Woman’s Day‘s Karen Birkemoe has taken on a 12-week CrossFit workout challenge to shed some unwanted kilos. Here she sums up her second week.
THE PLAYERS
They say it takes a village to raise a child and I’m beginning to think it will be the same to give rise to my dream body.
From the get-go though I feel that I’m in very good hands at CrossFit Athletic. First and foremost is my trainer, Pete Walton. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite so encouraging and I’m not just sucking up because he’s responsible for programming my weekly schedule of torture. There is something about the fact that he actually believes I can lift that enormous weight above my head that makes me want to attempt it – more often than not he surprises me by being right.
He trains us Tuesday and Thursday night and keeps tabs on how I’m feeling and what I’m eating. I’m no longer accountable just to myself but it’s more of a friendly hand-holding than an overbearing “big-brother is watching me” scenario.
On Saturday mornings Dani Caulfield takes over the training and reminds me what it was like to be 21 and have an endless supply of energy. If only I had used that power for good… it’s all so much harder now. She has an awesome playlist as a back drop to our work out and keeps us giggling by yelling “boobies up” in the middle of our back squats.
Between the two of them I can say I laugh as much as I sweat and the cursing that occurs as I wince trying to sit on the toilet the next day is forgotten the minute I start my next workout with them.
Looking on from on-high are Christian d’Astoli and Paul Walton, the co-owners of the gym. They are there to keep track of my progress, provide more encouragement and tweak my program if necessary.
I’m also happy to say that I’m not alone in all of this. My friend Nicole has signed on to be my workout partner so that I have a trusted sidekick along for the adventure. Since she’s the leaner and much stronger of us she’s probably more the Batman in this duo. I get to play the chubbier weaker Robin. Either way we make each other laugh and commiserate about being too tired to work out on our drive to the gym, then wax lyrical about how amazing we feel on our way home.
THE EXERCISES
I never thought I would meet my nemesis in the form of an exercise but holy moly the split squat has got it out for me. My quadricep turns into an inferno as I lower my knee to the ground and I’m all shaky as I try to stand up again. After my fourth set I feel like my body is being supported by Aeroplane Jelly.
I was absolutely elated when I graduated from using a dowel to support myself to actually holding free weights after two short weeks. It may not be Mount Everest but it felt like it. Check out the clip.
LOSSES AND GAINS
So at the end of my first week I hopped on the scales to find that I was a kilo and a half lighter. Woohoo! If I can keep this up I’ll be a lean mean machine in no time.
The same day I got a call from Pete to say that he had gone over my food diary and had a sit down with Christian with his findings. Much to my surprise they came to the unanimous conclusion that I’m not eating enough. I don’t think I’ve ever been told that in my life. So they want me to increase my protein portions and add a whole lot of veggies. They also want me to eliminate soy milk from my diet which leads me to the big life question… how am I going to survive without my large decaf soy cap every morning?!
See www.crossfitathletic.com.au for more.
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