Rita Benavidez’s Blog


Pre Zombie Day
October 26, 2011, 7:56 am
Filed under: Featured, Fitness, Travel

Hello guys. Before I start posting about how to survive the zombie apocalypse I thought I would make a video on pre zombie world prep as well as how to enjoy yourself. First, before you watch the video be warned. It is absolutely a waste of time unless you are completely lost in this life. That said I’m going to tell you a little bit about my day. First of all on my way to work my car, Norma (properly named after a dead lady), decided to blow a tire, totally my fault for neglecting her. After which, her battery died, she has a weak heart. To the rescue, my beautiful Germanese man came and saved the day. Dear Bryant, thank you for being awesome and for loving me.

This brings me to a very important rule when trying to survive the Z world. Be prepared, and be resourceful! Never get stuck in a spot where you are without equipment for your machinery or weapons. Otherwise be ready to discard and move on without them. Bringing me to my next rule, never get too attached to your material items, they can and will become setbacks when push comes to shove. Zombies wont wait till your done loading your shotgun before they attack.

Here is my video breakdown:

Workout to be strong, fast, and have endurance, this will heighten your chances of survival.

Spend time with loved ones, they might get eaten or may be valuable allies.

Go shopping, you want to look fabulous when the world goes to shit. It may also be the last thing you do as a human.



Oktoberfit
October 18, 2011, 3:30 am
Filed under: Fitness, Stuff

This past weekend was a blast. For starters Oktoberfit as the grand opening for CrossFit Silicon Valley was a success. It was a well run event that smashed everyone. Thanks guys. My team was awesome. Benson and Helen kicked ass in their first CrossFit competition. We took third for the scaled division  and had a blast. I also went to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open in San Jose this weekend and got to see Bryant’s teammates compete which was an awesome inspiring experience. Now I really want to learn BJJ.

Update: Due to the low traffic to this site I think I’m going to change the focus from whatever I have to say about stuff to whatever I have to say about a zombies. I think its more important. With the next season of the Walking Dead out I feel that its appropriate to educate you my peers on how to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. After all tha’ts why I do CrossFit, to be prepared…Just sayin!



I Love CrossFit and Zombies
October 12, 2011, 5:40 am
Filed under: Fitness, food, Paleo

I love CrossFit. Some CrossFitters are assholes, sometimes I’m an asshole. If you don’t do CrossFit I bet you are even an asshole at times. Anyways I’ve been getting several hits from people who are knocking CrossFit, which is cool, it’s not for everyone. I’m not saying its for the elite, but it takes people of a certain mental fortitude and personal ethic. People who are competitive get sucked in. How could they not? In running, you’re either the best or your not. In body building your either the biggest, or your not. CrossFit gives the people who are not exceptional at just one thing a chance to be great at many things. To beat the elite runner at lifting, to beat the body builder in metabolic conditioning.  CrossFit is an opportunity for everyone to be overall good, and at times superb. Laugh at me now. Go ahead. I used to be a cross country runner, I’ve put in some miles. I was never very good, more of a middle of the pack kind of person.  Now that I do CrossFit, I’m still middle of the pack overall, but for individual things I excel. For example I can “squat” clean more than several girls thirty plus pounds heavier than myself.  I have great endurance for heavy lifting with high loads. Though I am overall bad at running I excel at running hills especially against other CrossFitters. Booyaaah!!!

My rant: I’m actually I BIG hater on CrossFit as well, for the longest time and even still gyms are allowed to open, run by people who have no business teaching. As a coach for this “sport” I hate such places and people because it reflects on the community of which I take part. Assholes!!! Part two here’s an article of my favorite clients!

That said I finally sent in my passport application. Guam, Brazil, World, here I come! So, if you love or hat me and you live in one of the places I eventually venture, and you see me, don’t hesitate to stop me for a chat!

I’ve made the conscious descision that the Zombie apocalypse should it happen will suck. Every morning that I wake up at 4a.m. I ponder about zombies and just how prepared I am. I think that the morning would be an ideal time for it to happen as my family would be nicely tucked in their beds meaning A. I know where they are, and B. they haven’t been exposed. I would for an afternoon zombie pop. I don’t know where my loved ones are at 2p.m. Shoot. So remember kids, hide your kids, hide your wife, and lock your doors. Below is a video to prepare you!  Kthnxbye!



