The Garden of Eden

Monday, May 10:

Now I understand Eve and all her troubles. We all know the story of Adam and Eve. The two were put together in a paradise (Eden). They were given everything they needed. A partner, lush land on which to live, and enough food to survive happily. They had everything, except one thing.. no access to the apple tree. Well, they had access to the tree, but they couldn't enjoy its bounty. God told the two, "You can eat anything in this paradise, but don't eat the apples from this tree." Tired of eating all of those other fruits and nuts, Eve turned to the forbidden apple. She picked the meaty, red fruit and bit in. This simple act unleashed God's fury. He forces Adam and Eve from Eden and commits them to a lifetime of toil and childbirth (for Eve of course).

What does this have to do with Crossfit and health and all of that? I'll explain. As I'm returning to the gym, I've also realized that it'd be good to re-start my clean eating. My sugar intake is through the roof. How do I cut out the sweets, despite my ever present sugar craving? I'm trying some of my old tricks. Replace sweets with coffee, tea and fruits. There's a snag with this solution though. I took a double-take at my morning apple. That old "apple a day keeps the doctor away" adage, may be keeping me addicted to sugar.

The good old google search shows that a large apple is about 115 calories (we're not really calorie counters here) and has about 23 grams of natural sugar. Now, that's pretty crazy. I'm wondering if my morning apple that goes along with my morning avocado shake is upping my glycogen levels, which could then through my system off balance, or out of the zone, or whatever. The zone calls for half an apple as a serving, but I'm starting to think that no apple for a while may be the sugar solution I need.

Any low sugar fruit suggestions? Strawberries?

WOD:

3 Rounds

15 Box jumps

15 ring dips (pink band)

400 meter run

Total: 12:47

WOD II:

2 rounds

50 double unders

10 pushups

30 double unders

5 pushups

(no time... lots of whip marks)

Too Much, Too Soon

Thursday, May 6, 2010:

It is possible to push too hard too fast. It's a risk we run as Crossfitters. We are pain addicts. It's just in our DNA. When I say we love pain, I should clarify. We love good pain, that nice little muscle burn we get after doing a few too many reps. It's wonderful. That's how you know you're working. Unfortunately, when you're recovering from a bout of bad pain, it is possible to overdue it on the good pain rush.

Curious right? I'll tell you how it happens. A well-conditioned athlete.. man or woman.. doesn't matter, but in my case it's a woman. Hurts herself in some silly Crossfit mishap. She takes a few months off. She runs a little and swims a little, but for the most part she's sedentary for two months to give her back (which was tweaked in the little mishap) some time to rest.

A few months (and pounds) later she decides it's time to get back to her favorite pasttime. She knows she's going to have to take it easy. A back injury limits your Crossfit activity to only about a dozen moves. She's crafted tons of ways to do those moves in various combinations and sets of 5,10, 15 or 9, 15, 21 or a ladder or whatever. She returns to the gym, and she sticks to her plans until one day she comes in and sees squats. She figures what could a few air squats hurt (and by a few she means 60). No big deal by any normal Crossfit standards.

The next morning she finds out that 60 squats will be enough to put her out for days. Either this is recovery or getting old. Which ever it is, I don't like it.

I'll be in in the morning.