Restart Button

So, it is time that I press restart.  I have been making some terrible food choices lately, but for the first time in a very, very long time, I am not beating myself up for it. Just trying to make better choices the next time.  I am not thinking of these meals as "cheat meals" but as a food choice and I made a choice to eat something that may make me less healthy, and that is ok.  

Now that the negative is out of the way, let's look at the good things to come next week and the positives for last week: This week starts Barbell Club at CrossFit Hays.  I can't wait to get in there and start training some technique and throwing some heavy weight around!  I am excited to try something a little different! 

Last week I worked out 3 days and I decided to use lettuce as a bun on my burger to add some color to my food.  I call that a win.  I am working toward finding balance in my life as well, and I feel like I am slowing finding ways to do that.  One evening a week, Casey and I take time for a "date night" which could be out on the town or simply having a meal at home.  Just time together.  I am working out when I can, and finding ways to balance things at work as well.  Always a work in progress!

Unexpected Week

This week was an interesting one.  Casey and I have been going strong with our pledge to not drink and to eat healthy.  I even stepped on the scale, and I am down to 182.2 lbs!  Feeling pretty good. Then Thursday came and we got news that Casey's grandmother passed away.  This changed our plans a little bit, however, in life you must adapt and be flexible. Although we are still committed to living a healthy lifestyle, a glass of wine and date night to Chick-fil-a was in order Thursday.  I will say that the Chick-fil-a fries did not taste as delicious as I remember them being.
With travelling this weekend, we have stepped slightly off plan, but I am not beating myself up about it.  I know that we are still making healthy choices overall, and we will just have to make due with the available options while on the road this weekend.  I want to continue to be open and honest to keep myself moving in the right direction.

In the past two weeks, I have kept up with my goal to go to church weekly and have hit the gym 4 times last week but only 2 this week.  I felt that my body needed some recovery time this week.  Next week, it is on, getting into the gym 4-5 times is my plan. I am still working to find the overall work/train/life balance.  I know this post is scattered, but that is where I'm at right now. Life is not always planned and predictable and we must adapt and that is what we are doing!

Ups and Downs of Week 1

This week started out rough.  Monday I was "in my head" with a lot with negative thoughts and discouraging words to myself.  I was frustrated that I didn't lift more or feel like my clothes fit better or workout more than one time a day.  I was mad that I had let myself get to this point with my health and fitness, I know better.  Luckily, my accountability partner from work is AMAZING and kept me on track and helped to pull me back from the brink of reverting to old habits, ie a glass or two of wine at night with pizza and chocolate. Between her, another co-worker and my husband, I managed to shake myself out of the funk that I had been in on Monday.

The remainder of the week have been much better.  Now, I am struggling with finding the right balance of nutrients to fuel my body and the changes I have made.  With a new AM workout schedule 3 days a week and a PM workout schedule the other two days, I am working to figure out my recovery strategy.

I have started listening to podcasts lately. Abel James, of FatBurningMan.com seems to have some really knowledgeable guests on his shows.  I feel as though I am hearing these podcasts at exactly the right time. This morning I heard one with a question regarding adequate recovery and performance at the highest levels. Without adequate recovery, you can not have adequate or elite performance.  I feel like this is what I may be missing this week.  A good balance of work and recovery.  I will continue to tweak my routine until I find the right balance. http://fatburningman.com/read/

I also started tracking my foods on my Lose It app on my phone which has helped keep me honest about what I am putting into my body.  I don't know if it is 100% accurate due to the multiple ingredients in my foods and the guessing game I play with the amounts sometimes.  It also doesn't have a "CrossFit" exercise icon to log those calories.  I'm not really concerned about calories, but it has opened my eyes a bit as to how much I may be burning and how much I may need eat to fuel my workouts and daily life.

Although this week started out a little rough, things are moving in the right direction. Thank you all for the awesome support and encouragement especially this week!

Goals

Today is day two of the 10 day cleanse.  Feeling much better and more confident today than I did yesterday.  It was rough getting on that scale yesterday morning and seeing in numbers the damage I have done to my body last year.  I was disappointed in myself.  I am starting the year off at 188 lbs, the heaviest I have ever been.  I am committing to making January 2, 2015 the very last time I see that number. Day one went well, we did go out for dinner, but managed to make better choices than in the past; no appetizer, no booze, eating only until full and boxing up the rest for later.  I'd call that a win.

It was refreshing to wake up with a good sleep, no alcohol to shake off and no bloated, food "ugh" feeling to fight going to bed.  I am confident that this week will be a success as well.  

I want to write out all of my 2015 goals, not just the health and fitness related ones:

1. Attend 3-6 CrossFit classes per week and/or workout 3-6 days per week
2. PR in all lifts by 6/1/15
3. Lose 20 Lbs by 6/1/15
4. Read 20 books by the end of 2015
5. Volunteer 3 times for community events
6. Attend church weekly
7. Compete in 2-3 CrossFit competitions by the end of 2015
8. Attend one conference or CEU event for work this year

Looking forward to progress and positive changes in 2015!!

New Start

Today is January 1, 2015!!!  A new year with a new start.  I have decided to pick up blogging again.  After hearing a friend discuss her ideas for the new year, which included creating a transparent blog to highlight her ups and downs with changes she plans to make, I decided that blogging for me may be a good way to do the same.  Even if no one else reads it, it will be a way for me to continue to be honest and open with myself. 

So here goes... Over this past year, 2014, I have gone from being at my lowest weight since getting married to being at my very heaviest, and enough  is enough! I have given myself entirely too much "wiggle room" when it comes to food and drinks the past 5 months.  It is time for a change!  

 

Tomorrow, I begin a new chapter.  It starts with Advocare's ten day cleanse and a pledge to eat clean, and Paleo meals from here on out.  I will be cutting out alcohol for the next month with the intention of making it only an occasional indulgence after that month.  Any and all support is welcome. I struggle to stay on the "straight and narrow" with food and alcohol.  I enjoy pizza, queso, beer, and wine A LOT! But it is time to change.  I vow to make 2015 the healthiest yet!

As far as exercise...I love my CrossFit Hays family.  I have been lax in my attendance since the merge from CrossFit Kyle with CrossFit Hays in September. Change can be difficult.  I am excited for the new year and the new changes it will bring.  My goal is to compete in 2-3 CrossFit competitions in the next year at a minimum and to reach new PR's in all lifts!  In order to do so, my goal is to attend CrossFit a minimum of 3 X per week.  I just need to do it! I am looking for some additional accountability from my family and friends!  

I am excited to see where 2015 takes us!  Thanks for the support!