Once in a while I turn to my older brother Kenny for some sound advice... or to at least give him some entertainment :)
I once wrote a story about an EPIC FAIL date... I forwarded it to my brother who in turn forwarded it to some co-workers and said "Dude, check out what happened to my sister"... :) Gotta love him! It was a damn good terrible date! But this is not the time nor place to discuss it :)
So I was talking to Kenny tonight about training for the Ride and I said "Dude, that workout on Saturday was AWESOME. I felt amazing after the Filthy Fifty, except that I couldn't walk"... his answer to me was MONEY!
"Ya, I get the same feeling from an awesome bowl of wonton soup"
Et voila! How's that for motivation!!?!?!? Hahahahahahaha
Good old inspiration from my big brudder! He's awesome!
I'm trying to convince him to join me in 2013... (Kenny... you know you want to!!!)
My brother is currently participating in Movember. An amazing cause that raises awareness for prostate cancer. The only problem is that he looks like a creepy pervert... seriously. Being Chinese, he doesn't have the genes to grow facial hair... so it's a little patchy. A little creepy. And it's crooked :) He's raised over $1000 for the cause which is amazing!!!
Here's where the WTF comes in...
I said to him tonight "WTF! I'm training like a MOFO so I can bike 250km and I've raised $600 so far. You're too lazy to shave and you've raised over $1000?... WTF??!?!?!"...
That's awesome! But seriously.... Movember is an amazing cause for a disease that doesn't get that much spotlight. So if you know someone who's Mo'ing it up this month, support them. Support the cause. The more awareness the better chance there is of beating it.
And at the end of the day. Cancer sucks! And whether it be growing a mustache, riding, walking, running, spreading the word, donating... whatever your action may be... The more we do to raise awareness and money for research... we CAN kick cancer's a$$. Every little thing that we do can make a difference!
Here's my brother's Mospace... support him (or just look at the pictures to laugh at him :) That's what I do ... heehee!!!)
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/2516928/
*********************
And to be accountable... I have been training... just not posting.
Had a pretty awesome hot yoga class last night. Very different from what is normally done. Worked our way through the chakras which was pretty awesome. Chanting while holding triangle pose actually makes it a bit easier :) I love having classes with new teachers, there is always something new to learn. A new perspective to appreciate. Amazing.
Today's Crossfit WOD was a lot of fun! There I said it... it was FUN!!! I was highly motivated because of some news I had received prior to my workout... It's a bit too premature to share that story just yet... but hopefully soon. I digress.
So today's WOD was:
Warmup: 100 single skip jumps, 10 shoulder dislocates, 10 pushups, 10 squats, 100 single skip jumps
20 minutes, as many rounds as possible of:
- 30 box jump
- 30 push press
- 30 pull ups (or ring rows which is what I opted for)
I finished 3 rounds and 60 reps... and then I looked at the board... The WOD is actually 30 box jumps, TWENTY push press and 30 ring rows!!! Damn.. I totally could have finished 4 rounds... NEXT TIME!
I promise to post some pics soon of Crossfit! It's awesome! I'm in awe of what some of these people can do. So for example, a group of people there were doing the same WOD except that they are wearing a weighted vest!!! CRAZINESS!!!
One day... one day!!!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Burn is good... pain is not...
So I know I've worked my quads hard this week...
The burning was expected and good... but now there's just pain... not good :(
A big problem is due to my inability to stretch my quads... Doesn't matter what I do... they're not stretching. Grrrrrrrrr
Training grrrrrr #1
Help.... anyone???
The burning was expected and good... but now there's just pain... not good :(
A big problem is due to my inability to stretch my quads... Doesn't matter what I do... they're not stretching. Grrrrrrrrr
Training grrrrrr #1
Help.... anyone???
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Yang + Yin + Food = Veg
What a perfect morning with a combination of Crossfit, followed by some restorative yoga ending with some ultimate comfort food. Now I am reuniting with my couch ... and sweats... I may look a little sketchy :S
The box jumps and burpees nearly did me in. Those two alone took me 12 minutes! Wow... that was madness. I literally wanted to crawl out of there today.
The WOD this morning was the "Filthy Fifty"... oh... he's a dirty dirty dirty lil' one. The workout was basically 50 reps of 9 different exercises. Here's the board because I don't have the energy to type it all out!
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| The "Filthy Fifty" |
Total time to complete the Triple F (... oh ya... I call it the F*%$en Filthy Fifty): 30 min 30 sec
Left Crossfit to head over to HappyTree for some Yin-lovin' yoga with Albert. Every muscle in my body was screaming. Well ok.. maybe only about 30 of them... but it sure felt like all of them! You never fully realize how stiff you are until you do a Yin class and experience how different your body feels after! Cuing "yoga-brain"...
And the perfect ending to the perfect morning... Comfort food. Oh ya. I had an energy bar prior to Crossfit and a granola bar post-yoga... But I needed a food hug. So I went to Brossard to meet up with my parents for some Congee and radish cake.
My muscles are tender, my brain is mush and now I'm entering into a food coma... How is that not the perfect morning!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Who needs a drill sergeant...
When I have a mother :) LOVE YOU MOMMY!
She asked me tonight why I'm not training today... and I said Fridays are my day off... her response was "Hmmmm... ok. But you're going tomorrow right?"
God love her!
But seriously... seems like I talk about my mother a lot here. And she deserves a lot of credit. As does my father. The two of them have always been extremely supportive of all the endeavors I decide to embark on... regardless of the level of insanity. For that... I am grateful!
My parents definitely deserve their own blog post... at least one!!!
So here is my dedication to my parents.
I don't think I was an easy child to raise (I can already see you readers nodding in agreement!!!). I was stubborn, rebellious, quick-tempered and basically at every opportunity went against my parents' will. God love them for not disowning me!
