlebell. For this workshop, I will have to snatch a 16kg bell 100 times within 5 minutes. I will also have to demonstrate perfection in my technique to not only teach the moves, but to perform them as well. Then I will also have to pass a "grad" workout. Which in the past has been doing a waiter's walk across the field where the workshop is held. I guess it's the same size as a football field. Either way, it's a hike. So......needless to say, by this time next year I should have my RKC.
I have no other goals for next year. Right now it's easy to swallow that statement because it's the off season and it's not really noticeable right now that I'm not biking or running like crazy. My mind is on one thing and one thing only. That is my kettlebell. I no longer do "workouts" per say.........I now "practice". Over and over and over. I have my nose buried in my "Enter the Kettlebell" workbook. It's an awesome book. I truly hate to read books, but this is not really a book, it's more of a "workbook". It has pictures, how-to's, all the good stuff of a workbook. Those I can handle. I have my little hi-liter out and marking it all over the place-getting the good stuff hi-lighted for easy reference over and over.
Friday I had off of work and decided to see how the snatches are. I will test myself once a week and keep track of my progress. I set my trusty oven timer for 5 minutes and away I go. At first it's like; "son of a bitch, this is heavy". Then you get nice and warm, then you get into a rhythm, then you get tired, then you get your second wind and then before you know it.....the oven beeps! For my first attempt, I did 68 snatches. I was pretty surprised. My hands felt great. I used no protection, since it is NOT allowed for the actual test, I will always go "naked" when I do my test here at home for practice. I switched sides, I think after every 5 or so, did put down the bell a few times to pick my lung back up from the floor, but over all, I was pleased with my first attempt. After that I was going to do some other things and started with TGU's. My first one, the arm with the bell was all over the place, so I knew I was done for the day. That's fine. I was still getting used to 12 hour shifts at work, just worked the last 3 days in a row and still had 2 more days to go after my one day off. So, I left it with just doing the snatch test.
Saturday after work, I came home and worked with Jared for a while. After his swings, I went at it.
Saturday's WOD:
Warm-ups......joint mobility, stretches and then TGU's (3 per side w/12kg)
then...
2-handed swings w/12kg x 30 seconds
snatches w/12kg on R x 30 seconds
snatches w/12kg on L x 30 seconds
1 minute rest
So 1.5 minute work/1 minute rest ratio x 5 rounds
then.....
Transfers w/12kg x 1 minute
30 second rest
So 1 minute work/30 second rest ratio x 5 rounds

Sunday was a rest day! Enjoyed my extra hour of sleep for sure! Busy at work, the 12 hours flew! 2 people attempted suicide-they failed. However, they will never be the same again. Both are anoxic and will now just be ventilator dependent and spend the rest of their days in a facility. 2 people were removed from ventilators to let die. Funny how some people who want to live, don't and those who want to die, don't. Keeps things in perspective now doesn't it??

Today's WOD was awesome:
Warm-up.........joint mobility and stretches
then...x 4 rounds
3 TGU's w/12kg per side-or-3 windmills per side (alternated each round)
Snatches w/16kg x 8 per side
2-handed swing w/12kg to goblet squat x 8
Transfers w/12kg x 8
2-handed swings w/12kg x 20
I really enjoy the TGU's and windmills. They are really great moves. Require so much from the body than you can even imagine. I love the windmill for the hip flexors!
After my "annual" doctors appointment I came home, grabbed some lunch and then hit the pavement for a nice run. It feels like ages since I ran. It has been! I feel the stress fractures may be coming back, so I was laying off the running, plus it's not part of my kettlebell regime. Today, I really wanted to enjoy the great weather and get out there for some fresh air to test the foot. Some minor pain, nothing gut wrentching. Tomorrow will tell all.....appointment with the sports medicine doctor. Xrays will tell it all one way or another! After the run, I came in and grabbed my 12kg bell and took the bitch for a walk around my house. Did a one arm waiter walk alternating sides and made it around the house 2 times. Now, my yard is not nice and flat by any means. It's up and down all over the place, so it was tricky to say the least. To keep that arm straight and elbow locked? Woof! BUT it was awesome. There's absolutely nothing like a hard workout. My strength is incredible. Last waiter's walk was with 2 of my 8kg bells, I was going to attempt to use both the 12kg's but, I don't think I would have made it around once! Next time!
Congrats to all those who ran races this past weekend, looking forward to all the race reports. Congrats to all who did the NYCM!

