Michael Aaron

Eat Locally!

By Coach Beka
How much thought do you put into where your food comes from? There are many benefits to eating locally, like supporting local farms & fresher (better tasting!) food.
Here is some great info on the benefits of eating locally, along with information on joining a CSA (community supported agriculture) group.
It’s much easier to find local food than you may think! Here’s a list of our Atlanta Farmers Markets…we’re lucky to have options several days a week:
Tuesdays: -Emory (569 Asbury Circle), 12-5p
Wednesdays: -Decatur (March-Oct), 4-7p
Thursdays:-East Atlanta (561 Flat Shoals Ave.), 4-8p
-Green Market at Peachtree Center (225 Peachtree St. NE), 11:30a-2:30p
-Old Five Points Drive-Thru Farmers Market (2140 Johnson Ferry Road), 3-8p
Saturdays:-Green Market at Piedmont Park (12th St Gate), 9a-1:30p
-Morningside (1393 North Highland Ave), 7:30-11:30a
-Brookhaven (1441 Dresden Drive), 9a-1p
-Peachtree Road Farmers Market (2744 Peachtree Rd), 8:30a-12p
Sundays: -Grant Park (800 Cherokee Ave), 9:30a-1:30p

And Whole Foods Market is having a one-day sale this Friday on local grass-fed ground beef – just $4.99 a pound!
Streets Alive bike parade. Thanks to all who came out to play yesterday.

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Ben
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Ben
6:30p: Group Intro- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
8p: Beginner CrossFit- Cassie

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Deadlift: 4×4 workups
B. 7 rounds for time:
7 kettlebell snatch R
7 kettlebell snatch L
7 strict pull ups

And coming tomorrow…

A. Power clean: 3×3
B. “The Chief”
Max rounds in 3 minutes of:
3 Power cleans 135/95
6 Push-ups
9 Squats
Rest 1 minute. Repeat for a total of 5 cycles.

MON 9.9.13 Eat Locally Read More »

CFM events this weekend

Join your friends tonight for happy hour at the Nook, on Piedmont Park, from 6-8pm.

And… SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!
Support CFM at the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s Streets Alive event this weekend, as Peachtree Street is shut down to motor vehicle traffic from 2-6pm. CFM will be there all day at 13th & Peachtree, with free workouts on the half-hour led by our awesome Coaches in Training. Our very own DJ POB will also be playing some tunes for us!

What: Streets Alive – Peachtree
Free WODs & tunes and other fun… take out your stress by flipping a tire, pulling a sled or swinging a sledgehammer! Come celebrate our active Midtown community.
Where: 13th & Peachtree
Who: the CFM community & anyone who wants to try a free workout. All ages, abilities & skill levels are welcome!
When: 2-6p Sunday. Free WODs at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30p.
Attire: CFM gear… REPRESENT!
Afterward: Yes, we know the NFL season also kicks off Sunday. We’ll head to Taco Mac to catch the later games.

CFM coaches representing for Kill Cliff’s website photo shoot on Thursday (Cassie, Lis, Beka, coach-to-be Becca).

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. 10 min mobility work
B. Goat Work: 10 min to work on any skill you choose!
C. Grace
30 clean & jerks for time 135/95#

And coming tomorrow…TEAM WOD

A. Make up a lift you missed earlier this week.
B. In teams of 3-4…
Rotate through all four stations TWO TIMES-
1. Row 300m
2. 30 kettlebell swings
3. 30 wall balls
4. 30 box jumps
C. EXTRA CREDIT CASH OUT: 50 barbell roll outs OR 3:00 plank hold

Sunday Schedule

12n – All Levels CrossFit w Dyer
“Massengills”
As many rounds & reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
2 Power Snatch @ 75% of 1 rep max
4 Box Dips, or Stationary Bar Dips, or Strict Ring Dips
8 Burpees
Rest 5 minutes
4 – 100 foot prowler shuttles (50 feet out/50 feet back) as heavy as possible – Not for time

1-2p – Open Gym w Dyer

2-6p – Join CFM at Streets Alive on 13th & Peachtree.
Free all-levels (newcomers welcome) workouts at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30
Or just come out to pull the sled, swing the sledgehammer, flip the tires!!
Wear your CFM gear and bring your friends!

