Last week I talked about changing up my routine. I could feel myself getting a bit addicted to CrossFit again, meaning I was continually increasing my weights and I wasn’t physically feeling my best. I explained this last week and had so many people support and understand what I was going through. Many women have experienced the same thing but don’t always want to talk about it. I also had some who didn’t understand. I just want to quickly mention something. Feeling my best both physically and mentally is incredibly important to me. Not everyone cares about that, but I do. For a long time, I have loved who I am on the inside, but it’s taken longer to become comfortable with the physical piece. Because of that, I’m continuously finding new ways to become more comfortable in my skin. And I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I want to know that I’m earning loving myself. I want to know that I’m working my ass off to become a better person, both inside and outside.
I’ve had people tell me that it’s what on the inside that counts. But that person inside is an incredibly hardworking, positive, happy, thriving human being because of the work I do on the outside. Because of working out, I work harder at my job here for you guys. Because of working out, I’m happier in my relationship. Because of working out, I drink less, eat better, sleep better, and have more energy. Because of working out, the person inside better matches the person outside. I’m not striving for perfection, I’m just striving for the best Juli.
And right now, that means trying different kinds of workouts to see how my body responds and changes. I’ve done CrossFit 5-6 days per week for over 6 years now and it’s changed so many things in my life and my body. But I don’t really care about getting better at it now. Sure, I’m always happy for my form to get better, but I’m not interested in PR’s or increasing my weights. So I’m now looking for things to get better at that will also make me happier in my skin at the same time. That means I’m doing CrossFit a couple times per week, I’m wake surfing because there is LOTS of room for improvement there, I’m doing Fit classes for a longer amount of time working out with lighter weights, then I’m also doing Barre because it’s a total different kind of challenge compared to CrossFit.
I’ve been doing this for over a week now and I already can see some changes, especially in my legs. I’m LOVING barre because it’s a big time mental challenge during some of the workouts. When your legs are shaking uncontrollably, telling your body to give up, it’s your brain that has to take over and push through. I’m getting pretty sore from the workouts, especially my calves and my upper butt where the back meets my butt. I never get sore there from CrossFit, so it’s cool to know I’m working something different. And because I’m mixing up all my workouts, I’m seeing the difference physically. I’ll continue to change it up every week, sometimes doing more CrossFit and sometimes not. Because I think that’s good for my body. I want my muscles to work hard in different ways, but I also want them to be able to recover and that’s sometimes hard with CrossFit workouts.
Anywho, that’s my experience so far. I live in an incredibly active place with so many options and I’m trying to take full advantage of all of them. So far, I’m really happy with that decision. If you have any questions regarding any of the workouts I’ve been doing, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’m faster at responding to those than I am at emails! I’m excited to share this new journey with you guys and different experiences I have over the next fews months! For now, let’s talk about last week!
Sunday – Wake surfing
Monday – Fit Class – video here
*Warm Up before and quick core workout after*
Workout: Three 10 minute AMRAPs (no rest between the three, go right into the next)
#1 – 10-8-6-4-2: Dumbbell thrusters then 200m run between sets
#2 – 40-20-10 calorie row and 80-40-20 air squats (butt to wall ball)
#3 – 20-14-8 front rack lunges, lunges and 300m run between sets
Tuesday – Barre Forte Lohi Class
Wednesday – CrossFit Broadway Class
Every 30 sec for 15 mins – Alternating.
On the :00 – Strict HSPU
On the :30 – Strict Pull Ups
* Choose a number of reps to perform for each movement between 2 & 6. Keep that number the entire workout. This is 15 sets of each so choose wisely! – I did 4 reps every set
Then 2 Rounds For Time: (15 min time cap)
500m Row
20 Toes To Bar
400m Run
20 Box Jump Overs (24/20)
I finished in 12:59 rx
Thursday – Rest day
Friday – CrossFit Broadway Class – video here
Back Squats: 5 x 3. All sets at 88% (18 mins) – I used 155#
10 min AMRAP Of:
10 Double KB Russian Swings (2 x 55/2 x 35)
10 Double KB Front Rack Lunges (2 x 55/2 x 35)
5 Muscle Ups / 7 Burpee Pull Ups
I got 4 + 23 using 35# and doing burpee pull ups
Saturday – Fit Class
*Warm up then core workout*
With a partner:
Buy in: 800 single unders (between 2 people) – Partner 1: jump rope while Partner 2: 26 lunges
200 ab mat sit ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner holds boat pose
150 air squats (between 2 people) – 1 person work while partner holds air squat
100 push ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner holds TRX row
50 pull ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner hangs from pull up bar
Buy out: 50 burpees (between 2 people) – Partner 1: burpees while Partner 2: 25 jumping jacks
Then sprint: 3x stairs, 30 box jumps, 3x stairs, 30 donkey kicks, 3x stairs, 30 jumping lunges
__________________
At Home/Travel Workout:
20-15-10 dumbbell bicep curls (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 weighted step ups (per leg – weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
20-15-10 tricep kickbacks (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 weighted lunges (weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
20-15-10 shoulder press (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 sumo squats (weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
*try to not rest much between any of the sets of reps
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i think it’s so key to change up your routine, and i love that you recognize it and can talk about and initiate those changes. barre is so different from crossfit, that you’re doing both your body and mind a favor by incorporating them both into your workout routine.
