My first blog of 2015!  Actually my first blog in months.  Time to dust off these fingers and get back to it.  I went on sabbatical from my blog for a bit because I didn't think I had anything to say that you'd wanna read but !@#$ it.  I'm writing anyway.  Either, I'll write and you'll slowly taper off from reading because too many posts in a row suck or I'll find a way to get funny.


And for tonight's delight, I'll attempt to become a food blogger.  Is that what they're called?  Recipe blogger?  Whatever, below there will be food...and a recipe.  In case you're about to dig into your phone or computer, there won't be actual food on my blog, just a picture.  We're clear?  Good.

Tonight the dinner I made was AH-MAZE-BALLS.  Yes, imagine giant balls of amazing.  That was dinner.  It's probably my new favorite thing.

Here's the slight problem, I only kinda used a recipe.  So, if I go to recreate it, it might suck because I'm not entirely sure what I did.

So...if you choose to use this recipe, use at your own risk because I'm guessing on some of the measurements.

• 1 good sized spaghetti squash
• 2 minced cloves of garlic
• 1 and a 1/2 ish diced green peppers <--- there were 2 but I threw away some pieces because it looked a little old
• Some olive oil
• 1 1/2 small diced onions
• 1/2 of a jalapano diced 
• 1 thingy of turkey meat
• 1 can corn-drained
• 1 can black beans-drained and rinsed  
• Some cilantro 
• 1 avocado
• Cheddar Cheese
• Cumin
• Garlic Salt

Let's just get the bad news out of the way so I don't feel like it's looming over my head...
I failed at my 1st juice fast.  Yes I did.

Now let's walk through it...

I watched "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," and decided I needed to "Juice."  My friend who juices was super on board.  She told me she was going to do a juice fast and asked if I wanted to start with her.  "Yes!" Just the motivation I need, I thought.

I went out to nasty WalMart and bought a juicer and tons of produce (don't judge me for buying produce at WalMart).  Roughly $200 later, I was ready to begin my 10 Day Juice Fast.

Came home and chopped, peeled, and juiced my ass off.
  


I put them in cute mason jars and labeled them with Expo.


Then I ordered a pizza.  No, I'm not kidding.  I just wanted to make sure my body was really toxic before starting.

I put this little chart idea I saw on Pinterest up.



I posted in my Boots to Ass Juice Group.  I posted on Facebook.

Sunday Morning:
Drank my 1st juice-Mean Green...not bad.  Spinach, Cucumbers, Celery, and Granny Smith Apples.
I was tired all day.  I took 2 naps.  1 is normal for me, 2...not so much.  Then I got a RAGING headache (Caffeine, I think).  Well, I may be exaggerating about the raging part but I never get headaches so this sucked.  I had this achin' head from 2 pm until the next morning.  By this time I had decided I'd just do a 5 day fast for my 1st one; 10 was a bit ambitious.


PS.  I also drank some juice with beets (SICK!  I don't like beets.  They taste like dirt) and 1 that was straight orange juice...didn't really taste like my Simply Orange Juice.


Sunday Morning:
I got up and drank a Mean Green and watched "Hungry for Change" <---great documentary.  Then I went to Whole Foods to get some Kale and nectarines.  While I was there I picked up some ghoda for after my fast (and some tortilla chips).  I started to think, 3 days is probably plenty for my 1st Juice Fast.

By the time I got in the car I had decided that 1 1/2 days was a great amount of time.

So there you have it.  I freakin' failed my 1st Juice Fast.

Things I Learned:
1.  I DO like eating my food.
2.  I DO NOT like drinking my food.
3.  I don't like beets.  They are pretty but not delicious.
4.  Mixing vegetables and fruit is nothing to be scared of...I'll add spinach to my morning smoothies.
5.  I'm gonna take a break from the caffeine for a while.  It scared me that I was so addicted to coffee that not having it gave me such a headache.
6.  I'm determined to incorporate more raw food into my diet
6.  I have to figure out a plan that works best for me.  For the past year I have been: Whole 30ing, off the wagon, Paleo, off, Whole 30, off...it seems to be an endless cycle that is becoming yo-yo dieting.

I don't think it was bad for me to do the Whole 30s.  They taught be SO much about myself, my body, my allergies and how we can use food as medicine.  However, I think it's time for me to find a lifestyle that works.

