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Confessions of a True Chocoholic

Happy hump day. Today’s edition of the Morning Chalk Up is powered by Red H Nutrition, an athlete founded, athlete focused supplement company who believes in the process as much as the result.

We’re currently on our way to Washington, D.C. for the Mid Atlantic Affiliate Challenge, hosted by 12 Labours CrossFit. Gonna be there? Make sure to find one of us and say hi!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will.” — Gandhi

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX

Julie Foucher’s career isn’t quite over yet. She’ll be heading to the Central Regionals with CTown CrossFit. Ben Bergeron’s CompTrain Masters program is sending 307 Masters athletes to the Online Qualifier. Lindsey Valenzuela is back to training for Regionals and hits a 245 pound squat clean. JJ Watt’s 4th grade teacher is retiring after 41 years and he surprises herwhile teaching a class. Celebrity trainer Bob Harper was at CrossFit class when he had a massive heart attack; luckily two doctors were there to help.

Mobility goals.

CONFESSIONS OF A TRUE CHOCOHOLIC…

Meet Taylor Deering, coach at CrossFit Jäaäkarhu in Austin, TX. She really loves chocolate and she has something to share with other chocoholics like her:

“I’d have no problem eating cookies and chocolate for every meal — and that’s not a joke. Dialing in my indulgence with sweets has been hard but extremely do-able. Took some time to not want to pour the entire bag on my face and go to town, but instead grab 4-6 M&M’s and be satisfied…but that’s where I’m at. I’ve been tracking my macros for a while now and have learned If I want something sweet that’s cool and all…just track it. This legit has made me a sane person. I tried to go cold turkey and eliminate sweets and nope…I’d end up face first in a pint of ice cream because I deprived myself. Epic fail. About a month ago I started [with] Working Against Gravity and I made a goal to 100% stick to the plan, numbers and give this a shot — and I have. Having someone hold you accountable will shape you up real quick.”

THINGS TO…

WATCH: Andrea Ager + Annie Thorisdottir

Andrea Ager drops into CrossFit Fifth to watch Annie Thorisdottir and Frederik Aegidius go head-to-head for 17.4. Follow Andrea behind the scenes with the 2x CrossFit Games champ.
WATCH NOW.

HEAR: The Invictus Mindset with CJ Martin

Brute Strength sits down with CJ Martin, the head coach of CrossFit Invictus and one of the most successful coaches in CrossFit. CJ shares a few takeaways for athletes and gym owners including developing a competitor mindset, visualization, coping with failure, and building a winning culture.
TUNE IN.

EAT: Coconut Chicken Lentil Soup

If you’ve never had coconut chicken, you’re absolutely missing out. It’s so flavorful and juicy. This golden chicken lentil soup is made with creamy light coconut milk, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and cumin. Delicious flavors; this soup will be your new favorite!
SOUNDS TASTY.

BUY: CrossFit Regionals Gear

It’s hard to believe, but the first Regionals competition is in less than two months but you don’t have to wait until then to shop the gear.
START SHOPPING.

CHALK UP AFFILIATES

MS IS NOT A STOP SIGN, JUST A GUIDELINE…
Inspiring words from Laura Cariello, an athlete at CrossFit Jersey City living with MS.

A note to my coaches at CrossFit Jersey City.

“When I joined fundamentals in December, to lift a bar made my knees shake, jumping rope wasn’t an achievable option, my run was a fast paced walk, and jumping on anything other than the floor was terrifying! I hadn’t been in the gym in months because of an exacerbation with my MS. It sucked to put it gently!

“Well…as of yesterday, in three short months, I have participated in class and actually did cleans, push presses and snatches (with light weights), jumped on a box, jogged 400m without stopping, jumped rope with 6 singles in a row…did I mention jumped on a box!

“It’s because of your hard work, patience, and knowledge of movement that got me here. MS is no longer a stop sign for me, but rather a guideline. And despite my side-eye and snarling looks sometimes when I see the workout, I am beyond grateful and thank you all dearly! Keep doing what you do! You all rock! Woot!

“I’m excited to see what the next three months have in store.”

——
Rockwell CrossFit in Woods Cross, UT will be gathering members on April 28 to pack meals for the “Feed My Starving Children” organization and are inviting anyone in the community to bring their own family to help out.

Seven 4th and 5th graders at Martin Walker Elementary School in Copperas Cove, TX are members of an after-school CrossFit club started by an L1 faculty member.

CHALK UP READS

“Reflections on Engagement” by Andrea Ager

This morning I woke up with an engagement ring on. I’ve been mostly reflecting on what it means to officially commit to a lifetime with someone. I am…’someone’s fiancé’…the word itself is so delicate and fitting.

The truth is, when I was a junior in high school, we were asked to make a goal and then a 5-year plan of steps to achieve that goal. I joked around with my classmates and made the whole project about getting married and being a wife in 5 years. I even made steps that were kind of silly…but was able to pull it off. Behind it all, I knew I truly valued marriage even at 17, and looked forward to the process of finding “the one.”

A decade and then some later – here I am, overwhelmed and feeling what I ultimately wanted…which was to feel chosen. I feel special, and loved, but can’t help to think of the broken road that lead me to today. When you love as hard as I do, you have to guard your heart; if not, you could be left in a wake of “not the ones.”

I finally started trusting God with the dating process that I resented because it’s not always glamorous. I started praying for my husband (whoever that might be) and had to examine myself and adjust in many areas. As I grew in my faith I was challenged to grow into the kind of woman that would attract the man I was describing as my respectable, caring, God-fearing “dream man.”

“It’s Never too Late for Fitness” by Dave Murray
The first phase of this year’s worldwide CrossFit Open is complete and my CrossFit Lifesport Toledo team did well.

Yes, at age 62 I am a member of an athletic team. My junior high school gym teacher would be speechless. I was such a sickly, asthmatic kid that after junior high I was no longer forced to take gym classes at Otsego High School.

Even though I consider myself part of the team at my gym, or “box” in CrossFit parlance, I compete against myself three mornings a week. That is until February when my CrossFit coach, Barry Williamson, urged me to join the annual Crossfit Open competition.

A friend told me about the CrossFit box he was going to and urged me to try it out. The first few times were practically near-death experiences. It was like I was back in junior high gym class with these big guys yelling at me. The difference at CrossFit, though, was the big guys were telling me I could do it, to keep doing it, and I did. Over and over, push-up after push-up, squat after squat, sit-up after sit-up.

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