I did Pure Barre for a while and it was SO. FREAKING. HARD! Once in a while they’d have a “bring on the men” class where we’d all bring the husbands/ boyfriends and get to watch them suffer through a class with us- the best! Highly recommend suggesting to your studio if they don’t already do it!:)
Did you mention trying Orangetheory? I tried Crossfit and unfortunately with the meds I’m on for my autoimmune disease my body just couldn’t handle it. Tried Orangetheory and loved it. I love your blog and kudos to you for finding what works best for you.
i’ve done OTF in the past and totally loved it!!
Seems like your FIT classes are very similar to OTF – would you agree with that?
kind of! OTF is 30 minutes running and 30 minutes weights, this is more 45 minutes of straight work doing all sorts of different things every time!
Juli – thank you. Your post describes exactly where I’m at and I also continually work to improve myself, both inside and out. So many people (mostly family) don’t, which is fine and not really any of my business but kinda is because they aren’t where they want to be in life and nearly everyone is sick (cancer, obesity, etc, etc). It’s frustrating. I always feel like the odd one out and that it’s not normal to be healthy and take care of yourself, so I really appreciate your post.
i know so many people who complain about where they are at but they don’t want to do anything to change it. i think it’s such a cool thing that we are often able to change our health and future based on our own choices. you keep taking care of yourself no matter what others say or think!!
Thank you. Same to you 🙂
I’m going through this right now and telling myself it’s ok to not work so hard ALL the time. I’m finding that traditional weightlifting is a lot less taxing on my body than crossfit is. I still love the excitement and fast pace of crossfit but I realized that I need to do what makes me happy and feel my best. Enjoying your blog!!
I just had to go back and read all the comments on that post… I’m so happy you found something that is really working for you and I love that you’re changing it up and trying new things. I can’t believe how negative some people get on the internet, especially in comment sections! I’ve been doing CF for almost 3.5 years now and I don’t think I’ve really seen any unwelcome gains (only took me 3 years to finally grow my glutes lol) but I’ve only typically averaged about 3x per week. I feel like the head coach at my gym is always encouraging people to tailor the workouts to our individual goals, so after reading some of those comments about people quitting over that, I guess I’m extra appreciative of my gym and the laid back vibe!
Love your blog, keep on keepin’ on 🙂
that’s awesome you have such a supportive gym! i think gyms and coaches sometimes have a hard time understanding when they should push a little harder or when they should let the athlete decide what is best for them. it’s definitely a fine line
We located to a small town for my husband’s school and will be moving back to Kansas City soon so I am LOVING your posts about trying new workouts because it has been getting me excited to try some new options availble near our new place! We’ll be in the city so I’m hoping I’ll get to walk more, etc. But there are also so many options for Crossfit/barre/HIIT classes. I can’t wait to mix it up after 2 years of pretty much only having access to a basic gym and working out alone.
Love this! I just recently left my cf gym and I do miss it. But with such a heavy focus on lifting, there just wasn’t a place for me. I felt like a pariah for saying I don’t want to lift heavy. I’d always get told ‘lifting doesn’t make you bulky’ …..well, it can especially if we talking triple digit weights. So now I’m focused on running and speed work, incorporating in some longer lighter metcons and light strength training.
So silly how people can be so negative and rude on here. I think these posts are the most relatable topics that you write about. They make me (and oviously several other girls) feel so much better that I am not the only one who has experienced some of the things you talk about. It’s ok to not want to RX every workout or care about getting your 1 rep PR up, and its ALSO ok if it does! For me, it is all about feeling strong, healthy, happy and just good in my clothes. I think that is how a lot of women feel. Keep up the great writing!
I just read your “changing up your routine” post. It’s good timing. The past few months I’ve been (newly) unhappy with my body. I was looking at pictures of myself from 2012, when I was doing more bodybuilding type of workouts, and I was the leanest and lightest I’ve ever been. Fast forward to now, 3 years into CrossFit and heavy lifting, and although I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, I’m the heaviest as well (up 25lbs from 2012) and really don’t like the way I look or feel. I’m unhappy, but it’s such a mental struggle to not always want to lift the heaviest, or get stronger, or push myself as hard as possible. If anyone has any advice I’m open to it. In the meantime I’ll keep reading your posts and these comments and hope I’ll be inspired to try something new.
I’m in the same boat. Since I started CrossFit in 2013 I’ve gained almost 40 pounds. Nothing fits, I look awful and I certainly don’t look like I WOD 4x per week. I like the strength but not how I appear.