This Week's Trend

Ok, so the trend for my posts this week is definitely stress.

Everything seems to be happening at once - being busy at work and having my dad here + dealing with his health stuff. I don't feel like I've even recovered (or completely unpacked) from Berlin!

Still, it's going ok. I'm trying to be more efficient in how I'm planning my day - preparing meals in advance (chopping extra veggies while waiting for things to cook plus having the menu for the week planned is a huge help).

I need to get more sleep. Either I'm up (early in the morning or late at night) finishing my work or I wake up in the middle of the night feeling stressed about unfinished work. This is by far the unhealthiest thing that's happening in my life at the moment. I really need to get a grip. I have, however, managed to take a bit of a nap each afternoon. I think that's the only way I've been surviving my day at the moment.

Exercise is going great. It's my one escape from everything else that's happening in my life. Instead of stressing over how much time it takes to get to the gym, change, workout, shower, change, and get home, I just take it in stride and be selfish about that "me" time.

Body Balance was terrific today. I love seeing how the strength I'm gaining from CrossFit is helping me move deeper into poses and just get more from the workout in general. During the last 10 minutes of meditation I pretty much fell asleep on my mat, lol. I didn't even realize when the class had finished!

I'm glad I managed some rest today because I sure did need my energy for today's CrossFit WOD.

We worked on overhead squats and clean & jerks. I know I can lift heavy; I just need to work on my technique now. I need to brace my core more and concentrate on adding more energy to my lifts. It's going to take practice. I just have to figure out WHEN I can practice without it impeding on my workouts.

Our WOD was alternating thrusters (ugh) and burpees with a 10 kg plate.
Round 1: 30 each (I lifted 25 kg)
Round 2: 20 each (I did the first 10 @ 25 kg and then dropped to 20 kg, which I used for the remaining rounds)
Round 3: 15 each
Round 4: 10 each
Round 5: 5 each

50 deep squats
50 crunches

My upper arms and shoulders are so sore! It's a satisfying sore though.

I still feel like I can do better and push harder. I wonder what it is that's holding me back. It's got to be in my head. I feel like knowing that I'm sleep deprived and stressed is making me 'think' that I don't have the energy to do this. Yet I also know that I do. I really try to psych myself up before class - I have to figure out a way to dig deeper.

I just have to stay confident and not let frustration derail me.

Did great with food today - made a coconut shrimp curry with bell peppers, eggplant, and sugar-snap peas that was so good! I can't wait to have it for lunch tomorrow. At least that's one less meal I'll have to cook (though still have to make something for Dad and D).

The adventure continues. Gotta keep making right choices and moving forward.

Fingers crossed for a good night's sleep.