Hi. My name is Ann and I'm a stress-aholic......

I have a problem with stress. I stress about stress. I can stress about anything - Nothing to stress about? No problem. I can invent find something. I have extremely patient and supportive friends that laugh at my stress, talk me off a ledge, and help me see how ridiculous I can be. Thanks guys!

Most recently I have seen first hand how stress has been affecting my weight.

I've been told a million times:

Also - STOP looking at what your role models/ "I want to look like her" are eating, doing, posting..... Why? You ARE NOT them. They are pros. I am NOT. I do not need to eat 6 meals of 1 million grams of protein. I did not workout 5 times today. They have no idea what's going on with Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, Real Housewives, Candidly Nicole, Tori and Dean.....I do. I really, really do. 

I have stressed about my weight. Spent hours looking up how _______ eats. I weighed myself daily. I have researched. I have spent money on - well, you name it. I have done online nutrition coaching. I have been to an actual sports nutritionist. Just writing about all this makes me sweat. What does all this equal? Stress. Then I'm upset, crying, emotional, hangry........no one likes it. Then I want to quit and eat the cookie dough tube.

I don't know what changed. I don't know what clicked.....maybe just the stars aligned.....but this last month has been my best, least stressed food/weight/workout month EVER. That's right folks, EVER! Stress levels are DOWN. If they go up they come back to earth MUCH faster. I'm done stressing about my stupid weight!

I am eating when I'm hungry (duh). I'm eating protein. I'm eating green veggies - LOTS. I'm drinking water - All. Day. Long. I've lost 7.6 pounds this month. What!?!?! No stress. I've had fun food days.... Let me tell you about this snowball I had in Baltimore. That's right, upgraded with the marshmellow fluff. Who am I? I've had some wine, some cocktails. Instead of freaking out and wondering "What am I doing wrong?", "What am I going to weight tomorrow?" - I have decided to not think about it. One meal did not get me chubby. It was years of neglect.

Now I'm waking up with a smile. It's so nice. Just ask my husband.

Stress. Get rid of it. Smile. Live life. Have fun. 

I do still like to check on what the greats are doing......like Lauren:

The difference now is that when I watch it I'm in awe. I'm not taking notes, I'm not thinking how I can incorporate their life into mine.......These are pros. They are not me. They do not have my life. 

Lift Heavy Shit

I did not grow up in the weight room. If I went to the gym is was for the dreadmill treadmill, the bike, or those fancy Nautilus machines. For high school sports we didn't even enter the weight room - that was for the dudes - football players mostly. It smelled in there. It was scary..... I mean, it's just a lot of yelling and high fives......right?

Then college came around. The lacrosse team was scheduled to be in the weight room two mornings a week. I kinda just went through the motions, talked, walked around, talked some more.....you get the idea. 

When I joined the gym as an adult I LIVED on the treadmill. I trained for 1/2 marathons that way - it could get boring, but there was built in child care and no weather excuses for not getting that run in.

Then came Crossfit. I wasn't really in the know about exactly what it was - I had watched The Games on TV, but that does not show you what all those women do on a daily basis to get there. I didn't know any terminology, I didn't know how to actually do any of the lifts. I did giggle at all the names - Snatch, Jerk, Box, WOD.......I'm immature. I got my ass handed to me. I still do. The technical part of weight lifting, gymnastics, and other movements are what keeps me coming back everyday. I want to do better, I want to lift heavier, I want to go faster. 

Why?

I see the change. I feel the change. Lifting weights (heavy as I can) is something I really like. Who would have thought!?!?!?! I am not going to lie - I love that I can lift the same or more than some of the guys at the Box. I'm not sure how it makes them feel (but I do work hard to be able to lift more). Lifting weights has also helped in my day to day life. I am happier, less stressed out, my once daily migraines have gone away, I'm eating better because I see how it affects my workouts.........and I'm inspiring my kids. That's the best part.......They think I'm the strongest mom around. I'll take that title any day.

I don't typically put my videos on Facebook - They are up on Instagram (@alhardman) and on my YouTube page. I don't like to just put them out there all willy nilly. I work really really hard.....but I do it for me, not anyone else. So, grab your popcorn and get ready to watch some of my "workin hard" videos.

Now go and lift some heavy shit!