tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9797084401015637112024-03-16T00:08:00.877-07:00ZUT FITNever put off till tomorrow what you can do today.-Thomas JeffersonZachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-21061774235471151912012-03-27T07:32:00.003-07:002012-03-27T07:44:32.700-07:00Making The Move<div style="text-align: center;">So the time has come for me to make the move from blogger over to the world of Tumblr. I have been blogging here since I started my coaching career six years ago. I have to admit, as I'm typing this I am a little sad. Blogger has been good to me and has been a way for me to introduce myself to the world. It has also been an avenue for me to get my thoughts and ideas about crossfit, Olympic Lifting, nutrition and everything in between out to who will ever read or watch.<br />I hope you all enjoy my new site and it officially being called <a href="http://bit.ly/GLvG2n">ZutFit.com</a>!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX4sQ4p-ZmKdoX3QHBSPor3HkhXpphaC7TpR5vsRjCuTyfnMuniXlgxqjuO7bEZvLxsFxOGXKk4Y-w1Bx3CWi4X_-BWwVUdQbnITEeZFpTTfwvX9NHskAUQQOB1i241LNdPDuJXQdqoc/s1600/icon_tumblr.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX4sQ4p-ZmKdoX3QHBSPor3HkhXpphaC7TpR5vsRjCuTyfnMuniXlgxqjuO7bEZvLxsFxOGXKk4Y-w1Bx3CWi4X_-BWwVUdQbnITEeZFpTTfwvX9NHskAUQQOB1i241LNdPDuJXQdqoc/s320/icon_tumblr.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724585404507703954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-90220494470793137172012-03-15T08:27:00.005-07:002012-03-15T09:00:07.451-07:00Mock Meet<div style="text-align: center;">This past week I put my Olympic Lifting athletes through a mock meet. I warmed them up as I would warm up in a meet and only allowed them three attempts at each of the lifts. It was fun to watch some of the athletes ask for a forth attempt and look surprised when I said they only get three. This shit ain't easy! People often ask me what went wrong at a meet I competed in where I only hit one lift on the snatch or completely bombed on my clean & jerk. When you compete in an Olympic meet, you are trying to be absolutely perfect at a high load. There is a minuet amount of error allowed in order for you to make the lift. So, if I'm not as close to perfect as I can be trying to lift a load that I don't regularly put over my head....well, you can see where I'm coming from. Like I said, this shit ain't easy.<br />Since most of the people that are in the Olympic classes are crossfiters, they are used to getting multiple chances at a lift with less than stellar technique. So I think the point of them coming to get trained up in a different atmosphere, where we are not crossfiting and technique is the main focus, it will bleed over into their crossfiting. Any who! It's fun to watch people beg for more opportunities at a lift and me get to say no.<br />And just FYI for those of you that didn't know, I did do the Open WOD 12.2 and hit 63 reps. This was my first WOD in just nearly a year, and I just nearly puked afterwords. It was my technique that allowed me to get as far as I did. I am certainly not in any metcon shape so the training that I do paid BIG dividends! Since the Olympic lifts are so prevalent in crossfit I would suggest adding the technique work to your training. And if you are doing it on your own, SLOW DOWN! and make it as perfect as possible. Now go lift some heavy shit!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cd5G80KkjLo" allowfullscreen="" width="560" frameborder="0" height="315"></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Come take a look at my <a href="http://bit.ly/w3tPgJ">YouTube</a> page and subscribe. Lot's of training videos.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-38402297741040463132012-03-07T07:33:00.001-08:002012-03-07T08:03:42.174-08:00Training Video<div style="text-align: center;">This was shot last night at my coaches gym. Training has been kicked into over drive and I am mightily inspired! After my last meet in Ft. Worth I am hungry for massive gains and new PR's. I have picked up my training volume and am planning on lifting at 85kg at my next meet in May. This is going to require some serious eating clean and stepping up my supplementation. I made an <a href="http://bit.ly/yHcL11">Advocare</a> order today and have my eyes set on eating clean.<br />As far as the video below, I set a PR for a snatch triple at 95kg. My technique is getting better and more consistent. Lifts I would have usually missed forward are now being made, pulling hard has now become more consistent. I now need to shore up my jerks and have several exercises I am doing weekly to make that happen.<br />It has now been one year since I dedicated all my training solely to Olympic Lifting. Since that time I have put 11kg on my snatch max and the same amount on my clean & jerk. I have visions of being a legitimate lifter and being competitive in the lifting world.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/36fAzAQmSGs" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just wanted to also throw out that I did the 12.2 <a href="http://bit.ly/z60hyr">Crossfit Games </a>Open WOD last week and lit my lungs on fire! First Crossfit WOD in a year and got 63 snatches. My goal was to get to sixty without dying and everything else on top of that was gravy. Just thought I would share.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-18952135227073313172012-03-02T08:49:00.005-08:002012-03-02T09:17:45.023-08:00Texas!!<div style="text-align: center;">Just want to say Happy Texas Independence Day to all my fellow Texans and those who wish they were. If you're not native Texan then you really can't and don't understand what it means to be from Texas. My families history in the state goes way back and I am damn proud of that fact.<br />We Texans are fiercely independent, love our gun's, and maybe BBQ even more! Football is our past time and beer drinking a close second. We are friendly, giving and polite.<br />But don't cross us! Oh....and Bless Your Hearts you poor Yankees! <br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrhRATWeY6O7OWkfh04OAKo20Yk0hF6IbwdQxe573NJJgKE0gCdQVu8DoucBmqcmogL7T4yx5wO7LoSRUdoNoDilhOncycuTK1NR5_UfVkKd7pnZKH2fXV7PjvPZDXpVZcFlZjz_0Acw/s1600/State1836.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrhRATWeY6O7OWkfh04OAKo20Yk0hF6IbwdQxe573NJJgKE0gCdQVu8DoucBmqcmogL7T4yx5wO7LoSRUdoNoDilhOncycuTK1NR5_UfVkKd7pnZKH2fXV7PjvPZDXpVZcFlZjz_0Acw/s320/State1836.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715343098234837666" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-24704827319136936952012-02-27T08:58:00.004-08:002012-02-27T13:54:02.179-08:00Latest Competition<div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend myself and my weightlifting team traveled up to Ft. Worth to compete in <a href="http://bit.ly/y1nQCA">Black Box Gyms</a> first Olympic Weightlifting competition. It was a great weekend and good to see all the competitors I have come to know traveling around and competing in local meets. Dutch Lowy, the owner and host of the competition did a great job with the organizing and accommodating of all the athletes, so to him much thanks.<br />Now for the meet! I was going for a new opener on the Snatch of 100kg and was hoping to PR with something along the lines of 107kg. As you can see in the video below I had a little trouble with the opener. But I will take what I got because 100kg is a new PR for a meet. And for the Clean and Jerk I also was going for an opener that I have hit during training at 125kg but yet hit in a meet. I was feeling confident Saturday so I was just going for it on both openers. My aspirations for the Clean and Jerk were to hit 135kg for a new PR. The first Clean and Jerk at 125kg was cake! And and as you can see fro the video my Jerk needs some attention.<br />All in all I am happy with the meet because I was going with some bigger than normal openers and taking a little risk. The 100kg Snatch and 125kg Clean and Jerk are both PR's for a meet so I am satisfied. Competing in these meets and training pretty much strictly the Olympic lifts is one of the most satisfying and fun things I have learned to do. After every meet successful or not I always leave ready to hit the gym wanting to get better. I feel like I have only begun to scratch the surface of my human potential when it comes to Olympic Lifting.<br />Next meet in May! Time to get stronger!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l66hxM2gxKA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-47812592395593144582012-02-24T07:47:00.003-08:002012-02-24T08:57:36.876-08:00Meet This Weekend<div style="text-align: center;">This coming weekend while everyone is putting their lungs to the test for the <a href="http://bit.ly/z60hyr">CrossFit Games</a> Open, <a href="http://bit.ly/s6Iw42">Emily</a> and I will be traveling to Ft. Worth, Tx. We are headed to our friendly neighbors to the north to compete in the <a href="http://bit.ly/y1nQCA">Black Box Gym</a> Olympic Weightlifting Championship. With the growth and popularity of Olympic Weightlifting (due to the growth and popularity of CrossFit) it seems there are more and more chances to compete in lifting meets. This suits me just fine since I spend the majority of my time training for the Olympic lifts.<br />Since my time training with Ursula Garza my lifts have gone from barely suitable to semi respectable. In August I was snatching 85kilos and not but two weeks ago while training I hit 100kilos twice. So I would say I am improving. This weekend I plan to open with 100kilos on the snatch and 125kilos on the clean and jerk. I see my self PRing on both lifts. (I'm getting a little nervous as I write this) So with all this said, here is to lifting HEAVY SHIT!<br />You can follow my lifts on twitter <a href="http://bit.ly/rBCY9J">@ZUTFIT</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uhbVSxtDMPU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />My last meet above is from January at the State Meet. My snatch misses are at 100kilos and Clean and Jerk bombs are 125kilos. I've made some strides since then!<br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-45839577883156011142012-02-20T09:24:00.000-08:002012-02-20T09:35:09.245-08:00New Video<div style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the hiatus. I just go through periods of writers block or just straight laziness. Here is a new video from <a href="http://bit.ly/wsG3nS">Red Black Olympic Weightlifting</a> class. Seems my classes have become coaches training here of late. Nothing wrong with working specific weaknesses to get better at a sport that prides it's self on being general. Any who, enjoy the video and come subscribe to my <a href="http://bit.ly/w3tPgJ">YouTube</a> page for all the videos I have.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_hgsi6LyvU4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-451650060546402712012-02-01T09:09:00.000-08:002012-02-01T13:00:24.124-08:00A "Light Bulb" Moment<div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend <a href="http://bit.ly/xtRfvi">Red Black Gym</a> was privileged to host my lifting Coach Ursula Garza. If you didn't know, she is a<a href="http://bit.ly/vWeaP8"> USAW</a> certification coach and a <a href="http://bit.ly/wfrz8Q">Crossfit Olympic Lifting Level One </a>certification coach and all around bad ass! One thing I know as a lifter and coach is that it is good to bring in someone you trust and know knows their stuff to help other athletes. It's good to hear different cue's that might resonate with the athlete and help the "light bulb" go off. I actually had this conversation with a young lady I coach while attending the seminar. She then pointed me to an article that was posted on <a href="http://bit.ly/xgbdv7">Catalyst Athletics</a> site about this very thing.<br />So...I thought I would share the article with you all below.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx72DyEdNYwMxrEw-PlfmwySXkWzLob6RPi06vodNW0YQ9PwH46zM7iGO89grA45ASmvAxcUgHWlKw2K1jGQK8dvJpDHDOhiwFXlf1hD0ArKgaxoYrTNShS1tTbBVB1BOKFVzmHoNs9c/s1600/IMG_0400.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx72DyEdNYwMxrEw-PlfmwySXkWzLob6RPi06vodNW0YQ9PwH46zM7iGO89grA45ASmvAxcUgHWlKw2K1jGQK8dvJpDHDOhiwFXlf1hD0ArKgaxoYrTNShS1tTbBVB1BOKFVzmHoNs9c/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704216356789128578" border="0" /></a><br />Coach, I Totally Get It Now<br />Here's a weird phenomenon to think about, because it's something that works as a blessing for an athlete and an irritation for a coach.<a href="http://bit.ly/xCGhnx"> Continue reading.....</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />One other thing I want to add is that as a coach you can take this one of two ways, get offended or be happy your athlete saw the light. You may have been trying to say the same thing to your athlete, but as long as they get it, and improve, that's the most important thing.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XfMvguXu1ilrbdjmMwDGHb_Nq5Z1adV057ti_F8e7F4VI1_YFT4OdZbEDa4kmgIJFfPvndbn3Mx4xJP1vCYjTW44u1sSYD7vBog8QDbYhflTkK0tsCK5p9RswrmjlaC4dFVzgVw8MJY/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XfMvguXu1ilrbdjmMwDGHb_Nq5Z1adV057ti_F8e7F4VI1_YFT4OdZbEDa4kmgIJFfPvndbn3Mx4xJP1vCYjTW44u1sSYD7vBog8QDbYhflTkK0tsCK5p9RswrmjlaC4dFVzgVw8MJY/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704216550954722258" border="0" /></a>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-51830214257041366032012-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:002012-01-29T09:38:59.883-08:00Fasting to Lean Up<div style="text-align: center;">I was perusing through my book marks this lovely Sunday morning and came across this article and thought I would share with you all.<br />Ready Set Fast: How Strategic Meal-Skipping Can Help you Lose Fat, Gain Muscle, and Get Healthier<br />When we were kids, mom was always looking out for our health. Chew your food, Eat your vegetables. And always eat breakfast because it is the most important meal of the day. <a href="http://bit.ly/xqL5fS">Continue reading....<br /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmzzrP6nZKxvUx2mIl-v5vEUVWlVyXKonSrfZkJ1aI5a6BR_eX1M5h7e7eZr2Mp2Ku5MRWlje5bfUdf-OPi8peaFL9EM4-wNUyrC-fvDZmTJoTQ4zMMpR9rBJ4Q_qwEnOzpCJq9OJ8lI/s1600/fasting.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmzzrP6nZKxvUx2mIl-v5vEUVWlVyXKonSrfZkJ1aI5a6BR_eX1M5h7e7eZr2Mp2Ku5MRWlje5bfUdf-OPi8peaFL9EM4-wNUyrC-fvDZmTJoTQ4zMMpR9rBJ4Q_qwEnOzpCJq9OJ8lI/s320/fasting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703090400131265634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I was introduced to Intermittent Fasting (or IF) by<a href="http://bit.ly/wPwI9c"> Crystal Nelson</a> when I did her<a href="http://bit.ly/xgNE6C"> Fuel 21 </a>about eight months (<a href="http://bit.ly/yLbokU">read about results here</a>) and saw some pretty good results. Since that time I had done some variations of it off and on but have not been as strict as I know I should be. I have also added raw milk to the mix and have seen some dramatic weight gains and strength gains as well. In the process of the weight gain I also got a little laxed on my diet and put a little fat on around what I call my trouble spots (my midsection and back). Since September when I added raw milk I had gained about fifteen pounds having tipped the scale to about 207 pounds. My pants hardly fit and I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. Something had to change!<br />So in December I put myself on notice and started to clean things up. Then in January I Am Crossfit was kicking off and I decided to take on the challenge along with my team. In one of my <a href="http://bit.ly/w92yLZ">previous post about I Am</a>, I put my body comp up and was not pleased. I was in at 21% body fat and WOW! not good. Since that time I have done the IF and just completed a week long cleans of eating nothing but veggies. Not easy for a meat eater like me! And I did a 24 hour fast this past Saturday, and I am considering doing the 24 hour fast once a week. In the time I started the IF it is starting to pay off! My pants are starting to feel a little loser and one of my athletes even told me I looked leaner! Talk about motivation!<br />One thing that I find ironic thou is my weight hasn't come down. I am still hovering around 200lbs. To be perfectly honest with you I don't really care. If I can get my body fat under 15%, and still weight 200lbs I will be a beast on the platform! My strength has gone up and my sleep has improved so I am not scared about losing and strength or energy. I plan on keeping this as my life style for the foreseeable future and will experiment with it. Can't wait to see were it all leads. I'll keep everyone posted on the results.