Here's a little story that basically wraps me up as a kid. I used to wake up really early (never been a big sleeper) so instead of waking up my parents, I would just leave the house and go play at my neighbor's house.... at 5am!!! Thankfully, my friend's grandmother was also an early bird and she would make me breakfast, feed me, brush my teeth and sometimes bathe me. I should mention I was 4 years old at the time :)
Here's another one. My mom once told me that even before I was born she knew I would be trouble. I asked her to explain. I was a breached baby, and no matter what the doctors did I wouldn't turn. I was comfortable sitting right side up... what can I say. :)
One more. People are often surprised that I speak Cantonese really well. My response to them is "It was the only way I could talk-back to my parents efficiently"... hahahaha! I wonder if my parents ever curse the 15 years I went to Chinese school and the endless hours of Hong Kong sitcoms and drama I watched (bootlegged of course!).
I'm also not the typical Chinese girl much to the dismay of my parents! They made an effort to make me as girly-girl as possible. I may be a lot of things... but delicate and docile are probably not two adjectives I would use to describe me.
I admit, I spent a good part of my youth trying to shock my parents. Actually to be honest, I probably still do. Always testing my boundaries. I would like to think that as much as my parents have taught me and instilled the values and moral code that I live by, I have done the same for them. Having a daughter like me can't be easy and definitely requires them to be more open-minded and accepting of everything outside of their norm. But to be honest... They have taught me much more than I could ever teach them. And at 32 years old, I am not ashamed to say that I was wrong a lot of times... and they were right! But they allowed me to make the mistakes that I needed to make, to take the falls that were necessary and then ensured that they were right there holding their hands out to pick me back up.
I love my parents. More than I can ever express. I'm not the most emotionally open person and probably don't show them gratitude like they deserve. But if I may say so myself, my parents raised a hell of a girl :) Hahahahaha! Modesty may be something they overlooked ;)
Dear Mommy and Daddy,
Thank you for everything you have ever done for me. Thank you for everything you will do in the future. I honestly couldn't ask for more supportive, loving, caring, patient parents. Your love for each other is truly an inspiration for me. Your love for me is felt everyday and every minute. I may not say it, but I wouldn't be who I am today without you. So thank you. Thank you for letting me be me. Thank you for letting me become exactly who I needed to become. I love you both so much and am so grateful for you.
Love always and forever,
MMJ
PS: Please don't be mad about the pictures you're about to see :)
She asked me tonight why I'm not training today... and I said Fridays are my day off... her response was "Hmmmm... ok. But you're going tomorrow right?"
God love her!
But seriously... seems like I talk about my mother a lot here. And she deserves a lot of credit. As does my father. The two of them have always been extremely supportive of all the endeavors I decide to embark on... regardless of the level of insanity. For that... I am grateful!
My parents definitely deserve their own blog post... at least one!!!
So here is my dedication to my parents.
I don't think I was an easy child to raise (I can already see you readers nodding in agreement!!!). I was stubborn, rebellious, quick-tempered and basically at every opportunity went against my parents' will. God love them for not disowning me!
Here's a little story that basically wraps me up as a kid. I used to wake up really early (never been a big sleeper) so instead of waking up my parents, I would just leave the house and go play at my neighbor's house.... at 5am!!! Thankfully, my friend's grandmother was also an early bird and she would make me breakfast, feed me, brush my teeth and sometimes bathe me. I should mention I was 4 years old at the time :)
Here's another one. My mom once told me that even before I was born she knew I would be trouble. I asked her to explain. I was a breached baby, and no matter what the doctors did I wouldn't turn. I was comfortable sitting right side up... what can I say. :)
One more. People are often surprised that I speak Cantonese really well. My response to them is "It was the only way I could talk-back to my parents efficiently"... hahahaha! I wonder if my parents ever curse the 15 years I went to Chinese school and the endless hours of Hong Kong sitcoms and drama I watched (bootlegged of course!).
I'm also not the typical Chinese girl much to the dismay of my parents! They made an effort to make me as girly-girl as possible. I may be a lot of things... but delicate and docile are probably not two adjectives I would use to describe me.
I admit, I spent a good part of my youth trying to shock my parents. Actually to be honest, I probably still do. Always testing my boundaries. I would like to think that as much as my parents have taught me and instilled the values and moral code that I live by, I have done the same for them. Having a daughter like me can't be easy and definitely requires them to be more open-minded and accepting of everything outside of their norm. But to be honest... They have taught me much more than I could ever teach them. And at 32 years old, I am not ashamed to say that I was wrong a lot of times... and they were right! But they allowed me to make the mistakes that I needed to make, to take the falls that were necessary and then ensured that they were right there holding their hands out to pick me back up.
I love my parents. More than I can ever express. I'm not the most emotionally open person and probably don't show them gratitude like they deserve. But if I may say so myself, my parents raised a hell of a girl :) Hahahahaha! Modesty may be something they overlooked ;)
Dear Mommy and Daddy,
Thank you for everything you have ever done for me. Thank you for everything you will do in the future. I honestly couldn't ask for more supportive, loving, caring, patient parents. Your love for each other is truly an inspiration for me. Your love for me is felt everyday and every minute. I may not say it, but I wouldn't be who I am today without you. So thank you. Thank you for letting me be me. Thank you for letting me become exactly who I needed to become. I love you both so much and am so grateful for you.
Love always and forever,
MMJ
PS: Please don't be mad about the pictures you're about to see :)
 |
| circa 1972, when they were dating. |
 |
| Wedding day - August 3, 1974 |
 |
| Plus 1 - 1975 |
 |
| Plus 2 - My first birthday, 1980 |
 |
| La famiglia, 1982 |
 |
| Side note: This is me running away to my neighbor's house to get bathed :) |
 |
| Family vacay, 1984 |
 |
| Kenny's University graduation, 1997 |
 |
| Family portrait, 1999 |
 |
| Seriously, the love is oozing... |
 |
| Attending another graduation, 2010 |
 |
| I love them I love them I love them! |
Thursday, November 24, 2011
What great energy!
