Day one

Sleep
I have not been sleeping well and last night was more of the same.  I was having a very vivid dream that left me feeling like I wasn't sleeping at all.  Then I had to use the bathroom and could not get back to sleep.  I was definitely up before 6am not sure how long.


Supplements
I haven't taken the iodine in about 6 days...I need to get back to that this week.  I'm not sure if it is helping but I think tracking while Im taking it will be helpful.  I took the magnesium last night.  No stomach issues this morning so that is good news.  Need to get back to the pro-biotic as well.

Workouts
I have not been very consistent with my workouts recently.  For most of the summer I averaged 2 workouts per week.  My goal is to get to 3 crossfit workouts and 2 walking/interval sessions per week. Last week I got 2 crossfit workouts and 2 walking workouts in so that's a pretty good start.  Today we did the Lurong Challenge WOD 1: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 of Wall Balls (12#), Deadlifts (75#), Box Jumps (16 in.) with an 18 min time cap.  I finished in 14:17, I modified the wall balls towards the end because my started to seize up.  We'll do this one again in a few weeks so I can see if I improve.


Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Been eating out quite a bit lately including lots of treats...need to get back to cooking as I am kind of missing the veggies.  So weird that I need veggies, I almost crave them sometimes.

Feelings (body & mind)
Today I feel lethargic, like I need to sleep for 2-3 more hours.  My tooth hurts and it is causing my head and neck to hurt a bit.  My neck is also slightly stiff...I've been trying to find a good pillow but I have not been successful.

Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
180.0 this morning
 
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)
will take these later in the week

Keeping track of EVERYTHING

As I get older and my body starts to do little acts of rebellion.  There are soooooooo many variables that affect our health and wellness that it is impossible to make sense of the things that are having an effect without keeping track of what I'm doing and how I feel.  With that in mind it is my goal to keep track of

Sleep
Supplements
Workouts
Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Feelings (body & mind)
Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)

I considered doing a paper journal, but considering how much time I spend online, this might be easier to keep up with...

Adventures in Paleo

I have written about my exercise ADD and my avoidance of any restrictive diets here, so when my husband came home 7 months ago completely in love with this "new" workout Crossfit the first thing I said to him is "I'm not doing Paleo".  At this time he had no clue what Paleo was, but I had done enough research on diet and exercise to know that most crossfitters eventually try Paleo.  Fast forward 7 months and the hubby comes home  and says..."I think I'm going to do the 6 week Paleo challenge at the box".  My response "ok I guess we can try it"

I know right, I was completely shocked at myself that I was even willing to consider it and even more shocking is the level of research and preparation that I took on (I did eventually get tired of him relying on me for info on a diet he initiated and had to force him to do some research of his own).  But a few thigs were different...last year my approach was everything in moderation also known as IIFYM (if it fits your macros) combined with moderate exercise.  And while I managed to lose 13 lbs and keep it off, I still have and additional 25-30 lbs to lose.  I know that counting calories is not a long term solution to weight maintenance for me.  There is only so long that I can deal with the torture of daily food logging before I rebel (even with all of the convenient apps it is still a PAIN!!). So I was starting to look or a way of eating that would allow me the freedom to eat tasty food without the need to strictly count calories.

Paleo has been that way of eating.  Now I am not currently a die hard Paleo fanatic and I'm not sure that I am convinced of the whole ancestral, evolutionary, grains are poisonous aspect of it, but I do think the focus on eating real foods is a good one.  From the beginning I gave myself permission to be 75-80% compliant (my husband is doing very strict paleo for the challenge).  I didn't want to obsess over the fact that my salad had conventional dressing or whether I shld use cream in my coffee so making room for 20-25% "non-Paleo" insured that I wouldn't drive myself crazy and quit.

We are now entering week 4 of the Paleo challenge and I can say that I can see continuing to eat in this way. I have tried soooooo many foods that would never have crossed my mind and I feel good about the foods we are eating. When I am eatig mostly real food, I don't get that super hungry feeling so many "diets" leave you with and when I feel deprived I take a while to determine what I'm truly hungry for and then I have it.  I have become that elusive "healthy" consumer who shops the perimeter of the store.  I am easing the kids into it - introducing them to one new food while keeping some of their kids favorites (mac and cheese...chicken nuggets) and they have been fairly receptive so far.

