Women Are Strong

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[womenarestrong]

A Brief History of the Sports Bra

Jogging was sweeping the nation in the 1970s, and Title IX's passage was ushering even more women into athletics. These may have been boom times for American fitness, but they were bad ones for American breasts. Undergarment technology hadn't kept up with the brisk pace of exercise fads and social justice, leaving the nation's brassieres woefully unequipped to handle the demands of a new era. We were a sore and unsupported country, chafing beneath the seams, forever adjusting our straps, bouncing uncomfortably into a more equal day. Obviously, there was a demand for something better.

[womenarestrong]

ARMS. It's kinda an obsession.

Dear Mrs. O,

Your arms are sick. They are strong. They embody womanhood #2013. When I'm in the weight room at the gym, and I see all the guys around me, I'm not intimidated, I feel badass. And I even sometimes think of you. And your arms. I know you probably have a private workout situation in The White House, but i bet you could press with the best of them. So, in conclusion Mrs. O, I just want to thank you for your powerful feminine ways.

xx

harper

[amorousmusings-deactivated20221]

[womenarestrong]

A few snaps from my morning runs in Prospect Park. 

[womenarestrong]

Missing a Lift; Shifting Priorities

I missed lifting at 75% of my 1RM Deadlift today. I missed it hard. 

Today's workout was a 5 minutes long starting with a 400m run followed up by a max rep effort at either 155 or 205 pounds. My last PR on my deadlift was around 285 pounds. It was a solid lift, I used a belt - but it came up pretty easily. Granted, this was months ago now and it was coming off a strength cycle. 

I thought for sure I could nail 205 pounds during my max effort DL. WRONG. I ended up dropping down to 155 after warming up and struggling to get 195 off the ground. My back was rounding, my grip was loosening, and my quads were rejecting my efforts. 

 I wanted to cry honestly. 

I should add that I had had to identify myself in a weight group and had cockily strutted out around the 215 club thinking that I could nail it. This compounded my sense of shame at missing. 

As much as lifting heavy makes me feel so strong, it has such a negative emotional impact when I miss my favorite lifts. I know as I coach I'd tell my athlete that on any given day, you cannot reproduce your 1RMs. There are so many factors that impact your ability to bring your A game (#blametequila) but today I took the miss hard. 

I talked to my good friend Daniel and former training partner and basically, workout inspiration afterwards. He reminded me that I haven't been lifting 4 - 5 days a week like I was, that I am now spending more time working on my endurance and less on my strength. I know this in my rational brain - but in my heart, I am still gutted. 

The deadlift is my lift. I always felt my body was made for this lift - quad dominant, strong base (aka big feet), solid but flexible core, and just brute determination. Today I was humbled. Ha. 

It is true that missing a lift sucks, and it sucks hard. 

It is also true that my focus around fitness has not been on strength but on endurance as I start ramping up my training towards my first half marathon and also my first tri. 

But somehow I just don't care - I want my deadlift to be there waiting for me whenever I need it. 

I don't have any wisdom to share on this - but I think it's important to know that even our favorite lifts leave us from time to time, and it hurts. 

[womenarestrong]

Back to the Rack

Since moving to NY 3 months ago, the intensity of my workouts has been flagging. I can make up a million excuses for why this is, but basically I just need to re-focus and re-commit. 

I've continued lifting in a non-CF facility, I've done CF at my local box a handful of times, and I've been trying to vary my exercise routine more by doing pilates, yoga, 7 - 10K runs once a week, etc. 

But ultimately, I miss the intensity that my friends at CF GVA helped me maintain. I need a group to motivate and I need to find a new group (or just one person) to train with in NY. 

I'm going back to GVA for personal reasons for 2 weeks after this weekend and it's going to be my official 'back to school' reset on my health. I'll start tomorrow by starting some new strength building and flexibility oriented at-home work -- but I'll go hard once I can get back in a squat rack where I have spotters and a facility where I can fail (not just maintain). Hell, I might go down to my local CF box and take a morning class. 

