Understanding CrossFit

It is occupying so much of my life lately I can't help but try to explain it a little better.

CROSSFIT
Constantly varied
High Intensity
Functional movement

The program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive.  Crossfits specialty is NOT specializing.  We go in to a wod(work out of the day) ready for anything, and with the mindset that nothing should stop us.  Wind, snow, sleet, rain, heat; we go!

The CrossFit program is designed for scalability making it possible for anyone; from the Elite athlete, the house mom down the street, or the grandpa from next door!

Now that that is out of the way:

Everyone has been hearing a lot about crossfit since the games last year, Reebok picked them up, advertising started, and it seems that CrossFit has become a common household name; I know it has in ours.  

About three years ago I found myself dragging thru my normal workouts, I was bored with lifting weights.  I had been doing it for so long that I felt like I wasn't getting results anymore.  I didn't even want to lift which was odd seeings how I was so passionate about it.  I needed a change.  

My friend Kathy had left the gym and started training out of her sisters basement, I saw people coming into the gym who had been training with her and their bodies were changing drastically.  I knew I needed to know what she was doing.  It was hard for me to call another personal trainer and say hey, I suck, I can't get myself into the shape I want; would you train me.  Because Kathy is the nicest person in the world she made dialing her phone number the hardest part; the conversation was easy.

Kathy and Liz were doing CrossFit in her basement, it shocked me a little.  I didn't like having my Ass handed to me every time I worked out, I thought I was stronger than that.  What I did like is being pushed, being challenged, and having butterflies in my stomach for 30 minutes before my wod like I used to.  

After a few months of training in their basement Kat told me they were going to open a CrossFit, she wanted me to get certified so that I could help out when needed.  I jumped at the opportunity, not an opportunity to make money or have a "job" but the opportunity to change myself and become a better person.

17 months later here we are

The CrossFit games started 4 weeks ago,  I train like an athlete but am in no way one.  I put in the time, and then some.  Just because I train like one does not mean I would enter the games......EVER.  But I did!  Kathy didn't give me a choice, she said that I needed the games to push me to try things that I wasn't trying.  More important I needed the games to help me "feel" what the community of CrossFit was all about.

The community of CrossFit is why I am writing this.  Crossfit has this thing, an energy, a feeling, a passion.  It is the only place you can go on a daily basis and experience so many emotions.  You always fear the box(crossfit), you fear the wod, you fear the bar.  You fear movements you wish you could do but don't think you can.  You fear getting hurt, you fear peeing your pants while jumping onto a box or trying a double under.  But that fear isn't going to keep us from going to the Box.  The people who are there, at any box, in any city, state, or country; the people who are there know how hard it is and know how rewarding it is to try.  That is why we go, the people; they give us the drive to try, and maybe fail.  It is the only time in our life that it feels okay to fail at something.  What is cool is that we don't always fail and that keeps us coming back for more.  We come back because the last time we tried to back squat 200 pounds five times you got it and it felt so good that we want to try for more.  We come back because 2 months ago we couldn't snatch a training bar, but last night you got 75 pounds.  It's amazing

So, what happens is we get so excited about what is happening for that one little hour a day.  We are learning and growing so much that we talk about it.  We come home and tell our spouses, we facebook our progress, we try and show you what we can do.  It isn't meant to be braggy or arrogant trust me, because no matter what WE are doing; somebody else, at some other box in some other country is doing it a lot better.  We are telling you because we want to share with you the excitement that we are feeling.  It is like when a child goes poo in the toilet for the first time, they tell everyone because they are so excited.  Everyone doesn't really want to know, but EVERYONE pretends to be excited for the sake of the child.

The Community of CrossFit is a wonderful thing, it will never take place of my family.  It does however offer me something that I can't get anywhere else.  A sense of belonging, a sense of accomplishment; something that you don't get a lot of as an adult and especially as a stay at home mom.  

There are two weeks left in the Crossfit open, two more workouts that will challenge me and make me a better person.  I knew when I entered the games I wasn't competing to WIN, I was competing to CHANGE.  I was competing to push myself to try new things, and I did.

