BachataGoddess

Thanks for all the great input! I've settled into a cup of coffee before XFit, then sipping on my protein shake and water between XFit and lunch whenever I start to feel hungry.

I started CrossFit the day after I was accepted into two 3-month backpacking excursions in the Rockies. I live on a flat, hot island. Without mountains to climb, rock walls to scale, or cold weather to endure, I needed something to challenge my system. So far I'm happy with the results!

Did my first XFit class this morning, I brought a protein shake with me to sip before and after the class. Other than that, I ate my solid meal around noon at my usual IF time. Question: Has anyone else found themselves absolutely starving the day after their first XFit class? I have been unable to stop eating since noon. I'm no stranger to exercise, but it's been a while since I've been so hungry so often.

Pardon my random, but where are these fantastic signatures (with the class, race, and ability scores) found?

Msuroo: Thanks for the advice! Matilda: It's like you *know* how tiresome it is for me to cater to both my OCD and ADD =) Morethanjustamom: This is perfect, thanks for all of the information!

I asked this in the Women's Forum, but I'd love to hear from everyone! I'm going for my first CrossFit class tomorrow morning. I'm an intermittent faster, I eat from 12pm to 8pm, then drink water, coffee, and tea the other hours of the day. Does anyone have experience doing IF with CrossFit training? I'm concerned about energy levels. My usual schedule has me waking up around 8, grabbing a cup of water and a cup of coffee and taking care of emails and paperwork at my desk, pretty sedentary until the afternoon, when I've been swimming, walking, and doing body weight workouts.

I'm going for my first CrossFit class tomorrow morning. I'm an intermittent faster, I eat from 12pm to 8pm, then drink water, coffee, and tea the other hours of the day. Does anyone have experience doing IF with CrossFit training? I'm concerned about energy levels. My usual schedule has me waking up around 8, grabbing a cup of water and a cup of coffee and taking care of emails and paperwork at my desk, pretty sedentary until the afternoon, when I'll go swimming or walking. Thanks for all input!

Oh, a quick note on dizziness/lightheadedness: Eating 'iron-y' foods like spinach, red meat, etc. (even iron supplements), might help you there. Iron in your system is used A) For carrying oxygen in the blood, and for regulating thyroid function. I have a bit of an iron deficiency even before my period, so once it hits, I start feeling cold, sluggish, and a bit frail until I amp up my iron intake.

A few things I've observed for my period =) - Since starting eating Paleo, going to sleep with a mask (so full-darkness), and exercising daily, my period has aligned with the new moon each month. At first I was nervous when I was 2+ weeks late, but a quick Google search calmed my nerves. - I take extra time to warm-up before exercising, since I find that I feel more 'tender' during my monthlies. - When I exercise, my cramps and bloating are less noticeable, and my overall periods are shorter. - My main yardstick is how my body feels: If I'm feeling pretty perky, I'll go for the full workout circuit. If not, I don't feel guilty for being nice to my stressed-out body =)

I'm in. Last Challenge I had to withdraw from my goal (winning a dance competition) after an ankle injury (competing in stilettos? not such a great idea =P). This time around is a new theme: The great outdoors! Specifically, hiking along the Appalachian Trial in Georgia =)

August 1st Progress: FITNESS: - Ran interval program for 2.39 miles, increased distance 103%! --- I've also improved to where I no longer have to stop for walk breaks, I just slow to a comfortable jog =) DIET: - Tomorrow is grocery shopping again, meat and veggies for serious! Plus some strawberries for good measure =)

July 31st Progress: DANCE: - Another 6 hours of dance workshops, in jazz shoes this time. I got to show off my flexibility with dancer friends. - Went out dancing to cheer for some friends in a bachata competition. Same competition that I'm hoping to win in a few weeks, they made it through the preliminaries. Next step: See if we all make it past the Semi-Finals! DIET: - The promoters ordered some pizza for the workshop participants, but I didn't give in to the convenience of it =) Grok would be proud! On a side note, here's a recording of me and my bachata partner goofing around at the social Friday night. He wasn't happy that I didn't want to put my dance shoes back on, but he was fine once he realized I could still do double spins barefoot =P

