**Warning: This post contains some discussion about how a healthy lifestyle has improved my menstrual cycle. If you would rather not read those details, feel free to move on from here.**
Art and I are 31 days into our 45-day healthy eating challenge that we are doing with the gym. That also means that I have been an official CrossFitter for 31 days. And I am loving it.
To recap, Art and I follow the Paleo diet, and we workout at a CrossFit gym. I was a little nervous about working out because it seems so tough (which it is) but everyone at the gym is so encouraging, all the workouts are scalable to your own level of ability, and it feels so good to do something tough that I didn't think I could do.
The diet was tough for the first couple of weeks. I was craving EVERYTHING. But now? I don't crave all that bad food anymore. No, seriously. I don't even want all that sweet, unhealthy food that I used to eat.
I will admit, I cheated at a Super Bowl party. I had two small cookies, and a brownie, and I felt like CRAP. I felt so gross and full and.....gross! It was not worth it, and it only served to solidify my decision to eat this way. I love how great I feel all the time. I have energy all day, my skin doesn't break out anymore, and here's the part where I talk about my period.
When I got my period this month, I had No. Cramps. Since my very first period I had cramps and bloating and that I-feel-so-gross-because-it's-the-first-day-of-my-period feeling. Now? No cramps, no bloating, no gross feeling, no moodiness or PMS of any kind. I also had a shorter, lighter period. We're talking 7 days to barely 4 days. I can hardly believe it! I'm so excited about this awesome change, I just want to tell everyone! But this is not the kind of news that you just announce to the world.
So instead I announce it on my blog. What's the difference? I have no idea.
Anyway, I love eating this way, and I am now completely convinced that this is not just a 45-day diet challenge. This is a life change. I'm addicted to it, I'm excited about it, and I want to keep going for the rest of my life.
(Just in case the enthusiasm wasn't coming through. Really excited).
So I haven't blogged in three weeks and I feel so bad, and I've been wanting to write about this, for a while, so now I'm finally (and frantically) spitting it out so I can get to bed (because it's already past our bedtime). Forgive any spelling errors or other things that don't make sense. I hope you are all having an awesome February. Hopefully I won't go nearly a month without blogging next.
:D
February 13, 2010
January 27, 2010
What HAPPENED To My LIFE?!
Seriously. Where did it go? Have you guys seen it? I'm afraid it's lost, and I don't have time to go looking for it. I'm surprised I have time to sit here and blog! But it's only because I'm waiting for some sweet potatoes to steam all the way through, so that they are soft enough to mash.
So. What has been going on with me? I've been working overtime, and working out. I started at the gym last week Monday, and it was kind of an easier week, so I got to ease into it. Most people can't say that about their first day/week.
They're starting a strength challenge thing, which is awesome, because I'll get to find out what all my maximum weight lifting abilities are, and I'll get to find them out within my first month at the gym. Again, most people can't say that! I pretty much picked the perfect time.
I'm slowly becoming one of those people who loves the gym and can't shut up about it. The encouragement that we all get is humbling, every time. And it makes such a difference. On Monday, two girls that I had never met before were cheering me on while I was lifting. And it made me want to be more awesome.
Our instructor also encouraged us to start working on our "nemesis", or the things we hate/are bad at. So after every workout, even if there was running as part of the workout, I run 400m (which is around the entire block). I'm determined to get to that place where I don't hate running, but instead, it makes me feel alive. Right now it makes me feel like dropping dead.
Anyway, what else is going on in my life? Hm......oh! I'm training at work. As in, I'm doing the training, and other people are learning under me. A new girl started two weeks ago, and she's all caught up, so now she's helping me. And two people started just yesterday. One of them is a force to be reckoned with. He's such a fast learner! He puts me to shame. I feel like he already knows more than I do. I feel almost bad that he has to be in our department, because his gifts should be used to do greater things than what we do. But at the same time, he's already making my life easier. He's a great addition to the team.
The other new person is learning about as fast I expected. As in, at a normal pace. I think she's a bit unsure of herself, which is too bad, but at least I'll be able to sit with her and go slower. The new guy doesn't need me anymore, so that frees me up to continue with her. If you feel so inclined, would you pray for me, that I would find a way to explain things to her so that they make sense? It's up to me to make sure she grasps this first step, and my superiors are watching.
Okay, I'm quickly going to tell you about the diet, and then I have to go shower, because it's almost my bedtime. So at the gym/with the gym, we're doing a 45 Day Paleo Challenge. We're eating super healthy, whole foods, for 45 days. No cheating. It's a good thing we've already been following it for a year. I feel bad for the people who jumped right in, barely knowing anything about it. And I'm excited for how not-restrictive it feels.
We're 9 days in, and the cravings for sweets and other unhealthy food are almost gone. And we've already tried 3 or 4 new recipes, and I'm loving how easy it is prepare delicious meals without using any sugar or grains or flour! Seriously! This is no longer a diet. It's a way of life, and it feels amazing. It kind of makes me want to go a whole year, without any cheating. Okay, maybe one cheat meal a week. Which is still a lot better than what we were doing.
Oh, and I haven't cheated so far. I don't want to. Anytime I'm tempted, I just think about how disappointed I would be in my self. And if I cheat once, I'll cheat all the time. And I know it won't even feel good, or satisfying. So yeah. Eating healthy is fun! Who knew?!