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-65303128488569107042012-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:002012-01-25T12:07:27.885-08:00The Two Sports Compliment Each Other<div style="text-align: center;">You all have read several other post I have asked <a href="http://www.brummerblogs.com/redintheface/">Cindy</a> to do and here is another. If you are new to Crossfit or an OG, you are very familiar with the fact that the Olympic lifts are all over Crossfit WODs. They range from cleans, power snatch, and everything in between. She was kind enough to share her experience with the combination of the two practiced separately and what they have done for Crossfiting.<br />Hope you enjoy the video and her view on things.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ieuQW-Mh6tA" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><span>Olympic Lifting Reignited My Crossfit</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>When Coach Zachary Thiel asked me if and how Olympic Lifting has helped my Crossfit, I had to think about it for a while-not because there wasn't a benefit, but because the effects have been numerous and gradual. I've been Crossfitting for nearly three years, and I added Olympic Lifting to my schedule in the fall of 2011. Before starting Olympic Lifting, I was doing Crossfit-style workouts both at the gym and at home, but was frustrated because I felt like I was losing strength and burning out. I turned to my coach for help. Zach suggested I change up my routine. And when I told him I wanted to get stronger, he suggested I add Olympic Lifting. Olympic Lifting is focused and we practise variations of the same lifts with an eye on form, rather than speed. In the months since I added this repeated focus to my workout schedule, I have noticed some awesome changes.<br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Strength</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span></p>The most awesome benefit is that I'm stronger. Overhead strength has always been tough for me, but I'm finding I can lift more than ever before. Just the other day I did a power jerk at 90lbs. I've never done that before. But the weight has edged up all-around. I've been able to increase the weight I use in many of the Crossfit WODs , because I'm stronger overall.<br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;">Efficiency and Speed</span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><span><br /></span></p>Olympic Lifting is not just about lifting heavy weight-it's about lifting it efficiently, and that requires excellent form. I had no idea how bad my form was before I started the class. I just didn't practice the lifts enough to improve. Olympic Lifting is all about consistently practicing the basics and tweaking the tiniest movements. Even though I still have a long way to go, I feel I've made significant improvements in my form. That definitely helps me perform better in the Crossfit WODs, because I move more quickly and efficiently at a higher weights.<br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Body Awareness </span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0pt; font-family: Arial; padding: 0pt;"><span><br /></span></p>One thing I've also noticed is how I feel more confident and stronger with exercises we do in Crossfit that seemingly have nothing to with Olympic Lifting. Because Olympic Lifting requires that I know how my body is moving at all times. I feel more body aware. And I really believe that has helped me improve my pull ups, push ups, squats, and handstand.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9syg-NZwv1pEyfx3ZLsCszCRltpRiMsuiYXzwTn-CzMk_xlxpwXeiFTv27goZ72VwELtP5DIGgX-keWRtD0tTecs1Jdwob8SoZkErvTXd9rNDD3EkfTNAIvtWRu5Hsl9x-BKHaCSE8/s1600/319044_2233197461872_1005985138_2483511_903043785_n.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtf9syg-NZwv1pEyfx3ZLsCszCRltpRiMsuiYXzwTn-CzMk_xlxpwXeiFTv27goZ72VwELtP5DIGgX-keWRtD0tTecs1Jdwob8SoZkErvTXd9rNDD3EkfTNAIvtWRu5Hsl9x-BKHaCSE8/s320/319044_2233197461872_1005985138_2483511_903043785_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Olympic Lifting has been an incredible compliment to Crossfit in many ways. The best thing of all is that I’m finally back to making gains again in the gym, rather than struggling to keep up.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><span></span></a></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-47954497144419591002012-01-18T08:43:00.000-08:002012-01-18T09:29:08.581-08:00Latest Competition<div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend I competed in the <a href="http://weightlifting.teamusa.org/events/9276">Texas State Weightlifting Championship </a>in Alvin, Tx. It was my fourth meet, and while not the best one I've competed in, I am making strides. My opening weight for snatch has worked itself up to 95kg. That was once a PR not to long ago and has now become an easy opener. I missed my second snatch attempt at 100kg, which was not caught on video, and also my third attempt which was the 101kg. I have to sit in it more! While I am making progress with the snatch, I have a lot more work to do.<br />You will also notice I missed all my clean & jerk attempts. That really frustrates me! The clean was once upon a time my bread and butter and has now become something that I struggle with. Ursula, my coach as pointed out to me that we are going to make some changes to my hand position on the bar and work on my pull off the blocks. I feel confident this will get me to were I should be on my cleans and punch me through a ceiling that I seem to have reached. <br />Every meet that I have competed in has taught me something new about myself, and showed me that I am making progress every time I step out on the platform. It has taught me patience and that being competitive in Olympic Weightlifting is incredibly hard. You have to be on your game that day and be just nearly perfect to hit your lifts. Unlike crossfit where you might have five minutes to find a PR, in a meet it is sixty seconds. It's nuts! I've also learned that I love this sport and have a desire to become the best that I can at it, and become a legit competitor in the sport.<br />My next meet is in February at <a href="http://blackboxfw.com/">Black Box Gym</a> and I my opening snatch will be 100kg, and clean & jerk to be 125kg.<br />Time to #Assassinate the platform!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uhbVSxtDMPU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-44488074179426501322012-01-11T08:39:00.000-08:002012-01-13T09:56:05.566-08:00I Am Crossfit Is Back<div style="text-align: center;">It's that time of year again! <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/page/index.php?menu=blog&page=blog&hide&id=40334">I Am Crossfit</a> is in its third year and is pitting the gyms against each other in the I Am Crossfit Civil War. We really aren't going against each other, but the success of <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/">Crossfit Central</a> and the expansion that has happened has allowed each of the gyms to have their own teams. I Am is an awesome challenge and is prefect for the first of the year.<br />We always go strong at Crossfit Central so it being the first of the year really doesn't matter to most of us. BUT, it is still a great time to kick off a challenge because most everyone does recognize the first of the new year can be a time to refocus and start anew.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKtWRZW-5AYsEBWJnPgPev2j_p-pQssupnnidCkkBDCG7qJsXdec6FMKHGFWnwdcRZMC9SVBF48K_zI7o9WFzl4wN_oTV1HhsSt2PX5rG0OxQbtEuKDAmaXyl_5MjnkPwjVztpNBhwbU/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKtWRZW-5AYsEBWJnPgPev2j_p-pQssupnnidCkkBDCG7qJsXdec6FMKHGFWnwdcRZMC9SVBF48K_zI7o9WFzl4wN_oTV1HhsSt2PX5rG0OxQbtEuKDAmaXyl_5MjnkPwjVztpNBhwbU/s320/IMG_0066.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />For the first time while coaching our I Am team, I will actually participate with the team. I am having my body comp done and will food log and post for everyone on the team to see. I will also be posting my goals for everyone to see here in the near future. I am pretty juiced about this and know I will find great success just like the rest of the athletes on our team.