Tales from the Gym--Welcome to the 21st Century

I can't believe I hadn't blogged this already.

So.  I went to the gym two weeks ago and threw my back out.  I do remember blogging that.  What I didn't blog was my conversation a week later.

I saw Nike (my fav female personal trainer) talking with Dan (my fav male personal trainer) and one other guy (turns out it was Chris, the PT Director).  I wanted to let her know that my back was healing, but my new chiro had put me off heavy squats and, presumably, dead lifts for now.

Dan frowned at the news.  Nike was surprised, but understood....and Chris?  Chris said, "That's good.  You're a girl and shouldn't be lifting like that, anyway."

Dan and Nike split.  Had I not been standing in LA Fitness, I would have verbal assaulted him and, likely, kicked him quite hard.  There are no words for his chauvinistic attitude, nor is there any excuse.

I've since taken up dumbbell training which is going very well.  I've had more DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) with dumbbell training than I ever had with barbell.  Dumbbells are also humbling.  I never knew that 10lbs could be so heavy when doing curls.  I'm hoping to, someday, be doing curls with 25lbs.  Maybe higher.  We'll see.

In the meantime, I leave you with this awesome inspiration: 

The Whole30 Recap

Today is Day 30 of my Whole30 challenge.  I'll do a recap later for what today's foods were, but for now, I want to share the awesomeness of the success.

When I started, these were my numbers:

Weight: 172.3
Bust: 39"
Waist: 33"
Abdomen: 39"
Hips: 40" 

Roughly.  There was up to an inch variance depending on time of day and tape measure used...and whether or not I could breathe.

As of this morning, my numbers are:

Weight: 161.4
Bust: 38"
Waist: 31.5"
Abdomen: 36"
Hips: 38"

...and I can breathe when I take the measurements. 

Not to mention, I feel amazing.  I feel healthier, stronger, clearer.  I still have a raging case of ADOS... (Attention Defici---oooh, sparkly!), some anxiety/panic attacks, and seasonal allergies.  BUT!  I have lost my allergy to pineapple and kept off my allergy to iodine!  So, yay!

Ultimately, I'd like to lose another 10lbs or so and see if I can drop those numbers to 38-28-36.  My first goal was to get my hips to 38"....SUCCESS!  Now, to get the other number for my waist to cooperate... :D 

I'll do another Whole30 challenge in April, just to make sure I'm super hero ready come Memorial Day for Gamex.

Tales from the Gym - Personal Training

I have a goal.  My goal is to be spandex-ready and worthy by Memorial Day weekend.  Specifically, May 24.  To that end, I talked to one of the trainers at my gym yesterday about personal training.

I was set up for my free consultation for this morning.  I am fairly certain the guy was trying to kill me.  I've been doing StrongLifts 5x5 since November and only recently hit plateaus in everything.  I did a 20% deload and am going to work back up from there.  

The guy who was doing my consult today, thinks I should stop SL because it's "advanced" and I need to work the smaller muscles to build them up to push through stalls, etc.  Resistance training.

But.  I like SL.  

I also like the torture he put me through today.  I, personally, think both would work nicely together to get the results I want.

We'll see if the trainer agrees.  Her name is Nike and she told me she wanted to train me.  She knows what I lift; she knows my goals.  We chat because she's awesome.  As much as I like the super-cute trainer, Daniel, I think he'd be a little distracting--though, he's pretty awesome as a bench press spotter.  Very encouraging.

Anyway.  Chris, the training director, really put me through some hardcore stuff and I discovered I have a phobia of balls.  He had me doing squats with a yoga ball and I was afraid I'd pop it (hey, I've been told I was *fat* all my life...).  Then, he wanted me to do burpees with an 8lb weighted ball.  I knew the instant I put it down, my arms would slip and I'd break something...and I just sorta stood there, staring, trying to psych myself into it.  I finally turned to him and said, "Can I not do that with this?"  He was confused and started talking about strong cores, etc.  I said, "Yeah...see...it's not my core I'm worried about...it's the fact my hands will slip off the ball and I will collapse onto it, crushing my sternum."  He laughed and handed me a set of 12lbs dumbbells...that were circular on the ends.  I put them down on the mat and stared a minute...then stood up and said, "Can I just do regular burpees?  I'd rather not roll around and really hurt myself."  Apparently, though, this fear of mine is because I don't have a strong core.  Couldn't possibly be because I have no depth perception and very little coordination...coupled with a severe lack of confidence in doing anything involving something that requires depth perception and coordination.  I digress.

