Still plugging away here on the Whole30. It's past the 30 days, but last week and this coming week the box is have a PR partner challenge, and one month's membership is at stake. So I'm staying on the Whole30 until it's over on Friday. Here's why:
20 PRs in 34 days.
That's a lot of PRs.
Now, it's not like it's anything major. 5# to a lift here and there, but as I've been really struggling since having the baby 10 months ago now! (wow!), I need this. And I've actually gotten almost three (I think) really solid months of training in. It might be only two (I have to check my book which isn't near me), but I've been able to do a lot since the Open I feel like. And most of the time I'm feeling better. I certainly feel better in the gym since I'm not eating crap.
I did do my weight and measurements on Day 31 though. 4 pounds down, 9 inches lost, about a dress size down, lots of improvements in strength. A bit disappointed in the weight loss aspect, and I really was hoping to have gotten closer to my pre-pregnancy size, but for me, clearly, this is a very very slow process. I am at least getting stronger and gaining some muscle here, too. So I have to accept that I'm making progress and not get too down on myself about it. Considering where I was a month ago, I've made some big gains/losses I think.
A couple of things though. I don't think I'm getting enough food/calories. The first two weeks I was feeling great, but the last week and a half or so, not so much. I'm getting enough sleep and despite the number of PRs I put up, I am actually taking some solid rest days (sometimes three a week), so I'm not overworking at the gym. I'm not a huge fan of logging my food, especially since I'm eating clean, but I think I need to to see if I'm getting enough energy in.
According to the Eat To Perform calculator, I should be taking in about 400 more calories than I am, and if yesterday's log is typical, then I am fine on the fats but low on the protein and carbs lately. So, for the next week, I am going to work on adjusting these things and see how I feel because I'm getting cranky and bitchy lately, and it's got to be some dehydration, lack of calories, or both.
I'm starting the Whole Life Challenge on Saturday, too, with my sister (it's really for her). And rather than continue hard core as I have been, I am going to allow myself a treat here and there when I want (but no more than once a week), and see how I feel and function on a maybe 90/10 Paleo scheme here. I think I got about another week of the Whole30 in me, and I'm motivated mainly by wanting to win the PR challenge, and I don't want diet to be the thing that boots me out of the competition, so I will carry on, and save my treat for Friday night. But we'll see how adding calories and carbs and protein goes this week. I don't want to follow the ETP plan because the reviews had a lot of people say they got soft and fat, strong, but soft and fat, and that's the opposite of what I want. But I have been suspicious over the last week and a half that I've not been eating enough lately for the amount of energy I'm expending in the gym and just in life in general, and I think that's why I'm not able to get the work done that I need to like I was.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Whole30, up to Day 16
So we're on Day 16 now. Made it past the Day 10/11 mark, which was about when I really just wanted some chocolate. I don't know why. I think because it was the end of the week for me, and I was just tired. But then I hit a PR at the box on Friday, and I was sooooo glad for the Whole30. I'm really starting to notice a difference in how I feel, especially during my workouts. I'm feeling a bit better in the afternoons, too. I feel like I'm a bit more focused and more easily able to get through my class prep. And I feel like most nights, if the temp is the house is comfortable enough, I'm sleeping better, and when I get sleep, I'm not waking up exhausted or stressed.
The biggest difference though has been in the box and with my clothes. Jeans that fit but were just a tad uncomfortable (but wearable) even just a week ago are fitting better already. I didn't have to hold my stomach in Friday or Monday to get them on, and they were fine to sit in for extended periods without my having to undo the top button. And some of my shirts are fitting better across the bust, some not quite there yet, but getting there. And at CF, man, right now, I am feeling good! I'm still disappointed in how bad/weak my deadlifts still are post-baby; pregnancy really messed up the deadlift. But, I got my best ever (barely though, but still) back squat and strict press yesterday. Used a significantly smaller band today for the pull up and improved in the push ups, sit ups, and air squats from December. I've finally been able to get a good solid nearly 8 weeks of training under my belt, and really just within the last week have I started to actually feel strong, and I contribute as much of that to the Whole30 as I do to consistent training.
Since I am making great gains here and knowing that I still won't have achieved my goal of pre-baby size by the end of the Whole30, I am continuing on to the Whole Life Challenge that starts May 3rd. It's 60 days and more flexible than the Whole30 (the goals are different), and I think because of my stress level and given how easily I backslid 6 weeks ago, I think I need just a little bit more accountability before I take the training wheels off again. And part of why I'm doing it is because my sister needs to do it, so I started a team for us. We established a prize for the winner. I hope she does well at it.