Okay, I have to go and shower now. I'm so glad I got to blog finally! Know that I'm trying to keep up with all your blogs, but I barely have time to read, much less comment. So I'll do a mass, generalized, "I love everything you guys are writing."
So. What has been going on with me? I've been working overtime, and working out. I started at the gym last week Monday, and it was kind of an easier week, so I got to ease into it. Most people can't say that about their first day/week.
They're starting a strength challenge thing, which is awesome, because I'll get to find out what all my maximum weight lifting abilities are, and I'll get to find them out within my first month at the gym. Again, most people can't say that! I pretty much picked the perfect time.
I'm slowly becoming one of those people who loves the gym and can't shut up about it. The encouragement that we all get is humbling, every time. And it makes such a difference. On Monday, two girls that I had never met before were cheering me on while I was lifting. And it made me want to be more awesome.
Our instructor also encouraged us to start working on our "nemesis", or the things we hate/are bad at. So after every workout, even if there was running as part of the workout, I run 400m (which is around the entire block). I'm determined to get to that place where I don't hate running, but instead, it makes me feel alive. Right now it makes me feel like dropping dead.
Anyway, what else is going on in my life? Hm......oh! I'm training at work. As in, I'm doing the training, and other people are learning under me. A new girl started two weeks ago, and she's all caught up, so now she's helping me. And two people started just yesterday. One of them is a force to be reckoned with. He's such a fast learner! He puts me to shame. I feel like he already knows more than I do. I feel almost bad that he has to be in our department, because his gifts should be used to do greater things than what we do. But at the same time, he's already making my life easier. He's a great addition to the team.
The other new person is learning about as fast I expected. As in, at a normal pace. I think she's a bit unsure of herself, which is too bad, but at least I'll be able to sit with her and go slower. The new guy doesn't need me anymore, so that frees me up to continue with her. If you feel so inclined, would you pray for me, that I would find a way to explain things to her so that they make sense? It's up to me to make sure she grasps this first step, and my superiors are watching.
Okay, I'm quickly going to tell you about the diet, and then I have to go shower, because it's almost my bedtime. So at the gym/with the gym, we're doing a 45 Day Paleo Challenge. We're eating super healthy, whole foods, for 45 days. No cheating. It's a good thing we've already been following it for a year. I feel bad for the people who jumped right in, barely knowing anything about it. And I'm excited for how not-restrictive it feels.
We're 9 days in, and the cravings for sweets and other unhealthy food are almost gone. And we've already tried 3 or 4 new recipes, and I'm loving how easy it is prepare delicious meals without using any sugar or grains or flour! Seriously! This is no longer a diet. It's a way of life, and it feels amazing. It kind of makes me want to go a whole year, without any cheating. Okay, maybe one cheat meal a week. Which is still a lot better than what we were doing.
Oh, and I haven't cheated so far. I don't want to. Anytime I'm tempted, I just think about how disappointed I would be in my self. And if I cheat once, I'll cheat all the time. And I know it won't even feel good, or satisfying. So yeah. Eating healthy is fun! Who knew?!
Okay, I have to go and shower now. I'm so glad I got to blog finally! Know that I'm trying to keep up with all your blogs, but I barely have time to read, much less comment. So I'll do a mass, generalized, "I love everything you guys are writing."
January 16, 2010
Okay Then
So Art took me and his sister through a Crossfit Base Camp today. Basically, just introducing us to all the movements that we'll be doing in any given Crossfit workout. Unfortunately, I started to feel like I was going to black out/faint/puke after the warm up. And that was just the warm up! I don't know what was going on. I've done Crossfit workouts before, and I've never experienced that.
My vision got all spotty, my ears started to ring, and I felt dizzy and nauseated. It was really weird. And it's not like the warm up is hard. It is kind of tiring the first few times, but you get used to it pretty quick. So I'm hoping that this was just a one-time thing, because I don't want to look like a wuss when I start working out there! Obviously, if I do start feeling like that, I should stop and recover. But I don't want to look like a quitter.
Thankfully I did recover and was able to finish the base camp. I learned a lot, mostly how everything ties together. My husband is a great coach. :)
Anyway, I'm gonna be starting up at the gym next week, as in a little more than a week from now. I just finished up one week of overtime at work, and I have one left.
I think I was going to tell you more, but I have to shower, because we are going out this evening. And tomorrow I'm going to be cleaning the WHOLE house. Yay for me. Art will most certainly be helping.
Have a great weekend!
My vision got all spotty, my ears started to ring, and I felt dizzy and nauseated. It was really weird. And it's not like the warm up is hard. It is kind of tiring the first few times, but you get used to it pretty quick. So I'm hoping that this was just a one-time thing, because I don't want to look like a wuss when I start working out there! Obviously, if I do start feeling like that, I should stop and recover. But I don't want to look like a quitter.
Thankfully I did recover and was able to finish the base camp. I learned a lot, mostly how everything ties together. My husband is a great coach. :)
Anyway, I'm gonna be starting up at the gym next week, as in a little more than a week from now. I just finished up one week of overtime at work, and I have one left.
I think I was going to tell you more, but I have to shower, because we are going out this evening. And tomorrow I'm going to be cleaning the WHOLE house. Yay for me. Art will most certainly be helping.
Have a great weekend!
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