Keeping Busy
October 4, 2011, 5:13 am
Filed under: Fitness, Stuff

2010 Sectionals

The CrossFit Games Open will be in February. This is the sectionals portion of the road to the Games. My goal this year is to make top 50 and hopefully make it to Regionals. Basically I have to discover my inner honey badger badassness.  I’m going to be on a strength bias program until December. In December I’ll start throwing in gassers whilst still maintaining strength. January I’ll start busting out long met-cons with some strength and I think I’ll be pretty set. I’m hoping the format is a little better than last year. Set workouts as opposed to AMRAPs (As Many Rounds/Reps As Possible in an allotted time) would be ideal. I also hope they crack down on judging as well as movement standards, put a stop to the cheating and give people with good technique a chance.

Until then I’m going to try and compete in as many throw downs and local competitions as possible. The next one is Oktoberfit followed by Amazing Grace!

Anyways, aside from my training, I have been having the time of my life. I can not think of a time in my life where I have been happier. I have had many changes in my life recently and most of them were unexpected. Its amazing how one change can set the course for true happiness. The people in my life are amazing and bring me great joy.  I have been really busy living. Which of course is a good thing. When was the last time you woke up and said my life is great?

Goals for the week, buy wrist wraps, practice the movement standards for Oktoberfit, buy costume for Oktoberfit, pay bills, live my dreams!!!

Below is a video of a cute little Saturday hike. Be warned, its so cute you might vomit, I know I did. Enjoi ^_^



My Nutrition
September 27, 2011, 9:15 am
Filed under: Fitness, Paleo


For the next six weeks I will be on a protein bias meal plan. Meat, meat, and more meat some fruits and vegetables and lots of fats! My goal is to regain self control over sugar. My biggest confrontation with the enemy with be for Halloween, no candy for me this year. The only two cheats I will consider will be sushi and some flavored beverages such as Gatorade, vitamin water, and maybe a cocktail or two. Luckily I am in love with cow, I foresee a lot of BBQ in my near future.

Also in six weeks I’ll be in Long Beach, CA for the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu No Gi World Tournament to support two time World Champ Bryant Pangelinan.

The photo is from 31 Heroes, a fundraiser workout in honor of  the 17 Navy SEALs, two Navy EOD Technicians, three Naval Special Warfare Combat Support Sailors, two Army Aviators, three Army Aircrewmen, three Air Force Special Tactics Operators, and one Military Working Dog who were killed in action August 6th, 2011.

Anyways I’ve been busy with traveling and I look forward to getting back on the road as soon as I pay off some more debt, good stuff!!! Below is a music video for a local band that I got to take part in! Hint, I’m the mermaid… LMAO



Beat Up Fran
March 24, 2011, 3:31 pm
Filed under: Fitness, food, Paleo, Workout log

For those of you in the CrossFit cult you know what Fran is how much of a bitch she can be. I usually ace around 7minutes when I do her, but I finally pushed out a 4:49 and boy was that dumb. That workout wrecks your entire body rendering you unable to fend for yourself. Fran usually leaves you disoriented and writhing in pain, wishing your arms would fall off, and is accompanied by a cough, the intense feeling of needing to vomit and shit. Not the best feeling in the world.

 

In other news the weather in Northern California has been wet and windy. We’ve had tornado warnings, highways closing due to snowfall, and some flooding. Woot. And rumor has it that those of us living on and around the San Andreas fault will get shaken up in the near future! Get your first aid and survival kits together, better over prepared than not prepared!



Glad its Over
February 20, 2011, 3:12 pm
Filed under: Fitness, food, Stuff, Workout log


The Courage Games was definitely an experience. And once you overlooked the rain and the deafening pain of your hands and feet as they froze it was even fun. Don’t hate me for speaking up, but the judges were definitely not on the same page. They gave poor movers an unfair advantage over people who met movement standards. This is not the fault of the athlete of course, nor is it really the fault of the judges. It really comes down to the organizers and how it is their responsibility to hold everyone to the same standards. We see similar discrepancies in any CrossFit Competition, however, this was the worst I have yet seen. The reason this bothers me is because the outcome could have been different. However I feel like everyone took something from this event. Also, I feel that everyone left with a handful of new friendships. The first workout was fun. The second one made me cry for mommy, and the last one was a blast, but overall I’m glad its over.

