Free At Lance....

Here we go again!
Last week I resigned as Fitness Director, and will be giving up a stable bi-monthly paycheck to take a solid whack at personal training, free-lancing, and teaching CrossFit classes. It's just who I am! Sure administrative and management positions pay the mortgage, and are stable income, but what they give in cash, they take away in time.

You know how it goes: when you have the money, you never have the time to enjoy life (unless of course you're someone like Bill Gates, or Richard Branson...in that case you have both and can do whatever the H you want), and if you have time on your hands you usually don't have enough lettuce (more paleo than dough) to do the things you have time for.

I've opted for the " Struggle at the beginning, and maybe have less money , but more time to enjoy life" formulae.

Although I will not longer be fitness director, I will still be very active at the Mansfield Athletic Club: A great health club where I have made friends of co-workers, have some personal training clients, teach classes, love the members, and will hopefully continue to grow my personal training biz, and between CrossFit Montreal where I rekindled my passion and purpose for training, and which ultimately, inspired me to start this blog.

I look forward to being more independent, and hopefully helping others get their workout groove going. I also look forward to scheduling in some time to swim laps at the pool, actually cook from scratch (instead of relying on "Momma Igloo" as my Austrian uncle calls meals or meal elements foraged from the freezer) instead of "microwave on high for 3 minutes" , and to train, enjoy life, and working at something that I love.

Ok, enough blogging...back to my chaise-longue :)

Alex

Gym Rats and Other Creatures

Every gym has them, whether it be a garage gym or big box facility, there will always be special people that you share your workout space with. Some times you may wonder if you're a magnet for this type of gym dweller, but fear not: it's not you ... every place has at least one or like Noah's arc, two of each of these creatures:

The Pack Rat (aka: Pork Pensum Kilogramus): Collects various pieces of equipment (like to only power band in the gym), assorted dumbbell weights, mats, tubing, medicine balls, plyo boxes (a 24, 20, and a 16) to complete their workout. The interesting thing is they never use all the equipment they've collected, do not want to share with other gym goers, and monopolize said equipment for at least 90 minutes. The pack Rat is closely related to The Hog.

The Muskrat (aka: Rattus Perfumus): The creature seems to think that cologne or perfume should be used as BBQ marinade, and bathe themselves liberally in the stuff. Although the Muskrat is elusive and keeps very strange hours at the gym, in fact you may never see him or her, but you will most certainly smell them.

The Peacock (aka Corpus Speculum Admiratio): This bird likes to show off it's body, the facility could be a balmy 18°C , but they will rip off their shirts so that all other may admire their bodies in full, sweaty , glistening splendor. Usually the peacock will attract a the attention an equally beautiful mate, and they will regale each other with displays of flexing, grunting, and plumage fluffing while other gym goers watch with a mix of awe and incredulity ( OMG! Really? You're taking off your shirt ...again?!) . Barf.

The Hog (aka Porcus Culus): The Hog uses several pieces of equipment for intricate "circuits", marks it's territory by draping a towel or other personal effects on before mentioned equipment, and the carries on a lengthy conversation with The Magpie about the effectiveness of the ab-roller. As you approach a claimed piece of equipment (you've been watching this creature blab on for about 12 minutes and decided to go for it) and adjust the settings it grunts: "I'm using that...I got 6 more sets..". Nice.

The Skunk (aka Mephisto Perfumus): The Skunk is a relative to the Muskrat, but not as pleasant. This animal tends to wear previously used gym tops that were left to dry in a ball in the bottom of their gym bags. Impervious to it's own smell, The Skunk has no clue how bad it smells, and are usually "close talkers" or seem to pick the the perfect spot to workout...right next to you. Check Please!

The Sweat Hog (aka Porcus Sudare): The Sweat Hog creates large puddles of sweat in it's workout area, leaves sweaty butt prints on benches, head/hair imprints on mats, and various other outlined markings along it's workout journey. The Sweat Hog rarely cleans up after itself and never brings a towel. Be careful never to creep up behind, or startle the Sweat Hog: it may whip around in surprise spraying you with it's fluids. Double barf.

The Magpie (aka: Chattus Eternum): Whether on a cell phone or in conversation with another person, the Magpie is the only thing you hear squawking around the weight room. Also Dubbed "The Bullfrog" or "Human Trombone", the Magpie is loud and obnoxious, deafening, and oblivious to it's annoying habit. I SAID THE MAGPIE IS LOUD AND OB.....never mind, I'll tell you later....

The March Hare (aka Cuniculus Retardatum): It's late! it's late for a very important date. The March hare always seems to arrive late for class, usually with a full range of excuses (dropping kids off at the pool/day camp/soccer/school, needed to get gas, rescued a kitten from a tree..), and disrupt the class by setting up loudly, asking people to move around so they can "squeeze in", and are usually ask " ...So what are we doing today? I missed the first part..". Fail. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

This is but a small sample of the animals you may meet along your path to fitness, there are so many other lovely creatures like the the Rhoidnocerus , the Tic, the Monkey, but I'll have to go over those on our next trip to the zoo...I mean gym.

If you spot any other fun animals, be sure to let me know !

Back on Track: Well rested, well fed, and ready to rumble

Europe is lovely in May. The nut trees are in bloom, the terraces are open, wine is cheaper than bottled water, and the institution of 4 o'clock or "Kaffe und Kuchen" is a must.

And I did, every day. As our two week trip to Austria came to a close, I brought back 3 souvenirs: tons of pictures and memories, a head cold, and about 5 lbs around my middle.

The first week there I tried to do a little damage control. I brought a skipping rope and he hotel had a small fitness area, so I could do some body weight workouts, run, skip rope, and do some dumbbell work . I ran in downtown Vienna (beautiful! Nothing like sightseeing while running!) , and I visited Austria's first CrossFit installation on Josefstadterstasse in Vienna's 7th district. Sebastian Rieder, the owner of CF Vienna, made me feel welcome and right at home and put us through a WOD that included 3 rounds of 15 Dead lifts, pull ups, squats, push ups and sit ups.

I wish I could have worked out there more than once, but alas there was no time .

The second week was not as fruitful workout-wise: the head cold I caught took hold, and my uncle's delicious home cooking took the upper hand.

I finally let go and relaxed a bit.

This week was the first week back in the gym, at CF Mtl, and at work. I am motivated to get back on track and so far so good...the only difficult part of the equation is weening myself off the bread, coffee and cake, and chocolaty treats.

Todays .com WOD

For time

20 X 185# shoulder to overhead (by any means) ... CF MTL quotes 115# for women for A

40 Burpees

8:45 was my time.

After a mentally difficult day at work, I added on a little extra punishment and practiced some Cleans and snatches, followed bu some one legged "pistoles" with a box and good morning with the bar, as well as some GHD Sit ups, back extensions, and double unders.

Back at home, my man and I had a nice healthy dinner, a bit of chocolate (oops), are watching the Canadians do well against the Flyers, and I topped the day off with a glass of red wine and some Gorgonzola cheese.

Ok, so I still have some work to do, but I am slowly getting back on track.

Alex