I actually like this drill quite a bit. Unless you are in our Strength classes on Tues/Thurs evening practicing your snatch and CJ on a regular basis, you could probably use some work on making that bar contact “in the pocket” and getting that final hip explosion before jumping under the bar. Skip to :50 and watch the drill…5 minutes of that drill a day with PVC or an empty bar could help you out a lot.

Classes at 8,9, and 10am this morning!

Working on some snatch technique this morning. We will do a lot of mobility and drills, then work on the movements in the following complex:

Workout of the Day
Power snatch
Hang snatch
Full snatch (squat)

Post your scores to the whiteboard as 1RM’s of ea movement.

You Know you’re in the Middle of a Nutrition Challenge When…

…when you’re ready to throw down for the ripe avocados at whole foods…against another MBSer!

…there is no paleo-friendly bacon at the grocery store for a 10 mile radius.

…you judge everyone else’s shopping carts. (read: jealous).

…your co-workers ask if you’re hosting a Tupperware party.

…your pants start fitting better.

…when you turn down free alcohol while gambling in Vegas.

…every food and drink advertisement - even the ones you don’t like - works on you: “Cheese and bacon stuffed crust from Pizza Hut? Sounds good! Feel like a watered down version of Miller Lite? I don’t like beer but I sure could drink a case of it right now!”

…a webpage suggests you enable cookies and all you can think about now is Mmmmmmmm….. cookies.

These are some of ‘the best of’ pulled from John O.’s FB post.

Workout of the Day
Use this as a warm up for the workout:
3 Sets of Bear complex, working up to your highest weight: Bear complex = 7 rounds: 1 PC, 1 FS, 1 PP, 1 BS, 1PP. You cannot set the bar down in between, it must touch and go…yes, your grip is going to hurt on this one.

then
For time:
21 Deadlift
21 Pull-ups
Row 750m
15 Power clean
15 Pull-ups
Row 500m
9 Push press
9 Pull-ups
Row 250m

L3 - 155/115 lb.
L2 - 135/95 lb.
L1 - 95/65 lb.

Extra Credit: Run 1 mile

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Workout of the Day
Stone to shoulder practice, work up to your heaviest stone

Strongman medley, 3 attempts for best time.
For time:
15 yard sled pull, very heavy
15 yard sand bag carry, very heavy
3 stones to shoulder, heavy, heavier, heaviest
15 yard sand bag carry
15 yard sled pull

We should be aiming to finish this medley at around 1:45-2:15. Rest as needed between attempts.
EXTRA CREDIT:
15 Strict toes to bar
Run 800
15 Strict toes to bar

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Congrats to everyone that hit double under, HSPU and rope climb pr’s in yesterday’s workout. Consistency pays off!

Workout of the Day
Press, Push press, Push jerk test:
Choose from either 95/65 lb. or 75/55 lb. and press as many times as you can. Once you can press no more, immediately begin push pressing and do that for as long as you can. Once you can push press no more, push jerk for as many reps as you can. Record the three scores. For example, I get 16 presses before switching to push press, then I get to 25 before I switch to push jerks, and I finish with 35 reps. My score would be recorded to see the switches as such: “16-25-35.”

With a partner for time:
3 rounds of:
20 Pull-Ups + 40 Wall Balls, 20/14 lb.
then,
3 rounds of:
40 Push-Ups + 80 AbMat Sit-Ups
then,
3 rounds of:
80 Air Squats + 160 Double Unders
then,
1 round of: 40 Deadlifts, 225/155 lb.

Partners divide reps how ever they choose. Only 1 partner working at at time.
EXTRA CREDIT:
10 minutes of lower body mobility

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Happy Birthday Coach Forrest!

Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday to you…
Happy Birthday dear Coach Forrest…
Happy Birthday to youuuuuuu!

Just look at that smile. The most genuine of guys you’ll ever meet, Coach Forrest is an amazing friend, coach, mentor, brother, uncle and fiance to the lucky Brittany H. This place would come to a dead stop without all his behind the scenes work to keep MBS running smooth. We appreciate you, Coach Forrest. Happy Birthday!

