Dora's Theme Song

My thirty days are up! Every time I think about being done I can't help but start singing the theme song from Dora the Explorer (those of you without kids may be completely lost on this one) but when Dora, Boots, and Backpack accomplish whatever mission they are on for the day they sing this song that starts off, "We did it, we did it, we did it!" I can demo for you if you need me to:)

Anyway, I did it! and Malachi did too so I am so super proud of us both. Overall, this was an amazing experience for me. I definitely learned a lot about discipline, receiving grace from the Lord during challenging times, and being able to achieve things that I didn't think were possible for me.

Some of my highlights from this Whole 30 Challenge are:

1. Actually completing the 30 days without cheating once

2. Learning new recipes for meals

3. Doing pull ups Rx

4. Discovering that it is possible to make a grilled cheese sandwich for your son without taking a bite

5. Seeing more definition and tone in my body

6. Receiving so much love and support from my family and friends

7. Feeling more energized and less need for naps during the day

8. Dropping body fat-I lost 4%

9. Being able to do 100 burpees in 5:56 and intimidating my husband with my fast time so he doesn't try to do the WOD:)

10. Getting to share with a few people at the box that the Lord's grace is what is getting me through this challenge.

So, the take away is that this diet plan truly has a lot of benefits. I feel stronger, fitter, more energized, and overall just more in control of my eating habits. I really feel my view of food has changed from something that I indulged in to more of a fuel source for my body. I absolutely will stick with eating a Whole 9 diet, probably not 100%, but most of the time. Thanks for challenging us all Crossfit Strong! It has been an awesome 30 days!!!

Rx Pull Ups! What, What!!

I did pull ups Rx! I did pull ups Rx! If you can't tell, I am singing that while dancing around my living room because I am so excited to say that I can do pull ups Rx now:) Whether or not this has anything to do with my eating Whole 30, I will forever look back and remember that I did my first set of prescribed pull ups during this challenge and therefore I deem it a huge, huge success. Seriously, I can't help but think that my clean eating has something to do with giving my body the fuel and energy it needed to build muscle and gain enough strength to get my stinking chin above that bar all on my own:)

I started at Crossfit Strong in mid November and have slowly been working my way through the different levels of tension bands for pull ups and yesterday my sweet husband made me try them on my own and to my own amazement I was able to do them! Crazy! Today we had burpee pull ups in the WOD and I did all 29 Rx. Super cool! Even though I am still using a band for dips, it is a huge boost to my confidence to be able to do regular pull ups and I can honestly say I am looking forward to them now.

On the challenge front, there are only two days left! I cannot believe it really. Malachi and I were just talking about how it actually has gone by somewhat fast. Sure I have missed many things, mainly diet dr pepper, iced coffees, gum, and the occasional brownie but all in all it has been a fairly speedy 30 days and I have enjoyed what I have been eating. The next entry will most likely be my conclusion on what the experience has meant to me... Can't believe it's almost here!!!

Some Things I've Learned

After being holed up in my house for the last week because of this crazy weather we've been having, I am realizing that I have definitely changed during this challenge. Either that or I'm just much more stubborn than I thought I was:) I think this is true for most people, but when I'm bored all I want to do is snack on junk and even if I'm not hungry I find myself opening the pantry or fridge and just staring waiting for something to call to me. Well, I have been able to stick to the Whole 30 even while being terribly bored at my house and making yummy looking food for my son. I cannot tell you how good the pb&j sandwich looked that I made him today. That is definitely going on my list of things I want to eat once I'm done! I do think part of my success has to do with stubbornness but mostly it is about having awesome accountability and really feeling a lot of love and support during these last several weeks. My husband and friends have been so amazing! Malachi is like the poster boy of self discipline so him just doing it with me and knowing that he definitely will not give in helps me to stay focused. And my friends have sent emails, texts, phone calls, and even cooked Whole 30 meals when we've gotten together. Truly special!

Its so cool to experience "the church" doing what we are suppose to do; hold one another up in a loving and supportive way. I absolutely would not be able to stick to this if I were living in isolation or even if I decided in my head to eat better but didn't tell anyone and ask them for accountability. At my first tempting moment I would have just shrugged it off and taken that bite of sugary goodness. That's why the bible is so emphatic on believers living in community because God knows how darn difficult it is to make it through even one day in this world on our own. He designed us to need relationships with each other. We were made in His image and I believe a big part of that is reflected in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit having relationship with one another. He knows the power that comes from sharing life with others, loving and being loved, and building one another up and I have definitely experienced a taste of that during this challenge. So thank you to everyone who has been encouraging to me. I could not have done it without you!

As for today's WOD, I did Fran for the first time which I now know is a pretty big deal in the Crossfit community. It is a short WOD but it is used as a measuring stick of sorts I'm learning.

21 thrusters, 21 pull ups

15 thrusters, 15 pull ups

9 thrusters, 9 pull ups

So now I can ask, "so what's your Fran time?" and be able to answer myself. My time of course wasn't that great, 8:10. I did do the prescribed weight on the thrusters, 65 lbs., but used a purple band on my pull ups... I guess I now have something to work towards when we do it again someday. Last night Malachi and I did the ice day WOD at home since the box was closed and it involved several elements, one of which was push ups. I will have you know that I did 155 regular push ups during the course of the workout! I was very, very proud of myself:)

Maybe there is something to this Whole 30 after all...