6p – Yoga w Monica back at CFM

FRI 09.06.13 Happy Hour today & Streets Alive Sunday! Read More »

New Month, New Goals!

by Coach Beka
With each new month comes a fresh, empty goal board at CFM. Make sure to write your goal(s) for the month next time you’re in the box! A few tips for your goal setting, in and out of CFM…
1. Set Goals that Motivate You
2. Set SMART Goals –
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time Bound.
3. Set Goals in Writing
4. Make an Action Plan
5. Stick With It!

And don’t forget the PRs!

PR stands for personal record. ANY TIME you do something for the first time – a double under, a 12″ box jump, a strict pull up, a handstand, a workout “Rx’ed” – or a new personal best at any lift… You write it on the board! Let’s see how many PRs we can get this month. LIS will commit to do a burpee for every PR on the board at the end of the month. Put her to work!

Congrats to everyone who crushed your August goals!

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
8p: Beginner CrossFit – Cassie
8:15p: Yoga – Samantha

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A1. Max rep strict chin ups: 3 sets, rest 2:00
A2. Max rep ring dips: 3 sets, rest 2:00
B. 3 rounds for time: 30 Overhead walking lunges 45/25#
20 hollow rocks
10 burpees

And coming tomorrow…

A. 10 min mobility work
B. Goat Work: 10 min to work on any skill you choose!
C. Grace
30 clean & jerks for time 135/95#

THURS 09.05.13 Goals & PRs Read More »

Pistol This!

by Coach Cassie
Today we’re doing pistol (one-legged squat) skillwork. Here are some tests to gauge what might be holding you back from executing pistols properly – having the proper balance, strength and hip & ankle mobility all factor into pistols.
**If your answer is YES to a question below, you’re good to go! The questions that are answered NO determine which type of pistol progression you should practice.**
Balance: Can you jump up and down on one foot and stick the landing without falling? From a standing position, can you perform a lunge with your knee kissing the ground lightly AND stand back up without falling?
From a lunge on ground position, with your back ankle extended (shoelaces of back foot touching the ground) can you stand back up without falling?
If balance is an issue, here’s your pistol progression: Lunge on the ground with ankle extended, do lunge step-ups on a box (step behind box) or Lunge Step-ups on a box (step to side of box, swinging leg out).
Strength: In your lunge position on the ground, can you lift your back foot off the ground and stand up? Can you back squat or front squat your body weight?
If strength is an issue, here’s your pistol progression: Candlestick roll to pistol (uses momentum of your body to assist with the pistol) or lunge on the ground with ankle lifted off ground and stand up.
Mobility: Can you do a proper air squat? Chest up straight? Hip crease below parallel? Heels secure on the floor? AND knees pressed out over pinky toe?
If mobility is an issue, here’s your pistol progression: Hold a weight plate out in front of you with straight arms while performing the pistol. This helps activate and engage the posterior chain to allow the athlete to properly sit back into the squat rather than lurch forward.

Danny doing roll outs.

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Raul
8p: Open Gym – Raul

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Single arm press: 5×5 each side (workups)
B. Pistols: 10 min pistol skillwork OR find weighted pistol 3RM
C. Tabata: row OR AirDyne OR jump rope singles OR double unders

And coming tomorrow…

A1. Max rep strict chin ups: 3 sets, rest 2:00
A2. Max rep ring dips: 3 sets, rest 2:00
B. 3 rounds for time: 30 Overhead walking lunges 45/25#
20 hollow rocks
10 burpees

WED 9.4.13 Pistol this! Read More »

Don’t forget we’re trying out an 8a class on Tuesdays & Fridays through the 15th.

Goodbye Cheryl & Kalen!

We’ve been so lucky to have 3-time Olympian Cheryl Haworth & her fiance Kalen as a part of the CFM community for the past four months. Kalen just got a promotion at SCAD (you go girl!), but the new gig is based in Savannah, so they’ll be moving back south later this week.
Join Cheryl today at the 5pm class as she coaches great clean & jerk form. She’ll also be back regularly for Olympic Lifting workshops. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you both and learning from you, Cheryl! Thanks for sharing your knowledge & expertise. Best wishes in Savannah!

Big crowd of 15 got after the Hotshots 19 hero WOD in Monday’s noon class. Great work crew!