NewPort Beach

We had the opportunity to go to Newport beach for a week, of course we couldn't pass it by.  Because the trip was so spontaneous and such a great deal we wanted to try and spend as little money as possible; so we drove, YIKES.  It is a WAY long drive.  But, the gas is free and the bubbas were amazing.  

We stayed in a 2 bedroom condo at the Mariott Villas, it is an amazing resort; if the price was right it would be a kick trash family reunion.  The weather was just about perfect, a little chilly near the ocean but bikini worthy while poolside.

We chose to lay low for the most part, the only thing that we chose to do was drive up to Universal studios for a few hours one day, it was an absolute blast.  Because it was the off season there was no one there.  Most rides we were the only people on them and there was never any line.  

We couldn't be so close to San Gabriel and not go see Grandma Bonham.  After finishing our day at Universal we took a short drive over to where she is being cared for.  How great it was to see her, how special for the boys to be able to see her.  She was asleep when we arrived(at 6:30) so we woke her.  She seemed very pleased to see us, even more so to see the boys.  Her eyes lit up when she saw them, I am sure she doesn't know who they are but you could tell that she knew they were somebody special, she was so happy to be in the company of kids.  I didn't know Grandma B very well but from the way she looked at the boys I am sure that she loved children and that they hold a special place in her heart.   I realize that when she woke the next morning she probably didn't remember us being there, but I hope that maybe she felt at peace as she slept and when she woke in the morning.  I know seeing her meant a lot to Erik, and hopefully was something that the boys will never forget.

All in all the mini-vaca was a good one, it reminds us why we all love each other and how well we get along when the responsibilities of life aren't there to weigh us down and stress us out.  Here are a few pictures of us at the beach and Universal!  I hope you enjoy.

35 years

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted, I couldn't log in and had to go thru all of this garbage to do so!

With that said, today is my 35 birthday!  Where do I go from here?  No really, where do I go?

The boys had to interview me for a school project yesterday.  What great timing it was.  The questions were on the topic of my life.  What was your goal in life when you were younger?  What did you want to be when you grew up?  What is your biggest accomplishment?  What is the hardest thing you have ever done?  What is the most embarrassing?  What is the best day of your life.

The list went on for three pages, Carter and Riley both had to fill out the paper so they would take turns asking me the questions.  I don't think they really liked my answers,  I also think they were very surprised by them.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  I wanted to be a wife, and a mom!  That is it!  They didn't believe me, I told them they could call my mom and ask her, that is all I ever wanted to be.  I just had to pray that I would meet a man that wanted a wife and a mother for a constant companion.

What is your biggest accomplishment?  Giving birth to and raising twins!  Again they didn't believe me and asked if they could just write Crossfit instead, it sounded cooler.

The questions went on and all of the answers revolved around the boys and Erik, even my most embarrassing moment:
I was holding both of them in the farmington pool when they were just babies, one of their little piggies untied my string bikini  and it dropped to the bottom of the pool.  If I let go of them to get it they would drown.  I had to shimmy my way to the shallow end where I could set them down then proceed to pull up my pants.  I am sure that not even the lifeguard saw but it still tops the most embarrassing list!

So, at 35 years old where do I go from here.  I am still so young, yet I have accomplished all I have ever wanted to.  Where I am now is exactly where I wanted to be at 35; minus 2 kids but that is okay.  So where do I go.  It is time to set some new goals, and dream up some new dreams.  I am sure that most of them will still be centered around my 3 boys, keeping them happy and healthy.  But, some new ones need to be thought up.

I love 35, I love that I know who I am and I am at peace with me.  I love my wonderful, handsome husband and my two energetic crazy ten year old boys.  I love every person in my family and the crazy dynamic they add to my life; lets be honest if it weren't for all the crazy brother and sister in laws what would Erik and I talk about while lying in bed at night.  I love my home, my neighborhood, and the people that I train with every day, those people keep me striving to be better and work harder.  I love that I have no debt; I know that sounds dumb but how many 35 year olds can say that, if it weren't for Erik I would be dressed to the 9's and up to my ears in credit card debt.  Which brings me to the last thing, I love that just in the last month I am peace with who I am, that I am not the Jone's, or the Smith's or the Johnsons's or anyone else.  I am a Tipton, being a Tipton I know exactly who I am, where I stand, and where I am going.

Happy 35th Birthday to me.