Individual WOD #1:
a) 1.3 mile run
b) Ground to Overhead procession
Women – 65#, 75#, 85#, 95#, 105#, 115#, 125#, 135#

Individual WOD #2
10 KB Swings 53#/35#
40 Air Squats
20 KB Swings 53#/35#
30 Push Ups (hands off deck)
30 KB Swings 53#/35#
20 Burpees

Individual WOD #3
15 Deadlifts 275#/185#
10 Barrier Hurdles
30 Double Unders
20 meters out and back Overhead Lunge 45#/25#
Transfer your bar (275#/185#) 20 meters (anyhow)
20 Deadlifts 225#/135#
Sprint to Barrier
8 Barrier Hurdles
30 Double Unders

I think I’ll be getting sick. I think a full day of shivering left my immune system pissed off at me. Lesson learned, maybe think twice about doing a outdoor competition in the middle of Winter. I don’t care what the groundhog said this year, it is Winter still.



Courage Games
February 12, 2011, 4:17 am
Filed under: Featured, Fitness, Paleo, Stuff, The Zone


I’ll be participating in the 2011 Courage Games Winter edition. It’ll take place at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo, CA. They haven’t made any announcements as to what the workouts are going to be so it should be exciting when its all dumped on us. I look forward to being pushed in the heat of competition. I have sort of flat-lined recently with my training. partly because I have been sick, and partly because I have become bored. This challenge will boost my interest and remind me why I have been training so hard. Or so I hope. It will open up new doors as the 2011 CrossFit Games approach ever nearer.

Aside from training I am going to Zone in on my diet. Although I have been eating well, I have been over indulging and eating too much. For example, today I engorged myself with some delectable meat, but I filled myself to the top. Basically I have felt sick all day. Not the best feeling to accompany my sinus and ear infection. Boo!

Last thing, Valentines is almost here and I have some awesome things planned and I have been careful to keep my planning a secret. I’ll post photos some time next week. They should be pretty spiffy.



Finally the Big 21!!!
January 24, 2011, 7:19 am
Filed under: Featured, Fitness, Stuff

The long awaited age that allows you access into damn near any establishment is finally upon me. What do I need to wait for now? What is the next milestone?

Well, I will admit that I have been having loads of fun visiting random bars and actually using my real name. I no longer need to be Natasha, which has been great! Also, this past week was awesome because I have been progressing quite nicely. I hit a new overhead squat PR at #150, which is a #25 increase since I last attempted a one rep max. I think the drinking the night before helped me out.

Aside from all that jazz, a friend of mine and I are in the process of starting up a Bootcamp, primarily for women, in the Bay Area. We will kick it off in San Ramon/Dublin/Pleasanton area, but I’m thinking it has potential to grow pretty quick. We will also be offering Personal Training services.



Fight Gone Bad 5
September 27, 2010, 1:44 pm
Filed under: Fitness, Paleo, Stuff, Workout log

Fight Gone Bad 5 was a fun event. Having not done any metabolic conditioning consistently since the Nor Cal sectionals, I was surprised by how well I did. Although I will admit that it did suck and that I most likely wont really be doing FGB until 2011! This year one of the hosts for FGB5 was Prometheus CrossFit. They were very accommodating and a fun crowd!

As it turns out, the man behind me in the photo lost a bet, explaining his lack of clothing. The bet was, if he raised $400 for the FGB5 Fundraiser he would have to do the workout in a speedo. Turns out when he arrived he was only short by some minuscule number and of course, people chipped in and got him to that $400 goal. Something tells me he wasn’t very surprised about reaching that goal, must have been the fact that the speedo was packed and ready for event day action.

Now, on to the Paleo challenge, the first two weeks are always the worst, I was angry and hateful. I wanted to quit just to get that quick delicious sugar fix. However, in my desperation for something delicious I decided to try an idea I had for Paleo pizza which is

actually more of a thin meatloaf with lots of toppings. But let me tell you, it was amazing. I didn’t want to stop eating it.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the crust I used about a pound and half of ground beef, mixed in some almond meal then threw in some basil, oregano, chives, onion, and garlic salt.

For the sauce use a small can of tomato paste, I chose Hunts, but use whatever you like. I then empty the contents into a sauce pan, add as much olive oil as needed to get the desired consistency, then throw in some onion and Italian seasoning. Let that heat up until the onions become soft. Also be sure to check the flavor of the sauce, I like mine salty.

Then for the toppings throw on whatever you like. I chose more onion, olives, mushrooms, and Italian sausage.

This dish was to die for….nearly =)




Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.