I'm Back!

Well, our first Whole30 has been over for about a month and a half now.  I can say that I am still eating about 80% paleo, and so is my family.  I'd like to get that back up around 95%, however, so I am firing up this blog again to help motivate me to keep on track.

This week I plan on focusing on the lunches that my kids take to school.  I did a great job making paleo lunches for my kids during the Whole30, but I have not made a dedicated effort to pack them great lunches since then.  They get an awesome lunch about 2-3 times a week, and then I feel guilty for whatever they are eating at school.

So, how do I erase guilt?  Do something about it!

I'll be back this week with pictures of their lunches!


-xtina

Scoliosis

Never, in a million years, did I think sugar was bad for me. I realized today that it makes me sleepy. My back is hurting so badly right now and I'd like to blame it on the sugar but I'm going to hold off on the blame for now until I eat it again and see if I end up hurting.

I have scoliosis, a curve in the spine. Mine curves twice. One curve is 31degrees and the other is 33degrees. It's been curvy as long as I can remember, since I was in my teens. I always hurt because of the pressure it puts on my bones but today has been pretty bad.

I went to two surgeons to see if they could fix me. Both said no. Both told me to work out and that would help improve the pain. Seriously? How is working out going to help a curved back? Come on, doctors!! Get with the scalpel program and cut me!

For years of terrible pain, that I dealt with on a daily basis, I complained. I was sad. I would go as far as saying I was depressed at times and I didn't know why. I hurt. Every. Single. Day. 

...

That is, until I started working out. It had to be me; my terms; my workout program. Not yours. Not your friend's or your doctor's. I started using the kettle bell and a Jillian Michael's workout video in January 2011 and started feeling better. Is my pain being lessened by working out? Amazingly, the answer was yes. So I kept it going.

I moved back to Florida after living in North Carolina for 3 years and was glad for the change. I got started at a crossfit gym, Crossfit FiveFlags, and haven't hardly hurt at all. When I do hurt, it's usually the "good" hurt as in, "Man, I got a good work out in today!" My back does hurt if I'm stagnant, meaning no work outs, for a few days. My mood changes, I get very irritable and cranky, start getting sad and have pitty parties.

My back is strong. I can back squat 105 pounds. My core is strong. I can dead lift 155# during a work out and my PR is 175#. I can front squat 95#. I can do strict push ups now.

If you're fit. If you're strong. You can feel good, inside and out. That was a looooooooong lesson that I finally learned on my own. Don't be stubborn. If you're sad, out of shape, in pain, try lifting something heavy. Try a gym. Try MY gym!

The pain is nearly gone, and is almost completely gone from day-to-day.

Strength = power!

Day 37 by xtina

I'm still here!!

I had a MASSIVE cleaning undertaking going on around here so I could host my daughters' 11th birthday party.
I was able to cook everything here at my home, and all of it was Whole30 approved!

I never would have been able to clean for about 10 days in a row if I hadn't been eating well.  I'm so thankful that I decided to do this diet.

I have 4 days left & I don't feel like I am going to binge on anything crazy.  I'll post again and report what REALLY happens after the "diet" part ends!

Day 23 by Ru

So,
I FINALLY got my computer back and can post again. My 30-day journey is almost at an end and I wish I could have posted more. It's really a pain in the butt to type on a tablet or my phone.
Over the past 3 weeks, I've learned about healthy food choices. I've learned that spices really make the world go 'round. I've learned that my kids have loved almost everything I've cooked for them. I've learned that although eating healthfully can be expensive, if you're creative, you can stretch meals out over several days and each meal is different! I've learned that I actually enjoy different vegetables now and am proud of it! I've learned that blonde Starbucks coffee without creamer is THE BOMB! I've learned that I create a ton of organic waste by not composting and have recently started to "donate" my waste to my mom's compost so I can use it when I build my garden later on.

I'm not sure what the scale will say in a few days nor do I care what it says. I notice a change in my muscle tone.