This weekend was super-exciting! Here are the updates I've been too busy dancing to post July 30th Progress: DANCE: - 6 hours of bachata and salsa workshops in 3" heels, plus lots of new friends! PERSONAL CARE: - Skipped dancing that night in favor of 12+ hours of napping/sleeping (after 3 hours of sleep the night before, my body didn't give me much choice, haha)

Thank you so much, Kishi! Your post actually has helped me through my moment of mini-burnout today =) So much dancing this weekend meant pushing myself physically and emotionally more than I am used to. It was difficult to get back into "normal" exercises again, but you helped me remember that so many of my goals are interdependent! I can't very well hope to become a world-famous bachata promoter, performer, and teacher if I don't power-through these moments of calm. So, thank you again! If you ever find yourself around Atlanta, GA or Charlotte, NC, I hope you'll join me and my friends for a bit of salsa dancing! =)

July 29th Progress: FITNESS: - No run for today, see DANCE =) DANCE: - Today is the first day of the Atlanta Latin Dance Classic (read: bachatabachatabachata!) with guest instructors Nestor and Katrina (2 times Australia World Champions!) - 2 hours of dance practice with partner; today I did my research, instead of just saying that I don't like this or that move, I'll be able to bring some alternatives to the table! - 7+ hours of social dancing for the Dance Classic Kick-Off Party! (Thus, the reason for skipping my run =P)

July 28th Progress: FITNESS: - Three circuits of the following sets: 25 body weight squats, 5 REAL push-ups!, 25 lunges, 15 dumbell rows, 20 second plank, 30 jumping jacks. - Okay, so the push-ups were only 3/4s of the way down, but it's much closer than I've tried to go in several years =) DIET: - It feels like such a luxury to eat such awesome food every day! Chicken, beef, whatever I want, with TONS of vegetables to go along with it! Fruit smoothies for when I have a sweet tooth =)

July 27th Progress: FITNESS: - Ran interval program, increased distance by 5% since the 25th! DANCE: - Learning the joys and challenges of having a performance partner and joint choreography. What a marvelous opportunity to practice patience and understanding! - Two weeks until the DC Bachata Congress, what a treat!

Oof, I've fallen a bit behind on my updates, but here they are! July 26th Progress: FITNESS: - I did three circuits of the following sets: 20 body weight squats, 10 knee push-ups, 20 lunges, 10 dumbbell rows, 15 second plank, 30 jumping jacks DANCE: - Didn't go out that night, the local Wednesday night club is less and less appealing: Not many good dancers, a lot of creepers just there to pick up girls, very smokey, etc. I might go back if I knew a lot of people were heading that way, but for now I'll steer clear =) LIFE: - I had an inspiring talk with my professor (with lots and lots of tears) about accountability. I'll spare you the messy bits, but I am taking a new approach to my relationships. I've let laziness rule me for too long, while I'm starting these new running and lifting programs to whip my physical laziness into submission, I'm going to take my emotional and mental laziness to task, as well.

July 25th Progress: FITNESS: - I'm upping my effort by 3.3% every time I hop on the treadmill. In tradition with my nerd hobbies, I love spreadsheets. No, really, I would marry Excel if given half a chance. So, I'm using them to my advantage in planning out my progression to running a 5k in ~5 weeks! - Today: Powerwalk/(actually) ran&sprinted at interval: 2.22 miles in 30 minutes (10 minutes warm-up/cool-down, .5 miles, inclusive) DANCE: - Did more research for bachata choreography, found 2 more moves I want to incorporate DIET: - Tried my first new Paleo meal: One boiled sweet potato and one (unpeeled) raw carrot with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup coconut cream, blended with Cajun spices =) - Looking forward to strawberry/kale/tomato smoothies!