Woohoo, rest day!

Happy Rest Day!

Giddy up and make it an active rest day!!

hmm I guess it's time to get off my ass and do yesterday's workout!!

Thanks God tomorrow is a rest day...my entire body is sore from Deadlift from tuesday WOD and still be tomorrow from todays WOD....

Damn...Jolie is one piece of athlete...I would like to get arrested by her...LOL...

woohoo!! been lookin for those two words since joshua!

When I imagine hell, I picture lots and lots of burpees.... Ouch those hurt.

Finally rest dy. My wife and I are smoked. Slowly learning to never underestimate a workout. I will go for a PR friday tho. 3.2.1...

JOLIE - you're the real deal, girl. thanks for breathin' your fire all over us. hope to meet you someday!

I second Heather's comments!

Burpees are so aweful!!

but on rest days can we work on skills like handstands and other stuff????

Pretty Princess Jolie! I love you, Grrrl!

as rx'd

24 hours

I'm on the fence about resting tomorrow.

Spent yesterday flying so I missed the workout. I feel way too rested to take another rest day. Yuck. BUT I want to be ready for the next cycle.

Ahh.. decisions, decisions.. But if that's my biggest problem, life is good :)

Maybe if it's warm enough tomorrow I can finally start CrossFit Endurance WODs. That would be perfect.

Definetly one of the hottest woman i've ever been around. Beautiful doesn't do Jolie justice.

to day I finely star fished on the floor my time was 41min sub the 45 barbell 4 two 15lb dumbbells

Jolie is way too badass to have Enya (or whatever that song is) playing in her video. It made me laugh nonetheless.

Back is starting to feel better from the pull. Maybe tomorrow i can make up a missed WOD. Won't be any record setting times but...good lord am i going stir crazy. Being in bed all day is certainly not for me

Jolie, you'll always be a Champion!

to day I finely star fished on the floor my time was 41min sub the 45 barbell 4 two 15lb dumbbells

Jolie,

Looking good. You do LE woman proud!

Something about a women that can knock the crap out of me with her night stick. You not only make LEO women proud. You make us all proud.
Stay safe

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice Jolie! Inspirational!!

ya jolie! that was probably my favorite athlete profile video ever! jolie is such a badass, what a wonderful example of a strong, classy woman. keep up the great work girl no doubt you will kick as$ again this year!

Chicks, guns, crossfit...check check check awesome video!

I wish I could get even half the guys on my department to try crossfit. I've already indoctrinated two. I'm also in the process of convincing my Chief into turning our "Sally Port" ie. Garage, into a box. So far we have an Oly bar, some weight, kettlebells and a treadmill. Need a pull - up bar. ROCK ON!!!!

Awesome Video. Nothing like a strong, beautiful woman.

I have a suggestion for the music for Part 2 - the song that's stuck in my head now...

LiL Wayne ft Bobby Valentino "Mrs.Officer".

"She's got me sayin' weeeooweeoowee.. like a cop car"

;) I had to.

I want to pose a question to the experienced crossfitters here. I've been crossfitting for about 5 months and loving it. I did the traditional bodybuilding workout for over 10 years with average success. I just got bored with it and my cardio sucked!

I have noticed that my cardio, legs, back, and abs are significantly stronger. I am noticing that my chest, tricepts, and bicepts are getting slightly weaker.

For example I max benched 275lbs with my old workout and now I am struggling with 225lbs. I have started adding a chest workout once a week to supplement. I know that coach does not care about bench press much, but I want everyone's opinion.

Is anyone else having this problem and if so, what are you doing about it? Just remember, I'm not hating on Crossfit. I am just telling whats going on in my training.
Thanks in advance.

Jolie you rock. Little Jolie (8) say's to say "hi and that she wants to be just like you"

Just wanting to give a shoutout to s'more for his comment yesterday. I hope you're having a great rest day, buddy. Big hugs to you!

I had a horrible week. I only caught the WOD on Wednesday and I'll get it tomorrow. Spent all day today at the shooting range. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast, but I missed Crossfit so I was a little upset. I did find out that there's going to be a Cert in Milton soon, so I may check that out. I might wait until I get back to San Diego because hearsay is that the best certs are held in San Diego. Hm...

Well everyone, enjoy the rest day. Even Lindsay Lohan needs one day in rehab every once and a while!

#16 Eric ... you've been in bed all this time? What about sending me an e-mail to catch me up on what's going on with you? Bed rest is rarely conducive to quick recovery in these sorts of injuries.

Hopefully I can help out somehow.

#25 AllisonNYC

I laughed pretty hard at that haha. But then ironically enough I clicked on my iTunes (it's on shuffle) and...guess what starts playing!!

wee ooo wee ooo wee ooo, wee ooo wee ooo wee ooo... :)

It's like it was meant to be or something!

Lovely, after my first week my legs/back/lats are shot!

But I'm lovin' it!

#29 TonyTheChiro

Well, I haven't been in bed ALL the time. But in the house...yes. I was going to e-mail you but i got sent to a Liberty Chiropractic site and i wasn't sure if those e-mails get sent directly to you or to the business (which is probably run by you anyways!). But going on the safe side...long story short version:

Eric vs Mr. Joshua
LAST rep: Eric loses!! Goes to lower weight down, makes it 1/8 of the way and *boom/bang/crash* pinch in lower back, it gives out.
Waddles out of gym
Next day: Walking resembles something between the cross of a duck and crippled old man!

I've been doing light stretches, foam rolling, ice/heat packs, and today i was actually able to SLOWLY practice squatting and deadlift with a pvc. Bending forward at the waist is tough!!!

To everyone else sorry for the long post! Tony if that's your email linked through that page i'll use that next time. Thank you for the kind gesture of help and advice! Super appreciated!

"Back is starting to feel better from the pull..."

Comment #16 - Posted by: Eric Gohl 22/5'10/164

Great to hear! My back is doing incrementally better as well. I can get out of bed without whincing too much.

Hi and big hugs to Sailor Erin, in8girl, fitmom, strong lil pony, AlisonNYC and all the girls at crossfit you are awesome...women are the perfect combination STRENGHT, BEAUTY AND DETERMINATION...3-2-1 GO

hands up who's done a CrossFit workout at a Canadian diamond mine? ... just me? (Diavik)

comment #26 Mike B.
Yes, I am going through the same. I still bench press, bicep curl and do some strict tricep workout once a week along with 3-4 WOD's a week. I have been lifting for 25 years this July and I still have the old school stuff still in me. I love to bench press it warms me up right away!

Mike B.

Crossfit is ultimately a compromise. If you are deadlifting 400lbs, you are going to have to compromise some of that to be able to push out a decent mile or 5k run.