There were a few exercises I just couldn't do.  Planking and lifting a 12lb dumbbell was the first...followed by the stupid weighted burpees...and ending with a step thing where you step up onto a raised platform, balance and lift the 12lbs dumbbells over your head, then step off the other side.  Remember a lack of depth perception and such?  I also have a lack of balance...and a bad knee....which gave out on the step down.

TIME TO WORK THAT KNEE!  Dear lord, I thought I was going to die...and I'm a pretty strong girl... But, then again, my left knee *is* pretty jacked up.  As is my left shoulder.  I'd really like to do things like what I did today as a supplement to my strong lifts.  Hopefully, they'll agree.

Day 22 - The Whole30 Program

Zoiks!  What a wild ride this week!  I totally spaced out yesterday, but that's alright.  Food was not on my brain, but I managed to eat breakfast (egg and a half with some bacon and 2 clementines), and a snack of an apple and 2T of peanut butter.  Dinner was steak, swiss chard, and sweet potatoes.  So yum!  I had a gin and tonic that lasted me from about 8pm til about midnight, just because I needed some sort of flavor.

I'm not drinking enough water.  I know this.

My ankle's doing much better from last week.  Given that the hotel still has a hold on my account (I paid for incidentals in cash) and that hold has now caused my account to have an overdraft fee...and I have a ton of work to do for work plus knitting projects to finish and list, I have yet to make it to the gym this week.  My plan is to go running on Saturday.

Still, all in all, I'm pretty happy with my progress thus far.  I'm also excited because I now have a new cosplay goal!  I'm supposed to be Zatanna, Mystique (as Emma Frost), and Sister Psyche over Memorial Day weekend (who knows, maybe I'll throw in a female Captain America, just for kicks!) and I'm totally stoked!  I know I can pull off the looks and not have to worry that someone's thinking I'm too fat (even if that someone's me).

So, to recap food today...

RECAP

Breakfast: 1 mollet egg & copious amounts of coffee

Lunch: I was bad and skipped it...

Dinner: Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad.  It's very tasty....very tasty.

Back to knitting my epic pet sweater!!

Day 15 - The Whole30

"I feel fantastic! And I never felt as good as how I do right now--Except for maybe when I think of how I felt that day When I felt the way that I do right now, right now, right now!"

That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling after 15 days of clean eating.  I feel fantastic!  I'm still very groggy in the mornings, but I'm sleeping at night and, mostly, restfully.  The only time I'm hungry during the day is when I realize I've missed a meal (like today), and, in general, I like to think that my outlook on life has improved somewhat.  It's much more difficult to gauge and, given that I'm a girl, subject to change with the lunar cycles.  Or something.  SCIENCE!

*ahem*  Anyway...

As you may have read earlier, I hit a personal milestone today.  When I started my lifting program, I decided that I wanted to squat 200#.  In a "When I ... Then I..." statement, I asserted I would get myself a "Miss Fit" t-shirt.  I'm happy to say...I have to wait til after the weekend's gaming convention in order to design it, but it's in the works!

...and this fills me with glee...

So, lemme recap my day of semi-awesome eating...

RECAP

Breakfast: 1 egg, 3oz of steak

Second Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 sorta blood orange, coffee

Lunch: ...water...  I worked through it by accident.

Dinner:  My husband so very sweetly opted to make the dinner I had suggested for the evening so I could KNIT LIKE A MAD WOMAN.  I'd wanted "comfort food," and this was the perfect night for it.  So, off to The Clothes Make the Girl for recipes.  We went with the Cottage-Flower Pie, but used turnips instead.  Probably will make it again tomorrow night with sweet potatoes.  I dunno yet.  Tomorrow is a very busy day... food prep for 4 days away from home.... for 4 people....

If I learned nothing else from this evening, I learned this: Ken very much loves the immersion blender.  My shake tonight was strawberry, apple, coconut milk, and the lemon-flavored magnesium powder.

PS: Last night's concoction decided to erupt after about 45 minutes under my bed lamp.  It was awesomely fun...but, y'know.  SCIENCE! (It really does work!) 

Tales from the Gym - I Am Fe-Male

Today was a big day for me.  It was the day I got to attempt my squat goal: 200lbs.  I said "When I am able to squat 200#, then I will get myself a 'Miss Fit' tank top."

