Can I Get Fries With That?

Well, it happened, I gave into my McDonalds temptation. McDonalds was on my way home from class & I said those words that seemed so familiar.

"A double cheeseburger, cheese & ketchup only, with a medium fry, & a large coke."

Immediately I knew what a stupid, impulsive, decision I had made. But once I had it, there was no turning back. I'm not going to lie, it tasted so dang good BUT I felt guilty, I felt gross, & my stomach definitely didn't handle it well.

I wish I had something inspirational to say, but I'm afraid that's not always the case.

As disappointed as I am in myself, I have to face reality & write the unforgivable in my food journal:

Burger (440 calories)
Fries (380 calories)
Coke (280 calories)

If you can do the math (please don't) that's 1100... Which means today I've had 1170 total so far. Looks like I can't eat dinner. Just kidding... I don't believe starvation is the answer but I'll definitely be looking for something light.

So here's a question I've gotten a lot... "What to do when you eat off plan." Pretty broad, eh? But I began looking for answers...

1. RELAX. If you're generally committed to your diet, you'll probably have a mini panic attack. I know personally I felt like a dog that had chewed up a shoe, I just wanted to run and hide under the table.

2. Don't beat yourself up... I'm still learning this one.

3. Think about the rest of your day & how you can compensate for your mistake.

4. Skip the scale... Don't run weigh yourself because if you don't like what you see, it's just going to tare you down more.  If you do weigh yourself immediately, it could be a little higher. This isn't excess body fat, it could be water retention brought on by extra salt from your meal.

5. Don't skip out on exercise that day!!! That would just be a double whammy.

6. Track what you eat.. I've been tracking my meals & it helps me so much! That way you can look back & see what worked.

So that would be my (& some expert sources) recommendations for when you have a diet 911.

It's all a learning experience.

Blood, Sweat, & Vomit...

Putting together the events that happened today, it would have been seemingly bad, but it was surprisingly great. I woke up at 11AM (After not getting to sleep till 4am), missed the delivery of my CrossFit shoes, & cut my arm open. That was just the morning!

Thankfully we always have bandaids (& skin heals), Fedex let me pick up my shoes, and I had the day off! But then I got to CrossFit about 30min early & checked my email in the car. It showed that I'd been accepted into a class I was waitlisted for! (woohoo!) But that meant I had to drive ALL the way to Delta, pay for the class (because it starts tomorrow), & get back to CrossFit. That wasn't gonna happen! So I settled on going to the beginners class at 7. Sometimes I wish I could always go to the beginners class. But mother of all that is good, tonight's WOD was so hard.

It was 12:00 minutes AMRAP of:
running
wall balls
slam balls

I was in a group with the only 2 guys (which ideally would be my last choice). But let me tell you, if anything gets a girl to work hard, it's having to do it in front of two attractive young men (probably too young) because the last thing you wanna be, is the fat girl that doesn't work hard.

Then we pushed the sled thingamabob. THAT was sooo hard. I didn't even make it to the end before I was booking it to the bathroom to throw up.

There were a few advantages to working out with guys though... It forced me to use the 20 pound ball which really made me give it my all. Wall balls are hard enough but this made them 10 times harder.

Tonight when I had to leave CrossFit to go take care of business at Delta, I really didn't want to go back. I almost just skipped today, & for me... that says a lot because I hate to miss. So I know how hard it can be. I know it's hard to get out of bed. It takes a lot of will power to put on your sneakers and go for a run or lift weights or make it to class. Eating well is a decision & being active is a lifestyle. But physical activity will boost your energy and make you more productive. Exercising will reduce your stress. Being active will make you stronger, healthier, and happier. If you sit & complain about your weight, you won't go very far. So get off your butt & get moving! Conquer resistance! Resist temptation! If it were easy we would all be in amazing shape. Being in good shape takes effort & dedication. Make it a routine! Remember the effort you make is equal to the results you end up with. Put in the work & don't make excuses. The end.

LET THE BEET DROP.

So here's the low down. I get cravings... A LOT. And today, a milkshake was exactly what my tastebuds were crying out for. Speedway, my go-to gas station, just brought in a new milkshake machine that really does make superb shakes, & it's only a mile down the road.

Then I got the bright idea, why not make a creation of a smoothie that has all the vegetables I would never eat alone. It's not that I don't like vegetables, they're just not my ideal snack. (I oughta bitch slap my teenage self for never giving them a chance).

So I set off to the grocery store to pick out some "yummy" vegetables. I decided on vegetables instead of fruit mainly because I don't like citrus fruits & it's hard to make a fruit smoothie without those! So here's what you'd need...