<br />Just so everyone knows, the athletes on the team are participating in an eight week challenge. They are required to food log, do extra workouts along with their regular CrossFit classes and have goals for the challenge. I Am is a great way to kick off the new year and I have seen it change people's lives! I am going to be posting every ones victories here throughout the challenge so be looking for that.<br />The pic below is of the team after our goal setting meeting at Central which got every one excited for the next eight weeks.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI5gU0kmreYza5vEh4CWPbaLOmCpXCHP6nb3cciD5Z3QjFLqfsunyP3fp-QAzpiu1ra0oyPfnlQK_QOKhwC82C12V5DHbq80c35_ELwIVtwNwkmq1t90Rw-ODP9WQhekoe1EjeO5kwsc/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI5gU0kmreYza5vEh4CWPbaLOmCpXCHP6nb3cciD5Z3QjFLqfsunyP3fp-QAzpiu1ra0oyPfnlQK_QOKhwC82C12V5DHbq80c35_ELwIVtwNwkmq1t90Rw-ODP9WQhekoe1EjeO5kwsc/s320/IMG_0336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696415293740030642" border="0" /></a>Update:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ok ladies and gentleman I have my body comp results and I am not surprised.<br />First the results:<br />Weight: 200<br />Body Fat: 21%....ouch!<br />Neck 16, Shoulders 45.5, Chest 39, Bicep-right 13.9 Left 13.9, Waist 36.25, Hips 38, Mid thigh-right 24.25 Left 23.5, Calf-right 15 Left 14.75<br />So, about three months ago, I added Raw Milk to my diet. I take it post workout with my protein shake. Since that time I put on close to 15 pounds and my butt and thighs have grown...well a lot!<br />But, to be fair to myself, my strength has gone way up! Snatch has jumped 25lbs and clean and jerk by 15lbs. I back squat 380lbs for reps and rounds. 400lbs for reps and rounds is right around the corner. I have to admit I like the strength gains and the flab around the waist has got to go! I have already started logging my food with my I Am group and since last week dropped a legit 5lbs. I have cut my raw milk with protein intake to three time's a week and have bumped up my veggie intake quit a bit. I have also cut my protein portions almost in half and practice <a href="http://bit.ly/wRUV6f">intermediate fasting</a> four days a week. I don't necessarily want to cut weight and I say it again, my body fat must come down! I am fine tuning my goals and will post them just as soon as they are done.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-47514483034034757032011-12-27T11:53:00.000-08:002011-12-30T07:34:23.156-08:00The New Year<div style="text-align: center;">This is it, the New Year is upon us! I don't know about you, but 2012 is going to bring BIG things for myself. I get excited every December for what the new year is going to bring and this year is no different. The growth that<a href="http://bit.ly/rIP97s"> CrossFit Central </a>has experienced this past year and all the hard work and leadership training we have been doing is a about to pay off in 2012.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVhf8r-rgNlmvYVLyb1NPRTgOFLvipkoNPWx42jTt5KTtdnhaqrnXPs2a7DylV1y09vDnSBOouwgFkdxJaPqXYL0tSjSsODOCGXrdgB-8FE2VVnvNcsUkNWobhMmwBVIdmsoGydPaHJ0/s1600/NewYearsBaby.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVhf8r-rgNlmvYVLyb1NPRTgOFLvipkoNPWx42jTt5KTtdnhaqrnXPs2a7DylV1y09vDnSBOouwgFkdxJaPqXYL0tSjSsODOCGXrdgB-8FE2VVnvNcsUkNWobhMmwBVIdmsoGydPaHJ0/s320/NewYearsBaby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690898962250569170" border="0" /></a>One thing I love about my gym is it gives us the opportunity to be individuals and express ourselves however we want. We can branch out and brand ourselves as we see fit and create our own little subculture within the CrossFit Central community. I've been working harder than I ever have before to forge my own brand and it is starting to pay off.<br />I am very excited for 2012 and all the opportunities that are going to come my way to help our gym grow and my own personal brad grow as well. I want you to get excited as well! If you notice the pic below, read it, and think about what it means. WE are our only road block. Not just you telling yourself you can't do something but other people planting that seed in your head as well.<br />Impossible is just an Opinion. You have the choice on weather or not you choose to accept it.<br />In 2012 what are you going to do?<br />In 2012 I am making moves, growing my personal brand and forging Crossfit Central into the stratosphere!<br />What are you going to do? Let other people shape your opinion about yourself or forge your own way?<br />Happy New Year! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCqbJuflapd3gTGVdet2tgYL34ihnvyQHHtlRrlljXw0mfeqDxLwh0w1CxZblkxdsqtQrTKITFLqVCutnt61m0xWjkkIv6qRCW3VlzZrqCtaNAYsuOMwjFe-mbJTXY8Ca4DDWsHX-LIQ/s1600/New-Years-Resolutions.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCqbJuflapd3gTGVdet2tgYL34ihnvyQHHtlRrlljXw0mfeqDxLwh0w1CxZblkxdsqtQrTKITFLqVCutnt61m0xWjkkIv6qRCW3VlzZrqCtaNAYsuOMwjFe-mbJTXY8Ca4DDWsHX-LIQ/s320/New-Years-Resolutions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690898957754273522" border="0" /></a>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-8609580039055713462011-12-20T09:33:00.000-08:002011-12-20T10:00:32.023-08:00Fantastic Exercise<div style="text-align: center;">Wanted to share a great exercise that I do, snatch grip shoulder press. It is a fantastic way to strengthen the shoulders and help with the lock-out of the snatch. I actually did this exercise yesterday and just happen to see it this morning on <a href="http://bit.ly/tRCFKy">California Strength</a>. While your at it you should also go and check out their <a href="http://bit.ly/vsbnla">YouTube</a> channel for great exercises and sic training sessions. Thought I would post it so that you could given it a try and add it to your training regimen.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5WKw8kuN298" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-76853682613508695062011-12-14T06:21:00.000-08:002011-12-14T06:58:10.494-08:00Video Evidence<div style="text-align: center;">Wanted to share video from the Olympic lifting meet at<a href="http://bit.ly/ry4OHH"> Woodward Crossfit</a> put on by <a href="http://bit.ly/snGrCL"> OK Weightlifting</a> several weeks ago. In the video is a little kid I wanted to put on there because it's just cool. I love seeing little people getting into the sport because you just don't see that many and it's a sign the sport is growing. (Thanks CrossFit) On the video also is the one and only <a href="http://emily-baker.blogspot.com/">Emily Baker</a> competing in in her first meet.<br />On my lifts the weight is as follows (side note, since the meet was not sanctioned we were given a fourth attempt) Snatch: 1st 90kilos 2nd 95kilos 3rd 98kilos 4th 100kilos missed<br />Clean & Jerk: 1st 113kilos 2nd 120kilos 3rd 125kilos missed 4th 125 missed<br />These small meets are exactly what I need to build my confidence and help prepare me for larger sanctioned meets. I encourage you all to leave a comment and tell me what you think.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-CH8VGm-XRg" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-79151424096102482232011-12-09T07:30:00.000-08:002011-12-09T11:00:15.525-08:00Confidence Builds<div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend I competed in my third Olympic weightlifting meet at <a href="http://bit.ly/uRGE7x">Woodward CrossFit</a>. I didn't set any PR's, but my confidence is growing. Enough so that in January I will be competing in the Texas State Championship meet in Alvin, Texas. It will be my second sanctioned meet and worlds different than my first one.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTx-wBo5GgOP0v3fRae36oDf15fdymOrL5qe8ZIn3-Unj9s5v0_tcXXV6Mfxnkbx4dxN0eoVVGmaPHsKKPu2x3bSNMqVkEGzjWkYJckB9Fnj-kwhrIdlCRH_aF1sh7OrKNWarMCC6Kc/s1600/378164_301255753241833_182732741760802_1035804_1939566632_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQTx-wBo5GgOP0v3fRae36oDf15fdymOrL5qe8ZIn3-Unj9s5v0_tcXXV6Mfxnkbx4dxN0eoVVGmaPHsKKPu2x3bSNMqVkEGzjWkYJckB9Fnj-kwhrIdlCRH_aF1sh7OrKNWarMCC6Kc/s320/378164_301255753241833_182732741760802_1035804_1939566632_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684152217249885234" border="0" /></a>When I competed in my first sanctioned meet this past January I choked....bad. I have dedicated myself to the Olympic lifts and training for them only for almost a year. With some coaching by Olympian <a href="http://bit.ly/sKTIXJ">Chad Vaughn</a>, I had finally built up enough confidence in my lifts to start competing. I had one other meet early on in the summer and did fairly well, no PR's but hit all my lifts. So, I got my <a href="http://bit.ly/vWeaP8">USAW</a> card and signed up for a meet at <a href="http://bit.ly/t9COWY">210 CrossFit</a> in San Antonio. I picked an opening weight that I had regularly hit while training and went for it. And then I scratched on all three attempts at 85 kilos. Not my brightest moment in the world of Olympic weightlifting.