That would be Rosan Cruz, whom you first met on this blog when I was rediscovering Ashtanga. She showed up for the 5:30 PM class and Mikey, whom I just found out is not Mikey but MIGGY (- So he ‘s Miggy! Shit. Will have to re-edit past posts…), walked her through the warm-up:

• 200 jump ropes
• 10 good mornings
• etc., etc.

WOD was:

For a while, I thought Rosan was ready to throw in the towel. She disappeared for a while in the bathroom and, when she came out, hung back for a while and watched everyone until Miggy saw her and yelled at her to get back to it.

Of course, when we were done and were stretching for a bit, she got her second wind.

“It was too short! I want to do more!” she said.

“You’re welcome to finish your second round,” I replied.

She continued stretching.

She completed 1.5 rounds, which was the average and a very good effort for someone doing CrossFit for the first time. I was 18 burpee tuck jumps short of completing the second round.

On our way home, we decided to have dinner at Red Garlic, a new restaurant that had opened near my place.

Picture, for a moment, what I looked like: I was in a loose, sleeveless, black dress that showed off my skinny arms, with a black bandana tight around my head.

I was still sweaty from the workout so, when we walked in, the air-conditioning made me shiver and I asked to be seated as far away from the air-con as possible.

I studied the menu then discussed with the waiter what I could and couldn’t have. We eventually decided that the lamb chop was my best option. I asked if I could have steamed vegetables instead of rice and he said he’d have to ask the kitchen first. (They only opened last Saturday, give him a break.) They only had carrots and singkamas (jicama). Not my favorite things. I asked for a salad instead. He came back beaming. He was very happy to report that I could have a salad.

When he approached Rosan for her order, she told him that we were on the same diet and that she couldn’t have the same things I couldn’t. (Turns out I had convinced her to go Paleo too.) She asked me if there was anything else on the menu that she could have . I suggested the green curry chicken. She went with that and also asked for a salad on the side.

Later, the waiter kept returning from the kitchen, asking me if they could put other things in my salad (tomatoes, pomelo, etc.). Whenever I said yes, he looked like he had won the lottery. One of the kitchen staff also approached me and asked if I would like feta cheese in my salad. I declined.

No one asked Rosan is she wanted anything. They automatically assumed we were having the same thing.

I whispered to Rosan, “I bet they think I have cancer.”

She nearly choked on her water.

Well, a taxi driver has made the mistake before and I’m sure other people think the same, judging from the looks I get on the street on my way to and from CrossFit. No one really wears bandanas in Manila (- if only they knew it covers up sweaty, messy hair and not a bald head), and I am pretty skinny. I have also turned into a massive pain-in-the-ass to feed since I started the Paleo diet.

I tried to explain to Alvin, the waiter, the weird diet we were on. He kept giving me the thumbs up. Maybe the Red Garlic staff are just really, really nice. And happy.

Anyway, Rosan gave her green curry chicken two thumbs up. My lamb chop was better after I seasoned it with salt (- SEE???!!!). All in all, I recommend Red Garlic. They have excellent, enthusiastic service.

Rosan is on a mission to lose weight and has agreed to meet for the 7:30 AM CrossFit since we have a dinner to go to in the evening. Stay tuned to see if she makes it…