Quest for knowledge

The beginnings...

This year has been a very interesting and difficult year+ for me. Training high-end/elite CrossFitters completely ruined the honeymoon phase of CrossFit for me. The cheerful bliss of simple enjoyment was over, now it was the quest for knowledge on truly maximizing performance.

This all was a good waking, as my overall training knowledge wasn't stagnate, but neither was I vividly questioning everything and being a true sponge to learn as much as possible as I am now.

If more CrossFit was the answer to winning the CrossFit Games, wouldn't we see the same people over and over? Wouldn't they just get better and better, as well as separate themselves further from newbies? Or is it just luck of the draw on the workouts chosen at the Games?

How is it that we see people brand new to CrossFit kicking ass in the "Olympics" of our sport? In what other sport can that truly happen? Is it just because the lack of exposure and we are just starting to draw from a bigger pool of people with genetic potential? Or is there a life span on your CrossFit-ability? Is it age?

This year they showed some examples of Graham Holmberg's and Rich Froning's training days and they did like 5-7 workouts. That's ridiculous!!! Who after 25-27 a could have the time and not just survive, but thrive on that?

Is there a system within CrossFit that has unequivocally been shown to be superior? OPT? Mainsite? CFFB? CFE? MEBB? Westside/Conjugate with a side of metcon?

Just a couple of things to think about for now... I actually would like to hear some thoughts from the ever so quiet lurking peanut gallery. Use an annonymous name if you would like. Just want to hear some of your thoughts.

T-0

So I didn't quite make it through T-0. I know sounds pretty lame but started the morning with a coffee and then received the rubber flooring for the new space and that took about 7 hours of straight work and I decided to take Kurt who finished the last pieces out to some burgers and beers.
No those mac-n-cheese fritters were not so paleo, neither was the 4 Half Acre beers I had.

Great paleo challenge got to see my before/after pics which were pretty cool to see. Tomorrow starts some solid content be ready!!!

T-1

Yes I have already completed my retest and my pics but still going to close out the 30 days. Missed breakfast as I was barely making the team meeting on time. So when I finally left the box at 130pm I was starving...considered "cheating" but hit Boston Market and ordered two meals. Ate the beef brisket (and the cornbread).
Had the second a couple of hours later before volleyball.
Really late dinner as I was getting a ton of work done. Also, had a glass of merlot.
Closed out with some macadamia nuts and a square of chocolate.

Mind is really wandering after voicing my programming opinions at the team meeting and listening to a couple of podcasts/audio recordings. I'll get back to significant posts after the challenge.

T-2

Breakfast ate Mandie's leftover steak and a piece of chicken.
Followed up with some leftover sweet potatoes. I didn't finish the plate last night.
Fish burrito bowl from Whole Foods.
Did 7 rounds of 3 135# snatch and 250m row. 11:30 Felt like I was moving really slow but still better than expected. Also, retested pull up and HSPUs, 4 better on both. Pretty happy with that consider I trained neither. That damn polio diet.

Dinner had pork with zucchini that Mandie made also had a glass of merlot.

T-3

Running late for work I figured I'd get some togo from Boston Market. They fucked it up and gave me a sandwich instead of a meal... not happy but whatever. Tossed the bun. Also got a coffee from DD.

Worked up to a 85kg power snatch. Things weren't feeling good so did a mini-metcon 3 Rounds 50 squats, 20 ring rows 8:38
Went to Mariano's on the way home to get dinner. Steak and zucchini. Never really made zucchini before but sliced it up added EVOO and cooked it. Not bad.

Still the same glass of wine, had about half the plate of sweet potato for dessert also fed some to Jackson. Mandie said he wasn't a fan of the rice pudding but he definitely didn't mind the sweet potatoes.

T-4

Mandie made me some breafast suggesting that I eat as much as possible because there would be no paleo options post-baptism.
I thought I would manage without paleo appetizers then I finally gave in and started to chow down. There was lots of chips and guac and salsa.
Also, 2 glasses of Madrano malbec. I didn't eat the beans or the rice but I did eat the corn tortillas. Also ate the meat Mandie leftover from her last taco.
Even though I had a piece of cake (minus the frosting), had another dessert at home.
Of course passed out as I'm not used to having all that crap. Got up and by the time Mandie and I were hungry, it was too late. Had leftover BBQ pork.
Late dessert, black berries.