2 pieces of celery
2 large carrots
2 granny smith apples
1 lemon
2 small beets

I know what you're thinking... Beets? Really?

But seriously there are LOTS of benefits to eating beets... So here's a few!

1. They have no trans fats or saturated fats.
2. They are rich in carbohydrates and energize your body quickly!
3. They are a great source of minerals: magnesium, sodium, potassium, betaine (for cardiovascular health), & they're super high in Vitamin C.
4.  Prevents or lowers high blood pressure.
5. Improves blood circulation
6. Combats skin infections
7. Speeds up your metabolism!
8. Prevents several kinds of cancer, primarily colon cancer

Now that I've lectured you on WHY you should eat beets, get to it! This smoothie is a great way to get quite a few servings of vegetables in one drink. So don't knock it till you try it!

WARNING:
- Beets will turn your urine red. So don't freak out.
- Some people are actually allergic to beets (not many)... Rash, hives, fever, chills, and I actually read its caused temporary paralyzation of vocal cords. WTF.
- If you're taking blood thinners, have kidney stones, or have a gal bladder disorder... Hit your doctor up, beets might not be on your menu.
- Cutting beets make it look like you committed murder in your kitchen.

That's all.
Start off your Monday right with a Drop the Beet smoothie (:
Cheers!

What Are You Waiting For?

Because you said you'd
start yesterday...

How often do you have really good intentions and swear to yourself that you'll start tomorrow? For me, that's exactly how my diet goes... usually.

I know I blogged last week and said I was starting my 21 day diet, but guess what... Every day I told myself I'd start tomorrow. I'd start off the day strong, have one little slip up & throw the rest of the day down the drain.

A few days ago Rich gave me a book (maybe from last century) with 30 days of meals under 1000 calories. Whew! That's not very many calories... Today I woke up & decided that today was the day I'd start. I prepared my breakfast:

1 egg
1 slice of bread
1 tbsp of jelly
1/2 cup of apple juice

Surprisingly, it was the perfect amount. I got through CrossFit with plenty of energy & I killed the workout by the way. I finished 100 thrusters & 100 push-ups in 13:31. Can I get a woohoo? (No? Ok...)

Trying cottage cheese
for the first time.

Then I got to work & planned to have a summer salad for lunch, but agh, I was just craving the chipotle turkey club. (If you haven't been to Honey Baked Ham lately, that's our special, so come try it!) I convinced myself that eating a sandwich wouldn't be the end of the world... After all, I had a killer workout. So I settled on the roast beef round up with baked chips... Which, after doing the math came out to about 800 calories... Not my best decision. But instead of blowing it off and moving my start date to tomorrow, I'm adjusting & finishing today strong. I decided to have a 1/4 cup of cottage cheese for dinner. That's it. I had never had cottage cheese before, but it's surprisingly very good!

So if I can give one word of advice to you... Start your goals today!!! Whether it's building the habit of reading, spending extra time with a friend who needs it, calling your grandma, or working out like me, get to it! There's no point in waiting...

Keep an eye out for tomorrow's blog: CrossFit from my momma's point of view.

Why Women Should Lift Heavy Weights

Howdy,

 I've got a bajillion comments/messages about the lifting photo from Monday. Thanks for all the encouraging words, but here's a common concern in questions I get from women... Why should girls lift that much??? (So if you've asked me, & I have yet to respond, this is why!)

That night I got in from CrossFit, all proud of the super awesome picture Sean took of my split jerk... My dad got all excited & my mom got all quiet. (Especially after telling her I almost dropped it on my head). Minutes of conversation went by before she softly asked... Elizabeth, why is it so important to lift that much?

It's questions like these that get me as nervous as a cow in a slaughterhouse. I don't know the answer? Because it's fun? Because it makes you feel like a badass? Because it makes me stronger? Hmmm... There must be some logical reason  to exhaust yourself by lifting insane amounts of weight? So I did some research of the benefits & asked my trainers their opinion. So here's the gist y'all:

1. Toned arms are freaking sexy- Most women are afraid to bulk up. But this won't happen! Not unless you're living off whey protein and working out hours on end a day. Bulky weight-lifters usually have "assistance" of sorts.

2. Heavy weights are crucial for weight loss - For each pound of muscle you build, you burn 30-50 more calories a day. Adding weight lifting to your routine will increase "after burn." Who doesn't want to burn more calories?

3. Your heart will love you if you lift heavy - Cardio isn't the only important thing to keep your heart happy. A survey done by the American Heart Association said that adding weight training to your workout, could reduce blood pressure, improve cardiovascular function, and reduce diabetes risk.

4. It's important in order to prevent injury - Stronger muscles mean stronger connective tissue & more stable joints. This will prevent injury when running, etc.