The energy in the Tree today was on fire!!! Practising in a room full of extremely focused people really brought a strength to my yog and my practice to a whole new level.
I don't remember the last time i felt so strong in a yoga class.
It helps to be guided by an amazing teacher too!!! Sonya's class is definitely one of my favorite... Especially when we do urdhva dhanarasana (wheel pose)... My favorite!!!!
I was pretty stiff walking into the studio but now i feel like a whole new woman!! Ready to tackle whatever tomorrow brings... As long as it doesn't involve too many stairs. My quads are still burning!!!
Some pics of some lovelies from the Tree!!
Om nama shivaya. Namaste.
I don't remember the last time i felt so strong in a yoga class.
It helps to be guided by an amazing teacher too!!! Sonya's class is definitely one of my favorite... Especially when we do urdhva dhanarasana (wheel pose)... My favorite!!!!
I was pretty stiff walking into the studio but now i feel like a whole new woman!! Ready to tackle whatever tomorrow brings... As long as it doesn't involve too many stairs. My quads are still burning!!!
Some pics of some lovelies from the Tree!!
Om nama shivaya. Namaste.
 |
| The awesome Sonya! |
 |
| The super "desk-guru" Dawn! |
Inspiring
This made me very emotional and teary-eyed... and for those of you who know me well, you know that doesn't happen very often...
Very inspiring...
Very inspiring...
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
I love rice...
To be more specific. .. I love WHITE rice... I guess it comes with the territory of being Chinese ... And my previously mentioned fear of raw vegetables...
I think i have earned some chicken and edamame stirfry over steamed WHITE rice...
Whoa....
What was that??? That was a crazy WOD!!!
Warmup for 2 rounds:
250m row
10 shoulder dislocates (not as gruesome as it sounds)
10 inchworm pushups (as gruesome as it sounds)
10 burpees (I love burpees! I love burpees!)
10 jumping squats
WOD was 3 rounds of:
100 mountain climbers
30 wallballs with 16lb ball
10 kettleball squats with 20kg KB
For those of you who don't know what a "mountain climber" is, it goes something like this...
Start in a pushup position with one leg forward in a lunge position... Then jump-switch your legs... 100 hundred times...
My biggest challenge during this was keeping count... So I kept switching languages... 1-20 in English, 1-20 in French, 1-20 in Chinese, 1-20 in English, and finally 1-20 in French... For 100.... Oh ya... The second biggest challenge during this was that my abs and quads were BURNING!!! Minor detail!!
The wall-balls were my downfall today... I couldn't get low enough in a squat to get enough momentum going to throw the ball high enough... Baaaaaa.... Did I mention my quads are burning???
Total time today: 17min55sec... Not that great but it's better than 18min :)
I am also trying to find the fastest way home from Crossfit... Today is the last time I am walking home. That tunnel is way too sketchy. I also ended up taking the bus about a km in because... Yup... You got it... My quads are burning!!!
Can someone come over with dinner and feed me...? I can't move...
I don't know if I had mentioned this yet... MY QUADS ARE BURNING!!!
Can't wait to get back to HappyTree tomorrow and back on my mat... Time to Yog it up!!!
Giddy-up!!!
Warmup for 2 rounds:
250m row
10 shoulder dislocates (not as gruesome as it sounds)
10 inchworm pushups (as gruesome as it sounds)
10 burpees (I love burpees! I love burpees!)
10 jumping squats
WOD was 3 rounds of:
100 mountain climbers
30 wallballs with 16lb ball
10 kettleball squats with 20kg KB
For those of you who don't know what a "mountain climber" is, it goes something like this...
Start in a pushup position with one leg forward in a lunge position... Then jump-switch your legs... 100 hundred times...
My biggest challenge during this was keeping count... So I kept switching languages... 1-20 in English, 1-20 in French, 1-20 in Chinese, 1-20 in English, and finally 1-20 in French... For 100.... Oh ya... The second biggest challenge during this was that my abs and quads were BURNING!!! Minor detail!!
The wall-balls were my downfall today... I couldn't get low enough in a squat to get enough momentum going to throw the ball high enough... Baaaaaa.... Did I mention my quads are burning???
Total time today: 17min55sec... Not that great but it's better than 18min :)
I am also trying to find the fastest way home from Crossfit... Today is the last time I am walking home. That tunnel is way too sketchy. I also ended up taking the bus about a km in because... Yup... You got it... My quads are burning!!!
Can someone come over with dinner and feed me...? I can't move...
I don't know if I had mentioned this yet... MY QUADS ARE BURNING!!!
Can't wait to get back to HappyTree tomorrow and back on my mat... Time to Yog it up!!!
Giddy-up!!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
My life rocks!
Do you ever have those moments when you're feeling kinda generally very icky (well quite frankly all around $hi##y...) and then you get reminded of how incredibly lucky you are... which then leads to you feeling like a complete jacka$$?
I had one of those moments today... not that I'm feeling remotely icky... but I got hit with the "You are one lucky ducky" smacks!
I woke up this morning with sore abs because I had a hardcore workout yesterday because I can...
At not one moment today did I feel hunger pangs...
I was able to walk to the metro without fear...
I am able to write this blog because I am literate... and because I have the freedom to write what I want when I want...
I walked into a warm home, with food in the fridge and clothes in my closet...
I am pretty sure that all this among other things makes me one the luckiest girls alive.
I think one of the hardest things for us to do in our society is to not take anything for granted. I think that one of the best things we can do is to not take anything for granted. I can say to myself "I do my part, I donated money to so-and-so cause"... but until I stop taking things for granted and wasting things that people could only dream of... I'm not really making a difference am I?
I have an amazing life. I have a loving, caring, supportive and patient family. I have the best group of friends a girl can ask for (You know... the ones you would call should you ever kill someone and need help to dispose of the body... ya... those ones. Not that I'm planning on killing someone. Just a hypothetical situation). I have a great job. I've had the opportunities to travel to some fabulous places. I've loved and been loved. I have a full life. And I am grateful. For everyone. For everything. Sometimes I just need to be reminded. This is my reminder to me.
Thank you to everyone I have crossed paths with. My encounter with you, small or large, has been a blessing.
Dear Chrisy,
Your life rocks.
Love,
Chrisy
I leave you with one my favorite quotes:
"Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that ever made you smile."
I had one of those moments today... not that I'm feeling remotely icky... but I got hit with the "You are one lucky ducky" smacks!
I woke up this morning with sore abs because I had a hardcore workout yesterday because I can...
At not one moment today did I feel hunger pangs...
I was able to walk to the metro without fear...
I am able to write this blog because I am literate... and because I have the freedom to write what I want when I want...
I walked into a warm home, with food in the fridge and clothes in my closet...
I am pretty sure that all this among other things makes me one the luckiest girls alive.
I think one of the hardest things for us to do in our society is to not take anything for granted. I think that one of the best things we can do is to not take anything for granted. I can say to myself "I do my part, I donated money to so-and-so cause"... but until I stop taking things for granted and wasting things that people could only dream of... I'm not really making a difference am I?
I have an amazing life. I have a loving, caring, supportive and patient family. I have the best group of friends a girl can ask for (You know... the ones you would call should you ever kill someone and need help to dispose of the body... ya... those ones. Not that I'm planning on killing someone. Just a hypothetical situation). I have a great job. I've had the opportunities to travel to some fabulous places. I've loved and been loved. I have a full life. And I am grateful. For everyone. For everything. Sometimes I just need to be reminded. This is my reminder to me.
Thank you to everyone I have crossed paths with. My encounter with you, small or large, has been a blessing.
Dear Chrisy,
Your life rocks.
Love,
Chrisy
I leave you with one my favorite quotes:
"Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that ever made you smile."
A whole lotta awesome!
I came across this website today and it absolutely 100% needs to be shared!!!
Yoga meets action heroes... Oh ya! This is good stuff!!!
http://yogabeans.com
Yoga meets action heroes... Oh ya! This is good stuff!!!
http://yogabeans.com
Monday, November 21, 2011
Burn baby burn!!
I think I am addicted.... To Crossfit!!
Today was my first class after completing phase I and I spent all day panicking about it after looking up the WOD in the AM.
So of course I was running late today and ended up running for the bus from work. And then half walked half jogged to the gym from the metro. Good start. I say good start because i wasn't dead before the workout started!! Who knew I had it in me to half-jog?!?!
The warm-up today:
- 250m row
- 10 squats
- 10 pushups
- 10 situps
- 10 pullups
Yeeeeehaaaawwww!!
I went for option 3 today... Because the thought of doing option 1 or 2 makes me queasy.... If you want to know what those WODs are, check it out on their website.
www.crossfitmontreal.ca
The option 3 (modified) WOD for time:
1000m row
20 pullups
20 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
750m row
15 pullups
15 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
500m row
10 pullups
10 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
My goal was to finish in under 25 minutes.
My total time today for the WOD was 19min10sec!!!!!!
I'm stoked!!!!!!!
I was so excited I decided to walk home again.... But don't tell my mother :-) Errrr.... I guess the cat is out of the bag though because she does read this. Hi Mommy!!!!!!
I am going to treat myself to a turkey, avocado and cheese sandwich now!
Oups... No avocado... Turkey and cheese it is...
Cheers!!!
(clunk clunk... Still not drinking so I will cheers you with my berry smoothie)
Today was my first class after completing phase I and I spent all day panicking about it after looking up the WOD in the AM.
So of course I was running late today and ended up running for the bus from work. And then half walked half jogged to the gym from the metro. Good start. I say good start because i wasn't dead before the workout started!! Who knew I had it in me to half-jog?!?!
The warm-up today:
- 250m row
- 10 squats
- 10 pushups
- 10 situps
- 10 pullups
Yeeeeehaaaawwww!!
I went for option 3 today... Because the thought of doing option 1 or 2 makes me queasy.... If you want to know what those WODs are, check it out on their website.
www.crossfitmontreal.ca
The option 3 (modified) WOD for time:
1000m row
20 pullups
20 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
750m row
15 pullups
15 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
500m row
10 pullups
10 kettleball deadlifts 20lbs
My goal was to finish in under 25 minutes.
My total time today for the WOD was 19min10sec!!!!!!
I'm stoked!!!!!!!
I was so excited I decided to walk home again.... But don't tell my mother :-) Errrr.... I guess the cat is out of the bag though because she does read this. Hi Mommy!!!!!!
I am going to treat myself to a turkey, avocado and cheese sandwich now!
Oups... No avocado... Turkey and cheese it is...
Cheers!!!
(clunk clunk... Still not drinking so I will cheers you with my berry smoothie)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Redefining salad part II
Warning: The following video contains graphic images and may not be suitable for everyone.
Rated EC for Extreme Carnivores.
Not recommended for vegetarians :S
I came across this a few months ago and wanted to share with you all.
Even this is too much meat for me and makes me a little queasy...
Rated EC for Extreme Carnivores.
Not recommended for vegetarians :S
I came across this a few months ago and wanted to share with you all.
Even this is too much meat for me and makes me a little queasy...
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Fundraisers!
Charlene and I are organizing a number of different fundraisers to help us raise money for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer. All proceeds from this event will help fund cancer research and care at the Segal Cancer Centre at the Jewish General Hospital and throughout Quebec.
