Taken from the Loot Crate site, "Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world." Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

This month's theme was Galaxy with items from Star Wars, Halo and Galaxy Quest. Also included will be a T-shirt and Funko Pop vinyl.

What's in the Box?

This month's shirt is an "Ugly Christmas sweater". The people at Loot Crate made a space exploration 8-bit design to commemorate all the achievements from NASA this year. My inner astronomer is happy.

Next up is a cool Halo 5 tin and a dlc pack. I haven't played the recent Halo games with my last game being Halo 2. This is because I can't afford both consoles and I don't think I'll give up my Play Station any time soon. I like containers since I always need boxes to store my hobby stuff. This ammo box tin will be put to good use. It did come with a few dents in it but it's not a big deal. As for the dlc code, I'll give it to whoever wants it. First person to comment at the bottom will get it. 

Also included were some sweet BB-8 socks and a Galaxy Quest patch. I've liked all the socks that were included in past crates. These BB-8 socks will go well with my others Star War apparel. The Galaxy Quest patch is a prop replica from the movie and is also a Loot Crate exclusive. I can probably add it to my Wargaming bag.

The exclusive Funko Pop this month is Han Solo! This is from the Force Awakens line which means this is older Han. I do not own a Star War Funko bobble head, and I'm glad this is my first one. This is definitely going on my desk. 

The box turns into a "Cryo Capsule" with a QR code at the bottom. The link leads to a sliding puzzle game that you can play. If you complete the puzzles you get a downloadable poster of the ship you repaired.

Loot Crate did a great job with this month's crate. They had great items with the Han Solo bobble head, BB-8 socks and the ugly sweater space shirt being my favorites. In the magazine Loot Crate announced that they are including shirts in every 2016 crate. I liked most of the shirts this year and I'm excited for next year.

Sumo Deadlift - 6x6 at 65% (225 lb)

Started off Tuesday with some sumo deadlifts. I don't feel like I have control of the bar which is why I'm still not comfortable with the movement. I'm only able to do about two reps touch and go until I have to reset. The weight doesn't feel to heavy which is great since I'm trying to focus more on form.

WOD - 15 minute time cap

50-40-30-20-10

Double unders
Russian Kettlebell swing (54 lb.)

Kettlebell swing Annie. I'm not fast during regular Annie, so I doubt this one will be any better. The kettlebell swings were going to be tough especially after doing double unders. The first round started off well. I went through both the double unders and kettlebell swings unbroken. During the second round is when things started to slow down. I was able to get trough the 40 reps unbroken but the kettlebell swings were broken up into two sets of 20. I started messing up my double unders during the rest of the workout with only the last round of 10 being unbroken. The kettlebell swings were broken up, every few reps. I finished the workout at 13:46.

Wednesday

Bench Press - 5x7 65% of 1RM (155 lb.)

The strength for Wednesday was bench press. I had a hard time in the last set finishing the last two reps. It was an easy day.

WOD 1 - For Time

7 Rounds - 7 minute time cap

7 thrusters (95 lb.)

7 ring push ups

I had to scale this workout. The original weight was 115 lb. and I know I wouldn't have been able to finish the workout under seven minutes at that weight. The hardest part of this workout was the ring push ups. It was harder to do after all the bench presses. I started to slow down around the third round. I had to take breaks between all the push ups. I was only able to finish five rounds before the time cap ended. 

WOD 2 -

5 x 300 meters

Rest 30 secoonds

I hate running but I know it's a great skill to have. I managed to finish each interval under two minutes which is a great pace for me. The last two intervals were trough. The intervals felt like forever and I wanted to quit. I managed to keep jogging, albeit slowly. The total time was around 9:30 for all five intervals. 

Snatch Complex

Power snatch + snatch balance + 2 overhead squats - 1 at 50%, 2 at 60%, 2 at 65%, 1 at 70%

Started with a snatch warm up that lasted about 15 minutes before starting this snatch complex. The weights were based off our snatch 1RM. As the weight increased I noticed issues in my form. I didn't lock out on my power snatch, and I had a small push to lock out. I need to work on dropping into a lower squat on my catch. Other than that, I felt great.

WOD

21 - 15 - 9

Box jumps, 24 in,
Power snatch (75 lb.)
Chest to bar pull ups.