Workout of the Day
L3/Rx
3 Rounds:
1 Legless Rope Climb
3 Bar Muscle Ups
5 Deficit HSPU (9″/5″)
50 Unbroken Double Unders

L2-L1
3 Rounds:
2 Rope climbs
6 Jumping bar muscle ups or 9 CTB pullups
8 Regular HSPU’s or 12 pushups
50 Total DU’s or 150 Singles

For quality AND time. Meaning, we’ll still have the clock running, but don’t get so carried away by your time that you sacrifice working on skills that need improvement.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Bench press, work up to 1RM

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Keeping a Logbook

By Rich T

Keeping a logbook is not an option. I see my log book as a tool for me and my coach to track my progress or lack there of. I record my body weight daily so that I can look back and see how my work capacity changes as I increase muscle mass. My log book helps me find the weight at which I perform my best. Writing out my day’s work and then visualizing myself doing it is very motivating for me. This is the biggest reason I keep log book.

Try this - before you step foot in the gym write down all the work you are going to do in your session. I do this just about every day. I also include the percentages of weight I will be lifting in a strength wod. If I do more than what I have written down that’s fine, I’ll just record it as I complete it. Because of my logbook, I know all of my numbers, which keeps me driven to break my personal records. Recording information about how I felt about the workout, my diet, and sleep is also helpful. Keeping a log gives me a feeling that I’m serious about my training.

It works best for me to record one day’s work per page. At the top, I write the date, time, and body weight. Another way is to record a week’s work on one page. This may be helpful to see how much volume is in your weekly program. If you want to see a neat way to organize your book, take a look at Carolina’s. She has a few pages in the back set aside to record PR’s. I suggest that you keep a logbook for an entire year. If you do this you’ll need it to be sturdy.

I’m left handed so I use a notebook with the spiral on top. The pages tear out easily but I deal with it. A book with the spiral down the side is a little better but pages still tear out easily. The MBS log books (not in stock, sorry) kick ass because they have so much useful information inside. Because I usually have two training sessions per day, I don’t have enough room to write the work I do or I would use one. Other choices are a ledger book or a simple composition notebook.

This week’s lifestyle point is to track your workouts using a logbook, online log, or whatever means you have to record your work. We HIGHLY recommend using a real (one that you can touch with your hands) logbook because the process of writing down WHAT YOU’RE PLANNING ON DOING and then WHAT YOU DID is so helpful. You can visualize while writing down your workout before you do it, then you reflect on what you did after the workout…it’s much more effective process. Way more effective than simply punching a few keys into your smartphone after the wod.

Workout of the Day
No hands, no feet hang squat clean warm up. Build up to heavy 4RM.

20 Minute AMRAP:
10 Hang Squat Cleans
15 Weighted Abmat situps 20/14 lb. (adv. do 15 GHD situps)
20 Wall Balls, 20/14 lb.

L3 - 185/125 lb.
L2 - 155/105 lb.
L1 - 115/75 lb.

Make squat cleans heavier than your usual.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Reverse Hyper, 3×20

Post your scores to the Whiteboard.

Steph, Sean, Anke and Garet braved the hip shoot/plank walk wod last Sunday. I dare you to try it as extra credit. If done correctly, it’s no joke. Low back and core super wod.

It was: 5 rounds 50 foot hip shoot and 50 foot plank walk. Demos here: http://gymnasticswod.com/content/hip-shoots and here: http://gymnasticswod.com/content/plank-walk. I had them use 2.5 plates on their feet as sliders.

Gymnastics Workout of the Day
15 minute AMRAP:
1 Forward roll
5 Burpees
10 Pull ups
15 Jumping Lunges

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

The lifestyle challenge for the second week of the 8WTC is to log your workout. You may use a notebook, online log, or whatever means is most convenient for you to track your workouts. Tips and recommendations about recording your workouts will be posted in the Nutrition page.

Normal class times today at 8, 9, and 10am. Bring a friend to the 10am workout of the day!