I am Strong

After posting " A change of Seasons, a Change of Attitude"  I came across this on a website that I frequent,  it made me cry.  It was so fitting for the way that I have felt lately, it is really fitting in the crossfit community.  I know that most of you don't "get" crossfit, you don't understand why we love it so much.  Why we always come back for more.  It has changed my life and the way that I look at fitness and the way I look at my body.  I have always had a muscular build, even when I wanted and tried to be skinny I couldn't do it; it was physically impossible.  Crossfit has made it okay for me to have my big muscles.  Crossfit has made big muscles on women sexy.  But it is hard, everyday there is a new challenge; a heavier weight, a new move, a longer distance.  Then when I think that I have got it something new is thrown my way, then some hot 20 something girl comes in and gets her double under and pistol squat on her first try while I have been working on mine for a year.  I love Crossfit because it DOES give me a challenge, as a stay at home mom I don't have a lot of challenges; besides bedtime!  I love Crossfit, even when I don't.

Remind me I am strong. Please.

Most days, I know this.In spades, as my mom would say. I know I am strong like I know my front squat max or the movements in Fran. Usually remembering my strength is not a problem.

But sometimes I forget.

When the world gets overwhelming. When everybody needs something from me and nothing I do is on time, or enough, or even close to adequate.

I know these faults, these shortcomings, these glaring errors that yawn in their enormity, are most likely illusions in my own brain. But still they are there, gnawing at me, reminding me that I’m not good enough, not smart enough, not strong enough.

So, do me a favor and remind me of something better. On those days when you see me slump a little, or falter, or my eyes seem kind of wet for no reason. These are the days that I’m weak inside and the world is simply too much, the weight is too heavy, and the pace seems so fast. On these days, remind me that I’m strong and I’ll stomp those doubts and I’ll come through.

It’s only a simple statement and I only need it once, maybe with a hand on the shoulder. “Hey, you are strong.”

It’ll carry me farther than you’ll ever know.

Happy Halloween!

Change of Seasons, change of attitude.

Fall is definitely in the air with winter just around the corner.  Football is nearing its end, Halloween is over, Flu shots have been given.  Typically I don't start feeling "down" or "depressed" until halfway thru January.  This year has been different, I already feel bummed out and like I just want to lay in bed all day.

As a stay at home mom there is not a way to measure my success; there is no paycheck.  I have always felt if my kids and husband are happy, if they are fed, and my house is clean(really clean) I am doing my job.  Personally, if I am eating clean and at the top of my game physically; if my workouts are on and I am teaching good classes than I am succeeding.

Well, my eating is not as clean as I want it, I feel like I am never accomplishing what I want at the gym.  I am stumbling thru all of my classes; I try and talk myself out of working out because I am no longer the best at what I do.  I am not happy with the way I look; because I know I can look better.  My house is never spotless anymore; dishes, laundry, yard work, homework.  Everything is piling up and I don't want to do it.

Something has got to change; how did I used to do it?  How did I use to say NO to the sweets, how did I count my calories and eat clean ALL the time, How did I drink a gallon of water a day?  How did I want to sweep and vacuum and mop and make my house so clean that people would ask if we "really" lived here.  What has changed?  What am I doing different?

Crossfit has started a new challenge this month, the 21 day challenge.  Normally I would look past all the details but this one caught my eye.

PART I
Pick at least 1 and no more than 3 food/beverage that is contributing to the decline of your health. These will be avoided for the first 21 days of November – completely. This will be a food/beverage that you know should be eliminated, but you justify/rationalize keeping.
PART II
Because health is much more than just the food we eat or don’t eat:
Pick at least one and no more than 3 activities/habits that are contributing to the decline of your health. These could be things you need to eliminate OR ADD to your life. For example; not getting enough sleep due to lack of effort (ADD sleep to your weekly routine)…texting while driving (ELIMINATE during the Challenge!)….not showing up for running/rowing wods because you hate or are not good at running/rowing (ADD running/rowing at least 2x per week)…not spending enough time with family due to work/TV/computer (do you really need this reminder??). These are just a few examples, they key in Part II is not only about eliminating the bad stuff, but also incorporating the good stuff – the kind of stuff that can enrich our life.