5. It's like a happy drug - Exercise serves better than anti-depressants.

6. We don't isolate muscle groups so you won't get "too big" anywhere.

7. Lifting weights increases your sex drive. Let's leave it at that.

On top of all that, who doesn't want to get stronger? Who doesn't want to feel like a badass?

I personally can say I feel much better since I started CrossFit. I've built a lot of muscle & STILL lost 11 pounds in the last month.

Emotionally CrossFit has helped me a lot as well. Something about lifting weights is empowering. Through the struggles and things that have happened to me in my life, it makes me feel like a stronger woman, emotionally & physically.

I am on anti-depressants and ever since I started CrossFit I feel a million times better about my life and where I'm at. There is no doubt that it has helped me emotionally just as much as it has on this weight loss journey.

So if you're still wondering if it's terrible for women to get into weightlifting of sorts, do some research. There's no reason to not have an informed opinion!

Washing The Tears Away

Do you ever feel trapped? I do… Especially on days like today. I feel trapped inside my body, like my weight is suffocating me & I just can’t get away or see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Last night I had a dream, that I could do a really intense workout, with no modifications, a heavy weight & that I could run faster than ever before. It’s a hard reality to wake up to when you’re so sore you can hardly get out of bed. During today’s workout I cried and cried. I couldn’t shrug off the voices in my mind mocking me, saying I can’t do this.

I’m not only battling weight, there are many other temptations I face. Don’t we all? CrossFit is helping me to beat everything that has previously dragged me down. Whether it’s "reassurance" from a boyfriend, or washing my pain away with a six-pack, the strength I get on a good day, makes me want to leave all of that behind. But it’s not always that easy… It’s days like today that I totally feel like giving up & giving in to everything from my past.

I love the support I get from you guys, but sometimes I want to quit. It’s scary to think about quitting, what kind of person that would show that I am. This isn’t easy, I’m not an inspiration, I struggle just like the rest of us. This past month has been the hardest in my life. Rich (another trainer that is super awesome) reminded me that on days you don’t want to go, you have to just do it. Even if you’re just going through the motions, at least you’re trying. Hey, you’re lapping everybody still on the couch.

Through the midst of the tears, I came out of the workout stronger than the day before & that’s all that counts.

A word of encouragement: We all know the kind of person we want to be & we always have room for improvement… Think about the steps it takes to become that person. Step by step, goal by goal, begin to work towards being the best version of you. 

Stay tuned for: "Why Women Should Lift Heavy Weights"

"Your struggles are only bigger than you when your thoughts convince you that you are incapable of overcoming them."

Baby Steps.

Everybody hates Mondays, right? Call me crazy but I actually love them!! It's a fresh, productive day. && I felt that way, until we got to doing the WOD.

But it wasn't all negative. We started off running to the 5th light pole, which in fit people speaking, that's nothing... but for me, it's a struggle. BUT I RAN THE WHOLE WAY. Slowly, like a turtle.

I'm sure there's some inspiring quote about turtles winning the race, but it's just not coming to me.

Anyway, it's still pretty embarrassing to have to be the person people wait for, but I actually am getting better & it's getting easier (:

Then came the WOD. I don't know what it is about overhead squats, but they really get to me. I have yet to make it through a workout with them without crying. That's the worst thing, crying during a workout... It makes me feel like such a baby, but this is all such an emotional challenge. Overhead squats are the most emotionally & physically challenging moves I've encountered in CrossFit thus far. If anything makes me feel like I can't do this, it's them.

The skill workout was pretty sweet though. I did 10 rounds of split jerks followed by 10 seconds of hanging on a bar. (Which I couldn't do last week!) Actually, I never ever growing up could go across monkey bars. So now it's one of my goals (:

SPLIT JERK: 125lbs

Speaking of goals... Ever since I started this thing, I've been working on writing accomplishment rewards for my weight loss goals! So here's what I got so far.

10 pounds - New pair of running shoes

20 pounds - Get a jawbone UP https://jawbone.com/up

30 pounds - Buy a new outfit!

40 pounds - Buy a new camera.

50 pounds - Sign up for a tennis league

60 pounds - Go to a Red Wings game.

70 pounds - Take ballroom dance lessons!

80 pounds - Get new cowgirl boots.

90 pounds - Get 3 new outfits.

100 pounds - Go to California to visit Cassie! 

125 pounds - Get a tattoo. 

150 pounds - Family cruise :)

175 pounds - Audition for Big Brother!

Stay tuned for updates on my 21 day nutrition challenge (:

Happy Monday! 

Monday's are 1/7th of your life, so make the best of them!