Before

[clevermanka]

Y'all, I have totally got this 300 swings thing. Yesterday was a little rough, but Doge bless my trainer Andrew who incorporated 120 KB swings (with a 25lb bell) into my routine for the week. Rolling out for nearly an hour last night helped a lot, too. My trick to getting the swings in is pretty simple. The biggest help is to get up a little early and bang out 100 swings before showering. I don't even do them all at once. It goes something like twenty-five swings and then empty the dishwasher; twenty-five swings and brush teeth; twenty-five swings and get everything in the backpack for work; twenty five swings and shower. Boom! I'm one-third of the way done for the day. The twenty-pound KB I have at the office feels a bit like cheating after swinging the 36lb one at home first thing. But I know from yesterday's experience that I am not up to swinging the 36lb bell for all 300 swings yet. Depending on how my strength improves, I might switch the bells halfway through the challenge so I'm doing most of my swings with the 36lb one at work and then I can warm-up with the 20lb bell at home.

Not gonna lie, dealing with the Before Pics was tough. I've been photographed in more generally revealing outfits before, but these Before Pics, man. It's not just that I'm wearing shorts (my legs--never my favorite) and a sports bra (my fantastic boobs, almost smooshed past recognition), but I'm so incredibly naked. No makeup, no fancy hair, no persona. Just plain old me, in less-than-flattering lighting. Also, thanks, mckitterick for not noticing that my tag was sticking out in back of my sports bra. *sigh*

I'm going to post the Before Pics here, but for the love of god no comments about how great I look already, or any of that shit, okay? I am not doing this for anybody but me. So no comments about how I look. Come April 1 you can talk all you want about how I've changed my body (or not, depending on how much my body does change this month), but I want ZERO judgement or opinion on how my body looks, okay? Even if those judgements and opinions are positive, they are still judgements and opinions and I have no interest in hearing them.




I'm a 44-year-old secretary who discovered the joys of weightlifting just last year. I've always been sedentary, disinclined to sports, and slightly overweight in addition to being diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome two years ago. I have problems with adrenal fatigue, too, so being able to spread the swings throughout the day is perfect. I can participate in a movement that requires some work, but I can stop and resume as my body needs without stressing it too much. I hope that regular, dedicated, daily movement like this will get me to the point where I can return to WODs at my local CrossFit box. Until then, I might continue the 300 daily swings on days I don't lift.

Also, for reference:
Weight: 160
Waist: 31.5"
Navel: 39"
Hip: 42"
Right Thigh: 25.5"

Comments

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

Hope you feel some serious muscle burn with all those swings!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You know, it's really not so bad, only doing 25 at a time. I get the teensiest bit winded, but I don't start feeling any fatigue until late in the day when I'm trying to pound out my last few with the 36lb-er!

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I was surprised at what a different feel just 20/25/30 reps had from each other. I think it's very likely that you'll be one-handing that 20# before the month is out.

I'm hoping that later in the month, longer sets will feel less taxing (while I wasn't blown out from a set of 50 this morning, I was definitely huffing and puffing more than I was happy with, even though I felt like crap when I started in).

[apocalypticbob.livejournal.com]

Also, guys never notice the tags! When I did my pinup shoot, I got pictures back with tags showing. How do they not notice!?!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

GURL TELL ME ABOUT IT.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

Uh... Bob?

We're not looking at your clothes, beautiful. :-)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Dude, I am a HUGE fan of women's bodies and I totally notice when someone's tag is out.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

You are a better man than I am. Or something. ;-)

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

Your fitness goals and achievements totally inspire me.
Thought you ought to know.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I appreciate hearing that. Your tenacity and bravery and ... gosh, so much about you inspires me as well.

[stuology.livejournal.com]

I had a dream about this challenge, and I'm not even doing it. I kept trying to swing my kettlebell at peoples' heads. THAT MAY BE AN ISSUE I NEED TO LOOK AT.