...and so I am designing my tank top.

Whilst I was setting up for my last set, a gentleman came over to me and stared with great intensity into my eyes.  Quietly, he said, "You are a very strong woman..." And I just smiled and said, "Aww, anyone could lift this--it's only 200#!" (trying to be jocular).  He continued his serious gaze and said, "I could never lift that...my back wouldn't handle it!"

I didn't have the heart to tell him he couldn't do it because he didn't believe he could.  I did, however, say, "I'm sure you could with a little effort and training."

Because, seriously, if I can do it, anyone can do it.  I have back problems, knee problems, ankle problems...heck, my hips aren't even level let alone straight.  I probably shouldn't be able to squat 200lbs, but, like the bumble bee, I don't know that I can't.

So I did.

Someone asked once why I'd want to lift so much weight.  Presumably, the person thought I was doing it for attention (because, really, how many women do you see benching 115#, squatting 200#, and deadlifting 185#).  But, honestly, I enjoy it.  There's just something about the feeling of pushing yourself just that much harder to become harder, better, faster, stronger. 

I'm not trying to "beat the boys."  I'm trying to beat Me.  I'm trying to beat that little voice in my head that says, "You can't..."  Because you know what?  I'm a female.  And that means I CAN....because... y'know, I'm Iron Man*.




*That's Fe-Male.  Get it?  Fe = Iron?  Iron Man...?  IT'S SCIENCE!!!!

Halfway on The Whole30 Program

I suppose, mathematically speaking, tomorrow would be the actual half way point of the Whole30 Challenge, but, y'know what?  It's been two weeks since I started and that is just awesome.  So, how's the last two weeks been?  Here's a bit of a recap of things.

Things I'm not supposed to know...
I've lost 10 pounds.  I started with 172 (I listed it as 170, because that's what I'd say to people) and I'm at 162.  I've also lost inches.  I always pull the tape tightly because I *hate* those numbers, but lets be realistic--I'm only hurting myself when I do that.  My numbers to start were 38-33-40 and the abdomen (2" from navel) was at 38, as well.  Today, my measurements were 38-31.5-38 and 36 at the abdomen.  I admit it.  I squeed.

Things I have learned...
When they say no alcohol for 30 days, they mean it.  I had a total of 4 vodka tonics in the last 14 days.  The first two didn't do much other than taste icky; the second two plastered me and made me sick to my stomach.  Enough for me to say I'm not doing that again in the next 2 weeks.  Don't care.  Not worth that pain.

I've also learned I need to eat before my workouts.  If I don't, I just can't push the weight (HA! punny!).  I also really need to pay attention to time and eat.  Three times a day is not that difficult.  Protein! Protein! Protein!

Things that have improved...
MY SLEEP! Mostly.  I still have off nights, but for the most part, I'm falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up semi-refreshed.

So, what did I nom on today during one of the most emotionally stressful days of my last few weeks?

RECAP
Breakfast: Chicken livers and coffee.

Lunch: The salad from last night....yum!

Dinner: Spaghetti squash spaghetti with meatballs from last night, chicken, and black olives.  I finished off the meatballs....SO YUM!

Now, I'm getting my magnesium (the powder, coconut milk, a banana and a little bit of unsweetened cocoa powder), knitting this sweater for the weekend (you can read about that kinda stuff here), and watching a movie before passing out so I can go to the gym tomorrow and be SHE-RA! 

Days 12 & 13 - The Whole30

I didn't log yesterday.  Obviously. So here's a recap from yesterday.

RECAP
Breakfast - Mollet egg, bacon (2 slices), and sautéd Nappa cabbage.

Lunch - I think I skipped it.  I was having a very bad emotional day.

Dinner - Chili.  It was awesome.  The recipe is here.

I had 2 vodka tonics last night and pretty much instantly regretted them.  I was kinda nauseated and in pain.  I think the coconut milk that went with my banana and magnesium powder curdled or something.  Who knows.  

Today... I at least ate 3 times.  I'm proud of me!  But, it was also a training day...so, I should have eaten 4 times.  Oh, well.

I don't have any epic stories from the training room today, so you get this one post.