I do care about my workout next Tuesday to see how I've improved from the test workout. I have gained so much strength! It's so exciting! I can finally say that I can do a strict "man" push-up and do 100 of them! Take that, Jillian Michaels!
Today I did 85pounds on the front squat and 105pounds on the back squat. Both are new personal records (PR's). WOW! I want to squat my body weight by May, which is only 3 months away and I know I can do it.

My test workout, I deadlifted 155pounds which is 20pounds over my body weight. When I first started CrossFit in July 2011, I could hardly like 75pounds without it being a challenge. Boy, have I changed. I've learned how to climb a rope, which is SO much fun! And I can push a sled that holds 288pounds. Man, that's just amazing to me.

This challenge has made me realize how much snacking I did, how much aimless eating I did, how much crap I was feeding myself and my kids. I hope to make slow but steady changes to their diets as well.

What am I looking forward to eating after this 30-day challenge is up? BIG CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! I cannot wait to make those and eat them up!!! I will only use the best ingredients, meaning that everything I can possibly get organic, will be organic. I am going to buy dark chocolate chips as well. Oh man, I cannot wait!

Day 23 has been good to me. My life is less stressful and less tiring and I attribute that all to whole-30 approved meals. You can do it too. If you make a choice to get healthy, you've got to give it a try. It's worth it. I promise!

Day 19 by xtina

Well, hello there.  I haven't been online as much the past few days because I actually feel well and happy enough to do some things outside the house.

I had a pulled leg muscle on Monday & I was stunned at how quickly it healed.  It would have been hurting for probably three days on my old, bad diet.  But it felt great by Tuesday morning.  The body is such an amazing thing.

Did a jump-roping and snatching WOD today.  10 minutes of constant motion & I did not use my inhaler.  Good sign.

My face looks so great - my skin loves this diet.  I haven't been as hungry this week as I was the first two weeks, so I think my hormones are balancing out.

Had some Aleve twice this week, but only due to my leg injury and the old shoulder/neck flaring up a bit today after the snatching.

So I'm on day 19 out of 43.  I don't think I would have extended the whole30 if I wasn't doing the challenge along with my gym.  It's a bit out of range for our budget to eat this way for a very long period of time.  I am most certainly not introducing dairy back into my diet except for the occasional piece of cheese.  And as I have not had any hankerings for soy, I'll stay away from that too.

My acupuncturist, though, recommended I use some legumes and grains, and I feel that I will incorporate those back into my diet.  I do know the difference now between "eating my veggies" and having one veggie per day.  I won't go back to that as I believe the veggies are what is making the difference in my body.

All right, time to cook dinner!

day 5 by ru

Had a good workout today but Ive been eating non stop. its almost 7:30pm and im back in the kitchen cooking. i think i need more protein ... still no temptations but did want a bite of aydens cheesey crust on his pizza tonight.

feeling great. not tired wheni should be. my stomach doesnt hurt at night anymore and im toning up a ton!

thats it for now.. my pan is hot and ready for my chicken and salsa!

Day 3-4 by Ru

The past two days have been easy again with meals as long as you have enough food to eat. Yesterday I did my own workout at home and did 5 rounds of 30 squats, 15 sit ups and 10 push ups under 13 minutes. Today I rolled and stretched because I believe my off days should still have some sort of physical activity. Obviously I chase a baby around all day but this is something that needs to be done anyway in order to prep myself for the next days WOD.

I found out Im in the "lean" category for body fat so my goal now is to put on more muscle mass. Im hoping I can do it. My blood tests showed everything I was tested for to be healthy except my blood sugar, which is at 5.7. That means I have the potential for diabetes and that scares me to death. I hope that improves throughout these 30 days.

Today I bought Starbucks "blonde" coffee and had it grounf for my Keurig and it is truly delicious without any sort of creamer. Im happy about that!

Thats it for now. When I get my computer back, I can post more.