diet overhaul...

Honestly, I'm feel pretty darn great!

It's been 8 full days since I cut out sugar, grains, and dairy. I'm still alive and functioning! I've lost 12lbs! It's incredible to see how grateful my body is to be fueled by healthy, whole foods. I'm lighter, I'm more confident, and my clothes are fitting me again! I'm waking up feeling more energized than ever.

The toughest part for me, aside from the 5 o'clock tired spells I get everyday, is being in social situations.

Exhibit A:
Last Thursday, I went to a happy hour with friends. They we're drinking margaritas and eating fried food. I chugged 10 glasses of water to keep myself from launching across the table and ripping food from their hands. I ended up leaving early because it felt like torture. But when I got home, I realized what a success it was for me to be there and not cheat on myself.

It hit me like a brick... I'm in control. What?! Yes. Samantha, you are in control!

Exhibit B:
Friday night, I attended a "Beer WOD" at my CrossFit gym. It is pretty much exactly what it sounds like... workout + beer drinking. I had originally planned on participating before I got fed up with myself and started cutting out the crap. I chose to stay above the line and spectate, and cheer on my rad friends and workout buds. The event was insane, and I ended up getting sweaty!

Exhibit C:

Saturday night, Brett and I went to see Florence and the Machine live in the Woodlands. The show was EPIC. Her voice is soulful and always gives me goose bumps.  They completely rocked the venue.  Normally, I would have slammed 3 or 4 over priced beers but I didn't. I wanted to.... but I didn't. I stuck it out...

It wasn't that bad.

(see her perform live! #doitnow)

So here I am today, still committed as I was a week ago. Loving my new outlook on food as fuel. I've got a support system stronger than steel and I'm ready to keep taking it one day at a time.

What can you do TODAY to make yourself better? Let me know! I'd love to support you.

s

reminder... you're awesome...

How many times have you told yourself you can’t do something?

I’m a living, breathing example that you really can do anything. I’ve told you before that three years ago I couldn’t run a mile and now I run marathons. You would think I would have no trouble at all when it comes to taking on a new challenge head first but today was test for me.

I love this new box I’ve been going to, All Day CrossFit. It’s on my street, about a half a mile up, I walk or jog there every time. I’ve been going twice a week for about 3 or 4 weeks now. I’ve met some really dope new people and I’ve never felt intimidated. They have such a welcoming atmosphere. #shoutout 

I made the mistake of looking to see what the WOD was for today. Typically, I like to just show up and GO!  Today’s Facebook post said “Barabara” and that was all it. Frantically, I started googling/binging/yahooing/ sweating and found out just what kind of crazy b*tch I’d be facing come the 4:30pm.

Barbara = 20 Pull ups, 30 push -ups, 40 sit ups, 50 squats x 5 rounds.

Pull ups are my arch-nemesis. The last time I attempted pulls up (probably 5 months ago) I felt bad about myself for days. I wasn’t able to even get one assisted pull up. I struggled through the entire WOD while others raced on ahead of me. I cried all the way home in my car listening to Adele. #enoughwhining

So, I’m sitting at my computer contemplating “Barabra.” I throw on my run crops and lace up my shoes (as I often do when I get nervous) and headed out to the park for a 3 mile run. I’m pretty sure my thought process was, “well, if I chicken out of CrossFit at least I got my sweat on today.”

My run felt great. I got home and sat at my desk nervously tapping my fingers. Can I do this? Should I do it? I can’t do a pull up. I can’t even do an assisted pull up. I am so bad at this. I’ll embarrass myself. I shouldn’t go. I can’t go!

Whenever this happens to me I know what I have to do. I MUST GO. If I’m frightened by it I know I have to do it, or at least try it, right? I was just wasting my time with all the “should I go?” nonsense.

I arrive. Thankfully, for me it’s a small class, only 3 of us for this early bird special. Nerves kick in. Here we go:

Pull ups: To my SHOCK I was able to do the assisted pull ups today! and without ripping open my palms to boot! I’m betting my 50 day yoga challenge has something to do with this. #chaturangamakeyoustronga

Push Ups: hard as hell, and I mean HELL. Did I mention I scaled back and was doing them on my knees? (see pics for knee scrape) By the 3^rd round my arms were shaking and I could barely push up. On round 5 I actually collapsed once. Oops.

Sit ups: my favorite part of the WOD by far as I got to lay down a couple of times to catch my breath.

Squats: I was caught off guard by these puppies. Underestimated how much those can burn!

I finished in 44 minutes and 48 seconds. Probably the longest WOD I’ve ever done but right now I’m calling it my most rewarding WOD. I’m so excited that came straight to the computer to blog rather than showering off. I’ve got particles of black rubber from the mats on my back and legs, visible dried salt on my arms, and my hair is soaking wet.  My husband took one look at me when he got home and said, “Do you know what you look like right now?”

I’m sitting here all lit up by the fact that today I did something I didn’t think I could do and it’s just 

some random Monday in August.

I think we all just need little reminders of this from time to time. My challenge to you is to never let fear stop you from doing something.