Sunday, January 8, 2012

The True Religion Challenge

When I was at Razor's Edge Fitness in Pensacola, there was a trainer there who changed my life in many ways.  Corey taught me discipline, a desire to be strong, and inspired me to better.  She also introduced me to Paleo.  Corey wore True Religion jeans.  And suffice to say she looked damn good in them.  I remember wanting that so badly.  To be able to look great in a pair of jeans like that.  True religion jeans only go up to a size 31 and they are over $200.  They are also my birthday present to myself this year.



My birthday is April 19th.  That gives me 3 months and 19 days to get down to that size.  I currently wear about a 36.  I am about to do something I have never done before.  Set a huge goal and reach it.  I have done 30 days of Paleo.  30 days of Primal.  30 days without alcohol.  Quit smoking cold turkey.  Quit spending on ridiculous things.  And now its time to reach beyond the limits of my 30 day comfort zone and start something I have to finish.   Its more than just 3 months and 19 days of Paleo (and trust me there will be a few cheat days to keep my sanity in tact),  its about finishing something I should have a long time ago.  Its about me being tired of being big.  And I'm done with it.  I have lost around 60lbs on this entire journey.  I have done a lot and I am proud of that.  But its time to finish this journey so that I may start a new one.  One that doesn't include weight or jean sizes.  This is my pledge and my gift to myself.  Interested?

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Willpower: Where do I get it? Is there an app for that?

I read self help books.  I love Oprah and Dr. Phil.  I know that its cheesy and corny, but I realized long ago that human emotion and struggle is universal and someone out there has probably already gone through it so I should just listen to them.
Yesterday Dr. Phil said the difference between a goal and a dream was that a goal has a date and a plan.  So yesterday I made two goals, two dates, and two plans...wrote them down and everything and decided to stick to them.
Last night I was talking to an old friend and she said something that broke my heart. 
"Is it too late for me?"
She's 29 btw.  And of course its never too late to start making changes.  And that's all this really is, little changes and choices that add up to results.


So back to willpower.  I was thinking about it.  How much do you need to be successful at anything? How much discipline to make your dream a reality? I don't really know.  I know I feel like I don't have a lot of it.  But there is a difference between getting up everyday and battling yourself all the time to do the right thing and stressing over eating a piece of candy and beating yourself up over a french fry, and just writing out a game plan and doing it.  That doesn't seem so hard now does it?  Here are some steps to building willpower I have found really work for me and maybe they will for you too not just in diet and exercise but life as well:
1. STOP HATING YOURSELF
       If you stand in front of the mirror everyday and hate what you see you are off to a bad start.  Why do you hate yourself so much? You did it.  Its your fault.  But you can also fix it.  And that is empowering, not deprecating.  Look at yourself and don't hate it, but say out loud what you want to change.  There are so many things in this world I hate and probably can't do a damn thing about, but when it comes to ANYTHING about myself, well I can change that, probably almost immediately.  Standing there hating yourself is a waste of time.  If you don't like something say you don't, then say what you're going to do about it.  The chains that bind you are the ones you've made yourself, so break them and fix that shit.

2. ITS REALLY NOT THAT HARD
    We are not battling the forces of darkness or trying to get the ring to rule them all back to Mordor.  You are just not eating crap and getting off your ass and doing something.  Its not hard.  Quit telling yourself it is and that you will fail.  Its not a quest for the missing grail, its just food.  Just because you failed before doesn't mean you will this time.  You can do it.  You WILL do it.  You are just following the plan.  Get down off the cross and do some lunges.

3. STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF
    So you are unhappy? Join the club.  But you are not different, and the millions of people who have come before you have done it so why can't you? You're not too old, you're not too fat, you DO have enough time, and you have the strength to do it because see #2 ITS NOT THAT HARD!

4.  STOP MAKING EXCUSES
     No one cares that you're fat.  It doesn't bother the rest of the world.  It keeps on turning right around doesn't it? So your excuses are only hurting you.  And you will pay the price, no one else.  So stop making them.  You're wasting time.  All that time you spend making an excuse you could have been making a solution.  Sit down and make the goal, make the date, and make the plan.

5. CONGRATULATE YOURSELF
    You are not a lazy piece of shit who can't do anything.  You are a person on a mission.  And everyday and every second that you get closer to the goal you need to praise yourself.  Tell yourself you did it and you are going to do it again.  Look in the mirror and say today I may not like what I see so today I'm going to change it.  Today I will be better than I was yesterday.  I will be better in the next minute than I was a minute ago.  Pump yourself up.  Rocky IV soundtrack will do the trick.

6. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP
    Rome wasn't built in a day.  And your fat ass isn't going to be smaller in a week.  And if you slip up don't beat yourself up over it.  Move on.  No pity parties here.  Pity parties are not fun for anyone and the food and music are terrible.  Just keep going.  For every mistake do two good things to make up for it.  Ferrero Roche? An extra 2 min on the treadmill and 15 extra pushups.  Then smile and pat yourself on the back because you are doing it!

