Today, I went to lunch to study and eat yummy food that I didn't have to make at On the Border. This is a restaurant that I REALLY like. It's also a place where I often eat badly and sometimes avoid in order to eat well. But today was a success! Here's what I ate:
Guacamole (I asked them to add jalapenos and tomatoes to their regular stuff)
red and green pepper strips (instead of chips) to dip in the guac and the salsa
2 tacos (yes I ate the shells)
The tacos weren't perfect, I know, but this was so much better than what I usually eat there (a million chips) that I am very proud and uplifted. I know I can eat there without feeling overfull and lethargic, and next time, I think I will see how I do with the fajitas instead of tacos!
And I also went to the eye doctor today, another step in the direction of taking better care of my health. Yippee for me!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Making Taking Care of My Body a Priority in the Craziness that is Grad School
This semester has been SO crazy. I am loving it, doing all the things I love most (reading, writing, reading about writing, writing about reading, you know the super fun stuff), but I am busier than I have ever been with Livy and Aaron and ATLOS to think of on top of school and work.
Somehow in all the insanity, my healthy habits have gone away. I am never home during the week, so I don't cook. Instead, I've been eating fast food in the car and bar food at school WAY too often.
Instead of my long walks of last semester, I have been sitting on my behind, writing and writing and writing. When I have a break, instead of getting outside, I find myself frantically checking things off my to-do list. I'm getting about the same amount of sunlight as Aaron, for god's sake, and he's a computer programmer.
I've gained weight, and I feel yucky. I am pushing myself harder than ever before, and I am not fueling my body properly or exercising to relieve stress or sleeping enough.
So, I am making a change. I am unable to make a big change because I have way too much to do. But I am making small changes to get back on a healthier track.
I started a yoga class, which is active and also gives me some much needed stress relief (thanks, Tori!). I've been going one day a week for 3 weeks and like it so much that I am thinking of adding an extra day a week. As soon as Aaron sets up the DVD player in the new introvert-proof living room, I will add some weekend yoga with Livy.
I am going to start taking some shorter walks during my school breaks. Walks that I can do in 30 minutes. Walks that I can do in nice slacks or a dress. I do not have to walk for hours to make it worthwhile to do it. The perfect is the enemy of the good when it comes to walks (as in so much else).
I am going to start packing food for the day. Today I brought a cooler with lunch and dinner in it, simple stuff that doesn't require cooking. I may have to live with less variety if I am not willing to cook, but at least it will be healthy food that can fuel the pace of this semester. Today, I have ham, cheese, veggies and hummus, a frozen hamburger patty, and a salad. Not perfectly paleo, but a lot better than Taco Bell.
I am going to try to get more sleep by going to bed earlier on Mondays and Wednesdays (the days before my earliest days). It's hard to do that and still see Aaron much, but even an hour would help.
I'm trying not to focus on the weight I've gained or how I want to look or how I want my clothes to fit. Those things are fine, but not the most important. In a semester this busy, I only have time to think about the things that I value most and ruthlessly cut out the other. So body image issues have to go. Instead, my focus will be on giving my body the food, exercise, and sleep it needs to make me the brainiest, most energetic teacher and scholar that composition theory and writing center studies has ever seen.
Somehow in all the insanity, my healthy habits have gone away. I am never home during the week, so I don't cook. Instead, I've been eating fast food in the car and bar food at school WAY too often.
Instead of my long walks of last semester, I have been sitting on my behind, writing and writing and writing. When I have a break, instead of getting outside, I find myself frantically checking things off my to-do list. I'm getting about the same amount of sunlight as Aaron, for god's sake, and he's a computer programmer.
I've gained weight, and I feel yucky. I am pushing myself harder than ever before, and I am not fueling my body properly or exercising to relieve stress or sleeping enough.
So, I am making a change. I am unable to make a big change because I have way too much to do. But I am making small changes to get back on a healthier track.
I started a yoga class, which is active and also gives me some much needed stress relief (thanks, Tori!). I've been going one day a week for 3 weeks and like it so much that I am thinking of adding an extra day a week. As soon as Aaron sets up the DVD player in the new introvert-proof living room, I will add some weekend yoga with Livy.
I am going to start taking some shorter walks during my school breaks. Walks that I can do in 30 minutes. Walks that I can do in nice slacks or a dress. I do not have to walk for hours to make it worthwhile to do it. The perfect is the enemy of the good when it comes to walks (as in so much else).
I am going to start packing food for the day. Today I brought a cooler with lunch and dinner in it, simple stuff that doesn't require cooking. I may have to live with less variety if I am not willing to cook, but at least it will be healthy food that can fuel the pace of this semester. Today, I have ham, cheese, veggies and hummus, a frozen hamburger patty, and a salad. Not perfectly paleo, but a lot better than Taco Bell.
I am going to try to get more sleep by going to bed earlier on Mondays and Wednesdays (the days before my earliest days). It's hard to do that and still see Aaron much, but even an hour would help.
I'm trying not to focus on the weight I've gained or how I want to look or how I want my clothes to fit. Those things are fine, but not the most important. In a semester this busy, I only have time to think about the things that I value most and ruthlessly cut out the other. So body image issues have to go. Instead, my focus will be on giving my body the food, exercise, and sleep it needs to make me the brainiest, most energetic teacher and scholar that composition theory and writing center studies has ever seen.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Breakdancers can't be Wusses
So I went to Crossfit yesterday. How, I thought, can I justify this, when I don't especially love it and I've been doing it for a while? Doesn't qualify as much of an adventure when looked at that way. But then I got to thinking. What is the most adventury thing I really want to do but can't do yet because I'm not fit enough? Breakdancing!
So, Crossfit isn't Crossfit this summer. It's Breakdancing preparation. When I started to get overheated and miserable, I thought, "Breakdancers can't be wusses. Suck it up." When I was doing push presses and my shoulders got tired, I thought, "Wow, I'm gonna be strong enough to bounce into a handstand and out again."
Some adventures can't be had right this second but take some work. If I was going to hike to Macchu Picchu (another adventure I'd like to do), I'd have to prepare my body. It's the same with breakdancing and with parkour (which I'd like to try some day as well). So Crossfit this summer is the prelude to an adventure.
Friday, February 4, 2011
CrossFit Is Fun For All Personality Types
This post was jointly written by Jenn Casey of Rational Jenn and Kelly Elmore of Reepicheep's Coracle. It's just one of their many joint ventures. :)
Kelly and Jenn kick ass--but in different ways. Kelly wows people with her fiery personality, passion, and energy; Jenn wows people with her style of writing and telling a story and with her determination and drive. Since we've been going to CrossFit, we've seen our individual strengths and weakness play out in a whole new forum, and part of the fun of going is watching how the other one approaches the workouts. We've been going (Kelly says: "How long have we been going, Jenn?", and Jenn says, without hesitation: "Since September 28.") for only a little while, and we kind of mostly sort of suck, but we are making definite progress.
About Our Personalities
You may be familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (if you're not, you are missing out on both useful information and a super fun way to psycho-analyze your friends and family!), but it's a personality test you can take free and in your spare time. Jenn is an INTJ, which means that she recharges her energy alone or in small groups, likes the big picture over the details, likes distance from problems to analyze them, and likes structure, predictability, and plans. Kelly is an ENFP which means that she recharges in groups and social situations, likes the big picture over the details, likes to be right up in the problems having big feelings about them, and plans make her break out in hives.
We're different people and approach most things very differently; CrossFit is no exception. What we have found is that we both love CrossFit for different reasons. Just like in all areas of our lives, how we approach CrossFit and what we get out of it is heavily influenced by our personality types. There are advantages and disadvantages to all personality types; no type is inherently better than another. We're gonna explain some of the pros and cons of our particular types as we talk more about our CrossFit experiences.
RECORD KEEPING
In general, CrossFitters tend to track their progress in terms of time, rounds, how much weight lifted, and improvement over time.
Jenn: I love this aspect of CrossFit! I generally love measurement of any sort, and I actually get a little thrill every time I write down the Workout of the Day (WOD) in my iPhone. I love knowing how much weight I lifted last time, how much more I can do now, and I look forward to lifting more in the future. (I felt like such a badass the time I did a #95 back squat, and I can't wait for the day when I will do #195!) I even like the counting and tracking when we are in the middle of the workout; I love measuring my progress as I erase each little hash mark off of the whiteboard. In short, I love all the numbers and the measurements and think it is the most super fun thing ever.
Kelly: I don't keep records. Not at all. I couldn't care less how much I did last time or how much I will do next time. I take great pleasure in what I did this time, but the pleasure is the same whether I lifted 20 lbs. or 120 lbs. If I had to write anything down, I would quit, like tomorrow. We did some benchmarks not long ago, and our trainer actually asked Jenn to write down my times in her iPhone, which she was happy to do, cause she is obsessively fond of that record-keeping app. He didn't even mention it to me, observant man that he is.
Kelly and Jenn kick ass--but in different ways. Kelly wows people with her fiery personality, passion, and energy; Jenn wows people with her style of writing and telling a story and with her determination and drive. Since we've been going to CrossFit, we've seen our individual strengths and weakness play out in a whole new forum, and part of the fun of going is watching how the other one approaches the workouts. We've been going (Kelly says: "How long have we been going, Jenn?", and Jenn says, without hesitation: "Since September 28.") for only a little while, and we kind of mostly sort of suck, but we are making definite progress.
About Our Personalities
You may be familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (if you're not, you are missing out on both useful information and a super fun way to psycho-analyze your friends and family!), but it's a personality test you can take free and in your spare time. Jenn is an INTJ, which means that she recharges her energy alone or in small groups, likes the big picture over the details, likes distance from problems to analyze them, and likes structure, predictability, and plans. Kelly is an ENFP which means that she recharges in groups and social situations, likes the big picture over the details, likes to be right up in the problems having big feelings about them, and plans make her break out in hives.
We're different people and approach most things very differently; CrossFit is no exception. What we have found is that we both love CrossFit for different reasons. Just like in all areas of our lives, how we approach CrossFit and what we get out of it is heavily influenced by our personality types. There are advantages and disadvantages to all personality types; no type is inherently better than another. We're gonna explain some of the pros and cons of our particular types as we talk more about our CrossFit experiences.