It's been a while since a workout bruised me, and as I was joking with my friend B about training together, 'let's get bruised' - it struck me that pushing through those awful workouts is something I need. 

I need a new health manifesto and I need to focus and hold myself accountable. 

[womenarestrong]

I love this article by Keegan Jones on Medium entitled, "Things to Bring on a Trip Around the World". Ultimately, isn't fitness all about what you can do with it? And who wouldn't want to take a few months off of normal life to travel around the world? 

[topfilmgifs]

[gotagirlcrush]

Got a Girl Crush On:Team Jortz, an all women’s cyclocross team shredding in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out their blog here.

[womenarestrong]

My high school job was working at a bike shop. Don't ask me how I managed to get that job because I don't really know - but it was the best. My colleague Sim did cyclocross and I always loved the idea of it. 

Now, look at how amazing and BEAST these women look. I think I might add it to my list of things to try out when I get back to the States. 

[womenarestrong]

Whole30

This month isn't going to be cute (yet). 

Day 2 and S and I are struggling to make the initial swap to our dairy-free, carb-free existence. We've been able to get away with not really being too organized when it comes to our eating because I keep the house decently stocked with basics -- but the Whole30 is throwing my food game way off. 

I am going to hit up the more "bio" oriented grocery in Geneva today to try and get my fill of almond butter, coconut oil and the like. Let's see if that helps improve things. 

So far so good though, we're both hanging in there. 28 more days... haha. 

[womenarestrong]

OMG, I want to do this - but obviously scaled down. Do yourself a favor and watch this!

[womenarestrong]

Whole30

I am Whole30-ing starting Monday - I am also dragging S along with me, he is really excited. 

I think the key to success is planning ahead and using Sunday as a mass cooking day to prep a lot of food for lunches and dinners. Breakfasts will obviously be dominated by eggs and vegetables, and I will likely buy out all the avocados and sweet potatoes in my neighborhood grocery store. Almond Milk is also going to become my best friend (even more so than now). 

Let's do this Spring! 

[womenarestrong]

Me hitting a thruster during 13.5 of the CrossFit Open. 

This work out restored my faith in myself and training. On the day before I did 13.5, I got my first chest-to-bar pull up (well, chin up) and so I wasn't confident about my ability to get 15 to allow me to get back for another round of thrusters ... but I surprised myself and did it. 

I managed 42 reps by the end -- I'm no elite athlete but this really makes me proud. 

I couldn't have done it without the unrelenting support of my friends at CrossFit GVA and beyond. 

My friend D gets a special shout-out though for cheering me on through the entire Open, writing a training program that totally flipped a switch for me back in the Winter, and for having my back during 13.3 when my mind gave out on my body. 13.5 we went head to head ... and D capped it off with 67 reps! 

Now back into normal training mode: this AM -- fasted rowing, front squats, push presses, pull up practice and more. Also, back to density training on my push ups. No more slacking, strong as I want to be! 

[bkfst]

(via Peanut Butter Banana Green Smoothie | Minimalist Baker Recipes)

[womenarestrong]

This one is definitely going on my list. 

[womenarestrong]

Some of my favorite people after 13.5 - and the end of the Open. I'm sad that I didn't manage to do 13.4 and that 13.3 nearly broke me but what a great time overall. More than anything, it is the community that I love and that's why I did the Open this year. Cannot wait to get stronger and better for next year. A big shout out to my friends and coaches at CrossFit GVA and beyond. It's been an incredible ride since I first picked up a barbell in 2012. There is definitely more to come! NOTE: I've never looked as Asian as I do in this photo. Hapa pride!

[womenarestrong]

Big News

So I am moving to New York this summer. 

One question on my mind: which CrossFit box do I join? There are SO many.

Also, 13.3 was the most emotional workout I've ever done.  

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