Oh. My. Goodness.
I am in shock, totally surprised and oh so happy!
Little background first: My body does not typically respond favorably to any weight loss plan. When 99% of people will lose body fat, I gain. When 99% people gain muscle mass, nothing happens for me. This has been going on for 20 years. Quite frustrating to say the least.
Introduce the 24 Day Challenge which involved CrossFit Training at CFC, AdvoCare supplements, and clean nutrition and I GOT RESULTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously - you simply cannot know how stinking happy I am!!!
The challenge began with this WOD (Workout of the Day):
3 Rounds for time of:
300 meter run
9 Clean and Thruster (I used 53#)
12 Pull Ups (band assisted for me)
15 Box Jumps (20" box)
The first time I did this WOD at the beginning of the challenge my time was 16:57
Repeated same WOD, same weights, same clothes, same spot in the gym 24 days later my time was 15:49
One minute and 8 seconds faster!!!!!
My body weight dropped 4 pounds
My body fat stayed about the same
I lost 1 inch in my waist
I lost 1 inch in my hips
I gained almost 1/2 inch in my bicep
THIS IS HUGE!!!!!!!
Really, with my track record, I was not expecting much of anything. I felt that no matter what, I would improve my overall health but was not expecting my body to actually respond in such an impressive manner. In 24 days, these are great results! I did not feel like I was 'on a diet', I did not feel deprived. Yes, in the beginning, I had some cravings. As the time progressed the cravings went away or diminished significantly. I no longer drink my heavy whipping cream with a splash of coffee everyday. I will drink a cup of black coffee from time to time but I don't feel like I need it anymore. I did have big plans for a treat meal when this was all over, but now really, all I want is some cheese and a beer. Not together- yuck.
Along the way, I realized that I did not eat as clean as I thought I did. I truly thought I was a solid 80% clean/paleo eater. I no longer believe I was. I know I am now.
Now that the challenge is officially over for me I plan to continue eating clean. I will allow some cheese in my diet and see how my body reacts. If I don't feel so great after eating it, I won't continue to eat it. I have found that nuts make me feel not so great. When you get your system functioning on quality nutrition it is so easy to see how one specific food can affect you. When you eat mostly crap, there is no way for you to know how good you can feel after fueling your body on good food. I will reduce my carb intake to hopefully lean out a little more. I am sure I will add a little more healthy fat and keep my protein about the same.
I am now taking the AdvoCare MNS-C to assist me in my quest for leanness! I like to convenience of the strips - I don't have to count out pills or take bottles with me if I'm not going to be home, just grab the strip for the day and go! I like using the AdvoCare Arginine Extreme and Mass Impact before WOD's. I am going back to my favorite tasting post-WOD protein from Integrated Supplements. I will keep a close eye on how I am feeling, looking and how I am preforming during my workouts to see where I may need to make adjustments to my plan.
I am just crazy excited and happy!
I'll keep you posted!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
It was a week of bacon goodies!
I got a phone case that looks like bacon.
I got a shirt the says Praise The Lard.
An athlete at CFC gave me a shirt that says I (sunny side egg in the shape of a heart) Bacon (written in bacon)
Bacon is good.
In other news, I finish up my AdvoCare/Paleo/CrossFit challenge this Thursday. I will do my WOD on Wednesday morning to compare my time from when I did it at the beginning of the challenge. I am definitely expecting an improvement!
Oh, I got a domain name for my AdvoCare site - PrimalAdvoCare Check it out! I came up with the name because I incorporate a paleo/primal diet with the AdvoCare supplements. I am simply loving the increased energy I am feeling with the AdvoCare supplements I am taking. I feel stronger and leaner, also. We will see what the tape measure has to say on Thursday!
I am still missing cheese. I like my black coffee with cinnamon powder. This time has passed rather quickly and I am not counting the days until I can eat garbage. Yes, I want a beer and a wedge of cheese - not together- but that is all I am looking forward to. This is coming from a lifetime carb lover!
I had a very strong moment - Friday night was family movie night and the kids wanted pizza. I really like pizza. I baked them a standard cheese pizza. It really smelled yummy! But, I did not give in and eat any. AND, I have not dipped in to the left over pieces, either. THIS IS HUGE!!!!! When I do decide that a special meal will be pizza - I will have my absolute favorite - very thin crusted, traditional Pizza Margherita- small amount of cheese, big fresh basil leaves and slices of Roma tomatoes. Yum! Or so I think now anyway. I wonder what I will feel like after eating this? I will let yall know!
