TMedina

Check out the beginner links I have posted in my profile.

I suspect the folks debating supersets versus split sets are probably doing so because they enjoy it, not because they need the extra help in "getting fit".

Uh...ouch. Better you than me, woman.

WOOOOT!

Find what motivates you. You have a ton of stuff to do (school, work, and clinical). And you know the gym is good for you, but it isn't something you enjoy. Given the choice between making yourself do something you know you need to do, versus something you *want* to do - you'll find good reasons not to do it. Find something about the gym, or an exercise program, that you really enjoy. As tired as we may be, we'll almost always find time and energy to do something we really enjoy.

For anyone who doesn't know, "taiko" is Japanese kettle drums. Dude. You're doing bodyweight drills and by the time you're almost ready to feel better, you jump into an intense upper-body workout on a drum! You might have better luck if you cut your bodyweight drills in half and work into it since you have a very active activity on top of your bodyweight exercise.

Have you tried re-framing the context of the food? Saying "I don't eat ice cream" versus "I can't eat ice cream". Do you have eating triggers? Emotional eating? Or impulse?

My flirting skills: Jon Snow

Wooooot! Welcome back to the wagon. =}

Vitamin D can be helpful, but to really know what you may or may not need, you should get a blood test done to see where your Vitamin D levels really are. Protein shakes aren't a bad idea, but it's hard to give advice when you don't have specifics about your diet. 'Mostly veggies, cool. Chicken and brown rice when you can. That's a little vague. You might look into vegetarian protein sources if that's easier for you to include in your diet. And honestly, talk to your doctor. Get a blood panel done. Find out what your Vitamin D level is, and your iron (which can be another source of fatigue and distraction), and get some expert, professional feedback on your body. From what you've described, it sounds like a good plan. Make sure your water intake has been increased as well for all the roughage. But before you spend a lot of money, or more money, on guessing at vitamins, get that blood work test done.

So, the short answer is: you probably don't need vitamins if you're eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. You said you've cut down to 1,900 - 2,300 calories a day but you don't mention what your diet looked like before that. Constant fatigue and difficulty concentrating could be a lot of things. If you've recently given up coffee or energy drinks, you might be in the process of re-adjusting to life without the extra sugar, or caffeine. Are you going vegan? Or vegetarian?

Is there any reason why you couldn't do both? Cut back on the running, except for the gait analysis and trying out the new trainers. I'm not a runner, but I imagine you'd be able to feel the difference after the gait check and trainers in short order. If your feet are still in pain, stop running and get an expert medical opinion.

Hey, whatever works.

"I'm quiet. It's who I am. Deal."

That's something you need to check on a case by case basis. What I was trying to say is that I wouldn't object to a Crossfit box with good equipment, good coaches, and a good environment. But I wouldn't join a Crossfit box *just because it was Crossfit*. That said, SpecialSundae makes an excellent point as well - if you're not a joiner (like me), it might be worth your while to look into hiring a good coach and/or personal trainer (note I emphasize good) and develop something specifically targeted to you. It helps that I'm broke, but I'm also a cheap bastard and I'm not going to drop a large chunk of money on something purely for the name if I don't know it's not going to do what I want. CF is not cheap and that's another reason why I strongly encourage you to make sure it's a good fit before committing. And, like SpecialSundae said - there are other options for the money you would spend on CF.

Because Crossfit has become so popular, a lot of places are touting it because, wait for it, they want to make money. That said, it's unfair to paint all Crossfit programs, and coaches, with the same brush. Disclaimer: I don't Crossfit. I don't have the time, money, or inclination. But I have known folks and read testimonials from people that reinforce my basic opinion: check out the local CF "box" and talk to the coaches. Take the measure of the atmosphere. Watch a session. Evaluate that box, and its coaches, and its members, and decide if it's right for you. If not, look at another one. It's really the same basic advice you use for picking out a gym, or a personal trainer. RE: on your own: Yes, you could do a Crossfit-like workout on your own. You don't even need to join a gym - invest in some weights, or find a bodyweight circuit program. But there are three major attractions to a CF box: 1. The equipment. A well-outfitted "box" will have more equipment geared around CF exercises and WODs than a conventional gym. Insert horror stories of only one squat rack here. 2. The coaching. Working out the techniques for a squat or a deadlift by yourself with a smartphone is frustrating and time-consuming. A good coach can bring a great deal more experience and expertise to the table. This is particularly true if you want to start working on the more technically challenging Olympic lifts. 3. The atmosphere. I'm not a big fan of the team mentality, but a lot of folks really (really) like the team encouragement and support that CF offers. This is part of why it gets the "cult-like" accusations. So, at the end of the day, do your homework and then decide. Time, money, and location permitting, I wouldn't object to a gym that happened to be a Crossfit box. I wouldn't join a gym simply because it was a Crossfit box - make sure you appreciate the distinction.

"Just suck it up" is the worst advice for anyone. Usually well-intentioned, but can often be used to mask a serious issue, or make a small problem much worse. Talk to an expert. See if there is an underlying medical condition they can identify and evaluate. The point is, don't beat yourself up over something that you've tried and hasn't worked for you. You've given it the athlete's try and the end result isn't working. You mentioned a history of slow recovery for hip flexors - that might just be a biological fact for your body. I'm a big fan of daily yoga poses for hip flexors, particularly since I seem to "have done something" to my right one. You might try incorporating one or two as part of a general stretching routine, even if you don't keep trying to make the weighted squat work for you.

Honestly, I should take it as a sign. If I get past the interview, it's clearly a job I don't want.

You have a lot of variables going on here. Squats are a giant kettle of fish in relation to your knees. Form? Shoes? Accessory training? Running shares some of the same concerns - what kind of shoes? Running form? Do you warm up and/or stretch before and after?

I'll defer to the more serious, technically adept lifters like Gainsdalf and jdanger for the technical questions, particularly programming. I will agree with the others that different lifts will progress differently, so don't get too caught up comparing apples and oranges. Otherwise, good luck with the next phase.

Do I feel like Dexter? Not really. Although I suppose it depends on how you mean. I'm not emotionally neutral, or a psychopath (sociopaths are reclassed I think). I just have the same default setting. I can wear a mask most of the time, but it really does drain. I also spend way too much time contemplating, which has its own problems.

For what it's worth, I had to re-watch the video four times, the last two in slow motion to catch what you mean. On the last rep, at seconds 34 ~ 37, your stand up stalls and you throw your back, well, up and back sooner than you did in your first rep. Your form is excellent, in my amateur's opinion. I notice your heels rock the tiniest bit, but that might just be the shoes. You mentioned that you play a lot of hip-dominant sports -- it might be over-training? You're doing your sports on top of SS, which has you squatting every other day. Perhaps a little more recovery time in between squat sets? You might also try shaking it up a bit - normal squat weight on day 1, half weight squats on day 2, then back to full weight on day 3. The half-weight keeps you working under load, but you can focus on your oomph and heel/hip drive and still give your body recovery time from your normal load.

There has to be a somewhat Paleo-esque variant available.

My new job is as a phone support agent. And I don't like talking to people. But I do it all day. And I'm kinda good at it. And I feel like a fraud.

Honestly, just dance. Load up your own music and rock out. If you're having fun and being active for ten, fifteen, twenty minutes or more at a stretch, then basically you're getting the same thing.