For those that don't know me personally I think it's important to disclose that everything I am about to share is my true experience. It's not me judging or pointing fingers. It's based on MY past decisions and my choices. Your story may be different but if you see yourself in any of this I hope it helps.
Growing up:
I'll be honest. I was tall and somewhat thin when I was younger but I was not athletic ... at all. I played softball but I never made All-stars. I was always the last one picked in middle school and high school for team PE sports probably because my lack of coordination and stamina. I was a quitter when it came to running far or really exerting myself. I had zero athleticism. Though I was tall and thin I never had "abs". Once I got a bit older I started to curve out. No boobs but my legs, butt, and thighs was typically where I carried my weight. I was never "fat" but I always felt big because I was so tall. Back then being Puerto Rican and having "curves" was not "accepted" or embraced as it is today. So, I desperately tried to fit in by hiding what I thought was my worst features. Back then there really wasn't a ton of information on diet/ exercise so I just did what I thought would work which was probably all over the board.
Fast forward, when I decided to do this challenge it was because first and foremost I was sick and tired of all the working out that I was doing (trainers, bootcamps, etc) and not really seeing a major difference in my clothes. Not to mention the scale seemed to be going in the opposite direction. I know diet is more important than exercise when it comes to changing your body and I felt like I was restricting my carbs somewhat and eating pretty clean for the most part but I wasn't doing anything radical. I started to worry that my weight, especially around my mid section was spiraling out of control after hitting 40 in October so I felt that doing a challenge that would hold me accountable to eating COMPLETELY CLEAN while detoxing my body and stepping up my work outs would either be the best thing ever or reinforce that I am doomed.
I won't make you wait until the end. At Day 29 I am teary eyed as I write this because it's been the best thing ever. More than anything it's shown me that all those motivational quotes that we read, post, and think sound nice ... do have some truth. If you commit to something and really put your mind to something, you will amaze yourself. Let me pause and say one thing.... For me Statistics was hard, parenting at times can be hard, following a Whole 30 / Paleo style diet to put things in perspective is not hard. It requires effort. But, it's NOT HARD. But, you do have to make up your mind to commit to it an prepare. You have to have the right foods available and the discipline to stay on track despite temptations.
This is the part I really want you to pay attention to....
A YEAR FROM NOW YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD STARTED TODAY. There is a quote for you. And it's 100% true.
When I am at the gym and I look around and see girls/ women of all ages I feel like I am in the best shape of my life and I can KICK MYSELF for not caring about my body more in my 20's and 30's. I know I looked OK, but I never felt GREAT about my body. Then I started to have kids and I had a whole list of new excuses of why I could not make it to the gym. In my 20's the gym wasn't that important. I went because my husband went but just like I did throughout middle school and high school I put in little effort. I walked on the treadmill, lifted a few weights, and when he was done and ready to go I was as well. I am sure I barely broke a sweat. The gym was not my thing. Back then I could skip a few meals and drop 5 pounds like it was no big deal.You probably have heard people say.. just wait until you turn 30 or 40 it's not as easy... BELIEVE THEM.Your body doesn't just shed weight like that as you get older.
When the kids came along I was selling Real Estate and felt that to be a top producer I had to be at my client's beck and call while juggling 2 kids. So, I didn't plan property and found lots of reasons not to do the things I needed to do for me. Now, looking back I can say those were TERRIBLE excuses. Being self employed is demanding but you can set your schedule and I could have gotten my butt out of bed at 5am to go to the gym like I have done in the last couple of years because no one is looking at houses at 5am. I could have left the kids at home in their beds sleeping with their dad and gotten my workouts in. I could have spent more time making good meals for all of us rather than just quick and easy stuff full of processed ingredients. I could have limited my summer time wine consumption and not lived as though I was on vacation every night with a cocktail in hand while I made dinner. Here's a dose of honestly. IT DOES NOT GET EASIER. My kids are older now. I thought it was "hard" when they were little and "needed me". Well, it's equally as hard now. It's a different type of hard. They are active in sports, they are older and have more commitments at school as well as social so if you are waiting for your kids to get older or to get to another stage or phase well that's just an excuse. You have to MAKE TIME for YOURSELF because no one is going to give it to you. You need to ask for help if you need it. You need to carve time out. That could mean getting up earlier, working out while they are at practice, dance class, whatever. Cutting out meaningless things and spending more time seeking out better meals for yourself, planning, buying what you need, and making them. You have to find your own rhythm. What works for other people may not work for you but you need to find something that does. Otherwise, you will keep doing what you are doing and nothing will change. If you have time to sit on Facebook, play video games, read, watch movies, then you have time to find a way to make room for what you deem to be important. For me, I work full time. I have to be in an office every day and out visiting clients. Most days before I leave I have to get my kids off to school. So, working out in the morning is a last resort. I do it on the days I know I can't fit it in at lunch or after work. My typical routine is to work out after work. Fortunately my youngest loves to play basketball at the kids club so he loves to go to the gym with me. But, when I get home there is a lot of juggling to get dinner ready and homework, etc. But, we do it. It works and I just shift things around on practice nights. Sometimes that means I run the track around the field while I am waiting for them to finish. I do make quick meals on weeknights but they are usually pretty good. Lots of chicken, fish, veges, etc. Both my kids love salads so I have no trouble there. If we have to go to fast food it's usually Jason's Deli, Chipolte, or Zabys. My kids won't step foot in McDonalds and if they go there with a friend they won't eat. It's not because I have told them not to. It's because I share information with them so that they understand why we make certain choices and they think Mc Donalds meat is real meat. When I saw the picture of a 180 day old burger that looked like it had just been cooked or figured out how they make chicken nuggets that took away any craving for that food. It's not even a temptation. My kids even get disgusted when they see people eating that. I am sure it's similar to people that think sushi is gross. I can pop sushi in my mouth like it's candy but to others it's not something they would consider. Same feeling.