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF_2sHe3BroEHDXyXA-jElzXJaSblVqkWtC_4awNMMIf3Smx-rHEWpWgH3aK3W9B1WpEywgYVg6MVgDUQz1Eda5MNauZtexJ3iFk954RcBPkXEeo8GhQ7UcRfyrfCeT43BQE83gqDk7g/s1600/382982_10150409566916641_580496640_8787541_2046976073_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF_2sHe3BroEHDXyXA-jElzXJaSblVqkWtC_4awNMMIf3Smx-rHEWpWgH3aK3W9B1WpEywgYVg6MVgDUQz1Eda5MNauZtexJ3iFk954RcBPkXEeo8GhQ7UcRfyrfCeT43BQE83gqDk7g/s320/382982_10150409566916641_580496640_8787541_2046976073_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684152173372020930" border="0" /></a>After my poor showing I decided I need a full time coach and looked to Ursula Garza for guidance. She was gracious enough to accept me into her tight nit training group, and so my training began. If your not familiar with Ursula she is a stud! A former lifter herself, trainer for the<a href="http://bit.ly/uto3Nm"> CrossFit Olympic lifting certs</a>. and a former U.S.A. record holder in the clean and jerk. Stud! She pretty much started me over with HEAVY focus on the snatch. Since it is the most technical of the two lifts it only makes sense that we spent the most time on the snatch. We drill, drill, and drill and then do hang snatch. Lot's of hard work. BUT! it is starting to pay off. When I first started training with Ursula I could only snatch 90kilos, and clan and jerk 120kilos. Just two weeks ago while training at <a href="http://bit.ly/rIP97s">Central</a> I snatched 102kilos and cleaned and jerked 125kilos. Like I said, paying off!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGZ-ATj8dbsFQrpJOgd46_t0V4U3sf_hVhIFmwJLfT5-2I6hFahe4RHizLZ6KYykFb1Xu1T-mdEMFRl8y6g3BrGKbhTts-K91l3M4BqHlAFtNyCIty48_1B3nPhEplIHubYtWeJNqhm0/s1600/376389_301258379908237_182732741760802_1035912_951256278_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGZ-ATj8dbsFQrpJOgd46_t0V4U3sf_hVhIFmwJLfT5-2I6hFahe4RHizLZ6KYykFb1Xu1T-mdEMFRl8y6g3BrGKbhTts-K91l3M4BqHlAFtNyCIty48_1B3nPhEplIHubYtWeJNqhm0/s320/376389_301258379908237_182732741760802_1035912_951256278_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684152098165575106" border="0" /></a>At the meet this past weekend I snatched 98kilos with no straps and just missed 100. I cleaned and jerked 120kilos with ease and just missed 125. Not PR's but consistently making my attempts and getting stronger. Which leads me to going to the state meet in January where I will go for new PR's in the snatch and clean and jerk.<br />Seeing the progress I'm making and recognizing all the hard work I have been putting in is only feeding the fire inside. All of the workouts and sacrificing my free nights with my family to go get coached is not going to be for nothing. I have big goals for myself and am visualizing myself getting there. I have video of the lifts from this past weekends meet and should have it up next week for all to view. Happy lifting!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-22423751889452611512011-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:002011-12-01T14:58:12.336-08:00Squat Low Squat Heavy Squat Often<div style="text-align: center;">As many of you know Olympic Lifting requires copious amounts of squatting. Whether it be front squats, back squats, or over head squats it happens a lot in training. <a href="http://www.brummerblogs.com/redintheface/">Cindy</a> was kind enough to share with everyone how it's helped her.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjinLlt47Crk7CFbn2qNHOFrseODQH2W8MualyctjeHoPrhWZp6y5nYWHHTqeCMkYMDJ27NkMlnNMggRAJXfw8DohHIjTytIwgOjB9_-vIjjmFrBFhdmZT0Apc11wX3B22NvnHvzP1EXU/s1600/IMG_0089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjinLlt47Crk7CFbn2qNHOFrseODQH2W8MualyctjeHoPrhWZp6y5nYWHHTqeCMkYMDJ27NkMlnNMggRAJXfw8DohHIjTytIwgOjB9_-vIjjmFrBFhdmZT0Apc11wX3B22NvnHvzP1EXU/s320/IMG_0089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681292961196959298" border="0" /></a><br />Most Crossfitters know that a squat isn't a squat unless your butt gets down below parallel. But, in my Olympic Lifting class, <span style="font-weight: bold;">that's not low enough</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Your butt should be practically on the ground -- I'm talking "thighs to calves" low.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before I started Zach's Olympic Lifting class, I had never squatted so low or so much in my life, and certainly not with a heavy bar.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every class includes either front squats or back squats, and the rest of the lifts usually involve overhead squats or cleans. The weights are heavy, and the percentages and rep schemes are similar from week to week, gradually progressing upward over time.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's after a warmup of duck walks, squat hops, and jumping squats -- which feels like a workout by itself!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">See what I mean about squatting?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I started the class in October, I thought I was going to die in the warmup. My legs burned. I had to stop frequently. I didn't know how I was going to make it to the actual lifting part of class.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">During lifts, Zach often had to remind me to squat lower. "Find the bottom," he said. It was scary to go down so low holding such a heavy bar since I wasn't used to it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, things have changed a lot over the past 2 ½ months. The emphasis on squatting has made a difference for me.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 1. Over time, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the warm up got easier</span>. No more dreading the squat hops and duck walks!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">My squat is lower</span>. My husband was amazed when he saw me squat down to pick up my daughter -- my butt was practically on the ground -- and lift her 20 pound body up like it was nothing. (Yes! Squatting is functional!)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 3. To top it all off, <span style="font-weight: bold;">I've finally started making gains</span> in the gym again. After just 2 ½ months, I've added 15 pounds to my front squat max (130 pounds) and finally reached 150 pounds on my back squat max -- I’ve been trying for that weight for almost 2 years!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I now understand. The simple fact of the matter is that if you want to be a stronger squatter (or stronger anything for that matter), you actually have to work at it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It’s important to practice lifting heavy weights frequently in order to make progress and build strength.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But it’s also important because it affects the rest of my life. Lifting up my kids without straining my back is so awesome! I don’t feel old or weak. I feel young and strong.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wonder, will I be able to pick them up when they’re older and heavier? I bet I could!<br /><br />I think it goes to show that squatting for what ever sport you choose to do (being an Olympic Lifter, CrossFiter, mom or dad) can help you obviously become stronger and more confident.