The same concept applies with your situation.

i think i'm going to destroy my Helen time tomorrow.... previous 13:50ish.... i should destroy it... going for sub 11

Hi Herm, Rookie, Eric, COS, Pedro Barrera...all crossfitters
Ok my time on the OH lunges/burpee wod was 10:04 i'm dissapointed because i could be faster i start way too fast but i learn about keep a constant rythm...i hope each and everyond have a nice rest day because i know that we all are waiting for LINDA this sunday hahahahaha!!! Herm i hope your back get fully recovery

#26 Mike
I have not really seen a decrease in strength on anything doing Crossfit. I have been weightlifting for about 22 years prior to Crossfit and I feel as if my bench is a little stronger. I never did have a high max. It is around 235. Before I could never do many reps at 185, now I can. Everyone also tells me that my arms and chest are much bigger after I started doing Crossfit. I guess my body likes it. It's funny. I'm in the gym half the time and I and stronger and bigger than before. My legs have defiantly gotten bigger and stronger.

After my first month of "trying out" Crossfit while still doing the old workouts, I was hooked and dropped everything else like a bad habit. I haven't looked back since.

PS... Once in a while I will do a set of 25 to 30 body weight reps of bench presses to warm up.It feels so light after doing Linda a few times.

#38 D'wall
I think that is the going thing around here with Helen. I went from 13:53 to 10:09 in two months. I have seen a few others do similar. Good luck and post your time.

--"woohoo!! been lookin for those two words since joshua!"

Amen my man

#33 Herm

Haha! That's exactly where i was at! Except Wednesday morning getting out of bed was accompanied with an, "Aaaahhh!!" *freeze in place*
Good to hear you're doing better as well!
Oh well, I take it as a lesson learned and I'll come back hitting it hard asap!

#39 s'more
Hey man! Don't be disappointed with that time at all! Seems to me you were cruisin! And just for you i hope Linda does pop up next cycle because you've been talking about that for a little over a week now haha.

Take care guys and i hope everyone enjoys their well earned rest day! :)

Ah, a rest day :) I'm gonna enjoy a cup of coffee, a phone call to my wife, and some jump rope drills to get my knee ready to hit the next cycle. I hope everyone enjoys their day "off".

In reference to our rest day article, at least I know who found the diamonds that gave the Ice Road Truckers their jobs!!

#35 Fern

How long you been doing crossfit at Diavik? I was at Snap Lake for a year and Diavik for a couple months. Didn`t do crossfit up there as I just started crossfit last week.

thanks Eric i don't know what cruisin means but it's great to read your posts =)

Man, you guys really like rogues.

JOLIE! I would love to know what kind of diet you follow. Any chance you can post on that??

Oop sorry s'more! Think of the word "cruisin" as meaning fast or quick. In other words, good job :)

Perhaps i should be the one apologizing for my english this time hey? :P

Interesting article, eh.

=) thats ok, it's just that i know only a few basic words in english...thanks Eric big hugs

Eric and Herm hope you guys' back feels better and is ready to go for the next cycle! and s'more thats a great time i wouldnt be disappointed at all!!

Sailor Erin where are you stationed and what is your rate?

oh yeah and Alison in NYC that cracks me up...that should totally be the song!

Jolie inspires me

And she's super hott

thanks Todd dissapointed because i fail trying to get close to Rookie's time

haha dont we all try to get close to rookie's time s'more....have a good rest day

lunges and burpees as rx'd

21:50

farkme dead

Hey i take a look to Rookie's time 10:40 i beat his time wow!!!!! I can't belive it!!! =) feel AWESOME!!!

Repost from the other day b/c didn't get any feedback and thought I'd have better luck with this on a rest day. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I know I'm not the only one wondering what the best approach is. Thanks again.

Hey Team,
I need some advice for training for a crossfit games. Coming up in Feb is the first annual CFHSV games. A little gathering of atheletes scheduled for Valentine's day. http://cfhsvgames.com/

Obviously I want to perform at my peak at the games. Lately I've been PR'ing everything and feel great. Afterwards when the adreneling and endorphines wear off I feel pretty shot. Wake up in the morning with little aches and pains. I feel my body is telling me to take a break but I don't want to lose my "edge". There is now 24 more days until the games. Do any of you guys that have competed in CrossFit games etc have any advice for a pre-contest training schedule including rest?

I've been thinking about 4-5 days off....DOING NOTHING. Followed by 12 days of max efforts, then going abou 60% or so the last few days prior to the games.

Any advice will be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks,

KLowe

Eric, what is your breathing cycle like on Mr J? I only ask because I had a similar injury on Linda last year which seems to have healed pretty good. In the last Mr J I was just plain scared so I did an attrocious time 1:04:30 or something sun dialish. This time I chaged up my breathing - did the usual in and hold at the start of the first then breathed again(out,in and hold) before putting down the first and doing the second,and so on. It felt really good and I PBed at 44:45 (nothie on Rookie but I am getting there). I am interested to hear what breathing pattern you guys use for touch and go deads.

#26-

Of course you are going to get weaker at weightlifting. You were specializing before. I don't care what anyone else posts. Your max weight traditional gym lifts are going to go down once you start following the Crossfit protocol.

When I was a gym rat (20+ years), I was throwing up huge bench press numbers. Now I struggle to get one rep at a weight I use to toss around for 8 to 10 reps. Who cares?!?!? I can still throw up a boatload of bodyweight bench presses no problem.

I am a SWAT operator. There are guys on my SWAT team that can throw up huge numbers in the squat, the bench press, the dealift, etc. There are guys who run competitively. I still kick all their asses every time we have to do our physical qualifier.

Without trying to sound too cheesy: Where you are at the finish line of life matters a whole lot more than how much you can bench press at Gold's Gym.

Play around with weightlifting. It is important to be strong. I imagine you are already killing the workouts with your weightlifting background. Just don't get hung up on the bench press. The max bench is not a great way to judge one's overall strength. It is simply a way to judge one's ability to bench press big loads.

hey im getting back into working out again and have minimal gym equipment how do i start??

Mr. Freddy C it's an honor read your post WELL SAID... big fan of yours
Sorry for my terrible english

#45 Dane
I was at Diavik in April 2007 for a few weeks, but I am not on a regular rotation. It is well set up though - C2 Rower, lots of bars, weights (no bumpers), pullup stations, nice indoor track. When I was there, there was even a spot to hang my rings.

I didn't really get the Wired article though. I am not sure what is so rogue about Fipke? He sounds like a normal weirdo geologist to me, albeit a successful one.

Freddy,

What kind of Rat are you now?

:)
sevan

Now I know what's going on. Really great!

s'more - well done my friend. now i will have to work harder tomorrow.

Freddy - hope the holiday is going well

CFE 30 minutes at 15RPE...

Probably more like 12-13RPE, ran Perimeter at Warhorse with K.

3.85 miles at 31:00

Can you help with upper body strength? I am taking a statin and hate the affects of muscle loss.

Can you suggest something for extra upper body strength? This is for a person who has a special request for a person who is taking statin drugs and notices a recent sag in the biceps/triceps region.

rest day wooohooo!

#26
If body building is your "sport" then do it. I have added basic lifts every Monday Wednesday and Friday. Basic lifts being Bench/Curl/Back Squat with huge success. I go "heavy" on each one and pretty high rep also. I can send you details if you want. While crossfit is the best "Fitness Program" I have ever participated in, the program calls for supplementation of "sport" whatever that may be.