7.  DONT HATE YOUR WORKOUT
     If you don't want to get up at 5 am and do lunges then don't.  Find something you like to do.  Got kids? Go play with them.  Got a dog? Go walk it.  Park farthest from the door at kroger and walk.  You should feel blessed you can even do that.  Some people can't. The point is do something.  20 mins people.  20 min of MODERATE activity 4-5 times a week will do wonders.  You don't have to kill yourself.  But some days you might have the urge..and when you do take it and run with it.

I suggest you sit down right now, write your goal down in big fun letters.  Then write down your date.  Then make a plan for each week that brings you closer toward that goal.  And banish all negativity from your life.  Don't do ANYTHING that isn't pushing you towards that goal.  Its not that hard. 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Secret Confessions- I'm a Food Addict

Today as I was eating my kosher bun-less hotdog during our restaurant's family meal, one of the cooks looked at me and said
"No bun?? You need carbs for energy, did you know Dr. Atkins died at 55?"
I said "bread and pasta are slow burning and actually provide no energy, that's why I'm eating asparagus and eggplant because those are actual energy carbs" 
She looked at me bewildered, I further explained I get my carbs and subsequent energy from fruits and veggies.  She replied, " I had no idea fruits and veggies were carbs"

Yet she knew that Dr. Atkins died at age 55.  This is what scares me.  This is what keeps me up at night.  This and standing behind the obese woman in kroger with her obese child and her cart filled with horrendous food, thinking that her whole grain bread is better than white bread.  It's not only a lack of education its a a product of the industry flat out lying to people and its freaking sad.

Do you want to know what's more sad than that?  The fact that I have the knowledge (however little it may be) and I still eat horrible foods.  Why? I'm a food addict.  And even more specific I'm a "moment" addict.  Which is even more frightening in terms of life choices.

I'm an impulse addict.  And it has never seemed like such a problem until I gained 80lbs.  And I think I've learned that it is not isolated to just food.  It crosses every single aspect of my life.  It controls me and it causes me to make poor decisions despite having all the necessary knowledge to change.  And that makes me worse off than the fat ladies at Kroger: I know better...

So as I go along my journey and realize that it is not just about the food I eat but how and why I eat and how each day exercising a little bit of control of impulse in every part of my everyday decision making I can gain the practice and discipline to transfer over to my diet and my exercise.

And just for the record let me just say one more time that grains are not good for you in any way whatsoever.  No they don't have fiber that you can even use.  They are sugar.  Period.  Whew..

Let me also say that today I stared at a plate of brownies while eating asparagus and I think it made it a little easier...

Thursday, July 7, 2011

What. The. Hell.

No weights, no paleo makes Julie a fatty patty.

So I got a new job as a manager at a restaurant/brewery.  And let's just say it's been going really well except for the beer and bread... and not working out.  Now it's all catching up to me and those jeans that used to fall off all the sudden are staying on.  More importantly I don't feel great... and by not great I mean I feel horrible.

Because I made my 30 days of paleo a novelty and gave myself a month long pat on the back where I was so proud of myself that I decided eating EVERYTHING and not working out was the best reward ever... I have lost some serious ground.  But don't worry you guys, I have good news.

I'm back... starting today I'm doing another 30 days of paleo, but not just for you this time, for me.  I have discovered something amazing about myself recently... I have a ridiculous amount of willpower.  4 weeks ago I decided I wouldn't bite my nails anymore.  I bit my nails for 28 years and tried everything to quit.... everything except actually just quitting... like just saying you know what I'm not going to do this anymore... and yesterday I cut my fingernails for the first time ever.  It seems like a small thing but it proved something to me... I don't need gimmicks or accountability.  I don't need motivation or a support buddy to call when I'm about to cheat.  I have everything inside me to be successful... I just need to do it... and let nothing get in my way and no excuses overtake my willpower..

I also realize the people around me who are struggling with the exact things I always talk about and have told everyone a million times... I want to reach the people I love and somehow show them how paleo can change their life if they just commit and let them know they can do it.  I have found in my life as a trainer or a leader that you cannot make people do anything.... you can only do it... and let them see your success and then let them find their way... so here we go again.

Btw I will also be starting CrossFit again (thank god) at CrossFit East Decatur and I can't wait to start bitching about how sore and strong I am...

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Back on the horse! Let's talk substitutions

Ok, so I royally messed up but now I'm back on the paleo horse... working out... eating delicious clean foods... and getting back on track. YAY!  I've also started writing for frugivoremag.com in an attempt to spread my paleo seed all over the planet! (as gross as that sounds)

Today I thought I'd talk a little about substitutions.  Everywhere I look I see it.  Paleo banana bread, paleo cookies, paleo ice cream, paleo pizzas, paleo beer... just kidding about the last one (p.s. hate to burst your bubble but gluten free is not paleo, it's made with buckwheat and a special brewers yeast... still grains).  And I think it's funny because the whole point of paleo is to be eating what our ancestors ate and I seriously doubt they were eating paleo cookies... seriously doubt it.

