CrossFit Chick: Diane

Tuesdays that feel like Mondays are good and bad. First the good — you get to enjoy the start of the week a day later which means the weekend is a day closer. The harder part is that it feels like Monday so all the harried times of getting the kiddos off to school and getting things ready to start the week are still there!  I try to prepare as much as I can the night before but the wild cards are the kiddos. They are tired, grouchy and not in tune with the plans of getting off smoothly. Are they ever? 

We still have no hot water. We will be calling the service folks today in hopes that we get it all settled. Scott and the kiddos headed to CrossFit and took showers there last night and I took one this AM after my workout. We are nothing but flexible!  It’s hard not to be when you have no choice, but I still get a pat on the back for it. 

Today at CrossFit, we met up with Diane, one of those snazzy ladies that are meant to kill you.  This one wasn’t horrible because I do like Deadlifts. I didn’t go full on prescribed weight although now that I think about it — I should have but I am still feeling that tweak to my neck. You have to know when to put your EGO aside and just go for the fitness of it. 

In about two weeks, I will be starting another Whole Life Challenge at the gym. So far, there are 49 athletes signed up including me. I need to reignite and re-commit to my eating. I can feel the weight creep back on and I don’t feel as fantastic as I should.  It’s time to be honest with myself and I encourage you all to get honest too.  I always hear people say oh I don’t eat that bad, or I only had a little bit when the reality is — that perspective is very subjective!  I know for me, I have not been true to my eating goals and you know what? It shows in almost every aspect of what I do.  

Even my face — Right now I have more acne than I have had in a very long time. Acne and other skin issues are mostly related to something going on internally –inflammation, allergy, hormones, stress.  I know I haven’t been true to quality eating, eating some foods with gluten at least once a week, and have been under a bit more stress than normal. Combine those two and it’s a recipe for acne! 

Here’s some interesting food for thought regarding the connection between Gluten and Acne: 

Gluten – Acne Connection

So how does gluten contribute to acne?

First let me say acne is a result of blood sugar problems and chronic inflammation. These trigger hormonal reactions that lead to increased sebum production, blocked pores and overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria. For a more detailed explanation, please see: what causes adult acne.

Gluten contributes to acne in two ways. First, it causes damage to the small intestine, which could lead to nutritional deficiencies and an increased toxic body load (through leaky gut syndrome).

The second link between gluten and acne is inflammation. People with gluten sensitivity cannot digest gluten effectively. As a result they absorb incompletely digested protein molecules. The immune system treats these as invaders. As it attacks these ‘invaders’ the white cells release histamine, which increases inflammation. Inflammation increases insulin resistance in the nearby cells.

Insulin resistance leads to blood sugar problems, which is linked to acne.

As this happens once in a while, the body can deal with it. But most people are exposed to gluten 3 or more times a day. This, coupled with other inflammatory agents, spreads inflammation all over the body. Suddenly cells all over the body start becoming insulin resistant.

Warmup
Pull Up Progressions

• 600m jog
• DROM
• Broad Jumps
• Crab Walk
• High Knees
• Lunges
• 10 Kick to Handstands

Skill
HSPU 

WOD
Diane 
21-15-9

• Deadlifts (135)
• HSPU

time: 4:40

I didn’t go as heavy — as the last few times I have done Diane. However, looking back to the last time I did it at 135 — I finished in 6:37 so there is a definite improvement! With all the strains and pains I have been having the last week or so, I didn’t want to push that heavy!