Workout of the Day
20 minute AMRAP:
5 Front squats
7 HSPU or dips
9 Toes to bar

L3 - 135/95 lb.
L2 - 115/75 lb.
L1 - 95/65 lb.

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Football Food

My husband is a football FANATIC. Me… not so much. I’m in it for the food. So I’ll take any game day as an excuse to put out a spread of food big enough to feed the neighborhood. But what’s a girl to do when she’s on an MBS 8 Week Lifestyle Challenge? You can stay the course with mouth watering recipes from Paleomg. Click here to being drooling.

A few tips for today’s Wall Balls:

*Keep your chest up. Keeping your gaze upward will help keep your chest up.
*Keep your elbows up enough so the ball is in between your face and neck.
*Weight in the heels, don’t fall forward.
*Drive through the heels.
*Jump if you need to in order to hit the target. (It won’t kill you, I promise.)

*Thanks to Charlie D. for being today’s model.

Workout of the Day
15 minutes: Box squat, 5-5-5-3-3-3-1-1-1 up to 1RM
then
4 Rounds alternating rounds with a partner, not for time:
4-3-2-1 Band resisted sprint runs (about 20 yards or 10 seconds each)
10-20-30-40 Wall balls
15-12-9-6 Strict Pullups (no bands, partner assisted)

Partner A will go first. Partner B hold the band around P-A’s waist for the resisted sprint, which will be sets of 10-seconds each. So, in round 1, it will be 4 sets of a 10-second resisted sprint, turning around and resetting after each set. Immediately after the sprint, P-A will do first round of wall balls, then the pullups. Whatever strict pullups you cannot complete on your own, you partner will assist you to get chin over bar. After P-A completes first round, P-B will do first round. Alternate until completion.

Extra Credit: Spend 10 minutes on lower body mobilization.

Post your scores to the whiteboard

2014 Turkey Challenge

This years Turkey Challenge will be held on November 22nd and 23rd. This will be our FIFTH YEAR hosting the event!!! I am so grateful for the support we have gotten each year from our athletes, volunteers, and community to be able to host it.

Divisions being held this year:

- Pro Individual
- Pro Team (2 guys/girls)
- Open Individual
- Open Team (2 guys/girls)
- Masters Individual

Registration will open Monday, October 6th. In the next week we will be releasing more info about the weekend and what to expect - we are really looking forward to this year!!! As always, we are looking for good men and women to help us run the event…Our volunteers make it happen. If you are interested on being a volunteer or judge, please email Patrick@mbscrossfit.com. Thanks!

Workout of the Day
Teams of 2, Complete simultaneously for 3 Rounds
P1 - 500 Meter Run
P2 - 125 Double Unders (partners may help DU’s and cannot switch until complete)
Each partner does each for 3 rounds
then,
125 Toes to bar (shared, one partner works at a time)
Finish with 300 ft (length of gym) shared with partner wheel barrow

Score total time to complete.

EXTRA CREDIT
10 minutes of Handstand practice (holds, walks, balances)

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

I just gotta say, I’m proud to know these guys and glad to have them as a part of the community. For those that don’t know, Sherown suffered a neck injury in January that left him with limited movement from the neck down. He had only been CrossFitting a short time before his injury, but his hard work ethic and athletic talent shined in the WODs.

Since January, Sherown has battled for regaining his movement and has been showing amazing progress. I just saw this posted on the Team Sherown Get Well Drive, where he and his wife have been keeping us updated on their progress:

While it sounded like a good idea at the time, attempting to do a 5K post injury and still fighting to learn how to walk again, proved to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. We detoured a little off the course and probably went over the 3.2 miles, but I was able to finish in a little over 3 hours. I felt great and was making good time when we started but the last mile wasn’t even comparable to the fatigue and struggle of hiking over 14,000 feet. Every step was a challenge, ankles and knees were sore and tight, and shoulders were pretty beat up from relying on the walker more. Luckily my OT in PT therapists were able to join and help me stretch out on the route and I was pushed by family, friends, and peak center trainers to the finish. To finish off the day, I had the chance to meet up with some old track friends from UNC. All in all, it was a pretty big day.

Congrats Sherown and family and can’t wait to see you back in the gym!

