Crossfit - Rope climbing, Hand Stands and Murph

For two years my husband pretty much begged me to go to Crossfit with him   I said NO WAY!  It looked horrible and why would anyone do that to themselves?  After a year I finally gave in and tried it like 4 times.  I hated it.  It was hard.  I wanted to die.  The end.

But that wasn't the end.  After another year of him asking me to do Crossfit and me not wanting to do Crossfit we put our kids in Crossfit kids.  They don't really play sports and we wanted them doing something active!  They seemed to do well and like it and then their Crossfit place (different than my husband's) started a bootcamp.

My husband started asking again if I might be interested in bootcamp since it was a good introductory way to get into Crossfit without the heavier weights.  I told him I would go if he would go with me!  And so we did - the first of January we both went to bootcamp and it worked out great because it was at the same time as the kids' workout.  I LOVED bootcamp.  I loved it.  I couldn't believe I liked it but I did.  It definitely challenged me like I hadn't been challenged before.

Bootcamp tonight! Did some back squats, push press and some new-to-me moves. Why not get out and get your sweat on when it's -2 degrees out? #bootcamp #sweat #Noburpees #sweat #crossfitbootcamp

A photo posted by Gretchen (@extraordinaryordinarylife) on Jan 18, 2016 at 6:03pm PST

After loving bootcamp and going VERY faithfully (more faithfully than any other fitness program I'd ever done EVER!), my husband decided to go to the Crossfit side and not do bootcamp anymore.  I was scared but I wanted to do Crossfit too and felt it was time.

We started Crossfit in March (I think).  And since starting it I am amazed at the things I have learned!

I learned to climb a rope - something I have never done.

I got my first rope climb tonight at Crossfit. Okay so I actually got the first rope climb of my life because I've never really done them. You're never too old to start doing something you've never tried before. Also that's a lot higher than it looks. I didn't panic until my second one when I was almost to the top and my husband said, "Don't fall." He's super helpful lol. #crossfitnewbie #crossfitbeginner #ropeclimb #crossfit #fitmoms #fitness #momfitness

A video posted by Gretchen (@extraordinaryordinarylife) on Apr 22, 2016 at 4:07pm PDT

I am starting to learn how to do hand stands in the hopes of doing hand stand push ups.

My husband is helping me work on my hand stand push ups - starting with descending slow. We know how to party on a Friday night don't we? Just to let you know I've never really done handstands either. I have always been afraid of them. Maybe fear of breaking my neck or something. But there's no time like the present to start doing something you've never done before. #workonthosegoals #crossfitbeginner #handstands #watchmestruggle

A video posted by Gretchen (@extraordinaryordinarylife) on May 13, 2016 at 5:34pm PDT

I did a workout Monday that I never thought I would be capable of.

Remembering those that gave their lives for our country! This is my first year doing Murph. I'm so thankful @aslmelissa encouraged me to do this because I wouldn't have done it without her. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Remember and be thankful today! In honor of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, NY, who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005. #murph #happymemorialday #john1513 #Crossfit #modified #momsgetfit

A photo posted by Gretchen (@extraordinaryordinarylife) on May 30, 2016 at 7:40am PDT

Insane right?  I've learned so much.  And I have to tell my husband I'm sorry for all the times I made fun of Crossfit and told him all the bad things that I read about Crossfit..  I never understood it until I did it.  Now I literally wake up excited to go workout.  Like I used to be excited to wake up to coffee and now I am excited to wake up and get to do Crossfit at some point in the day.  How crazy is that? 
I can't believe how hard it is and how much I love it at the same time.  Crossfit is for regular people.  It makes regular people - amazing people.  It makes you do things you never thought you could accomplish.  It makes me feel more alive that I have ever felt.  I can't say enough good things about it.  I heart Crossfit. 


 

Family Fitness - P.E. Week 1

I am hoping to post these weekly for our family to do together.  All workouts are from CrossFit Kids unless otherwise mentioned.  Each day also has a video about health ito watch as well.  I have linked to the workouts rather than copy and post them.  I did try to post how-to for certain moves that you might not be familiar with.

Disclaimer - always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.  You should make every attempt to use proper form so that you do not get injured.


Needed equipment - pull up bar, 4# and 10# weighted ball,  12" - 20" box for stepping up,

Week 1

Day 1 - Read about why water is the best drink to drink.

Workout:  (From Bodeefit Kids)

How to do a proper squat:


 

Day 2 - Watch this video about What your poop says about you!

Workout: (From CrossFit Kids)

How to do a handstand:

Or a handstand:

Day 3 - Watch this video about Why can't I have sugar?

Workout: (From CrossFit Kids)

How to do a proper pull up:

Day 4 - Watch this video about Is Peanut Butter Good for you?

Workout: From CrossFit Kids

How to do knees to elbows:

How to Play World War Z

Day 5 - Watch this video about How to brush your teeth properly.

Workout:  From CrossFit Kids

How to do Monkey hangs:

How to do thrusters:

How to do a box step:

Day 6 -

Kids Yoga workout

Hope you had a great week of fitness!!!

 

Frugal Fitness Ideas

I am no expert on fitness.  In fact, I go in spurts.  I used to be faithful to my exercise routine BK (before kids) but since then I have struggled (yes I know it has been almost 6 years).  I have joined gyms and done other things but I have now found something that actually works and that I can stick with and it costs me $7.99 per month.  But it can cost you even less.  I am a subscriber to Netflix because we don't have cable.  Lately, I have been doing the "10 Minute Solution" DVD's.  These programs have 5 10 minute workouts.  So if you need to do a quick workout you can do one, but I usually do 3 which is 30 minutes.  There are about 6 workouts available on Netflix and I just rotate which ones I am doing. 

I love these workouts because you can customize them to what you need.  But there are other options as well.  My cousin Amee also does some frugal working out.  She does some yoga videos from You Tube. 

You can find cheaper alternatives to working out than going to a gym.  The key is to find something that is actually doable. 

The only equipment that you need with the DVD's are hand weights and a mat (but I just use a beach towel).  And you can also do these on vacation if you are at a place that has wi-fi or if you have a laptop with a DVD player.

Again, if you don't have Netlix you can borrow these from your library if they have them or you can buy them from Amazon.  Of course you can always walk/jog or run for exercise and do various other things.  I have just found these workouts to be great for me because each segment is only 10 minutes long and once you finish one you know how many more you have to do.  I haven't done very much of the Yoga because I am not a Yoga fan, but the rest are pretty good.

So what other frugal ways are there to work out that you do?