Personal Records Broken

I can't believe my body.  I keep doing more and better all the time.  It is the coolest feeling.  I don't want to move too fast and injure myself but I also don't want to plateau in my progress.  It's a delicate balance.  A constant and delicate balance.  My body is transforming.  I don't spend much time looking and when I see me, I don't think I see what everyone else sees.  I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else.  Well today while I was running on the treadmill after I lifted I noticed my traps and shoulders.  I have never had this type of definition.  I am still not where I want to be, I don't know what my most fit self looks like or is capable of doing yet.  

I will find out.  

My fitness journey hasn't been a direct flight but has taken a long winding path.  

I think we all have this experience with something.  

Today as I come down off a workout high my muscles are sore and my body tired.  It feels amazing to push myself hard.  It makes rest pretty amazing and food absolutely delicious.

Until next time.  

Sugar Dragons

Last night I had dreams about having eaten some sugar laden treat, not even a good one, I can't recall what it was, I just remember thinking it wasn't even a "worthy" sweet to trip on.  Ha!  I was also craving sweet treats this weekend.  Not a serious craving but passing thoughts that would interrupt other thoughts.  I guess it's about right though.  

Day 17 and it isn't too hard to stick with it.  I made it through the hurdles I thought were in my way.  I have a lot of energy and I am getting more done with my time.  I sleep very soundly but still don't get sleepy as early as I like even with no caffeine all day.  

I really look forward to having a glass of wine at the end of this 30 days but I believe the food products I banished will be a rare treat vs part of my normal diet.  Obviously time will tell and the reintroduction will lead me to make decisions moving forward.  

Here's to slaying sugar dragons that attack in my sleep. I really believed I had eaten the garbage too.  It was like the book said. I think that is amusing and wanted to share. 

Whole 30 - Week two

I am on day 14 of my Whole 30 challenge.  I don't think there is a good or easy time to do something like this.  My week one hurdle was Halloween and a party with strangers.  This week I raised the bar.  I had a chili cook off and a formal military event to attend.

During the chili competition, I hated not being able to try my friends' chili. Beer, sugar, beans are all non compliant and in their contributions.  I made it through the day and went about my business.  

Mostly the week isn't too hard.  People at work are supportive even if they tease just a bit.  I sidestepped office cupcakes that looked yummy.  I had romantic feelings for a pizza box on Wednesday or Thursday.  The thing is when it was time to hit the grocery store to re supply my meat I was totally cool.  Unfazed by the bread, cheese etc.  The pumpkin beer looked appealing but I will have some in a couple weeks and success will improve the flavor or erase that particular craving.

Last night, I attended an awesome dinner to recognize some very impressive men and women.  It was a formal military event and tradition means a cocktail reception, followed by wine with dinner and last night a Hennesy toast to a couple of the last living crewmembers from the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.  

The event was just awesome, as in I was in awe.  LTC James Megellas received the Audie Murphy award.  Look him up.  Most decorated officer in 82nd Airborne History.  Completely awe inspiring .  3 Men spoke on the occasion of their 70th anniversary of their legendary stand at Bastogne.  It was incredible.  They are humble and professional.  (I should say I got to meet several of these heroes as they arrived.  I got a hug and kiss from one.  Such a great experience interacting with these men and women.)  The last Rosie the Riveter was honored.  Elinor Otto, 97 years old sharp as a tack, and still working.   LtGen Susan J Helms received the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Wings of Valor Award.  SFC Joe Kapacziewski received recognition, he was the first and only Ranger to return to combat with a prosthetic limb.  The evening was very exciting.  It made me proud to share a uniform with these heroes and to share a dinner with all the people it takes to support and propel the military forward.  

I was able to avoid falling off the Whole30 challenge while enjoying an evening recognizing heroic men and women.  I think my unhealthy relationship with alcohol during these events was something I really did need to see and identify and realize that I could sidestep.  I am grateful for this challenge.  

Understand, I do want a glass of wine when this is over and I see a bit of bread and cheese as a treat as well but I know and understand that my body feels and performs so much better clean.  

On a side note.  I did not get to sleep until 2.  Got up at 630 and felt the exhaustion and slight headache I would  associate with a hangover.  I ate and felt immediately better and then I went to sleep on my sofa.  Sleep and food are so important in keeping us feeling healthy, happy, and strong.  

Week two down 16 days to go on my challenge and going strong.  

Pictures below are me and James Madio, played Perconte on Band of Brothers and presented the Audie Murphy award last evening.  

My dinner at the event seemed pretty compliant but something on the plate seemed to make my gut expand, it was a bit painful.  

Me at the event and me this week in the gym locker room.  

I don't know my scale gains/losses but I feel great, leaner, stronger, I lift more all the time and I have energy and an overall positive sense of my body, mind and spirit and what I am doing.  

Sugar

For the last 10 days I have been doing my whole30 challenge.  One thing I hadn't thought of was chewing gum.  I read all my labels and I am off gum for the challenge.  How has that impacted my life, you ask.  I now floss after every meal and make liberal use of my young living essential oils peppermint oil.  Guess what, my teeth feel smoother.  

Sometimes those little changes lead to other changes that make a healthier you. Or maybe a weirdo who flosses too much.  I haven't decided. 

Whole30 Week 1

I am on day 7 of Whole30.  One week in and I feel amazing.

I went to my first Halloween Costume Party and did not drink, eat sweets, or anything.  I had fun.  I wore awesome shoes and a cute costume.  I met people and interacted with them without a drink to shield me from judgement, criticism, or to help me find the extrovert within.  I wasn't even tempted by the brownies, beer or wine (much ;-)).

So week one.  On the 3rd and 4th day I got raging headaches around 1300.  Sugar dragons.  A spoonful of coconut butter slayed the dragon.  I find that when I need to longer than normal between meals . . . . I      Am       Ok.  This is new and special.  My body is learning to use fat stores to burn for energy.

In an effort of full transparency, I do need to say I prepared my body by cutting things out of my diet for 3 weeks before really starting the challenge.  I have been off dairy and grains, other than a visit to upstate NY last weekend, since early October.   I dropped sugar and alcohol for days at a time and practiced going out to dinner without wine (GASP).  Still it was not easy, psychologically, to go to a party where I only knew one person without my magic shield of wine or beer.

My body is responding so well to this diet.  For the 30 days there is no measuring your body on the scale or with a tape measure.  I have as a matter of habit stepped on the scale, so now the scale is out of eyesight and will not lure me to step on.  It's hard because I see visual and performance results and I want to have a numerical value to assign to my progress along the path to fitness.  That said, pounds of iron pressed or pulled is a pretty awesome numerical value to help me through the next 23 days.

Week 2 holds my next big challenge.  A formal military function without a drink and wine provided on the table as part of the dinner.

I think this lifestyle change is the best choice I have ever made for my body, mind and emotional wellness.