There are an estimated 177,800 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Canada each year. We are all in one way or another affected by cancer. You can help to beat this!
We are organizing a series of "Get Fit for the Cure" fundraisers, which take place the first 6 Saturdays of 2012. Below are the details:
Spinning Class
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 11:00am
Location: Centre Fitness le 1000 (1000 de la Gauchetiere)
Minimum donation: $20 (Tax receipt will be provided)
*** You will have full access to the gym for the day
Hot Yoga Class
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 3:00pm
Location: Happy Tree Yoga (4010 Ste-Catherine Ouest, #200)
Minimum donation: $10 (Tax receipt will be provided)
Boot Camp Class
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:00am
Location: Centre Fitness Le 1000 (1000 de la Gauchetiere)
Minimum donation: $10 (Tax receipts will be provided)
*** You will have full access to the gym for the day
Spinning Class
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:00am
Location: Centre Fitness le 1000 (1000 de la Gauchetiere)
Minimum donation: $20 (Tax receipt will be provided)
*** You will have full access to the gym for the day
Boot Camp Class
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:00am
Location: Centre Fitness Le 1000 (1000 de la Gauchetiere)
Minimum donation: $10 (Tax receipts will be provided)
*** You will have full access to the gym for the day
Hot Yoga Class
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 3:00pm
Location: Happy Tree Yoga (4010 Ste-Catherine Ouest, #200)
Minimum donation: $10 (Tax receipt will be provided)
Come join us for evening of fun, food and "entertainment".
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Registration starts at 5:00pm
Game starts at 6:00pm sharp
Location: 6767 Cote des Neiges, 1st floor (Centre Ressources Communautaires de Cote des Neiges)
Location: 6767 Cote des Neiges, 1st floor (Centre Ressources Communautaires de Cote des Neiges)
We will provide you with a lot of yummy food provided by some great sponsors.
Tickets:
$50 for those who want to play ($25 tax receipt will be provided)
$25 for those who want to come hang out and eat
Check out our Facebook event pages for more details for all our fundraisers!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Phase I complete!
I honestly feel like I could pull a truck with my pinkie right now!!!
Well ok...
I honestly feel like I could pull a Tonka truck with my pinkie right now!!!
My final phase 1 Crossfit class seriously whooped my behind... but at the same time I never felt more amazing!!!
I was ON tonight! Managed to get through 3 minutes of skipping without stopping once! Yes... this was a huge achievement for me :) And then I had to encounter the one thing that scared me the most about Crossfit... the box jump!
Warmup tonight was 2 rounds of: 1 minute skipping, 1 minute slamball. While I was waiting for the trainer to come back I did 3 more minutes of skipping... non-stop... yes I'm proud of myself!
Slamball is fun! Take a medicine ball overhead and throw as hard as you can between your feet and catch it on the "bounce up". It "bounces" a whole inch off the ground... I had to be careful it didn't hit my face! heehee
The workout was:
For 15 minutes, rounds of:
10 deadlifts
15 pushups
20 box jumps
I made it through 4 rounds in 15min10sec. I went over time but wanted to finish the round. I felt like I was on fire. Literally. My quads were BURNING!!!!!
I love Crossfit. I do! Does this make me masochistic? At one point, I was actually screaming "I love pushups! I love pushups!". It worked!
I also learned another valuable lesson today. Buy new workout clothes. Or at least wear things with drawstrings. My bottoms kept falling off. Not a good thing when you're skipping and doing box jumps. Solution, use elastics to keep clothes up. Don't get me wrong... this is a good problem. Albeit an expensive problem! But an excellent problem nonetheless!
I have to say though... I am excited to get back on the mat. I haven't yogged it up since Sunday! I am jonesing for some yoga!
Giddy up!
HIGH-FIVE!!!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Just call me "Crazy Yo"
Crazy Yo ... indeed!!!
Hauled butt to Crossfit class tonight and practically ran there from the metro because I didn't want to be late. Got there just in time to "warm-up", even though I was already really warm from the very brisk walk/half jog!
They decided to skip my class 2 lesson and jump me to class 4, since the other students were all class 4. But according to Valerie, #2 is the hardest, which is now pushed to Friday. My class on Friday is with the owner... I think I'm doomed.
But back to today's workout, after the warm-up of rowing, shoulder stretches and squats, we were taught wall-balls, thrusters and kettleball swing (or something like that)....
Wall-balls: Squat and throw ball up against the wall and catch. Sounds easy except that you're expected to throw the ball up the wall about 15 feet... and the ball weighs 7kg!!! The throwing was ok... the catching felt like I was getting punched!
Thrusters: Squat with bar under chin, push up with legs and push bar overhead. Fabulous... except we weren't in squats... we were in frog-pose! Ai-yi-yi-yi! My hips feel great though!
Kettleball swing: Exactly like it sounds. Hold kettleball between legs and swing up over head. Let it drop and do it again.. and again... and again... and again... and again... and again... and if you're tired.... 5 more times. I actually really liked this one. It was a lot of fun!
Today's workout: Rounds for 15 minutes
Round = 5 ring pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 squats.
I managed to get through exactly 11 rounds which is: 55 pull-ups, 110 push-ups and 165 squats... I did the math afterwards... OUF!!!
After the class, I decided it would be smart to walk home! Right! Smart! I think I need to get my head examined! It's only 3.1km! Easy-peasy! My legs started to buckle around km #2... Took every ounce of will-power that I had not to hop in a taxi. Talking to my mom on the phone also helped. She thinks I'm delirious... she might have a point there! I'm not sure if I'll be doing that walk again... not because of distance... but quite frankly the route is a little sketchy. I don't like sketchy. Especially when I have no energy for fight nor flight!