Really what it's taken this time around is for me to see improvement in my workouts and for me to go down a dress size/half a dress size and to see my bigger sized clothes fitting really, really loosely. The effects of the Whole30 are really kicking in this time, and again, that big difference has been the elimination of Spark and butter. Such a little change that really does show that you have to comply to really feel the difference. I'm just really positive about my performance in the box right now. And I'm glad that we're doing "testing" this week because I haven't gotten maxes in a long, long, long time, so I don't know what I'm capable of right now, and to know that is going to help me get stronger. Anyway, yay for the Whole30 and yay for the next challenge so that by the time summer is in full swing, I may have finally re-established good food habits and be closer to getting my writing and research done. Here's to a successful second half the quarter, second half of testing week, and second half of the Whole30.
The biggest difference though has been in the box and with my clothes. Jeans that fit but were just a tad uncomfortable (but wearable) even just a week ago are fitting better already. I didn't have to hold my stomach in Friday or Monday to get them on, and they were fine to sit in for extended periods without my having to undo the top button. And some of my shirts are fitting better across the bust, some not quite there yet, but getting there. And at CF, man, right now, I am feeling good! I'm still disappointed in how bad/weak my deadlifts still are post-baby; pregnancy really messed up the deadlift. But, I got my best ever (barely though, but still) back squat and strict press yesterday. Used a significantly smaller band today for the pull up and improved in the push ups, sit ups, and air squats from December. I've finally been able to get a good solid nearly 8 weeks of training under my belt, and really just within the last week have I started to actually feel strong, and I contribute as much of that to the Whole30 as I do to consistent training.
Since I am making great gains here and knowing that I still won't have achieved my goal of pre-baby size by the end of the Whole30, I am continuing on to the Whole Life Challenge that starts May 3rd. It's 60 days and more flexible than the Whole30 (the goals are different), and I think because of my stress level and given how easily I backslid 6 weeks ago, I think I need just a little bit more accountability before I take the training wheels off again. And part of why I'm doing it is because my sister needs to do it, so I started a team for us. We established a prize for the winner. I hope she does well at it.
Really what it's taken this time around is for me to see improvement in my workouts and for me to go down a dress size/half a dress size and to see my bigger sized clothes fitting really, really loosely. The effects of the Whole30 are really kicking in this time, and again, that big difference has been the elimination of Spark and butter. Such a little change that really does show that you have to comply to really feel the difference. I'm just really positive about my performance in the box right now. And I'm glad that we're doing "testing" this week because I haven't gotten maxes in a long, long, long time, so I don't know what I'm capable of right now, and to know that is going to help me get stronger. Anyway, yay for the Whole30 and yay for the next challenge so that by the time summer is in full swing, I may have finally re-established good food habits and be closer to getting my writing and research done. Here's to a successful second half the quarter, second half of testing week, and second half of the Whole30.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Whole30, Days 9-10
Yesterday I felt pretty good. I was pretty cranky by the end of the day, and last night really was the first night that I wanted chocolate. Actually, it was the first time I had even thought about chocolate since this Whole30 started. But as today is Day 10, that seems about right.
After the energy burst on Monday, and the magic of Day 8 kicking in, the week is starting to take its toll. I didn't sleep particularly well last night, and since this is our de-load week and rest week, I thought I'd take the morning off and use it to read since I have to go out Saturday morning and buy a ball gown for Boudreaux's military banquet next week, so I'm going to lose part of my weekend there. It was worth it. I got a lot read this morning in a short time.
What I've noticed lately is that writing begets writing. So as I've been blogging this week, I've also been working on my article. And as I've been working on my article, I feel more and more like blogging. This tells me that I need to spend more of my life writing. It's clearly the thing that I love to do when I'm doing it. I wish writing were my profession. I don't know how to make it so.
Anyway, this week I'm going to attempt to clarify some butter so that I don't have to keep spending lots of money on ghee. I want to try to make my own. And perhaps in the next two weeks I'll attempt some homebrew kombucha. That'll save me lots of money too actually.
Things seem to be going well this week. We're behind on the food prep. Our Sunday got thrown off, but we'll get back on track this weekend.
I am way more pleased this time around than last time. It is going way better than I thought it would, and I wish I would have been better about this two months ago. But, the universe clearly wants me to be doing this now, and I clearly need to be doing this right now, so it's all good. Last time I still had some serious cravings. Lately though, the thought of something like pizza does nothing for me but make my stomach turn. So, I don't think about it. I am far more satisfied with what we're cooking at home than I am with what we could get for take out.
Now I must go work on that article, eat, read, and grade. I've got two hours to get a little bit of everything in. I think it'll do.
After the energy burst on Monday, and the magic of Day 8 kicking in, the week is starting to take its toll. I didn't sleep particularly well last night, and since this is our de-load week and rest week, I thought I'd take the morning off and use it to read since I have to go out Saturday morning and buy a ball gown for Boudreaux's military banquet next week, so I'm going to lose part of my weekend there. It was worth it. I got a lot read this morning in a short time.
What I've noticed lately is that writing begets writing. So as I've been blogging this week, I've also been working on my article. And as I've been working on my article, I feel more and more like blogging. This tells me that I need to spend more of my life writing. It's clearly the thing that I love to do when I'm doing it. I wish writing were my profession. I don't know how to make it so.