My goal for this workout was to finish under 15 minutes. I scaled the weight for the power snatch from 95 lb. to 75 lb. Hopefully the weight drop would be enough. I planned on doing chest to bar pull ups but would probably have to scale later in the workout. The beginning of the workout was good. I went through the box jumps at a good pace and then I reached the power snatches. I was able to break up the snatches into two sets. I could definitely feel the snatch complex catching up to me. The chest to bar pull ups were not great. I broke up all the reps into fives which took a lot of time. I decided to switch to pull ups for the remainder of the workout.

The second round wasn't any better. I kept a good pace through the box jumps but the snatch and pull ups were slow. At this point I was extremely tired. I split the snatches into fives and the pull ups into threes. I tried to string more together but I couldn't find a rhythm. The last round was a grind. I was able to make it through the box jumps and went very slow through everything else. I was able to finish the workout in 15:36, short of my goal.

Wednesday

Snatch Balance + 3 Overhead Squats - 40%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 2 x 70%

Worked off my snatch 1RM. Weights ranged from 45 lb. to 115 lb. Worked on form since the weight was relatively light. I need to work on moving my feet during my snatch balance since my feet do not move wide enough. My overhead squat work was good, I focused on my form and keeping active shoulders and controlling my decent.

WOD

Nancy - 20 minute time cap

5 rounds

Run, 400 m
15 overhead squats (95 lb.)

 My last attempt at Nancy was 22:34 with the bar at 75 lb. I was going to scale the weight but decided to give it a try. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish under 20 minutes but I was going to do my best. My overhead squats have improved and my total weight has gone up the past few months. I was confident I would finish.

My 400 m run was fine but the overhead squats were a bit difficult. I had to break the overhead squats into two sets. The rest of the workout however I was able to do all the reps unbroken. The run gave me the most trouble. My legs felt like jello and I couldn't keep a quick pace. On the last round, I was barely jogging, it was rough. I managed to finish under time cap with a time of 19:46, a new PR! I was almost three minutes faster and it was done Rx. Even though I came in close to last, I was proud of myself and the progress I made. I did some mobility and called it a day.

Tuesday

The original weight for the kettlebell swings was 2 pood but I knew my grip wouldn't last that long. I scaled down to 1.5 pood which is more manageable. My goal for this workout was to go unbroken all five rounds. With the scaled kettlebell swings, it would be achievable. Also, I didn't want to run. I took a good amount of rest in between rounds to regain my grip and to catch my breath. The last round was the biggest challenge. I was barely able to finish the toes to bar and the kettlebell swings because my body was fatigued. I could barely lift my legs on the last toes to bar but I finished. My grip was starting to go around rep 15 on the kettlebell swings, but I pushed through it and finished it unbroken as well. I was very tired but I managed to reach my goal of going unbroken throughout all rounds. I finished the workout in 9:26, next time I hope to do it with a 2 pood kettlebell. 

Skill Work

I worked on four movements: double unders, ring dips, pistol squats and hand stand push ups. I have most of these movements down except for pistol squats. I'm able to do them but I still need to work on my left leg. I used a 15 lb. plate as a counter weight to get into a better position on my pistols which worked. It's a good thing we worked on this skill since our workout included all these.

WOD

Tabata

Double unders

Ring dips

Pistol squats (alternating)

hand stand push ups

I did a lot of reps during the skill work and it showed during the workout. My goal for this workout was to at least do one rep every round. Especially for the ring dips and hand stand push ups. I started out the rounds doing well. During the double unders I would get around 20 - 25 reps but as the rounds went on, I barely made it to 18 reps. I started out the ring dips with four and by the end I was only at one rep. During the beginning rounds of pistols I was able to maintain six to eight reps but that went down to only two. The hand stand push ups were the same as the pistols. I started high and ended up low, finishing with two reps as well. 

Snatch Complex

1 Power Snatch + 3 Snatch Balance - 35%, 40%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%

Worked off our 1RM for percentages. The weights ranged from 45 lb. to 115 lb. The lifts felt good during the entire complex. I didn't miss any of the reps. I worked on my form for the power snatches and the snatch balance. I need to work on it more during open gym times.

WOD

12-9-6-3

Power snatch (75 lb.)

