Reading Reviews- April 2013

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker

     This book was recommended to me by a self-defense instructor.  It covers the psychological aspects of being violently attacked.  It is fourteen chapters of people who did it wrong and got victimized, then chapter 15 says not to worry so much.  Despite myself and that last cynical sentence, the message of the book is solid: 1) Trust your gut. If something or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, pay attention to that feeling.  2) Worrying about all the bad things that could possibly happen actually dulls your natural instincts to protect yourself from real danger.  3)Safety before manners.  Women stop being polite to people (especially strangers) who make you feel uncomfortable.
Verdict: Read it!  Then sign up for a self-defense course.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

     I finally got the legit copy, after getting The Cloud Atlas by mistake.  According to my Kindle, I read 3% of it.  It is just not an interesting read. Really I have nothing else to say about it.
Verdict: Not my style.

Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz

     This is a collection of story stories about dogs- one of my favorite topics. Based on the title, I expected happy stories. Most of them were about dogs dying or people dying or dogs and or people getting old. They were good stories, I was just expecting something more uplifting.
Verdict: Do you like to cry? If yes, then don't wait any longer to get this book!

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

     The world has changed and unfortunately our society and institutions haven't caught up yet.  Each chapter could be a stand alone short story, but  together it weaves into a larger narrative of navigating career, family and a personal definition of success. I loved chapters 1-6-  I wish someone had told me this stuff in my twenties. Chapters 7-9 focus on how to get married, have babies and not feel guilty about working a million hours, so I did not feel it applied to me.
Verdict:  I wanted to love this book, but the last chapters were a big conventional yawn fest. Despite that, I would still recommend this book because the current workforce norms need to be shaken up and modernized.

The False Friend by Myla Goldberg

     The premise is that this is a mystery story, but actually it is about bullying. The ending is abrupt and confusing. I actually tried using Google and Wikipedia to try to understand the ending.
Verdict: I still have no idea what happened?

Salt, Sugar and Fat by Michael Moss

     This book dives into the manipulative practices of the food industry.  They have learned to exploit our biology and get us to consume food products that make us fat and sick.  The chapter entitled "Is it cereal or candy?" pretty much sums it up.  I had a hard time reading this book and ended up skimming it. It was like a bunch of drug pushers justifying their industry practices.  It is a good book with facts and stories, just a hard topic for me to stomach.
 Verdict: Processed food is evil! If you need convincing or specific examples, please read this book.
   
We Are All Weird by Seth Godin

     The author calls this his manifesto against mass production and marketing and encourages everyone to embrace their inner weirdness.
Verdict: It is a weird read.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

     I am not usually a sci-fi fan, but I like this one! Written in 1968, this story was surprisingly original and fresh. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where people the main character hunts down fugitive androids and wants to own a real animal. The story has a lot of heart.
Verdict: Highly recommend!

World War Z by Max Brooks

     Spoiler alert- the movie comes out in June, but it will probably take a different spin on the post-zombie wars.  Rather than focus on the zombies, this is about the humans that survived. Their decisions, conscious and sacrifices during war time.  Coping with fear and keeping hope alive are central themes.
Verdict: It was interesting but depressing. I am guessing the movie will have a more traditional happy ending.

Articles of Interest:

Worrying really is a waste of time http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karl-a-pillemer-phd/how-to-stop-worrying-reduce-stress_b_2989589.html?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women

This is an article written by one of my CrossFit coaches about raising girls to have body confident. Strong is the new skinny:  http://www.buildingabetterathlete.com/creating-a-healthier-society-of-girls-5-tips-for-parents-and-coaches/

Happy Birthday Rice Kracker Girl!

Rice Kracker Girl is celebrating one year today! 

     I started this blog as a personal project, an outlet for my desire to create something.  I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with it.  My hope was that someone(s) would find my blogs useful, amusing and maybe even inspiring.  I called it a narrative musing.

     Now I am ready to write for an expanded purpose.  Instead of just hoping someone finds this blog useful, I intend to write posts that inspire and amuse.  One of my favorite mantras is "better than yesterday."  Building on that my blog's mantra is:

 "Better Starts with Me." 

     I am writing for those who seek self-improvement as a way to make the world a better place to live in.  Life is full of shiny objects that distract us from doing the things that actually matter.  We all need to create space in our lives to learn and grow. This blog is my space.  Here, I will  share my experiences, struggles and lessons in trying to be better than yesterday. In doing so, I hope to connect with others striving for the same. Better starts here.

 

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.

