Welcome to February, everyone!
I love the start of a new month, especially a new month that includes my birthday. Exactly one week from today my twin brother and I will turn the big 2-8. I’m surprisingly not that beat up about turning another year older, I’m actually pretty excited. 27 was a great year, but it’s time to move on and see what new challenges lay ahead for 28. I’m not getting older, just a little wiser (and stronger!) with time. 
I kicked February off with an evil challenge at CrossFit this morning -100 push ups. Yikes
Well, before the push ups, we worked on bench presses. Again, the bench press was another “first” for me at CrossFit. Since I only go three days a week, I’m realizing I miss a lot on my “off” days. They worked on bench presses last Tuesday, but I wasn’t there to do them.
The bench presses were a challenge. My upper body is very weak and I’m still working on building my strength. Jolie and I (the only two females in today’s class) shared a bench and slowly went up in weight, adding 5 lb increments. I ended up maxing out at 70lbs for my 5 RM, definitely a number I can work on improving in the future.
It’s never a good sign when the WOD only consists of two things – push ups and evil wheels. Ouch.
Thankfully we were granted permission to do some on our knees, otherwise I wouldn’t have survived. I started in the full push up position to see how many I could do, then broke down to my knees to finish the set. I know going to your knees sounds like the easy way out, but trust me, it wasn’t. As soon as I hit 100 I collapsed to the ground and couldn’t move. My whole body was done. We could have gone to 150 for a RX, but it hurt too much. I had reached my limit at 100.
Each time we collapsed during our set, we had to do a 40 meter prowler. I broke for my first one when I had maxed out at full push ups and took off for my prowler run. I was the first one to do the prowler and just started pushing the one closest to me. It was heavy – really, really heavy – and I couldn’t believe how much effort it took me to push it to the end. It was only when I made it back in the box that my coach started giving me a round of applause and congratulating me for pushing the “dude” prowler. Wait.. what?
It had completely slipped my mind that there was a heavier “dude” prowler and a lighter “female” prowler. I had accidentally pushed the heavier one (which wasn’t terrible, but not my idea of a good time) for the first set. Whoops. I made sure not to make the same mistake for my second, but it was a bit of a confidence knowing I could push it if I wanted to.
The evil wheels were all I had left after the push ups. I took my time with those and did them in 10 rep increments. It burned!
Something tells me my core and chest muscles are going to hate me in the morning!
Post-workout refuel.
- plain Chobani
- Kashi Go Lean Crisp
- Almond Slivers
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
I’m out of walnuts. 
Walnuts are usually what really puts these bowls over the top in deliciousness.
Do you have any goals for the new month?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
What is a prowler? And congrats on the 100 pushups! I did 100 pushups at a CrossFit class, but it just happened to work out that way based on the warmup and how many rounds of Hand Release Pushups I got through during the WOD. Amazing feeling!
Dori recently posted..DSB Review: Work It Out – Hoboken Boutique Fitness Studio
Here’s a description I wrote of the prowler last week: http://mealsandmiles.com/2013/01/25/mr-prowler/ It’s basically a bunch of weight your push from Point A to Point B.
I love walnuts, but find that it gets expensive to buy nuts, other than peanuts. Where do you buy yours, and do you buy them in bulk or in bags?
I buy them from Publix in a bag. I’ve actually found that to be cheaper than going to bulk route at Greenwise or Whole Foods (which is the only place I know that sells bulk around me). What I need to do is going to Costco and buy them there.
Oh man! I call that the wheel of pain!! We use them in TRX sometimes and I feel it within a few hours. Hurts so good!
Maureen recently posted..I Slipped
1oo push-ups?!? Whoa… that’s crazy!! Props to you for finishing
I do most push ups on my knees. I did Angie the other day at Crossfit — 100 push ups, 100 pull ups, 100 sit ups and 100 goblet squats. It was intense.
Kristy @ Kristy’s Health Revolution recently posted..Brrr!
Holy moly! Just reading that makes me want to cry.
Yeah, even with the push ups on my knees and using a band to do the pull ups, I wanted to die when I was done.
Kristy @ Kristy’s Health Revolution recently posted..Brrr!
yesss another February birthday!! I’m 25 on the 5th
that sounds like a super intense workout! I’m focusing on core and loooooots of pushups and planks this month!
TorontoRunner recently posted..Falling in love with exercise
My goal this month is to up some of my weights…I can feel that I’ve kind of been coasting, so now’s the time to push it!
Lauren @ Eat Like An Elephant recently posted..The Snack Exchange: Making Super Bowl Food Gluten and Dairy Free
Wuhoo! Great job on that prowler! Push ups are the devil. After doin them (+ lat ring pull ups) this past week I’m nursing a minor strain on my left (weaker) arm! I can’t wait to build more strength in my upper body! Crossfit is definitely going to do it
beka @ rebecca roams recently posted..January #goalgetter2013 Results
You are going to be SO sore tomorrow! I like starting new months too- an opportunity to get reorganized and remotivated.
Christine @ BookishlyB recently posted..Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts
Oh gosh, I have awful upper body strength, especially since strength training has gone to the wayside over the past couple of months
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats recently posted..The Results Are In!
100 push ups make me want to cry just thinking about it!
100 push ups dang! I am doing a push up challenge with becky from olivesnwine and I hope to be able to do 20 real push ups by Feb 28th!
Sara @ fitcupcaker recently posted..Push Up Challenge: Day 2
Holy crap girl, major kudos to you. 100 pushups, wowzer! You make me excited and terrified to try crossfit for the first time next week. I did a beginner workout today that included a total of 25 pushups and I thought I was going to die. Keep it up lady!
My trainer used to use that evil wheel thing. It is awful.
The Kidless Kronicles
Nicole@TheKidlessKronicles recently posted..Another bait and switch
That ab wheel looks so intense! I’m pretty sure my gym has one in “the random workout stuff” corner, I’ll have to try it out!
Katie recently posted..#HLS13