A Little Hiatus

Well it's been a while since I've written a blog post, but that doesn't mean a lot hasn't gone on. I know the last blog I had written I was in the midst of doing Fuel 21. Well, I will give you all the final results from my experience. Weight lost: #190 to #184. Body Fat: 15.1% to 13.3%. Inches lost 2.75 BUT, gained in my shoulders and biceps.
All in all it was a great experience! Crystal Nelson is top notch and knows her stuff. Her menu is satisfying and there are great recipes in her workbook. She tweaked my diet to fit my training regimen and it obviously paid of.
Since Fuel 21 ended I did go on vacation two times so I obviously didn't stay on it quit as strict. But since the end of July I have been right back on my diet and have seen a great response from my body through sleep and performance. I have been lifting heavy and my performance has not gone down. I am getting stronger and have put on good weight.
I would strongly suggest Fuel 21 for great ideas on food choices, and questions on when to eat. Crystal also touches on performance diet, and post work out suggestions. Great stuff all together.

Awwww, my sweet wife and I got to enjoy the beautiful country of Costa Rica for a week at the first of July with great friends and lots of good food. So you could see why I went off my eating regimen for a bit. I must say IF YOU EVER have a chance to travel to Central America choose Cost Rica. The people are friendly, the food is fantastic, and the scenery is AMAZING! It was our second time to go and we are already planning the next trip. Oh.... and their national beer Imperial is awesome.

Last but not least the CrossFit Games! I have been to all but one of the Games and the '11 Games were the best! The crowed was amazing the venue was full and the weather was great. A very fun filled group of us stayed in Redondo literally on the Strand on what is the widest beach I have ever seen in my life. I was waiting for Pam Anderson to roll up in her Baywatch truck ready to save me.
My sister Carey Kepler , sister in law Lisa Thiel and good friend Lindsay Smith all did great! Watching them work is awe inspiring and motivating at the same time. The caliber of athletes competing now is pretty impressive. Well, it's come along way since I competed in '08. Mad respect and I can only imagine what the sport is going to evolve into.

So...there is an update and some lame reasoning for the lack of blogging. My training is taking off and I have some Oly meets coming up here in the near future I will be telling you all about. I am bangin' some serious weights right now and fully expect to set some serious Snatch and Clean & Jerk PR's. Oly classes at Red Black are bumpin' and the athletes are making some real progress. Will have more updates on that as well. Good Day!

Domination

As many of you know, this past weekend was the South Central Regional Qualifier for the 2011 Crossfit Games in Carson CA. You all may also know that my sister Carey Kepler and sister-in-law Lisa Thiel finished first and third respectively. And not to be left out, their training partner and good friend Lindsey Smith, who finished second just ahead of Lisa. I have the privilege to be in the gym and to train around and with the three of these girls on a regular basis. They are competitive with each other but also have great respect and help coach and cheer each other on when they are prepping for competition.

I wanted to give them a shout out, and can't wait to go to Cali for the 2011 Crossfit Games. I also wanted to give big props to Ingrid Kantola who is going to be in the Games for sure next year. You talk about Lion Heart!

I wanted to give a big applause to my brother Jeremy Thiel for a tenth place finish and getting the ball rolling for the 2012 Games. He is an assassin and will be on it for next year. Much love for my brother from another mother, Lance Cantu, who finished in eight place. The man is a beast and has heart of a champion. Look for him to make moves.
And last but not least to Crossfit Central's team who battled hard and just came up a little short finishing in fourth place and Team Red Black who finished in twelfth place. Next year can't come soon enough!

And now for your viewing pleasure I have a new video of yours truly doing what I love to do. I must say watching myself train is sometimes hard to do. I must get quicker under the bar with both the clean and the snatch. The practice goes on.

I just wanted to add that I lost a friend this past Sunday. He was a father and husband and had a wonderful family and wife. I grew up playing little league baseball, youth football, junior high and high school football with him. Over the years we had lost touch with each other but occasionally bumped into each other in Lubbock when I would head back into town. (Lubbock is a small place) He was always friendly and back in the day always had my back. I just wanted to say that life is short and you never know. Live it with no regrets and you don't have to take crap from anyone. Talk to your family and friends, and I mean talk to them. Not just through Facbook and texting.
You and your family are in my thoughts Carlton.