Have a great day wherever you are!

New schedule!

My first 3 days of 12 hour shifts are in the history books......and I survived! Kudos to me!!!!
While it's been a change and I used to really hate change, I went into this just fine. You just do it, because it's just what it is. My old schedule is no longer an option and you adjust to the new. One door closes while another door opens! The family unit will survive, we always do! We all will grow and adapt in our little ways to the new schedules of our lives!

So Tuesday was my first day. Here are the bullet points:
0330-awake!
0345-hot shower!
0400-lots of eggs and meat! (No matter what time of day-I need my eggs and meat!)
0415-on the computer! Gotta stalk my bloggies!
0430-really wishing I could poop now!
0435-slam vitamins and supplements!
0500-feed the obnoxious cats who keep tripping me wondering why they haven't been fed. They have NO clue that it's only 0500, they just know that when Mom is up, we eat!
0510-still NO poop, leave the house!
**I love the radio at this time of day-absolutely NO bullshit talking. No idiot "talk teams", just great music. Love it!
0535-pull into parking structure, meet fellow "ex-pm shifters" on way in.....we grumbled for a short time about how we would rather be in bed!
0600-I "swipe" the time clock-LET THE FUN BEGIN PEOPLE!!!!
1830-I now "swipe" out!!!
1905-arrive home to my family
1906-I poop!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!! Insert harp music here!
1920-changed into "workout" clothes and pull-off a bitchin' snatch session!
2045-say goodbye to the hubby....it is now HIS turn to work!
2130-in bed with the cats!
Tuesday's WOD:
warm-up.......joint mobility and stretches
Snatch ladders w/16kg
snatch x 5 on R, 15 second rest, snatch x 5 on L
snatch x 4 on R, 15 second rest, snatch x 5 on L
snatch x 3 on R/snatch x 3 on L
snatch x 2 on R/snatch x 2 on L
snatch x 1 on R/snatch x 1 on L
Reverse order and go backwards up to 5 per side. I did this 4 times, twice down from 5 and twice up from 1. The last 2 sets I did not need to take a break-ended very strong!! Came out to 120 total snatches w/16kg and took roughly 15 minutes. A 15 minute ASS-WOOPIN' after a 12 hour work shift!

Wednesday:
Pretty much the same as above, however, woke up at 4am, not good. I need that time! Just for whatever.
Pooping is back to normal already! Work is going relatively fast. The 12 hours really flies when busy-and we're pretty busy all the time! Lots of "swine" in house. UGH! I actually broke down and got the H1N1 flu shot today.
No workout today, way too tired-in bed as soon as I kissed the hubby goodbye for the night!

Today:
Day 3 in a row of 12 hour shifts at a huge, level 1 trauma center. Feeling pretty lousy when I first got up. Low grade fever. That always happened when I got the flu shot. I got the "seasonal" flu shot last month and the same thing. So, I chalked up my sore arm and low grade fever to the swine flu shot. By around 5pm, the fever was long gone and I was ready to get the day over with. Started to feel "rejuvenated" on the way home and I knew then that a workout was going to happen tonight!
Today's WOD:
warm-up........joint mobility and stretches
1-arm swings w/12kg to max......
transferred on every 5th swing from right to left. Did this for a total of 8 minutes. Yes 8 minutes STRAIGHT. No breaks. No putting the bell down, nothing!
3 minute rest/water break
cleans and presses to the max......
cleans and presses x 5 on R, transfer, cleans and presses x 5 on L
did this for 10 times per side without stopping.
3 minute rest/water break
2-handed swings w/12kg to the max..........
Did this for a total of 7 minutes, again straight....NO breaks.
All in all, a decent workout.

So will I be able to workout on the days I work 12 hour shifts?????
OH YEAH!!!!! Maybe not everyday, but just a 15, 20, or 30 minute kettlebell workout will be sufficient. Tomorrow I have off and you all know me well enough to know that I will not take my one day off (yes, it's my weekend to work) and just lay my ass on the couch catching up on rest....pfffftttt, that's for "you know who!!!" OK, I'll say it: p*ssy's!

Tomorrow it's SNATCH TESTING DAY!!!!

Now, it's time to go read some other blogs!
Have a great day wherever you are!

ANOTHER funny story!