Which brings me to what has kept me on track.... I really feel that there is a link to all these crazy diseases and cancers that we are CONSTANTLY reading about. As a child I do not remember hearing of my parent's friends or much less kids having cancer. Now it seems like all I read on Facebook or on the internet so many people and kids are fighting some form of cancer. It's crazy that in other countries the foods we eat and can purchase are banned. So, honestly a big part of why some of this has been easy is because when I see certain things like donuts, pastries, or other processes foods something in my head just thinks "TOXIC". It' the same as when I see someone smoking a cigarette. I think "nasty". So, it's not hard for me to say no to certain things, but I think YOU HAVE TO GET THERE. And if you read or watch videos about why we crave the things we do and how sugar / artificial sugar work in the body/ brain you may come to the same conclusion. I am going to work hard over the next several months to flip my pantry. It's pretty empty now. There's a lot of things I just don't buy. Here's that dose of honestly again. IF YOU DON'T BUY IT and BRING IT INTO YOUR HOUSE then neither YOU or your CHILDREN can eat it. I've cut off all Crystal Light, most red drinks or food containing dyes, white pasta, most snacks, the list goes on and on. My kids have no choice but to snack on leftovers, fruit, etc if there isn't a container of Pringles they can reach for or a pouch of gummy fruit that isn't fruit. It's just plastic with dye. Once you start to look at it like that it's easy not to want to buy it so that your kids will ingest it.
I am getting off track. The bottom line is this... Until YOU get to the point you want to change up your routine or your eating habits nothing anyone says, does, tells you is really going to change your behavior. It will most likely annoy you. You have to get to the point where you are tried of the way you feel, or tired of the way you look, or tired of the ways your clothes fit. Whatever YOUR reason is it has to come from YOU. Once you get to that point that almost borders fear you will decide to do something. All I can say is don't half commit to anything. I spent THOUSANDS of dollars on trainers, $170/mo bootcamps, etc and saw very little change. I did get stronger but I was still tired and my body didn't change the way I wanted it to. I got sick and tired of my pants feeling so snug and not feeling great in my clothes. I believe 100% in Whole30 but YOU CAN NOT CHEAT. I am going to attach a link at the bottom of this that says it better than I can. But, I promise you if you commit and get through the first 2 weeks you will ask yourself why you didn't do it sooner. You do have to educate yourself first on what you can / can not have but once you embrace the WHY it's not hard. I spent the first couple of weeks doing things very simple so I didn't mess up but now I have been trying new recipes and changing things up. It's no harder than making meals for your family that aren't compliant. It's about having the right ingredients. If you can make your family lasagnas or enchiladas, you can make Whole 30/ Paleo dishes. You have to have the right snacks on hand to be successful too. But, only YOU can get in the mindset.
For me, this experience was life changing. I feel AMAZING. I have a TON of energy. I am not starving. I sleep like a baby. I've had great workouts. My cravings are few and far between. My body is transforming and I think I may have abs for the first time ever in my life sometime this year. (Stay tuned). Although the challenge ends May 1st, I am not turning back. I may have a cheat meal or modification of something, but I feel too good to mess up my progress. I have followed through. I am more fit than ever. I have more discipline and self control then I ever knew I had. I believe I am capable of whatever I set my mind on. Again, this is not hard. Life is going to go on. The time is never going to be just right. You have to decide HOW you spend your time. If I can work full time, chase after 2 growing kids, feed my relationships, etc etc etc and find time to succeed at this so can you.
Stepping off my soapbox now.
Here's that link: http://www.refinery29.com/2014/04/67019/whole30-diet
Your comments are welcome.
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