#72 Noel
Can you also send me your program?

#26 Mike
I was doing the BB routine for 30 yrs, never the strongest but always had a chest and arms that were a lttle bigger than my back, legs and delts. Turning exclusively to Crossfit in March '08, overall I am leaner, stronger, in better physical proportion and in so much better shape. Once in a while the Coach will add body weight bench in the wod which I can handle for reps but you are right it is not the same.
We are now training the sum of the parts in harmony, not just individual parts.
I am also a triathlete and my "sum" performance since my Crossfit inception has hugely improved.
But most important, my wife thinks that I look great!

OK Eric, Herm ... and anybody else still trashed by Mr Joshua:

Got an exercise for you to do. But first a little background...

The most common lumbar spine injury to happen around a dead lift is a facet joint sprain. The erector spinae muscles, which run up each side of the spine from your sacrum/pelvis to the base of your skull, will fatigue with hi-rep DL workouts.

Fatigued muscles don't control joints as well as they normally would. The delicate facet joints of the lumbar spine guide movement, mostly flexion/extension, but when the e. spinae muscles are worn out they don't protect the facet joint in its movement, making a sprain a common event.

These often happen on flexion of the lumbar spine (eg Eric lowering the b-bell after a DL, or Joe Six-Pack getting stuck bent over the bathroom sink brushing his teeth a day after some heavy gardening).

If you tell me where you are on this pretty blue-green globe of ours, I can probably refer you to a great chiropractor nearby.

In the mean time ...

Find a relatively firm surface - eg a carpeted floor. A bed will be too soft. Lay on your back, tuck your knees to your chest and rock back and forth. If my hunch is right, you'll feel a localised area of pain on the left or right side of your spine, probably just above your sacrum at the level of the crest of your pelvic bones.

As you rock back and forth in tucked position, aim for that tender spot. Work it by rocking back and forth over it for 3-5 mins at a time 5-10 times per day.

It's no substitute for an adjustment of the spine and nerve system to speed recovery and help maximise future performance, but it's a start.

Also, keep up the ice while it's super sore ... do some stretching as it gets less sore ...

and take care to get it properly checked out by someone who is not on the other side of the world from you and who has the advantage of actually being able to see you!

I hope this helps ...!

I am going to piggy back on many of the comments regarding Jolie~ in viewing this particular video she displays that "chasing excellence" motto described in CrossFit Journal articles.

ROOKIE!!, haha well I am coming closer, for some reason last night while I was busting my ars to finish with a respectable time I thought you had finish in under 8 minutes, I keep saying rookie is not a human no way!! But, to my surprise this morning I was reading the daily grind here on our forum and notices S'more and his very impressive 10:04 for yesterday's work out and how he mentioned he came in under your time. This made me review your time and noticed I was not as far behind you as I thought I was with a 11:20.

I should have taken your advice and not stopped on my last two sets of burpees to grab air. Next time I can breath when I am finished! haha

Congrats on our time S'more! and Rookie, get ready cause it looks like you'll have quite the target on your back come Saturday...

Awesome job Crossfiters, lets keep up the amazing work and performance and really prove why we are the elite! See you all tomorrow!

nice job Bird. will certainly have my work cut out for me tomorrow. time to ramp up the intensity some more

#59 Klowe

I don't have any great feedback on your thoughts, which sound worth a try.

I would suggest you will get a ton of very well thought-out feedback if you post your question on the Crossfit message boards (follow the link from the home page, and register).

Hope this helps. Good luck.

S'more, your english is very good. No one on here has any complaints. Keep it up.

Todd: right now I'm stuck in Mississippi. I'm an AT, but once they leave me alone about qualifications i will be putting in my officer package to go pilot.

When I grow up, I want to be Jolie Gentry.

Great video! I had the pleasure of meeting Jolie at a Level 1 Certification this summer at Camp Pendleton and she blew me away not only by her strength but also by her kindness and beauty. Best of luck in the games, Jolie! We will all be rooting for you!

Oh lovely day...rest :)

I know I have been WODding my butt off because I feel absolutely no need to supplement my day off with anything. LOL usually I feel like I "need" to work on *something* or toss in a lil 5k... not today.

I walk up and down several flights of stairs few times a day (maybe today I'll actually count) here at the hospital, I never take the elevator,so I'm not a total slug on my day off. So far I just got here and walked up 3, down 2, up 2. I hand deliver mail instead of inter-office or e-mail, and stand when I am charting, rather than sitting at stations, always stand when participating in rounds, and when talking/visiting patients. I park (out of necessity-work in large urban hospital) about 1/2 mile away and never take the shuttle bus. I can't believe its almost always full!

Sailor Erin, in8girl, Carrie McG, FitMom, AllisonNYC, Nadia - keep those numbers rolling in! I love looking for your posts. Nice kinship.

s'more- pobrecito, how long have you been speaking/writing english? I think its pretty good. It'll only get better the more you practice- kinda like me as a newbie Crossfitter! I started 09/25/08. I get better every day. AND I get better when I eat paleo/IF, have rest days and sleep well - so I will make sure I get 8 hrs tonight!

Have a great rest day everyone! Buen fin de semana!

Weird article. The last paragraph made it worthwhile though.

Sailor Erin....weird I was also an AT, i just got out 6 months ago, i was station on the Lincoln...I worked on lame CASS benches

thank God!! my body is pretty worn out after this cycle!! not taking a complete rest day though. doin 3x5 air squats, push-ups and sit-ups followed by a 20 min. easy run and a good stretch afterwards.

Im a begginner, this was my 2nd day of crossfit... Burpee's and barbell lunges..

24:30

and i hated life at the end lol
Crossfit 2 - Brad 0

thanks Rookie i was just too exited because the time but the thing is that i'm lighter =.(...have a great rest day guys

#26
Freddy summed it up pretty well (as he usually does) but I'd like to add that, while you've physically accepted CF as a workout regimen, emotionally you're still clinging to the mindset of your previous routines.

In other words, you're still defining fitness as 1RM BP, when in fact you're not training for that anymore. It's your paradigm.

A happy medium might be just to use CFT as a basis for comparison and, furthermore, it may motivate you to also track improvements in CFT/BW ratio. When you get to 6.0, you're doing pretty well.

Jolie -- the most impressive part of the vid was the absolute perfect form on the thrusters. Complete ROM and dead-on lockout at the top.

It was so good, a casual observer would never guess you were in a timed competition.

So I just signed up for the regional qualifier yesterday - knowing full well that I'm not going to come close to winning, but excited about the event nevertheless...is anybody else in the same boat as me? And for that matter if you are do videos like this give you butterflies in your stomach?

Comment #83 - Posted by: falk

I agree the last paragraph did make it worth while.

It really didn't portray him as a rogue in his professional life. Maybe personal but it appeared as if he had just taken the concepts further than anyone else. And then really applied himself.

GET IT D'WALL!

