You wanna talk numbers?

When conversing about CrossFit, the following questions either lead or dominate the conversation:

"How much weight have you lost?" OR "How much weight do you want to lose?" 

Puhleeze stop asking me how much weight I want to lose! If I learned one thing at CrossFit, I learned to look at more than just the numbers on the scale. Instead of focusing on the scale, I tend to focus more on increasing my strength, endurance, agility, speed, etc. 

So, you wanna talk numbers? Instead of asking me how much weight I want to lose or lost, ask me the following:

• How much can you back squat? Answer: 100# 1oo may not seem like much, but it's 100 more than I thought I could back squat! 

What's a back squat you ask? 

• Ask me how much can I deadlift. Answer: 160# and probably more. 

What's a deadlift you ask? 

• Try asking me how many inches I whittled from my hips. The answer to that question my friends: 4!! Yes, 4 inches!!

• Ask me how many push-ups can I do. And I ain't talking about girl push-ups. Answer: 7 

I must confess, my CrossFit experience, changed the way I look at the scale and sometime in the near future I plan to quit Weight Watchers:-(

 During the CrossFit challenge I killed myself, by going above and beyond.  Each week I weighed in at WW and each week I walked out disappointed. And after one breakdown to many, I decided to part ways with WW. 

So, you wanna talk numbers?  Leave me some of your impressive numbers, but leave the scale out of it. 

I'm about to piss some people off...

I am about to piss some people off! Before I start this post, let me reiterate...this is MY damn blog. (Remember that post?) So I reserve the right to voice my opinion in regards to various weight loss matters. DO NOT GET YOUR PANTIES IN A WAD!

With my busy lifestyle, I tend to DVR my favorite shows, one of them being SNL (Saturday Night Live).  Yesterday, I found a few spare minutes to start watching SNL. The host, Charles Barkley delivered the obligatory opening monologue. While watching Mr. Barkley trip over his lines, I noticed that he dropped a few pounds. Well, according to Sir Charles, he joined the growing numbers of celebrities attempting to lose weight via commercial weight loss programs.

Okay, now comes the part where I piss you off!

PSYCH! You Think It's Pasta, But It's Not!

At the onset of my CrossFit journey, I chose to switch to a Paleo Diet (well a variation of the diet). Click here to be directed to a website containing more information of the Paleo Lifestyle. 


Without getting into detail, the Paleo Lifestyle restricts grains (bread, pasta, etc.), excess sugar, and vegetable oils. With the absence of bread and pasta (my kryptonite), yours truly had to become pretty creative with my meals. I never realized how much bread and pasta played a role in my diet!


Okay, getting to the crux of the post...


As a single mom balling on a budget, spaghetti pops up into my meal planning rotation quite often. In my opinion, you get the bang for your buck with spaghetti, and you can make it S-T-R-E-T-C-H! So the last time spaghetti night rolled around, I prepared whole wheat pasta for my boys. And for myself, I decided to try my hand at preparing spaghetti squash.

Many times, I read  posts about other bloggers cooking spaghetti squash. And you know what, I turned up my nose in disgust at the thought of replacing pasta with SQUASH! EWW! But with the CrossFit challenge in full swing, I had no choice but to try the squash.

Before preparing the squash I went to YouTube to find a video. You can learn how to do any and everything on YouTube! Here's the video I found.

Without further adieu, my foray into the world of winter squash... 

Have you ever cooked spaghetti squash before?

I cried in the car...

I started typing this several weeks ago...so let's pretend this happened last Saturday. Thanks for your cooperation:-)


What an emotional day last Saturday...I tend to lean towards the dramatic side sometimes...and last Saturday  seemed to be  no exception. 


So as most of you know, 4 weeks ago I entered the arduous world of CrossFit.  Folks, no words exist to explain the trials and tribulations of my CrossFit undertaking! But allow me to say this...I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!!

So, getting back to my emotional breakdown...

Okay, so it all started when I walked into CrossFit for the Team Challenge. As I always do, I looked to the whiteboard for the WOD (Workout of the Day). When I spied the WOD, I nearly crapped my pants! See for yourself! 

VICTORY is MINE! I survived Thanksgiving & lived to blog about it!

So, today I weighed in and guess what, I lost 1.6 lbs! For the first time in a long time I managed to lose weight over a week long Thanksgiving break. 


Please allow me to be ungrateful for the next few minutes. Truth be told, that 1.6 loss left me disappointed. And please spare me the "A Loss Is a Loss Lecture."

 For the last couple of weeks (yes, a couple) I can honestly say I  put forth a gallant effort toward my weight loss undertakings. For two weeks I shunned bread, rice, and pasta. I woke up 3 times at 4:25 AM for the 5AM session at the CrossFit gym. Although I am thankful for that 1.6 loss, I feel I deserved MORE! That just means next week I work harder!! GAME ON! 

Okay, back to being grateful...I owe my loss thanks in part to my strategies I employed & to my TAKE NO PRISONERS attitude!

My previous post provided a variety of strategies to survive Thanksgiving unscathed. Let me share the strategies that I actually used:

TURKEY DAY PLAN OF ATTACK! 6 TIPS TO STAY ON TRACK!

Tomorrow, for Turkey Day, an epic battle will be waged (for me, no different than any other day!) 

Tomorrow, the ENEMY (food) and I will gather at the battle ground, the table!! 

Face to food face, a line will be drawn  in the terrain!  And I will rise to the challenge  and fight to fulfill the promise I made to myself when I started the CrossFit Challenge. I vowed to honestly put forth 167% by committing to 4 workouts a week, tracking my food intake and making WISE, but HEALTHIER food choices. So far, so fabulous (few bobbles here and there)!

I refuse to let one day break that vow! THANKSGIVING, you will NOT get the best of me.

So, tomorrow I plan to go into battle  ARMED and READY FOR ATTACK!!! Armed with the tools necessary to stay on track. My goal this Thanksgiving, not gain one single pound. Of course a loss would be ideal, but maintaining or not gaining shall suffice. 

So what's my plan of attack to stay on track this turkey day?

Houston Healthy Lifestyle Meet-Up Recap

Last Saturday, November 12, 2011 a few bloggy friends and I convened  for the First Annual Houston Healthy Lifestyle Meet-Up! 


The ladies and I met around 10 AM and enjoyed a brisk morning walk at Hermann Park.  Even though a few of us met for the first time, we conversated and giggled like sorority sisters.  At the end of the path, we stopped to commemorate our walk.

After the walk, we ventured to Hungry's Bistro & Cafe for a bite to eat. I ordered the Sunrise Wrap. After I received my wrap I scraped the gelatinous cheese to the side of my plate. 

 This wrap served as my last meal, so to speak, before my big challenge! 


After our lunch we disbanded and went our separate ways:-( I thoroughly enjoyed the company of these jazzy ladies!  When you get a minute take the time, mosey on over, and get to know these fabulous fit bloggers:

Miesha from Mi-Inspire

Ro from Ro Gets Fit

Shawn from Changing My Weighs

Dee from Just Dee...living and loving

Kia from Interior Intensive

and not to mention these two arriving fashionably late...lol:

Reiko from God's Favorite Shoes

Juanette from Fashion Nette-Work

 This gathering served as the first of many more fun events to come!


As a matter of fact, for those Houstonians who missed the first get-together, get yo hot pants, satin jackets, and leg warmers ready. For the next meet-up we decided to take it to the rink, the skating rink that is...ROLL...BOUNCE!


More details to follow but the tentative date is December 3rd.


Stay tuned for more deats! 


Upcoming blog post you might not want to miss:

• You Think It's Pasta, But It's Not! PSYCH! It's Spaghetti Squash!
• CrossFit...DAY 2! I AM CROSSFIT! 

Fresh Start...

Saturday Morning I congregated with a few bloggy friends for our first meet-up EVER! 

A couple of them reprimanded me a few times for my lack of presence on Blogger. So, I had no choice but to come home and blog. Okay ladies, I hear you loud and clear. Look...I am blogging...lol.


I tried to explain, that my need to blog pretty much reflects the state of my weight loss efforts:

No blog post = no progress.

Long story short, I veered off path and got lost. But never fear my friends...


Last Saturday, November 12th, 2011 at 7:13 AM, I forgave myself for my recent weight loss transgressions and indiscretions. AND, I gave myself a FRESH START!


A fresh start in the form of a challenge...

"The I Am CrossFit Challenge"

Not familiar with CrossFit...click here.  Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and military branches utilize CrossFit  as a form of training. Be afraid...be very afraid.

A coworker sent out an email informing the staff of the challenge. Being the competitive person that I am, I took the challenge as an opportunity to beat engage in a little friendly competition with my fellow colleagues.

If you know me, you know me + competition does not equal friendly. And I am a sore loser!

Initially, I considered the CrossFit Challenge as a competition between my coworkers and me. But after Day 2 of CrossFit, I now know that the challenge exist between Me, Myself, & I.

Day 1 of CrossFit put me to the test and pushed me to my limits. Yes, Day 1!

On the 1st day of the challenge I arrived at the facility bubbling with excitement. My excitement soon faded as the coaches explained the WOD (Workout of the Day) The WOD consisted of the exercises listed below using the following rep format 21/15/9:

• squat thrust while pushing weights up as you ascend,
• sumo squats
• 7 burpees
• run 200 meters

In short, the participants completed one rep of 21 (each squat), 7 burpees, and ran 200 meters.  We repeated the same pattern for a rep of 15, and 9.  By the end of the last rep my legs felt like J-E-L-L-O! And I did my absolute best to keep the vomit rising in my throat at bay.

O wait, did I mentioned that we executed dead-lifts prior to the WOD? And did I mention that I lifted 83 lbs? 

So, the Day 1 WOD also served as the challenge test. At the end the 8 week challenge the participants will perform the Day 1 WOD again to determine if our strength, flexibility, agility, endurance, speed, power, etc. increases.

Needless to say, I survived Day 1 and lived to blog about it...barely. Sitting, standing, and walking seemed like a painful chore.  I must admit, the handicap bar in the bathroom received quite a workout today. If it weren't for the handicap bar in the bathroom, I would still be sitting there...

in the bathroom...just sitting and waiting for help...

From now on, I should probably take my cell into the bathroom in case of an emergency. I can send out a distress SOS text.

If you need a a fresh start and welcome a new CHALLENGE in your life, try CrossFit...

Wait until you hear about Day 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Another Year Old...One Foot In The Grave! Literally!

Happy Birthday to ME!! Today I turn another year older! I keep inching closer to 40 and I feel it in these old bones. 40 sounds old! I now understand the meaning of that saying...

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE...LOL!

But you know what? 40 is the new 21! 40, 50, 60, no matter the age I will rock it! That's what FABULOUS people do! And as we all know I A.M. F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.!

Inching closer to 40 has me thinking. I need to stop playing around and jump start my weight loss. By the time I reach my 40th birthday I want to hit my goal and be the epitome of...

FABULOUS AT 40!

Uh Ohhhhhhhhh...I smell a challenge coming on! I need to sleep on it... more details to come!

ANY WHO... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Not another beware of Halloween post...it's not

Awwwwww...FALL... 

A magical time of year.

Leaves crisp underfoot.

Quiet evenings on the patio listening to Vince Guarldi.

Mugs overflowing with piping hot chocolate.

Aroma of baking cookies fills the air.

FALL!

Fall makes me nostalgic. What do you love about this time of year?

 

Saturday evening my boys and I partook in our annual Halloween tradition... 

...Gulping hot cocoa and devouring fresh baked Halloween cookies while watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!" Any traditions for you and your family?

Well I wanted to share an oldie but goodie...