If anyone knows me or has followed my blog for some time now, you know how much I hate "gastric bypass" surgery. I won't get into a long, dragged out bitch session about what a cop-out I think it is or anything. Oops, maybe I just did!
Anyways. Today was my first 12 hour shift at work. The alarm was set for 4am, I awoke at 3am-UGH #1. Came down and drank my morning Metamucil (any IBS sufferer understands this!) and took my morning dose of vitamins and supplements. Usually within a 20 minute window or so, the colon kicks in and well, how else can ya say it but this....there's nothing like that first morning "poop" of the day! That never happened. UGH #2. IBS and "mornings" don't really get along-so this change will take quite some time to conform! It's 5am and foggy as shit. Can't even see the end of my driveway. UGH #3. I make it too work safe and sound. The first few rounds are over and it's now roughly 1pm-ish. A co-worker (who by the way had gastric bypass surgery) and I decide to go get a "snack". I really wanted a piece of fruit of some kind (to kind of help with the lack of a morning poop stated above!) and away we went to the cafeteria. I decide on an apple or pear, my memory fails me, but whatever it's not important except for the fact that it's a piece of fruit. My co-worker gets a BIG ASS COOKIE. Now remember as stated above-my co-worker had gastric bypass. On our way down the hall all of a sudden she whips the cookie in her lab coat pocket. So when we get in the elevator, I state that I wasn't going to take her frickin' cookie. My co-worker states back that the surgeon who did the bypass surgery was coming down the hall and she didn't want him to see her with a cookie! OK-proof in point. I worked my ass off-LITERALLY with hard work and good eating. I learned so much of myself and what I'm made of by taking the road of putting down the fork and getting off the couch. She had the majority of her stomach removed, actually coded and received CPR, got a second chance at life (literally) and she's getting a FUCKIN' COOKIE???? So tell me, why does this surgery work??????
I know you're all wondering this..............yes I finally pooped!
So this "dayshift" shit is amusing to say the VERY least!

BYW...........this week is National Respiratory Care week, so tap your favorite therapist on the back this week, give us a big hug, send us candy! We love the recognition......certainly don't get any from our boss.

Back from the dead

Yesterday, I was hit by a truck. A truck titled: "hey dumb ass, you did TOO much". That same truck hits me a lot! Some day I will learn my lesson. NO, really I will. I spent pretty much of the day on the couch, sometimes sleeping, sometimes awake, sometimes pretty much drooling all over myself! Did lots of snatches, swings, hiking and biking over the last few days. Face it...when the sun comes out for those quick little hour bursts at a time-you just have to get out there and get some fresh air. We've had nothing but rain, wind and cold lately, to get just an hour of sunshine is way needed for sanity reasons!

I found that this is my 387th posting. Holy Shit, I really need a life don't I??!!! Well this blog may start to get boring for some of you. It will not really consist of many running stories. It will not consist of too many biking stories, he may be stuck in the garage or on the trainer for awhile. It won't consist of very many swimming stories either. Have I decided to go back to being FAT again, you ask??

HELL NO

I made that promise to myself a long time ago. I will NEVER be fat again. So why no running, biking or swimming? That leaves me to these 3 letters:

RKC

That is what is next in line for me. I've done the HKC and learned a lot from that experience. A lot of what I'm really made of and what I want. I'm hoping to take the RKC next September or October, whenever it's offered. The dates are not yet listed. The requirements for this is NO JOKE. It easily ranks up there with training for a Ironman. What I endured for one day for the HKC will be a sneeze compared to these 3 days of soul searching. My days of "impressing" with all the running, biking and swimming are done-for now. I can't hide the fact that doing a triathlon is frickin' awesome. I'd love to do a 1/2IM some day and that may come, but just not now. I also plan to run a full marathon some day. The 1/2 mary was a blast. Especially the "way" I did it. To be able to run a full marathon would be a ball buster to say the least, but what an accomplishment from being over 300lbs of lazy fat nothing just 2 (almost 3) years ago. Training for the triathlons can be hard on the body. I already have an appointment next week with my sports medicine doctor to check out my right foot again. Feels like maybe the stress fractures are back. Not sure, will find out. This could easily be an "on-going" thing with that foot with the un-evenish of my body! I NEVER GOT INJURED FROM DOING KETTLEBELLS. Why not stick with what took off the poundage and didn't injure me in anyway? Yeah, I agree.