Burpee

Before the workout, the coaches said the workout should be under five minutes. The Rx weight was 95 lb. for the snatches, so I decided to scale. My goals for this workout were to finish under five minutes and to be consistent during the burpees. I was able to be consistent on the snatches and the burpees. I had to break up the power snatches during the round of six but I was able to recover and finish everything unbroken. The burpees were not too bad. They were difficult but I pushed my way through it and finished 3:46. I want to redo this workout at 95 lb. to see how long it would take me. I finished the day with 15 minutes of mobility.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Power Snatch + Snatch Grip Push Press + Overhead Squat 

Worked up to a two rep max of 135 lb. which is about 70% of my 1 rep max of overhead squat.  The power snatch felt good as well as the push press. My overhead squat needs some work. I need to control my decent and stay tight throughout the movement. The weight didn't feel to heavy and I felt like I could have went heavier but I wanted to stay within the percentages on the board.

WOD

10 minute AMRAP:

30 double unders
15 power snatches (75 lb.)

This is the a repeat of the CrossFit Games Open workout 11.1/14.1. This was my first time attempting this workout and it was rough. The double unders were not too bad but the snatches were difficult. I had to break up the snatches into sets of two. The skill work definitely played a role but I powered through it. Managed to finish four rounds. Finished the night with 60 second weighted planks. I used a 35 lb. plate.

Tuesday

Taken from the Loot Crate site, "Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world." Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

What's in the Box?

These sunglasses like the previous TMNT ones are cool but not practical. The only time I wear sunglasses is while driving and these are a bit much. I really like them, but I will probably never use them. I guess I can always give them to my little brother. 

If you're a fan of Fallout you will recognize this character, Vault Boy! I have played two games from the Fallout series and I plan on picking up Fallout 4. This will go on my desk at work.

I'm a big fan of Blizzard games. I started playing the original Warcraft in elementary school and played almost every title since. I haven't heard of this line of vinyl figures but I'm glad they included one in this months box. Who doesn't want a chibi Blizzard character?! I got the Loot Crate Murloc which will go on my desk. The other thing that came in was sheet of magnets as well. They are not particularly strong and I think they will slide off easy. The Game of Thrones magnets from a past crate was stronger. 

The last installment of the Hunger Games movies is out this month and Loot Crate has included a Mocking Jay pin. I like the pins that Loot Crate has been adding lately. Like the Hydra pin I will probably added this to my Warmachine bag or give it to my younger sister who is a big Hunger Games fan.

I'm a fan of the Street Fighter series but I haven't played any recent games. I hope the comic is as good as the video games.

Final Thoughts

I think this crate wasn't too bad. The Mocking Jay pin and comic are okay. I also liked the Vault Boy bobble head and the Blizzard miniature but the shredder sunglasses and magnets were a miss. This month didn't beat last month but I think next month will be better. 

If you want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I also get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link. If you have any questions, leave a comment at the bottom.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Snatch Complex -  65% - 75% of Max Snatch (115 lb.)

Hang power snatch + overhead squat + snatch balance

I haven't done snatches in awhile since we have been working on the clean and jerk. It took a few warm up reps for me to feel comfortable and add on more weight. The goal of the complex was to focus on technique. I need to work on my shrug and keeping the bar close.

WOD 1 - 7 Minute Time Cap

4 rounds for time

15 hang power snatches (75 lb.)

30 double unders

My goal for this workout was to finish under time cap. I scaled the snatches to 75 lb. from 95 lb. The first round was good. I went through the snatches fairly quickly but I could feel my grip weakening. The double unders didn't give me any trouble, but I was out of breath by the end of it. I was only able to finish three rounds in seven minutes.

WOD 2 - 7 Minute AMRAP

5 lateral burpees
15 overhead squats (95 lb.)

This workout was just as difficult as the previous one.  The burpees weren't too bad but the overhead squats were giving me trouble. My wrist started to hurt even with the wrist wraps but I tried to power through it. I was also tried from the previous workout which is why I didn't do as well in this workout. I finished two rounds and five burpees.

Wednesday

Squats felt great. Worked on form and keeping my elbows up. Also worked on keeping a full grip on the bar and not letting it rest on my fingers.

