I'm starting this blog on the brink of the Whole-30 January challenge. I have done several "paleo challenges" before, but will be the first time on Whole 30. I have heard great things and am very excited. Several women from my Crossfit class have also committed, so that makes it better. I find the more accountability, the easier something like this is.
I have always been an active and "fit" person. Running, triathlon and cycling were some of the things I did on a regular basis. I have 3 marathons, two 1/2 Ironmans, maybe 12 half-marathons under my belt. I even got as far as 16 weeks into the training for Ironman AZ before throwing in the towel (which means an 80 mile bike ride with a 1/2 marathon right after). I biked solo century rides (100 miles alone) on occasion and taught spin classes at 2 gyms in Chicago. So, by most standards I was fit. HOWEVER, I was still overweight (about 146 at my highest, I'm 5"4') and never felt like I "looked the part" of an athlete. I had no discernible muscle outside of some bulky quads. I was always watching what I ate (lots of grains, vegan, low fat, etc...) and never losing weight no matter how much time (oh, so much time!) I put in.
About 3 years ago now we adopted our son Anderson Xiaojun from China. It was a whirlwind and it turned my (our) lives upside down. I wasn't prepared for the ways my life would have to change to fit his needs as a 4 year old. I lived for 36 years doing what I wanted all the time, with nobody dictating my schedule. I realize now that I suffered from post-adoption depression for a good month after getting home. I'd never been depressed before, so I didn't recognize the signs. Luckily it was short-lived. I had to adjust my life around his schedule and the long runs, swims and rides were out of the question. I tried jogging with him in a baby jogger, but both of us became quickly bored. I was in a rut and saw my future self as a pudgy, middle-aged mom wearing capris and didn't like it one bit. I literally woke up one day and decided to dive in head first to Crossfit. After seeing the gym and it's uber fit population day after day for 5 years (I live around the corner) I knew it was something I had to try...if just for proximity's sake. Once I started I never looked back. My story of starting out in my first class I'm sure is the same as many others...the pain, the thinking the warm-up was the workout, the feeling like you are going to puke, the nerves that keep you up at night wondering if you are going to survive. Then, over time you start to get stronger, start seeing muscles, hit milestones that you never expected to hit and before you know it you are one of "those people"...the people that others ask questions with regards to fitness.
In the 1.5 years I have been doing CF I have dropped 2 solid sizes, lost 20lbs (from my highest to my lowest) and have exceeded any idea of what I thought my body was capable of. I can do pull-ups. I can walk 1/2 way across a gym floor on my hands. I can snatch 85lbs and Clean and jerk 125 at last count. I dead lift over 1.5 times my body weight. These are things I never even imagined myself doing, but now, in terms of my athleticism, define me. Numbers measure my gains, but there isn't any way to measure how much this all has changed me as a person. I am more positive, healthy, happy and energetic. These are the real gains.
I have goals in relation to fitness/health. Here they are:
This quote will serve as a guide: "This year I will realize the full potential of my athletic self. I will live like an athlete."
Specific Goals:
Complete Whole 30 and maintain this lifestyle with only MINIMAL deviation. Quit cold-turkey nibbling on Anderson's snacks (my biggest cheat and overall downfall)
Snatch 110#
Clean and Jerk 140#
Dead lift 215#
Front Squat #140
Back Squat 165#
Run a mile in under 7min
Get below and stay below 18% body fat ( I think if I am about 125 lbs this will be good)