-Albert Camus

We Come Running

     I ran a 5k yesterday.  It should have been unremarkable, but the terror attacks on Boston last week transformed a standard race into an act of patriotism.  We had a moment of silence, wore yellow & blue ribbons and there was definately a coming-together vibe in the air.

     Thirteen races in 2013 is my running goal.  So far, I have completed 5 races and people have begun to think I like to run. Ha! I run to get better at running.  For the first few races, my goal was simple- run, no walking.  Simple to say, but not simple to do (especially once others start walking- so tempting).  But I stuck it out and ran every race through.

     By the fourth race, I had enough confidence to know I could run a 5k, so I started thinking about how to run faster.  My strategy involved "chasing" someone.  I used the first mile to find my running rhythm, then  I pick someone running ahead of me and try to catch up with them.  Instead of thinking about being tired or hurting, I am focused and moving.  When I catch up with that person, I pick a new person to chase.

     My mental game is definitely improving.  My physical ability remains the sames- right around 32 minutes.  I mentioned this to a friend and she said "what is hurting-your lungs or your legs?"  I said neither and she replied that I am not pushing myself hard enough.  Really running is suppose to hurt? I thought I was going to really push myself in Race 5, but honestly I was just not on my A-game (I blame allergies). So I worked with where I was at and just ran the best I could.

     This should have been a standard 5k, but there was a little something extra- people ran with more purpose.  It was strange that instead of wishing me good luck, people said "Be Safe."  Americans disagree on many things, but we all agree that terrorists are assholes. And just like we haven't stopped flying on planes, we aren't going to stop running. In fact, more of us are probably going to start running.

My Life in Flats

     At 5'4", I thought I would be in high heels forever, or at least until old age forced me into orthopedic comfort shoes.  In my early twenties, I suffered through it like a champ.  I remember lying in bed at night with throbbing feet.  By my late twenties, I sought out shoe brands that made "comfortable" heels.  Work smarter not harder- right. I figured wearing heels to give me height and style was just my destiny as a petite woman. Most of my girlfriends and co-workers certainly embraced wearing and complaining about heels, so I had plenty of company.

     Then I befriend some tall people and they wore flats. They went to standing-only concerts in flats, danced the night away in flats and walked the mall for hours in flats.  They wore flats to work, parties and every occasion.  Their feet were always comfortable.  I was kinda jealous.  But honestly, I was also spending more time in flats. CrossFit, yoga and running became my new pass times and high heels were not needed. Also, these things caused me to hurt physically, so my commitment to wearing high heels was significantly lessened.

     So, I started wearing flats to work and then I would wear them when I went out for fun. And...the world didn't end!  No one mentioned that I looked shorter.  In fact, I actually got complemented on my cute shoes. OMG I could get away with wearing flats!  I too could experience comfort at all times!  

     Shoes seem like such a trivial thing, but my fixed mindset requiring me to wear high heels was limiting me.  Life in flats is better.  I was fooling no one in heels, except myself.  Sometimes I still wear heels, but because I want to, not because I feel like I have too.

     Morale of the story: if you are forcing yourself to do something, take a moment to think about why you are doing it. If it doesn't make sense, do something different and see what happens.  This makes me think about what other unnecessary "shoulds" and "rules" I have for myself.   

Perfect Sunday Pot Roast

My mom used to make a pot roast every Sunday in the oven. It seemed to require constant hovering and there was no leaving the house, once the roast was in the oven. The crockpot changes all of that. Simply put ingredients in and walk away. This is my favorite way to cook on the weekend and now I have a simple way to have pot roast on Sundays!

Preparation & Cooking:

Salt and pepper a pot roast and put in crockpot with beef broth and 2 bay leaves. You can also pan sear the roast before putting in crockpot to keep it from drying out. Cook on high for 3 hours.

Cut up veggies of choice (I used small red potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and pearl onions) and add to pot roast. Cook on low for another 3 hours.

Remove veggies and slice up meat. Usually it is so tender you can shred it. Then enjoy your easy tasty meal.  And there will be leftovers too! A Sunday tradition made easier.

CrossFit Games Open 2013 Wrap-Up & Thoughts

 

Last year when I saw The Open workouts, I said I would never do it!   A lot has changed in a year. CrossFit has given me a whole new outlook on what is possible and The Open pushed that out even further. It sparked something in me and I am lifting heavier and moving faster!

My scores were not "competitive," but I did every WOD to the best of my ability and I completed all 5 workouts. The Open has shown me how much more I still want to achieve.  Truth be told, I needed the Open.

What did I get from doing the 2013 CrossFit Games Open?