WOD - "Squat Monster"

4 rounds for time

Run (400 m)
50 air squats

My legs were still tight from the front squats so I tried to loosen them up before we started this workout. I knew I had to pace the run and I would have to break up the air squats somehow. The first two rounds of the workout were okay. My run pace wasn't too bad I did it in 2:00 - 2:30 and the air squats were done in sets of 25's. After the second round, my pace stated to slow down. My 400 m time was slower by at least 30 seconds, and I had to break up the air squats into sets of 10. I finished the workout in 18 minutes but I didn't feel good about my time. After checking out Beyond the Whiteboard, I realized I PR'd my time. This instantly gave me a boost of confidence. I came in second to last but I felt great. Seeing progress always picks me up. I hope to at least finish under 17 minutes next time we do this workout.

Farmer Carry - 15 lb. Bumper Plates

Ending our day we had to do a pinch grip bumper plate farmer carry. I was exhausted from the previous workout that I decided to only use 15 lb. I only dropped the weight twice which is a big improvement from the last time. My grip was also failing by the first 100 m, my hand started cramping. I hope I'll be able to go up to 25 lb. the next time we do farmer carries.

Thursday

Friday

Skill Work: Clean and Jerks

After warming up we did a 15 minute skill portion for clean and jerks. I started with an empty bar and gradually added weight.

WOD

In 7 minutes:

Max clean and jerk

--then--

Remaining time AMRAP:

7 lateral burpee over barbell
7 front squats 50% of earlier clean and jerk
7 chest to bar pull ups

Since the skill portion was clean and jerks, I worked my way up to 185 lbs. I began the workout with a 185 lb. lift, and completed a 205 lb. lift. I attempted 225 lb. but was only able to complete the clean. I was able to get the jerk overhead but I was distracted and dropped the bar forward. I didn't realize how important focus was during lifts. Usually, when I fail to complete lifts it's because I'm tired or the weight is too heavy. This was my first time failing a lift because of focus.

I was excited after this lift because 225 lb. is a new clean PR! I can probably add another 10 lb. to this lift if I attempt it again. I was able to complete four rounds and seven burpees but it was a struggle. The burpees and the chest to bars were my biggest weakness, with majority of the time being spent on those two movements. Surprisingly the front squats were not too bad and I was able to go unbroken during the four rounds.

Weighted Plank - 3 x 60 seconds (35 lb.)

Finished the night with three sets of weighted plank holds.

Tuesday

Friday

This weekend November 14 and 15, will be Guam's largest anime video games and cosplay convention, Otaku Recon. My gaming group Limitless Fails, will have a booth set up to showcase Warmachine and Hordes, a miniature wargame. We will have a small army display and a space for demos. We will also have a few matches going on, so you can see what a larger game looks like. We will also be having a small panel on wargaming at 1 p.m on Saturday. 

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Warm Up - Cindy 

AMRAP 5 minutes

5 pull ups

10 push ups 

15 air squats

Monday Funday started off with Cindy. I've done this warm up before and I usually finish a round a minute. I wasn't as energetic and I felt a bit drained. It was probably because I didn't mobilize before class, traffic was a bit busy. I finished four rounds which wasn't too bad, at least my hips and legs were warmed up for the back squats.

Back Squat - 4 at 60% (225 lb.), 4 at 70% (255 lb.), 2x4 at 80% (285 lb.)

The strength portion for today was a moderately heavy back squat. I warmed up with 135 lb. and worked up to my first set at 225 lb. I haven't done back squats since early October but I was able to adapt quickly. During my set at 80% my form was a little off. I could feel myself going onto my toes instead of my heels but I was able to adjust. One of my coaches suggested that I slow down on the decent. He noticed that I will usually ride the bounce out of the bottom of the squat and a more controlled decent will help with stability.

WOD - For Time

10 dumbbell snatch, alternating arms (40 lb.)
--then--
3 rounds:
6 burpees
12 wall balls (20 lb.)
--then--
20 dumbbell snatch, alternating arms (40 lb.)
--then--
3 rounds:
6 burpees
12 wall balls (20 lb.)
--then--
30 dumbbell snatch, alternating arms (40 lb.)
--then--
6 burpees
12 wall balls (20 lb.)

