Crossfit in Lisboa

Jorge and I did our CrossFit workout at his gym in Lisboa, Portugal
Here is what we ended up doing -

4 rounds of 1 minute at each station
Lunges
Push Ups
Thrusters
Press with dumbells
1 minute rest

This was a lot harder than it seemed, Jorge went first and this was his first crossfit experience and he did great and i went shortly after and thought to myself - who comes up with this crazy shit...

Back in California

Summer Trip to Europe 2010

Almost a full 6 weeks away from the place I now call home – San Diego.

The trip is ending exactly how it started – business class flight on the best international airline – Air New Zealand. This wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Michele Muzio, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me this summer and I am grateful that we had an opportunity to spend some time together in London. If you haven’t had the opportunity to fly business class on an international flight it is a must to add to a bucket list. From the moment you board the flight they offer you ‘bubbly’, the service was spectacular on the way here, and I imagine it will be the same on the way to Los Angeles.

I write this as I sit in my business class chair – with my feet up lounging sipping on my orange juice. I am definitely ready to come home and get back into the swing of things in my everyday life – I miss ‘working’. I am super lucky to love what I do, so I don’t consider it work, I look forward to training people and making a difference in their lives.

It will be great to sleep in my own bed tonight, greet my kitties when I get back and catch up with friends and tell them all about my trip. I was having a conversation with my aunt and uncle last night about whether I was more Portuguese or more American – which I considered home? I am a citizen of the universe; I feel at home wherever I go. I definitely feel more comfortable in the US – things come easier, and the opportunities are there to be taken.

Training again

Getting back at it - I got back early Tuesday morning and been training since. I been a little out of it getting back from Europe and haven't been in the right mindset to post, although i feel like i have a lot to say.

Here's today's workout -
30 seconds on, 20 off - 5 rounds
Double Unders - 40, 47, 42, 40, 46
GHD Sit Ups - 13, 14, 12, 11, 12
Push Ups - 21, 17, 21, 18, 19
Seated Box Jumps - 7, 7, 7, 7, 7
KB Swings - 15, 15, 15, 15, 16

Yesterdays workout -
6 Rounds for Time of: 8:45
10 Chest to Bar Pullups
6 Broad Jumps
6 Ring Dips

Rest 5min
Dragon Flags 3x5, rest as long as needed between sets.
Mobility WOD From KStarr's Blog

Tuesday workout -
Press & Push Press - 115 for first 3 sets, failed on Press on 4th, 105 for 5th set, failed on 105 on press on 6th
10 X 2 Back Squat - 225
HSPU & Goblet Squats - Complete
First day back at it since trip to Europe

Dave Matthews Band - Two Step

Greatest song in the world!!!!!!! I am bummed I missed them this past weekend in San Diego - I even looked online to see where else they were playing. I'd be willing to travel to see them in concert again - one of the greatest experiences of my life last year :)


Dave Matthews Band: Two Steps
Enviado por marcocom75. - Buscar outros videos de Musica.

The Art of Meditation

I began reading this book recently that has inspired me to take on meditation - its a concept that has always peeked my interest, but one that I have not developed the discipline to do regularly up until this point.

I am about half way through the book now, and its been rather insightful - yesterday I meditated for 10 minutes and made it a priority to do so again today :)

I don't know whether or not I am doing it right or wrong, or whether its perfect or, but what matters is that I have done it.

Finding inspiration instead of it finding you

From Seth Godin's Blog:

One approach to innovation and brainstorming is to wait for the muse to appear, to hope that it alights on your shoulder, to be ready to write down whatever comes to you.

The other is to seek it out, will it to appear, train it to arrive on time and on command.

For the rest of this blog post

Almost time to come home....

My trip is finally winding down and I am just about ready to come home - not quite yet, but will be after this weekend!!!

Its been very relaxing to have a few weeks of to enjoy Portugal and be. My life back in the states is never this calm - i usually have a lot of things going on and am typically always on the move, to have some down time usually makes me uneasy.