Workout of the Day
15 minutes: Run 1 mile, then in the remainder of the time, find your 1RM Floor press

12 Minute AMRAP:
5 Strict pullups
5 Burpee box jump overs 24/20″
5 Ring or bar dips

EXTRA CREDIT
100 Hollow rocks

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Technique first, all else comes after.

Workout of the Day
15 minutes: Work up to a heavy sumo deadlift

15 Minute AMRAP, alternating w/Partner:
10 Deadlift 135/95 lb.
10 Kettlebell swings 72/53 lb.
10 Box jumps 24/20″

Partner A goes through full round while Partner B rests. Then, Partner B goes through full round while Partner A rests. Continue for 15 minutes for max rounds + reps.

EXTRA CREDIT
3 sets of 10-15 GHD Hip/Back extensions

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Ok, so I am going to try and give you a simple way of finding an answer to “how much do I eat?”

What I am doing here is giving you a starting point. I’m assuming you either haven’t ever tracked how much food goes into your face, or it’s been so long that it might be a good idea to find a new baseline. Once you have this starting point, you will optimize, or make changes as necessary, to better align for your goals - body composition improvement, performance, strength/mass gains, etc.

The formula that I use here is pretty simple.

1. Find your Lean Body Mass. How you do this is take your overall weight and multiply by your body fat %. If you don’t know your lean body mass, it is fine in most cases to use an estimate or use pictures to get a rough idea (mostly work/family safe I think).

2. Next, eat the correct amount of protein, based on your goals:

- Maintenance - 0.6 or greater grams of protein per lb. of LBM (LBM x 0.6)

- Performance - 1 or greater grams of protein per lb. of LBM (LBM x 1)

- Strength and/or mass gains - 1.25 or greater grams of protein per lb. of LBM (LBM x 1.25)

Disclaimer - This part can get tricky…I could probably spend the next 6 hours of my day defending and explaining those prescriptions above. But, this is just a VERY rough way of getting you to a starting point.

So, for the examples above, a 185-lb. male with 20% bodyfat and roughly 150 lbs. LBM:

Maintenance - 90 or greater grams of protein daily

Performance - 150 or greater grams of protein daily (see picture above)

Strength/mass gains - 185 or greater grams of protein daily

Again, it starts with finding your Lean Body Mass. You can use some pictures to estimate your LBM. Or, you can do taping or hydrostatic weighing like the Body Fat Truck we had at the gym on Saturday.

3. Finally, fill in your carbohydrates and fat

Carbohydrates:

If your goals are, in this order, to 1. lose bodyfat, then 2. increase performance, then you will make sure carbohydrate sources are very low in sugars and starches. Vegetables will need to be on your plate at every single meal. Veggies to fruit ratio should be 3 to 1 or more. Fruits, juices, and starches are NOT your best options, especially on a daily basis. You should be eating under your LBM number in grams of carbs per day.

If your goals are, in this order, to 1. increase performance (ie, lift more weight or go faster in the WODs), then, 2. lose bodyfat, then you are fine to add more fruits and starches into your diet. Pay attention to getting those carbs before AND after the workout sessions and before bedtime. Vegetable are still very important. You should be eating over your LBM number in carbs per day.

Fat:

The majority of your fat comes through your animal protein sources. As you can see in the picture above, by eating 150 grams of animal-sourced protein, I also took in 95 grams of fat.

The thing with fat is that it’s pretty hard to overdo it on a paleo diet. Of course, you could sit down and eat a whole tub of almond butter. But, other than something like that, I find it rare to feel like I need to eat more after having a good serving of fat.

So, I approach fat as an additional energy source. After making sure I hit my protein and carb numbers based off my goals, I just squeeze in as much fat as I can for extra fuel. If I feel like I’m tired through the day, I increase fat.

Additional disclaimer - This blog post does NOT substitute talking with your coach or physician about your situation. All of the above is based off my personal experience and observations, and again it is a VERY rough way of finding a start point. There are many other ways of doing it..ultimately, it’s up to you and playing around with it.

