Game On!

It all starts this Wednesday.  A nutrition challenge at Centerville Crossfit.  There are two things that force me to commit to something:  1)  Money and 2) the word "challenge".  Any time I part with my hard earned cash I expect a return on investment.  So if I pay big money for jeans, I had better look darn good in them!  And I am always up for a challenge.  I have never been able to mentally understand those people who don't like challenges.  Is it laziness?  So confusing to me....

Anyways, I have pretty much lived my life this past year eating the standard Paleo way.  Over the past 3-4 months I have slipped to about 80/20 on this.  Okay, okay, let's be honest, it's probably more like 70/30.  There is something about going to a lake every weekend and eating pizza, chips, drinking beer, etc... that I just can't say no too.  But the lake house is officially closed and it's time for hibernation to begin.  And by hibernation I mean cooking and food prepping on Sundays, working out 3-4 days a week, and vacationing to some place warm at least 2-3 times during the winter.  

I went ahead and started prepping yesterday for this week.  I know the challenge doesn't start until Wednesday, but why wait?  Pictured above are the precooked bacon egg biscuits.  These have diced onions and tomatoes on the bottom with salt and pepper on top.  I went ahead and cooked these and just warmed them up this morning for breakfast.  While the oven was warm I cooked the whole remaining pound of bacon on a sheet pan.  I can pretty much eat bacon cold, warm, or scorching hot.    

Other items I made on Sunday:  

• Browned some ground turkey and added taco seasonings with a can of diced tomatoes (think Rotel, only I'm cheap and buy mine at Aldi's)  I will use this in lettuce wraps with some guac.  It's also good tossed in with eggs.
• Marinated pork loin.  This sucker is going to last me all week.  Random strangers are going to receive some pork loin by Wednesday.  
• Cut up vegetables for quick cooking and/or snacking.
• I will be making Fruit N Nut Bars tonight to hopefully help with my sweet tooth.

It's really day 1 for me and just knowing that I'm not suppose to eat sugary yummy food is making me want it more.  And the fact is I'm pretty good at making Paleo dessert type foods to get me by.  A whole month of no honey might just kill me.  Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but you just never know.

Breakdown of today so far:

• Woke up at 6:30am.
• Ate two bacon and egg biscuits at 7:30am.
• Got to work at 8am
• Met with Chiropractor at 10am (this is a whole other post... grrrr)
• 12:30 lunch:  Two burgers with lettuce and onion.  Not the greatest choice, but we eat lunch out daily and todays choice was the Fried Food Capitol of Moraine, Ohio called Treasure Island.
• Tonight I will be walking on the treadmill (again.... grrrr!!!) due to my back being all out of whack.  Dinner will be either the pork loin or the browned beef.  I'm leaning towards the pork loin with some grilled veggies.

My Experiment

It's time for a serious post....

Over the past two months I have woken up every night with horrible night sweats.  Drenched.  Go ahead, say it - GROSS!  Yes, it really is.  The last time this happened was two years ago when the doctors had me heavily medicated for endometriosis.  So of course, what have I been thinking the problem is... hormones.  I have literally been scouring the internet looking for new information on hormones, thyroid, replacement therapy, natural remedies, etc....  I had literally diagnosed myself.  I was also slipping into semi-depression just knowing that I would have to go back to the obgyn soon.  Two years ago I was in that office on a weekly basis either for tests, blood work, shots, or surgeries.  It's a bad memory.  It is also what caused me to change my life.

As many of your know I began eating Paleo in September of last year.  My journey began with 30 days of strict eating.  No cheats.  This meant no sugar, fake sugar, grains, beans, or dairy.  (Hopefully I didn't leave anything out.)  Once my 30 days was over my gym conveniently started a Paleo Challenge and I signed up.  This continued throughout the winter and helped me to lose 38Lbs.  But most importantly, I felt great!!!  Once spring hit I decided to ease off on the strictness and go 80/20 on my diet.  Mainly I have been eating strict Paleo (with an addition of a Diet Lemon Lime soda nightly starting about two months ago... remember this) and on the weekends I am less strict.  Ok, who's kidding who... I drink beer.  Other than the beer, I'm still pretty much a Paleo eater on the weekends.

So let's get back to the night sweats.  In addition to the night sweats I have been having hot flashes.  The boyfriend will ask if I'm going through menopause with a humorous chuckle.  Little does he know that it's very possible and scares the hell out of me.  I'm already down an ovary so God only know what this body is doing!  (And I mean that literally.... only He knows.)  My final downer.... cramps.  Yes, I know most women have pms cramps, but I'm so lucky that I have them on a daily basis.  Right now they are just mild, but when my endo is in full swing I won't be able to sleep through the night without a heating pad.  Being a woman is grand.    I really do have a point to all of this..... here it comes.....

After a crazy conversation with my brother about my rising ailments he says to me "I wonder if you've become so healthy now that your body is fighting off your nightly Diet pop filled with fake crap?"  WTH?!  Is he nuts?  So a couple of days ago I decided to stop the single nightly can of Diet Lemon Lime.  Guess what?  I've slept through the night... completely dry, I haven't overheated during the day, and I've had ZERO abdominal pain.