• I felt like a true athlete.  That is something I have never experienced before.  The support and respect from my CrossFit box made me feel like a champion just for stepping up and trying. People cheering you on is an amazing experience! I am capable of so much more than I thought. 
• The Open brings us together.  The CrossFit community is awesome at combining competitiveness and camaraderie.  150,000 people in 100 countries all doing the same workout!  Once you get through the WOD, you remember it as having fun together. 
• Having the opportunity to be a judge for others and help coach them through workouts was just as rewarding as competing myself.  I learned a little about being a coach.  Sometimes that means being a cheerleader and other times a drill sergeant to help bring out the best performance in someone. 
• I am just getting started.  Having no athletic background puts me at a disadvantage, but I will continue to work at closing that gap. I found my edge and realized I need to push myself even harder.

     The Open was a reality check for me. I have made tons of progress in 1.5 years, but I've been resting on my laurels a little.  Everyday workouts can be modified, but Open WODs are what they are. You can either do it or you can't there is no scaling, only standards.  I was forced to face my limits and acknowledge my weaknesses.  But I also discovered a lot of strengths I didn't know I had.

     Some people think, why compete when you know you won't win? I experienced the value of just being part of the competition.  Hundreds of thousands of people around the world signed up for the unknown and faced 5 weeks of challenges.  It is so inspiring to give it your absolute all and give support to others giving it their absolute all. Did I mention the community aspect of this event is amazing?!?!

     Congratulations to everyone who did The Open, best wishes to those going onto to Regionals and thank you the CrossFit community, especially CFC.  Next year- count me in! Until then, I'll be working on my pull-ups and endurance.

   

CrossFit Games Open 13.5

And for the Finale, we have.... thrusters and pull ups!

AMRAP 4 minutes

15 Thrusters @ 65lbs

15 pull-ups, chest to bar

* for every 90 reps completed, you get an additional 4 minutes to continue

     First let me say, I am thankful the thrusters were first!  As for the pull-ups they are finally here.  Dread.  That being said, I set my mindset to go after it and give is my all. Determination. As one person put it, "I am going to swing on the bar and hope something good happens."

     Unfortunately, nothing good happened. It ended on a fizzle. I posted my score of 15, knowing I did the absolute best I could.  Only 4% of the participants made it through the second round of four minutes, so I am part of the majority.   Regardless, I can say I completed the CrossFit Open 2013!

CrossFit Games Open 13.4

    Week 4.   I prepared myself for pull-ups- my biggest fear because I can't do them.  It's not pull-ups! Hooray!  It is Clean & Jerks and Toes to Bar.

7 minute AMRAP

3 Clean & Jerk @ 95lbs

3 Toes To Bar 

6  Clean & Jerk @ 95lbs

6 TTB

9  Clean & Jerk @ 95lbs

9 TTB

...continue in increase sets of 3 until time runs out

     Now I have never actually done a Clean & Jerk at 95 lbs. I can do Toes to Bar- sporadically. Some days it is there and some days it is not.  That being said, my goal was any score that is one or greater.  A score of 1 equals a PR (personal record) and I would be very proud to get there.  If I could get through the first round of 3, I would be ecstatic!  

     I was really unprepared for the mental challenge this would pose.  I don't like cleans and I've never lifted 95lbs over my head. I was nervous and I let that get to me for the first two minutes. I failed over and over and over.  I went from nervous to panic to frustration to tears. The tears are what finally turned me around, I decided this would not end in tears. Determination.

     The first time I  cleaned the bar up, I heard the screaming cheers before my brain registered that I had finally succeeded.  That was a beautiful moment. I felt relief- at least I was on the score board. I would like to tell you that once I got past the first one it was smooth sailing. It wasn't.  I probably made 3 or 4 attempts for every one that actually counted.  But having succeeded once helped me shake off failure easier.  Also, my coaches never gave up on me and neither did my fellow crossfitters- their support means more than any words of appreciation I can say.

     I managed to get through 3 Clean & Jerks, 3 TTB, 6 Clean & Jerks and 1 TTB for a total score of 13!  The TTB was actually my limiting factor. I kept getting within an inch of touching the bar. I gave it my all for 7 minutes and I am so proud of my (crappy) score.  I got 95lbs from ground to overhead 9 times!  I performed under pressure!  I got my mental game back from a meltdown!  13.4 was definitely my moment of glory.  It was raw and it was real.

     Four weeks down and just one to go.  My "it's not pull-ups" mindset is actually really working for me. I should have shuddered at 95 lbs or 150 wall balls or 17 minutes of burpees and snatches.  Instead, I celebrated that I could actually do those movements.  One more week to go, I am hoping for overhead squats and burpees. But really I'll take anything, as long as it is not pull-ups :)