RECAP
Breakfast - Chicken breast tenderloin & half a sweet potato

Second Breakfast - 2 eggs, and 4 strips of really bad bacon and about 2 cups of coffee

Dinner - SO MUCH FOOD!  We made this great salad, these awesome roasted carrots, and these amazing meatballs.   This was a masterpiece of taste sensations!  And we have a ton of leftover salad (YAY LUNCH TOMORROW).  

Drinking water today.  

Overall, I'm feeling pretty amazing and I'm starting to see how some foods negatively impact my system.  This makes me happy, too.  Not thrilled that I need to rid myself of Vodka (unless I can drink the more expensive gluten free vodka), but maybe I'll be able to drink my wine.  I do like a dry white.

Day 11 - The Whole30 Program

I totally forgot to do my recap from yesterday, so I shall do that below.  I will chalk the forgetfulness up to the pinched finger and the bruises on my rib cage.  It is always easier to blame injuries than to just admit to failure.

Results, not excuses!

...and I'm getting results.  Seriously.  I know I said I wasn't going to weigh in, but I have no willpower, like, at all, when it comes to the scale.  So, I weighed in yesterday.

164.2lbs.

That's almost 10lbs in less than 2 weeks.  This is inspiring to me, so I'm glad I did it.  I'd like to lose another 10lbs by the end of this challenge.  That would put me right around 150-155lbs which, I think, would be a very good weight for me.  Realistic goal.  Now, that doesn't mean that I won't try to lose more fat and see if I can drop that number to 140, but the more I work out and get stronger, the more I realize my once-set-in-stone goal of 130lbs is unrealistic for me.  I'd love to LOOK 130lbs, but, really... no.  Too thin, given what I lift.

So...

RECAP

Breakfast: Sweet potato, 2 scrambled eggs

Lunch: 4 egg omelette with peppers, diced ham, salsa, and avocados, and hashbrowns (we went to a restaurant...and I'm sure there was butter in the hashbrowns because...intestinal distress.  All I'm gonna say)

Dinner: Crispy Spiced Chicken Livers and squash with bacon.  This is what it looked like: 

Hungry yet?  GO EAT!

Tales from the Gym - Silence is Golden

Today's episode found me at my gym, stretching.  I did a bridge type thing to stretch my low back.  Hands in reverse, I hoisted my body on to my head and just held the stretch in my back.  Upon standing, a gentleman began waving at me frantically and whispering something about pushing to lift my head off the mat.  After a few seconds, he finally signed the phrase, "I'm deaf."  To his surprise and relief, I responded with, "Oh!  OK!" and we began an awesome Zen moment of conversation (Note to self: Brush up on ASL).

I did my squat set (190#) and then went to do a new exercise: The Push Press.  I'd been struggling for weeks at 60# Overhead Presses (OHPs), and one of my fellow Lady Lifters suggested the push press to help work the muscles for regular OHPs.  I was very glad she did because I felt like a powerful princess!

...then I pinched my pinky finger whilst putting a 45# plate on my deadlift bar.  Needless to say, my deadlifts were not happening after that.  Nice purple coloring with a bit of blue and the dark red in the center... verreh lovely, indeed.

I'd eaten before I went to the gym and I really think it made a difference.  I wasn't focused on the fact my stomach hurt because it was hungry or that my muscles felt weaker because they didn't have fuel.  Instead, I was a powerful woman--a WONDER WOMAN! 

Day 10 - The Whole30 Program

Today was craptacular.  Actually, the past two days have been craptacular.  I found out that I need my undergrad transcripts, as well, for the doctorate program I'm trying to apply to; I screwed up my bench pressing; my back's killing me; and, I found out, today, my Valentine's Day plans are pretty much null and void.

AWESOME!

So, I made a conscious choice: I chose to drink 2 vodka tonics tonight.  The good news: I had two and it took me 6 hours to finish them.  Also...I didn't like the taste.

Why did I choose this?  Honestly?  Because I had about a pot and a half of coffee so I could make it through the day without the panic/anxiety attacks becoming overwhelming.  But, the news about my Valentine's plans pushed me over my ability to cope.

Here's a recap of my (not so great) eating today:

RECAP:

Breakfast: 3 eggs, scrambled with homemade pico de gallo

Lunch: ...what is lunch?  1 orange, 3oz of chicken, 1 handful of peanuts (it's what my boss had)

Dinner: Two chicken breast fillets, roasted beets, and sauted beet greens.  And a banana.

...and a pot and a half of coffee throughout the day, plus 2 vodka tonics.