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-17048547792130584232011-11-20T09:03:00.000-08:002011-11-20T10:12:24.099-08:00Make That Change<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb5ujcEUco_gH6e4S1dvS9ZdC9kMmq6-hBxfF4bMdD3oNPNu5pAqa0ePBhPA81qQj7kAqygZ6i50VV9iMURpWqVibSfcE6De-LjtEOOWsouk5_hCOU9lcvYFN4RGeRLGkTW56Vm2b2qM/s1600/microwave2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglb5ujcEUco_gH6e4S1dvS9ZdC9kMmq6-hBxfF4bMdD3oNPNu5pAqa0ePBhPA81qQj7kAqygZ6i50VV9iMURpWqVibSfcE6De-LjtEOOWsouk5_hCOU9lcvYFN4RGeRLGkTW56Vm2b2qM/s320/microwave2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677141763337736098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Recently with the urging from my wife Ashley we made the switch from a microwave to a convection oven. Why you might ask? Well, she was always saying it wasn't good for you to eat the food that came out of them and if you heated things in plastic in them chemicals would leach into your food. She's a smart gal and I had also heard the same thing from my sister Amy. So being the romantic guy that I am, this past Wednesday for Ashley's birthday I went and got her a convection oven. Now, I have to admit I was reluctant to get rid of the microwave because of the convenience. I mean, waiting an extra few minutes to heat up my food was not acceptable.<br /><br />Now after doing some research I'm glad I made the change. There are some scary things I have read about the use of a microwave and the affect it has on your food. Not to mention what it does to your body while standing by it when it is working. Microwaves were banned in Russia in the 1970's because of the things they found through research. Not surprising all the research done on them have happened in Europe and Russia. We Americans just can't afford the time it would take to do a little research and study the long term affects of "Nuking" our food. Just not convenient you know.<br />Here is just one statement from the reading I have done,<br />"Structural degradation leading to decreased food value was found to be 60 to 90 percent overall for all foods tested, with significant decreases in bioavailability of B complex vitamins, vitamins C and E, essential minerals, and lipotropics (substances that prevent abnormal accumulation of fat)."<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3M_Pst2BF5tyX84L8rAvgcuK_FOmsGU7AFE67wcQI6jvbsRmCLYVvMypkcmd3qgK0fZAHhQFRI22m_0g6w-oie6DXTLGh7bN8l7cLqLzFpXMuNmbBcy7iTIs4L78kB1kuT4A10g9lSk/s1600/IMG_0160.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3M_Pst2BF5tyX84L8rAvgcuK_FOmsGU7AFE67wcQI6jvbsRmCLYVvMypkcmd3qgK0fZAHhQFRI22m_0g6w-oie6DXTLGh7bN8l7cLqLzFpXMuNmbBcy7iTIs4L78kB1kuT4A10g9lSk/s320/IMG_0160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677125171804514466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The first article I read <a href="http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html">The Microwave is Killing You! </a>By Stephanie Relfe B.Sc. states,<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Univers,'Zurich BT',sans-serif;"><span class="style10" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />"Microwave cooking is one of the</span></span><span class="style10"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> most important causes of ill health<span style="font-weight: normal;">. It is certainly one of the most ignored."<br /></span></span></span></span>It is a lengthy article full of scientist talk but well worth the read.<br />Here is another one that is less full of science talk and geared more torwards the affects of "Nuking" and your food and nutrition.<br /><a href="http://domesticbydesign.com/2010/10/step-8-stop-using-your-microwave/">Stop Using Your Microwave</a> by Domestic Design<br />Both articles have plenty of sources so read to your hearts content.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWTwuaKP4zTAD6XmVZMzuv82LnFV4sLIfcMxr7bJGktXgXWL_UrTO2pfUEP2ut5-vacIXEOwWN-5PozffG-C-gLam8MgShoZ7IPpgd4sqI-RbioHoRlUQv8qQRa3v1bv8ttNSyXiYGF4/s1600/IMG_0161.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWTwuaKP4zTAD6XmVZMzuv82LnFV4sLIfcMxr7bJGktXgXWL_UrTO2pfUEP2ut5-vacIXEOwWN-5PozffG-C-gLam8MgShoZ7IPpgd4sqI-RbioHoRlUQv8qQRa3v1bv8ttNSyXiYGF4/s320/IMG_0161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677125072348054034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bottom line is this, for my family and our short term and long term health for ourselves and our son we decided to get rid of our microwave. We did it based on what we read were the affects on our food and our over all health. This is a choice you will have to make for yourself and or your family. Most of all I encourage you to go and do the research for yourself and consider what I have written or the articles I posted above. Happy Sunday!<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-20804544394591969922011-11-17T08:09:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:47:03.254-08:00My Journey<div style="text-align: center;">This week I want to feature Stephanie. She has been with me for over a year and doesn't look to be going anywhere any time soon. I have to be honest with you tough,. When Stephanie first started at my 5:30am <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/">CrossFit Central</a> class I was not a big fan of her. She whined and her attitude was not the greatest. Needless to say I wanted her in another class so I wouldn't have to deal with her.<br />I year later she is still in my Central class and is Olympic Lifting twice a week with me at<a href="http://redblackgym.com/"> Red Black Gym</a>. She has made great strides and continues to grow as a CrossFitter and an Olympic Lifter as well. I absolutely love having her around and consider a friend.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSOPpuhiS1oZEfYxNzY0Zk83EImtrF_LIXq8Ti2wvO_mUg2AhlAthRZVyh1QRRxBFW60AGjM8kmVF8B_78Qxj2-OZ2zvEeEJNqT5SAGef9XqKwJeZhhHj1ok7ieIAEEMVOgKj-gGkzx0/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSOPpuhiS1oZEfYxNzY0Zk83EImtrF_LIXq8Ti2wvO_mUg2AhlAthRZVyh1QRRxBFW60AGjM8kmVF8B_78Qxj2-OZ2zvEeEJNqT5SAGef9XqKwJeZhhHj1ok7ieIAEEMVOgKj-gGkzx0/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676000064029115522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I joined Crossfit Central in November of 2010. It quickly became very apparent to me that I would need A LOT of extra attention if I ever hoped to learn any of the Olympic lifts, let alone be able to perform them fast with some sort of technique. In April of 2011, I decided to add on Zach’s Olympic Lifting class to my normal schedule. My thinking was, I’ll take this class for three months, figure the lifts out and then I can go back to just crossfitting.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I can remember my first few classes; everything seemed very foreign and really difficult. When I started, I was secretly afraid of snatching. After all, my idea of the lift was to take a weighted bar and throw it at my head, how can you not be afraid of that? So, in the beginning I could only lift with the bar which weighs a whopping 35lbs; hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Even with the bar, I could somehow manage to lose my balance and fall or hit myself with the bar in some other way (I’m embarrassed to even imagine what that looked like.) NOTE: Learning something new is not for the proud; you have to be vulnerable and willing. I would wake up almost every morning with new bruises but all I could think about was how/what I could improve in the next class. It was physically difficult, but more mentally exhausting and at times I felt like a small child trying to learn how to tie my shoe and then immediately jump up and throw a ball. I say mentally exhausting because I would spend a few minutes in front of the bar running through a checklist in my head of things I had learned and was trying to make a habit for my body. It would go something like; feet even and toes pointed slightly out, shins lined up with the bar, bar against the body, hands in the same place each time, hook grip, eyes forward, chest up, shoulders back, knees out, back tight, weight in middle of the foot, deep breath in, hold it, small prayer to God that I would complete the lift, and this is all just to get set up. I could probably spend an hour on the platform just preparing for a lift, but then that’s where the mental part kicks in. I could talk myself out of a lift in equally the same amount of time. Now, imagine doing all of that and your body still only does half of what you told it to do.<br />Like I said, mentally exhausting. ..