RECORD KEEPING
In general, CrossFitters tend to track their progress in terms of time, rounds, how much weight lifted, and improvement over time.
Jenn: I love this aspect of CrossFit! I generally love measurement of any sort, and I actually get a little thrill every time I write down the Workout of the Day (WOD) in my iPhone. I love knowing how much weight I lifted last time, how much more I can do now, and I look forward to lifting more in the future. (I felt like such a badass the time I did a #95 back squat, and I can't wait for the day when I will do #195!) I even like the counting and tracking when we are in the middle of the workout; I love measuring my progress as I erase each little hash mark off of the whiteboard. In short, I love all the numbers and the measurements and think it is the most super fun thing ever.
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| Jenn, looking excited and intentionally psycho: "I can't wait to see how fast I can go through all these hash marks!" |
Kelly: I don't keep records. Not at all. I couldn't care less how much I did last time or how much I will do next time. I take great pleasure in what I did this time, but the pleasure is the same whether I lifted 20 lbs. or 120 lbs. If I had to write anything down, I would quit, like tomorrow. We did some benchmarks not long ago, and our trainer actually asked Jenn to write down my times in her iPhone, which she was happy to do, cause she is obsessively fond of that record-keeping app. He didn't even mention it to me, observant man that he is.
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| "How many rounds have I done tonight? Jenn! How many rounds have I done tonight?" |
The advantages of being Jenn and keeping records are that she can easily measure her progress, make changes if it isn't enough for her, and really celebrate her achievements in concrete ways. But it's easy to get caught up in the numbers, and sometimes her focus on the numbers keeps her from enjoying the experience and the afterglow of a good workout. She might not stop when she should, if the workout is too hard or she's in a little pain, because she wants to complete that next round. The advantages of being Kelly and not keeping records are that she can focus completely on the moment and the experience and not feel nickeled and dimed about her workout. However, she can sometimes miss patterns in her progress or her lack of it because she is without data.
GOAL SETTING
Jenn: In addition to specific weightlifting goals, I love the idea that one day I might be able to do an unassisted pullup. My goal before the pullup was to do real-live man pushups, a goal I recently accomplished! I amazed myself--and all the friends for whom I demonstrated my pushups. I like thinking about the things that are now within my reach because of CrossFit.
The pros for Jenn are that she will likely avoid injuries, keep good form, and build confidence slowly. She also may not progress as fast as she could on the complicated lifts. Kelly progresses quickly on these lifts and learns new skills faster, but she is more likely to jump into a situation that is too difficult for her skill level. She's pretty good about realizing when she's in over her head, though, and because it won't get written down anyway, she can back off without shame.
VERTICAL VS HORIZONTAL PROGRESS
Jenn: I get most excited about the workouts in which I improve on something I have done in the past, either more weights, better time, more rounds, etc. This the vertical progress we are talking about. I wish we repeated WODs more often so I could see more of this kind of vertical improvement.
Kelly: I like to learn new skills more than I like to perfect the old ones. I would rather do a new lift than an old one with more weight. This is what we mean by horizontal progress. I love the variety of CrossFit, and if we did the same things a lot more often, I'd probably quit. I can face 20 hard minutes if they are a different 20 hard minutes than the last time.
The advantage of being a vertical progress person is that what you get good at, you get really good at, but you can get stuck in a rut or forget to appreciate the experience of learning something new. The advantage of being a horizontal progress person is that you acquire all the varied components of fitness in the CrossFit system, but you can be too much of a generalist and not push to our limits on specific skills. We both enjoy both kinds of progress; the difference is only in which kind keeps us coming back to CrossFit.
AFTER CROSSFIT
Jenn: After a workout, I go over the numbers and progress in my head, and am usually already thinking about what I'll do next time. Sometimes I feel a bit disappointed and need to remember that my goal here is to move around and get strong and have fun, too. Sometimes I am in awe of my bad-assedness--I get so pumped when I realize that I really did 100 squats during a particular workout! I always have to tell Brendan (my husband) all about what I did, and sometimes demonstrate, too!
Kelly: After the workout, I immediately call Aaron and tell him every single thing we did and how awesome I am and how lucky he is to be with such a rock star! Then, I promptly forget everything that we did and don't think about CrossFit until the next time I go except when something particular happens that I want to blog about. Unlike Jenn, I don't think about the future. Each workout is an end in itself.
CROSSFIT KENNESAW
Jenn: Our gym is great, and the gym owner, Chris, is awesome to work with. He is great at teaching the skills as I mentioned before, and he lets me make progress on my own schedule. At the same time, he motivates me by saying "Yeah, go for it!" when I am slowing down during a WOD or am undecided about whether to move up in weight. I trust that he wouldn't push me too fast or too far. During the WOD, he notices if I'm questioning how I'm doing and doesn't hesitate to encourage or reassure me. Even when I come in dead last, which is often, he finds something encouraging and supportive to say. In fact, everyone at the gym encourages and supports each other, and I think it's because of the way Chris has modeled this as part of the way he runs his business. It's a great atmosphere.
Kelly: I like Chris because he's relaxed and fun and doesn't make me feel bossed. He gives me advice and guidance, but doesn't try to alter my basic approach. He's fine with me only coming in two times a week (which is all I've got, right now). He doesn't seem to care that I don't do recording. He doesn't try to have goal-setting sessions with me. Also, the music is fun (he plays Beastie Boys for me), and the atmosphere isn't like a muscle magazine. There's not a lot of super-loud grunting and there are no calendars with women and cars. Chris encourages me in a different way than he does Jenn. He sees when I'm slacking and gives me The Look that means "Get your ass in gear!" He's also really willing to answer my technical questions about the biomechanics of skills. Basically, he doesn't go all School Principal on me, asking where I was at the last workout or what I've been eating. And he doesn't make me feel like I'm too old or too out-of-shape to do CrossFit.
So there you have it! Two different people bringing different things to CrossFit, getting great results, and enjoying it, too! And that's the whole reason we wanted to write this post.
We have a mutual friend who was a little (maybe more than a little) turned off from CrossFit by reading Jenn's post about it, mostly, we think, because they are so different that it was hard for her to imagine that there were things she might like about CrossFit, too. Had Kelly written the same post, it would have been completely different, and probably have turned off a whole other set of people.
Now that we've (hopefully) shown that CrossFit offers different values to different kinds of people, we have one final point we'd like to discuss. Our different personality types make us excellent workout partners. It's because of our our differences that we motivate each other and make the experience more enjoyable. For example, when Kelly's wall balls start to look a little chill, there's Jenn throwing with all her might, reminding Kelly to throw a little higher, squat a little deeper. When Jenn is frustrated by tripping over the jump rope for the zillionth time, she looks at Kelly who is chanting "Cinderella, dressed in yella " and trying playground tricks, and remembers that once upon a time jumping rope was fun, and decides that maybe it could be fun again today. (Although jumping rope is much harder to do with boobs--and way more embarrassing--we have photographic evidence of this which you will never see!)
So if you are a structured person, go out and find yourself a flake to take to the gym with you. And if you're a free spirit, find somebody with an iPhone app and a couple of minor neuroses, and invite them to CrossFit! You'll each find something to enjoy on your way to becoming a bad-ass rock star. Like us.
Jenn: In addition to specific weightlifting goals, I love the idea that one day I might be able to do an unassisted pullup. My goal before the pullup was to do real-live man pushups, a goal I recently accomplished! I amazed myself--and all the friends for whom I demonstrated my pushups. I like thinking about the things that are now within my reach because of CrossFit.
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| "Hooray! The WOD! I hope it's harder than last time!" |
Kelly: I don't really set goals for CrossFit, though when Jenn mentions hers I sometimes say, "Yeah, me too!" I enjoy seeing the results of CrossFit, but planning ahead about what I want to achieve makes me feel bossed. When I found that I could jump up into a front support on a much higher bar at work (Kelly teaches gymnastics coaches), I was super pleased, but I didn't rush out to set another goal for the future. I'll just wait until the next time I do something new and cool and be happy to be surprised.
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| "Today, I'm going to . . . ooh, look there's a butterfly!" |
The advantages and disadvantages of goal setting are pretty much the same as the record keeping. Another disadvantage for Kelly is that she might not always push herself hard enough since there isn't a goal she's working toward; whereas sometimes Jenn feels disappointed or impatient about the time it takes to reach goals.
ROWING VS RUNNING
Usually, at least during the warmup, if not also during the WOD, we do either running or rowing on a machine.
Jenn: Whenever I see rowing on the whiteboard, I'm pretty pumped. The machine has lovely little numbers all over it that tell you how far you went, and how many strokes per minute you are doing. I watch the strokes per minute as I row, and I try to make it go from 30 s/m all the way up to 40. Every once in a while (usually when Kelly is rowing next to me) I pretend I am rowing Frodo and Sam on the River Andouin, but usually I just watch the numbers. I focus on my rowing form and try to pay attention to how it affects the numbers. As a short-legged person, running has never been my forte or interest, and while I enjoy it more than I ever thought I would pre-CrossFit, the only way I can actually enjoy it is if I count my steps (1, 2, 3, 4) and time my breathing with my steps. I guess adding numbers to my activities makes them more fun for me!
ROWING VS RUNNING
Usually, at least during the warmup, if not also during the WOD, we do either running or rowing on a machine.
Jenn: Whenever I see rowing on the whiteboard, I'm pretty pumped. The machine has lovely little numbers all over it that tell you how far you went, and how many strokes per minute you are doing. I watch the strokes per minute as I row, and I try to make it go from 30 s/m all the way up to 40. Every once in a while (usually when Kelly is rowing next to me) I pretend I am rowing Frodo and Sam on the River Andouin, but usually I just watch the numbers. I focus on my rowing form and try to pay attention to how it affects the numbers. As a short-legged person, running has never been my forte or interest, and while I enjoy it more than I ever thought I would pre-CrossFit, the only way I can actually enjoy it is if I count my steps (1, 2, 3, 4) and time my breathing with my steps. I guess adding numbers to my activities makes them more fun for me!
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| Jenn, trying to get that strokes-per-minute number ever higher. |
Kelly: I hate rowing. You sit in one place on a boring machine with all these F-ing numbers, and no matter how hard you row, you never go anywhere. I try to make it fun by singing in my head, but it never works. I do like the running, a lot in fact, way more that I ever thought I would. I enjoy going outside of the gym at night in the cool air, imagining myself on some kind of adventure. Sometimes, I pretend that I am Aragorn, running after the captured hobbits, never stopping no matter how tired until I find them and slay some orcs. Sometimes I am a Homo heidelbergensis running after a tired antelope until it collapses and I can eat it for dinner. Sometimes I repeat poems in my head, and sometimes I just look at trees and grass and cars and feel free.
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| Kelly, chained to the rowing machine, like a slave to the galley. |
Jenn's disadvantages are that she doesn't have that fun "I feel free" experience. But she probably runs harder and rows faster, since Kelly's leisurely fictional workout is a disadvantage in intensity. Jenn has a lot of drive and intensity in her workouts, but sometimes she might be a little light on the fun.
COURAGE AND CAUTION
CrossFit sometimes demands skills that are new and intimidating for a lot of people; it's scary to put big weights up over your head and to jump up on boxes that look likely to trip you and to throw yourself hard to the ground in a burpee.
Jenn: CrossFit is my first real experience with any kind of weightlifting at all; I'm a total newbie. Also, I'm not a young whippersnapper anymore and don't want to hurt myself! I appreciate the fact that our trainer Chris teaches me new skills in a way that makes me feel safe. I prefer to work at lower weights for a longer time until I feel like my form is super great. Only after a longish period in my new comfort zone will I move up in weight. Fortunately, Chris is patient with that. Even so, sometimes it's scary and I have to just do it. I'm especially nervous about snatches (well, any time I need to hold something heavy over my head) and box jumps because of my huge hobbit feet (can we work the word hobbit into this post any more?). Part of the reason I am nervous about the overhead stuff is that I am afraid that I really might not let go and get out from under the weight (a downside to being so determined to follow through with every exercise, perhaps).
CrossFit sometimes demands skills that are new and intimidating for a lot of people; it's scary to put big weights up over your head and to jump up on boxes that look likely to trip you and to throw yourself hard to the ground in a burpee.
Jenn: CrossFit is my first real experience with any kind of weightlifting at all; I'm a total newbie. Also, I'm not a young whippersnapper anymore and don't want to hurt myself! I appreciate the fact that our trainer Chris teaches me new skills in a way that makes me feel safe. I prefer to work at lower weights for a longer time until I feel like my form is super great. Only after a longish period in my new comfort zone will I move up in weight. Fortunately, Chris is patient with that. Even so, sometimes it's scary and I have to just do it. I'm especially nervous about snatches (well, any time I need to hold something heavy over my head) and box jumps because of my huge hobbit feet (can we work the word hobbit into this post any more?). Part of the reason I am nervous about the overhead stuff is that I am afraid that I really might not let go and get out from under the weight (a downside to being so determined to follow through with every exercise, perhaps).
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| "I can do this; I've had three c-sections!" |
Kelly: I am kind of a jump-in-er. I swashbuckle through our workouts, like a pirate, and I like to try new, hard skills. I love to add weight, though I make sure that I get the form right, and I don't feel afraid of lifts over my head. I know I can just let go and jump out from underneath if I have to. I have never once worried about hurting myself at CrossFit. I very well might; I just don't worry about it. Doing the fancy Olympic lifts makes me feel super tough and full of adrenaline. I find the challenge of holding good form and doing the complex lifts correctly under heavier weights intellectually satisfying.
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| "Woo-hoo! Bout to be a rockstar!" |
The pros for Jenn are that she will likely avoid injuries, keep good form, and build confidence slowly. She also may not progress as fast as she could on the complicated lifts. Kelly progresses quickly on these lifts and learns new skills faster, but she is more likely to jump into a situation that is too difficult for her skill level. She's pretty good about realizing when she's in over her head, though, and because it won't get written down anyway, she can back off without shame.
VERTICAL VS HORIZONTAL PROGRESS
Jenn: I get most excited about the workouts in which I improve on something I have done in the past, either more weights, better time, more rounds, etc. This the vertical progress we are talking about. I wish we repeated WODs more often so I could see more of this kind of vertical improvement.
Kelly: I like to learn new skills more than I like to perfect the old ones. I would rather do a new lift than an old one with more weight. This is what we mean by horizontal progress. I love the variety of CrossFit, and if we did the same things a lot more often, I'd probably quit. I can face 20 hard minutes if they are a different 20 hard minutes than the last time.
The advantage of being a vertical progress person is that what you get good at, you get really good at, but you can get stuck in a rut or forget to appreciate the experience of learning something new. The advantage of being a horizontal progress person is that you acquire all the varied components of fitness in the CrossFit system, but you can be too much of a generalist and not push to our limits on specific skills. We both enjoy both kinds of progress; the difference is only in which kind keeps us coming back to CrossFit.
INTENSITY AND FUN
Jenn: I think I'm pretty determined and intense for most of the workouts. I try to stay focused on what I'm doing, monitor my progress (hash marks, rounds, time), and push through to the bitter end. Sometimes when I lag in the middle of a WOD, I motivate myself by thinking about ObamaCare (because I need to be strong and healthy now, the better to withstand the inevitable shortages and rationing!). I try to remember that my goal is to be healthy and that keeps me going to the end. Sometimes I'm too serious, and working out with Kelly reminds me that part of the fun of CrossFit is . . . fun! It's super awesome fun to move and lift things and be a bad-ass person!
Jenn: I think I'm pretty determined and intense for most of the workouts. I try to stay focused on what I'm doing, monitor my progress (hash marks, rounds, time), and push through to the bitter end. Sometimes when I lag in the middle of a WOD, I motivate myself by thinking about ObamaCare (because I need to be strong and healthy now, the better to withstand the inevitable shortages and rationing!). I try to remember that my goal is to be healthy and that keeps me going to the end. Sometimes I'm too serious, and working out with Kelly reminds me that part of the fun of CrossFit is . . . fun! It's super awesome fun to move and lift things and be a bad-ass person!
"1, 2, 3, 4 . . . "
Kelly: I definitely work at a less intense level than Jenn overall. I can be pretty intense about the stuff I really really like, such as snatches and sprints. It's not that I go leisurely through the workouts, it's just that I don't push to my limits very often. It's motivating to me to look over and see that Jenn is going faster or harder than I am, and then I remember to think about whether or not I could go any faster. It just doesn't occur to me until I look at her to think about pushing harder. I'm mostly motivated by fun and so I do mind games with myself if I need to work harder, such as when I'm doing deadlifts, I imagine that I'm Pa (from Laura Ingalls Wilder) on a handcar, where you have lift up and down and up and down to move the car. The social atmosphere is also really fun for me. I like to see what everybody is doing and feel like I'm in the middle of a bunch of action.
"Cinderella, dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss her fella . . . "
AFTER CROSSFIT
Jenn: After a workout, I go over the numbers and progress in my head, and am usually already thinking about what I'll do next time. Sometimes I feel a bit disappointed and need to remember that my goal here is to move around and get strong and have fun, too. Sometimes I am in awe of my bad-assedness--I get so pumped when I realize that I really did 100 squats during a particular workout! I always have to tell Brendan (my husband) all about what I did, and sometimes demonstrate, too!
Kelly: After the workout, I immediately call Aaron and tell him every single thing we did and how awesome I am and how lucky he is to be with such a rock star! Then, I promptly forget everything that we did and don't think about CrossFit until the next time I go except when something particular happens that I want to blog about. Unlike Jenn, I don't think about the future. Each workout is an end in itself.
CROSSFIT KENNESAW
Jenn: Our gym is great, and the gym owner, Chris, is awesome to work with. He is great at teaching the skills as I mentioned before, and he lets me make progress on my own schedule. At the same time, he motivates me by saying "Yeah, go for it!" when I am slowing down during a WOD or am undecided about whether to move up in weight. I trust that he wouldn't push me too fast or too far. During the WOD, he notices if I'm questioning how I'm doing and doesn't hesitate to encourage or reassure me. Even when I come in dead last, which is often, he finds something encouraging and supportive to say. In fact, everyone at the gym encourages and supports each other, and I think it's because of the way Chris has modeled this as part of the way he runs his business. It's a great atmosphere.
Kelly: I like Chris because he's relaxed and fun and doesn't make me feel bossed. He gives me advice and guidance, but doesn't try to alter my basic approach. He's fine with me only coming in two times a week (which is all I've got, right now). He doesn't seem to care that I don't do recording. He doesn't try to have goal-setting sessions with me. Also, the music is fun (he plays Beastie Boys for me), and the atmosphere isn't like a muscle magazine. There's not a lot of super-loud grunting and there are no calendars with women and cars. Chris encourages me in a different way than he does Jenn. He sees when I'm slacking and gives me The Look that means "Get your ass in gear!" He's also really willing to answer my technical questions about the biomechanics of skills. Basically, he doesn't go all School Principal on me, asking where I was at the last workout or what I've been eating. And he doesn't make me feel like I'm too old or too out-of-shape to do CrossFit.
So there you have it! Two different people bringing different things to CrossFit, getting great results, and enjoying it, too! And that's the whole reason we wanted to write this post.
We have a mutual friend who was a little (maybe more than a little) turned off from CrossFit by reading Jenn's post about it, mostly, we think, because they are so different that it was hard for her to imagine that there were things she might like about CrossFit, too. Had Kelly written the same post, it would have been completely different, and probably have turned off a whole other set of people.
Now that we've (hopefully) shown that CrossFit offers different values to different kinds of people, we have one final point we'd like to discuss. Our different personality types make us excellent workout partners. It's because of our our differences that we motivate each other and make the experience more enjoyable. For example, when Kelly's wall balls start to look a little chill, there's Jenn throwing with all her might, reminding Kelly to throw a little higher, squat a little deeper. When Jenn is frustrated by tripping over the jump rope for the zillionth time, she looks at Kelly who is chanting "Cinderella, dressed in yella " and trying playground tricks, and remembers that once upon a time jumping rope was fun, and decides that maybe it could be fun again today. (Although jumping rope is much harder to do with boobs--and way more embarrassing--we have photographic evidence of this which you will never see!)
So if you are a structured person, go out and find yourself a flake to take to the gym with you. And if you're a free spirit, find somebody with an iPhone app and a couple of minor neuroses, and invite them to CrossFit! You'll each find something to enjoy on your way to becoming a bad-ass rock star. Like us.
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| BAD ASS |
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| ROCK STARS |
Monday, January 31, 2011
Crossfit and Body Image
Tonight, leaving the Crossfit gym, a very young, attractive, and fit woman commented that she was getting ready for swimsuit season, that last year she hardly ever wore one because of how her butt looked in it, and that she was "disgusting." My first reaction was to be a little hurt and offended. I mean, if she is disgusting, what must she think about me, so much less fit? And why make a comment like that in front of me?
But I know she wasn't talking about me; she's wrapped up in her own stuff the way all of us are. She sees herself more negatively than she sees other people (all this body stuff isn't rational, after all), at least that's what I have always done. Other people were okay, but I was just awful. I still slip into that thinking sometimes when I look at less than flattering pictures of myself. Other people just took a bad picture, but I I must really look like that. Thinking of her wasting her youth on all that unrealistic cruelty to her own body made all my hurt and anger morph into pity and sympathy. I've been there, and thinking like that becomes way too normal. It doesn't even feel weird anymore after a while; it's just the way you talk to and about your body.
How is it possible that such a pretty little thing and such a tough Crossfitter could feel that way? What does it say about our culture that she would really avoid fun, active summer activities because she thought she looked fat in a bathing suit? How could all that negativity about her body be on her mind after doing a hard workout really well? I hate this about our world. I hate that she isn't feeling how strong and useful and pretty and healthy her body is. I hate that there are so many women like her who feel that way every day of their lives.
So, I got to thinking about Crossfit and the way it makes me feel about my body. I have suffered from terrible body image issues in my life (how many women haven't?), but I am in a good place. I like the changes that I am seeing. I have made peace with stretch marks and boobs that aren't as perky as they once were. I value my assets, like my legs. I can look in the mirror naked and see me, outside and inside, instead of seeing an enemy and a stranger. Crossfit is a piece of that, I think.
At our gym, there aren't a gazillion mirrors, reminding me of how I look every second. It's not a place for being pretty or for thinking about being prettier. It's a place for sweating and grunting and looking like crap because you are the warrior Boudica, not some china doll, ornamental princess. The workouts are focused on functional fitness, not on building specific vanity muscles (*cough* bench-press *cough*) or losing fat in certain places. My workout is for getting strong and flexible and tough and being able to live better. I like that the focus in on using my body for work and play, not on making it into something to look at.
I love that our coach, Chris, didn't talk about me losing weight when I signed up. He was all about jumping into the workouts at the level I could do and doing my best. I have lost weight, and that's a good thing, but the weight loss is a side-effect of doing what bodies are made to do, what makes them feel good and work right.
I'm glad to be in a place where no matter what I look like this summer, I will definitely kayak on the Chattahoochee, go to the pool and Whitewater, and lay out in the backyard in the very smallest amount of clothes I can get away from. My body is for living my values, even the ones that require a bathing suit, and Crossfit is for making those values easier and more fun.
I have written two other posts on body image that may be interesting to you: Musings on Age and Body Image and Body Image and Gymnastics.
But I know she wasn't talking about me; she's wrapped up in her own stuff the way all of us are. She sees herself more negatively than she sees other people (all this body stuff isn't rational, after all), at least that's what I have always done. Other people were okay, but I was just awful. I still slip into that thinking sometimes when I look at less than flattering pictures of myself. Other people just took a bad picture, but I I must really look like that. Thinking of her wasting her youth on all that unrealistic cruelty to her own body made all my hurt and anger morph into pity and sympathy. I've been there, and thinking like that becomes way too normal. It doesn't even feel weird anymore after a while; it's just the way you talk to and about your body.
How is it possible that such a pretty little thing and such a tough Crossfitter could feel that way? What does it say about our culture that she would really avoid fun, active summer activities because she thought she looked fat in a bathing suit? How could all that negativity about her body be on her mind after doing a hard workout really well? I hate this about our world. I hate that she isn't feeling how strong and useful and pretty and healthy her body is. I hate that there are so many women like her who feel that way every day of their lives.
So, I got to thinking about Crossfit and the way it makes me feel about my body. I have suffered from terrible body image issues in my life (how many women haven't?), but I am in a good place. I like the changes that I am seeing. I have made peace with stretch marks and boobs that aren't as perky as they once were. I value my assets, like my legs. I can look in the mirror naked and see me, outside and inside, instead of seeing an enemy and a stranger. Crossfit is a piece of that, I think.
At our gym, there aren't a gazillion mirrors, reminding me of how I look every second. It's not a place for being pretty or for thinking about being prettier. It's a place for sweating and grunting and looking like crap because you are the warrior Boudica, not some china doll, ornamental princess. The workouts are focused on functional fitness, not on building specific vanity muscles (*cough* bench-press *cough*) or losing fat in certain places. My workout is for getting strong and flexible and tough and being able to live better. I like that the focus in on using my body for work and play, not on making it into something to look at.
I love that our coach, Chris, didn't talk about me losing weight when I signed up. He was all about jumping into the workouts at the level I could do and doing my best. I have lost weight, and that's a good thing, but the weight loss is a side-effect of doing what bodies are made to do, what makes them feel good and work right.
I'm glad to be in a place where no matter what I look like this summer, I will definitely kayak on the Chattahoochee, go to the pool and Whitewater, and lay out in the backyard in the very smallest amount of clothes I can get away from. My body is for living my values, even the ones that require a bathing suit, and Crossfit is for making those values easier and more fun.
I have written two other posts on body image that may be interesting to you: Musings on Age and Body Image and Body Image and Gymnastics.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Ramblings on Memory, Sleep, Snatches, and Scallops
Good morning, and welcome to today's episode of "Random Stuff I Want to Tell You."
1. I cooked scallops yesterday, and they were awesome. I am kind of scared of cooking seafood, probably because I am new to it and it seems so complicated, but I am on a mission to add more seafood into my diet. Now is a good time because I can't cook Aaron anything he both likes and can eat, so I may as well please myself. So, I rinsed the scallops; put them in a pan; poured melted bacon grease over them; sprinkled them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder; and broiled them for 8 minutes. They rocked. I ate them all.
2. This morning in my Roman rhetoric class, we discussed memory, one of the 5 canons that Roman rhetoricians considered necessary for the art. It is less necessary for us with widespread literacy and internet access, and we talked about whether it is necessary at all. Clearly we have to be able to remember things to carry out daily tasks, but we were talking more specifically about memorizing texts, lists, poems, rules for composition, etc.
My main reason for defending memorization is fun; I think it's good and useful to have a store of knowledge with which to entertain ourselves in the absence of more passive forms of entertainment. Many a car trip has been filled by trying to remember state capitols, songs about specific rivers, or naming cities along a certain interstate route. Poems are friends I can visit in my head on the bus or when I hike.
But, I am not sure how important memorization is outside of this reason, which is a purely optional value. It can certainly give you street cred as an expert, as one of my classmates pointed out. Are there any non-optional uses for memorization that I am not coming up with?
3. Last night, I snatched 55#. For those of you who know how to do snatches, that probably sounds light. For those of you who don't, you have no idea what I am talking about. So my audience for this comment may be only 4 people. But those 4 people should know that I SNATCHED 55#!!
4. I am so sleep deprived. I have to get up at 5:50 am, but I cannot seem to get to bed by 8:30 or 9! It's so hard to be done with my day that early. I go to Crossfit at either 6:30 or 7:30, depending on the day, and that isn't changeable. I got to class at 8 am down in Atlanta, and that isn't changeable. I would like to sometimes see Aaron in the evening, and that isn't changeable. Does anyone else manage with naps? I might see how working naps into my days would change my sleep schedule and my feeling of being not-so-well-rested.
1. I cooked scallops yesterday, and they were awesome. I am kind of scared of cooking seafood, probably because I am new to it and it seems so complicated, but I am on a mission to add more seafood into my diet. Now is a good time because I can't cook Aaron anything he both likes and can eat, so I may as well please myself. So, I rinsed the scallops; put them in a pan; poured melted bacon grease over them; sprinkled them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder; and broiled them for 8 minutes. They rocked. I ate them all.
2. This morning in my Roman rhetoric class, we discussed memory, one of the 5 canons that Roman rhetoricians considered necessary for the art. It is less necessary for us with widespread literacy and internet access, and we talked about whether it is necessary at all. Clearly we have to be able to remember things to carry out daily tasks, but we were talking more specifically about memorizing texts, lists, poems, rules for composition, etc.
My main reason for defending memorization is fun; I think it's good and useful to have a store of knowledge with which to entertain ourselves in the absence of more passive forms of entertainment. Many a car trip has been filled by trying to remember state capitols, songs about specific rivers, or naming cities along a certain interstate route. Poems are friends I can visit in my head on the bus or when I hike.
But, I am not sure how important memorization is outside of this reason, which is a purely optional value. It can certainly give you street cred as an expert, as one of my classmates pointed out. Are there any non-optional uses for memorization that I am not coming up with?
3. Last night, I snatched 55#. For those of you who know how to do snatches, that probably sounds light. For those of you who don't, you have no idea what I am talking about. So my audience for this comment may be only 4 people. But those 4 people should know that I SNATCHED 55#!!
4. I am so sleep deprived. I have to get up at 5:50 am, but I cannot seem to get to bed by 8:30 or 9! It's so hard to be done with my day that early. I go to Crossfit at either 6:30 or 7:30, depending on the day, and that isn't changeable. I got to class at 8 am down in Atlanta, and that isn't changeable. I would like to sometimes see Aaron in the evening, and that isn't changeable. Does anyone else manage with naps? I might see how working naps into my days would change my sleep schedule and my feeling of being not-so-well-rested.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Whole30: What I am Actually Eating
It's super easy to focus on what you can't eat on the Whole30: grains, legumes, dairy, alcohol, added sugar, processed foods, and preservatives. Sometimes Aaron focuses on that (he's kind of picky to begin with) until I want to strangle him with one of the spaghetti noodles that I no longer have another use for. But this post is going to be about what you can eat, what I eat, in fact. I'm going to detail for you what I have eaten on my first 3 days on the Whole30 and some other things I usually eat. I find that it is much easier to eat healthily when I focus on the delicious, health-building foods that I love rather than on the delicious, but damaging foods I sometimes miss.
Monday
Lunch at my favorite Brazilian steakhouse, Picanha, to kick off my second Whole30: heaps of rump roast, garlic beef, and top sirloin; a huge spinach salad with pico de gallo and marinated onions, dressed with balsamic vineger and olive oil; and a big glass of water
For supper, I went to Moe's before the Cake concert. I had a bowl of grilled chicken, guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce, onions, cilantro, jalepenos. More water.
Before I went to bed, I ate a spoonful of coconut butter, which feels like god has personally blessed your tongue.
Tuesday
Before class, I ate a few slices of ham and some coconut butter. I leave EARLY in the morning, so I wasn't all that hungry.
I carried my cooler with me, packed with all my food for my school hours. It included sugar snap peas and guacamole (really excellent made at Whole Foods), chicken stew with onions and tomatoes, a salad of lettuce, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a sliced up piece of grilled steak, and coconut flakes for snacking.
I drank lots of water and a bottle of kombucha (from the store). I often make my own kombucha, but I am between batches right now. Kombucha is so delicious that I never miss soda at all.
Wednesday
Before I left for work, I ate a large handful of steamed shrimp - Whole Foods will steam and season them for free if you buy the shrimp - and a mouthful of coconut butter (Can you tell I am obsessed with it?).
I took a cooler of food for Livy and me to have at lunch at our homeschool co-op. I ate pepperoni made into little sandwiches with tomato paste, sugar snap peas with guacamole, and half a can of coconut milk. Livy had an orange, some blueberries, ham, sugar snap peas, and guacamole.
When I got home, I had a salad of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, and shrimp, dressed with balsamic and olive oil.
Water and one bottle of kombucha today. I may eat something else before I go to bed, but it will probably be shrimp and coconut butter since they are by far the most delicious things in the house right now.
Tonight I am doing a big round of cooking so that I will have lots of freezer foods to take to school. I really like to have a hot lunch. I am making a beef stew with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and carrots; grape tomatoes slow-roasted in bacon grease; and spaghetti sauce with beef, red and green peppers, and onions (I just eat it like Italian chili.) I'll make chili on Friday and roast a chicken. With all those meals in the freezer, I can have a hot, hearty lunch at school and not have to eat out. Plus all those things are super yum, especially the spaghetti sauce. For cooking and eating right away, I bought have some cube steak that I will coat in almond flour and fry in lard; I'll probably top that with some fried onions, as well.
For snacking, besides coconut flakes, coconut butter, and occasional nuts, I eat dried tomatoes (from the Just Tomatoes company), hard boiled eggs, and guacamole. I'm not a big snacker, though. I would usually much rather have a smaller portion of a hot meal.
I hope this list gives you some ideas of the kinds of foods that I think are delicious and paleo/Whole30 friendly. When I plan ahead and spend time in the kitchen (and as long as I have my Brazilian steakhouse for treats), I find that I can eat very satisfying foods and not feel too much deprivation and misery. Aaron, I hope you are listening so that I won't have to strangle you after all. :)
Monday
Lunch at my favorite Brazilian steakhouse, Picanha, to kick off my second Whole30: heaps of rump roast, garlic beef, and top sirloin; a huge spinach salad with pico de gallo and marinated onions, dressed with balsamic vineger and olive oil; and a big glass of water
For supper, I went to Moe's before the Cake concert. I had a bowl of grilled chicken, guacamole, pico de gallo, lettuce, onions, cilantro, jalepenos. More water.
Before I went to bed, I ate a spoonful of coconut butter, which feels like god has personally blessed your tongue.
Tuesday
Before class, I ate a few slices of ham and some coconut butter. I leave EARLY in the morning, so I wasn't all that hungry.
I carried my cooler with me, packed with all my food for my school hours. It included sugar snap peas and guacamole (really excellent made at Whole Foods), chicken stew with onions and tomatoes, a salad of lettuce, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a sliced up piece of grilled steak, and coconut flakes for snacking.
I drank lots of water and a bottle of kombucha (from the store). I often make my own kombucha, but I am between batches right now. Kombucha is so delicious that I never miss soda at all.
Wednesday
Before I left for work, I ate a large handful of steamed shrimp - Whole Foods will steam and season them for free if you buy the shrimp - and a mouthful of coconut butter (Can you tell I am obsessed with it?).
I took a cooler of food for Livy and me to have at lunch at our homeschool co-op. I ate pepperoni made into little sandwiches with tomato paste, sugar snap peas with guacamole, and half a can of coconut milk. Livy had an orange, some blueberries, ham, sugar snap peas, and guacamole.
When I got home, I had a salad of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, and shrimp, dressed with balsamic and olive oil.
Water and one bottle of kombucha today. I may eat something else before I go to bed, but it will probably be shrimp and coconut butter since they are by far the most delicious things in the house right now.
Tonight I am doing a big round of cooking so that I will have lots of freezer foods to take to school. I really like to have a hot lunch. I am making a beef stew with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and carrots; grape tomatoes slow-roasted in bacon grease; and spaghetti sauce with beef, red and green peppers, and onions (I just eat it like Italian chili.) I'll make chili on Friday and roast a chicken. With all those meals in the freezer, I can have a hot, hearty lunch at school and not have to eat out. Plus all those things are super yum, especially the spaghetti sauce. For cooking and eating right away, I bought have some cube steak that I will coat in almond flour and fry in lard; I'll probably top that with some fried onions, as well.
For snacking, besides coconut flakes, coconut butter, and occasional nuts, I eat dried tomatoes (from the Just Tomatoes company), hard boiled eggs, and guacamole. I'm not a big snacker, though. I would usually much rather have a smaller portion of a hot meal.
I hope this list gives you some ideas of the kinds of foods that I think are delicious and paleo/Whole30 friendly. When I plan ahead and spend time in the kitchen (and as long as I have my Brazilian steakhouse for treats), I find that I can eat very satisfying foods and not feel too much deprivation and misery. Aaron, I hope you are listening so that I won't have to strangle you after all. :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Second Whole30
Today is Day 1 of my second Whole30. I feel less excited this time, but much more competent to actually get it done. Today, I have to go to the grocery store, stock up on all that good, real food, and then start cooking it. It's been quite a while since I cooked much, so it'll be a little hard to get my you-know-what into gear, I think.
Aaron is doing it again, too, but poor man has to eliminate nuts, nightshades, and pork. His stomach issues never resolved on the Whole30, so he is trying to figure out what he might be reacting to. Hope it's one of those three and that we'll know in 30 or so days.
I won't blog the WholeDamnedWhole30 like I did last time, but I do want to tell my dear readers about the workshop I went to yesterday. Dallas and Melissa, creators of the Whole30, did a full day talk at the Crossfit affiliate in Smyrna. They were wonderful - very good speakers - and I learned a lot about the science behind this way of eating. I haven't been convinced about dairy yet (whether to eat it or leave it out), but I have some new ideas to research about why it might be bad for me. I understand the whole lectins in grains thing much better than before. I'm interested in learning more about systemic inflammation, which is the basis of most of their dietary recommendations.
So, I'll go now and eat some meat and veggies. Oh, and as a side note, this post was typed with 2 spaces after the periods. I don't care one way or the other, so live with it.
Aaron is doing it again, too, but poor man has to eliminate nuts, nightshades, and pork. His stomach issues never resolved on the Whole30, so he is trying to figure out what he might be reacting to. Hope it's one of those three and that we'll know in 30 or so days.
I won't blog the WholeDamnedWhole30 like I did last time, but I do want to tell my dear readers about the workshop I went to yesterday. Dallas and Melissa, creators of the Whole30, did a full day talk at the Crossfit affiliate in Smyrna. They were wonderful - very good speakers - and I learned a lot about the science behind this way of eating. I haven't been convinced about dairy yet (whether to eat it or leave it out), but I have some new ideas to research about why it might be bad for me. I understand the whole lectins in grains thing much better than before. I'm interested in learning more about systemic inflammation, which is the basis of most of their dietary recommendations.
So, I'll go now and eat some meat and veggies. Oh, and as a side note, this post was typed with 2 spaces after the periods. I don't care one way or the other, so live with it.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
My Whole30 Summary: Less Frodo Going to Mt. Doom (misery and pain) and More Sam Replanting the Shire (satisfying, hard work)
Now, about a month out from the Whole30, I think I can give a summary of what I did and what happened to me that might be useful.
What I Did:
Basically, for 30 days (with two evenings of eating less that perfectly at a rehearsal dinner and a wedding) I ate only meats, vegetables, nuts, and a little bit of fruit. I ate no dairy, no yucky oils, no alcohol, no potatoes, no added sugar, and no grains of any kind. I blogged the whole experience, and you can find my posts about it here. During these 30 days, I also did Crossfit 2x a week (except when I didn't) and was otherwise only mildly active with daily kinds of movement like gardening, cleaning, walking from the train to school, etc.)
How it Went:
For the first few days, I was excited, and sticking to it was fairly easy. I had recently quit smoking (a month before I started the Whole30 and now nearly 4 months), and I was way more confident about sticking to this month than I usually am when starting a diet. I mean, if I can quit smoking, I can do anything right?
Then came Days four and five. Suddenly, I hated all the cooking, I started having cravings, I felt like crap with no energy or happy feelings, and my Crossfit workouts became nearly impossible to complete. I had read to expect this, though, and my Crossfit coach seemed to think it was normal, so I just kept eating right and watched a lot of cheer-me-up TV.
After Day six, it was all easier. My body adjusted to the diet, and I had my energy and good mood back. Some of the highlights of the rest of the month were: greatly reduced PMS symptoms, improvement in my attitude and performance at Crossfit, managing a huge Halloween party without cheating and without too much misery, wearing my old pants, finding new foods to enjoy, and falling in love with a new paleo-friendly restaurant (a Brazilian steakhouse where actual Brazilians go, where it's affordable, and where the food is better than the big chains).
The Results:
Over the 30 days, I lost 15 pounds, dropped down a size in pants, dresses, and shirts, looked slimmer in my face and neck, and fit into my favorite bras again. My acne (which wasn't terrible, but it bothered me terribly) was gone, and my PMS symptoms were reduced. I felt better all around, including during exercise, with a clearer head and a little more energy (I was fairly energetic before). At my thyroid checkup, my doctor and I were happy to see that all antibodies pointing to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis were gone; he credits the gluten-free and the dessicated thyroid and iodine I take.
My Plans:
I was happier on the Whole30 than I thought I would be. I wasn't dying to go eat a big bowl of pasta on day 31. So, I think I will mostly stick with it. I'm going to allow myself alcohol at social events, but stick with the no dairy, no grains, no sugar. I am going to have a cheat once in a while; I can't imagine life without the potstickers at the Cheesecake Factory. But I don't mind giving up my daily crap. I don't need grains or sugar in my diet except for those occasional treats. When I eat them, I want it to be worth it. A slice of bread along with soup? Not worth it. High quality peppermint bark on Christmas morning? Worth it.
Last Observation:
I have had trouble in the past with an eating disorder, and any diet scares me. I don't want to become obsessed with the way I am eating like I was before. I don't want the process of making good changes in my nutrition to lead me to all kinds of self-hating mental talk. I want to continue to like my body and feel good about all it can do. For some reason, I had less trouble with the Whole30 than I have had before. I didn't focus on food every second of the day; I didn't start to hate myself more as pounds dropped away. For whatever reason, for the first time, I was able to remain rational about my body while following a food plan. That really might be the biggest benefit I have gotten from the Whole30.
What I Did:
Basically, for 30 days (with two evenings of eating less that perfectly at a rehearsal dinner and a wedding) I ate only meats, vegetables, nuts, and a little bit of fruit. I ate no dairy, no yucky oils, no alcohol, no potatoes, no added sugar, and no grains of any kind. I blogged the whole experience, and you can find my posts about it here. During these 30 days, I also did Crossfit 2x a week (except when I didn't) and was otherwise only mildly active with daily kinds of movement like gardening, cleaning, walking from the train to school, etc.)
How it Went:
For the first few days, I was excited, and sticking to it was fairly easy. I had recently quit smoking (a month before I started the Whole30 and now nearly 4 months), and I was way more confident about sticking to this month than I usually am when starting a diet. I mean, if I can quit smoking, I can do anything right?
Then came Days four and five. Suddenly, I hated all the cooking, I started having cravings, I felt like crap with no energy or happy feelings, and my Crossfit workouts became nearly impossible to complete. I had read to expect this, though, and my Crossfit coach seemed to think it was normal, so I just kept eating right and watched a lot of cheer-me-up TV.
After Day six, it was all easier. My body adjusted to the diet, and I had my energy and good mood back. Some of the highlights of the rest of the month were: greatly reduced PMS symptoms, improvement in my attitude and performance at Crossfit, managing a huge Halloween party without cheating and without too much misery, wearing my old pants, finding new foods to enjoy, and falling in love with a new paleo-friendly restaurant (a Brazilian steakhouse where actual Brazilians go, where it's affordable, and where the food is better than the big chains).
The Results:
Over the 30 days, I lost 15 pounds, dropped down a size in pants, dresses, and shirts, looked slimmer in my face and neck, and fit into my favorite bras again. My acne (which wasn't terrible, but it bothered me terribly) was gone, and my PMS symptoms were reduced. I felt better all around, including during exercise, with a clearer head and a little more energy (I was fairly energetic before). At my thyroid checkup, my doctor and I were happy to see that all antibodies pointing to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis were gone; he credits the gluten-free and the dessicated thyroid and iodine I take.
My Plans:
I was happier on the Whole30 than I thought I would be. I wasn't dying to go eat a big bowl of pasta on day 31. So, I think I will mostly stick with it. I'm going to allow myself alcohol at social events, but stick with the no dairy, no grains, no sugar. I am going to have a cheat once in a while; I can't imagine life without the potstickers at the Cheesecake Factory. But I don't mind giving up my daily crap. I don't need grains or sugar in my diet except for those occasional treats. When I eat them, I want it to be worth it. A slice of bread along with soup? Not worth it. High quality peppermint bark on Christmas morning? Worth it.
Last Observation:
I have had trouble in the past with an eating disorder, and any diet scares me. I don't want to become obsessed with the way I am eating like I was before. I don't want the process of making good changes in my nutrition to lead me to all kinds of self-hating mental talk. I want to continue to like my body and feel good about all it can do. For some reason, I had less trouble with the Whole30 than I have had before. I didn't focus on food every second of the day; I didn't start to hate myself more as pounds dropped away. For whatever reason, for the first time, I was able to remain rational about my body while following a food plan. That really might be the biggest benefit I have gotten from the Whole30.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Whole30 Day 26: An extra benefit
So today is 26 days in. And you know what I discovered today? Pecans taste good. Not just good, not just nice like other nuts, but good with a rich, sweet flavor that I never noticed before. I think that getting rid of the preservatives and the sugar has let my taste buds really taste real food. I tasted the nuances of pecans, the slightly bitter peel and the fatty, sweet inside. It's better than red velvet cake. I never thought I would think so.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Whole30 Day 23: Plans for the Future
Today was day 23. Just to review, I am looking stunning and feeling even better. :) So I figure now is a good time to think about the future. When this challenge is over in one week, what am I going to do then?
There are a few things I really miss (a very few, which was a surprise), and I want to find a way to incorporate them. But mostly, at least while I still have some weight to lose, I want to continue doing the Whole30. I don't miss the grains or dairy, which I thought would be the worst parts, so I think I will continue to eliminate those. I don't miss the preservatives, either, so those stay gone too.
I do really miss alcohol, though. Not so much the taste, just the effects. I don't care about having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer in the evening with friends. What I miss is drinking to a minor level of intoxication at a party. So, I'm gonna do that, as all the people who love tweeting the things I say when a little bit drunk will be glad to hear. I'll stay away from alcohol except in that kind of scenario, and when I do go to a party, I will drink the lowest carb options that will get the job done (probably liquor either straight or mixed with water).
I also don't want to live for a really long time without any of my favorite bad-for-me-crap, so I am going to have 2 days between each 30 where I eat whatever I want. Those are the days when I can have a diet coke, eat Mexican food or Chinese, and drink a Malibu and cranberry. What's the good of living in 2010 instead of in 40,000 BC if you can't have a Malibu and cranberry once in a while?
Speaking of a great occasion for a Malibu and cranberry, I am going to a wedding this weekend, on day 28. Because I hate to be all dressed up and going to a place there is dancing and yet be a fuddy-duddy, I have decided to eat and drink reasonably at the wedding. I will have the beef ribs and drink wine, but I won't have cake or grains or Malibu rum (damn it). I am going to count day 28 as one of my cheat days, and then just hop back on the plan on days 29, 30, and 31.
So that's my plan. I expected to want to go out and eat bread the second the 30 days was over, but I'm happy to report that another 30 days doesn't sound so bad.
There are a few things I really miss (a very few, which was a surprise), and I want to find a way to incorporate them. But mostly, at least while I still have some weight to lose, I want to continue doing the Whole30. I don't miss the grains or dairy, which I thought would be the worst parts, so I think I will continue to eliminate those. I don't miss the preservatives, either, so those stay gone too.
I do really miss alcohol, though. Not so much the taste, just the effects. I don't care about having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer in the evening with friends. What I miss is drinking to a minor level of intoxication at a party. So, I'm gonna do that, as all the people who love tweeting the things I say when a little bit drunk will be glad to hear. I'll stay away from alcohol except in that kind of scenario, and when I do go to a party, I will drink the lowest carb options that will get the job done (probably liquor either straight or mixed with water).
I also don't want to live for a really long time without any of my favorite bad-for-me-crap, so I am going to have 2 days between each 30 where I eat whatever I want. Those are the days when I can have a diet coke, eat Mexican food or Chinese, and drink a Malibu and cranberry. What's the good of living in 2010 instead of in 40,000 BC if you can't have a Malibu and cranberry once in a while?
Speaking of a great occasion for a Malibu and cranberry, I am going to a wedding this weekend, on day 28. Because I hate to be all dressed up and going to a place there is dancing and yet be a fuddy-duddy, I have decided to eat and drink reasonably at the wedding. I will have the beef ribs and drink wine, but I won't have cake or grains or Malibu rum (damn it). I am going to count day 28 as one of my cheat days, and then just hop back on the plan on days 29, 30, and 31.
So that's my plan. I expected to want to go out and eat bread the second the 30 days was over, but I'm happy to report that another 30 days doesn't sound so bad.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Whole30 Day 19: Like Old Hat
I haven't posted about the Whole30 in a while, mostly because I don't think about it all that much now. It's become kind of habitual. I'm in the rhythm of the cooking and shopping and choosing foods.
But it's old hat in a bad way too. We are eating the same things over and over. Steak, pork chops, spaghetti sauce, chicken stew, beef stew, salad, bacon, guacamole, sauteed veggies. These are all yummy things, but I am starting to feel that I need more excitement.
I found these delicious gluten-free, preservative-free sausages at WholeFoods, and they were a treat to eat. Cause they were different. So tonight, I did an experiment. I mixed green curry paste with coconut milk and cooked chicken and carrots in it. It wasn't fabulous; I really need to use a recipe (even if it does make me feel all J and oppressed). But it was different, and I enjoyed it!
So my goal for this next week is to eat different things. Tomorrow I am making chili. Livy and I are going to eat fish, as well, something we both like but rarely eat. Aaron, who is the pickiest adult on the planet, will have to eat one of our usual things, as he does not eat anything that ever put its foot into water. I am going to find some recipes for Thai food and try at least one. I just can't eat any more old hat.
One more cooking tidbit: I made my first (in several years) batch of homemade kombucha (fermented tea). I have been drinking a small fortune's worth of kombucha from the store, and now I can have my one drink a day without sending us to the poorhouse. Plus, when I see the colony start to grow on top of the tea, it makes me feel so successful. Bacteria and yeast bow to my will!
But it's old hat in a bad way too. We are eating the same things over and over. Steak, pork chops, spaghetti sauce, chicken stew, beef stew, salad, bacon, guacamole, sauteed veggies. These are all yummy things, but I am starting to feel that I need more excitement.
I found these delicious gluten-free, preservative-free sausages at WholeFoods, and they were a treat to eat. Cause they were different. So tonight, I did an experiment. I mixed green curry paste with coconut milk and cooked chicken and carrots in it. It wasn't fabulous; I really need to use a recipe (even if it does make me feel all J and oppressed). But it was different, and I enjoyed it!
So my goal for this next week is to eat different things. Tomorrow I am making chili. Livy and I are going to eat fish, as well, something we both like but rarely eat. Aaron, who is the pickiest adult on the planet, will have to eat one of our usual things, as he does not eat anything that ever put its foot into water. I am going to find some recipes for Thai food and try at least one. I just can't eat any more old hat.
One more cooking tidbit: I made my first (in several years) batch of homemade kombucha (fermented tea). I have been drinking a small fortune's worth of kombucha from the store, and now I can have my one drink a day without sending us to the poorhouse. Plus, when I see the colony start to grow on top of the tea, it makes me feel so successful. Bacteria and yeast bow to my will!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Whole30 Day 15: An Update on my Progress So Far
I'm halfway through. For the first week, I was counting every day, calculating what fraction of the 30 days I had finished. Lately, I haven't been able to remember what day I am on and have to look back at the last blog post. It's become a habit to eat this way, and thoughts about food are no longer consuming much of my thought. Cooking is still consuming a pretty big portion of my time, but I'm getting used to that too.
To celebrate the halfway point, I thought I would give you a list of the good things and the bad things.
Good things
To celebrate the halfway point, I thought I would give you a list of the good things and the bad things.
Good things
- I've lost 8 pounds.
- I had WAY fewer PMS symptoms, and the ones I did have were far less severe.
- I fit back into some clothes that I wasn't able to wear last winter.
- My face looks slimmer.
- My skin is clearer than it has been in years.
- I feel slightly more energetic that I did before the Whole30.
- I feel much more motivated to exercise.
- I don't miss sweets or pasta.
Bad things
- Aaron has been kind of a crankopotamus.
- I miss sauces. Wing sauce, butter-lemon sauce, balsamic glazes, curry sauce.
- I miss being tipsy (not so much the wine as the effect).
- There are only a few restaurants where we can eat, and I am kind of sick of them already.
- I thought we would save money by not eating out much, but I am buying more expensive food. It's about a wash.
- I cook like a Hogwart's house elf. Without paying!
Finally, I want to share with you my new second-favorite food. I discovered dried tomato rings dipped in guacamole. It's so good, you would not believe. I need to buy a dehydrator because those tomatoes cost a million dollars at Whole Foods, and if I didn't eat $5 worth of them nearly every day, not saving money might get kicked off the bad list.
(In case you are interested, my first-favorite food is also a tomato. I slow-roast grape tomatoes in bacon grease and then broil them all crisp on the outside. Never was there a miracle like these tomatoes. Better even than water into wine. Yes, Jenn, I mean it.)
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Whole30 Day 14: My pants! Hell yeah!
The only thing I want to write about yesterday is that I wore some pants that I couldn't fit into last winter. I pulled them out of storage, and they fit again! They are a little too low cut, and I wish they were fuller in the lower leg. And yet, today, they are my favorite jeans cause they fit!!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Whole30 Days 12 and 13: Chicken Stew and Anniversary
Since day 12 was just a normal day in which I ate right without any particularly interesting insights, I thought I would tell you a story about Aaron, chicken stew, and what I have to put up with.
So, I cooked this awesome chicken stew. It was chicken thighs, stewed in homemade chicken stock, with onions and tomatoes. It was flavored like garlic and herbs because the chickens I made the stock out of were flavored that way. We ate it for dinner one night, and then the next morning, I offered to heat some up for Aaron's breakfast.
"No, thanks," he said. Now when a person offers Aaron a hot breakfast, served right at his computer, and he doesn't even have to work the microwave, the answer is almost always yes.
So, I asked, "Did you not like it?"
"Not really."
"What didn't you like about it?" After all, maybe I could make it better next time.
"Well, the chicken wasn't cut up in little pieces in the stew, and the onions were long strings instead of chunks."
This was the point where I would have been completely justified in dumping some chicken stew over his head, packing my stuff, and moving out. I mean, come on. It wasn't the taste. The things were not cut up like he liked. Pretty soon, I will be cutting the crusts off of his Wonderbread PB&Js.
And you know what I did? Like a sucker, I cut up the chicken and the onions, heated it up, and gave it to him. I am a 50s housewife; I might as well be Donna Reid. But I did bitch at him while I cut it up, so that's something, right? Better passive-aggressive than just passive.
Anyway, Day 13 was our anniversary, and since he got reservations at my favorite Brazilian steakhouse, wore actual khaki pants (this guy does not dress up), and took me to an IMAX about an expedition down the Blue Nile from Ethiopia to Alexandria, all is forgiven.
So, I cooked this awesome chicken stew. It was chicken thighs, stewed in homemade chicken stock, with onions and tomatoes. It was flavored like garlic and herbs because the chickens I made the stock out of were flavored that way. We ate it for dinner one night, and then the next morning, I offered to heat some up for Aaron's breakfast.
"No, thanks," he said. Now when a person offers Aaron a hot breakfast, served right at his computer, and he doesn't even have to work the microwave, the answer is almost always yes.
So, I asked, "Did you not like it?"
"Not really."
"What didn't you like about it?" After all, maybe I could make it better next time.
"Well, the chicken wasn't cut up in little pieces in the stew, and the onions were long strings instead of chunks."
This was the point where I would have been completely justified in dumping some chicken stew over his head, packing my stuff, and moving out. I mean, come on. It wasn't the taste. The things were not cut up like he liked. Pretty soon, I will be cutting the crusts off of his Wonderbread PB&Js.
And you know what I did? Like a sucker, I cut up the chicken and the onions, heated it up, and gave it to him. I am a 50s housewife; I might as well be Donna Reid. But I did bitch at him while I cut it up, so that's something, right? Better passive-aggressive than just passive.
Anyway, Day 13 was our anniversary, and since he got reservations at my favorite Brazilian steakhouse, wore actual khaki pants (this guy does not dress up), and took me to an IMAX about an expedition down the Blue Nile from Ethiopia to Alexandria, all is forgiven.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Whole30 Day 11: Woops! Paleo Binge Eating!
Last night, due I think to PMS cravings, I had a total binge and ate WAY too many carbs. While it wasn't technically a cheat, I think I kind of broke the spirit of the law. I ate a bunch of freeze-dried strawberries and raspberries and half a container of guacamole after a good a filling dinner. When I write that down, it doesn't sound so bad. That's what I like about eating this way. Even when I get a little out of control, the foods are still fairly healthy!
So, here are the things I learned from this binge. First, if I eat dinner too early (4 pm), I am going to need something later. I had leftover chicken stew in the fridge, and I should have had a mini-meal instead of a snack. Next, I am never buying freeze-dried fruit again. I'm not a big fruit eater when it's all hydrated, but when freeze-dried, it's like candy. I don't think I could eat it responsibly. Maybe I will take it to events where everyone else gets something really yummy that I can't have. It certainly tasted like a treat. And finally, I will feel especially snacky on days when I don't eat enough fat. I forgot to add fat to my chicken stew (I usually put a dollop of bacon grease or lard in it when I heat it up), and since there aren't many good fats available at a restaurant, when I get steak and veggies out, I should eat something fatty when I get home. Like a yummy spoon of coconut oil.
The other nice thing I am getting out of this Whole30 adventure is the sense of superiority. I absolutely love saying, "Oh, I don't eat that." to the peons with bread and cake and stuff. I know it's arrogant, but I feel like a Masai tribesman, with a big ole glass of milk and blood in his hand, looking down at some agricultural, squish-jawed villager. I'm like, "Hey, just let me finish this milk/blood, and then I'll conquer you and you can herd my cows!"
So, here are the things I learned from this binge. First, if I eat dinner too early (4 pm), I am going to need something later. I had leftover chicken stew in the fridge, and I should have had a mini-meal instead of a snack. Next, I am never buying freeze-dried fruit again. I'm not a big fruit eater when it's all hydrated, but when freeze-dried, it's like candy. I don't think I could eat it responsibly. Maybe I will take it to events where everyone else gets something really yummy that I can't have. It certainly tasted like a treat. And finally, I will feel especially snacky on days when I don't eat enough fat. I forgot to add fat to my chicken stew (I usually put a dollop of bacon grease or lard in it when I heat it up), and since there aren't many good fats available at a restaurant, when I get steak and veggies out, I should eat something fatty when I get home. Like a yummy spoon of coconut oil.
The other nice thing I am getting out of this Whole30 adventure is the sense of superiority. I absolutely love saying, "Oh, I don't eat that." to the peons with bread and cake and stuff. I know it's arrogant, but I feel like a Masai tribesman, with a big ole glass of milk and blood in his hand, looking down at some agricultural, squish-jawed villager. I'm like, "Hey, just let me finish this milk/blood, and then I'll conquer you and you can herd my cows!"
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Whole30 Day 10: Crossfit is my Bitch
Well, not really. Crossfit chewed me up and spit me out on the sidewalk, as usual. But I had a good attitude about my butt-kicking, and that's new. Something about losing weight and feeling spry made me want to go to Crossfit, instead of making myself against all my inclinations. How crazy is that?! And I really worked hard, harder than usual, so really it was my attitude that was my bitch.
I'm still feeling great today. I took myself out to a Brazilian steakhouse for lunch because I miss having alone lunches where I read my books. So I read The Lost Hero and ate yummy food, just like the old days, except I am skinnier.
The food there was meat and veggies - totally paleo - and yet, it tastes better than anything ever. They bring meat around to the table and slice it right onto your plate. Today I had chicken wrapped in bacon, filet wrapped in bacon, bottom sirloin, top sirloin, rump roast, and a chicken leg. I love that you don't have to pick one thing; you get a little bit of everything. They also had lamb and swordfish, which I passed up. Cause yuck. I also had a salad with pico de gallo and oil and vinegar dressing. There were a lot of things on the salad bar that I couldn't have - cheese, pasta, veggie salads with mayo - but I was so happy with the top sirloin (of which I had a huge pile) that I didn't care.
And the coolest thing about day 10? **Warning, stop here if you don't want to hear about the alleviation of PMS symptoms. Just saying.**
I am right in the middle of when I usually have awful PMS moodiness, painful swollen breasts, and a lot of bloating. And I feel fine! I am a tad bit irritable (Let's face it, though; it could just be my basic personality.), with slightly tender breasts and almost no bloating. I love fitting into my bra for the whole month, not just 3/4 of it! I love looking in the mirror and not seeing a swollen face! Cheekbones should be all the time!
Aaron is still not so happy as I am, but he is getting a little happier. His biggest complaint is that he is hungry all the time. That's not my experience at all, but maybe he isn't eating as much fat as me? I'm just not sure. This is a bigger change for him, so maybe it will take him more time to feel better. I'll keep you posted.
I'm still feeling great today. I took myself out to a Brazilian steakhouse for lunch because I miss having alone lunches where I read my books. So I read The Lost Hero and ate yummy food, just like the old days, except I am skinnier.
The food there was meat and veggies - totally paleo - and yet, it tastes better than anything ever. They bring meat around to the table and slice it right onto your plate. Today I had chicken wrapped in bacon, filet wrapped in bacon, bottom sirloin, top sirloin, rump roast, and a chicken leg. I love that you don't have to pick one thing; you get a little bit of everything. They also had lamb and swordfish, which I passed up. Cause yuck. I also had a salad with pico de gallo and oil and vinegar dressing. There were a lot of things on the salad bar that I couldn't have - cheese, pasta, veggie salads with mayo - but I was so happy with the top sirloin (of which I had a huge pile) that I didn't care.
And the coolest thing about day 10? **Warning, stop here if you don't want to hear about the alleviation of PMS symptoms. Just saying.**
I am right in the middle of when I usually have awful PMS moodiness, painful swollen breasts, and a lot of bloating. And I feel fine! I am a tad bit irritable (Let's face it, though; it could just be my basic personality.), with slightly tender breasts and almost no bloating. I love fitting into my bra for the whole month, not just 3/4 of it! I love looking in the mirror and not seeing a swollen face! Cheekbones should be all the time!
Aaron is still not so happy as I am, but he is getting a little happier. His biggest complaint is that he is hungry all the time. That's not my experience at all, but maybe he isn't eating as much fat as me? I'm just not sure. This is a bigger change for him, so maybe it will take him more time to feel better. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Whole30 Days 8 and 9
Yesterday, day 8, was Halloween. I was dreading it a little. Aaron, Livy, and I always go over to Jenn's house for a party and trick-or-treating. The candy I can mostly pass up, though I was jonesin' for some milk duds. What I dreaded was not getting to eat the yummy Buffalo/Blue Cheese wings and being dead sober.
So I did some serious prep. Now, I am not a prepper, not at all. When I took my 2 year old to the park, it was a good thing I was still nursing her because I never once remembered snacks and drinks. That's what boobs and water fountains are for. Duh.
But this time, I planned ahead. I found these awesome rotisserie wings at the Fresh Market made with only salt water. I bought dips we could have with the veggie tray; Harry's/Whole Foods has great guacamole and pico de gallo that don't have any added crap. And I brought several bottles of kombucha so that I could drink something with taste, while Jenn was drinking Savingnon Blanc.
And the best thing? It worked. I missed the alcohol and the wings. I missed the candy a little. But mostly I was pretty satisfied. And I didn't even smoke. I found out (and it is a good thing to know about oneself) that I am just as loud and inappropriate and ridiculous without wine as I am with it, so no big loss to the party.
I feel really proud of making it through Halloween without any misery and gnashing of teeth. And my reward is that today, day 9, is the best day yet by far. I have more energy than is good for me, and I am halfway down my to-do list already. Today, I could tap dance or play the drums in a rock band.
So I did some serious prep. Now, I am not a prepper, not at all. When I took my 2 year old to the park, it was a good thing I was still nursing her because I never once remembered snacks and drinks. That's what boobs and water fountains are for. Duh.
But this time, I planned ahead. I found these awesome rotisserie wings at the Fresh Market made with only salt water. I bought dips we could have with the veggie tray; Harry's/Whole Foods has great guacamole and pico de gallo that don't have any added crap. And I brought several bottles of kombucha so that I could drink something with taste, while Jenn was drinking Savingnon Blanc.
And the best thing? It worked. I missed the alcohol and the wings. I missed the candy a little. But mostly I was pretty satisfied. And I didn't even smoke. I found out (and it is a good thing to know about oneself) that I am just as loud and inappropriate and ridiculous without wine as I am with it, so no big loss to the party.
I feel really proud of making it through Halloween without any misery and gnashing of teeth. And my reward is that today, day 9, is the best day yet by far. I have more energy than is good for me, and I am halfway down my to-do list already. Today, I could tap dance or play the drums in a rock band.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Whole30 Days 6 and 7
So, yay! Days 6 and 7 were GOLDEN. I'm back to feeling good, my normal energy, no cravings. And I am way less crabby, so now would be a good time for social contact, if you still want some after reading these blog posts.
We are eating out way less, which I thought would be really hard. It actually hasn't. We at out at Longhorn on Saturday night on Day 1, and we ate out there again for lunch on Day 7. That's it! This from the family who sometimes eats out every day! I miss sitting at a restaurant alone at lunch, reading my book, and letting someone else do the damn work. I'm certainly reading less. But I'm getting used to the planning and cooking at home.
Our Day 7 trip to Longhorn was good; really, I think it was too good. I ordered ribeye, asparagus, and salad. Aaron ordered sirloin and broccoli. We asked the waiter to leave off the butter-lemon sauce. When the food came, it was just too delicious, too shiny, too juicy, too BUTTERY! So we asked the waiter to bring us another steak. The cook and the waiter swore there was no sauce, that it was just steak juice, but Aaron and I agreed that we think we ate at least a little butter sauce. Aaron says that he was happy for the first time in 7 days, and that is proof positive there was something illegal in there.
At home, we've been eating my homemade spaghetti sauce, grilled chicken, ribeye, flat iron steak, roast chicken, and pork loin. I've fried up broccolini, roasted veggies in with the chicken, and made lots of salads. We've eaten nuts very moderately, fruit even more moderately, and learned to drink water. I've also learned that Friday night Pub nights without alcohol SUCK.
This first week has been a huge success! Full steam ahead!
We are eating out way less, which I thought would be really hard. It actually hasn't. We at out at Longhorn on Saturday night on Day 1, and we ate out there again for lunch on Day 7. That's it! This from the family who sometimes eats out every day! I miss sitting at a restaurant alone at lunch, reading my book, and letting someone else do the damn work. I'm certainly reading less. But I'm getting used to the planning and cooking at home.
Our Day 7 trip to Longhorn was good; really, I think it was too good. I ordered ribeye, asparagus, and salad. Aaron ordered sirloin and broccoli. We asked the waiter to leave off the butter-lemon sauce. When the food came, it was just too delicious, too shiny, too juicy, too BUTTERY! So we asked the waiter to bring us another steak. The cook and the waiter swore there was no sauce, that it was just steak juice, but Aaron and I agreed that we think we ate at least a little butter sauce. Aaron says that he was happy for the first time in 7 days, and that is proof positive there was something illegal in there.
At home, we've been eating my homemade spaghetti sauce, grilled chicken, ribeye, flat iron steak, roast chicken, and pork loin. I've fried up broccolini, roasted veggies in with the chicken, and made lots of salads. We've eaten nuts very moderately, fruit even more moderately, and learned to drink water. I've also learned that Friday night Pub nights without alcohol SUCK.
This first week has been a huge success! Full steam ahead!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Whole30 Day 5
Okay, so day 5 kinda sucks. I am actually having cravings, which I didn't at first. Livy had a frozen pizza for dinner (not our usual fare, but it was leftover from vacation), and only because she is my only child did I not rip it from her tiny hands and shove it down my throat. I don't even like pizza, but damn it smelled good.
However, I did not rob the small and innocent. I made myself a Whole30 dinner (homemade spaghetti sauce from the freezer) instead.
We had a bad day in general (only a parent can imagine just how bad), and I am sure it was worse because of my lack of energy and my irritability. I am really looking forward to day 10 or whenever this will shift, when I will feel rockin' good and madly clean the house like an energetic J. I want the personality I had my first week on thyroid medicine when I was not only making a to-do list, but actually doing the things on it!
I didn't go to Crossfit tonight, partly because I lack the energy to walk to my car and partly because no one but me should be burdened with my child today. (It was that bad.) So anyway, the summary is that this day kind of sucked and would have sucked full out if it wasn't for Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. They rock, but they eat a lot of really carby foods.
However, I did not rob the small and innocent. I made myself a Whole30 dinner (homemade spaghetti sauce from the freezer) instead.
We had a bad day in general (only a parent can imagine just how bad), and I am sure it was worse because of my lack of energy and my irritability. I am really looking forward to day 10 or whenever this will shift, when I will feel rockin' good and madly clean the house like an energetic J. I want the personality I had my first week on thyroid medicine when I was not only making a to-do list, but actually doing the things on it!
I didn't go to Crossfit tonight, partly because I lack the energy to walk to my car and partly because no one but me should be burdened with my child today. (It was that bad.) So anyway, the summary is that this day kind of sucked and would have sucked full out if it wasn't for Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. They rock, but they eat a lot of really carby foods.
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