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This reaction is key to understanding how creatine helps build muscle.

Nutrition

How Does Creatine Work to Build Muscle?

by Amanda Smith
Posted on June 21, 2023June 21, 2023

Uncategorized

Thinner, Leaner, Stronger Book Review

by Amanda Smith
Posted on May 6, 2020March 21, 2021

Snowboard

Learning New Sports: Snowboarding

by Amanda Smith
Posted on May 6, 2020June 14, 2020

Amanda Smith, Author of Fairly Extreme

About Me

I am a high school English teacher who discovered climbing at the age of 27. I’m almost 40 now, and proper training, recovery, and nutrition is a nonnegotiable. Throughout my 30s I started snowboarding, surfing, kiteboarding, running, and lifting weights too. Outside teaching school, I dedicate time to these sports as well as training and educating myself about training, recovery, and nutrition. This blog is dedicated to sharing tips, resources, and inspiration to help all lifelong climbers continue to enjoy and perform in the sports they love.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Amanda, the author of Fairly Extreme Blog, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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Spray wall with Michelle! So the video is not the actual spray wall, just a spray-wall-like route they set on the tension board. I really love working on the spray wall though. It is so challenging, makes me feel like I am putting in real work and making gains. :D The most surprising thing about this day was that I was able to do as much on the spray wall as I was able to do back in mid-May. I’ve been climbing leas since then, and it is great to use this as a tool to know that I have not lost any strength! I also think it is the creatine helping me out some, because in mid-May I was taking a smaller scoop of Creatine and I’m not sure I was fully “loaded.” 😝 #trainingforclimbing #spraywall

Activities don’t always work out as planned, but this time things turned out OK. Second time a ride got rained out this season :/ I checked the radar and thought I was good, but a quarter mile in a strong drizzle started. Oh well! Plan B was a lifting session in ze lovely basement gym, which was actually great! Almost have 3 sets of 8 reps at 20 for the curl press and almost have 3 sets of 8 reps at 25 for a tricep pull-down! Thank you creatine!! Did squats too. Not my favorite but I did them. Also did some thrusters, crab walks, clams, core stuff, and deadlifts! All in all I’d say progress was made! #mountainbike #girlswholift #fairlyextreme

Yesterday was bouldering day… I’m never super stoked to boulder because I am pretty unwilling to fall from very high. I worry about whiplash and twisted ankles, so I’ll only attempt moves that I am 90-100% sure I’ll make. But, since bouldering is “good for climbing” I find my happy medium doing 4 x 4s, this is the only way I can feel like I am climbing at my limit during a bouldering sesh. My limit being like v4 😝 oh! And Mittens the cat. #bouldering #climbingtraining #fairlyextreme

This creek and the rock garden after it were my biking projects yesterday. The ride was short, only 3.6 miles, but the chance to just hang out at these two places and literally ride back and forth for 40 minutes practicing really helped a lot. I knew 2 things after the sesh. First, I knew that I could do it. It was possible. Second, I knew exactly what line I needed to take and what the most challenging part of the line was. It also helped me get over my apprehension and build confidence. Whether it is confidence in knowing that I can do it or confidence in knowing that falling all the way in the creek is not so bad, confidence is confidence.

Started taking creatine about 2 months ago! A supplement you should definitely consider! Enjoying just a little added power in a few ways. Here we are under Bimbo Shrine at the NRG. Check out the blog post. Link in bio.

Self portraits: Pre versus post workout feels. 🥰 After teaching all day, it is not easy switch gears to training mode. There is almost always complaining directed at one of our cats about how I don’t want to go lift. But, I do it because I know I have to. If I want to do my part to stay injury free and strongish on the trails biking, then leg day is a must. Today was leg day. Here is my normal routine: