Stretchy pants...

I've been maintaining where I'm at for about a year now. Which is a milestone for me. I've lost weight in the past (never this much) but always put it right back on once I stopped working out or stopped caring about what I ate. So seeing my weight stay the same for so long is pretty great. However I have noticed that I've started to learn what I can get away with and still maintain a size 4. I've learned that I can pretty much eat whatever as long as I'm in the gym/working out every day. Which isn't the best thing because while I'll stay the same size, my body composition will change. My stomach won't be as flat and my face will get fuller. I've come to a point in this journey where I've let myself get complacent. I know that what needs to change most is my food intake. I need to be disciplined with my meals to be able to see the results of my time in the gym. Maintaining will no longer suffice, I still have more goals that I need to see myself reach.

Still, even though my diet may not be super clean or 100% paleo, I have seen some gains. I took a detour before grocery shopping last night in the hopes of finding a new pair of black pants for work. I had my heart set on finding a straight leg or skinny pair of pants (wearing slacks all the time is boring). So I take a few pairs into the fitting room and I am immediately frustrated. I can't even get any of these stupid pants past my hips. As much as it made me upset to do it, I went out and grabbed the next size up. They fit perfectly in the legs but were too big in the waste. I threw them off and left. Never in the past did I train my lower body like I do now through crossfit. There is definitely some muscle/power being added to my legs. And I really have no complaints about that, I've never desired bird legs, but now I'll just have to find a way to get away with wearing yoga pants to work.

Apparently I'm not the only one tryin to make it happen!

There are changes coming...stay tuned

Just Keep Showing Up...

It's been 4 months since I first stepped foot into Crossfit Solano and suffered through the first week of onramp (beginner intro classes). To be able to look back on such a short amount of time and see how much I've grown makes me so excited for what is to come. The past 4 months of workouts have been filled with frustration, sweat, sometimes blood, and triumphs. Some days I feel like I can conquer anything, other days I feel like I'm taking two steps backwards, but it's all part of the process. Every day I'm there I'm getting stronger. I have to attribute part of my success not only to Steve who is always supportive, but also to the amazing coaches and members of CFS. There is no way I would have deadlifted 205# yesterday without the girls I was working with and my coach cheering for me to get it up as I struggled through the lift. Having someone there in your face yelling at you that you can do it makes all the difference in the world.
Yesterday was such an encouragement, it made me hungry for more. I strict pressed 75#, back squatted 170#, and deadlifted 205#, I can't wait to see what those numbers are 6 months from now.

Those numbers may not be huge, but they make ME so happy.

Definitely gaining muscle. No bicep curls, no shoulder press. 

Foodie Food Food...

Food is such a huge part of weight loss/being in shape. Abs are certainly made in the kitchen, and you can't out train a bad diet. I could be putting in two a days at the gym but you would never be able to tell if I shoved my face with junk. Working out is obviously important but eating right is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. One thing I come across most often is that when people are first trying to lose weight they are so afraid to eat the wrong things. Grilled chicken and veggies and that's it! A diet as plain and simple as that is what causes people to fall off the band wagon, that's not realistic.
I like to think that every body is different. While my body seems to be at it's best when I'm strictly paleo, that may not be the right solution for someone else. I've shared my food list and recipes and staples in my diet with people looking to make a change, but at the end of the day you're going to have to do some experimenting. My cousin eats pretty much the exact opposite as me, she's a vegetarian. She has lost weight and gotten in shape by eating what is best for her body. She eats a lot of things that my body just can't seem to process as well, which is why I don't think there is just ONE way to eat.
This summer my diet has been ALL over the place. I could have stayed paleo if I wanted but with so much going on this summer I've probably only been paleo 50% of the time. And I notice such a HUGE difference. The grains, the chips, the crackers, the sugar, the dairy, it all makes my tummy so unhappy. I bloat like crazy and my stomach will never be flat when I eat like that. Last week I felt especially crappy. I wasn't eating close to enough and what I was eating wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the things that I know are right for my body and my workouts. I felt weak during EVERY wod, and this past weekend I felt like a huge balloon. So now today I'm back on it, drinking lots of water, ate a big lunch (hoping that will give me the fuel I need for a 5:30 workout), and avoiding snacking on chips, crackers, etc. I already feel a huge difference, just by starting over this morning. Way more alert and don't have that full ate too much feeling.

I feel like I may have shared this link on my facebook page before but it's worth sharing again. I hear women all the time say that they want to lose weight, workout, but don't want to be muscular. "Why the heck not?!" Is usually my response. This blog post is amazing and a must read...
http://crossfitfms.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/the-fear-of-bulkiness-and-crossfit/