No cheats. No slips. No excuses. For 100 Days, I followed the Whole30 program and I couldn't be more thrilled by the results. Now, I'm not a newbie to the Whole30. My first adventure was in August 2012 and before this year's Whole100, I had completed 4 previous rounds. With every previous round, I would lose 5-6 pounds and then try to keep to 80/20 paleo. Some weeks would be better than others and those 5-6 pounds would slowly creep back on - usually in the form of bloat. I decided at the end of 2014, that I wanted to REALLY make this a way of life. I REALLY wanted to change my habits for good. The last 100 days have done exactly that.
I would say the first 30 days were just like every previous round - I felt better, had clearer skin, lost 5 lbs, but I had a list of things I still craved and desired. Then around Day 40, I had another dose of the magic. Something I hadn't experienced previously. My cravings were really diminishing. I was feeling GREAT, and my body was really changing. I was actually quite surprised on Day 61 that I hadn't lost any more weight because my body looked so different. On that day, I decided to break up with the scale for good because it truly does not tell my story.
The days kept flying by and it became easier and easier to remain on plan. I turned down my mother's lasagna at a family gathering without a problem. I wasn't even tempted to eat pizza during a get together at my husband's Crossfit Box. Off plan foods just weren't even interesting anymore. I honestly craved my nutritious and delicious foods that I had made a habit of creating every day. I fell in love with red cabbage and if you're following me on Instagram you have noticed that I've eaten it almost every day since I've discovered that I loved it. My Whole100 Results
I decided to not weigh myself today because for the first time in forever, I don't care what the scale says. Coming from a person who used to weigh herself multiple times a day, this is a huge victory for me.
When I look at the progress photos above, I know that my body composition has changed. I'm less bloated and I'm down a dress/pants size. That tank top is an XL and I can now fit in a Medium sized shirt.
I lost 1 inch off my waist and 2.5 inches off my hips.
I've seen major progress in the gym - I've hit new PRs on my front squat and deadlift and I've been able to run during workouts without needing to take walking breaks.
I've solidified these new healthy eating habits and choosing real food, all the time, is just my new normal.
People keep asking me what I'm going to do now. If I've ordered a pizza or stuffed my face with a cupcake yet. And the answer is I'm eating the same stuff I ate yesterday and the day before. It's delicious and makes me feel great - why would I go back? Sure, if someone had a delicious, freshly baked cupcake in front of my face right now, I would consider eating it. But the difference is that before, just the thought of a cupcake would trigger my cravings and I would be heading straight to the kitchen to satisfy my sweet tooth. Instead, I have no compelling feeling as I type this.
I think I've finally taken control of my relationship with food.
It no longer controls me - I am in charge.
I am Whole30.
I shared this post on my Instagram account yesterday, but thought I would share here on my blog as well. The difference a year can make, my friends! This time last year, I was sitting on the sidelines, 4 months postpartum, watching my husband compete in the 2014 Crossfit Games Open. I actually felt great that day: I remember the baby taking a nice long nap that afternoon and finally having the ability to take a shower, blow dry my hair and put on some makeup. I wanted to look pretty as I cheered on my very in shape husband and socialized with all of his gym friends. When I saw someone post this picture the next day on Facebook, I remember being embarrassed. Did I really look that big? I didn't feel that big. I've always been a very confident person and think I carry weight pretty well, but I still did not like the way I looked in this photo.
I also remember talking to my husband that day and I thought he was crazy when he told me, "Next year, you will be doing it too!" YEAH OKAY HONEY. I had already started to dabble in some Crossfit workouts, but with a new baby, and my husband's crazy work schedule, it was very hard to commit to a consistent program. Around the end of June, with the help of the Kid Care program at a new Crossfit Box that opened up locally, I was able to commit to Crossfit and workout 3-4 times a week. It was such a game changer and, lo and behold, here I am. One year later, with my Rogue and Reebok gear, head band and thumbs taped ready to take on the first workout in the 2015 Crossfit Games Open.
