Welcome to “Raising the Bar”
Well here we go, I have been talking about writing a blog for such a long time and finally a chance meeting with Barbara, who I will tell you about later, finally made me just get on with it!
The blog is about the empowerment of women, encouraging them to try different things, to get strong and powerful, fit (not necessarily physically) and ready to face all sorts of challenges, and for us all to share our stories and experiences, tips and successes. There are so many things I want to talk about that have affected my life and some amazing people that have influenced me along the way.
I am also hoping to get lots of feedback from everyone reading it – men and women! I hope to reel in lots of experts to help us as well.
The subjects we will talk about include:
- Exercise
- Diet and nutrition
- Why there’s no way you can get away with saying “I can’t”
- Coping with injuries
- Coping with periods and menopause (the stuff men don’t want to talk about .. you know those hormone things!)
- Coping with work and family pressures
- Coping with negativity
- But most of all I want it to be about celebrating and enjoying the challenges we face
And I know for a fact I won’t be able to avoid making copious references to CrossFit and in particular CrossFit 3D, from where I get so much inspiration.
But, first I am going to tell you about Barbara, who epitomises what “Raising the Bar” is all about, and who I met just the other day on the playing field near us as I was walking my dogs.
She caught my eye, unsurprisingly, because it was a horrible day – dull, with a mix of snow and sleety rain, freezing cold and the ground was slushy and muddy, and there was Barbara, resplendent in a bright yellow running shirt and matching shorts – yes shorts. She was jogging on the field, slowing down only to pick her way through the really muddy bits.
Our paths crossed again after about 15 minutes and I had to congratulate her on her spirit and ability to be running in such horrible conditions. She was lovely; she told me she was 67 years old and had been running for years. When I commented on her shorts she laughed and told me she didn’t feel the cold on her legs. She went on to tell me that she had run a few marathons in her life, but running had taken on a new meaning for her when she had been diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.
Whilst on a course of chemotherapy she went jogging and found that it really helped in terms of dealing with the illness and the treatment. She felt it had a lot to do with the good feeling from the endorphins she was generating. She now has a clean bill of health but continues to run as it continues to make her feel positive.
It was a chance meeting for me and only a 10 minute chat, and it made me realise that there are so many amazing people out there like Barbara, with amazing stories out there to be discovered.
According to Livestrong there are five great ways to boost endorphins which include;
- Daily exercise
- Drink a glass of wine every night
- Eat spicy foods
- Have sex regularly
- Meditate regularly
All sound good to me!
I am lucky to have met a lot of brilliant and inspiring women in my life and I want to know about all of you and anyone else you know who you think we all need to know about – so please let me know. In the meantime I’m off for a bit of endorphin boosting!
Great & inspiring start Jane! Looking forward to reading more
Thanks Karen – and thanks for your help x
Having just started crossfit and trying to adopt a paleo lifestyle I’m looking forward to reading and following your blog! I struggle with other people’s negativity who don’t understand and accept my new way of life or who just see it as a fad! I’d be interested in finding out about your current training and diet routines and your goals and challenges that have been planned for 2012!
Hi Hannah – thanks for the great comments. Where are you Crossfitting? You are amongst friends and like-minded people here! My next blog will include some views of other Crossfitters – and what they think about strength training etc. watch this space!
I generally do the CrossFit 3D Wod about 4 times a week. I am quite strong, so I am always trying to improve my cv work, and the more gymnastics side of Crossfit – anything on the pull up bar, handstand press ups etc.
I try and keep to Paleo as much as I can but I am going to do the PurePharma 40 day Paleo challenge – starting in the next week or so, so I am hoping for dramatic results! I will blog about it soon.
Thanks again.
I haven’t heard of that 40 day challenge – I need some big results too! I have just started at clitheroe, got one more induction to do. I can’t do pull ups or chin ups yet so need to learn them along with double unders! I’m quite fit already and crossfit was suggested as I like weights! What sort of weights do u lift?
I’m still struggling with pull ups after 5 years! But strength wise I’m OK – (40kg snatch – 57.5kg c&j) but everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Is there is anyone at Clitheroe (great box btw) who is about the same level as you that you can partner up with from time to time? Healthy competition is always good, (just thinking that good be a theme for a future blog!) otherwise, as long as you keep doing it you will improve. How old are you btw?
This blog is awesome Jane!
I spent a long time resisting any heavy lifting for fear it would make me “big”, whatever I thought I meant by that….
I have been Crossfitting properly (lifting and all) for a few months now, at Crossfit West Yorkshire, and have proved to myself that with the right diet I can maintain a healthy body shape and not metamorphosize into a monstrous muscle woman! AND I definitely prefer the way I am now, feeling stronger and knowing that I am physically more capable than before.
I also think that the mental test associated with the Crossfit workout is an important factor in learning to be a bit easier on yourself in life….and this taps into what you have to say about strength not only being a physical thing.
I wanted to say that I follow the paleo diet most of the time and that if you wanted any recipes or ideas for the blog I’d be more than happy to share mine.
In the meantime I await the next installment with ever increasing might!
Thanks for the great comments Phillippa – its great to know that we are striking a chord! Well done with your training progress.. and give Rak a big hug from me! I will be writing about nutrition soon – especially Paleo, and also about to do the Paleo challenge so all recipes – and ideas for the blog are very welcome!
Hi Jane,
I have been working out at Crossfit Fife in Dunfermline for over 2 years. I was introduced to a Kettle bell at my first class and was instantly hooked.
I have started doing more Crossfit classes as this year I want to build on my strength and I want to use the bar more. I am quite fit for my age (46) but not that strong!
I got a lot of inspiration from your Blog! Looking forward to the next instalment.
Thanks
Jackie thanks so much for your comments – it’s great to get such positive feedback.
With barbells I think success comes from mastering the technique of all the different lifts, especially the olympic weightlifting skills of snatch and clean and jerk as they are pretty technical. Listen well to those canny coaches at CrossFit Fife and you’ll find you’re a lot stronger than you thought you were! Please keep us posted with your progress.