This workout was going to be challenging because of the movements. The workout was a sprint with a 20 minute time cap, and I wasn't sure if I was going finish under it. I'm not proficient with dumbbell snatches and the heavier weights give me trouble. The Rx for the dumbbell snatches was 70 lb. but I had to scale to 40 lb. I think I could have done it at 50 lb. but I'll try that next time. Burpees are burpees and I suck at them. They are easily the biggest speed bump for me in any workout. I was able to keep consistent reps and finish each round unbroken. Surprisingly, the hardest part of this workout was the wall balls. After the back squats, my legs were feeling a bit weak and the wall balls were not helping. I wasn't able to complete 12 reps unbroken, breaking up most rounds in sets of six or less. I finished the workout in 21 minutes since the coaches let me finish beyond the time cap.

Tuesday

WOD - 9 minute AMRAP

9 lateral bar jumps

9 hang power cleans (95 lb.)

9 deadlifts (95 lb.)

This workout was deceivingly hard. Even though the bar light, the reps add up fast. The most difficult part of this workout were the hang power cleans. I wasn't able to complete them unbroken instead breaking them up into sets of five and less. My grip was still an issue, and I tried my best to hold onto the bar. The lateral bar jumps and deadlifts were easier. I was able to complete them unbroken during all rounds. I was able to complete five rounds.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Taken from the Loot Crate site, "Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world." Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

First item from the box is a Bill and Ted t-shirt. I was hoping for the Wyld Stallyns logo but this design is also great. "Be excellent to each other" is one of the more memorable quotes from the movie. Party on dudes!



The next items are from the Back to the Future trilogy. Fans are gearing up for "Back to the Future Day" which falls on October 21, 2015, the day Marty makes the jump into the future. We don't have flying cars and hoverboards but we do have some cool stuff in this box. The Doc Brown Funko Pop figure is the "past" version from the 1950's. I believe Funko released another Dr. Brown figure which depicts him in the white jumpsuit from the first movie. The other item from Back to the Future is a replica Hoverboard. It's not the same as a real Hoverboard but it still looks cool. I have a bunch of stuff to add to my desk this month!


Also included in this month's crate is a Sonic Spork! The handle is modeled after the famous sonic screwdriver. I was hoping it would at least light up but it doesn't. I will probably bring this to work as my back up utensil.

The button design for this month is the Flux Capacitor from Back to the Futrure series. It also has the words "we love you" which Loot Crate uses in their email.

Final Thoughts

Two of my favorite things from Loot Crate have been exclusive Funko Pop vinyls and nerdy t-shirts. My favorite items from this month were the Bill and Ted t-shirt and the the Doc Brown Funko. The Sonic Spork is cool but I wish it was more unique. The hoverborad replica was alright. I'm not sure if it will find a spot on my desk. Overall, I think this crate was worth it.

Warm Up

15-12-9

Single arm kettlebell deadlift (54 lb.)
Russian kettlebell swing (54 lb.)
Single arm kettlebell deadlift (54 lb.)
Goblet squat (54 lb.)

This was a hard warm up. The weight was a bit heavy for a warm up but I was going to take it slow and not rush it. The hardest movement was the single arm kettlebell deadlift. I would be able to do a few reps but I would loose balance easily. I'm not sure if my form was correct, but I tried to keep a neutral spine and hinge at the hips. The strength portion for today included front squats so I made sure to warm up my legs doing goblet squats. I finished around six minutes.

Strength/Skill - 2 Front Squats + Jerk, 3x2 at 60% (135 lb.), 3x2 at 70% (155 lb.)

Another fun weightlifting complex to start the week. After a light warm up I started on my first set. We only had 25 minutes to complete this section and I used half of it setting up and warming up. Each set was done with a short rest in between which made the last set of 70% harder than expected.

WOD - Power Clean Cindy, Time Cap: 15 minutes

10 power cleans (135 lb.)
--then--
5 rounds of:
5 pull ups
10 push ups
15 air squats
--then--
10 power cleans (135 lb.)
--then--
5 rounds of;
5 pull ups
10 push ups
15 air squats
--then--
10 power cleans (135 lb.)

I wasn't able to finish this workout under time cap. I was able to get through two rounds in the last set of Cindy. The hardest part of this workout was the air squats. After front squats in the strength section, I wasn't able to finish the air squats quickly. My legs started cramping up during the second set of Cindy and I had to break them up.

Weighted Plank Hold - 3x60 seconds, 35 lb.

Ended the night with some weighted plank holds. With all the push ups we just did, I wasn't sure if I would be able to hold a plank for 60 seconds. I was able to complete the first set but had to break up the next two. I rested for about five to ten seconds.

Wednesday

Thursday