Too frustrated/hurt/upset/whatever to go make my magnesium shake, so skipping it.  The alcohol will probably help me enough.  Tomorrow's another day...and it will be so much better.  Gym day!  Squats, deads, and push presses!

Tales from the Gym - Graduation

I have graduated.  Kind of.

I have graduated from the StrongLifts program into....I have no idea what, but I'm working on it!  Today consisted of squats, bench press, and a new exercise called a power clean.

I have learned I have no idea what I'm doing with power anythings.

But, it was fun!  I will feel that in the morning, I'm sure.  I started with my bench press today because all the squat racks were taken.  Every. Single. One.  There are six of them.  And everyone decided to hit them at the same time.  I'd finished my warm up sets for my bench press, looked to where the squat racks were and...they were all effing empty.  FRUSTRATION!

That's okay.  115# bench press!  Set one...power!  Set two...POWRAWR!  Set three.....roll of shame.  I should have re-racked at 4, but I had to try for the 5th and my arms gave out.  Just in case you were curious, 115# is really heavy--especially when you're pinned under it and everyone else is in the middle of their own sets.  I'll have some lovely bruises.  The guy on the bench next to me finished his set and looked over.  I gave him a whimper and the puppy eyes of "HELP!" and he came over and moved the weight for me.  Then offered to spot me.

We reduced my weight to 105# and he worked with me on that, then gave me some tips and we reduced again to 95# for form check.  I actually felt much better about my bench presses after working with him and he wasn't thinking I couldn't do the heavier weight because I was a girl. Probably will stick at 95-100# and watch my form for the next few cycles.

Finally did squats.  They were awesome and I felt (mostly) powerful.  Then I realized I should have been at 190# today.  Ah, well.  Next time.  My low back was really acting up...I'm seriously hoping the F/D treatments at the chiros don't mess me up.  Those suckers HURT.

Final exercise...the power clean (mine looked nothing like this).  I have NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.  I saw a muscle-head who was doing some pretty amazing stuff and seemed like a person who would *answer* my questions rather than tell me I couldn't do them because I was a girl.  I asked him if he was familiar with a power cleanse and how to do them.

I was not prepared for the voice.  Well.  Not so much the voice as the accent.  For the next few minutes as he explained that he wasn't sure how to answer the question because the exercise can be very dangerous for your low back (and not knowing me and my weight lifting history), all I could hear...was... THIS.  I felt badly.  Nice man...named Sergi.

I finally worked up the courage to do something similar to a power clean and was complimented at the end of my set by a guy who was just impressed that I, a girl, knew her way around the free weights.  "You don't see many girls doing those kinds of exercises.  That was just awesome."  I was at bar weight.  Where I will remain for form checks...then start gently upping the weight.  I'll keep Squats and DLs, steadily increasing til I hit 200# on each.  I may hold there, or I may drop back squats and switch to front squats or power thrusters or something.  Dunno.

Saturday will be...interesting.  Squats, DLs, and power presses.

Incidentally.  I must be doing something right.  Sergi said I had the figure most women work hard to get.  Either that, or he needs glasses.

Tales from the Gym - The Realizations...

My day started as it should--I woke up, kinda, rolled out of bed into my workout gear, rooted around for a pair (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) of socks, and the flattest sneakers I own.  Grabbed my phone and my tablet, my towel, water bottle... I was ready to crush my workout today.

Set it all up in my tablet app (LiftBook, for those interested): StrongLifts 5x5, Workout B, 180# squats, 60# OHPs, and 180# Deadlifts.  I was feeling powerful (except for those OHPs...they are my nemesis).  My squats sets went well.  I was feeling confident and on top of the world.  My OHPs were surprisingly good today...until the 4th set.  That's when I realized there were a lot of guys staring at me...and they weren't staring at my weight.  I looked down and thought, "Oh, geeze...if there is ever an exercise to make feel even *more* chesty... it's this one.  DOUBLE Ds COMIN' AT YA..."  Threw me off, because now I was focused on the fact I have boobs and my workouts are just making them bigger and everyone in the gym is noticing.  Set 4 gave me 3 reps, set 5 gave me 4.

I happily moved to my Deadlifts.  My warm up sets were great, but I only did 2 at 160# instead of my normal 3.  I think I should have done 3 because I only managed to get 3 reps at 180#. This made me very sad.  I like PRs every time I lift.  It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.  I don't know how to handle it when I don't hit those PRs.  Then it makes me worry that I'm losing strength while doing the Whole30 program and I start to freak out.