So yes... just call me CRAZY YO!
PS: For those of you who don't know the story, here it is. As you know, my name is Chrisy Yau. But apparently that's hard for some people to pronounce. So I get a call at the office one day and here's the conversation:
Caller: Est-ce que je peux parler avec Crazy Yo?
Me: A qui?
Caller: Ehhhhhh... Crazy Yo?
Me: Quoi?
Caller: Mme. Crazy Yo
Me: Ahhhhh... oui... c'est moi-meme...
Sigh....
Hauled butt to Crossfit class tonight and practically ran there from the metro because I didn't want to be late. Got there just in time to "warm-up", even though I was already really warm from the very brisk walk/half jog!
They decided to skip my class 2 lesson and jump me to class 4, since the other students were all class 4. But according to Valerie, #2 is the hardest, which is now pushed to Friday. My class on Friday is with the owner... I think I'm doomed.
But back to today's workout, after the warm-up of rowing, shoulder stretches and squats, we were taught wall-balls, thrusters and kettleball swing (or something like that)....
Wall-balls: Squat and throw ball up against the wall and catch. Sounds easy except that you're expected to throw the ball up the wall about 15 feet... and the ball weighs 7kg!!! The throwing was ok... the catching felt like I was getting punched!
Thrusters: Squat with bar under chin, push up with legs and push bar overhead. Fabulous... except we weren't in squats... we were in frog-pose! Ai-yi-yi-yi! My hips feel great though!
Kettleball swing: Exactly like it sounds. Hold kettleball between legs and swing up over head. Let it drop and do it again.. and again... and again... and again... and again... and again... and if you're tired.... 5 more times. I actually really liked this one. It was a lot of fun!
Today's workout: Rounds for 15 minutes
Round = 5 ring pull-ups, 10 push-ups, 15 squats.
I managed to get through exactly 11 rounds which is: 55 pull-ups, 110 push-ups and 165 squats... I did the math afterwards... OUF!!!
After the class, I decided it would be smart to walk home! Right! Smart! I think I need to get my head examined! It's only 3.1km! Easy-peasy! My legs started to buckle around km #2... Took every ounce of will-power that I had not to hop in a taxi. Talking to my mom on the phone also helped. She thinks I'm delirious... she might have a point there! I'm not sure if I'll be doing that walk again... not because of distance... but quite frankly the route is a little sketchy. I don't like sketchy. Especially when I have no energy for fight nor flight!
So yes... just call me CRAZY YO!
PS: For those of you who don't know the story, here it is. As you know, my name is Chrisy Yau. But apparently that's hard for some people to pronounce. So I get a call at the office one day and here's the conversation:
Caller: Est-ce que je peux parler avec Crazy Yo?
Me: A qui?
Caller: Ehhhhhh... Crazy Yo?
Me: Quoi?
Caller: Mme. Crazy Yo
Me: Ahhhhh... oui... c'est moi-meme...
Sigh....
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Excited Excited Excited! Woooohoooooo!
I may have taken two days off training but holy efficient!!!
We met with Ray of Total Poker last night to help us organize our "Poker-Style Fundraiser" :) What a help!!! This event is going to be EPIC!!!
Save the date people... MARCH 3RD 2012! Write it in pen! Save it on your blackberries! Tell Siri to add it to your iPhones! Whatever means you choose to use... BLOCK IT because you don't want to miss it! Tickets will be available shortly through Charlene and I!
The Gluttons are on a roll!!!
We also met with the organizers of the Ride today along with fellow riders! This is going to be so much fun. The video they showed us gave me goosebumps! I'm seriously STOKED! I'm PUMPED! I don't remember the last time I was this excited! Well ok... I know exactly when... September 28 when Tania and John got engaged... But before that...?!?! It's been A LONG TIME! I'm so excited half my post is in CAPS!!!!
And this is really exciting too......
And then... THERE'S THIS!!!
Had a good talk with my mom tonight and she had said that it's really good to see me this motivated. And I honestly am. I am very excited for this. I'm excited for my first fall (which is definitely going to happen)... I'm excited for my first 20km... I'm excited for having an extremely sore ass... I'm excited for the tears that will surely come... I'm excited for the infinite number of high-fives... I'm just plain excited.
So two things can happen... people will tire of my "OMG.. I'm so excited!!!"... or "If you can't beat them.. join them!"... Because seriously... YOU KNOW YOU WANT THOSE ARM WARMERS!!! If I can motivate one person ... that's AMAZING! :) If I can do this.. I'm pretty sure anyone can!
Crossfit tomorrow... and guess what? I'M SO EXCITED!!!!
We met with Ray of Total Poker last night to help us organize our "Poker-Style Fundraiser" :) What a help!!! This event is going to be EPIC!!!
Save the date people... MARCH 3RD 2012! Write it in pen! Save it on your blackberries! Tell Siri to add it to your iPhones! Whatever means you choose to use... BLOCK IT because you don't want to miss it! Tickets will be available shortly through Charlene and I!
The Gluttons are on a roll!!!
We also met with the organizers of the Ride today along with fellow riders! This is going to be so much fun. The video they showed us gave me goosebumps! I'm seriously STOKED! I'm PUMPED! I don't remember the last time I was this excited! Well ok... I know exactly when... September 28 when Tania and John got engaged... But before that...?!?! It's been A LONG TIME! I'm so excited half my post is in CAPS!!!!
And this is really exciting too......
 |
| Oh Yeah! Our official Ride to Conquer Cancer Wristband! |
And then... THERE'S THIS!!!
 |
| That's right... Arm warmers!!! GIDDY UP! |
Had a good talk with my mom tonight and she had said that it's really good to see me this motivated. And I honestly am. I am very excited for this. I'm excited for my first fall (which is definitely going to happen)... I'm excited for my first 20km... I'm excited for having an extremely sore ass... I'm excited for the tears that will surely come... I'm excited for the infinite number of high-fives... I'm just plain excited.
