Drum Roll Please........

Sam and I won the Paleo Challenge at our gym!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are super excited and very thankful for all the CFA, family, and friend support we got through those 60+ days. Here are a few reasons why we made it to the winners circle:

1. Sam: down 32 pounds, lost 4 inches on his waist, and made it 60 days with one cheat day!

Before pic is from 2008 at his heaviest. After pic is from two weeks ago.

2. Me: down 13 pounds, lost 2 inches on my waist, and improved my Challenge workout by 4 rounds and 7 reps! Kind of scary to post this pic, but I'm proud!

Now, I am not stopping here, neither is Sam. I know I have a ways to go, but I'm pretty happy with what 60 days of dedication, determination, and will power has done for us! We are now a relaxed Paleo household. What does that mean? For us it means we may use honey from time to time, a cheat meal (not day) once a week (or less often), pretty much stick to meats, veggies (lots and lots), and clean foods. If it has a shelf life of more than a few days we are not eating it (sorry twinkies!).

Here's a good Toes to Bar video (some peeps where unsure of how impressed to be for me)

I've crossed a few goals off my list in the last 2 weeks that I'm really proud of. I got toes to bar (now I need to work on consecutive ones), I am athlete of the month (I really hoped to earn that one day), and I've got 7 double unders in a row (shooting for 10 now). I've got a lot of work to do, but it is nice to see how the work I've already done has paid off.

One more CrossFit Open workout to do too!!!! Let's hope I can do it!!

Haters gonna hate

I started this blog to share my journey of getting healthy and to also share with friends and family what Team Hardman is up to. I really don't have any desire to push my likes and dislikes on anyone or anything like that. I hope to have mostly happy posts with some funny pics and fun happenings.

I have struggled with my weight since I was 21. Interesting - they let me into bars and I blow up. Hahahahha. I played sports my whole life and was always very active. At 22 I stopped playing Lacrosse (played in college) and started graduate school. What a HUGE lifestyle change that was. All I did was sit in class, study, and eat/drink. Super stressful times. I went to Gallaudet in D.C., so I lived in Fairfax and drove in everyday. Nightmare. Traffic is awful. By the time I got home at night all I wanted was a glass of wine and food. So that's what I did. I stress ate and partied. Bad combo.

I've done a lot to try and get healthy, loose weight, and most of all feel good about myself. I struggle big time with self confidence - happens to most of us at times I think. The most effective and fun thing I have found so far is Crossfit and eating a very clean diet. I call it Paleo, it's not 100% strict (well, on the challenge it is), I allow for some wiggle room. For MY body type I need more than cardio. I enjoy running, swimming, and biking. I really enjoy my triathlon friends - their energy is amazing. I need a combination of cardio and heavy lifting to see any change in my body. I just do. I cannot do the lifting thing on my own. I will curl a 10 pound weight all day.....pretty sure that's not doing anything. Crossfit has pushed me in two months harder and farther than I knew I could go. I love it. I'm also competitive - the perfect place for me. I'm trying to find a balance of all the things I love - but right now my priority is getting healthy. Makes sense, right?

Why am I talking about haters? I read a facebook post today by someone who claims to be a nutritionist. Her post read "Of course its a fad...its a DIET. Enjoy it while it lasts, then I guarantee you'll be onto the next best thing". This is really bothering me. She was talking about Paleo. Her post just read to me as mean. I know I know, you can have your opinion. That's fine. But there is a way to have your opinion by not putting others down. I don't care if people eat Paleo. I don't care if you eat a stick of butter for lunch. I don't know if you've ever tried to change for the better, it's hard. Like, really hard. I have felt very nervous about everything I've tried. Will people like it? Will people support me? Will people judge me? Will I fail??????? Keep the negativity to yourself. 

I wanted to thank all of you for being so supportive. I feel the love!!!!!!!!

We are never ever ever getting back together....

This might be the first Valentine's day I haven't had sugar. I thought it would hurt - but nope....no tears, no broken hearts, nothing. I feel nothing. Sugar no longer has the hold on me that it used to.

Oh, those were the days. Praying my jeans would fit, getting slurpees from 7-11 and eating my weight in swedish fish.




I mean, who doesn't love that cute little fish? I used to have a real problem with them. Those little bags did nothing for me. I needed the HUGE 1 pound bag - all to myself. I don't share well so I would buy multiple bags in case someone wanted some. You can't have mine, you can have your own.

I've been sugar free (other than a piece of fruit here or there) for 39 days. Wow. I never thought I could do it. I thought for sure I'd cheat, have cravings, cheat..........I've been tested a few times: cupcake party, work events, Super Bowl, cookie decorating at school, Valentine's day. Not one taste. Sam and I actually got a sugar free frozen yogurt one day to split and after one bite that was enough. It just didn't taste good.

After the Paleo Challenge people have asked "what are you going to do?" or "How will you eat?". I think we are going to take a relaxed Paleo route. We are really liking the clean sugar free road and we are seeing big results.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

Learning something new everyday

1. Eating clean = eating at home = running the dishwasher EVERY night

2. I'm down 5 pounds in one week (Hell Yeah!)

3. I did 5 WODs this week and can still walk

4. I cannot stay up past 9pm (falling asleep on the couch is what all the cool people do)

5. Day 4 I almost killed my whole family - if looks could kill.......

6. Day 8 and I am super mom on speed - so much energy!

7. My kids actively watch what I eat and are saying things like "Paleo", "clean", "healthy"

8. I do not NEED sugar, swedish fish, peanut butter, flavored coffee creamer, or bites of my kids food

9. I can make it through a birthday party - decorating cupcakes with ridiculous toppings - and not even sneak a taste.

10. If I'm hungry I eat (clean), if I'm not hungry then I don't eat (duh)
 

The BEST part? Sam's cooking. He has really stepped it up this week cooking clean clean clean. Jealous? Oh, and he's down 8.8 pounds this week. Stupid boys and their ability to drop weight. grrrrrr

Pan seared Tilapia with cucumber cilantro lime salsa

Filet with Purple cabbage

Horseradish flank steak with cucumber salad

Italian sausage (label carefully read) stuffed peppers

Paleo Pizza (crust is eggs)

Post workout drink