I got a phone case that looks like bacon.
I got a shirt the says Praise The Lard.
An athlete at CFC gave me a shirt that says I (sunny side egg in the shape of a heart) Bacon (written in bacon)
Bacon is good.
In other news, I finish up my AdvoCare/Paleo/CrossFit challenge this Thursday. I will do my WOD on Wednesday morning to compare my time from when I did it at the beginning of the challenge. I am definitely expecting an improvement!
Oh, I got a domain name for my AdvoCare site - PrimalAdvoCare Check it out! I came up with the name because I incorporate a paleo/primal diet with the AdvoCare supplements. I am simply loving the increased energy I am feeling with the AdvoCare supplements I am taking. I feel stronger and leaner, also. We will see what the tape measure has to say on Thursday!
I am still missing cheese. I like my black coffee with cinnamon powder. This time has passed rather quickly and I am not counting the days until I can eat garbage. Yes, I want a beer and a wedge of cheese - not together- but that is all I am looking forward to. This is coming from a lifetime carb lover!
I had a very strong moment - Friday night was family movie night and the kids wanted pizza. I really like pizza. I baked them a standard cheese pizza. It really smelled yummy! But, I did not give in and eat any. AND, I have not dipped in to the left over pieces, either. THIS IS HUGE!!!!! When I do decide that a special meal will be pizza - I will have my absolute favorite - very thin crusted, traditional Pizza Margherita- small amount of cheese, big fresh basil leaves and slices of Roma tomatoes. Yum! Or so I think now anyway. I wonder what I will feel like after eating this? I will let yall know!
I like how strong my legs look in this picture. This was taken during the initial Challenge WOD.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
A Boy and His WOD
Monday was my son's first CrossFit Kids class. He loved it!
Yesterday, one of my cousins came to stay with us for a few days and the kids were really excited and we let them stay up too late. Much too late!
So, today is a workout day for my little man. I let him sleep as long as I could. When I went to wake him up, I told him he had the option of sleeping longer or going to the gym. Though still mostly asleep, in his groggy 6 year old voice, he says "But I can't miss my WOD." Smile!
So, up he got. Ate a small breakfast, got his new workout clothes on, and off we went. He has such fun with Coach Matt and the others kids in his class. He tells me all about what they do. I don't watch as I use this time to do some work at CFC. I am going to have to watch next time.
I am seeing proof that my children are watching and listening very closely to what I say and especially what I do. I talk to them about eating healthy to fuel their bodies. I talk to them about my workouts. They are at the gym watching me and my fellow athletes do our WOD. They are part of this community of people who want to be better than they were yesterday.
Are we all elite athletes at CFC, no. Are we all doing more than what we used to do and what we think we can do, yes!
I got a PR on my back squat today! I love that my son was witness to that. He is watching and learning - I am very pleased with what he is learning!
Yesterday, one of my cousins came to stay with us for a few days and the kids were really excited and we let them stay up too late. Much too late!
So, today is a workout day for my little man. I let him sleep as long as I could. When I went to wake him up, I told him he had the option of sleeping longer or going to the gym. Though still mostly asleep, in his groggy 6 year old voice, he says "But I can't miss my WOD." Smile!
So, up he got. Ate a small breakfast, got his new workout clothes on, and off we went. He has such fun with Coach Matt and the others kids in his class. He tells me all about what they do. I don't watch as I use this time to do some work at CFC. I am going to have to watch next time.
I am seeing proof that my children are watching and listening very closely to what I say and especially what I do. I talk to them about eating healthy to fuel their bodies. I talk to them about my workouts. They are at the gym watching me and my fellow athletes do our WOD. They are part of this community of people who want to be better than they were yesterday.
Are we all elite athletes at CFC, no. Are we all doing more than what we used to do and what we think we can do, yes!
I got a PR on my back squat today! I love that my son was witness to that. He is watching and learning - I am very pleased with what he is learning!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
24 Day Challenge- 6 days in!!
I honestly cannot believe I have done it! Coffee with no creamer for 6 days!! This is nothing short of amazing for me. If I can do this ANYONE can!