So two things can happen... people will tire of my "OMG.. I'm so excited!!!"... or "If you can't beat them.. join them!"... Because seriously... YOU KNOW YOU WANT THOSE ARM WARMERS!!! If I can motivate one person ... that's AMAZING! :) If I can do this.. I'm pretty sure anyone can!
Crossfit tomorrow... and guess what? I'M SO EXCITED!!!!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Love at first OM
I love yoga... LOVE... love love love!
I am a yoga-pusher! I always say:
"You know what you need in your life? YOGA"
"Yoga will fix that for you"
"There's a great yoga pose for that"
"Yog it up! You'll love it"
Yes... I am a yoga-pusher! But only because yoga seriously changed my life. Because of it I am stronger (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically)... I actually listen to my body now (well at least more than I used to, which was never)... I am taller (well at least I feel like I'm a whole 5'4" now!!!)... I am calmer... I am more grounded... I am able to float more... you get the picture!
My yoga journey started with Rodney Yee and his Gaiam DVDs, which I practiced at home. I realized that I probably wasn't doing something right, so I started going to Bikram. I went there for a few months but eventually I started to get bored (I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADD). One day I walked into Lululemon on Ste-Catherine and Emma (sweet sweet Emma... and yes I knew the Lulu employees by name and vice-versa) gave me a complimentary pass to HappyTree Yoga. So I went. I haven't left. That was almost 3 years ago.
I'm not sure that I have the words in my vocabulary to describe how I feel about HappyTree. But here's a quote that sort of sums it all up: "Home is not where you live, but where they understand you". And they get it. And I get it. Win-win! Where else am I able to giggle uncontrollably during a yoga class (Athena... heehee) and high-five after toe-pose (Yeah Yeah Eva!!!)? No matter how stressful or unpleasant my day was, the minute I walk through the front door and hear the chime from the alarm, I am immediately at peace.
Within weeks of starting at HappyTree, my practice was already at a whole new level. The teachers there are AMAZING! And through every class, every teacher I've ever had is there with me in my heart. I can actually hear them telling me how to adjust in every posture. They are incredible and I am so grateful for having my path cross with theirs.
To the teachers that I've had - I've learnt so much and can't wait to learn more from you all: Melanie, Albert, Gen, Paul, Sonya, Genevieve, Brian - You all seriously rock my world!
Dawn: you know! YO! Deuces babe! We put the "yo" in "yoga"!
Everyone else at the Tree - you seriously rock my world too!
Hugs!!!
Speaking of hugs... here's a good one!
By the way, the color coordination thing with the sign was a complete fluke!!!
I am a yoga-pusher! I always say:
"You know what you need in your life? YOGA"
"Yoga will fix that for you"
"There's a great yoga pose for that"
"Yog it up! You'll love it"
Yes... I am a yoga-pusher! But only because yoga seriously changed my life. Because of it I am stronger (mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically)... I actually listen to my body now (well at least more than I used to, which was never)... I am taller (well at least I feel like I'm a whole 5'4" now!!!)... I am calmer... I am more grounded... I am able to float more... you get the picture!
My yoga journey started with Rodney Yee and his Gaiam DVDs, which I practiced at home. I realized that I probably wasn't doing something right, so I started going to Bikram. I went there for a few months but eventually I started to get bored (I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADD). One day I walked into Lululemon on Ste-Catherine and Emma (sweet sweet Emma... and yes I knew the Lulu employees by name and vice-versa) gave me a complimentary pass to HappyTree Yoga. So I went. I haven't left. That was almost 3 years ago.
I'm not sure that I have the words in my vocabulary to describe how I feel about HappyTree. But here's a quote that sort of sums it all up: "Home is not where you live, but where they understand you". And they get it. And I get it. Win-win! Where else am I able to giggle uncontrollably during a yoga class (Athena... heehee) and high-five after toe-pose (Yeah Yeah Eva!!!)? No matter how stressful or unpleasant my day was, the minute I walk through the front door and hear the chime from the alarm, I am immediately at peace.
Within weeks of starting at HappyTree, my practice was already at a whole new level. The teachers there are AMAZING! And through every class, every teacher I've ever had is there with me in my heart. I can actually hear them telling me how to adjust in every posture. They are incredible and I am so grateful for having my path cross with theirs.
To the teachers that I've had - I've learnt so much and can't wait to learn more from you all: Melanie, Albert, Gen, Paul, Sonya, Genevieve, Brian - You all seriously rock my world!
Dawn: you know! YO! Deuces babe! We put the "yo" in "yoga"!
Everyone else at the Tree - you seriously rock my world too!
Hugs!!!
Speaking of hugs... here's a good one!
 |
| The fabulous Melanie and me |
 |
| And an extra-squishy hug! |
More hugs and high-fives!
Ok - one more for good measure :)
Ok - one more for good measure :)
This is how we roll...
BBM Exchange between Charlene and I:
Cheena: Do u
want one? Its 40$
Cheena!!: I'm wearing a large but its
mens and it fits me good
Chrisy Yau: What other colors do they have
Cheena!!: Blue..
Cheena!!: Like a baby blue
Cheena!!: And black
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmm... Where r u?
Cheena!!: At the outlet with david
Chrisy Yau: Nah... I have windbreakers/sports jackets coming out of my ass!
Chrisy Yau: Actuallt yes I do
Chrisy Yau: Lol
Chrisy Yau: Yellow like that one
Cheena!!: Lol!!!
Cheena!!: Medium or large?
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmmm I don't know
Chrisy Yau: I generally wear medium mens for nike
Cheena!!: I think medium would be better for u
Chrisy Yau: Ok. Perfect
Cheena!!: Ya that's what I thought ok cool
Chrisy Yau: Do they have sports bras ?? Lol
Chrisy Yau: Why do you look so sad??
