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: 

  Starting tomorrow I'm doing another Whole 30.


I made a goal this summer that I wouldn't gain my annual Summer 10 lbs and you know what?   I did pretty good.  I didn't gain any weight.  In fact, I lost a few (very few but still, a few) lbs, worked out a lot and had a fabulous summer in the process!



But...
In the past 1 2 3 weeks I have fallen a bit off the wagon.  Drinking, eating, sweeting and I don't feel great.  Bloated, dark circles, and my nails are breaking :(

So, I'm starting another Whole 30 and you know what inspired me to do so?  My blog! This post!  I told you I write for me.  It re-read my blog about Whole 30 and was reminded just how amazing I felt when I did it.

I'm ready to do it again.
Anyone wanna jump on board with me?  30 days isn't a long commitment.  It's always easier to do things when you have other people on board with you.

Want more info before making a commitment?

Here's an old post of mine about it.

The Whole 9 Life Link-Download the FREE (not to be confused with the $49) Success Guide.  That's all you need.

Whole 30 Facebook Page-I love these 2, Melissa and Dallas (I feel like they're my friends since I've done a few Whole 30s)  They're no nonsense and awesome.

The Whole Family-This is a great Facebook page to Like because they are clean eaters!


So...who's with me?

Let me put you at ease about a few of your fears.

What am I going to eat if I can't eat _________________?

Steak with Avocado Sauce

You're going to eat delicious, nutritious food!

Spaghetti Squash with Scallops

Breakfast Egg Muffins

Strawberries that have been dehydrated

Banana Ice Cream

And what will I drink?

Flavored Water

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

I don't know if I can do it.

Yes that is the word I would use to describe my evening.  


Come along with me on a little journey...


This morning I checked my Facebook (imagine that) and this is what Boomer's status update said:
In just over 16min, I ran a mile, did 50 push ups, 50 KB thrusts & 50 box jumps... Now back to my regularly scheduled staycay... — at CrossFit 480.

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.

So, I finished 30 days of eating: meat, fruit, nuts and vegetables.

I stayed on track the entire time, unless I accidentally ate something that had an ingredient I didn't know about...but I was pretty annoying good about asking.  "Hi, very busy server.  Can you tell me what type of oil you cook your sweet potato fries in?  Are they dusted with sugar.  Is there a wheat coating on them?" Eh, I don't feel bad, I'm a great tipper :)

Anyway, here are the effects 30 days later.  Some of them, I didn't even notice until after it was over.
1.  Clear Face
I don't have bad skin but in my 20s and 30s I would start to break out around my chin...my face was totally clear.

2.  Tons of Energy
Every day, around 3ish, I have a "sinking spell."  I would get really tired.  I used to just want to move to Spain and take a siesta at that time with the rest of their country.  I can't believe it was food related.  I didn't have that tired feeling AT ALL during Whole 30.

3.  Exzema Gone
I have this weird exzema on my arms.  I know I'm making myself sound amazingly sexy right now.  I thought they were sun spots.  They seem to stand out more when I'm tan.  Apparently, also food related.

4.  Less Dark Circles
Without make-up, I look like I, either, A). Got punched in the face twice or B). Am a crack baby.  I have SUPER dark circles under my eyes.  Again, with the sexiness...seriously, why am I single?!  Anyway, I didn't even notice until I was headed to the gym with no makeup and noticed they were so much lighter. OH MY GOSH!  I almost rear-ended someone looking at myself in my rear-view mirror.

5.  No Bloating
I wasn't bloated even ONCE during this.  NOT ONCE.

6.  Allergies Almost Gone
My allergies were virtually gone.

7.  Weight Loss
I have always tried really hard to lose weight.  Eat every 3 hours to keep my metabolism moving, no matter what!  During this, I didn't try at all.  I ate when I was hungry.  I ate things my body needed and I felt amazing and weight just started falling off.

It was amazing.

Here's my biggest fear...I don't ever want to go back to how I was and I already feel myself doing it.

Why was doing Whole 30 so easy for me and now I'm having a tough time?!?!  I need a pep talk from multiple people STAT!

Since I stopped Whole 30, the non-Whole 30 things I have eaten/drank are:
1.  Sugar-free vanilla syrup in my black coffee.
2.  Wendy's...SICK.  Chicken sandwich, fries and a frosty...real mature Katie. --BTW, I felt sick before, during and after I ate the pretend food.
3.  Vodka & soda...several of them...which led to my next bad decision
4.  Vanilla Bean Cheesecake.
5.  2 cupcakes.
6.  Coconut milk vanilla creamer

HELP ME!  I don't even like it when I eat it.


Here is my plan to be 100% Paleo:
1.  Take all of the shitty food out of my house
2.  Shop, prep, cook...always.
3.  Keep how I felt when doing Whole 30 in the front of my head all the time.

PS.  I take back my blog about "doing it when you're ready."  I recommend Whole 30 to EVERYONE.  EVERYONE.  Just try it and see what you notice.  You will be so surprised at how much of your life, body, well being are affected by food.