Comment #74 - Posted by: TonyTheChiro

I just layed on my back and tried your rocking back and forth with knees up on my chest and got a slight pain to the right side exactly where you said. It went away after about the first couple of rocks. Should I go far enough so that the area of the pain actually presses against the floor or just gently rock with the base of my spine elevated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as this injury has been getting better then worse for too long now.

Thanks Scott

That was the baddest ass video I've ever seen, Jolie you are a beautiful beast. I watched part of your squat thruster wod at the games, but I didn't know who you were at the time...

Anyway, squat thrusters have always been a particular thorn in my side, but watching you do them just now...well, I've got goosebumps. Great work, keep it up and I'll see you in July :-)

Never quit!

I never thought it was possible to have a picture with a dumpster in it be so fricking hot. I was wrong. Great job Jolie!! I now have seen everything.

#74 TonyTheChiro

Well for not being here you pretty much hit it spot on haha. Oddly enough I did that rocking motion last night because i noticed that the pain flared up when i "ball up". I'll definitely focus on that movement more today along with the ice/heat alternation, etc. It was great to get your advice. I'm amazed at how accurate you were with...pretty much everything!

#60 Brett_CrossfitNQ_181cm_90kg

You know, i'm not even really sure! Breathing has always come very natural to me in it's timing, so I want to say that it is how you described. But, considering it's for time it would happen very quickly. It also may be a combination of the "in-hold-out-in-hold" and holding my breath for a few reps. I'm going to have to pay more attention from now on so I can answer more accurately! (when I'm able).

#52 Todd

Thanks for the good wishes! I'm hoping to be able to start the next cycle straight away, but we'll see. If not, you'll just have to push a little bit harder and make up for me missing out! :)

ok, funny rest day story:

I'm giving my kids piggyback rides and dumping them on their beds the other night...over and over, they're giggling like crazy and don't want to stop. After a while, my wife comes back and says; "Honey, aren't you getting tired?" Without skipping a beat my 8 year old son stops, looks her dead in the eye and says: "Daddy doesn't get tired, he's Crossfit."

Priceless.

Well, it is a left calf strain, which basically means I tore the muscle, just not too bad. It is a small tear on the medial head of the gastrocnemius, just below the knee. Limping right now. Doc says I'll can start exercizing on Monday, which means it is going to be a long, boring weekend. It also means I will miss 3 MCIWS workouts, and when I do get back, I will be behind the power curve compared to everyone else. This might also keep me from completing the course as I have to pass 4 events which is the focus of the 2 week conditioning course. Swim 500m in 13:00, 25m underwater on 1 breath, 25m brick retrieval and 50m brick tow. I can do 1,2 and 4. It is 3 I am worried about, especially since it is all frog kick and that is how I originally injured myself. Keep everyone posted.

Celebrated my 63rd birthday by doing three of my LEAST favorite exercises- For time:
63 Burpees
63 Pullups
Run 6.3 miles (first run over 5 K in about 15 years) 1:25:54 Total time.

Thanks to Coach and all of you who post on Crossfit.com--without your example, I never would have even tried this one!

I can see from that last paragraph the obvious connection to CrossFit's founders and the diamond wild man. Is the lesson as simple as pursue your passion with unreasonable amounts of virtuosity, mastery and work and your will earn the rewards you deserve?

Amazing, fun story, and inspiring. Paul

"Hey," he says, "here's the thing. I learned that I did my best. I mean, I really tried my best. How many people can say that? I worked hard, and I mean really hard. I worked seven days a week from 8 am until 3 am. Every day. We drilled and drilled all winter when it was dark and the windchill was 80 below. Everyone thought I was crazy. But most people just never do their best, hey. And I did."

NICE!

Freddy,
I think you hit it on the head for me. I am also a police officer but it is hard to get my old weight training partners into crossfit. They see me doing these "crazy" workouts and then if they see me lay down on the bench and the heavy weight crush me.
Oh well, their loss.
thanks guys

Peejay2 #99:

Happy birthday young man, keep up the strong work. That WOD is no joke.

Never quit!

P.S. I hate burpees too :-)

#62 Mbnewman

Check these two articles out...

http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CFJ_Widman_CFStartupGuide1.pdf

http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/BeginnersMay03.pdf

Start with what you have, and master form before you try to gain intensity.
Hope this helps.

Peejay #99 hey bro HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! best wishes for you this and every day...never give up never surrender bro....train crossfit live crossfit

m/38/190/70"

CFWU x 2

Goat work:
95# thruster, 50 reps for time - 4:00
3 min rest
65# thruster, 50 reps for time - 3:40

#104,

I can't believe I'm even replying to your post but what the heck. For you to define all police officers one way is obviously short sighted to say the least. That would be like me saying, "All guys named Mark hide behind a comment board and would never say what they feel to an actual cop". Anyway I'm sorry you feel that way about the police, maybe some day a cop will save you or one of your family member's lives and it might change your perspective. Police officers are just people, they have faults, they make mistakes, doesn't everyone? God Bless.

It makes me want to see it broadcast. That would be amazing! I mean... ESPN broadcasts poker POKER!!!

#97 Playoff Beard

Haha I love that story! Sounds like you have a smart son, and a future Crossfitter on your hands :)

#98 Team-G

Good luck with your courses and swims! I wish you a speedy recovery. It sucks being injured, but once you bounce back it gets you in the mood to hit it that much harder.

#99 peejay2

Happy Birthday sir! That's an amazing workout feat you created for yourself and accomplished. Keep working hard and there are sure to be only more to come!

ZONERS....

It is a rest day so I thought I would ask. What do you do when you get tired of protein? I have hit a point now where I am sick of protein. Been zoning for a year now. I have taken vacations from the zone and I love my cheat days. Right now I literally have to force it down at every meal. I only eat chicken, eggs, turkey, cheese & some fish so I am kind of limited on choices.

I feel and perform better on the Zone, so I am not ready to give it up just yet. Just sick of it right now!!!

Thanks!
Jamie F/29/5’10”/141

#104
Perhaps you missed the fact that this website is meant top support the efforts of others.
I won't even get started on your description of law enforcement personell. For me having trained for three years doesn't qualify as a passing fad. She is a brute and makes me feel safe if ever I go to Newark. That job requires a true form of courage.
Also, you seem to believe that these videos are about vanity. Did it ever cross your mind that they might exist to promote the sport of crossfit, the crossfit games, or the journal? I find them exciting to watch. Seeing other athletes perform encourages me to work harder.

I really shouldn't have wasted my time on this. But as a rule, I you have nothing nice or constructive to post, don't post anything.

You look awesome Jolie! So confident (and rightly so.) Thank you for the inspiration!

It's been my experience that people with pi** poor attitudes don't last long in CrossFit either...not in any communal sense.
It's a fad for them...soon after they offend and alienate enough people they'll be back to wallowing around the gym by themselves because nobody who's worth a sh** wants to be around them.

This guy gives mad props to all the cops. Keep up the good work. While I'm deployed in the sandbox...you all are back home looking after my family.
Thank you all.

Comment 99 PeeJay

That was one of the most insperational posts I have seen in a long time! Happy Birthday and congratulations!