Today has been a huge turning point, as well. I have found a liberating freedom in drinking black coffee - I do not need to be so minimal on my healthy fats in my diet since I am not drinking most of them in my coffee. Hello, Avocado! AND- I am beginning to find I truly enjoy the taste. I know I will be tempted to go back to putting cream in it once the challenge is over but I don't think I want to do that. Another thing that is nice about black coffee is how uncomplicated it is. Doesn't matter where you are, the coffee is just right! No heavy whipping cream, no problem! Tastes can change.
I have not had a problem with the timing of the supplements which I was afraid I might. There are not that many and thanks to a very handy check list- it is easy to remember what I need to take and when. The structure is good for me, as I mentioned in an earlier post.
Structure is returning to CrossFit Champions this week, as well. All classes will be back on their regular schedule. All challengers begin Day 1 tomorrow. My son is beginning CrossFit Kids tomorrow! All sorts of new and exciting things! Summer is off to a great start, I would say. I think the off week was good for everyone. Staff and athletes got a bit of down time, extra time for rest and recovery, extra time to try new activities, etc.
For fun- the Challengers have been posting emails to our challenge group as to what they ate for their last indulgent meal. My favorite, by far, was a picture of a bag of powder sugar donuts! I ate those by the pound while pregnant with my daughter. Probably why the girl is so hell bent on having dessert every night! All my fault! My meal was dinner at Denny's pancakes, lots of syrup, butter, bacon, eggs, hash browns with ketchup and lots of coffee with lots of cream! It tasted wonderful but I felt like absolute crap after. Challenge mode or not- that is NOT a normal meal for me!
I have been having easy food so far- roast beef rolled up with guacamole inside, salads with meat, eggs, bacon, spaghetti sauce with meat- no noodles of course, roasted chicken, lots of grilling. Yes, I can do it all by myself now! I love our Big Green Egg! I made fajitas one night that were absolutely wonderful! Meat was, of course, from Yonder Way Farm. Farmer Jason and his chicks raise some very tasty food! All grass fed, grass finished beef, pastured pork, poultry and eggs. So yummy! Tuesday is delivery day - I can't wait as I am almost out of eggs. If you want to know where your meat comes from, want to have it hand delivered by the farmer himself, and usually one of his daughters, check them out. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this farm and this family!
Mmmmm...zucchini on the Egg!
Today has been a huge turning point, as well. I have found a liberating freedom in drinking black coffee - I do not need to be so minimal on my healthy fats in my diet since I am not drinking most of them in my coffee. Hello, Avocado! AND- I am beginning to find I truly enjoy the taste. I know I will be tempted to go back to putting cream in it once the challenge is over but I don't think I want to do that. Another thing that is nice about black coffee is how uncomplicated it is. Doesn't matter where you are, the coffee is just right! No heavy whipping cream, no problem! Tastes can change.
I have not had a problem with the timing of the supplements which I was afraid I might. There are not that many and thanks to a very handy check list- it is easy to remember what I need to take and when. The structure is good for me, as I mentioned in an earlier post.
Structure is returning to CrossFit Champions this week, as well. All classes will be back on their regular schedule. All challengers begin Day 1 tomorrow. My son is beginning CrossFit Kids tomorrow! All sorts of new and exciting things! Summer is off to a great start, I would say. I think the off week was good for everyone. Staff and athletes got a bit of down time, extra time for rest and recovery, extra time to try new activities, etc.
For fun- the Challengers have been posting emails to our challenge group as to what they ate for their last indulgent meal. My favorite, by far, was a picture of a bag of powder sugar donuts! I ate those by the pound while pregnant with my daughter. Probably why the girl is so hell bent on having dessert every night! All my fault! My meal was dinner at Denny's pancakes, lots of syrup, butter, bacon, eggs, hash browns with ketchup and lots of coffee with lots of cream! It tasted wonderful but I felt like absolute crap after. Challenge mode or not- that is NOT a normal meal for me!
I have been having easy food so far- roast beef rolled up with guacamole inside, salads with meat, eggs, bacon, spaghetti sauce with meat- no noodles of course, roasted chicken, lots of grilling. Yes, I can do it all by myself now! I love our Big Green Egg! I made fajitas one night that were absolutely wonderful! Meat was, of course, from Yonder Way Farm. Farmer Jason and his chicks raise some very tasty food! All grass fed, grass finished beef, pastured pork, poultry and eggs. So yummy! Tuesday is delivery day - I can't wait as I am almost out of eggs. If you want to know where your meat comes from, want to have it hand delivered by the farmer himself, and usually one of his daughters, check them out. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this farm and this family!
Mmmmm...zucchini on the Egg!
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