I have God, my husband, family, friends, Whole30, and Crossfit to thank for my transformation. There's still a long way to go but I'm rejoicing in this milestone. Wherever you are in your journey, take a moment to pat yourself on the back for every good choice you've made. For getting up early to workout. For trying a new vegetable this week. For resting when your body needed rest. All of these good choices add up and you may not see a difference today or tomorrow, but you will. I'm a different person today than I was in that first picture and I couldn't feel more blessed.
If you've been following me on Instagram or Facebook, then you know that I have been following the Whole30 program since the end of December with a goal of reaching 100 days of Whole30. Since I have completed four separate rounds of Whole30 in the past, this experience so far has truly been a breeze. I've never felt more committed and dedicated to eating only real, nutrient dense foods than I am right now. Yes, there have been crazy days when all I have wanted was for my husband to pick up some takeout on the way home. There have also been days when I've craved a piece of chocolate. But I have been able to overcome all of the cravings by simply preparing wholesome and delicious meals and reminding myself why I am doing this program.
My past experiences with Whole30 have always been great - I've lost weight, felt less bloated, had clearer skin, slept better, and had more energy. Since my first 30 days back in August 2012, we began incorporating a Paleo lifestyle with our occasional treats for special occasions or if we just felt like having pizza, we had pizza. I maintained my weight loss for the most part, but after having my daughter at the end of October 2013, I had a lot of weight to lose again. I did two Whole30s in 2014 and began to do Crossfit. These all helped me lose about 25 pounds throughout the year, but once the holidays came around, I gained some weight back. I feel as though I completely let loose and negated all of the progress I made throughout the year. I decided to embark on a Whole100 on December 29, 2014 because I really wanted to see what an extended Whole30 program would do for me.
Let me tell you that it has been the best experience so far. Today, I'm on Day 61 and while I lost almost 6 pounds in the first 30 days, I feel as though I'm experiencing the best results now 31 days past the initial program. My body composition is definitely changing. My clothes are fitting WAY better. My bloat is gone. Today I'm actually on my monthly cycle, and I typically gain 5 pounds of water weight and look like I'm 3 months pregnant. But I don't see that in my photo today! I would love to say that I'm sleeping better - but I have an almost 16 month old that has been crazy at night. However, despite the sleep deprivation, I am able to hold it together throughout the day with more energy - so that's still a win!
The funniest part of all of this is that when I weighed myself this morning, I didn't lose one fraction of a pound since Day 30. Maybe it is because I'm on my monthly cycle and I did in fact gain some water weight that is hiding my actual weight loss. Maybe not. Some would say that means the program isn't working, but it clearly is. Look at the difference in that picture above from Day 21 and Day 61! I thank God I have been taking pictures because if I didn't see this physical proof, I probably would be feeling terrible today about not losing any more weight. But I'm not mad, I'm actually feeling great and so motivated to continue on this journey.
In fact, I may never get on the scale again. It truly doesn't tell my whole story. Who cares anyway how much force is exerted on my body by gravity? I just care about how I look and feel, and gosh darnit, I think I'm looking pretty good and feeling even better.
It's been a few weeks since I've written a Weekly Fitness Victories post. Mostly due to lack of time and then I had to take almost 2 weeks off from the gym because the little one was sick.
When I got back to the gym last week, I thought I was going to experience a set back in my training - but it was actually the opposite. I came back stronger and was able to kick butt in my workouts. I guess my body needed some recovery time!
Last week, I was only able to go to Crossfit two days but they were good workouts! During Tuesday's workout, I was able to progress to only a black band for pull-ups. I used to need both black AND green to pull myself up. Getting stronger! WOOT! On Wednesday, we did a lovely benchmark workout combination of Grace + Annie + Grace. That was rough, but fun. It was my first time doing Grace (30 Clean & Jerks for time) and I completed the first Grace in 4:03 at 55#. I'm looking forward to testing my progress in a few months on that one. Either faster time or heavier weight!
Current week: 11/10 - 11/14
MONDAY: REST DAY
TUESDAY: ARMISTICE - In honor of Veteran's Day.
This was a tough workout, but I felt very strong and was able to maintain a good pace.
WEDNESDAY: REST DAY
THURSDAY: All the Squat Cleans!
We worked on squat cleans from the hang position and I PR'd! The heaviest I've been able to clean off the floor was 85#, but I was able to do 90# from the hang! I bet when we test a full clean, I will be able to do more. I worked a lot on technique and getting under the bar quicker - which totally helps! Sometimes I freak myself out mid-pull and bail, but my coach helped me to just drop under the bar and stand back up. After missing an attempt, I was able to clean the bar without a problem. Funny how that works. Technique is so important.
FRIDAY: HERO WOD FRIDAYS - Wittman!
I finished. That's all that matters! Wittman seemed like it wasn't going to be too bad, but seven rounds of anything is definitely going to test your stamina. I wanted to quit after round 2, and then again after round 5, but thanks to my coach, I was able to push through. After all, it's all about honoring the fallen who gave it all. I just can't quit - they surely didn't.
Share some of your fitness victories this week, big or small, in the comments below!
This week started out a little rough. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't make it into the box (Crossfit word for gym) on my regular training days. So instead of working out 4 times this week, I only got in 3. But they were all really tough workouts so I'm not complaining!
Current week: 9/22/14 - 9/26/14
MONDAY: REST DAY
TUESDAY: REST DAY
WEDNESDAY: ALL THE REPS
This workout was a toughie. It was a chipper which means it was high reps of a lot of different movements. I'm most proud of doing 80 sit-ups. Since having a baby, my core has been really weak. When I first got back to working out in January, I could barely do 5 sit-ups without having to take a break. Wednesday, I did the 80 reps in sets of 20 - that's progress!
THURSDAY: I RAN THE WHOLE WORKOUT!
I hate running. Whenever there's a run portion of a workout, I always do run/walk intervals. But during Thursday's AMRAP which included a 100m sprint every round, I did not walk at all. I ran the whole time for every round. 100m may not sound like a lot, but when you're tired from doing all the other parts of the workout, you can easily get in your head about needing to walk to catch your breath. At least that's what happens to me! But I pushed through those thoughts and I'm proud of myself.
Hero WODs are always over the top hard. They are supposed to be - how else can we honor our military, law enforcement, and firefighters who have given it all?! Hotshots 19 honors the nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots firefighting team who tragically lost their lives on June 30, 2013, while fighting a fire in Yarnell, Arizona.
I took my time with this long workout and I'm just glad that I finished it. I might have wanted to quit a thousand times, almost threw up during round 5, and had to walk more than run, but ladies and gentlemen I finished it. Took me 52:28, but I finished!
So here's to another week of pushing myself to new limits! The weekend calls for some rest and I hope to be right back at it on Monday. Share some of your fitness victories this week, big or small, in the comments below!
At least for me, it's easy to get down on myself for not being able to do more when it comes to my Crossfit workouts. I get frustrated when I have to walk instead of run, when I have to use less weight than my peers, or when I can't get over my fears to just jump on a box.
But I do know that I'm getting stronger, faster, and better everyday so I'm going to start a blog series that will document at least one victory from each of my workouts in a given week.
Focusing on the positive is the only way to live life!
Current Week: 9/15 - 9/19
Monday: I hit a new PR!
We worked on deadlifts, and I increased my 1 rep max by 40 lbs! My new PR is 175# and my 3RM is 135# which was my old 1RM!
Tuesday: I did two double unders in a row!
During one of the EMOMs, I actually did a double under! And then I did another one - 2 in a row! I was so excited I dropped my rope, hugged my coach, and then went back to the WOD. I didn't get another one after that, but it's progress!
Wednesday: I did 50 thrusters at 55#!
Typically, during a WOD with thrusters, I've only been able to successfully complete it with a naked 35# bar. But not today! I did all reps at 55#.My first set was 17 reps unbroken - I guess there is no going back!
Thursday: REST DAY
Friday: HERO WOD FRIDAY - Whitten
Just showing up was my victory today. While the WOD called for 5 rounds of a bunch of stuff I don't like (burpees and running blah!), I did a very scaled version of 3 rounds. I could have stayed home today, but I showed up and did something. I can't be mad about that!
Share some of your fitness victories this week, big or small, in the comments below!