T-5

Had Jackson today so decided to take most of the morning off and spend some quality time. I also didn't get a chance to eat. By the time I ordered, I was starving. Bad idea. Ordered chinese. Steak kow... which was all good (except I burned my tongue and roof of mouth as I was scarfing it down)...
Didn't eat most of the veggies but killed all the steak then I know there's only 2 pictured below, but I ate 6 of them... couldn't stop. ate less of the skin on the others but it was so good.
Long gap to dinner. Went on a meat fest. Mariano's pulled pork and some sausage.
Some sweet potato and a few ribs...
a little more sweet potato more sausage and chicken.
Dessert: 2 pieces of dark chocolate... Zack ruined this one for me and I guess even the 86% dark chocolate I have has SOY in it. Damn it! Side of macadamia nuts.
Late night dinner 1/2 the sweet potato was from earlier, more sausage and chicken.

T-6

Started off with breakfast at Uncle Mike's. After I successfully ordered no RICE and no toast. They drop off a bowl of lugaw. Ummm... I ate it.
Filipino Breakfast + an extra egg.
Long day of setting up cubicles and sorting some things out cause I guess I'm a hoarder. Late dinner at Whole Foods (again) steak salad with guac and a small side of fish.
The last glass of zin. Baked chicken with a side of brussel sprouts.
Dessert: a sweet potato.

T-7

Had a really late breakfast as I had to head out to Forest Park. By the time I got to eat, I was ready to do some damage so I hit up a local buffet. Hibachi and sushi... only took donw two plates and actually stayed clear of the sushi.

Big break before an early dinner. Whole Foods burrito bowl 1/2 steak and 1/2 fish.
Dinner. It wasn't much later. Had more sweet potatoes on the plate but had to take a pic of that and the glass of zin before they were gone as I was cooking the steak.
Definitely was correct, finished both before the steak was up.
Dessert.

T-8

Woke up early but being on Jackson's schedule, I had to get a quick breakfast in (still trying to get rid of the over-rippening bananas).
Took advantage of Jackson's nap time and had a quick bite at Mariano's before some quick shopping. Did the hot bar: some chicken legs and wings, some sausage, and mixed beans.
Got home needed to get some fats in... I guess and some chocolate too.
Had a quick snack of shrimp as I was preparing dinner.
Had some sweet potatoes to load up a little before V-ball.
Volleyball was fun but took a little run afterwards 2.15mi 18:53. I know the time is pathetic, it's the reason I ran and will start running to re-build my capacity. I cooked dinner! 1lb porter house steak, Brussels sprouts, and a glass of zin.
Dessert.
Dessert extended.

From a Mike Rousell article via an email from Alwyn Cosgrove:

Remove carbs from workout shake and switch to BCAAs

By the time you are making this change, your client will be on a relatively low carbohydrate diet and thus will have low glycogen stores. Research shows that taking BCAAs during intense exercise, when glycogen depleted, can accelerate fat loss. We’re going to take advantage of this biochemical body hack while also cutting calories some more.

T-9

Had some time to kill before my in-home, but not enough time to go anywhere I wanted. I finally decided on Whole Food for quick sashimi. Found out sushi doesn't get laid out until 11am :( Did find out the do breakfast at the diner. Omlet with veggies and ham and a side of bacon.
Back at Whole Foods to get away from the box and get some work done. At the top of my list was Erin and Glenn's programming. Had a 20-30 minute break to chat with Matthew from Restwise. Looking forward to see how well this would work with the handful of athlete's I personally coach but like all things I test it out first. Lunch taqueria! Steak with a side of fish... so much better (and more) than Chipotle.
For dinner, Mandie made some steak but I needed to finish leftovers so they wouldn't go to waste. Just as good the second time around!
Had to clean out the last of the nuts (at least before I open the new bags) and take down some browning bananas.
A little on coffee... we'll actually a bit on caffeine and how certain people process it:

http://www.ericcressey.com/coffee-consumption-and-health-1