Part of me feels as if this might be my last visit to Portugal for the next few years - not sure why, but its almost as if a part of my life is becoming complete and I am ready to go out and explore different parts of the world. Not that i haven't already done so, but I have had the feeling the past few days that its time to move on and spend my vacations learning more about the world rather than revisiting the past.

I am super lucky to have the opportunity to travel, being in Portugal helps me realize how blessed i am to be able to do this - take 5 weeks during my summer and go to 4 different countries. Not many people are able to do so, which makes me very grateful for the life I have.

From wikipedia -

Wages

The average wage in Portugal is 804.22€ per month, and the minimum wage, which is regulated by law, is 475€ per month.

If I lived here, I don't know if I would have the opportunities to do what I do and go everywhere that I go.

I have gone back and forth with the idea of coming back to Portugal to live, but after this trip I have come to the conclusion that doesn't interest me anymore. At least not for now, i may change my mind though - i often do. But for now, i don't think its in the cards for me.

With that being said, I am looking forward to being back in San Diego - I am still not certain whether or not that is a place i want to live permanently, but i do know that its a place that i am able to make a very good living, where I am very comfortable, confident and close to family.

I am definitely feeling recharged and the last few days began itching to get back to my 'regular' life. I have a lot of fun things coming up in the next few months - traveling for Crossfit Endurance certifications to Washington, Texas, Florida before the end of the year. In September I am also attending Hot N Dry in Palm Springs - this will be my 3rd year attending and I have had such a great time the last 2 years and am really looking forward to going again this year.

Who knows what the next few months will bring - I have a few things planned but I am ready for anything. The past few years of my life have unfolded quite nicely and I have learned so much about myself and the world. Last summer I imagined being able to travel for work and share some of the knowledge and passion for training/health with people all over the world. I am blessed to have this opportunity and to make an impact in peoples lives.

Ok, i think i am rambling now, so i better rap this up and peace out!

Praias de Portugal

This is where i have been spending the last few days - enjoying the beaches, eating, laying out and just having a good relaxing time, recharging my battery before returning to the states next week!

Our imperfections are perfect

I have been on the road for almost 5 weeks already - this has been quite a trip/journey.

I left San Diego on the 15th of July for the Crossfit Games in Carson, CA at the Home Depot Center for a weekend of competition. On the 19th I left LA to London where i spent a couple of days before heading out to Copenhagen to coach a Crossfit Endurance Certification. Back to London after that for a few days before heading to Cologne, Germany to compete in the Gay Games. After that i came to my home town of Lisboa, Portugal to finally relax and recharge for 2 weeks before returning to San Diego.

Whooo that's a lot of traveling, i can't believe i have been gone that long - part of me wants to return, and another part of me wants to continue to travel and see the world.

I am truly blessed to be able to do this in my life - be able to pick up and go and spend almost 6 weeks in Europe for the summer, how did life get so good?

When i was in my twenties i did a bit of traveling as well, and i got in the habit of sending out an email to my closest friends sharing with them what i was experiencing, what i was seeing, hearing, etc....This is now my means of communication so that more people can see, read and hear about my adventures.

Exploring different cultures is always a neat experience for me - being in London i felt quite comfortable, and in Copenhagen we were surrounded by people that spoke really good English so that was easy to communicate, but i was surprised in Germany that quite a few folks from there did not speak the universal language of English, i had a tough time communicating on a few occasions.

Being in Portugal I've also experienced a bit of difficulty communicating. I learned Portuguese till 7th grade when i lived here, but when we moved to California i basically stopped speaking it unless it was on my trips to visit. I can speak it, understand it, read it, but at times i find it a bit harder to communicate what it is I am trying to say - or i feel that the flow of the conversation isn't perfect....or maybe it is....

I find that i do a lot more listening here, which in my opinion is a good thing - sometimes i talk too much, and when i am in a position to listen i often learn a lot more about people, what they are sharing and the world.

I really love traveling and observing people from different cultures - its humbling, just when i think that i have it figured out, i realize i have so much to learn still...

Finally

I have been putting off creating a blog for way too long, i have many a reasons...i didn't have the right title, i wasn't ready, blah blah blah

I am glad i finally got this up and running and now let the fun begin!!!!!