I have a lot of "tough love" friend, who I love, who are gonna say, "What's your problem?  Just do it!  It's not that hard."  To that, I would say, "I agree."  That's exactly what I want to say to people who: don't work hard at their jobs, can't manage their classrooms, who don't have friends (Katie, you don't have friends.  That's why you're writing a blog on Memorial Day.) who have social anxiety, can't carry on a conversations without completely dominating it (Katie, you do that sometimes).

But, ya know, I guess we all have our vices.  80/20, right?  80% of us is good and the other 20% is pretty sucky.



Apparently this is part of my 20% (a small part because I have a lot of other !@#$ in my 20%), my ongoing weight battle/body issues, one so many people I know have-well every person I know except 3.  And I say to them, way to go- the 3 of you.  I envy that part of your 80%.  I bet you envy some parts of my 80%...like my amazeballs personality or the way I can match my pajamas so well or, possibly, my super cute work bag and lunch bag.  We all have our 80%.  We all have our 20%.

What's your 20%?  What's your 80%?

PS.  Anyone wanna buy a juicer from me for $100?

5 Things I Constantly Need Reminders About:

I don't know about you but the day-to-day of eating healthy is tough sometimes.  A birthday here, an event there, a holiday, a girls trip...why do there always seem like there are excuses to put crappy things in our bodies?

Eating healthy of a period of time is easy.  Eating healthy for a lifetime is hard.

So...I need to re-motivate myself.  Here are some ideas...let me know what you have.  What's working for you?  What's motivating you?  What delicious thing are you eating?

Every Little Bit Helps


Your Workout Isn't THAT Hard

Drink Water

Put Good Food In Your Body

Every time I go to the doctor it goes something like this,
I don't feel good.  My throat hurts.  I'm super tired.  My body aches.

Hmm, it sounds like allergies.  What color is your phlegm (PS.  Ew to that question)?  Let me feel your throat.  Let me listen to your lungs.  Let me look in your nose.  Yes, I think you have a sinus infection.  Here's a Z-Pack.

And I'm off, on my way.

Doctor was nice.  He asked questions.  He gave me medicine.  Why the problem?

Here's what he didn't ask.
Tell me about your diet.  What are you eating?  What are you drinking?  Tell me about your exercise habits.

After my first Whole 30, I was completely convinced that 95% (I just made up that percentage but it should be up there) of all of our ailments are food related.  The ONLY thing that is constantly happening is that we are putting food into our bodies.  That's it.  We're not outside all the time (ie: things blooming for seasonal allergies).  We're not overworked every second of our lives. We're not at work 100% of the time.  We're not at home 100% of the time.  It's not allergy season 100% of the time.  However, we are ALWAYS eat or digesting.

Every time I hear people talk here's what I'm thinking:

I'm sick.  My allergies are going crazy right now.
LPIMH (little people in my head): It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.
But I just have seasonal allergies.
LPIMH: It's still food related.  Try a Whole 30 and you'll see. 

My nose is really runny.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

My stomach hurts.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

I am constipated (I know, I know but I'm trying to make a point)
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

My kids are sick.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

My kid has ADHD.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

I have bad acne.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

My hair is really dry/greasy.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

My nails won't grow.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage.

I have a headache.
LPIMH: It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage....or drink LOTS more water :)

I'm not a Whole 30 pusher...ok I am sometimes and I wish they paid me.  I really believe that so many of our aliments are food related.  My poor friend doesn't even complain to me anymore because my first question is always, "What have you eaten for the last 3 days?"

PS.  Quick story...
Yesterday I ate pancakes.  Dodging the stones being thrown. Again.  Yes, again.  Yes, for you faithful followers, that's the 3rd time in a week.   I'm going to throw away the pancake mix when I get home.  Pinky promise.


My day had been a little crappy and I emotionally ate.  Yeah I did.  I'm on a the JOURNEY to the healthiest version of me.  I have not arrived.  I still make bad choices...and pay the consequences as you will soon see.

I had an awful night's sleep, for a lot of reasons but really bad allergies all night.  I woke up in the middle of the night and took, not 1, but 2 allergy pills...

All that from the gluten, sugar filled pancakes.  Strong work KC.  Strong work and I thought as I wondered, "Why do I feel so crappy?"
It's food related.  You need to eliminate the garbage!

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.