Haven't done one in a while...

I'm feeling very lovey today...who knows how many things I'll love :)

Phone Calls that are Easy
My FAVORITE relationships are the easy, effortless ones where you two have been doing it for so long you know the next person's thought.  My brother, my best friends...I love it all.  Love the text, love the calls, love it.


Unexpected Cards
I have an aunt who is so thoughtful and she always sends cards at random and fantastic times...and the most recent one had a Starbucks gift card!  Is there ever a bad time to get surprise snail mail that's not a bill?!?!  Best thing ever!
Sweet 3 Year Old Statements
My nephew and I were talking on the phone and he was telling me all about how Mommy was his Valentine (sweet boy) and how he didn't wanna share with his sister.  I told him he was the coolest big brother and Lily wanted to be just like him and that's why she wanted his stuff.  He said, "I know, " and I was thinking...he's really listening.  In the background I hear my brother, "Philip, did you just push your sister down?  We don't push our sister (hmm, maybe someone should have told YOU that because Kettle, you're black)..." and on they go.  So much for me imparting wisdom.

Anyway, I say, "Well I am so happy I got to talk to you because I miss you so much," and he says, "I'm happy I talked to you too because I love you Aunt Katie."  Awe, melt my heart.



Good Music
I swear, is there anything better.  Every mood, every event, every day there is perfect music for it.  Current favs...90s on Sirus, awe yeah bringin it back!


Skype Happy Hour
My BFF lives all the way in Chicago and I miss her so much!  Ya know those friends who you just get along with (almost) all, all the time?  The ones where you can call 5 times and they will just yell at you when they finally call back to stop annoying them?  The ones you can call about a hangnail, your horrible day or because you ate a cupcake and feel guilty.  Happy Hour Skype dates make things so much easier.  LOVE.


My CF Crew
I am in love with my CF friends, especially my one constant girl friend in my class.  She's awesome and last week I didn't see her at all and I almost cried...not really but I missed her!!


CF Newcomers
Today was the new guy's 1st CF workout ever.  He was dying...dying.  Panting, stopping, dying.  I so felt for him but in Crossfit fashion we ALL cheered him on until he finished.  Way to go New Guy; you didn't die.

PS.  I was also having a PARTY in my head when he was doing this that I'm not that person anymore.  Don't get me wrong, I was laying on the ground at the end, but I'm better than I used to be.

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.

I don't have a specific topic in mind but I'm feeling bloggy (2st century word) so, today, you get random thoughts...

1.  I have Blog Envy
I just read a blog.  This one... Today's Letters.  It gets 67,000 reads PER DAY!  Holy cow!  How do I make my blog that popular?  I'm having a flashback to 5th grade.  I was in with the cool kids but I was the lamest of the cool kids.  Jessica was the coolest one.  Everybody loved her.   I want my blog to be Jessica not Katie.  Now accepting tips.

2.  Don't Wanna Workout
I wanna go to CF, right now, as much as I want _________________ (insert something very unfun).  I usually don't have a problem but my couch and my coffee are so comfy right now.  UGH...I'm gonna go anyway, but I'll be kicking and screaming on the way there.

3.  Co-op?
I'm thinking of joining a local Co-op...anyone wanna share it with me?   Although I wish I was filthy rich, I can't afford Whole Foods all the time.

4.  Food Quandry
I don't know what to do with the food on my shelves...I put it all on one shelf when I was doing Whole 30, but now I wanna be Paleo all the time and the food doesn't fit in my lifestyle.  What do I do with my little bitty To Go peanut butters?  Or my Costco-sized Organic Anne's Bars?  Good food, good money going to waste?  But...better than to making my ass fatter, right?

How is it that your ENTIRE outlook on life can be different from one day to the next?

I've told you I try not to write on bad days because who wants to read some sad sob story all the time.  

Yesterday effing blew, a day of teaching that was anything but sunshine and rainbows.  I mean, don't get me wrong but 2 things pissed me off so bad that I couldn't recover...
1.  One of my students said the following things,

• I HATE you.  
• I can't wait until next year when I get a new teacher.  
• I will forget all about you the second I walk out the door on the last day and I can't wait.  
• I wish I had any teacher but you.  
• Did you hear me yesterday?  I said it's none of your business!

