Thursday, November 24, 2011

From the Paleo King :)

I am so thankful that I got someone to do this challenge with me! Aaron is either really dedicated to his fitness or was really trying to please me! Here is what he thought of the Paleo Challenge:

Well where to start...I am however very committed in my well being and my health... good health=good life!! blank.gif

I was lucky to get a job at 24 Hour fitness where I continue my daily health and workout routine. Overall, I thought I ate pretty well; I never really ate ice cream or hot dogs, etc., so my diet plan was acceptable for me. One day when I walked into work, I noticed that there was this beautiful, new girl working in memberships; I was like, "Hey whoas!!! who is this???" Her name is Shelby; she too is devoted to working out and she is a health freak just like I am! Fortunately, she got past my ghost-busters vacuum duty and we started to talk. One day we were talking about eating habits and she suggested that we try a paleo challenge. I was like, "What the foo-foo is paleo?" After countless hours of talking with her and researching the plan, I finally figured out that commitment is all you need to have in order to do it. I was very hesitant to do this; not having my bread or milk with protein was a no-go for me. But she convinced me otherwise, and we started the "30 Day Paleo Challenge". I, as well as others, thought we were nuts, but I got past that and really tried to focus on the end goal... and that was to get in shape.

Day 1 was weird; I had to get used to what I was going to eat for the next 31 days. Anytime I needed the support or had any questions I could go to Shelby for advice. 

The first week and half wasn't too bad...I liked eating the "paleo foods"; I kept it really simple: EGGS and CHICKEN! After a while that got really old and I needed to spice things up; that was when the challenge really kicked in. It would have been so easy to give in and have a bowl of cereal or go to Subway for a turkey sandwich, but I got though the pain and cravings by talking to Shelby and staying focused. 

After about the second week, I finally started to adjust to the food and started to eat a larger variety, like veggies; I used to hate veggies, but now it's all I eat. I love carrots and bell peppers. blank.gifYum!! This is also around the time that I started to do CrossFit with Shelby at our gym, and I immediately fell in love with CrossFit.

By the middle of week 3, I really started to notice more muscle definition and higher energy levels throughout the day. I FELT GREAT!!!! I was always in a happy mood and never had that sick feeling that you get when you eat bad food... I wish I could express how I felt, so you fellow readers could understand, but I can't...its something you will have to do in order to experience what we felt.

With ONE WEEK left and Thanksgiving around the corner, I was ready for it to be done so I could eat some freakin' pie. I came to realize that I don't ever want this to be over. I love they way I feel; yes I will smack down on some mashed potatoes, jell-o, and pumpkin pie, but tomorrow it is right back on the diet...(excuse me...back on the lifestyle). This is who I am and how I eat now.

I love applying my chicken cooking skills, I love eating fruits and veggies.. I also love going to restaurants, ordering a naked chicken salad, and feeling great when I walk out the door. How many of you could honestly say that you feel great after chowing down at Old C's or most other restaurants??? Not many!! 

Overall, I feel great, I look great, and my overall lifestyle is great. I am so thankful that I met Shelby because I would never have completed this Challenge. Yes, after completing this diet I got my health to where it needs to be, but more importantly, I got a best friend who will never leave my side, and I will never leave her's.

If you are thinking about making a lifestyle change for better health and well-being.. all I can say is don't think.. JUST DO!!!!

Happy Holidays to all,
Aaron :) 

WE DID IT!

Yesterday was the last day of the Paleo Challenge! :) Aaron and I officially went 30 days without eating any processed food (except for Aaron's salad dressing haha). Let me start by thanking everyone for your continuous support and kind words: thanks for cheering me on, talking me out of eating cake, and allowing me to smell your food! Furthermore, let me say this: if I can go 30 days without eating one bite of garbage food, you can make some improvement to your nutrition. There is always room for improvement. 


Who's ready to see how we did? I am :) 
Shelby:
Starting weight: ~148 lbs.
Post-Paleo: ~143 lbs.
Starting body fat: 23.4%
Post-Paleo: 21.7%


Unfortunately neither of us improved on the workout portion of the challenge. We were both about 10 seconds slower than our starting time.














Aaron:
Starting weight: 173 lbs.
Post-Paleo: 167 lbs.
Starting body fat: 10.7%
Post-Paleo: 8.1% 




Here are a few things we accomplished, on top of having excellent commitment to nutrition!
  • My first unassisted pullup!
  • My first full rope climbs (3 of them!)
  • My first double unders!
  • PR'd my mile run by 1:30 (new time 8:20)
  • PR'd my back squat (135#)
  • I learned how to grill! 
  • Aaron got handstand pushups! 
  • He also learned how to do double unders...very well. 
  • I did my first handstand!
Obviously improving your nutrition makes a huge difference for your mental and physical health! The Paleo lifestyle is definitely something that I plan on continuing for a very long time. So many people are concerned with the cost of eating a healthful diet, but I only spent about $30/week on my groceries...much less than I did when I was eating processed food. When you aren't paying for packaging or the manufacturers' marketing, you save a lot of money! As far as discipline and commitment goes, you can do anything you set your mind to. If you never wanted to eat processed food again, you could! Physically, I feel better than I've ever felt. My body craves and appreciates the nourishment I provide it, and in turn I have high energy levels, improved performance, and better overall well-being. This is the way people were meant to eat and how I feel everyday is just further proof of that. 

Workout wise, this challenge made me realize how far I can push myself. If I am completely avoiding foods that I [used to] like for 30 days, I better work out hard to make the most of this. That's exactly what I did. Following my gym's programming everyday made such a difference! I've noticed that a lot of CrossFit athletes are pick-and-choose with the wod's that they do; they'll look at their gym's wod, deem it too hard, too running intensive, or unappealing and call a rest day. I was this way before the challenge. Now, I show up whether I want to do the workout or not. Doing the things you are uncomfortable with will make you a better, stronger athlete. If you're going to call yourself an athlete, you better be ready to live up to that title. Don't be scared of a little hard work, a lot of sweat, and maybe a few tears. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! This is has been such a wonderful 30 days...I'm so thankful for my discipline and commitment to creating a healthier lifestyle for myself. A special thanks to Aaron for doing this Paleo Challenge with me...having a solid support system makes a world of difference. Thanks to my wonderful coaches at Progressive Fitness CrossFit for pushing me to my limits everyday, encouraging constant improvement, and providing me with a little bit of that "healthy fear" we always talk about. I have so much appreciation for everyone that has supported me throughout the Challenge and my entire weight loss journey; know that the day you decide to make life changes, I'll be here for you, as well. With that said, I think I hear the mating call of a pumpkin pie...

(...goals are still goals, even on holidays. Don't get to crazy. Eat pie, but not an entire one. And you should probably try to get a workout in...I did!)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Motivation Bear!

This week has been absolutely incredible thus far; a few kick-ass things have happened!! Here's a couple of stories for you:


Story #1: The other day, I was getting ready to hop in the shower and I noticed a scratch on my back from my bitch-ass cat. As I was examining my wound, I then noticed a strange lump underneath my shoulder blade. I immediately decided that I had armpit cancer. Amidst my cancer freak-out, I tried poking this "growth" and as I moved my arms, more bumps appeared on my upper back. My confusion and panic quickly turned into excitement when I realized that I didn't have cancer at all...I just have visible back muscles now :)


Story #2: The very first day that I walked into Progressive Fitness CrossFit, they were all doing a rope climb wod. Out of curiosity and never having tried to climb a rope, I jumped up and made an attempt. I literally could not even hang on the rope, let alone climb it; I pretty much wrote off ever getting up that rope at this point. Last week, I did my first somewhat rope climb...I got halfway up a few times and I was really excited! Yesterday's workout had 4 minutes of rope climbs in it; two rope climb wods in less than a week's time? Vomit. I told Chris when I went in yesterday that I had no intention on going all of the way up and that he could give me half credit for my sweet half-climbs :) 

My 4 minutes started and I slowly progressed up the rope. Once I got halfway, I looked down at my coach knowing exactly what he was about to say: "keep going". One more pull and I looked back down: "keep going". One more pull: "keep going". It was about this time that I stopped looking down and I started looking up...I was at the top. I made my way back to the ground with tears in my eyes, rope splinters in my hands, and the biggest smile on my face. My first full rope climb! Monkey bear status!! With my awesome CrossFit family cheering my on, I did two more full climbs and one 75% of the way up. On the last one, I had really great descending technique: I just let go...I burned the SHIT out of my legs, hands, and stomach, but I do not even care! 

This was the most rewarding accomplishment I've achieved so far. Reaching my goal weight was such a great feeling, but actually seeing physical improvement like this was out of this world. Knowing that I took care of something that I once deemed impossible (not once but 3 times), has really given me faith in the process and motivated me to knock out some more goals. 

Whether you are just planning out some goals, beginning your life-changing program, in the midst of achieving a strong routine, or you've already accomplished great things, staying motivated to continue leading a healthy lifestyle is very important. Without motivation, it's easy to give up and fall back into bad habits. Here are some ways I've found motivation:
  • Change up your routine; it's easy to get bored when you do the same thing every week. Try new workouts, mix things up with interval training, or try give CrossFit a shot (seriously, do it). If you're usually a cardio princess, try incorporating some strength training; vice versa.
  • Work with a personal trainer. I worked with a trainer for about 6 months and could not recommend it more. Trainers not only encourage you, but they keep you accountable with your nutrition and workouts, they challenge you to exceed your limits, and they'll provide you with overall knowledge that is simply priceless. 
  • Take fish oil; studies have shown that DHA and EPA increase motivation sensors in the brain :)
  • Create some kind of challenge: 30 day cardio challenge, try the Paleo Challenge (I dare yoooou!), etc.
  • Narrow down your goals; sometimes it's easy to feel overwhelmed when you have 15 different things that you're shooting for. For the next few weeks, focus on ONE thing that you want to achieve physically. Whether it's losing 10 pounds, staying true to your nutritional program, or climbing that damn rope. 
  • Talk to people about your goals; tell EVERYONE about them. "Hello Walmart greeter, let me tell you about how I'm going to do my very first kipping pullup!!"This will get you excited to get things done, it will build a solid support system, and it will keep you accountable because, honestly, nobody likes to look bad to other people.
  • Find a workout buddy! My girl, Crystal, is amazing :) We encourage each other in and out of the gym; whenever I feel like eating crap food or skipping a workout, I know I can go to my workout partner and she'll kick my ass into gear.
  • Try a group exercise class: if you belong to any respectable gym, they probably have some type of exercise classes. My favorites are indoor cycling and yoga! Classes are fun and you get the opportunity to surround yourself with potential workout buddies! 
  • Make weekly and monthly goals; achieving smaller things every week/month is encouraging and pushes you towards your larger goals. A few examples of weekly goals could be: no cheat foods, increase cardio by 15 minutes daily, stretch everyday. Monthly goals: get one kipping pullup, do 5 consecutive double unders, climb that damn rope.
Paleo update: We officially have one week left of the Paleo Challenge!! It'll end up being a little bit longer than 30 days, but extra time of eating well isn't a bad thing. I plan on eating like a cow on Thanksgiving (but posting about ways you can avoid that) and jumping right back into the Paleo lifestyle until my birthday (December 29th; buy me something). Obviously I am seeing and feeling the benefits of my nutrition, so I have no intent on going back to eating garbage. Paleo fo evaaaa!!


Wod update, anybody? Obviously I'm feeling great about my performance this week :) I'm already incredibly sore and I still have 2 workouts left until rest day...this is usually about how it goes. Today's workout included toes to bar, kettlebell swings, and jump roping...3 movements I thought I could dominate, but it ended up kicking my ass. I got 5 consecutive double unders though so I'm very excited about that!! Rope climbs yesterday, double unders today, pullup tomorrow? We'll see!!

I plan on posting a goals list tomorrow, so watch out for some of that action :)

"Pain is temporary; quitting is forever."

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Bear Bag: Unveiled.

My gym bag is rather large, pretty heavy, and filled with mostly useful items. I'll admit, I may come a little bit over-prepared (especially considering that I live 3 miles from the gym), but 99% of the time, I have everything that I need. What does "gym-ready" look like for this lady? Let's see :)


From left-ish to right-ish:
  1. My bright blue, Innov-8 F-light 230's- THE best shoe I have come across thus far. Very minimal heel drop, flexible, comfortable, and most importantly: great for CrossFit. 
  2. Optimum Nutrition Amino Energy (AKA "Purple Drank")- I use this as a pre-workout supplement and occasionally drink it in place of coffee or tea. It is delicious and a lot milder than other pre-workout supps. that I have tried...so if you don't like feeling like The Hulk before you workout, Purple Drank is for you.
  3. Degree Active- The best D.O. for my B.O. 
  4. Lemon Vanilla lotion- It smells like lemons & cake. I can't eat cake, so I like to smell like it.
  5. Pink Fresh & Clean body spray- Because I am so fresh & so clean.
  6. BodyBugg V3- It calculates how many calories you burn throughout the day, so it is especially helpful for weight loss. A lot of people overestimate how many calories they burn and underestimate how many calories they consume, so any kind of calorie-tracking device will ensure that you are getting the calorie-deficit that is necessary for losing weight. Plus, it's fun to see how many calories you burn when you're driving, mopping, or running around your house in a Robin outfit...
  7. Chalk bag- CrossFit incorporates a lot of Olympic weightlifting, pullups, knees to elbows, toes to bear bar, etc. These are all activities where grip is especially important and sweaty palms are disadvantageous; thus, gym chalk in a cute lil' bag :) 
  8. Gym bag- For carrying all of this shit.
  9. The Paleo Diet for Athletes- This book is excellent! It is what really inspired me to be so strict with my nutrition because it discusses how big of a difference it makes with athletic performance. Even if you are not an endurance athlete, I would recommend reading this if you are interested at all in improving your workout level, your running times, or sports ability. 
  10. Organic raisins- Because most manufacturers add sugar or preservatives, I like to buy organic dried fruit instead. I eat raisins post-workout because they are an alkaline-based food (decreases acidity in blood, helping with soreness) and they are high glycemic load/index carbohydrates (taken with protein, help with protein synthesis aka muscles sucking up protein). 
  11. Dental floss- I eat A LOT of meat and broccoli; not so cute stuck up in your teethies.
  12. Blender Bottle- This baby is great for mixing protein shakes, pre-workout supps, chocolate milk, etc. It has a little whisk inside that prevents chunkage :)
  13. Lacrosse ball- I use this for self-myofascial release (muscle knots) and mobility (stretching). Just place a ball between you and a wall and roll around on the sore/tense area. Caution: this hurts and will make you want to cry/vomit. 
  14. Nalgene bottle- I love my giant water bottle because I am more inclined to stay hydrated and avoid making 1,000 trips to the water fountain. 
  15. Knee band- I have issues with my left knee (from running and attempting double unders), but this band helps quite a bit. I just wear it underneath my lil' kneecap and it alleviates most of the pain. 
  16. Workout clothes- Fact: I own 10x more workout clothing than I do normal people clothing. I really like the Champion brand (Target) because it's rather inexpensive and it all fits me pretty well. 
Alrighty, I guess that sums up the entirety of my gym bag!! 

The Paleo Challenge is still going well! I think I'm at the point where it's just an everyday thing now. I don't think about cake every 3 minutes and physically, I feel amazing. I almost don't want to eat an entire pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving just because I feel like I'm doing so well. I am really seeing the truth in the whole "it takes 3 weeks to create a habit" or whatever...this is actually getting easier as I go along. The hardest rule to follow lately has been the "no measurements until the end" rule. I really, really want to weigh myself!! I think it's just out of curiosity, but so far I haven't set foot on the scale. 

We have kind of a segregation of sorts going on at work right now: very recently, we have a few people starting on The Zone Diet and a few people that are becoming Paleo. I just think it's awesome that everyone seems to be jumping aboard the health train, honestly. I used to be such a Zone hater, but I'm getting to be more understanding with not wanting to give up certain things. And I quote "The Zone Diet gives you cookies!!!" 

In workout news, I have been the sorest of my lifetime this week. Progressive's programming has been spot on lately and I'm really feeling it. I ended up working out last Sunday (and PR-ing the shit out of my wod), so yesterday was an impromptu (and much needed) rest day, along with today. So it's back to work tomorrow!! 

"Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't."

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

FAQ for my BFF's!

Since I started writing this blog, I've been getting a lot of really great questions from readers...which is wonderful, so I am going to share a few FAQ's today to clarify things and hopefully spark a few more inquiries!! Also, let me take this opportunity to encourage you to ask questions if you are confused, if you need motivation, or if you need recipe ideas or anything like that :) Here is my Facebook and my email address so that you can easily get your questions answered! Also, here is a photo of the best part about being skinny...a wider costume variety. Pretty sure this is a 3T. Rocket shiiiiiiiiiiip, fuck yea!!




Q: Why do you follow such a strict diet? 
A: First of all, never look at a nutrition plan as a diet. It should be a long term, lifestyle change. Secondly, the Paleo diet is what has worked the best for me, overall, since I decided to improve my nutrition 6 months ago. Throughout my struggles with my health, I've tried every diet from Weight Watchers to South Beach; Paleo is just the one that I agree with most and it makes the most sense to me. Lastly, and most importantly, this way of eating makes me feel the best I've ever felt; physically and mentally. 

Q: What foods do you miss the most?
A: Any type of sweet bread: muffins, cakes, cookies, banana bread, etc. Everything else isn't too big of an issue for me; I've never been a big dairy fan and most junk food isn't too big of a temptation.

Q: What if I don't want to give up dairy or bread or _____?
A: It's okay to make small modifications to the program to accommodate with your lifestyle; I have made exceptions for protein powder and canned tuna, for example. So if you absolutely do not want to give up yogurt or pasta or something, I would follow the program as closely as possible until you feel comfortable getting stricter. Another good alternative, if you don't want to commit to such a disciplined lifestyle, is the Zone Diet. It is very similar to the Paleo Diet, in principle, but it is more flexible and practical...especially if you are just starting with lifestyle changes.

Q: What kind of workout regimen to do you follow?
A: I am a die-hard CrossFitter and am damn proud to say that. I follow my gym, Progressive Fitness', programming very strictly (especially since the beginning of the Paleo Challenge). I've never been a good athlete and I've never considered myself strong or fast or coordinated, but CrossFit is changing all of these things for me. It's made me think of myself as a highly capable athlete, it's given me confidence in my physique and my mental strength, and it's fun to challenge myself on a daily basis. 

Q: What does your typical day of eating look like?
A: This is basically what I eat everyday:

Breakfast: 
  • Protein shake w/ only 1 scoop of powder.
  • 3 egg white omelet with vegetables, a little bit of chicken, and salsa.
  • 1/2 grapefruit (no sugar, jerk).
  • 1,000 mg. fish oil, multivitamin, and thermogenic.
Morning snack:
  • Cucumbers & carrots.
  • 1 oz. raw almonds.
Lunch:
  • 4 oz. grilled chicken breast w/ salsa.
  • 1/2 avocado.
  • 1 cup raw broccoli (or similar vegetable).
Afternoon snack:
  • Medium apple :)
  • 2 Tbsp. almond or peanut butter.
Dinner:
  • 4 oz. grilled turkey burger.
  • More vegetables of some nature.
  • 1 cup green grapes.
  • 1,000 mg. fish oil, multivitamin.
This is just an example of a daily menu; the important part is the quality of your food...not so much the quantity as long as you're being reasonable. Also, you'll want to make sure that you're getting appropriate amounts of protein, good carbohydrates, and healthy fats with each meal and snack.

Q: What kind of supplementation do you recommend?
A: Prepare to be overwhelmed. As previously mentioned, I take fish oil (a great anti-inflammatory), multivitamins, and a thermogenic (for extra fat burning and metabolism boosting). I take Amino Energy by Optimum Nutrition (grape is delicious!) with one scoop of BCAA's & glutamine powder (helps with fatigue and recovery) as a pre-workout beverage. Post workout nutrition is incredibly important because your muscles will be the most receptive to protein (muscle building) and carbohydrates (essential for restoring glycogen). Honestly, I've been drinking whatever protein powder is on sale at 24 Hour Fitness because I get a pretty sweet deal. I think that choosing a protein supplement can be a little bit overwhelming, so I would recommend talking to someone at your local nutrition store and reading reviews online to help with your choice. My post-workout meal usually consists of a protein shake with 2 scoops of powder, 1 scoop of BCAA's & glutamine, and a handful of raisins (a high glycemic load & index food, which will help with protein synthesis). Hate raisins? Alternatives: bananas, sweet potatoes, other dried fruit :)

Alrighty...I think that is quite a bit of information for now; definitely enough to suffice your appetite for a few days, eh? Please remember when heeding my advice that all of this is just advice; this is what works best for my lifestyle, my body, and my workout regimen. 