Trish

Mark #104

Strength comes in many forms. On top of obvious reasons, officers are strong in that they can put up with public criticism. I strongly doubt that people come into your cubicle with over-the-top generalizations and insults, but officers put up with that daily. I have a four year bachelors degree, and will be enrolled in the police academy in exactly one month, and I couldn't be prouder.

#104

Don't even know how to respond to a comment that has no merit. It's obvious that you have had a negative encounter with law enforcement and are left to classify all officers as equals. Like John-in-Jersey I agrere that you shouldn't classify everyone based on one bad experience.

Every profession has its faults. The men and women of law enforcement are after all human like everyone else. Yes, we are held to a higher degree of character and I can say with experience that those men and women far outweigh the officers you may have encountered. I hope like John-in-Jersey and the community that is Crossfit that you have the oppurtunity to re-evaluate your position. Many in law enforcement are part of this community and its a great one. They give there all for minium pay as you stated. Most of the times its a thankless job that goes unrewarded as you have displayed and are quick to ponit out. Yet time and time again we wake up, lace up our boots, step into our patrol car and attempt to help people we don't even know.

I am sorry that your experinces have left you with a distaste for law enforcement and hope one day you can see we are all not the same. We are hear to listen when no one else will, to extend a hand when others have turned away and to protect you when everyone else has run away.

I haven't got to watch the Jolie video yet.. but I just watch the Gillian videos. Hopefully I can one day meet her.
All I can effectively say from watching all the videos about the women, is that I hope that in doing CrossFit I have something awaken on the inside of me to become more like them. And I hope my daughters grow up to be like them in the area of fitness.

Catching up with Mr. Joshua today.

M/35/67/246
CFWU x 2 x 10
Mr. Joshua at 44:30

Completed all sets, all reps. Subbed Incline sit-ups and 155 for deadlifts. Ran on treadmill at 7.2 to 7.6 mph (2:00-2:05 quarters). Treadmill and weight room were 2 flights away, so I got plenty of stair climbing in there, too. What a monster workout.

Quick question: Does someone know how crossfit support a "calorie" restricted diet?

I was looking at latering my nutrition a bit in the new year and looked up the nutrition link on crossfit page and saw that crosffit follows the same ideas as CR diets. I never got that feeling, especailly watching some of the videos where the instructors say don't skimp on the fats because yuou'll need that energy... CR any added calories for energy stores are elimiated, right?

Just curious if anyone can consume under 1.8 K in calories and crossfit?

Sorry for the long post.

Forgot to mention Jolie u rock ! Freddie C. can't believe you get to train next to her, jealous bro =)

you forgot to mention that we are all racists too.

Nice work Jolie!

what??? Racists??? >=(

#125 jolie

hahaha, oh how i love the art of sarcasm :)

And s'more, just to clarify in case you took what she said seriously, she was only joking. No angry faces needed!

#26

Yeah, since doing CF I probably don't bench as much as when it was my main focus, and I don't run as fast as when I was training for races...

BUT MY OVERALL FITNESS IS THROUGH THE ROOF COMPARED TO MY SPECIFIC FITNESS BEFORE.

Now I'm fit all over and ready for anything that comes my way.

One good bonus, my arms actually got bigger on CF...I think it is all the pullups!

ah ok!!! I got it i just didn't read all the thing now i get it thanks Eric sorry jolie is the girl on the asswhopping video? no angry faces any more =)

Eric Gohl:

Glad to be of service! :-)

Scott Jenkins:

Yep, roll on that sore bit ... the aim of the game is to massage the inflamed facet joint to reduce the inflammation there.

John-in-Jersey:

Nice response to Mark. I was tempted to get into a bit of name-calling and personal abuse, but your standard has helped me keep my decorum. Thank you!

Exausted today and tomorrow is my rest day. I would have switched but tomorrow’s schedule not really conducive for that. Sooo…had a play day in the gym, not really going for time.

15-13-11-9-7-5-3-1 HSPU
1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15 Pull ups (real, dead hang b/c I cannot kip, after the first it is mostly where my arms are at a 90 degree angle and then pull back up, not exactly a
1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15 Vacuums, holding 2-3 seconds in tuck
=20:35 but was not really going fast or doing it for time

Pull ups (real, dead hang b/c I cannot kip, after the first it is mostly where my arms are at a 90 degree angle and then pull back up. Likely something you might laugh at but decided to try it like this which about kills me and I theorized this is how I started HSPU and now I can do them well and with “ease”.

Tony the Chiro- do you happen to know of Dr Chestnut? I know he speaks in Australia fairly frequently. I looked at your web page- good stuff!

Erin

Mark, comment 104

Wow, I didn't know they allowed you to use computers in prison... good luck on finding a better bunk mate to cheer you up on those lonely prison nights

geez, what a knob....

Have Fun, Train Hard,

Billy

Nice article...
DeBeer's = Muscle & Fitness Mag. I'm jealous of the guy that stuck with his gut/training and turned out a billionaire, just like I'm jealous of all you with the great times as Rx'd on WOD's.

Awesome rest day article. I'm a geologist so the story provided some motivation and perspective. I get to hang with some of the coolest science nerds there are, hike around in the middle of nowhere, and go to places I would never see otherwise. Shows that hard work + doing something you believe in, even if its risky = Success

big hugs in8girl good method!!

Just love Jolie. She's got the entire package.

make up day for me
5 rds
50 ft lunges
21 burpees
12:36

last time doing this time was 11:10
could've been because I did them on concrete then and didn't want to bang my knee io the ground. Legs look bad enough from DLing :)
Anyway, this time I made sure I kissed the ground every time. Surprised at what a difference that made. Still happy with my time. Gave it my best.

CF ladies (and men of course) are the BEST!!

Why can't there be more of us out there??

I wasn't planning on any posting today, but how can you ignore peejay2?

Happy Birthday, Sir! Nice work.

Gina crossfit FREE MINDS day by day, we are growing!! Big hugs girl 3-2-1 GO!! =)

peejay2 #99
thats awesome. I've done the 6 mile run twice now and it wipes me out for 2 day's. Can't even immagine doing the burpees and pullups too.
Congrats.

Jolie what an inspiration you are to all women, and its nice to see a LE woman who can hold her own. You are great example of what we should all be striving to be.

...on the topic of music..(the Mrs. Officer brought it to mind)...what is everyone listening to while they are crossfitting? I know nothing sets the tone of my workout like some good tunes.

Always love the rest day chats...can't wait for the early post! TB

#141 Tami.

I like to listen to pretty heavy rock. Stuff like Between the Buried and Me, Every Time I Die, The Chariot, United Nations, August Burns Red, and The Black Dahlia Murder.

It's not for everyone, but it's intense and usually helps me set a nice pace.

Just to post something I found motivating today. The fittest woman in all of Afghanistan and Iraq is a cross fit athlete and they did a special on her and cross fit for the military channel that says a lot for what the program is doing to revolutionize fitness for our armed services personel.

Jolie I think there something to be said about people like Mark, there a little intimidated by a strong, independant, confident woman!