I will be doing tons of swings. I will be doing tons of snatches. I will be doing tons of turkish get-ups. I will be doing lots of squats, I will be doing things with my bitches that no one could never even imagine! Just wish I could figure out how to do an over-head lock-out carry (aka: waiters carry) while pedaling my bike! Hehehehe! All I know is, waiter walks will be fun on the snow shoes!
Yesterday I did no workout, barely made it through the boring Packer game. Shit, when you're a 1/2 ass team playing a really shit team, you get stuck with some dumb ass announcers calling the game-talk about boring....UGH! This weeks game is the game of the year! Brett comes back to Lambeau, too bad he's wearing purple! Thanks Ted Thompson!

Today's WOD:
Warm-ups..........joint mobility and stretches
push-ups 2 x 5
double presses w/12kg's 2 x 10
single presses w/16kg 2 x 2
lunges 2 x 5
reverse crunches 2 x 10
crunches 2 x 20

Kettlebells: 1 minute of work to 30 second rest
1 arm swing on L x 30 seconds-snatches on R x 30 seconds
**30 seconds rest
1 arm swing on R x 30 seconds-snatches on L x 30 seconds
**30 seconds rest
Did this for 5 rounds (all done w/12kg)

2-handed swings w/12kg x 30 seconds
Snatches on R w/16kg x 15 seconds-transfer-Snatches on L x 15 seconds
**30 seconds rest
Did this for 5 rounds

Over head lock out carries with 2 8kg on treadmill.
Attempted to go for a full 400 meters, I made 200 meters. THAT was frickin' hard, but awesome all at the same time! Feels great to lift heavy, feels great to strength train. I am ready for the day! Let's get it on people!

Here's a thought...........make TODAY the day you decide to learn kettlebells!!!

Have a great day wherever you are!

KB's and nothing but KB's

After last Wednesday's fun "multi" workout day consisting of kb's, running and then some late in the day biking, I've done nothing but kettlebells. At least the cops can't give me any grief over kettlebells!
Thursday I took a rest day and did my first training session. Was way cool to put what I learned to action. I've got Jared swinging a 8kg 3-4 times a week. It's pretty easy to teach an autistic kid to swing.....at least "my" autistic kid. He's got some pretty damn good form, just a "chip off the old block" I guess!!! Is it wrong to be proud to say; "my son's a swinger"??? Hehehehe!

Friday's WOD:
Snatch day!
Warm-ups...............joint mobility and stretches
snatches w/12kg x 5 w/hold
did 5 per side x 5 rounds

then.......the fun begins!
Snatches w/16kg w/hold
15 seconds on/30 seconds rest
Did 5 per 15 second work time for 10 rounds (per arm) giving a total of 100 snatches (50 per side). Holy shit that was awesome. AND, it's a magical number! I need to do 100 snatches for one of my tests in the RKC. Granted I will only have 5 minutes to do it in and this took like 20, but tough shit-we start somewhere and get that strong foundation built first and then it's nothing but growing "UP" from there! My hubby smoothed out the handle for me and got rid of some of her "roughness", now it's a lot easier on the hands. While I've started to use "hand protection" and that helped, they were still getting "chewed" up. Granted all the calluses are a true sign of a "kettlebell woman", but shit it's hard to crank out the snatches while bleeding all over the floor!! So for awhile I will keep the hand protection on and get the numbers and times better, then I will switch back to doing it "naked!" A few weeks back I did the same test with my 12kg. Set the timer for 5 minutes and got to the magical 100 number with 14 seconds to spare. I do have some work to do, but it's coming a long just fine. Great progress and it's awesome to snatch the 16kg-makes the 12kg feel light a balloon!

Today's WOD:
Warm-ups.........joint mobility and stretches
TGU's w/12kg (3 per side)
Windmills w/12kg (3 per side)
Goblet squats w/12kg (3 x 3)

then.......all done with 12kg....
20 2-handed swings + 20 transfers + 20 2-handed swings=1 round
**30 second rest in between rounds
Did 10 rounds for total of 600 swings
Took 3 minute rest break and then switched things around.....
20 transfers + 20 2-handed swings + 20 transfers=1 round
**30 second rest in between rounds again
Did 10 rounds for total of 600 swings

Grand total of 1200 swings...............SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!
There is NO better way to spend a shitty, cold, and cloudy Saturday morning!

Have a great day wherever you are!