The Erin Experiment

[Erin Davidson]

Been lurking around a bit and am always wishing that more women would post their progress. So...

I'm new to actually attempting Crossfit workouts as of about a month ago but I've been checking out the website, etc. for a while. My "training history" can basically be summed up as follows:

I've played a variety of sports all my life but love tennis especially and played in a singles spot throughout college up around the North Shore of Boston. I also really enjoy: parkour (really would like to visit Primal Fitness down south at some point), ultimate frisbee (though I couldn't throw if my life depended on it), sprinting (on grass, in five fingers, with thunderstorms if possible), walking just about anywhere and for however long, and climbing (anything).

For some strange reason I never really made the connection between strength training, diet, and performance until after my college career. Thanks to a very convincing friend, I now eat pretty strict paleo and practice intermittent fasting as much as possible (usually eating dinner at 5-6pm, waking up at 5am and training others, myself, and then eating at about 11am).

I started "really" training in May '07 and have loved it ever since. I personal train out of a commercial gym in Philadelphia and in homes. The style of training I prefer is a really a mix of Powerlifting, Olympic Lifting (which I have yet to be coached in), and Crossfit.

The "experimental aspect" of this thread will be that I'm going to follow three training methods and log and compare the results of each (i.e. size/appearance, energy level, appetite, recovery time, general physical preparedness, strength gains).

The three methods that I'll be following are: 1) Crossfit (as rxd where possible- but I'm not that good yet...) 2) Greasing the Groove (basically two-a-days but nothing to failure, 5-6 days a week), 3) and finally, how most of my clients lift: 3 Days a Week, Heavy, Low Volume. I'll follow each method for 4 weeks and then take a rest week before the next.

I recognize that my little experiment will not have all the controls necessary to create extremely dependable results, but I think (for my own purposes) it'll be interesting to test some of my own theories about physical fitness on myself. I also realize that this log will not be filled with Crossfit workouts for the latter 8 weeks. Even so, I hope you all don't mind my posting as I pretty much love this forum and hope to settle into some form of crossfitting after my 3 cycles are over. I welcome your input because (as you can probably tell) I’m fairly new to all of this and have so much to learn.

Some Stats: (in lbs.)

I'm 5'3" and a pretty consistent 130-135lbs.

Front Squat: 150
Conventional Deadlift: 135 (haven't tried for more in a while)
Military Press: 75
Pullups: 1? Ugh. I am most interested to see how my pullup develops in the following weeks. More on this later.
Power Clean: 75
Bench: Pretty much don't do it, but I love pushups.
Turkish Get Up: 35

Some other random notes: I practice active recovery as much as I can (i.e. take ZMA and mineral baths before bed, and stretch and foam roll). I live in a city so I walk a lot (A LOT). I also hope to apply to medical school in May (take my MCATs in April) so this training schedule should carry me very nicely toward that occupational goal as well.

It's not much but it's a start, eh?

[Erin Davidson]

Last week doesn't count but...

MONDAY 1/7/08: Front Squat 10x1

45x5 95x4 115x3

125/130/135/140/145
135/145/135/145/135/145/150*

*PR! Previous PR was 135.

+ a bunch of assistance work.

TUESDAY 1/8/08: "Mary" (My Way...)

Complete as many rounds in 20 minutes as you can of:
5 Handstand Push-ups (55lb. Push Press x 10)
10 One legged squats, alternating*
15 Pull-ups (jumped negatives)

6 rounds + 6 Push Presses.

*!@#$%

WEDNESDAY 1/9/08: "Michael" (...But I couldn't even walk...)

Biked for 45 minutes in really strange-but-beautiful weather (some hills) and walked around and lifted a lot of things at work. Pretty much pitifully complained all day.

THURSDAY 1/10/08: Rest Day

Lots of foam rolling and trying not to cry. Lots of musing over whether Annie, Nicole, and AllisonNYC, and Veronica are actually immortals. Lots of strange looks from coworkers and the roommate.

FRIDAY 1/11/08: "Diane" (My Way...)

21-15-9 reps of:
225 pound Deadlift (@ 95, and Sumo-Stanced)
Handstand push-ups (piked, with a chest level bar)

9 minutes. Probably should have used more weight for the DL... Can do HSPUs but not comfortably. DLs were broken (11+11, 5+5+5, and 9). Piked HSPUs were unbroken but my abs were burning.

SATURDAY 1/12/08: "Elizabeth" (My Way...)

21-15-9 reps of:
Clean 135 pounds (Going to try doing something like 55, 65, and 75)
Ring dips (meh...gotta see how I am at these, don't do dips very often).

[Veronica Davis]

Whoo hooo Erin's got a journal!!! Great workouts.

BTW... I LOVE ZMA!!!!

[Jesse Emers]

Awesome Erin. Very happy that you started a log.

[Bob Sorensen]

Hi Erin, Forgive me but are you the Erin who is in8girl? Sounds like you're a serious athlete and you have nothing to apologise for in posting!! We're glad you're here. I'm orig from PA, suburban Philly, so it's good to see ya (youse) here! Have a great weekend!

--Bob

[Erin Davidson]

Originally Posted by Veronica Davis

Whoo hooo Erin's got a journal!!! Great workouts.

BTW... I LOVE ZMA!!!!

Thanks for the post, Veronica.

I've got to get some new ZMA soon, do you buy the vitamins separately or all in one dose? Can't decide what I'd like to try this time round.

[Erin Davidson]

Originally Posted by Bob Sorensen

Hi Erin, Forgive me but are you the Erin who is in8girl? Sounds like you're a serious athlete and you have nothing to apologise for in posting!! We're glad you're here. I'm orig from PA, suburban Philly, so it's good to see ya (youse) here! Have a great weekend!

--Bob

Sorry, Bob. I'm not that Erin. Thanks for reading though!

[Erin Davidson]

SATURDAY 1/12/08: "Elizabeth" (My Way...)

at 5pm, fasted from 9pm on Friday.

21-15-9 reps of:
Clean 135 pounds (55, 65, 65)
Ring dips (No rings, did bodyweight dips).

14 Minutes; Cleans were more like 3x7, 3x5, and 6+3. Dips were 11+7+4, 10+5, and 7+2. Really wanted to get 75 but my wrists were killing me. Had no idea that I could do unassisted dips. Form wasn't stellar because I was kind of in a rush...bad idea.

SUNDAY 1/13/8: Minute Pullups

Meh. Haven't decided what I'm going to do for this. Not happenin' today tho. Prob tomorrow morning.

More later.

[Veronica Davis]

Originally Posted by Erin Davidson

Thanks for the post, Veronica.

I've got to get some new ZMA soon, do you buy the vitamins separately or all in one dose? Can't decide what I'd like to try this time round.

I take it separate, since I take my multi-vitamin in the morning. I take ZMA about 30 minutes before bed. I actually take it with GABA. GABA helps me relax and ZMA helps me get that deep sleep.

[Timothy Saint]

Good luck with the Crossfitting!