Freddie C I'm still jealous = )

Jolie, will you marry Me??? ;~)

holy shnikes...she has the whole package!

Comment #141

You picked my favorite topic. Music! I have to agree with #142, intense workouts require intense tunes. Here are the bands and (albums) I have in my CrossFit Playlist.
Alexisonfire (Crisis), As I Lay Dying (Shadows are Security), Atreyu (A Death Grip on Yesterday), The Black Dahlia Murder (Unhallowed), Boysetsfire (After the Eulogy), Carcass (Heartwork), Dragonforce (Inhuman Rampage), Earth Crisis (Breed the Killers), From Autumn to Ashes (Holding a Wolf by the Ears), Ignite (Our Darkest Days), Ill Nino (Revolution Revolucion), Misconduct (A Change), Protest the Hero (Fortress), Raised Fist (Fuel), Shadows Fall (The War Within), Silverstein (Discovering the Waterfront), Slayer (Divine Intervention), Slipknot (Iowa), Snapcase (Progression Through Unlearning), Strife (One Truth), Symphorce (Godspeed), Thrice (The Artist in the Ambulance), Unearth (The Oncoming Storm), 3 Inches of Blood (Advance and Vanquish)

#146 M@

Have you heard the new Unearth album???
It's pretty amazing. Also, I forgot about As I Lay Dying.

Also, have you heard Tim Lambesis' side project "Austrian Death Machine"

25 HOUR FITNESS!!! FOR ONE EXTRA HOUR OF WORKING OUT!!!!!

#147 RUINER, SSgt

I have indeed heard the new Unearth album. For some reason, The Oncoming Storm is still my favorite. Maybe I just need to listen to the new album some more. I just gave Austrian Death Machine a listen. Sounds like it would be a great addition to my CrossFit Playlist.Thanks!
I need to update my playlist anyways. Gotta add some punk music like Better Than A Thousand, Ensign, Everyday Madness, Intensity, Good Riddance, Ten Yard Fight or heavy stuff like Hatebreed, Machine Head, Breach, The Haunted, Stampin' Ground, Throwdown, Turmoil, Arch Enemy and Living Sacrifice.
Check out some of those bands and let me know what you think.

Music? I kid you not, I cannot listen to music during the WOD. I get to sweating so much and it is like my auditory senses drop down a long tunnel. It is uncomfortable and I end up ripping the headphones off. Up to that point however, I like me some Black Label Society, White Zombie, Guns N Roses, that sorta thing.

#104 (troll, I know, but I'll indulge)
Come on up to Seattle and I'll jam a donut-eating boot in your a$$. Of course, you'd never have the courage to do so because then you cannot hide behind an email address, but I thought I'd extend the invite. You see, some of us got into this job because we thought we may be able to help out some instead of bitching about it from the comfort of our lounge chairs. And, oh yeah, ya j.o., I actually have a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Guitar with a Minor in French. Hooray for me! One of my partners is an MBA, one is a Green Beret and more than a couple are former Rangers and Marines. There are a LOT of different motives for doing this job.

Sorry you got a traffic ticket. Get over it. (Or don't, actually. I could give a fu#k.)

Cheers.

If there's one thing about CrossFit, it has reignited my drive and focus to be a better athlete. Something measurable, solid, a path of potential achievement that anyone can travel on if they just show up.

Kudos to all law enforcement and military personnel - blessed with the task of making it a safe place to live our lives whether that includes being a moron or not.

I feel bad for all the other 'Marks' on this post.

Cheers all.

HSPU/SU WOD, details there.

14:03 PR

I can't believe you know Living Sacrifice!!!!!

Did you hear that Bruce is getting the band back together?!?!?!?

Brandon "marks"??

s'more - I guess it's only one other 'Mark' see comments 88 and 89.

RUINER, M@, Tami

Just another reason i love the Crossfit community. They aren't terrified by the sounds of metal and some rockin! I'm truly a music genre chameleon and enjoy almost anything that's legit and displays talent. But my roots are in the harder stuff and metal.

Lifting based days: As I Lay Dying, Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Killswitch Engage, Secret & Whisper, Underoath, Rage Against the Machine, Saosin, A Skylit Drive, Hollywood Undead, etc.

Long Distance Runs: Kanye, Lil' Wayne, The Game, T.I., Angels & Airwaves, etc.

I have 2 separate playlists depending on the WOD and use them appropriately.

#151 RUINER,

I grew up with a dysfunctional family. Spent my teenage years immersed in the Hardcore and Punk scenes going from one concert to the next. I've forgotten many of the bands I've seen but I still have the albums to help me remember.
That being said, a Living Sacrifice reunion tour is something I would definitely attend.

ah!! Ok Brandon i got it...

#99 peejay2

Thank you for the inspiration! Well done!

Anyone else still feeling the effects from Mr. Joshua? Due to heavy work demands, that was the only workout I have been able to do since Tuesday, but what a doozy!

Music: I like all types but mostly listen to rock and punk for workouts. I really like to listen to a Canadian band called The Headstones, but on heavy days when I want to clear my mind,I find certain classical pieces work best including Beethoven's ninth.

But, my favorite piece for heavy days is from a orchestra version of Kiss' "Black Diamond" by Yoshiki. (Don't laugh, give it a listen!)

Whoa there Eric, those are some good additions! I can't believe I forgot Killswitch Engage, Underoath and A Skylit Drive. Now that I think about it, I should also have included Lamb of God. So many bands, so little time.

...and on the same tribute album (Kiss My A$$), there is an excellent version of Detroit Rock City, by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones!

Ronnieboy if you like..its cool bro any kind of music is great if you like it

#150 Bingo:

Nice work brother!

Todd: oh yeah? Very cool. I haven't heard anyone say anything good about the Lincoln. I'm a cal tech though.. yeah, one of those.

As for Jolie... I want to get your footprint tattooed on my butt to kick my heiney into shape like you are. You're amazing girl. Hot, hot, hot.

Jolie loved you on the asswhopping video you are awesome big fan of yours...love ya big hugs

Last sentence sums it up

"But most people just never do their best, hey. And I did."

At the end of day, when looking in the mirror, isn't this what we all want to be able to say?

Oh yeah, and #104 Mark: I am sure you would be the first to call the cops when getting pounded when your mouth writes checks your a$$ can't cash.

Eric #16.

I couldn't agree more. Me and my wife were just talking about that. The production quality of these videos is fantastic but most of the time their effectiveness is subverted by silly, old, or otherwise out of place music. The 90's called and said they wanted all their Enya and Rap/Rock back. Jolie is an inspiration to all of us and she should either have music that adds to her presentation or no music at all.

30/f/115

made up yesterdays lunge/burpee wod 45# barbell

10:36

30/f/115

made up yesterdays lunge/burpee wod 45# barbell

10:36

nadia thats absolutle awesome you are on fire girl unbelivable time!!!

For my heavy days like when doing a CFT or OHS I like to listen to some orchestral stuff as well to help me focus and relax.
One of my favorite composers is a Japanese guy that goes by TENMON.