Who wants a Paleo Challenge update? You do!! This is about the time that I caved in and ate an entire pizza the last time that I attempted a 30 Day Paleo Challenge, so considering that I am not crying over an empty Domino's box, I'd say that all is well!  Today I even watched one person eat a delicious brownie and another person eat a chocolate chip cookie...smelling is not cheating. 

We all scream for WOD updates! I did my very first rope climb. It was scary, it hurt, I was wearing my cape, and it is one more goal to check off of my list :) Today's WOD was a pretty tough one, overall...my time was nothing to brag about, but finishing was an accomplishment in itself. I did my first overhead squat yesterday, too!! They were pretty light, but like I always say "form before load". I'll finish my WOD update with this comment: fuck dumbbell burpees. Okay thanks. 

"The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do."

Monday, November 7, 2011

Be the Change You Want to See

Throughout my weight loss journey, I have had several people approach me with similar scenarios: a friend, parent, child, or partner of their's is unhealthy or overweight and they would like to help them change this. Today in America, I'm sure that everyone knows at least one person that could be considered overweight or unhealthy; chances are that you know more than five. My life goal at this point is to lead a healthful lifestyle and help others to do the same, so I'd like to discuss a little bit on this topic before updating everyone on the Paleo Challenge and other lovely subjects.

After I started losing weight, it was like I unveiled some treasured secret that I needed to tell everyone about. "Guys, get this shit...I started working out and eating vegetables, and now I'm losing weight!" Really? Imagine that. Suddenly I decided that I wanted to help people get healthy. Several of my closest beloveds could use some encouragement with their health, so I tried to light fire under their asses by writing workouts for them, planning their weekly menus, giving them advice, and offering discounted memberships (I'm a membership pimp). I was really surprised at first that none of them were shrinking and purchasing their clothing at the Baby Gap like I do. So what gives? Obviously I figured out the formula for weight loss, right?

Just because you and I would like to see our unhealthy friend change their ways, doesn't mean that they're going to. My victims probably tried a few of my workouts in their living room, ate a couple days worth of my menus, and told me that they'd come into the gym just to appease me. Key phrase: appease me. This has absolutely nothing to do with me (or you); we are trying to help our friend. 

Until our friend is ready to lose weight for the right reasons (to live longer, to have a better quality of life, to see their children grow up, etc.), they will not become healthier. The only person anyone should be changing their lives for is themselves; not me or you. Encouraging our friend to make lifestyle changes for themselves is the best thing we can do for now. 

Here are some ways you can encourage loved ones around you:

  • Purchase them a subscription to a fitness or healthy living magazine.
  • Have a healthy date night: cook a nutritious meal & watch the Biggest Loser.
  • Join a local gym together; most clubs offer a deal if you sign up in pairs :)
  • Set a goal with them; even if you are not trying to lose weight, you can aspire to build lean muscle, commit to daily exercise, improve your nutrition, etc.
  • Go on a hike, bike ride, walk around the park, etc.
  • When they talk about being overweight or unhealthy, let them know that you're there to support them no matter what. 
  • Start some kind of challenge; it doesn't have to be extreme: 7 day challenge to be active for at least 30 minutes daily, 10 day no soda challenge, etc.
  • Let them put you through a workout; exposure is exposure, right? 
  • Most importantly, lead by example. Be the change that you wish to see around you; how can you tell someone to get healthier when you are not doing it yourself? 
Encouraging our friend to make changes for themselves instead of pushing fitness or nutrition programs on them sets them up for longterm success. Being too forward or demanding when someone isn't committed can be counterproductive; positivity is always best :) 

Today makes day 15 of the Paleo Challenge and Aaron is a cheater!! That fool tried to act surprised when I told him that salad dressing is not Paleo; pretty sure I've never seen a bottle of thousand island carved into a cave drawing, cheater! Calling him out on the dub-cubed is enough punishment though, so I guess he isn't disqualified :) I, on the other hand, have not cheated and am kicking this challenge's caveman ass. 