Anyway, this week I'm going to attempt to clarify some butter so that I don't have to keep spending lots of money on ghee. I want to try to make my own. And perhaps in the next two weeks I'll attempt some homebrew kombucha. That'll save me lots of money too actually.
Things seem to be going well this week. We're behind on the food prep. Our Sunday got thrown off, but we'll get back on track this weekend.
I am way more pleased this time around than last time. It is going way better than I thought it would, and I wish I would have been better about this two months ago. But, the universe clearly wants me to be doing this now, and I clearly need to be doing this right now, so it's all good. Last time I still had some serious cravings. Lately though, the thought of something like pizza does nothing for me but make my stomach turn. So, I don't think about it. I am far more satisfied with what we're cooking at home than I am with what we could get for take out.
Now I must go work on that article, eat, read, and grade. I've got two hours to get a little bit of everything in. I think it'll do.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Whole30, Day 8
I woke up a little bit tired and sluggish yesterday, but by the time I got to CF, woah. The magic of the Whole30 like kicked in yesterday morning. I beat my husband on the run (never happened before), and I actually got work, that is writing, done toward my conference paper/article. I got some more reading done. I got some of Swee'Pea's food made. Then went off to teach the grad class last night. I was still a bit awake when I went to bed, and it did take me a little bit to fall asleep, but I slept soundly the whole night. I woke up before I really wanted to, but it was only 15 minutes before the alarm.
Since we're "de-loading" this week in CF and doing our "testing" next week, I'm pleased that this coincides with week 2 of the Whole30. I'll get two full weeks of clean eating and some rest before I start looking for some one rep maxes, which I haven't done since Nov. of 2012. The other testing week I was able to do I think I made two of the days--they seem to fall when I've been sick, recovering, or something else. So I'm really looking forward to next week because I will have gotten two solid months of training under my belt and will have a good baseline even if it's not what I was able to do right when I got pregnant. I really don't know what I can do. And I want to get my 1RM so that way I can train smarter and let's face it, better.
I think I've already started to lose some inches. I've been able to wear, in public, some jeans that I bought back in October that were very close to fitting and if I would have been able to train and not gotten bit by the brown recluse and gotten surgery, would have been able to wear by the end of the Whole Life Challenge. So I've had these nice jeans that have been in my closet, past the return date, that I've been so close to getting in to. And now I can wear them. So I'm one step closer to pre-baby size. My larger workout clothes are fitting me better now, too, as in they are getting loser. I'm really a medium right now, but all I have are small and large, so I have to make do. The smaller ones are fitting better and will work when I have to wear them.
In short, I'm really feeling all the things I didn't feel two months ago, and it has to be cutting out the Spark and the butter. Like I said, those are the two big changes this time around, so I really am Whole30ing it this time. I mean, I felt incredible during and after the work out yesterday. Even the husband said, "Wow. What got into you? You were flying!" And I didn't even feel like I was. I just felt like I was going at a good steady pace. Everybody else was resting and breathing heavy, and I was just plugging along. We'll see if that keeps happening, but it felt good to feel good.
Now I must make my lunch before I head to the box. Have a good day y'all!
Since we're "de-loading" this week in CF and doing our "testing" next week, I'm pleased that this coincides with week 2 of the Whole30. I'll get two full weeks of clean eating and some rest before I start looking for some one rep maxes, which I haven't done since Nov. of 2012. The other testing week I was able to do I think I made two of the days--they seem to fall when I've been sick, recovering, or something else. So I'm really looking forward to next week because I will have gotten two solid months of training under my belt and will have a good baseline even if it's not what I was able to do right when I got pregnant. I really don't know what I can do. And I want to get my 1RM so that way I can train smarter and let's face it, better.
I think I've already started to lose some inches. I've been able to wear, in public, some jeans that I bought back in October that were very close to fitting and if I would have been able to train and not gotten bit by the brown recluse and gotten surgery, would have been able to wear by the end of the Whole Life Challenge. So I've had these nice jeans that have been in my closet, past the return date, that I've been so close to getting in to. And now I can wear them. So I'm one step closer to pre-baby size. My larger workout clothes are fitting me better now, too, as in they are getting loser. I'm really a medium right now, but all I have are small and large, so I have to make do. The smaller ones are fitting better and will work when I have to wear them.
In short, I'm really feeling all the things I didn't feel two months ago, and it has to be cutting out the Spark and the butter. Like I said, those are the two big changes this time around, so I really am Whole30ing it this time. I mean, I felt incredible during and after the work out yesterday. Even the husband said, "Wow. What got into you? You were flying!" And I didn't even feel like I was. I just felt like I was going at a good steady pace. Everybody else was resting and breathing heavy, and I was just plugging along. We'll see if that keeps happening, but it felt good to feel good.
Now I must make my lunch before I head to the box. Have a good day y'all!
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