Archive for May, 2009

Monday, June 1, 2009

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
“CrossFit Total”

Three attempts for one rep max of each of the following:
Back Squat
Shoulder Press
Deadlift
(Compare total to February 12, 2009.)
dani-pull-up

Maybe It’s Not Your Jeans; It’s Your Perspective
Written by Dani Dufrene

A couple months ago I set out to accomplish a goal. I wanted to go
from #109 to #120. I believed that with a little extra mass I would be
able to lift heavier weights and recover better from my work outs.
Although I have not yet hit #120, I did reach #116 and have felt a
remarkable difference. That is not the point of this post, but
important to note for the story to come. So that is 7lbs in
approximately 8 weeks. Seven pounds may not seem like much for some,
but my frame is rather small and all 7 of those pounds are very
noticeable to me. They seem to have found a home in my quads, glutes
and hamstrings. Not surprising given the CrossFit regimen. Now to my
story…

A few weeks ago I went shopping with a girlfriend. The primary goal
was to find some jeans because I only had one pair of pants that fit
me. What I came to discover on that shopping adventure is that my body
has changed drastically. The cap sleeved, frilly shirts that once
looked so cute now looked ridiculous. And locating a pair of jeans
that fit both in my thighs and my waist was not possible. I was very
grateful on that day for my amazing girlfriend who has a healthy
perspective on her own body image and had been down this road before.
After several failed attempts at finding a pair of jeans, she simply
suggested that I find a pair that fit my thighs and have them altered
to fit in the waist. As for the cap sleeved frilly shirt, well she
said say goodbye and find a new style. Her point was simple, it wasn’t
the jeans; it was my perspective. My body had changed and rather than
fight it I needed to embrace it and adapt.  So I did. I located shirts
that didn’t make me feel like the Hulk or Linda Hamilton and I purged
my closet of anything that no longer flattered my body in its current
state.

 If I had gained 7lbs because I sat on the couch gorging myself, that
would be a completely different story. Not the case. The jeans didn’t
fit me because I had gained muscle mass in my legs and my booty. At
that moment I had to make a decision, I could accept the fact that my
body had changed and alter my attire or sacrifice my strength and
muscle so I could fit into a certain pair of jeans or rock a frilly
shirt. To me the choice is a no brainer. I understand that isn’t the
case for many women, but I challenge you to challenge your
perspective.

I write this post because I know that women torture
themselves on a daily basis about their bodies.  If you are eating
well, CrossFitting regularly and being active and your quads happen to
get bigger or your booty grows, I challenge you to embrace it. Adapt
your clothing, not your lifestyle. Don’t sacrifice your health and
strength for vanity. You can have both. You can be strong and
beautiful. You just have to change your perspective. Beautiful might
look a little different than it once did.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
Teams of two must complete the following as quickly as possible, in any order and partitioning they see fit:
2 Mile Run
100 Pull-Ups
200 Push-Ups
300 Squats
(Both members may work at the same time.)

Manimal salutes the tower in Pisa

Manimal salutes the tower in Pisa

Friday, May 29, 2009

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
For time:
15 Thrusters (heavy)
30 Pull-Ups
12 Thrusters
24 Pull-Ups
9 Thrusters
18 Pull-Ups
(These thrusters should challenge you.  For some that might be 95 or 135 lbs., for others it will be 155 or more.)
big-ben

It’s Time to Register for June Coaching Sessions with Sage!
Written by C.J. Martin

A new month is upon us, which means a new opportunity for 8-10 individuals to be coached on their Olympic lifts with Sage Burgener. Sage’s first two groups have made amazing improvements in just four weeks. For instance, Coryna “Lil’ Cheddies McBean” Holcombe’s improved technique allowed her to squat clean 10 lbs. more this week than she did in January when we completed “Elizabeth,” and she still cut her time by more than three minutes! 

Beginning next week two new groups of intermediate and advanced lifters will have an opportunity to work with Sage and only three or four other athletes for one hour a week for four weeks. Sage will coach two separate groups of four to five individuals, one on Monday nights at 6:30, and one on Wednesday nights at 6:30. The cost per person will be $49 for CrossFit Invictus members – that’s $12 per hour-long session with Sage!

Enrollment into Sage’s weekly coaching sessions will be first come, first serve. Email cj@crossfitinvictus.com or post your reservation request to comments NOW to reserve your spot. The group will be capped after the initial eight to ten spots are filled.

Non-members interested in being coached by Sage will pay $199 for the month and will also have the right to attend our regularly scheduled group coaching sessions.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
For time:
Run 800 Meters
30 x One-Arm DB Snatch (15 each arm)
25 x Knees to Elbows
100 Sit-Ups (anchored)
25 x Knees to Elbows
30 x One-Arm DB Snatch (15 each arm)
Run 800 Meters
ZMA Post at CrossFit Invictus 

Supplements: ZMA
Written by Mark Riebel 

ZMA stands for Zinc monomethionine or aspartate and Magnesium Aspartate, and is a vitamin and mineral supplement touted by the body building industry as a natural testosterone-enhancing substance that helps with everything from growth hormone secretion to re-growth of head hair in addition to all of the benefits one would get from increased serum testosterone levels.  It’s a simple supplement containing zinc, magnesium, and vitamin B6, in amounts typically in the ranges of 20-30 mg, 400-500 mg, and 10 mg, respectively, of each of those three substances.  So from an ingredient standpoint, it doesn’t contain any hard to pronounce or creepy sounding chemicals, which I am a fan of for something that I may ingest. 

