CrossFit Foundations, day 1

... and as I mentioned in the previous post, I'm also starting CrossFit.

So, I'm doing it at Potomac CrossFit at the Clarendon stop near DC. I walked in and was met promptly by Brian, the owner. Gregarious, earnest, approachable. Seems like he really believes in the program and his gym. In fact, I spoke with several of the instructors and they all have very similar mindsets in this. Not sure if it's a cult thing (just kidding), he's careful who he hires, or it's just that good a program. I'm thinking #2 and #3.

I'm in the Foundations course with Chad as my instructor. He's straight-forward, helpful, non-judgmental, knowledgeable, and so far really good. Perhaps I won't think he's nice when he really starts pushing me, but that's par for the course. The gym looks a little different than most gyms, but then the concept of CF doesn't really follow the standard "GloboGym" concept of weights and machines.

I made it (most (?) of the way) through Chad's "Half Cindy" (not sure if that's right) and wow, previously I only had a fleeting glimpse of what it would do to me. A little light-headedness was enough to remind me what hard workouts are supposed to feel like. And today's was not a "full" workout. Heh.

I hurt, both physically and I'm rather embarrassed at how little I actually did today. Chad tried to tell me that that's common, but it's still embarrassing. That's just motivation to do better!

My goals with CF:

1. By far my highest priority is to Get in Better Shape. Both stamina and overall musculature. I'm not specifically trying to build mass (though that'd be good) as much as improve my core and other balanced strengths. I'm not focused on "cardiovascular work" for two reasons: apparently the new buzzword is "metabolic conditioning"; this conditioning will come with time.
   
2. Control my Weight. I don't know if I'll actually lose weight, but I'm higher on the BMI index than I want to be and I'd rather it be more muscle than ... not. This is certainly secondary to #1, above.
   
3. Specific goals: unassisted hand-stand push-ups, rock-climbing, rope-climbing (arms only). (I've got a long way to go on these.)
   

My motivations, both immediate and long-term:

1. My general stamina and current metabolic condition, not where I want them to be.
2. I'm going to Afghanistan ... I'd rather be able to run, climb, hike, carry, ... when I need to vice huffing and puffing and lagging behind. Plus I will most likely be doing it at 8000 feet elevation.
   
3. This is NOT a mid-life crisis, though the timing may look like it ;-). Is 50 the new 40?
   
4. I want to be able to stay in shape (of various levels) well past leaving the military. Heck, I want to maintain it past 40, 50, and more. Since I'm rapidly nearing the point of military retirement, I need to start earlier rather than later (it'll be too easy for me to become sedentary out of the military). I've seen a relatively sizeable decline in my condition, and I need to stop ... errrr, reverse it.
   

My methods:

1. Improve my diet. Not cosmic. I'm not eating junk food, but I can tweak things. I'm not sure I'll go full "paleo" ... we'll see.
   
2. Start the program. This is likely the hardest part right now as I feel really frustrated and embarrassed. I can't miss or put off foundation classes or integrating into the normal WOD schedule.
   
3. Stay the program. At least 3 times per week.
4. Stay the program after I leave DC, into Indiana and Afghanistan. This may be difficult. Since I'll be relatively young in the program, I'll want to find friends in my future locations who know more than I do to help me keep it going.
5. Stay the program, long term. I'm hoping by this time (post-Afghanistan) it will be enough ingrained in my skull that I find it too satisfying to even think about letting it slack.
   

Okay, I said it. To the world (if anybody is actually listening to a blog started only moments ago). I hope this will help motivate me to keep going through the hump of starting.

Foundations, day 2, tomorrow night. If I make it! My shoulders hurt, just like Chad said they would.