So this one I decided to take seriously; I knew the diet part that I wanted to do. I picked two things:
1. Eat clean, I know how to eat clean I did it for years.  I have been coaching people to eat clean for years successfully.  I have been lazy, I have been letting those around me pull me down and dictate what I put in my body.  I have been pulling myself down.
2.  Only 1 diet soda a day.  I drink WAY too much soda, for the past couple years I have felt that drinking 8+ cans of soda a day is better than drinking other "drinks" that I could be putting into my body.  I have been justifying it.  NO MORE.


The non-diet part I put a little more time and thought into it.  I had to think what has been different this year, why am I not happy?  What am I doing or not doing that is new?  FACEBOOK!
1. NO FACEBOOK:  I started facebook less than a year ago.  I spend a lot of time on facebook, when things happen or I hear something cool I think "I need to post this".  It also makes me feel a bit inadequate in a weird way.  I see all these women posting tons of pictures of themselves out with their girlfriends, they are at clubs, restaurants, bars, concerts.  I don't want to do these things, when given the choice I will always pick being with my family. But, it makes me feel that maybe I am doing something wrong.  Maybe I am the weird one making the strange choice by spending time with my family instead of my friends.  Am I weird because I don't do these things that so many other women do?  Is there something wrong with me because I don't have the desire for a "girls night'?  
The decision was easy, NO FACEBOOK for 21 days; if I am happy at the end of 21 days I will not get on it again.
2. No texting and driving, it is not safe and I am setting a bad example for my boys.
3. No scale, I don't know why I weigh myself.  I weigh A LOT, I always have and I probably always will.  Looking in the mirror and the way my clothes fit should be enough.  The scale got thrown out!


I don't know if these small goals will make me happy.  I don't know if these are the things that are making me unhappy.  I DO know that I felt amazing yesterday, I was so productive, I got so much done.  I felt like a better person, a better wife, and a better mother.  I was shocked at how often I wanted to go check facebook, it is a habit.  I found myself thinking of it all the time.  I couldn't believe all the free time I had.  Instead of sitting on the computer I accomplished so many other things.  I did things that used to be good habits that had gotten replace by computer time.  I felt like instead of being lazy I was doing my part as a wife and a mother.  I realized in one day that I had been feeling guilty for the time that I had been spending on facebook.  I felt guilty because I knew that while my husband was hard at work I was sitting on my butt facebooking instead of maintaining a home and family.  That guilt is what has been making me unhappy.  


I hope the next 20 days are as good as the first.  

A Star Is Born!

Riley is the star in his classroom this week, typically in any other class this means that the student is highlighted all week long; they get special privileges and responsibilities.  This year they get to make a poster and bring in a treat.  They are the star all week long but according to the boys there is nothing special that they get to do besides the poster.

I hate making posters, I feel it is a waste of time and supplies.  Erik and I don't even print pictures anymore, everything is digital.  So rather than waste countless hours on a poster that the kids can't even see from their desks I decided to make a movie.   I am just learning how to use iMovie and it seems like every time I use it I learn something new.  I let Riley pick all the pictures that he wanted and the songs that he wanted.  We tried to keep it around 5 minutes.

Like always when I look at pictures it makes me(and Erik) want to have another baby(or two).  It also makes me realize just how blessed I am to have two healthy and happy  boys.  It is never hard to find pictures of them smiling; because they are always smiling.  It is however hard to find pictures of them separate, they are always together; laughing, and playing, arms around each other as they pose for the camera.

There is always a challenge with parenting, it seems that my boys take turns being challenging.  For 6 months Carter will be a pill then they switch and Riley will turn into a stinker and Carter will be great.  For the past 9 months  or so Riley has been my challenge; until recently.  I don't know if I changed my attitude toward him or if he is just catching on.  He has been so pleasant, so loving for the past few weeks.  It is no longer unusual for him to pull me into his bed at night and give me a big hug and tell me he loves me.  Each morning he wakes me with the biggest smile I have ever seen, then he crawls under my covers and snuggles with me for the next 30 minutes until it is time to get ready for school.  I have loved having him in my life, he has so much energy and such a great outlook on life.  Putting this short video together reminded me just how much I adore him.  I want life to slow down just a bit so I can enjoy every second that I have with him.