Before I post this, I will state the following things:
1. I am not a paid advertiser for Crossfit 480
2. I feel that I speak for most Crossfitters. We become quite attached to "our" gyms :)
3. I am not trying to put down the 24 Hour Fitnesses of the world. I was a member for years and I still love the Zumba classes :)

Globo Gym (ie. Any big gym)	Crossfit 480
The Greeting
Walk in the door and are greeted by an overweight receptionist.  “Hi, it’s my first time here.”  “Ok, let me get you one of our trainers.”	Walk in and aren’t sure who runs the place but are greeted by someone, “Hi, are you here for Elements Class.  Derek will be right with you.”
The Sell
The trainer walks up…”If you sign up for ___, it will be ___.  If you sign up for ___ and personal training with me for 10 million more dollars, it will be ____.  If you sign the 10 year contract in blood we can give you 2% discount.” If you walked out without signing up, you’d get a phone call every day for the next 10 years or until your death.	I’ve never heard a sales pitch at our gym.  In fact, that was actually the part that turned me on the most.  I went on a free Saturday.  They talked to me while I was there, told me they were glad to have me and didn’t call me. When I chatted with other members, “Ok, so what’s the deal with this gym.  Do you like it?”  The response from everyone was the same…it’s changed my life.  I love it here.
The Workout
You come in to workout and are left to your own devices.  If you’re feeling motivated, you can hop on the treadmill.  If you’re not motivated, hardly move on an elliptical and go home. If you think you know how to lift, give it a go.  A spotter?  If you ask someone at the gym.  You’re lifting completely wrong?  Nobody will tell you.  An injury?  Sucks to be you.	Walk in a look at the WOD on the board.  Warm up as a group.  Work on a skill as a group.  Your trainer will correct your form to ensure that you’re doing it right. Start your WOD.  Huff and puff your way through it, all the while being encouraged by other CFers and your trainers.
The Motivation
If you don’t wanna go, don’t go.	If you don’t wanna go, go.  If you don’t the people in your class will ask where you’ve been and you better have a good excuse.
The Feeling
People don’t know your name.  You do the best you can.	Everyone knows you. They become your 2nd family. You do better than you ever thought you could.

The continuance of my date...

So, I told all of you that I wasn't that in to him but how was I supposed to tell him?

I got this text the day after our date:
Hey Katie.  I thoroughly enjoyed last night.  Looking forward to seeing you again.

So, now what?

Do I ignore him?
IMH:  No, that's bad dating Karma, like I really need that.



What do I text back?
So...after much deliberation with my friend, here's what we wrote:

Hey, I had a good time too.  I don't think it was a match on my end but good luck with everything.

So...what do you think?  Good?  Bad?  Ugly?  I need your help!

Date #1...done.

Er-rrrrrrr-r-r-r-r-r...Rewind.

IMH: I could just not show up. What if I die? Can people actually die of anxiety? I might be the first.

I drive to the coffee shop. Why a coffee shop, you ask. Well, because the genius that I am agreed to go on a first online date (I'm embarrassed when I type that) while in the middle of The Whole 30...when I have 6 more days (132 more hours) before I can drink. PS. I think I deserve a damn medal for sticking with this thing...a medal made of vodka.



I drive to the coffee shop and I was early. Sidenote (have there already been too many digressions?! I'll stay focused after this, promise): Sorry CF friends. Don't shake your head at me. No, I didn't go to CF. I REALLY AM still sick AND, besides, what the hell do you know?! All of you are married. So...my love life needs to take priority...but I really was sick :) Don't be mad. I didn't really cheat on you and I was thinking of you the whole time.

I drive to the coffee shop. I was early. I went to Safeway to find a bathroom because the nerves had completely taken over my body at that time. I walked around Safeway and they only had the old-school bathrooms way in the back of the store through some big black doors into a giant storage room where, I'm pretty sure, they murder people. I decided I didn't need to go that bad.

I'm chatting on the phone with my friend and as I'm walking out, I see a guy that looks quite similar to the online profile that I was about to go out with. IMH: OMG...AWKWARD! I may have just run in to my date that I've never met. I hate online dating!

Anyway, I went to the coffee shop, he arrived shortly afterwards. If you're holding your breath, it WAS him that I passed in the grocery store. We both pretended it didn't happen. Awesome.

So...there's really not much to report. I wish he had had (can I put 2 hads right next to each other like that?) extra long arms or a lazy eye or something funny to report but he was pretty normal. Nice guy. Good conversation.

I don't really think it was a MATCH. There was a lot of HARMONY going on in our conversation, but I don't think CUPID shot his arrow on this one. But, there are PLENTY OF FISH in the sea. Ha ha...did you like all of those dating website puns?! No...nobody...crickets? I know, I'm pretty embarrassed I even wrote it.



So, after Date #1...
Conclusion Drawn:
1. I could probably make conversation with a rock. And...dating isn't that scary.

2. Don't drink caffeinated coffee on a date at 8 pm...on a week night. If anyone wants to chat I'll be up until 4:30 am.