I Smoked It!!!

My Spartan 300 Challenge that is :-) 

Workout:
25 Pullups
50 Dealifts
50 Pushups
50 Box Jumps
50 Floor Wipes
50 Kettlebell Presses
25 Pullups
20 minute cut-off

I kicked off training for this challenge back on May 8th with a benchmark workout which I did not finish in the 20 minutes time limit.  I made it through 38 kettlebell presses which left me 12 kb presses and 25 pullups short of finishing.  So I set a goal of just finishing the final workout.  This past Saturday I not only finished the workout, I SMOKED IT in 17:55!!!

In addition to that goal I also set the following goals for the 7 week challege and saw them come to fruition:

Lose 5 more lbs - CHECK!  I've lost a total of 15 lbs since March 15th, the day I commited to eating Paleo.
Lose 3% more body fat - CHECK!  Total body fat lost since March 15th is now 8% :-)
Reduce overall inches - CHECK!  4 more inches lost for a total of 20" overall since March 15th.
Overcome my fear of box jumps on the 21" box - CHECK!

The only goal I did not meet was my goal of getting 1 kipping pullup without a band.  I'm thisclose and am confident it will happen any day now.  I've got the body mechanics down just need to add more power to the hip thrust and push off the top of the bar to get my chin over the bar.

I not only see the results of my new found way of eating and my Crossfit workout in my time on Saturday but how I felt during the workout itself.  I felt much stronger, not needing to rest as much during the workout and my recovery post work out was so much faster than on the May 8th workout.  This Saturday I went from the workout to a vinyasa yoga class an hour later and had a great practice, double and triple dipping chatarangas and feeling strong through out the entire class!  On Sunday I took a 9 a.m. hatha flow class still feeling strong, double and triple dipping chatarangas and then ran 5 miles that evening.  Muscle soreness is minimal and I'm ready for today's WOD of 5 burpees and 5 shuttle runs 5 times for time!

Post challenge I realize how much Crossfit and Paleo have become a lifestyle for me.  My motivation to hit the gym has not waivered and I did not feel the need to celebrate the challenge end by eating something crazy.  My Challenge morning pre-workout meal was a cup of green tea and a banana with almond butter.  Post workout I had 11 oz of coconut water and enjoyed a delicious lunch of a 96% lean hamburger patty with guacomole, spring greens, beets, cabbage, and cucumbers after yoga class.  For dinner Mr. X who cheered me on during my workout and dutifully held the chalk bucket for me during my final 25 pullups gifted me with an incredible dry aged steak which I ate along with mushrooms sauteed with garlic in olive oil and red wine, grilled organic sweet vidalia onions and a decadent bottle of Spottswoode 2006 Cab, a very generous and greatly appreciated gift from a friend's personal wine collection.

So my journey continues with the same enthusiasm and I've set these goals for the next 4 weeks:

Lose 5 more lbs by July 30th
Lose 3% more body fat by July 30th

Just in case you are wondering about the significance of July 30th, I am headed to Vegas to celebrate my little sister's 40th b'day and I want to look younger than her poolside at the Wynn ;-)