This has since led me to do some Googling on the side effects of artificial sweeteners.  Holy crap, it is mind blowing.  Here is one good read, but you might want to do some research yourself.  All of this was just another reminder that what we put in our mouths really does effect our body, not just the number on the scale.

February Update

I'm finding it hard to believe that it is already February 13th.  Seriously, where does the time go?  I foresee flip-flop season approaching!  Are you ready?

I recently returned from cruising with my mom to Mexico.  We had a great time!  I now have a tan which will last for about one week due to the OH-IO cold.

This is me and my mom's 3rd cruise together.  For the record, on the first cruise I gained almost 10Lbs.  Yes, you read that right!  On the 2nd cruise I gained 5Lbs.  On the 3rd cruise, I lost a pound!  Proof positive that eating and exercise combined make a huge difference!  My mom and I exercised daily.  She would walk the full ship while I ran.  I made it six times around without stopping!  That is 2.5 miles and the first time I have ever jogged that far without stopping (or feeling like I was going to collapse).  On other days I would go to the gym and make up my own wods (90 sec row, 30 sec rest, 90 sec plank, 30 sec rest, 90 sec sit ups, 30 sec rest, 90 sec squats, 30 sec rest.  Repeat 5 times.)  At one point my mother looked at me and said, "Please don't hurt yourself, I won't be able to get home without you."  She is one funny momma.

This is one of the meals.  Lobster and shrimp with veggies and rice.  I did not eat the rice.  Not going to lie, I did eat frozen yogurt EVERY SINGLE DAY!  And yes, it was worth it.  Did I mention I still lost a pound?  HAHA!

Recently I have come in contact with many people who ask me how often I workout.  Or they make comments that I'm a gym rat.  So, I just want to take this moment to clear that up..... I go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  And I occasionally throw in a Saturday when my schedule allows it.  For the love of Pete people, it has taken me 37 years to realize this so I'm going to let you in on the secret..... what you put in your mouth is what appears on your thighs.  If you eat crap, you're going to look and feel like crap. Period.  You have to have the will, it's not in a pill.

It is truly strange for me to hear people call me little.  I have looked at this picture above multiple times in the past week and said to myself - that's really you.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings!  Hopefully I am ripped like some of my fellow crossfitters.  (Val S., I'm talking to you.)

Bring It 2012!

Happy New Year!!!

As I sit here and think back on this year I realize how truly blessed I am.  We can all come up with things in our lives that we feel like we are missing.... say a husband or kids for me.  But when I take a step back and realize everything else that I do have, wowza! am I ever blessed!!

So it's December 31, 2011.  A year ago I promised myself I would lose weight and get fit.  Now, I am 32Lbs less and able to lift more weight than I ever imagined.  Physically this year has been amazing.  And actually, this year has been pretty amazing in every aspect of my life.  Emotionally, financially, spiritually, etc....  It all kind of goes hand in hand when you decide to work on it.

So what are my goals for 2012?  And yes, I said goals.  I think the word "goal" sounds so much better than a "resolution".  I actually created a very detailed spreadsheet that hits almost every point of one's life, but I will give you my fitness/health goals:

• Run (not walk, RUN) the Harrigan's 5K on St. Patty's Day
• Hand stand push-ups, double unders, and kipping pull-ups... you will be mine by this time next year!
• 20Lbs less by May.... hello swimsuit season
• Continue to eat Paleo
• Of course, continue losing weight and gaining muscle with my Centerville Crossfit family.... they ROCK!

2011 Before and After

Paleo Update - Day 44

Let me just say, you are about to see two U-G-L-Y pictures of me.  Both were taken after workouts.  I promise to take better ones on the next challenge.  And for the heck of it, next week I will wear the same outfit as my "before" pic just so you can see the difference.  Wait, I can't wear those pants... THEY'RE TOO BIG!

It's Day 44.  Unbelievable how quickly this has gone by.  I will get measured next week and will definitely post my losses at that time.  I can tell you a size 10 now fits way comfortably.  It's very odd to me.  I have always been between a 12-16.  Occasionally (when I need to do laundry) I will walk into the other closet and think to myself - Oh, I'll just put these (size 12's) on and all will be good.  And then, crap!  Literally, they will look like I just crapped my pants because they are so baggy.  Yes, yes, this is a good problem to have.  I just need someone to finance me a new wardrobe.....

This year as a whole I have lost 27Lbs.  Since I started eating Paleo I have lost 21Lbs.  What's that tell ya?  It tells me that the discipline with Paleo is what I needed to really get the weight loss process started.  Notice I said started because this journey is not over.  I plan to continue on.  Why?  People!  How many times do I have to tell you this?!  I FEEL AH-MAZING!  My skin is healthy, my sleep is good, I have energy, and my desire to kill people has reduced dramatically. (Kidding on the killings)

My next goal:  20 pounds gone by the end of March.  Just in time for lake season.  :0)