America Peals

The last 10 days I have been in Manhattan. Not my favorite place in the world but a place that is still very much a home to me. I stayed at my best friend’s apartment in Sunnyside along with her 3 Opera singing roommates. Helen is a Soprano. So for me, lover of solitude, my days at the laptop were filled with sonorous, dramatic oeuvres. Not too shabby. Here is Helen Lyons:

I also spent a good deal of time at CrossFit New York’s: The Black Box with CrossFit trainer, Allison Bojarski.
And, to say she was a shot in the arm, is an understatement. As you may know, this past month and half has been an enormous struggle for me. And, while I knew exactly what I needed to do to get myself out a funk, I could not execute the stratagem. I will leave the kismet out of the story. However, I want to share with you how Allison created the little spark I needed, to get back on track.

First, we worked out. Allison wanted to do heavy dead lifts. Because, I have been feeling depressed, I thought, “Shit, this is going to suck. I have no energy and haven’t done Olympic lifts in weeks.”

Allison brings a 45lb Olympic bar to my station to which I immediately ejaculated (think how Charles Dickens used this word), “I only life with a 15 lb bar.” Allison looked at me quizically and still put the 45lb bar at my station. She told me that no one should be lifting a 15lb bar unless the were practicing the Bergner progression. So, I start with 65lbs. Hawk-eye Allison perched to my right. “Well, your form is pretty good but honestly its not really tested with that weight. It is way to0 light for you to be lifting. Also, take your shoes off.”

At that point, not wanting to be super pussy, I took my shoes off, inov-8 kicks no less, liberally added 40 more lbs, thinking this was not going to move from the floor. I mentioned that to Allison. Thankfully, she ignored it. When I positioned the bar over my feet and began to approach the bar, Allison encouraged me to be mindful. I kept my butt out and held the best damn lumbar curve I could muster. I took a deep breath and dead lifted. Again, Allison said, “Too easy, the lift is taking you only a few seconds total. To get a real workout, you deadlift should challenge you so that on the way up, you are FIGHTING. ” Incrementally, I added 20 lbs and did sets of five with each weight increase.

Keep in mind, I dead lifted (at my fittest, a few years ago, 165). And, I always wore sneakers. Maybe Allison can comment today about not wearing shoes, but there is something dramatically different about dead lifting in your socks.

As lifts became heavier at each set, Allison had me open my shoulders more and tense all of my muscles before the lift. She also indicated to take one deep breath (exhaling on downward movement0, push through my feet and core and NEVER GIVE UP. If the bar can be lifted an inch, suck it up and dead lift.

I am proud to say that I had a PR that day. I dead lifted a final set of 175 lbs. And, damn did I look hot!

Allison and I also broke down very explicitly how holistically, I can become a better me. For the time being, Allison suggests getting to bed by nine, waking up by seven. One day at a time.

By the way, Allison kicks ass. Here we are next to the Zaftig Giantesse at the Time Warner Building in Columbus Circle.