Workout of the Day
20 minutes: High hang squat clean,work up to 1RM

“Grace”
For time:
30 reps of clean and jerk

L3 - 135/95 lb. (only use if clean is greater than 225/155 lb.)
L2 - 115/75 lb.
L1 - 95/65 lb.

Extra credit:
3×10-15 reps of GHD hip/back ext

Post your scores to the Whiteboard.

Well, here we go. Today we are taking our body measurements, pictures, and pre-challenge workout…

Today’s schedule: (Take note of the 5th heat time. Also, we are adding 1 team per heat time, so if you haven’t signed up on the whiteboard, you can come in early and get your name into a slot)
8:00 – Finish – Body measurements and pictures
8:30 – 9:00 am – Heat 1
9:15 – 9:45 am – Heat 2
10:00 – 10:30 am – Heat 3
10:45 – 11:15 am – Heat 4
11:30 – Finish – Heat 5 * (Added this heat time)

**If you are NOT a part of the challenge, you are welcome to come in for the workout of the day. We will have spaces for you to hop in. But, like everyone else, the warm up piece will be on your own for today. Thanks!

**We are suggesting that teams show up 45-60 minutes before their scheduled heat to get body measurements, pictures, and warm up done prior to the beginning of the workout. If you are late and not ready for your heat, your spot will be replaced with a team that is ready.

**We will NOT have a normal group warm up. We will need teams to warm themselves up and be prepared to start the deadlift.

**We are going to do the best we can to stay on time and work with those that are modifying movements and/or weights. If you know you or someone on your team is modifying this workout, please allow some time to come in early and have some extra time for instruction on modifications.

Finally, the challenge doesn’t start until Sunday. All FINAL information about the challenge (food list, rules, scoring, etc) will be posted to the blog and Facebook MBS Nutrition Group by Saturday night. Email patrick@mbscrossfit.com if you have questions. Thanks.

Workout of the Day
Deadlift
Find your 3 rep max.
then
“Fight Gone Bad”
Three rounds of:
Wallball, 20 pound ball, 10 ft target (Reps)
Sumo deadlift high-pull, 75 pounds (Reps)
Box Jump, 20″ box (Reps)
Push press, 75 pounds (Reps)
Row (Calories)

*In this workout you move from each of five stations after a minute. The clock does not reset or stop between exercises. This is a five-minute round from which a one-minute break is allowed before repeating. On call of “rotate”, the athletes must move to next station immediately for best score. One point is given for each rep, except on the rower where each calorie is one point.

Post your scores to the whiteboard.

Try New Things.

Until that day Todd had never even tried a legless rope climb. How do you know you can’t do something until you try it?

Announcements

Pre-Challenge huddle today at 12pm - 1:30pm. If you didn’t make Wednesday night, you should try to make the meeting. We will go over the rules, foods list, and the in’s and out’s of successfully competing in this challenge.
Saturday Team Challenge WOD schedule:
8:00 - Finish - Body measurements and pictures
8:30 - 9:00 am - Heat 1
9:15 - 9:45 am - Heat 2
10:00 - 10:30 am - Heat 3
10:45 - 11:15 am - Heat 4
11:30 - Finish - Heat 5

If you haven’t signed up for a heat yet, you can see what times are still available on the WOD whiteboard at the gym. If you will not be making Saturday, it is your responsibility to email Meriah@mbscrossfit.com to schedule your makeup.

**We are suggesting that teams show up 45-60 minutes before their scheduled heat to get body measurements, pictures, and warm up done prior to the beginning of the workout.

**We will NOT have a normal group warm up. We will need teams to warm themselves up and be prepared to start the deadlift.

Workout of the Day
10 Rounds for Time:
15 Pushups
5 C2B Pull Ups (Even Rounds) sub jumping C2B
5 Bar Muscle Ups (Odd Rounds) sub bar dips
40 Double Unders

L3 - Rx
L2 - 12 Pushups
L1 - 9 Pushups

Extra credit:
Partner leg throws, 2×15 (1 rep = 1x ea left, straight, right, back to back to partners hands after each)

Post your scores to the whiteboard.