Good luck rocking the swings!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I kept trying to swing my kettlebell at peoples' heads.

That is a superb mental image for inspiration. THANK YOU.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

CHINTALITY!

[stuology.livejournal.com]

Speak softly and carry a heavy kettlebell.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

"I kept trying to swing my kettlebell at peoples' heads"

This is awesome. It might actually inspire me to try to swing a kettleball!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Now *I* want a kettleball as well!

Oh, we are a dangerous group here.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

DANGER! That's what makes it fun.

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Get on with your bad self!
I am working on finding motivation to do some work at home because there is no way I'm going to the gym at this temperature. You are a great source of inspiration. Thanks for taking us along on the journey!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's super encouraging to know I'm helping others. Thank you for letting me know!

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

totally, totally perfect way to do it: one bite at a time.
I went to youtube and searched "kettlebell swings" -I don't know if the person was doing it right, but it looked like it would be hard on my back.

I heard on NPR that it is better to be active less for longer than to do the equivalent amount of exercise for a short time. so your methodology is kinda fitting that perspective.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

One of the tricks with KB swings is to keep a neutral back and don't let it round. It's important to keep the core strong and stable. Just like squats!

As always, it's best to get coaching from a reliable source in person, though.

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the challenge! :D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[hdsqrl.livejournal.com]

I am so proud of you. :)

A workout-related funny: I brought along a 30-minute fitness DVD on this trip, but loaded it up this morning and started twitching at the leader's voice. "Down" was more like, "Dee-owwn", over and over again, so I turned that crap off and held onto the doorframe of the bathroom and knocked out some squats instead.

We got this fitness thing, chica. I'm excited to see what changes this kettlebell challenge provides! :D

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, it is NO GOOD when you don't like your instructor's voice. I've had to drop out of a couple yoga classes because the instructor's voice and manner left me cold.

We got this fitness thing, chica

YES WE DO.

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

I just watched a video so I could understand what it is that you are doing - standard kettle bell swings between the legs to shoulder height, yeah? I don't know about these things.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yep! Exactly. The American style of swings (where you go over your head) is bullshit. Fuck that noise.

You might like KB swings. They're very aggressive.

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

go you!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh believe me, I'm goin'! =D

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that it's off to a great start with the swings. I think I could swing a 3lb dumbbell.. you are a Rock Star!!

I want to save up for a FitBit (http://www.fitbit.com/product) so that I can not only see how I'm doing for more movement, but also see what it has to say about the sleep patterns. My friend, Emily has one and will partner up with me on tracking.

McKitterick needs to hold the camera straighter, or else your floor is really at a tilt ;P

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I think I could swing a 3lb dumbbell

We all start somewhere!

Yeah, that camera angle. It's tough because we just don't have a lot of space in our house where someone can back up enough to get a full body shot. We've got a lot of furniture in a really small house.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Guess what? We have a lot of furniture in a bigger house and I still don't have enough room to do decent exercising, haha!

[fairgoldberry.livejournal.com]

Go forth and kick all the asses.

Also, props to you for facing the nakedness. I know how hard it can be to step out into the other without the things you're used to having as defenses, so it was extra-fierce of you to be able to throw yourself out like that.

You are inspiring and awesome.

Much love,
Rowan

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thanks, bb! Thanks for the good words, and thanks for reminding me I'm awesome. =)

[chronovore.livejournal.com]

These are the three poses I'd also need to create an in-game character texture... Hm.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Ha! Well feel free to use me FOR TEXTURE. =D

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think sports bras are sexy garments.

I wish I had a kettlebell. I'd join you!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I do like the way they show off shoulders. I think they look better on less-endowed women, though. At least the ones I wear. I was telling someone how I refuse to wear the padded sports bras that don't smash my boobs down because I already have enough trouble not running into them with the bar on my cleans. I want a bra that squishes me as flat as possible!