Today’s Schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
8a: All Levels – Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis & Cheryl
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
6:30p: Group Intro- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
8p: Advanced CrossFit- Lis

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Front Squat: 4×4 workups (work up, or increase weight each set)
B. Clean & Jerk: 15min of skillwork OR 15 min to a heavy triple
C. 12 min to find max height box jump

And coming tomorrow…

A. Single arm press: 5×5 each side (workups)
B. 10 min pistol skillwork OR find Weighted Pistol 3RM
C. Tabata row OR AirDyne OR jump rope singles OR double unders

TUES 9.3.13 Farewell Cheryl Read More »

ONLY ONE CLASS TODAY AT 12N!

September programming

In honor of football season, this month’s programming has a special CrossFit Football flavor to it… what’s that mean to you? We’ll be doing more power cleans, box jumps, sprints, and playing with our “toys” like the prowler, sleds, sledgehammers & tires!
Just a note about CFM programming – this is designed to be an overall strength & conditioning program for “general physical preparedness” – to make you more fit, look better naked, etc. Since our students all have different training schedules, we can’t ever know which combination of this (or any) month’s workouts you’ll do. For that reason, it’s up to you to adjust each workout as needed – do a lot of air squats yesterday? Go lighter on back squats today. Shoulders/traps really sore from Tuesday’s power cleans? Show up early to roll ’em out AND maybe go lighter on presses today. These are just a few examples… feel free to ask your coaches for help on how to modify/game plan for each day’s workout based on your individual goals & needs.

Today’s schedule

12n – All Levels CrossFit w Lis

Workout of the Day (WOD)

Football WOD!
In any order: 50 sledge hammer strikes
50 tire flips
40′ seated sled drag (arms only)
40′ sled drag legs
40′ prowler push
5 shuttle runs

OR
“Hotshots 19”
A hero WOD dedicated to the 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting team who lost their lives on June 30, 2013 while fighting a fire in Yarnell, AZ
Six rounds for time of:
30 Squats
19 Power Cleans 135/95
7 Strict Pull-ups
Run 400 meters

And coming tomorrow…

A. Front Squat: 4-4-4-4 work-ups*
B. Clean & Jerk: skillwork or 15min to heavy triple
C. 12 min to find max height box jump

*This month our strength program features “work-ups” where each set should be heavier than the last (ex. 135-165-185-205).

MON 09.02.13 Happy September! Read More »

Wear your colors day!

Rock your favorite team’s colors at the box today…even if you’re not a college FB fan, rep your favorite NFL, soccer, hooverball, twerk, etc… team!

Holiday weekend reminders

CFM will be open for regularly scheduled classes on Saturday. Sunday there is ONLY a 12n class (no 1-2p Open Gym). Monday there is ONLY a 12n class. Check out the WODs we’ve got planned below…

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
8a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
4p: All Levels CrossFit- Amy
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Amy
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Amy

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Deadlift: 5-5-5+
B. Annie:
For time: 50-40-30-20-10
Double unders
Sit ups

And coming tomorrow…

Make-up Day: pick a WOD from the past week to make up OR choose a FOOTBALL-themed WOD off the board
Regular schedule:
9 & 10a- All Levels CrossFit w Lis
11a- Advanced CrossFit w Lis

SUNDAY – 12n class ONLY (w Dyer)

“Charles Bronson”
5 rounds for time:
3 deadlifts @ 80% of 1 rep max
11 box jumps 24″/20″
21 pushups

MONDAY – 12n class ONLY (w Lis)

Football WOD!
In any order:
50 sledge hammer strikes
50 tire flips
40′ seated sled drag (arms only)
40′ sled drag legs
40′ prowler push
5 shuttle runs

FRI 8.30.13 Wear your colors day! Read More »

Be Kind!