M@--I'm glad that Living Sacrifice was one of the bands that helped you out. Bruce and the rest of the guys are great christians and all around awesome guys.

Aloha from Maui and the soon to be CrossfitCentralMaui. I would like to add an alternative explanation as to why we get pain from bending.(Post #74) I would refer anyone interested to "Treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie, for a more thorough explanation as well as an excellent reference on self-treatment. The literature is clear on causes of mechanical back pain involving repeated bending with OR without a load, sustained bending, sustained sitting. (people who sit all day at work statistically have just as many back injuries as people who lift heavy all day).

The derangement model, or disruption of the motion segment, in this case in the lumbar spine. I will use the jelly donut model to simplify but keep in mind this may or may not be the exact mechanism, but the explanation suffices. The discs in our spine that are shock absorbers, provide cushion between the bones of the spine. The center of the spine is a jelly like substance (actually think more like toothpaste until say 55 yrs old where it then starts to change into say chewed up bubble gum, therefore less likely to move). This substance moves (ever so slightly) in the opposite direction of movement. So bend forward, the fluid shift toward the back of the spine, bend backward and the fluid shifts forward. Pretty simple, its designed to do that.

The problem comes with Life and the pursuit of happiness! for most of us that is crossfitting! haha. What i mean is if you think about what life entails and let me simplify, it involves sitting and bending. All day long and often with loads. Studies tell us 3-5000x/day we are bent forward to some degree. BUT do we EVER bend backwards??? Studies indicate very little.

So, sitting/bending/lifting pushes that fluid (jelly in the donut) backwards. No problem that is normal. The problem is that we sit, bend, lift, thousands of times per day and NEVER go backwards. This causes the fluid to shift further and further backwards and causing cracks/fissures in the back wall of the disc where the nerves are. This doesn't happen overnight. Your spine is strong, rather it happens over time and that lift or bend or sneeze that causes the pain is the straw that breaks the camels back. Suddenly you are obstructed and cannot bend backwards.

Solution, very simply lie on your stomach for short period, prop up on elbows, then work up into a press up (a push up but let hips relax on the floor/bed. getting the arch/lordosis back). 5-10 reps every 1-2 hours. You may substitute a standing back bend for the press up at work or out and about. Sometimes this can actually worsen the pain. But this is due simply to needing to modify the angle a bit and i would suggest looking up a McKenzie trained PT at mckenziemdt.org

Studies are very clear, when one loses the ability to bend backwards, its not a matter of IF, but WHEN back pain comes. Stiffness backwards is a precursor to pain. Stiffness bending backward is NOT a right of passage into old age, RATHER, a use it or lose it type thing. SO, get the back bend back and again studies are clear, pain goes away. Keep the back bend and guess what, you keep the pain away. The majority (2/3)of back pain are due to Insidious onset meaning starting for "no reason", trauma is actually the minority (1/3). Its essentially everyday wear and tear until something gives.

Thanks for this way too lengthy explanation
Lee Poston, PT, Cert MDT, CSCS

Thanks In8girl ... Yep, James Chestnut ... great influence on my work over the last 5 years or so.

He's got a very crossfit message - eat well (he says Paleo diet), move well - broad range of exercise and a healthy spine and nerve system connection, and think well - be constructive in yr self-talk.

Hard to go wrong when you're living that way!

TY re website too!

just want wanted to thank everyone for their super cool comments.

sevan and carey, you guys did an outstanding job putting that together. i thought the old warren g track rocked.

freddy, loved your post and i plan on printing it out to post in the locker rooms at work.

zola, zone-ish is how i eat. i try to adhere to the basics of it without getting too geeky with the scale. although the scale is useful for a baseline. i'm definitely not afraid of a poporn at the movies or a little dessert.

and i'm guessing mark is a cop too....

#153 Brandon

Thanks for pointing out that there are two people named "Mark" posting on the CF board (#88 & 89 vs the dweeb posting on #124).

Any idea how I can change my handle?

Ooops, I meant #104

Music:

The nastier, the better. I like street music. I like curses. I like rap - Biggie, Nas, 2Pac, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Lil Kim.

Techno club music makes me ill.

The Prodigy and Metallica will always remind me of my first few months of CrossFitting at the Black Box. At the very least Keith W is an incredible trainer with great taste in music.

M.I.A. reminds me of training in South Brooklyn. Good days.

I like Avenged Sevenfold and Tool. But the most important thing is a strong beat that I can bounce up and down to... you know, for tabata squats.

I'm down with The Cure, Nirvana, Dolly Parton and John Mayer (because he's got that hottie, sensitive, bad boy thing goin' on... I'm just sayin'). I love them, but I usually leave them out of the gym. :)

Music can make or break a workout.

Peejay2 ... inspiring!

Happy Birthday!

#164

I was just about to post the same thing "But, most people just never do their best, hey. And I did." I thought that was the best line as well.

You all will too if you keep up with CrossFit. We can do anything, keep it up so you don't "Suck at Life".

I'm sorry but this has to be shown. These things never cease to amaze me.

Channel flipping and I see this...(link is safe)
https://www.beantv1.com/?s_kwcid=the%20bean|2213235739&gclid=CPLi9p6MppgCFSbCDAodh2NqnQ

HOW....I repeat...HOW??? does something like that ever sell? Let alone get approved for production...my mind is boggled

The biggest hugs of all go to you s'more!

Your posts never cease to make me smile and your english is perfect :)

great time nadia. that's awesome

Ronnieboy-

You are not alone. Did Mr Joshua on Tue. too and took me till today to be recovered enough to do a WOD. Absolutely a killer.

#82 Thanks for the motivation! A girl needs a little CF Comment board love from time to time! :)

Looking forward to tomorrow..hope that AC joint decides to heal itself some quick...tired of avoiding certain movements in warm up and subbing in the WOD.

gina i have to take a shot of a powerfull anti-inflamatory (sorry i don't know how name it) but that was the only way for me because after Mr.Joshua even walking was almost imposible...

I hope you can understand what i'm trying to say...=)

#99 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a way to celebrate!

AllisonNYC- When you mentioned Avenged Sevenfold I think I fell in love with you. That's just a lil FYI. You didn't peg me as an A7x type.s

#26 Mike B

i'm 19 and i was never really strong in regards to bench press, but my trainer (brian t)had a similar decline to yours. his deadlift and bench went down, but the improvement in his metcon performances were staggering. the only reason for the decline is because you don't practice them as regularly as you did before. by not working on your bench and biceps (which are useless anyway), you use the time to improve on pullups, pushups, situps, squats, olymipc lifts, gymnastic movements, and your running/metcon exercises. seems like a pretty good pay off to me

Anyone else sitting here refreshing the main site every 3 minutes in anticipation for tomorrow's WOD? I'm pumped

32/f/5'4"/130

Made up the Lunge/Burpee from yesterday. Used the Rx'd 45#:

13:31

I'm feeling pretty good about that. =o)

Jolie:

Nice to "see" you again! Great video--rockin' CF woman. Perhaps we'll get a longer chat at this year's Games.