Get Your Daily Dose of Crossfit

Malachi and I have joked that when we see people walking into our old gym we feel like we need to run and go tell them about Crossfit. Its almost as if they are poor, lost workout souls and we need to save them somehow from their mundane workout regimen and help them "see the light." Its a little silly but its true really. I never, ever pushed myself as hard as I do now during a workout or do near the amount of crazy exercises either. Before you would have never seen me trying a handstand push up or doing box jump burpees! And all of this insane stuff is really fun, that's the craziest part of all. I look forward to killing myself and pushing the limits every time I walk into the box. There's just something about doing the same workout as everyone else that truly brings a sense of fellowship and makes things less intimidating. It doesn't matter your skill level or how you measure up to the best athletes at the box, everyone is there to encourage and cheer you on until you finish your last rep. I love that about Crossfit.

And I'm not going to lie, its really nice getting a one hour break from all my responsibilities as mommy and wife and just getting to be Shelby. My good friend, Sara, is starting tomorrow morning at our box and I cannot wait to see how she's going to like it. I know she'll do amazing and its going to be fun getting to workout together. I know she'll fall in love with all the great people at Crossfit Strong too!

As for the Whole 30 Challenge, I'm still going strong. I successfully helped throw a Sip n See for my good friend Rachel and did not cave and eat all the yummy food we had prepared. The donut holes smelled so stinking good though. I have been very proud of myself and appreciate all the love and support I've received from Malachi and my friends. I can see a difference in my body and Malachi has commented as well that I'm more toned which is really encouraging. I'm interested to see what my final weight and body fat percentage will be at the end.

Pushing Through the Tabata

Today's WOD was really challenging but great at the same time. It consisted of dead lifts, pull ups, and burpees and we did them tabata style going 30 seconds on 30 seconds off for 6 minutes each. The WOD was 18 minutes total. Doesn't sound that bad you say??? Well its one of those that sneaks up on you and once you reach the burpees you are WIPED OUT. I love tabatas because its all about how hard you push yourself. Personally, I don't look at the clock. I just wait for the coach to call time because looking at the clock seriously makes the seconds tick off more slowly! As I was doing my burpees I just kept telling myself to push through the pain and go as fast as I could. Six rounds will not last forever and I don't want to finish the WOD with anything left on reserve in my tank.

Now as I think about that mindset that I had while working out and try to apply it to my life as a whole and how I'm trying to live for Jesus I want my attitude to be the exact same. I want to push and push and when my time on this earth comes to an end I don't want anything left in my tank. It's hard though because I can do anything for 30 seconds. Its when you start thinking about 30, 60, or 90 years that it gets a little bit harder to stay at that intensity. But then again, I am on day 16 of this challenge and I never thought I could do that for 30 days either... 1Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

I want to live by this verse in all I do, whether that be burpees, box jumps, loving my husband and children well, or sharing Jesus with the neighbor down the street. I am not my own, its not about me or my strength. There's so much freedom in that truth! Thank you Jesus that you give me exactly what I need to make it through every day and even when I don't choose to take Your hand that is extended to help me, You are there the next day offering it again.

Not What Its Cracked Up To Be...

So I've been so super sick this week. Sicker than I've ever been, at least as an adult. After the workout on Monday I was very, very sore. Looking back, I did 85 overhead squats at 55 lbs. which is a ton for me. Anyway, I thought I had just over done it and felt really sore and achy but then my throat started hurting and everything went downhill from there. Tuesday night, Wednesday, and yesterday I felt so horrible, had a fever, sore throat, and overall just really achy. I went to the doctor yesterday because my lymph nodes in my throat were so swollen and infected and they think I have mono. I am waiting for the blood work and throat culture to come back but I do not have strep throat or the flu so that's what she thinks it is. I thought this stinking challenge was suppose to bring healing to the body, not sickness!!! The only bright side through all of this is that I made it through three retched days without cheating on my meals. I cannot tell you how badly I wanted a popsicle or ice cream, still do actually. Something sweet and cold would just be magical right now...

Although I have not cheated on my meals, I definitely have not eaten as I should have. My appetite has been pretty much non existent and the thought of tons meat and veggies has made me want to gag. I have eaten some eggs, avocado, and fruit but that's about it. I will let everyone know what the final diagnosis is but I definitely have my doubts about the effectiveness of this challenge. I think I was better off with my sugars and dairy:)

Taste and See

I made it through a weekend with my family! I am very, very proud of myself. I stayed strong while making cinnamon rolls, eating at Bread Winners, and even watching my brother eat ice cream! I just kept telling myself, I am doing this because it is good for me. It is good for my body. I was reminded this morning of a verse, Psalm 34:8, that says,

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

After having a taste of the Lord's love and ability to provide, I really can't go back and settle for life without Him. I have been ruined for anything less than the best. When I think about how that can apply to the Whole 30 Challenge, I know that what I am putting in my body is good for me. And even though it may take more planning or a little longer to prepare than say fast food, it is worth the wait and truly is satisfying. I'm not saying that I don't miss some of my favorite things like Diet Dr Pepper, cheese, or chocolate but there is a gratifying feeling that comes when you have chosen to eat something that you know is better for you and will give you more nutrients. Like wise, when I am tempted to ignore the Lord's voice or just settle for life's equivalent of a less nutritious meal, I long to seek refuge in Him, knowing that by choosing that path, I will fill my soul with something far more satisfying and nutrient rich.