I'm feeling pretty good about organized lists in this post, so let's see a few, bulleted facts on how the Paleo Challenge has affected my social life:
  • If anyone ever asks me to hang out, I alert them that I will be bringing my own food if they drag me to a restaurant. 
  • I went into work today smelling like grilled chicken because I cooked an entire flock of chicken breasts before my shift. 
  • Everyone at work knows I'm Paleo because I eat meat hunks out of a Ziploc bag and mow on entire crowns of broccoli all day. 
  • There is a running joke that I hunt buffalo on weekends with handmade weaponry. 
  • The only people that care about 90% of the shit I talk about are employees at Whole Foods or Vitamin Shoppe.
  • I have a blog...that I post on about the food I eat...and hardly anything else...
  • Other than that, I don't think my nutritional switch has affected my social life too much :)
Workout news!! My favorite workout is a 15 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of 5 dips, 10 box jumps, and 60 jump ropes. The first time I did this wod (about a month ago), I got exactly 9 rounds. I did it again yesterday and got 10 rounds + 5 dips + 4 box jumps. So basically I PR'd the shit out of that workout :) In other workout news, I did a lot of GHD situps today and almost ran into a wall! I also started doing Progressive's strength program, so I maxed out a few lifts today and was rather impressed with the results! 70 pound shoulder press, 135 pound back squat, 185 pound deadlift, and 105 pound front squat. I am a beef machine, basically. 


Just a shout out to my baby sister, Alyssa: I am so incredibly proud of you for following your goals and being a brave lil' soldier. I'll miss the shit out of you while you're in Basic Training and I'm already counting down the days until your graduation. Always remember that I love you more than the world and I will be thinking about you everyday <3 

Happy Monday!! 


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Cake & Inspiration!

"You can have excuses or results; not both"

I'd like to begin this post by thanking everyone for reading my blog; I've gotten so much positive feedback and it's really great to know that my efforts are making some kind of impact. The way I see it, if I can help and inspire just one person to make life-changing decisions, I've done a lot. I know how hard losing weight, getting in shape, and making positive changes can be; there are at least 50 reasons you could give up, but remember that there are at least 100 reasons that you should keep going. 

So many of us are busy with work, school, families, financial issues, and so much more, but it's very important to keep your own health as your highest priority. You can't really stress about money or feed your family if you die from diabetes at age 40 because you've continuously made excuses to avoid proper exercise and nutrition. It's much easier to take action now and prevent future disease and poor health than it is to wait until it's too late and have to make up for lost time, overeating, and lack of exercise. It's time to be responsible for your own health, stop making excuses, and take action. 

With that said, today is day 11 of the Paleo Challenge and I want some fucking cake. Here are a few reasons as to why I will not be eating cake tonight:
  • Contrary to popular belief, cake is not Paleo.
  • I've worked too hard in the gym for it to be wasted on cake.
  • The satisfaction I'll feel when I've completed the challenge is going to be far more rewarding than any kind of instant gratification I could get from food. 
  • There are 403 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 54 grams of carbohydrates in one slice of heaven cake. 
  • It would take 2 hours of archery, 2.5 hours of brushing my teeth, or 1.5 hours of mopping to burn off the calories from said cake. 
  • None of those activities are as appealing as actually eating the cake. 
  • I would wake up tomorrow with a cake hangover.
  • I would not just eat one slice of cake...I would eat an entire cake.
  • Aaron would win the Paleo challenge. Unacceptable.
This weeks workouts were pretty fun, for lack of better words: an AMRAP, some hang power cleans, box jumps, and lots of jump roping...some of my favorite movements! Usually before a workout, I set some type of goal for my performance: "under 10 minutes", "don't rest until it's over", "beat ____", "at least 6 rounds", etc. This week I have accomplished or exceeded a lot of my expectations and I think my brain is finally catching up to my weight loss. 

Thanks again for reading, guys. I'll post again soon. Probably about cake.