Of course, apparently, I base my sense of self/self-worth on my lifts.  Oh, THAT is a bad idea (Yes, I know this already)!  When I couldn't do my 5 reps at 180# on the deads, my tapes started blaring in my head.  I tried to drown them out by saying, "Oh, yeah?  I got 3 reps at 180#...and competitive dead lifters only do ONE rep at their weights! So...shut up!"  But, it just got louder.  Apparently, it is better at intimidation than I am.  :(

"So?  You have to get to those weights, first!  You can't even get to 200lbs, let alone 315lbs!  Everything everyone has ever said about you, ever, is true--you worthless excuse for a waste of air!"

Thanks, brain.  So, I went home and consoled myself with an epic Paleo breakfast (which you'll get to read about tonight).  All I can say is, I'm glad I'm not cooking tonight.  I'd burn the kitchen down in all likelihood.

Day 4 - The Whole30 Program

I can't shake this fatigue.  It's like I'm getting my cycle symptoms two weeks in advance.  I should have just finished ovulation yesterday (not that I ever have any clue when that happens), but... my gosh, I'm exhausted.  Slept in til about 9am and didn't go to the gym.  I couldn't even bring myself to put on clothes until around noon (that was after I went back to bed).

I'm so tired of being tired.  I can't figure out what's wrong; really hoping the Whole30 can help with this problem.  I started taking my magnesium powder, again, but I don't like taking it with plain water--I don't like the flavor and it makes me feel like it's eating my tooth enamel as I drink it (fun stuff, there).

Tried laying down for a nap, but I spent 15 of my 25 minutes awake--not helpful.  The other 10 were a restless sleep which, also, is not helpful.

Anyway.  Recap will be in a few hours.  I'll even set it up for you now...

RECAP

Breakfast: Shrimp scramble (that's shrimp with scrambled eggs; very tasty!)

Lunch: ...when I eventually ate, it was an avocado with chicken breast. 

Dinner:  Left overs from last night!  Beef roast and the cucumber salad.  Delish!

I also had a glass of coconut milk whilst preparing the Tandoori chicken for tomorrow and two cups of tea with coconut creamer.  I'll probably blend up some berries and coconut milk with my magnesium as I learned today that my protein powder is off my diet list for the next 26 days.

Confession...I stepped on the scales when I got out of the relaxing bath I took. >_<  Good news: Down about 2lbs...  Bad news: I have no willpower when it comes to the scales...

Day 3 - The Whole30

Today seemed much better on the eating front.  Though, waking up is still *extremely* difficult.  In fact, I took a protein shake last night with my magnesium powder and fell asleep fine....but, woke up frequently....and did not dream peacefully.

I woke up just as tired as when I went to bed and barely remember the first part of the morning.  I remember certain things, but not in any sort of sequence or duration.  At least I can sleep in a bit tomorrow before my workout.

In general, though, I'm feeling pretty good, though I'm definitely craving a vodka drink.  Nothing sweet, really, just a vodka tonic.  Or a caesar. Anyway....

RECAP!

Breakfast: 2 jumbo brown eggs and 3oz of steak (+2 cups black coffee)

Lunch: Brussels sprouts/cabbage and bacon sauté with 3oz of chicken

Dinner: That fabulous cucumber salad, again, and about 6oz of beef roast from the crock pot.

Naturally, water to drink.

I am considering whip---oh, wait, I forgot to get more bananas.  Won't be making the banana "ice cream" tonight!  But, I will take my protein shake later, likely with my last banana, again.  It's very good and my feet didn't cramp at all in the night! 

Day 2 - Food Recap

Today was a workout day.

These days always throw me off. I also realized that I need to (at least at the start of this) do something not entirely Whole30 approved--I need a protein shake at night because it's how I drink my magnesium.  I need the magnesium (for now) to help me sleep so I don't have days like today...

6:00am - Alarm goes off.  Killed it.

6:45am - Second alarm goes off.  Killed it.

7:15am - Husband stumbles in to search for a towel...I notice the time and immediately....curl back up and groan.  Despite sleeping the night through, and sleeping soundly, I did not sleep well or restfully.