As I mentioned in a post last week, along with my friend Tina, we are hosting a 4 week fitness challenge to complete Zuzana Light's ZWOW (workout of the week) every day for that particular week.
THIS CHALLENGE STARTS TODAY!
Zuzana Light posts a new workout every Thursday, but when Tina woke up this morning to do her workout, it wasn't yet posted! So she started with last week's workout - ZWOW # 33 - Sexy Spy Workout!
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, complete your workout and post your results to the comments below. POST EVERY DAY after you complete your workout and compare to your previous results. I'm sure we are all going to get better, stronger, and faster!
I'm going to complete this tonight, since I drove earlier today from Boston. IT WILL GET DONE and I will post my results in the comments as well.
After yesterday's post on the Zuzana Light workout, my friend Tina suggested that we host a 4 week FITNESS CHALLENGE using Zuzana's Workout of the Week (ZWOW)!
Since I just finished a 30 day challenge in August, another challenge is exactly what I need to stay motivated! Who else wants in?
Here are the details:
Zuzana Light posts a new ZWOW every Thursday on her YouTube Channel
Starting on Thursday, September 13th, I will post the link to the video on this blog for everyone to easily find it
The challenge will be to do the ZWOW (for that particular week) everyday for 4 weeks!
The workouts only take 10-20 minutes, require little to no equipment and can be done anywhere!
Every day that you complete the workout, leave a new comment with your results (how you're feeling, time it took to complete, how many reps you were able to do, etc)
This is a perfect opportunity to squeeze in a quick, but highly effective workout into our ever busy lives and watch our fitness improve in just 30 days. And no matter where we are all located, we can support one another!
During the last month, I have had great success with changing my eating habits via the Whole30 program. One of the things that helped me so much during this time was blogging about it daily! It kept me motivated and accountable, knowing that I had to post everything I was eating. I didn't want to let anyone down by cheating or giving up - and most importantly, I didn't want to let myself down. Now that August is over, I began to think about what I would continue to blog about so that I could keep this momentum. And that's how my new blog series, Motivation Mondays, was born.
Every Monday, I will post about my successes, struggles, and goals for the week. I hope to not only keep myself motivated but to also inspire others.
Now that I feel as though my eating habits are finally under control, I have two big overall goals that I'd like to accomplish:
Break up with my scale
Focus on my fitness
They say that breaking up is hard to do...
One of the rules of the Whole30 that I didn't find important enough to adhere to, was to stop weighing myself. Every morning, I get out of bed, use the bathroom, get naked and jump on the scale. EVERY. MORNING. If the number is something I like, I feel great and start my day. If the number is something I don't like, I get mad, frustrated, and think about how I could do more to make the number move in the right direction. But after reading this article and this article multiple times, I have now acknowledged that I have an unhealthy relationship with my scale.
Hi. My name is SMP and I am obsessed with my scale.
So for the next 30 days, I WILL NOT STEP ON THE SCALE. Since weight-loss is important to me, I will weigh myself MONTHLY so that I can rest assured that I'm moving in the right direction. But instead of JUST focusing on how much I weigh, I will try to listen to my body and pay attention to the other positive changes that are going on in my life. It's going to be hard, but I have to do it. As the first article says:
It’s psychologically unhealthy to allow a number – any number – to determine your worth, your value or your self-image.
Amen to that.
Getting stronger
Since I was focusing so much on changing my eating habits during the month of August, I didn't focus too much on fitness. That's going to change this month. I really love spinning/cycling so my goal is to go to spin class 3 times a week. In addition, I will do 3 high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions. I want to have strong arms, lean legs, and a solid core!
When I'm traveling for work, I will still be able to do the HIIT sessions so there should be no excuses! Don't let me give you any!
I already feel as though I am getting stronger which is fueling my determination to keep going. I felt like I was on cloud nine when I experienced the following last night:
Seriously. 4 real pushups may not seem like a big deal to most, but it was a HUGE accomplishment for me. Just 2 months ago I couldn't do 1 - I had to rely on kneeling or incline pushups which were still hard. Now I hope to add more and more reps every day!
So here's to ditching my scale and building some muscle!
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