It was a brisk 35ish degrees when I woke up this morning. The weather this year has been all kinds of weird. We had such a rainy and mild summer and I feel like it’s going to be a cold winter ahead! According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, my inkling is correct.
“Winter will be colder and drier than normal, but with above-normal snowfall in much of the region. The coldest periods will be in early and late December, early to mid-January, and early February. The snowiest periods will be in early to mid-February and in late February.”
It’s only 45 degrees out right now and I’m already sitting in my office with Uggs and a space heater. I would much rather sweat than freeze and it sounds like I’m in for a long winter ahead. I predict I’ll spend a lot of time in the yoga studio!
(Side note…I fully realize that many of you that live in very cold, very snowy climates are laughing at this very southern girl right now! ;))
Actually, I cannot believe it’s nearly November. Where did this year go? I felt like 2012 was the year that never ended but 2013 has passed at lightening speed.
Let’s talk about Wednesday. A team of us from Metro CrossFit were scheduled to visit Bank of America corporate to give a presentation to an HR team about CrossFit. Bank of America is currently hosting a company-wide “Get Active” challenge that encourages employees to move and exercise more for better health. We showed up at the Bank of America building uptown with kettlebells, dumbbells and boxes and definitely got some strange looks as walked through the lobby and checked in.
Our presentation was on the 21st floor and the views and sunlight streaming in from the floor to ceiling windows were great. We spent a little under an hour talking and showing demonstrations to a group of about 25 employees who were interested in CrossFit. I think it’s great that BOA has launched this program because people seem to be really into it. There were many in attendance wearing pedometers and bracelets that tracked their sleep, movement, etc. The current trend of more focus on corporate wellness is wonderful to see, especially considering how much time people spend at work.
I have to admit that being uptown and in a bank made me a little nostalgic for my advertising days. I spent three years when I lived in Birmingham working for an ad agency with a fabulous team on a big banking account. I spent more hours than I can count in bank boardrooms in meetings.
I came home and made lunch after the meeting. Salad with greens, beets, tomatoes, chick peas, pumpkin seeds and feta with balsamic honey dijon dressing and a chicken sandwich on sourdough with mayo, avocado and mozzarella cheese. I love sourdough!
I’m not really sure what came over me but I had an overwhelming craving for something sweet and in cake form yesterday afternoon so I treated myself to a slice of lemon cake with buttercream. We have a Yoforia and a cake bakery walking distance from the gym. Trouble! 🙂
I taught two CrossFit classes and then did my own mini circuit last night before heading to a hot vinyasa yoga class. The highlight of teaching CrossFit for me was getting an athlete to his first muscle up. Before last night he had never even tried one. I walked him through the progressions and then, BAM! I was so excited. I still can’t do a muscle up but it was awesome to coach someone else into it!
For my own workout I did the following circuit and it took under 20 minutes.
4 Rounds
Run 400 meters
20 goblet squats (35 lbs)
10 step ups (20 inch box)
10 decline push ups (feet on box, hands on floor)
10 GHD sit ups
Dinner when I got home from the gym and yoga was a bunch of cheese and crackers and a really random bowl of leftovers and quinoa. I won’t even list what went into this…especially given the conversation I just had with my mom last night about how she wasn’t so sure about some of my combinations. Haha.
Would you rather sweat or freeze?
Does your company have any kind of wellness program/focus?
I would be in so much trouble with a cake place and a yogurt place near my gym!! Good for you for giving yourself a treat 🙂 That cake does look DELICIOUS!
It was 56 here and I had the heater on in the car this morning and I am wearing a scarf 🙂 I live in New Orleans. There is good chance we will be wearing shorts and flip flops for Christmas.
i know, i remember MANY thanksgivings and christmases growing up in georgia where it was a balmy 70+ degrees.
A bakery within walking distance of a gym! Ha! Now thats gotta be brilliant product placement 🙂
I would much rather sweat – anything below 60 is jacket, scarf and long johns weather for me!
Nope, my work does not have any such fitness program – in fact we got in trouble for bringing in stability balls to sit on while at our computers 🙁
that is unbelievable! i’m so sorry 🙁
With all the activities and classes you do, how do you avoid over working your body? I’ve ran and later in the afternoon completed an aerobic class or hot yoga. The next day my legs are noticeably tired and I’m fearful of injury. What are your suggestions for avoiding that?
hi becky! when i teach i never do the class with my students unless i’m teaching bodypump. so when i coach crossfit and teach yoga, i’m just walking around and instructing…not demoing or participating.
as far as avoiding overworking in general…the first key for me is lots of yoga for stretching and mobility. usually if i do double up on workouts then one of them is a yoga class. i also try not to do multiple days in a row of heavy strength or super high intensity workouts. overall, i have to say that i’ve felt so much better in my body since i’ve cut back significantly on running and i’m not doing long runs or high mileage weeks.
I live in the south for a reason….warm temps!!! It was 37 in my town this am and I was/am miserable! I am scared we are in for a miserable winter.
it’s chilly in chicago – but not chilly enough that i have to stop eating copious amounts of frozen yogurt. i like the cold only because then i can wear all my knitted stuff.
love that you knit! what’s your favorite thing to make?
I would MUCH rather be hot than cold! I like cold temps for about a week in the fall when I can wear scarves and boots. And maybe some snow at Christmas. But then I’m ready for sunshine and warmth! Living at 7800 ft in CO doesn’t match my ideal description I guess….
I don’t currently work at a company with a corporate wellness program, but I have in the past, as well as worked on staff for some employee wellness initiatives and it’s amazing to be a part of! I wish all companies would see the value of keeping their employees happy and healthy.
haha, i agree that the novelty wears off quickly with all the layering and bundling. and yes, sounds like you are in a cold climate!
I live in Birmingham and work for a private company that launched a wellness program about 2 1/2 years ago. Each employee was given a pedometer and you can also log your workouts to get points (such as strength training, cycle class etc). If you take 500,000 steps each quarter they give you a $75 credit on your medical insurance premiums and the company that the wellness program is through also gives you the opportunity to earn money (up to $225 per year). So who wouldn’t want to up their activity to get free money! And I would prefer to sweat than be cold anyday. I only enjoy the cold if I’m snow skiing!
that is awesome! love that program.
and i agree…i can handle a little cold when i’m skiing but i have to have those pocket handwarmers!
That salad and sandwich look amazing, and the cake too. I would much rather have heat than cold. Last year was especially cold, which was miserable at times. I like snow, but still prefer the heat.
SWEAT that is why I moved to Houston! I am totally comfortable sweating through my clothes and rocking shorts and a tank all year round. 🙂 Good luck with the winter ahead….I am actually trying to put together a proposal this weekend with a company to take on my services! Please cross your fingers and toes. XOXO
ahh! how exciting. good luck and all crossed! how did it go!?
Is it bad that it was 50 degrees here in maryland and I BLASTED the heat. Worked all day in a building without heat and my hands went purple! I HATE being cold! haha. That salad looks amazing!
no, i am totally the same way! my hands get SO cold too and i hate being cold. that’s why i keep a space heater at my desk!
I would much rather sweat than freeze! I am not looking forward to the cold winter months ahead…
I would rather freeze, but I live in Michigan so it’s par for the course 😉
haha! i guess so! 😛
The cake looks fantastic! The colder weather has me craving sweets all.of.the.time. I want frozen yogurt more in the cold weather than I do in the hot weather! I’m not exactly looking forward to the colder weather this year. I may have to stock up on cocoa and cookies to make me feel better about it. 😉
that’s funny! i definitely crave warm stuff when it’s cold…oatmeal, tea, soup, etc.