<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb785r5D_NfGW9iC7jygonb-VgTLBU2uqvfA2Kv2tGID1-138iZv65ak7GwOcHUPRzBUED1O9QnErxYFD-0zcezXgXlKWqk8NKQUCxtOD6CYGXTP7m-XquOrYCJfuwVeLpO9_xkvm8SE/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfb785r5D_NfGW9iC7jygonb-VgTLBU2uqvfA2Kv2tGID1-138iZv65ak7GwOcHUPRzBUED1O9QnErxYFD-0zcezXgXlKWqk8NKQUCxtOD6CYGXTP7m-XquOrYCJfuwVeLpO9_xkvm8SE/s320/IMG_0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675999911065713666" border="0" /></a>I have had several small achievements, and some big achievements, but they all make huge impressions on my attitude. The first time I received a clean in the proper position and stood it up, I was so happy and it felt so easy, I couldn’t wait to try it again. The first time I snatched and pulled myself under the bar, I realized I would never hit myself in the head with the bar! No longer being afraid of something is incredibly liberating. That’s how it goes; you get something right, then you go back to being inept, then you get something right again. It’s a cycle and somehow along the way you learn and hopefully reinforce only the good. That’s where Zach comes in, he’s always watching.<br /><br />Zach sees a lift and Boom!, you have immediate feedback on what went wrong and what you were supposed to do instead. Now get back on the platform and try again! Zach’s passion for Olympic lifting is obvious to anyone that he meets and his commitment to the sport pushes me to work harder than I thought I could. He also breaks the lift’s down so we practice progressions. Now instead of feeling like that “small child trying to learn how to tie my shoe and then immediately jump up and throw a ball,” I’m just focused on getting the loop on the laces right. Then rest will come, but it’s all in the details and you build on the technique.<br /><br />I knew lifting was going to be hard when I started, but I never expected that that I would love it and would become addicted to it. I have gotten so much stronger and never fear Crossfit WOD’s with Olympic lifts in them because I always know how much weight I can handle. The initial three months I signed up for came and went; I’ve been in the class for almost eight months now and have no plans of leaving. Instead, I have huge goals for next year…like snatching my body<br />weight!<br /><br />-steph<br /><br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-75438103390541142972011-11-10T09:56:00.000-08:002011-11-10T10:13:34.881-08:00Olympic Weightlifting and Me<div style="text-align: center;">This week I asked <a href="http://www.brummerblogs.com/redintheface/">Cindy</a> to share with you whatever was on her mind. She is fairly new to <a href="http://redblackgym.com/">Red Black Gym </a>but not to <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/">CrossFit Central</a>. Hope everyone enjoys.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13cGc51qvCW_rRXzUHsyxNoyqa2OK1kAGnDwgg_sR7Ytlajlp7-5aMbgfxu95ma80LhTJMukO6Oia3G-e9YoFXAGCSOhjpQM_99WduQsS3nLzenS5G37sIGeijSfga49sASM7La6ECFQ/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13cGc51qvCW_rRXzUHsyxNoyqa2OK1kAGnDwgg_sR7Ytlajlp7-5aMbgfxu95ma80LhTJMukO6Oia3G-e9YoFXAGCSOhjpQM_99WduQsS3nLzenS5G37sIGeijSfga49sASM7La6ECFQ/s320/IMG_0093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673427756994870034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I joined the Olympic Lifting class at Red Black Gym with a single goal in mind. I wanted to be stronger. What I did not realize is that I would also find a sport to challenge me both physically and mentally -- something for which I have been searching for a long time.<br />I started Olympic Lifting in October 2011 with Coach Zachary Thiel, who also happens to be my Crossfit coach.<br />I had already been Crossfitting for 2 ½ years, but the Olympic Lifting class is even more demanding. It steps it up to a new level for me. We do a lot of work in a short amount of time. The warm up feels like a workout in and of itself, but it does the job to get you loose so you can move some serious weight.<br />I thought I knew something about the Olympic Lifts because I’ve done them in many WODs at Crossfit Central over the years. But it turns out I have a lot to learn. There’s more to it than just where you place your hands and feet. Details matter. Timing matters.<br />When you lift a bar overhead, a number of things have to happen in just a spilt second. It’s not enough for me to do a lift once and “get” it. I need to drill the movements over and over again, and that’s what we do.<br />The level of focus required leaves me just as exhausted mentally as physically.<br />I’ve already noticed slight improvements, and it’s only been 6 weeks.I’m building up my strength through Olympic lifting -- I can see the results in Crossfit. But really, it’s a side benefit to the challenge of a sport that tests my mind and body.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-76304867760362036752011-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:002011-11-09T07:22:15.587-08:00Squatting: By John Welbourn<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Welbourn">John Welbourn</a> from <a href="http://www.crossfitfootball.com/">Crossfit Football</a> and <a href="http://www.crossfitbalboa.com/">Crossfit Balboa</a> goes over what he perceives is the best way to squat. There are several styles of squatting, and what ever you or your coach thinks is best for you is what you should do. I prescribe to the high bar back squat and believe it is more beneficial for Olympic weightlifting and allows for greater flexibility and depth. And like John says could take pressure of your shoulders and elbows. But that's for you to decide.<br />And I just like John and his brash in your face attitude....and I agree with him on squat technique. Enjoy<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eNMV46eWlfc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-62543818768789638792011-11-02T06:47:00.000-07:002011-11-02T07:04:15.911-07:00Improving One Sport To Get Better At Another<div style="text-align: center;"> I'm going to start having guest writers come to my blog and share there experiences about training and what ever else is on there mind concerning their sport.<br />The first guest writer is <a href="http://jessicanestrada.tumblr.com/">Jessica Estrada</a>. She is a CrossFitter, <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/">CrossFit Central</a> coach and an Olympic lifter at <a href="http://redblackgym.com/">Red Black Gym</a>. Big things do come in small packages!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sBa_rcsTeZYQwNow6i1ebChEsbzvZt3MqvWzbXGFpGBRfQGcqCzNsX4BGGm676G6UX7laOtLbj2fuCGpyNracJURRNxYsWQY_z9Q90myp3b3HHp2dj26nRozn3nwuME3-gWt1Z79A7M/s1600/IMG_0254.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sBa_rcsTeZYQwNow6i1ebChEsbzvZt3MqvWzbXGFpGBRfQGcqCzNsX4BGGm676G6UX7laOtLbj2fuCGpyNracJURRNxYsWQY_z9Q90myp3b3HHp2dj26nRozn3nwuME3-gWt1Z79A7M/s320/IMG_0254.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I started Oly Lifting with Zack in May of 2011. Out of all the CrossFit movements, Oly lifting was definitely my weakest. I knew that If I wanted to be a competitive crossfitter, I was going to have to spend a little extra time working the lifts. For awhile I walked around with the mentalality that It was going to be impossible to lift as much weight as most of the girls in CrossFit because of my size. After a weekend at the CrossFit Level 1 Cert, I realized that was just an excuse. All I needed was the right technique and my size would never be an issue. That's when I turned to Zack for coaching.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Before I started Oly lifting I had never done a clean and jerk and my snatch was an inconsistent 95#. Now, my clean and jerk max is 145# and my snatch is 120#....and this is only the beginning. It hasn't been until recently that things have really started to click. I feel that I am more comfortable and more confident with the lifts. I am making daily improvements in the gym. And even though technique still needs some work, I can honestly say that I understand the lifts. I no longer look at my size as a barrier. I've actually dropped weight (not intentionally) since starting Oly, but lifting much heavier. It's all about technique. </div> <div><br /></div>Side Note: Oly Lifting was a deciding factor for me when I was considering coaching CrossFit. I told myself I wouldn't be a coach until I understood the movements and could successfully teach them.