Thought I Would Share

First men's heat of the opening night.

So for some reason since coming back from the Crossfit Games I have been in a blogging funk. I really don't know why that is since I had been on such a role with them before we all left for Cali. I just don't know what to say for some reason. So with that said I thought I would just share a few pics from the Games.

Carey and Lindsey scaling the wall on the last workout of the Games.

I also thought some of you would enjoy a pic of myself and little baby Pierce since some of you haven't seen him in a while.

Baby Pierce and I kickin it at the Pub in Laguna.

Also wanted to think everyone that came out to the SicFit Austin Grand Opening this past Saturday! It was a blast and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Funny, as I'm typing this several things popped in my head to blog about. Look for a post tomorrow or Friday, Peace!

A Plea for Freedom

In the short term, we have to completely audit the Federal Reserve, shut it down, abolish the individual income tax by repealing the Sixteenth Amendment and let the people—rich or poor—keep their wages that they make. Enough of this “tax anyone making more money than me” nonsense.

The Greatest Speech for Humanity

Back With Vengeance!

Ok, so I clearly have been slipping and have neglected my duties of posting pics and sharing my experiences with all of you. Since returning from the Games I have been slacking, but no more!! I am back on the ball and will resume posting on this blog and sharing with you all not only fitness and life but my weirdo political views as well.

With that said here is an announcement for you all:

Come one! Come all! SICFIT Austin will be celebrating our official grand opening Saturday, August 7th from 2pm-?pm at SICFIT Austin: 2156 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78756.

Invite your friends, family and fellow SICFITters and celebrate the start of a new era in strength and conditioning. We will have hot coals burning on the grill and plenty of space to meet and mingle with the community, so BYOB and get ready to sweat in the hot Texas heat… The only remedy?

BBQ and beer!

Hope you all can make it out and share in the excitement we all have for the new box!

Oxford professor calls for drugging water supply

Oxford professor Julian Savulescu says fluoridation demonstrates how populations of the future could be mass-medicated through pharmacological ‘cognitive enhancements’ added to the water supply.

New York Times and Other Media Pushing for Drugging Water Supply

Big Think, a website that interviews scientists and experts in various fields has begun a month-long series called, “Dangerous Ideas” and the first post features drugging the public water supply

Just Compete Baby!

Inaugural Red and Black Competition

In lue of the Crossfit Games happening this coming weekend and the fact that SicFit Austin just had it's first Red and Black Challenge this past weekend, I wanted to challenge each and every one of our SicFit Austin athletes and Crossfit Central athletes to take advantage of the fact that we on occasions put on single day challenges. I think I have heard every excuse possible as to why you can't do it, but I'm going to call it how I see it. You're either intimidated or just plain chicken! Why? You come into the gym two to three days a week, and some of you four days a week and do excruciating training sessions. And if that isn't enough you have to be coached by me!

Carey on her way to a third place finish in 09 Crossfit Games

These challenges are a great way to compete and to test your own mental fortitude by ether equal or slightly better athletes. There is no way that you should feel intimidated or unable to compete at at least a competitive level. Even if you get smoked you can hold your head high and know that you went out there and did the best you could and left it all out there on the gym floor. And, when is the last time some of you stepped out and were involved in a competition of this caliber? That in and of itself is an accomplishment! You don't have to be like my sister in this middle pic competing in last years 09 Crossfit Games or like myself in a clean competition. Just get out there and test yourself and see what your made of. The only person judging you is you. So get out there and take advantage of the friendly but competitive competitions that we or any other Crossfit gym's put on.

Yours truly setting a PR in a clean competition this past March

So, like I said about the 10 Crossfit Games are happening this coming weekend and we a have a slew of athletes competing. The Games will be streamed online and there will be live updates happening throughout the weekend so support our individual athletes and our affiliate team. I will do the best I can to update my blog and post new pics as the Games are happening.

American Idolatry Intensifies as the Nation sinks into Depression

Programmed zombies get hysterical about basketball while their future is being destroyed

Addicted to the Warfare State

Which is the more serious threat to life, liberty and property: The illicit violence practiced by a handful of furtive armed drug smugglers in the Arizona desert, or the increasingly brazen militarization of U.S. law enforcement in the "war on drugs"?