At this point, I crawled out of bed and got into my workout gear and got ready to leave.  I remember being at the gym and doing my bodyweight squats.  I remember crying about my pathetic OHPs, and I remember empowering myself with 175# dead lifts.  I don't remember driving home.  I remember making breakfast (which I'll share in a sec) and knitting...and the nap I ended up taking...and from there, I remember pretty well.

So. 

RECAP
Breakfast: 3 eggs and 3oz grilled steak
Lunch: I almost missed this and it wasn't balanced at all.  It was simply 3 oz of grilled steak.
Dinner: From The Clothes Make the Girl, I made the Moroccan Pork Chops with cucumber salad.  My husband (who has no interest in being Paleo) loved this meal and was sad there was not more (Note to self: Make large batch of salad).  Despite it being a training day, I haven't really been all that hungry.  Just lethargic.  I'm going to have a banana to cleanse my palate and then have a protein shake later for the magnesium powder.  Probably use 2 scoops of the protein powder, coconut milk, and another banana.  Have a lot of muscle cramps and knots...magnesium and potassium for the win! 

Whole30 - Day 1

Today is day 1 of my Whole30 Program, so I figured I should probably do a "before" journey chart so that in 30 days, we can see progress, ja?  So!  Here it goes....

Approximate Weight: 170# (+/- 2lbs)
Measurements (dear lord, I hate these)...

Bust: 39" (this does not budge, sadly... Thanks, Mom).
Waist: 33.5"
Hips: 40"

Approximate Dress Size: 12

I'll update this later this evening once I have a progress shot taken.  I'd list BF% but the wonderful BF scale I have insists I have more body fat than Ken (which I so totally don't).  I have yet to get a set of calipers, but they're on my list.

Other health issues:

Depression
Anxiety
ADH--ooooh, sparkly!
Muscle cramps/aches
Joint pain
Sleep disorders (mostly insomnia)
Acne
Blood sugar issues
Allergies (seasonal & food)
Poor body image

The goal is to ease any of those issues (especially the anxiety, depression, and poor body image).  I'd like to lose body fat, so we'll see how that goes.  I do heavy lifting 3x's week (which I think I mentioned previously), so we'll see!  This is the only time I am allowing myself to take weight & measurements before March 1.

My goal is to update this blog every day with a recap of the food I've eaten and how I'm feeling, etc.  The 15-18 of February is a gaming convention, so I won't be able to necessarily update over the weekend, but I will recap that weekend and how it went.  So far, I have breakfasts and lunches planned.  Not sure about dinners, yet.

Since I'll be updating this later, I'll throw the recap of today in there, as well.

So, that's me.  I'd like there to be less of me by the end of this, but... whateve's. :)

RECAP

Breakfast: 2 jumbo brown eggs with shrimp, cup of tea with coconut creamer

Lunch: Baby arugala with broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and grilled chicken, seasoned with olive oil and salt/pepper.

Dinner: Liver, steamed brussels sprouts with garlic & rosemary, and roasted tomatoes stuffed with homemade Paleo pesto (basil, mint, olive oil, garlic, macadamias).  

Water to drink... tea with dinner.

NOT HUNGRY AT ALL, HOLY CARP TOO MUCH FOOD... >_>  I'd like a vodka tonic, though.  I somehow doubt this craving will go away.

The Whole30 Challenge

Today is day 1 of my Whole30 Program.  No grains, no sugars, no dairy, no alcohol, no legumes, no processed foods for 30 days.

I've been so remiss in keeping track of other health things with this blog, I'm hoping this will keep me accountable.  I've changed the name and such because this is a lifestyle change--the next 30 days are just to reset my system.  To heal it.  

I love Greek mythology.  I can relate most of the Greek gods to my own faith and aspects of my God.  For example, Jehovah Nissi is the LORD my banner...which means nothing unless you put it into context.  The banner is a sign of encouragement in battle, giving a person or group of people hope to fight on and the strength to win.  Therefore, Jehovah Nissi is the God of Victory...but, it would feel silly to make the blog's title "Jehovah Nissi."  Nike, the shoe company, had a great slogan of "Just Do It" and Nike barely had her own mythology after becoming the charioteer for Zeus.

Perfect!  I'm not offending anyone!

So!!  Let the healthy diet .... BEGIN!

PS: I lift weights.  Heavy weights.  Follow me on Fitocracy to keep up with that progress.  As of this blog, I bench press 110lbs, squat 165lbs, and dead lift 175lbs.  If *I* can do it, so can you!