Athlete profile: Amanda B
-Hometown: Roswell, GA
-Age: 27
-Occupation: Auditor
-Three words to describe you: Easy-going, Devoted, Self-motivated (when it comes to non-exercise activities, although I’m getting better at that).
-What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I work too much but when I’m not working I like hiking, going to concerts, camping or traveling of some sort with my boyfriend and friends/family. I used to like to write, but it’s been a while. My friend and I wrote a Young Adult novel a couple of years ago. We’d like to try and publish it one day, but it still needs a lot of work (and a title)! I have also started to cook more and enjoy trying/making up new recipes (even though Adam may disagree with the idea that I “cook more”)
-When did you first start CrossFitting?: 9 months ago at CFM
-How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? What made you try it? Through my boyfriend Adam and his cousin who had been CrossFitting for a few years, but it was really meeting the people at CFM that got me to try it out
-Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? hmmm…I remember it was either snatches, thrusters or clean and jerks and I had no clue what any of those meant. The women’s Rx was 65# and I could barely lift the bar (even when I lifted the bar my form was pretty horrible). I remember being really impressed by other girls who were doing Rx and hoped that I’d get there one day
-Favorite WOD: I like Angie or Cindy because of the squats, but I really liked the WOD a few weeks ago with 8 rounds of cleans and thrusters
-Least Favorite WOD: Anything with step-ups or a barbell over my head; I’m always afraid I’m going to drop the bar
-Sports & fitness background: Pretty much nothing. I did gymnastics when I was 10 or 12 if that counts and some light tennis. I attempted to join the track team in high school and that lasted about 3 weeks before I gave up. I worked out in college, but nothing too intense. Joining a gym in high school was a big step for me because I come from a family where my mom drives down the driveway to get the mail.
-What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? Besides the physical aspects of getting much stronger and faster and in better overall health, I have have changed my eating habits since joining CF and the Whole Life Challenge. I went 1 full year at work and only brought my lunch one day. As soon as I joined CrossFit and started the Whole Life Challenge I began to bring my lunch 3 to 4 times per week. I’ve gotten away from that again, but I at least choose healthier options when I’m out. Before CF I hated running (I still don’t love it) and I could not even do a 5k without stopping a few times. I’ve lived in Atlanta my entire life, except for college, and have never run the Peachtree Road Race. We decided last minute to run the race and bought tickets July 3rd. I was pretty nervous on race day but got out there and realized I couldn’t go back now (I kind of felt like I was about to jump off a plane and I was already at the top so there was absolutely no way they’d let me back out). I ended up running the entire 6.2 miles without stopping (and without beer) and wasn’t even that tired when I got to the end. Later that day I was asked how long I trained for the race and I realized that I had not done any race preparation. Kind of crazy that I could go from not being able to run a 5k to finishing a 10k without stopping once. I really feel like I owe it all to CrossFit.
-What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? The main life change is my new motivation for working out, eating healthier and working less. Really just my overall happiness in life because I feel like I finally found something I’m interested in and can improve every day
-Favorite CFM moments: Barkley at the anniversary party; Mardi gras WOD; this year’s Open (specifically 13.2) and finally clean and jerking 95# (after many feeble attempts at the Open and the following day at Open Gym)
-Any advice for people just getting started? If you can’t do certain WODs Rx, don’t get discouraged by other people who can, even if they’ve been at CF for the same period of time as you. You never know their fitness background, genetic background, etc. It’s competitive in that you can compare your times/weights/score with everyone else (which also makes it more motivating), but for me, it’s about competing with myself and trying to keep improving.
-Do you follow the paleo or primal lifestyle? What is your nutrition philosophy? I did almost strict paleo during Whole Life Challenge, but now I try to eat paleo during the week and eat pizza and ice cream and everything else on the weekends. It doesn’t always work out that way, so I’m usually happy if I stick it out at least Monday – Wednesday. My philosophy – if you do decide to keep paleo, make sure to break it often enough where you aren’t craving too many things; you’ll go crazy!
-What did you eat today? Lara bar for breakfast; My job brought in pizza and salad for lunch and I said no to the pizza. I was proud of myself until I went out to get ice cream tonight and topped it with Reeses 🙂
Adam motivating Amanda through the Helen prelims a few weeks ago. Way to push it, Amanda!
Workout of the Day (WOD)
Oly total: FULL Squat snatch & FULL squat clean & jerk
Gymnastics Class 8pm
A. 15 Minutes of Handstand work
B. 10 Minutes of Kipping Pull-Up Progressions
C. GWOD-For QUALITY Perform in any order:
50 Hollow Rocks
50 Superman Rocks
*Each time you rest, perform
3 Push Ups
And coming tomorrow…
A. Weighted pull up: 1 rep max
B. For time:
250m row 1
5 kb swings 2/1.5pd
25 burpees
15 kb swings 2/1.5pd
250m row
Whoo hoo! Go Amanda!
Yeah Amanda! Woo!
One of my favorite Amanda quotes: "I'm not competitive in the gym, but I'm competitive at drinking" pre-Irish car bomb race with Adam and Cary. Amazing.
Also – happy to see athlete profiles back on the blog! I love these!
Awesome profile Amanda! My favorite was your facial expressions when trying to get that clean and jerk! So glad to have become friends with you and Adam through CF.
Reminder! CFMers, we are getting Gymnasty tonight at 8pm.
A. 15 Minutes of Handstand work.
B. 10 Minutes of Kipping Pull-Up Progressions.
C. GWOD- For QUALITY Perform in any order:
50 Hollow Rocks.
50 Superman Rocks.
*Each time you rest, perform 3 Push Ups.
Yay Amanda B! Looking strong!
Aww!! I love the pic.
Go Amanda! Great detail and grammar in your profile.
PRs everywhere tonight for Oly Total! Wow! Super proud of our CFMers! Also proud of Joseph J. getting his first kipping pull up tonight….then strung 10 together no problem! Nice work everyone! I love this place!
http://i.imgur.com/3OjUFGY.gif
This is your mother who drives down the driveway to get the mail. You forgot to mention that our driveway is as steep as Mt. Everest. I'm proud that you ran the Peachtree Road Race. This blog post is great. You are a writer, so don't give up.
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