The weight loss aspect has been interesting - TMI warning - the first week I lost 3 lbs.  It was mostly water weight as I noticed I was in the restroom a lot more but not drinking extra.  The 2nd week I gained those 3 lbs back but that was also my period bloaty week.  The 3rd week the period bloaty weight started to subside and I was down 2 lbs. Then finally this week - week 4- I am more bloaty and up almost 4 lbs.  Well week four did start with Superbowl Sunday and a pretty epic non Paleo day and of course there were leftovers and that damn delicious maple nut fudge...but not 4 lbs worth. (oh yeah then there was the return to weight lifting...even more water weight)  So the rest of this week will be a little more strict with the real foods and see if I can get back to that lovely low weight I saw in week 1.

2013

2012 brought about some healthy changes and a little weight loss as well.  In 2013 I will build on the foundation that I laid to bring me closer to my 40 and Fabulous.

2013 Goals

• Focus on the Food

I have resisted changing my diet FOREVER.  I really wanted to believe that I could continue my old eating habits and have the body that I desired. Well I have FINALLY come to accept that the age old wisdom of you can't out train a bad diet is spot on. I also want to journal about how food makes me feel.  I know that certain things that go into my body make me feel sluggish and sometimes nauseous...I want to work on identiying those.  There is no point to working my ass off in the gym and on the trail to come home and fuel it with crap.  I don't really want to count calories so I will just focus on less carbs more fruit and veggies.

• Weights, Weights, and more Weights

I abandoned heavy lifting towards the end of last year to try to increase my endurance...I miss it.  I miss the thrill of being able to increase weight or do more reps or just feeling strong in general.  The endurance is important too...and I am going to need it to compete in more obstacle races.  So I am in the process of devising a plan that will include both.  I think sprints, steady pace runs, hill work and weightlifting will work for me.  I just need to decide on 2 days cardio, 3 days weights or 3 days cardio, 2 days weights.  I may make weights the priority until it is time to truly train for the races.

That's it as far as fitness.  I do have an idea of what I'd like to weigh...around 150 lbs. I don't want to put a time limit on it.  Time limits stress me out and lead me to either drastic measures or completely quitting.  I learned a lot about myself last year and building on that this year is going to be interesting.  I'm so excited!

Thoughts on 2012

For most people a new year inevitably brings one to reflect on the year that has just ended.  I am no exception.

2012 was a pretty good year for me.  It was a little slower than normal with work which allowed me more time to focus on the health and fitness side of things.  Although I haven't posted here in a while I have continued my journey to a better me.  So with that I would like to reflect on what worked in 2012, what habits I was able to establish and what things I want to focus on in 2013.

2012 Accomplishments

• Lost 13 lbs.

While this number isn't earth shattering it is a good for me because I was able to maintain that loss through the winter/holidays.  My normal pattern is lose xx lbs. in the beginning of the year, maintain through summer, put weight back on in the winter. Starting 2013 weighing 13 lbs. less than 2012 is a victory and I'm celebrating it. I finally get to start a year without the baggage of "if I had just kept off the 10-15 lb I lost last year I would be..."

• Completed Diva Dash, Renegade Playground Challenge and DJ Henry 5K.

I HATED running.  I was a runner when I was younger (and I was pretty fast too) but through the year (and weight gain) it became a chore and increasingly difficult.  And running on a treadmill is torture!!  I had tried in the past to start running...I have started Couch to 5K and never finished.  I have tried run walk intervals at the park to build up to running, it never stuck.  Signing up for the Diva Dash was enough of a push to add running to my routine.  Sucking at the Diva Dash was enough to get me more serious about getting better.  Completing the DJ Henry 5K and bettering my 5K time let me know it is possible.

• Became an exerciser

I am now one of those weird people who looks forward to exercising.  I exercised on vacation in Jamaica...that is a BIG deal.  I look forward to exercising and I miss it when I don't do it.  Yay, I'm and exerciser.  Training is probably a better word for it because I am much more disciplined and focused when there is an end goal/date.

I also added a few healthy habits...more water, taking fish oil, taking probiotic, drinking Vitamin C Juice.  These are things that I may fall off for a few days but I always pick them right back up.

I'll outline 2013 goals in my next post...