The hype surrounding ZMA stems primarily from a study performed in the late 90’s by Western Washington University on some NCAA football players.  This 8-week trial showed that those on ZMA experienced greater strength gains and free testosterone levels compared to those on placebo.  What is not as well publicized is that the study was funded in part by Victor Conte, creator of BALCO, and patent owner for ZMA.  Although I found other anecdotal evidence of studies ‘proving’ these increases, I couldn’t find those studies, much less even an abstract of the aforementioned one without laying down $25.  That seems a bit strange to me, and for those of you who know just how much of a skeptic I am, it’s going to take a lot more than a few mentions of studies to convince me of supplement claims. 

On the other hand, two studies that I was able to dig up (one performed at Baylor University…now that sounds like a great school!) showed that ZMA had no measurable effects on either free or excreted testosterone levels in trained subjects.  So in short, I’m not a believer of the claims that my testosterone levels will be affected by taking a few of these pills.

However, I happen to take ZMA for another reason, and it’s one that can’t easily be quantified by a clinical trial—quality of sleep.  ZMA seems to have the effect of deepening the sleep and increasing the dreams of the majority of its takers—I’ll refer you to Cynthia’s cheeseburger dream for evidence of that.  It doesn’t have an effect of helping you fall asleep, only improving the quality of what you get.  Perhaps those six hours that you usually get will now feel like a full eight. 

Side effects in the recommended dosages are slim to none, but there is still some risk of toxicity if you plan on taking copious amounts of it.  If you choose to take ZMA, avoid taking it with dairy or calcium-containing substances, as this can block some absorption of the zinc.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
Cleans (Power or Squat – as heavy as you can go)
3-3-3-3
and then,
“Elizabeth”
Rounds of 21, 15 and 9 reps of:
135/95 lb. Cleans (full squat cleans)
Ring Dips
(Compare to January 19, 2009 – note women’s prescribed weight is now 95 lbs.)
mud-run-june-6pix_mud_sat_01

Let’s Get Dirty
Written by C.J. Martin

CrossFit Invictus has three (maybe four) teams entered in the World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run. The race will take place on June 6, 2009. Each five person team must be comprised of at least two females. We would like to put in one “competitive” team that will fight for the gym’s glory and hopefully win it all, but the other teams will be more focused on having a great time. If you would like to participate in this event, you need to let us know as soon as possible. Email your interest to cj@crossfitinvictus.com. Once we have our list of interested parties, we will circulate further information regarding the logistics of the event (meeting time, cost, etc…). If you have never participated in a mud run, you’ll be shocked at how much fun running through mud and up hills can be.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
Press
3-3-3-3
and then,
Rounds of 21, 15 and 9 reps for time of:
Bodyweight Bench Press
Pull-Ups
(WOD courtesy of www.crossfitfootball.com.)

Lounging at CrossFit Invictus San Diego

Post-WOD lounging is encouraged, but wouldn't it be great if even our lounging was improving athletic performance?

Go With the Flow – New Gym Routines and Procedures
Written by C.J. Martin

All gyms have a natural flow to them – a pattern by which members arrive, situate themselves and prepare to have a great workout. For some, it’s sprinting in and joining the already-in-progress group warm-up (ahem, “A”-Game), but for others it entails some pre-WOD mingling and catching up with friends. I love this, and heartily encourage it as our community is what makes CrossFit Invictus so different from other places. Nonetheless, I am proposing some new rules that will improve both your socializing and athletic performance. So next time you are in, go with the following flow of the gym:

  1. Check-In at the Front Desk - This is not optional. You all have really cool little key fabs or membership cards. Please scan them when you arrive.
  2. Gather with Friends at the Back of the Building and Roll - Some of the best tools in the gym are the black foam rollers and lacrosse balls (individual and those taped together). In my opinion, they are not being used nearly enough. Rolling some of your tight muscle groups helps get needed blood flow to them, loosens them so they will contract and relax better, and generally improves their functionality for the athletic endeavor you are about to embark upon. And the great thing is, you can roll and socialize at the same time. Yes, your conversation might be interrupted occasionally by a yelp, but that’s just good fun and provides for some comedic relief. So gather there and roll while you catch up with friends.
  3. Dynamic, Skill-Based Warm-Up with Group – Once group session begins, your coach will put you through a dynamic warm-up. Recognize that this is not only a warm-up, but also an opportunity to put your body in ideal positions. Use this time to reinforce proper mechanics. For instance, when you lunge, think about how you lunge in a split jerk or split clean. Are you grooving that ideal pattern, or are you forward on the toe and too narrow? Make the most of this time and perform each movement perfectly. 
  4. Strength/Skill Work – No ego. Nobody is impressed when you deadlift 400 lbs. and herniate two discs in the process. Strive for virtuosity here. Move well and your numbers will progressively skyrocket. Move poorly and you might get some big numbers for a while, but you also run the risk of missing valuable training sessions because you are nursing injuries. This is your chance to perfect movements without a clock pressuring you to move quickly. Take the opportunity to be perfect. Once you have been consistently perfect, then begin to be consistently perfect with big weights.
  5. Timed Workout – Go hard . . . and be damn-near perfect. I can accept slight deviations of form when you’re hitting it at high intensity, but you should be striving for perfection. (And if your coach’s interpretation of “slight deviation of form” is different from yours, you are the one who is wrong. Listen to your coach and slow down.)
  6. Clean Up - Once you have completed your workout, please give us a hand by wiping down the bars and placing everything back where you found it. There is, however, one caveat: Be respectful of those who are still working out. It’s better to cheer someone on or relax than walk right in front of them with your barbell and weights. Nobody likes to be last, particularly when everyone else is cleaning up around them. Wipe down your bar and do a little static stretching while you cheer for others, then you can put your gear away and give them a hand with theirs.
  7. Log Your Performance - If you don’t have a Performance Log, your coach will be chatting with you this week. They are essential to tracking your athletic progress. You will never know if what you are doing is effective unless you can track what you have been doing. This is the best $15 investment you will make in your fitness. 
  8. Post-WOD Recovery Work – If your coach puts you through a post-WOD recovery drill (stretching or additional skill work) please view it with the same respect you view the first portions of the workout. Recovery is instrumental to getting more fit. If you slack here, it will show. If your coach ran out of time, you’re not excused from stretching. Most of you know our protocols for post-WOD stretching, and even if you don’t, any stretching after your WOD is better than none. Get it done – your body will thank you.
  9. GHD Machines - Almost as neglected as the foam rollers are our beautiful GHD machines. End your workout the way you began it, by socializing near the back wall. Jump on the GHD and knock out 10 sit-ups and 10 hip extensions. Then let a friend on to do the same. Switch on and off until you have done somewhere between 30-50 sit-ups and extensions.
  10. Grab Your MMMM Good Meal or Invictus Shots – Invictus Shots help you recover quicker by replacing depleted glycogen stores in your muscles. Shoot one immediately after your workout and your muscles will start recovering quicker – which means you might not be as sore the next day. Grab a meal for later while you’re at it. They’re delicious, nutritionally balanced and inexpensive – plus, you didn’t have to cook it.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Workout of the Day:
Back Squat
5-5-5
and then,
Three rounds for time of:
20 Box Step-Ups with 75/45 lbs. in front rack position
15 Box Jumps
10 Pull-Ups
(To correctly perform a step-up, maintain a vertical posture – shoulders over hips, knees and ankles – and drive your top heel into the box to power the step-up. Do not jump or drive off of the ground with your back foot. Alternate legs.)
pos_wins

POS Rockin’ the Invictus Gear on the Podium
Congratulations POS and thank you for representing us so well from 3,000 miles away. You’re a monster, and we can’t wait to get you out to San Diego in July.

POS is on the Podium!

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Brad Posnanski earned the number 2 spot in the Northeast Regional Qualifier!
POS is one of the most dedicated athletes I know. He checks in daily with his times and weights and rarely misses a training session. His hard work paid off. Congratulations POS!

Memorial Day Schedule

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

***CrossFit Invictus will be open for three sessions on Memorial Day.  Our groups will meet at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and Noon.***

CrossFit Invictus Represented from Coast-to-Coast
Brad “POS” Posnanski (pictured below) is tied for first-place going into the second day of the Northeast Regional Qualifier. Wish him the best as he fights for a place on the podium tomorrow!
POS repping CrossFit Invictus in San Diego

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Workout of the Day:
“Brothers in Arms”

Three rounds for time of:
20 Kettlebell Swings (32/24 kg)
17 Box Jumps (30″/24″)
9 Jerks (155/105 lbs.)

The Brothers Freischlag have served the U.S. Navy for a combined 46 years: Chris - 20 years (retired on Thursday), Nick - 17 years (active), Nate - 9 years (active).

The Brothers Freischlag have served the U.S. Navy for a combined 46 years: Chris – 20 years (retired on Thursday), Nick – 17 years (active), Nate – 9 years (active). Hit it hard in honor of these brothers in arms.

We also wish the best of luck to honorary CrossFit Invictus Charter Members Brad “POS” Posnanski and Lindsey Johnson in this weekend’s Northeast qualifier in Albany, NY. POS has been following the CrossFit Invictus programming since we opened, and has been putting up some monster numbers. He’ll be in San Diego this summer to train with everyone at the box. Lindsey is one of ours, but mistakenly moved to Boston to experiment with varying degrees of hypothermia. We will get her back before another winter passes.