I hear your argument... I can hear it in my head right now... "but it's better than actual cookies."  Hmm, is it? How so?  I'd be curious to hear how you justify it.  Because there isn't any gluten or wheat or dairy or soy and it falls under all the "rules" of paleo?  Right, yeah.  But what is the point of paleo?  Let's talk about sugar.

If you are at your goal weight... and you're no longer addicted to sugar... and you cheat maybe once a month... and you can deadlift exactly what you want and you are supplement and disease free.. I see no issue with substitutions.  But if you're trying to lose weight and kick the sugar, then no substitutions.  NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

I'm not saying you can't do it at all but I can say in my 30 days the only two subs I had were coconut milk and almond butter.  The point is to kick the sugar and carb addiction and if you're eating a bowl of "paleo" ice cream every night chances are you aren't doing that.  Not to mention you are setting yourself up to cheat.  If you're a first timer to paleo I recommend staying away from the subs until you're more advanced.  Like until you know you can control it.  I had this trainer named Corey who was a badass and she would buy a brownie... it would literally take her an entire month to eat it.  She had self-control like I've never seen.  I learned the one bite and let it go method from watching her.  Like after a night of drinking a fifth of vodka we got hotdogs and Corey still ate hers without a bun (although I argue that because I threw my hotdog up out of a moving cab that mine didn't count either).  But we are talking about someone who had been doing this a long time.  Subs are dangerous for first timers.  Subs can lead to cheats.  You need to just get it in your head that food is fuel right now and you need to eat only what you need because for your whole life you were eating what you wanted.  That's why you're fat and disgusting.  So stop it.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Yep...I messed it ALL up...

Ugh the entire 30 days of straight Paleo almost a complete waste...yep that's right because I followed it up with almost 30 days of complete crap..and not working out on top of it...and so what happened you asked? I am not sleeping well..I've gotten a little fatter, slower, more bitchy and less positive.  Tomorrow I turn 28 and I ask myself how far am I really from where I was 3 years ago?  Because there are fundamental psychological things that I still have yet to change...

1. I am bad with money

This is a lesson I am learning the hard way.  It is also my #1 excuse for when I cheat.  It is cheaper and more available to go to wendy's.  Plus its still delicious to me and probably always will be.  Then I get in a cycle..and I can't get out.  The truth is paleo is not my budget problem and when I sat down and actually looked at my finances and then went to the store and started shopping smarter I can manage.  Duh.  Yeah almond meal is $12 a pound.  But chicken and veggies? Super cheap.  Knocking out the substitutions is the best thing I ever did.

2. I love instant gratification

If it looks delicious and I'm not be held hostage by a 30 day paleo promise? I WILL eat it..and eat a lot of it. Its something I've dealt with my whole life.  I am always afraid if I don't partake in something I'll be missing out.  It also believe it or not has a direct impact on #1..jeez go figure all of this stuff is related.

3. I don't have time

Recently my boss did an exercise in time management.  It truly was amazing.  There are 168 hours in a week. Go through you're actual schedule including everything you can think of and I promise you, you will have at least 2 hours left over to make your food.  The killer? Get up an hour earlier to workout/prepare for the day and see what happens.

These are really the biggest problems for me and I have been avoiding them for a while.  Now I'm tackling them head on.  I am tired of failing or succeeding and then failing.  Its time to make some serious changes for myself.  I am back on paleo and I'm also working on intermittent fasting ie. eating all my calories for the day in a 7 hour period.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Tomorrow when I turn 28 (i'm stopping counting after this one by the way)  I will no without a doubt that I'm better off than I was because I have the knowledge and the tools to be successful.  I have realized where my weaknesses lie and now I'm ready to destroy them!  Come on! It'll be fun...

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Yes I'm awful and the worst blogger in history....but here it is

I realize that I finished my 30 days of Paleo almost 30 days ago.  Like I get it and you all have been waiting on pins and needles I'm sure.  To be honest with you I have been doing not such a great job since then.  I have been eating ridiculous nonsense, not working out, and being a total loser.  There are several reasons (excuses) for this.
1. I work literally like 75 hours a week and barely have time to grocery shop much less cook my food.  I could get up early and do it and work out but I struggle to wake up early because my diet is so bad and I haven't been sleeping well.  Yep, duh.

2.  I have been super broke adjusting to just working one job and I'm not kidding when I say I have had to eat on $20 for an entire week.  Yep, michaelina's lean meals are .88.  Judge away trust me I am paying the price. 

Because of my weakness as a human being and my horrible decisions I am feeling it this week.  I feel horrible, I actually have allergies, and ps right after I went off Paleo I got a horrible stomach virus and threw up for 2 days straight.  I know.. duh.

All this has shown me is of course it works but obviously you have to stick with it.  And trust me my little babies I am getting back on the horse.  Hopefully this shows you that I am not perfect, I do trip up, and I pay the price.  But don't worry...as long as you get back on it you can reverse the damage.  The problem is sticking to it when life gets in the way.  duh.

So here are my pictures.  No video because I couldn't get my imovie to do anything.  But at least you can see that I actually have done something.  These are from before I EVER started paleo to now.  Here's the proof folks.