Cheena!!: Yes.. Hahahah I don't know hahaaaahha
Chrisy Yau: Can you check how much they are?? I need large. Any color.
Cheena!!: 30$
Cheena!!: Dri - fit
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmmm. Ok. Never mind! That's expensive!!!
Chrisy Yau: Do they have black drifit long sleeves shirts?? For our team logo :)
Cheena!!: Yes vneck 40$ and crew neck 35$
Chrisy Yau: Vneck??
Chrisy Yau: :) mens or womens?
Cheena!!: Womens
Chrisy Yau: Heehee. XL for me :)
Chrisy Yau: Gonna transfer money to your RBC account :)
Chrisy Yau: This is efficient shopping!!!
Cheena!!: I knowwww crew neck right?
Chrisy Yau: I think I want v neck
Cheena!!: I just told the sales lady that
Chrisy Yau: Lol
Chrisy Yau: V neck will make my neck "look" longer. Hahaha
Cheena!!: Lol!!!
Cheena!!: Ok so vneck for u and crew neck for me
Chrisy Yau: Awesome. Transferring $ to your acct now. $90 for both??
Cheena!!: Ya
Chrisy Yau: Done!
Chrisy Yau: In your rbc account!
Cheena!!: Lol
Cheena!!: This is funnnn
Chrisy Yau: Hahahahah
Cheena!!: You should blog about this
Chrisy Yau: Doing that now!!!
Cheena!!: I'm wearing a large but its
mens and it fits me good
Chrisy Yau: What other colors do they have
Cheena!!: Blue..
Cheena!!: Like a baby blue
Cheena!!: And black
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmm... Where r u?
Cheena!!: At the outlet with david
Chrisy Yau: Nah... I have windbreakers/sports jackets coming out of my ass!
Chrisy Yau: Actuallt yes I do
Chrisy Yau: Lol
Chrisy Yau: Yellow like that one
Cheena!!: Lol!!!
Cheena!!: Medium or large?
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmmm I don't know
Chrisy Yau: I generally wear medium mens for nike
Cheena!!: I think medium would be better for u
Chrisy Yau: Ok. Perfect
Cheena!!: Ya that's what I thought ok cool
Chrisy Yau: Do they have sports bras ?? Lol
Chrisy Yau: Why do you look so sad??
Cheena!!: Yes.. Hahahah I don't know hahaaaahha
Chrisy Yau: Can you check how much they are?? I need large. Any color.
Cheena!!: 30$
Cheena!!: Dri - fit
Chrisy Yau: Hmmmmm. Ok. Never mind! That's expensive!!!
Chrisy Yau: Do they have black drifit long sleeves shirts?? For our team logo :)
Cheena!!: Yes vneck 40$ and crew neck 35$
Chrisy Yau: Vneck??
Chrisy Yau: :) mens or womens?
Cheena!!: Womens
Chrisy Yau: Heehee. XL for me :)
Chrisy Yau: Gonna transfer money to your RBC account :)
Chrisy Yau: This is efficient shopping!!!
Cheena!!: I knowwww crew neck right?
Chrisy Yau: I think I want v neck
Cheena!!: I just told the sales lady that
Chrisy Yau: Lol
Chrisy Yau: V neck will make my neck "look" longer. Hahaha
Cheena!!: Lol!!!
Cheena!!: Ok so vneck for u and crew neck for me
Chrisy Yau: Awesome. Transferring $ to your acct now. $90 for both??
Cheena!!: Ya
Chrisy Yau: Done!
Chrisy Yau: In your rbc account!
Cheena!!: Lol
Cheena!!: This is funnnn
Chrisy Yau: Hahahahah
Cheena!!: You should blog about this
Chrisy Yau: Doing that now!!!
How's that for efficiency!!!
I seriously love bacon...
M:brgr... need I say more!!!
Go big or go home!!!
I had the AAA burger on WHITE bread with BACON and monterey jack cheese! Mac 'N Cheese, Poutine and basket of fries and onion rings was shared for the table...
Oh bacon... I know I've neglected you lately and I'm sorry I won't be able to spend much time with you for the next little while. But please know that every savory second I spend with you is like tasting little pieces of heaven. You are never far from my thoughts and every time I see you I feel a slight pain in my chest. It's not you... it's me.
***
Not all cheat today though... I had an awesome hot yoga practice this morning with Albert at HappyTree. It literally took every morsel of will power in me to get my still shaky legs out of the house to the studio. But am I ever glad I did! I love getting off my mat at the end of the class and seeing the full imprint of my body on my mat from sweat :) Little disgusting things make me happy!
Back to the mat tomorrow :)
***
It's official!!! March 3rd is the date of our poker tournament. We found a venue to host it!!! Woohoo!!!
Go big or go home!!!
I had the AAA burger on WHITE bread with BACON and monterey jack cheese! Mac 'N Cheese, Poutine and basket of fries and onion rings was shared for the table...
Oh bacon... I know I've neglected you lately and I'm sorry I won't be able to spend much time with you for the next little while. But please know that every savory second I spend with you is like tasting little pieces of heaven. You are never far from my thoughts and every time I see you I feel a slight pain in my chest. It's not you... it's me.
***
Not all cheat today though... I had an awesome hot yoga practice this morning with Albert at HappyTree. It literally took every morsel of will power in me to get my still shaky legs out of the house to the studio. But am I ever glad I did! I love getting off my mat at the end of the class and seeing the full imprint of my body on my mat from sweat :) Little disgusting things make me happy!
Back to the mat tomorrow :)
***
It's official!!! March 3rd is the date of our poker tournament. We found a venue to host it!!! Woohoo!!!
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