Maybe you already heard about and/or read the graduation speech George Saunders (no relation) gave to Syracuse graduates back in the spring. I just read it after hearing it’s being made into a book. The gyst of the speech is to be more kind… to “err in the direction of kindness.”
It made me think of how hard I tend to be on myself… how “unkind” I can be to myself. What if we could all be more positive in the gym, and to each other, and to ourselves? Just this week, as I was complaining to a friend, it dawned on me:
“What am I doing? He has a really tough week ahead of him too. Why are your problems more important than his? Stop being so negative already. STOP complaining and instead FIND a solution to the problem. Turn your outlook around and BE more positive.”
So as August wraps up, and FOOTBALL begins, and the seasons change, I challenge you to enjoy life, and be positive, and be kinder to yourself and others. Be a better you.
As my distant Uncle George (still no relation) said it best:
“Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality – your soul, if you will – is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare’s, bright as Gandhi’s, bright as Mother Teresa’s. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.”
Read the entire speech here.

Donations for the Youth Adventure Trust

CFMers Joe P & Shay are participating in the Invesco Perpetual Lakes Adventure Race and you’re welcome to donate $5 towards the fundraising effort.
The goal of the race is to raise funds to give young people the hope, confidence and life skills to meet the challenges in their lives and also build trust and motivation through a journey of experience, adventure and fun.
Here’s more info about the race.
Day 1 – Hike across 10 peaks covering a distance of 30 km
Day 2 – Mountain bike across 6 peaks covering a distance of 30km
The team has a fundraising target of 4,000 sterling.
Donations can also be accepted on Virgin Money.
A class full of box jumps last week.

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Khaki
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Khaki
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
8p: Beginner CrossFit – Cassie
8:15p: Yoga – Samantha

Workout of the Day

A. Back squat: 5-5-5+
B. 6 rounds for time:
3 box jumps
6 ring dips
9 barbell roll outs

And coming tomorrow…

A. Deadlift: 5-5-5+
B. Annie:
For time: 50-40-30-20-10
Double unders
Sit ups

THURS 8.29.13 “Err in the direction of kindness” Read More »

Mobility focus: better squats & pull ups

by Coach Cassie
This blog from my Colorado buddies at CrossFit Verve is a great one explaining how tight ankles relate to the progression of a good squat.
REMEMBER to take time before & after class to foam roll, mobilize, and take care of that bod! We have MobilityWOD posters hanging above the rowers with plenty of mobility exercises. And here’s another good MobilityWOD video to help you with today’s pull ups.

Kerry crushing 7a overhead squats

Today’s schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Raul
8p: Open Gym – Raul

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Strict press: 5-5-5+
B. Every 30 seconds –
Complete 3 burpees and perform max rep pull ups. Goal: complete 100 total pull ups. *Every 30 seconds perform 3 burpees, for the rest of the 30 seconds
perform as many pull ups as you can during the time period. At the next 30 seconds perform 3 burpees and then max pull ups and so on until you reach 100 total pull ups. Score is the time it takes to reach 100 total pull ups. Scale w jumping pull ups

And coming tomorrow…

A. Back squat: 5-5-5+
B. 6 rounds for time:
3 HIGH box jumps
6 ring dips
9 barbell roll outs

WED 8.28.13 Mobility focus Read More »

Labor Day schedule UPDATE

CFM will have regularly scheduled classes on Saturday, August 31. There’s ONLY a 12n class on Sunday, September 1 (No Open Gym. No yoga). On Monday, September 2nd, in observance of Labor Day there will be only one class, at 12n. Monday’s class will feature a special CROSSFIT FOOTBALL WOD to welcome back pigskin season!!!
We had a great turn out Saturday for Bring-A-Friend!

Today’s Schedule

6a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
7a: All Levels CrossFit- Beka
8a: All Levels – Beka
12n: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
5p: All Levels CrossFit- Lis
6p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
7p: All Levels CrossFit- Cassie
8p: Advanced CrossFit- Lis

Workout of the Day (WOD)

A. Overhead squat: 5-5-3-3-1-1-1
B. Every min on the min for 10 mins: 3-position snatch @ 60% snatch 1RM
C. 2:00 hollow rock test

And coming tomorrow

A. Strict press: 5-5-5+
B. Every 30 seconds –
Complete 3 burpees and perform max rep pull ups. Goal: complete 100 total pull ups. *Every 30 seconds perform 3 burpees, for the rest of the 30 seconds perform as many pull ups as you can. At the next 30 second mark, perform 3 burpees and then max pull ups and so on until you reach 100 total pull ups. Score is the time it takes to reach 100 total pull ups (scale w jumping pull ups or ring rows).

TUES 8.27.13 Labor Day Schedule update Read More »