Whoops!  I haven't been great about blogging every 5 days on my Whole 30.


 I FEEL AMAZING.  Yes, amazing.

2.  I have tons of energy.  No 4:00 slump, just even energy throughout the day.

3.  I sleep great.  I don't know if I ever slept bad but I'm sleeping great.

4.  My face is thinner.  Ya'll know I hate fat face (say that with a twangy accent).  My face isn't fat anymore.  YES, YES, YESSSSSSS!

Katie, you've officially put this photo everywhere.  That's enough.

5.  I have lost weight...I don't know how much but some of my clothes are looser.

Since we're riding this positive wave, I'll continue.


Non-Whole 30 related awesomeness...

6.  I got the Ok from my doctor to go back to Crossfit 480-almost full force.  Still no running or jumpy things but back to lifting and other stuff.  SO HAPPY.  I went back, for the first time, today and I was so freakin happy when I left.  I just love it there.

3 time champ...Hot Rich Froning.  Hot.  Hot.

7.  I'm on a mission...a mission to get married this year (maybe to the man in the picture above.  Ha!).  Yes that's right.  Katie, you sound insane.  I know.  My other mission to date people failed so I'm just going to get married.  Any takers?  No?  You might have been interested but this post mixed with my Pinterest boards about a future wedding and children have completely scared you away.  Great.



PS.  I wouldn't wanna lead you astray so I will tell you that my friend who is doing with me and I agreed that we are going to do Whole 30 + drinking.  Umm, that's not Whole30 Kathryn.  Yeah I know, but this ain't my first rodeo (my dad says that a lot...does anyone else say that) and I'm doin' it.  Cheers.

Love me some asparagus

I know the OJ isn't a great idea.  I only had a few sips and threw a lot away.

I brought these for a friend who just had a baby. Why do I torture myself?

Totally overcooked my salmon...bad move

What's your "go to"?  Do you have one?  No, Katie, we don't have drama with our food all the time like you do.  Well, sometimes I start to crack out on sweets...and tortillas...and tortilla chips...and the delicious Ziti my sister made...and a million popsicles.

Every time my friends or I starting gaining weight we have our own "go to" things.

One of my friends is Nutri System.  Gaining a few lbs, she orders up another thing of it.
Another one is Weight Watchers.  Gaining a few lbs, she starts logging her points all the time.
Mine?  Whole 30.

The first time I did it was to check out this whole Paleo thing.  I had such great effects that for the next year I was on and off, with lots of on.

Anyway, back on the wagon and keeping a little log for the first time.

Day 1:
Feeling great.  Excited to be doing another Whole30!

Chicken Salad w/ salsa and avocado

Day 2: 

Wow, my body definitely is telling me what it needs!

I got back from a trip to Tucson vowing that I would get back on Paleo track and I have.

I feel like my body is saying,
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!

Super excited to try these fun summer foods!


Also, for those who have been agonizing over my having to give up avocados, I am happy to report...I tried eating them again.  I'm a really slow learner and even when I'm given an answer I keep making the same mistakes over and over and over...but in this case it actually worked out in my favor...no so much the case with me dating "bad boys." <----Seriously, Katie, get a life.

Anyway, you can all exhale, I can eat them again.  At least for today I can and it was AMAZEBALLS!  Best avocado of my life.  Thank you Costco and thank you to myself for my phenomenal avacado slicing skills.  It really is an art.  I excel at three things and cutting avocados is one of them.

Ok, I'll share my secret.  You cut it WHILE it's in the skin and then very carefully scoop it out while keeping all slices in tact.  What?  You learned that when you were five?


Pineapple Popsicles
Pineapple, coconut milk and vanilla extract!  So easy and yum!

Chipotle Mango Salad 
(Just sub the creamy dressing for some salsa to avoid the stomach ache)


Frozen Fruit Ice Cubes!
I'm positive I won't make these, ever, but for someone who is craftier than I...great idea!

I haven't been blogging that much.  Guess what Kids...I haven't been doing that well with my working out or eating.

Confession Monday
1.  Definitely not eating Paleo right now.
2.  Definitely gained at least 5 lbs since finishing my last Whole 30...possibly more but I haven't weighed myself in a few days :(
3.  Haven't been drinking much water
4.  Have only done about 2 days a week of Crossfit, on average, for the past few weeks.


Ahhh, exhale.  It feels good to get that off my chest.


Guess what...
I don't feel good at all.  Remember how I was so upbeat and the world was fabulous a few months ago?  Help me find that again...quick!!!

Eating good = Feeling great
Working out = Feeling great

Here are my ideas...
1.  Take pictures of my non-Paleo foods and text them to a friend
I'm too lazy to write everything down and I know I wouldn't be consistent with that.  I think that haven't to take pictures...but only of non-Paleo will make me more accountable.  Which of my lovely friends would like to receive my pictures!?  Wanna do it with me?

Ok, that's all of my ideas for now.  Just 1 idea.  That's all I can handle right this second.

I shall post my non-Paleo pics here tomorrow...I hope I don't have to post anything.

PS.  To my friends who seem to be able to stay motivated all the time...how do you do it?  Tips? Tricks? Advice?

PS again.  I bought some new Lulu shorts and I'm super excited to wear them tomorrow!

Paleo Junkie Friends...I'm sure I'm not 100% with some of these things.  They're Paleoish :)

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Seeds
Oh my delish!  Thank you teammate for turning me on to this gem.


Grilled Chicken (That's Marinated in Italian Dressing)
I am so excited to make this.  It's summer.  It's the beginning of my favorite salad! I am forever in Michelle's debt for showing me this easy and delicious chicken so many years ago.  Now, if I could just remember to fill the propane for my grill we'd be set.


Honey
Because it's a fab sweetener.  I just heard about someone using it in their coffee, may have to give this one a shot.


Vanilla Agave Nectar
I only use the tinest bit.  I have had the same thing of it forever but it's amazing.



Iced Green or Passion Tea
BEST. DAY. EVER.  was yesterday when a guy at my gym told me EXACTLY how they make it at the SB.  Ready?  Hang on to your hats and glasses kids cause this, here, is going to change your life.
1.  Get a regular cup of tea (hot) ready.  My fave is the Tazo Passion or Pomegranate.  I also add Vanilla Agave or Honey at this point.
2.  Transfer that hot tea to a big tumbler and fill the other with ice.
3.  Shake it with another cup on top, Cocktail style.  If you want to throw it behind you and do a spin, you can.

4.  Drain it into a cup full of ice.
5.  Smile and thank Katie and her Crossfit friend.


Water Flavored with Fruit
My duty partner and I were discussing this today.  So many options!  Cucumbers, or raspberries and mint, or lemon/lime.  I want to make start making a new pitcher every day.  Ok, let's start small, once a week.


Smoked Salmon
Fresh, Alaskan salmon caught by my family.  I wish my entire freezer was full of this stuff.  PS.  I would NOT recommend eating it on your way out the door to Crossfit as I did yesterday, BAD idea.


Bananas
I eat more bananas than most monkeys.  I put them in smoothies.  I freeze them and make them into dessert.  I throw some almond butter on them.  Ah-mazing.

Paleo Cake
This, Paleo Mug Cake,  is my go-to dessert when I'm in need of something sweet and delish.

Just about 180 days ago I started this journey to change my body, mind and life 180 degrees.  At the time I honestly didn't think I would change.  I thought I might get a bit better in the gym but since I had always had a tough time shedding lbs in the past, I wouldn't change all that much.

I am convinced.  I have all my stats below but more, than any of that I have so many people to thank.  The gentlemen (Derek, Brian, Justin) for CF 480 have changed everything about me and I am forever in their debt (and those thank you cards are coming, promise ;) ).  And anyone else who has helped me along this journey...which has been SO many people, thank you.  Every compliment makes me want to push further and go harder.  Every, "Come on Katie, let's go," has helped me finish that WOD a little harder and a little stronger than I thought I could have.


I've done things I absolutely never dreamed I could do.  Crossfit 480 has changed my life.  I wish I could just bring new members in droves because that's how strongly I believe in this.  They say that Crossfit is a bit cult-like.  I have to agree and I'm in.  I'm so in that I just paid for a year up front.  It was expensive...but worth every penny.  I am officially hooked on eating clean and training dirty.


I say this and I will also say, I really don't think Crossfit is for everyone and I think you need to find what works for you.  For some, it's Pilates.  For some, it's cycling.  For some, it's Bar class.  Find what works for you and commit to it and push yourself.


So...just how has CF changed me?
Sidenote:  I didn't post before/after pictures.  I took them every week but there are just some things (very few ;) ) that I can't share on here.  Perhaps, one day, I'll get really brave and post them...not today.  However, a few people can attest to the fact that I look a bit different.

Description	180 Days Ago	Now
Mind and Body
Weight	Big…effin fat…not a size I wanted to be.  There’s only a handful of people who know the number and I will keep it that way.	18 pounds less…18 pounds on a 5.2” body...and still losing
Ankles	Sprained at least 4 times with lots of torn ligaments so I walked like I was 88 until after my morning shower.	NEVER hurt…never.
Size	Big…should have bought Bigger but wouldn’t do it.	2 sizes…ok 3 sizes smaller…and going down!
Eating	Sugar addict, knew what to eat but didn’t do it.	Paleo baby!
At Crossfit 480
Burpees	A joke.  My stomach was huge and whatever I was doing certainly didn’t look like a burpee…perhaps like an army crawl.	My burpees actually look like burpees
Pull Ups	Ring Rows…and they were hard	Blue and purple band.
Thrusters	Weightless PVC Pipe	65#
Back Squats	100 lbs (This was my best exercise)	155#
Box jumps	On the curb, jumping up and stepping down.	On a – in box, jumping up and jumping down.
Running	Run 100 meters, Walk 100 meters, Run 100 meters.	I finished a 5K without walking.  I run every run in a WOD and never walk.  I’m signed up to run Pat’s Run (4.2) in April…Running is my biggest accomplishment!!!
Comments	“Katie, just do 3 rounds, not 5.” “See if you can squat a big below parallel.” “Good work Katie.  You’re going to get even better.”	“I saw you walk 3 steps, don’t let it happen again.” “Get back on it.  Let’s go.” “Go ahead and just do 3 rounds,” but he WASN’T TALKING TO ME!!!  I have to finish every WOD, every time.  “By the way, you look amazing.” “Lookin’ good.”
Life
Me	Unhappy, unhealthy, not confident, ran away from cameras…yuck.	180 degrees different.  I really didn’t think that I would be changing 180 degrees and I have.  I just paid for a year of Crossfit because if anything interrupts my gym time I would be devastated.  I am doing my 2nd Whole 30 (hoping to push it to a Whole 60) because I love how it makes me feel. Life is good great.