TonytheChiro: wasn't it you who just lost your dog? Heartaches and good cheer sent your way.

Playoff Beard: thanks, Bro.

#187 YES!!!!!

#187 RyanDShel

Welcome to my world everyday haha :) Sometimes i even do it when i become forgetful that a rest day is coming :P

I'm sure there are some attractive cops out there but Jolie has to be the sexiest cop alive....right? And super classy too, nice comments after the negativity, a true champion.

Peejay2 - 63 burpess alone makes you a stud, your post was inspiring.

Ronnieboy - nice to see a KISS reference on here, God of Thunder and Calling Dr. Love are both good workout tunes.

Jolie:

looks like Mark (#104) felt you challenge his manhood.... :) hahahaha

you're a great role model for both LE females and for Crossfit females in general...looking very good and strong!
good luck at the games!!

STAY SAFE...

great article...what an inspiration. Most people can't look beyond quitting time for their favorite TV show, beer or game of golf. If anyone deserved to be a billionaire, it is Chuck Fipke. Would love to spend a day with Chuck

Today's not my rest day, and I was excited to post another "as rx'd" so I chose...

Helen - 13:13, over 2 minutes faster than last time!

and then I was disappointed to realize that "as rx'd" is 1.5 pood, not 1 pood. :(

So, the kb swings were scaled to 35#.

Sad story about a man train wrecked by Canadian diamonds . . .

It's unfortunate to hear of people losing things of actual value (family, love, joy), in the pursuit of perceived value (diamonds, recognition).

It's true that life is enjoyed most fully by dedicating your all into climbing the ladder . . . just make sure your ladder isn't leaning against the wrong wall.

We only get one life, I'm determined not to end up a lonely old man getting his kicks from strip clubs.

I'm a bit with Jeff. Did no one else find it strange that he somehow wound up at his granddaughter's bachellorette party, and even stranger that he brought them all to a strip club? Yes, I know he was buying the booze and food, but is that really the sort of family relations that anyone should value? One wonders if she herself (his granddaughter) doesn't view herself, in that climate, virtually as a sort of commodity.

You often see trophy brides running around in their SUV's, blonde, prim and beautiful, and it calls to mind the saying that if you marry for money, you earn every penny.

This man has, it seems to me, the psychological profile of many Fortune 500 CEO's. His real marriage, his real passion, his undying affection, is for his work. He's not in it for the money, per se, although that is a great way to keep score. Rather, he likes that challenge, and when he says he did his best, he doesn't regret a moment. No doubt it WAS very hard, very often. But that's what he liked.

Wives, steady girlfriends: those are almost like cheating on his job. No wonder he was happy to get unmarried. Strippers (and presumably prostitutes) scratch the itch, without demanding anything of him other than that of which he has plenty: money.

One wonders at the source of his epic determination, though. Many of the top of the top in many professions are driven by fear: fear of failure, fear of meeting the low expectations someone had of them at some time in their life. Fear, ultimately, of irrelevance, and insignificance.

Is this a blessing or a curse? Obviously, all of us would want his money. Most of us would like to be able to say with his perfect sincerity that we did our best.

But best at what? It wasn't husband or father. Ultimately, his career has to be viewed as a semi-solipsistic obsession that led to the logical result in a free market economy: financial success.

This is precisely the trait which it seems to me at times that Ayn Rand's followers internalize, to our collective detriment. There is nothing wrong with passion, with making money, with Capitalism, or with a desire to pursue one's own "bliss". But it is important to wed these things with wisdom, which implies to me a systematic analysis of the entirety of one's life--root to branch--with an eye to finding the deepest satisfaction and joy this life offers.

I can't see in his heart, of course, and he may be as happy a man as ever lived. It just seems to me I have met his rough type before, and I feel like he has some lonely nights, with himself, a bottle, and a stranger, from which there is no true shelter outside of a life committed to causes and people other than oneself.

Maybe the failure of the marriage is not with him. Many times, very successful people are back by their spouses 100% support and approval. She could have just as easily been in a test pit with him doing the work right beside him, chasing the dream.

It does seem clear--it says it in the article--that the time he spent away fostered the distance that led to the acrimony, that led to the divorce.

This, in turn, highlights one of the principle tensions in modern life: how much should one sacrifice of one's own dreams to ensure domestic tranquillity? How high should one aim, and what are valid reasons to change that target?

In my understanding, it is a demographic fact that of modern Western democracies, only the United States and Israel are maintaining or growing their principle demographic populations, which is to say Causasians and persons of Jewish ancestry.

In Italy, as one example I read about about six months ago, they are only having one child per two people. Their population will be cut in half in fifty years at their current rates of reproduction.

Why is this? In my view, it is the widespread perception that children and families are unnecessary hindrances on self expression, and following one's "bliss".

Marriage is on the decrease, because it is a limiting contract. What if it suddenly no longer meets one's highly mutable needs?

Children, likewise, will limit one's options in life considerably, so only the poor and ignorant have many of them.

Narcissism is the rule of the land. Now, I can't and won't condemn any person for their decisions. My preferred approach is simply to ask: is this working for you? I understand the logic fully. I can see why people do what they do, why they fear what they fear, and crave what they crave.

Yet at the end of the day, rates of depression keep rising. If you look at what people are watching in the movie store, many of them are dark, horrifying, and emotionally abusive.

The social purpose and effect of Horror movies is one of my own recurring obsessions. There are many, many factors involved, but for this discussion, let me share one idea that occurred to me just the other day.

Horror is an implicit ratification of the idea that you will never be loved. That love is an illusion. By running through the most sadistic scenes, over and over, in movie after movie, you can acclimatize yourself to this idea.

Relationships don't last. Parents leave, often after exposing their kids to heart renching arguments. Nobody truly values loyalty. Hell, even the leaders of our nation are just lying to us, so they can enrich themselves. No one can be trusted. Power is the only reality. And the Horror "hero"--Hannibal Lector, Jigsaw--solves the problem of anomie, of a broken heart, of deep emotional pain and turmoil, by fracturing and then abandoning compassion, and any serious effort to connect in a nurturing, open, vulnerable way to another human being.

It is truly my conviction that the "peace and love" movement of the 60's has led directly to a generalized social collapse of morality, that has fostered the violent alienation that we see littering our cultural landscape everywhere.

I go to J.C. Penney to buy some clothes. Skulls and skeletons are everywhere. Same thing at Dillards, Target, and Kohl's.

Am I the only one who sees a problem here? I know this is a tangent, but the echoes and signs are everywhere.

Short add on: this thought is a module, to be inserted into a larger structure. If anyone finds it depressing, that was not my intent. Of course there are many, many reasons for hope (other than vacuous rhetoric flowing from a man who has accomplished nothing).

In fact, what depresses me, personally, is the flood of people who are actively and vigorously battling the MANY and LARGE reasons why things should be working well, and our society should be happy and well adjusted. This is why I am constantly railing against the profound stupidity of the scientistically inclined, and leftists. They make everything much, much worse, and there is simply no reason for it.

Basic stuff !!!!

33 yom 209
45 min yoga