Congratulations!

What an exciting, hot, fun past weekend it was at Hell's Half Acre! I must say there is a change of the guard happening in the world of Crossfit, and there are some beasts out there that are going to take the Crossfit world by storm. I saw former NFL athletes, former college athletes and some familiar athletes alike going at it like their life depended on it. I can't wait to go to Carson, CA. in July to watch the Games! I want to give a shout out to two of our bad ass girls Jen Cardella, and Jessica Sharrat for their outstanding efforts and third and fourth place finishes respectively. And also a big shout out to our affiliate team who dominated the field and finished a strong first place. I also can't forget all the guys that competed and continuously perform with class even in the face of some rowdy and less than friendly fans. It is a pleasure and a privilege to coach along side and train with some of the best athletes and coaches in the business. Thank you Crossfit Central and congratulations!

Kagan Nomination Advances Obama Totalitarian Agenda:

While the Constitution says “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press,” Kagan says Congress can make such a law, provided its motives are pure.

Work It!

I just thought this was a cool pic. I've got some pretty cool pic's from the 09 Games so I'll post them from time to time. Oh yeah, one more thing...... Wreck'em TECH!

Getting It Done

Crystal is pushing her way to the finish line with the fourth best time in the final chipper workout in the 09 Games. Way to kill it Crystal.

Rock Star!

Jeremy cuttin lose at the 09 Games. It's good to know that we all take crossfit pretty seriously but know how to let loose and have a good time. I think he thinks he's Flavor Flav. God bless ya Jeremy.

3rd Fittest in the World!

Well there she is, the third fittest women in the world!! Carey is one the hardest working all around athletes out there and this just confirms it. It was a pleasure watching Carey duke it out against the other athletes and seeing her push it to the limits. Much love to my sister and her awesome achievement.

Playa! Playa!

Crystal McReynolds is a playa! All she does is get better and better. She was top twenty at the 08 Games and should be in the top three at the 09 Games. Crystal works her a** off and has the energy and strength to just keep going and that makes her a threat to take one of the top three spots. This girl just gets better and better and she has definitely gotten stronger with her olympic weightlifting so that automatically makes her a threat for a top spot. Look for Crystal to compete at high level, pushing through any of the events that are thrown at her. She has the ability to do things that most women can't and I expect her to put that on display this coming weekend. Get it Playa!

YouCantu!

Lance Cantu, the new stud on the block! So here is the scoop on Lance: a Marine, served two tours, incredible work ethic. So because he is a Marine he is one tough SOB and he can take one of the most in your face things about Crossfit....PAIN. He can push trough and tell the mind to shut up. He has come along way in a short period of time and is not even the same man as the guy pictured above. He is stronger, faster and better prepared for the competition. I have the pleasure of working out with Lance regularly and see that he means business. Consider Lance a dark horse for a top three spot.

Super Women!!!!

 
The one, the only Carey Kepler! Yes, she is a stud and a mother of two wonderful future little crossfitters. Carey you might say is in a league of her own. She has qualified for the Boston Marathon and competed in a full blown Iron Man. Here is the deal about Carey, she is unproven. The two little tikes she has had prevented her from really dedicating her self to the sport of crossfit, until now. She has been able to put in the time and work to build her strength and hone in on her skill's. Look for Carey to outdo the other girls in her field, and I seriously doubt they can compete with her mix of stamina and strength. All in all, I wouldn't be surprised to see Carey earn the title Most Fit Women in the World. Go dominate Carey!

Bringing Home The Title!

 
This is a pic a Jeremy on his last workout at the 08 games. This workout elevated him from 11th place to 3rd place. I would say Jeremy is a favorite to take top place this year at the The Games in Aromas California. I'm gonna post pic's of all the competitors leading up to the games in two weeks, so be looking for that. I'm gonna say right here right now Jeremy is gonna win!

All In The Family

Just thought I'd share this pic of myself, brother Jeremy, and sister Carey. If it wasn't for Jeremy I'd never have met crossfit and I never would be down here in Austin coaching. And if it wasn't for Carey and her inspiration and words of encouragement I don't think I would be where I am today in my fitness life. Thanks guys, and let's whip some ass in Aromas!