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-16891610408860880852011-10-28T08:46:00.000-07:002011-10-28T09:14:44.721-07:00To Bump or Not to Bump<div style="text-align: center;">Many a discussion's have been had concerning making contact with the hip's during the explosive portion of the second pull of the snatch and clean. I for one do it myself and teach my athletes to do it as well. If done with control it will help you effectively and powerfully propel the bar upward. BUT! you will see people bang the bar causing it to loop way out in front or you may see people just simply brush the bar across the body. I pick the bump, nicely placed right in between. But this is how I was taught and what I share with my athletes. It's not all the same for everyone.<br />I want to share an article from Greg Everett of <a href="http://www.cathletics.com/index.php">Catalyst Athletics</a> who gives his opinion. You can make up your mind for yourself or defer to your coach. Either way its a good read so I hope you enjoy.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ngQYC0ip0OyAZ2-hrG6TotjmH-zsuUyeok8nnCrEZKPiD-RQ59Bi2FpfH7TgPCucw31-o1UX9vRpOVmmkQjktHRBnVqwoZyFYoYMqCzCvKb4peSYUbFqPbiOBdIC3P8hBvd3QTwRdvM/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ngQYC0ip0OyAZ2-hrG6TotjmH-zsuUyeok8nnCrEZKPiD-RQ59Bi2FpfH7TgPCucw31-o1UX9vRpOVmmkQjktHRBnVqwoZyFYoYMqCzCvKb4peSYUbFqPbiOBdIC3P8hBvd3QTwRdvM/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Some topics seem to generate more heat than others, and for some reason, the question of how a barbell should come into contact with the body during the snatch and clean seems to get some people extraordinarily wound up. I personally don't lose any sleep over how anyone else lifts or teaches the lifts. I may agree or disagree, but I don't let it upset me to much. The following will undoubtedly further upset the same people who are already upset. <a href="http://www.cathletics.com/articles/article.php?articleID=125">Continue reading.....</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ngQYC0ip0OyAZ2-hrG6TotjmH-zsuUyeok8nnCrEZKPiD-RQ59Bi2FpfH7TgPCucw31-o1UX9vRpOVmmkQjktHRBnVqwoZyFYoYMqCzCvKb4peSYUbFqPbiOBdIC3P8hBvd3QTwRdvM/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a> </div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></span></span></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-5695481148212443972011-09-27T13:13:00.000-07:002011-09-27T13:34:33.782-07:00In Transition<div style="text-align: center;">Transition is good right? I know the answer to that and I'm sure most of you do too. I am working on a new blog and some other shameless self promotion stuff so I haven't blogged in a few weeks. Kind of weak and not what I promised all of you.<br />Just want to give an update from my last post on how I did at my first sanctioned Olympic Lifting meet. Not well. Actually, you could consider it a choke. I started my snatch with 85 kilos (#185) which is something I usually workout with and is a fairly easy weight for me. Scratch! Second attempt I bumped up to 87 kilos (#187). I was angry with the first lift and was bound and determined to not get a scratch. Well I was aggressive and let the bar swing way out in front of me and let the bar go behind my head. Something that is VERY out of the ordinary for me. The last attempt was the same weight and with a little more control and patience I failed to fully pull myself under the bar. Done with the competition.<br />The truth of the matter is I could have continued on with the clean and jerk and not have any of it count. But I did something I normally don't do and let the misses get the best of me. I had already checked out mentally from the competition and pulled my card. Not one of my finest moments. One thing I can say is that my first meet was a humbling and a great learning experience. I realized that I need some help if I was going to dedicate my full time and attention to training and competing in the Olympic Lifts.<br />So...I solicited a coach, a top notch one at that and have proceeded to have my lifts broken down and rebuilt. I can already see the changes and can only imagine where I can take this. I'm starting a little old to have any grandeur expectations but I could do well enough to surprise some people.<br />I'll keep you all posted on the training and look for a lot of new and exciting stuff coming from me in the near future.<br /><br /></div>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979708440101563711.post-55937180153549847312011-09-09T08:10:00.001-07:002011-09-09T09:10:40.479-07:00Ladies of Oly Lifting Crushin' It!<div style="text-align: center;"> Several weeks ago <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/">Crossfit Central</a> had an all women's challenge called the <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/page/index.php?menu=blog&page=blog&hide&id=33647">Iron Belle</a>. There were two divisions, the fun division and the competitive division. The ladies in the pic below are the top three teams of the competitive division winners. I am very proud to say that two of the ladies on the 1st place team are athletes that I coach.<br />Claudia in the front right and Alexis peeking her head out in the back. These two ladies attend the evening <a href="http://redblackgym.com/">Red Black</a> <a href="http://redblackgym.com/school-of-strength/">Olympic Lifting</a> class and come to extra training on Sundays. They have elevated there game and are true competitors. I also want to give a shout out to Stephanie who also is in the same Olympic Lifting class as Claudia and Alexis and competed in the fun division. During the competition she earned a new dead lift PR and rocked the house. She is the young lady pictured in my previous post performing the back squat beautifully.<br />One more shout out to Claudia who is also one of CrossFit Central's <a href="http://www.crossfitcentral.com/page/index.php?menu=testimonials&page=testimonials&id=224">Diesel Athletes</a>. I feel privileged to coach these ladies, and to watch their progress makes me very proud.<br />Congratulations girls! Now we need to get you all into an Olympic Lifting meet!<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxjCLuR1djsIayWR-PHpt87oCaF82UUuYRjijooBzudut_wN00gL1DnoA4XNSTnqZ3xrnstdBsb3oGHoE-eRhYxRraFQH5n5CvBBYduKj8XcI0xj1Mh5IjP-Ud8ZNz-yoEPkeY9ma6as/s1600/IBwinners.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxjCLuR1djsIayWR-PHpt87oCaF82UUuYRjijooBzudut_wN00gL1DnoA4XNSTnqZ3xrnstdBsb3oGHoE-eRhYxRraFQH5n5CvBBYduKj8XcI0xj1Mh5IjP-Ud8ZNz-yoEPkeY9ma6as/s320/IBwinners.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650378283818109010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One last thing to let everyone know. This weekend I will be competing in my first sanctioned <a href="http://weightlifting.teamusa.org/">USAW Olympic Lifting</a> competition in San Antonio. Since most of you know that read my blog or follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ZUTFIT/followers">Twitter</a> my passion lies with Olympic Lifting. I pretty much exclusively train Olympic Lifting and now want to see how I fare against other athletes that have the same passion as me. I will be wearing a singlet for the first time since high school power lifting. For those of you that aren't familiar with it you can check it out <a href="http://ironmeniowa.blogspot.com/">here</a>. I don't think I'll be making that face though, I hope. I will be tweeting out how I'm doing and will have video and pics of the competition so be on the look out for that. I also want to give a big thanks to <a href="http://www.210crossfit.com/">210 Crossfit</a> for putting on the competition.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyOQZdJAjFApXgVYgL4H8LN20FnLdOWW9gzFby9Y-ANVxFRMdIZG7RFGJsVfL7a4L24Qt41jkekbDR3zE4pc4wo03vu0qY8ZhRRzUy3L6_QDVx_9B5exv263RM6chJpwP_nCjQzKZVWI/s1600/usaw.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyOQZdJAjFApXgVYgL4H8LN20FnLdOWW9gzFby9Y-ANVxFRMdIZG7RFGJsVfL7a4L24Qt41jkekbDR3zE4pc4wo03vu0qY8ZhRRzUy3L6_QDVx_9B5exv263RM6chJpwP_nCjQzKZVWI/s320/usaw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650377779090905106" border="0" /></a>Zachary Thielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511590551103393179noreply@blogger.com6