“Do or do not… there is no try” –Yoda

It seems I always start out strong.

My motivation is high.

I can see my goals and know what it will take to accomplish them.

I'm determined to achieve success and understand hard times will come.

But what happens?

I lose motivation.

I lose site of my goals and the tasks to accomplish them seem blurred.

I feel achieving success isn't doable and the hard times seem to wipe me out.

I wish I could say this time was different, but I can't.

I cannot predict the future and honestly, what fun would the ride be if I knew what was always coming.

In light of these upsetting trends that I have found myself in time and time again, I plan to plan better. 

You may ask, what does that look like?

Well, first off. I am going to do something I have never done before.

It won't be an easy for me or I would have done it in 2008 when I realized my fate in being obese, death.

First I need a commitment that has 3 parts: My goal (specific - how much and when), my action plan on how to acheive my goal, and what I commit to. 

My Goal is to lose 2 lbs per week

My starting weight is 1/3/12 268 My 1st goal weight is 208 My calorie budget is 1,856 My goal date is August 02, 2012

My action plan (small things that help to avoid the pitfalls that have tripped me up in the past):

- Keeping foods that are NOT on my "ok" list out of the house.

- Have Whole30 approved apple cider on hand for those strong cravings I can't seem to shake (1- 8oz glass only)

- No alcohol. :-(

- Keep at least one snack ready to eat in my purse.

- Going to Crossfit in the morning, because it motivates good choices all day.

I recognize the benefits to my health and commit to:

Crossfit - four to five times a week.

Making better food choices –strict Whole30 foods.

Keeping a food journal – with Loseit! App.

Allowing Em to help me in ways I won't help myself. I'm asking for tough love.

Now that I have my commitments, I need to revamp how I plan to solve those stumbling blocks when they come up. This means doing what I am rebelling against most. Asking someone to help me. Some people say (especially me), "I don't need help, I can do it on my own, and if I can't then it's not meant to be." So. Not. True.

This is why I asked for a partner. Not just any old partner that will call when its convenient and tell me I am doing good even when I am doing bad. I am talking about a Food and Exercise Sponsor.  Its just like AA sponsorship, find someone who has been doing well on the program, and ask them to come along side to help. This will keep not only me in line but the person helping as well. I know, I know... super cheesy. But let me tell you this, if I have tried and tired without success before, I need to call in the troops and try something new. This is it!

I emailed a very good friend of mine and asked her to help. I explained I didn't want to scare her off with my needs and my attitude but I needed her to know, "...I am a master manipulator and want things MY way all the time. Especially when it comes to food and exercise – it seems to be a mental breakdown of me believing it's the only thing I can control. I will do anything to avoid having people tell me what to do. That being said, I am asking you to ignore my childish behavior. This is an addiction for me and I need help.  

Now, this is what I would like to ask of you:

1. I desire emails checking in (once a week or more) and telling me you have been looking at my loseit. Confirm I am doing well or ask me what's going on and why have I not done it. Again, I am a master manipulator and will tell you anything to get you off my case… don't listen to me. Only accept my willingness to do better.

2. Check to make sure I am working out at least 4 times a week. It can be ANY workout. Crossfit or at least 45min of any kind of cardio.

3. If I am not returning emails, texts, or any form of communication in a timely manner I need you to:
1. Get my core group of friends and Jake involved and ask them on board with helping me see, I need to be willing to do better. 
4. If I go away for the weekend or go to parties or BBQ's – please ask me if I drank and how I ate. I will easily tell you, "I didn't do well and I'll do better next time." But I need you to ask me:
1. Why did you choose to do that?
2. What were you feeling or thinking in the moments right before?
3. Was there anything you could have done in those moments to change the outcome?
4. How will you do better next time?

I probably will not be able to answer in that moment (because I write to process) but don't let it go unresolved for too long). You can even email me the questions if I have not answered them in a timely fasion and even include those core people on that email as well.

                                                               i.      Recommended homework: From my answers will you please pick a topic for me to write about. Something you feel I struggle with. I will then write a 500 word essay about it.

She accepted this challenge joyfully and I can't wait to keep my commitments long term. 

Get excited people, I am ready to do this!

Friend Starting Whole30

I am happy to annouce that one of my best friends is starting Whole30 and I am so excited I wrote her an email to share my experience so far.

This is that letter:
Dear Jen,

I am so excited you are starting the Whole30. It has really changed my outlook on food and its truly been easy for me. I am on day 20 and plan to continue after the 30 days.

I hope you have been checking out our blog, as it has tons of recipes and food ideas – in addition to all the fun things we are learning.

One thing that is a challenge is all the cooking you have to do. There is no winging it with this food plan. We can’t just go out and eat fast food or even at restaurants unless we don’t mind being picky. I also feel concerned that even though restaurants won’t stay true to what I really want and need. So, for me its safer to just stay away and cook at home. It’s also really amazing how much money we are saving from not eating out.

Its hard to keep enough veggies in the house and its hard to get through them before they go bad. It’s a fine line. Learning new ways of cooking without soy sauce and sugars is also something that I saw as a challenge and now, its not a big deal.

No dairy - I thought that dairy would be the hard one but its relatively easy. Coffee is now black and I actually don’t mind. No cheese and haven’t really missed it - I do think about it but only a thought not a craving, in fact, I don’t even get cravings.

No beans, yeah whatever no big deal and wow… we fart way less. Its amazing how smelly we were before. 

No sugar (of any kind - even substitutes)– this has been frustrating only because in America they put it in everything (even meat), reading labels is now an art form and enjoyable.

No processed food - is easy to avoid when you try to just eat whole, real, healthy, and good for you things.

No alcohol – easy peasy. A good reason to give it up.

No grains or white potatoes – we really didn’t eat many grains or potatoes before no thing to fret about.

I’ve limited my fruit intake only because I want to lose weight but its totally allowed.

Not having sugars in my diet has really opened my eyes to how sweet things are NATURALLY. It’s amazing. I had an orange about a week ago and it was so sweet I didn’t finished it. ME, not finish food. I must be a changed woman.

I have not been able to weight myself but at this point it doesn’t even matter. I feel great. My whole outlook on life has changed. I’m so happy – truly. I am not making it up. I am sure CrossFit can take some of that credit too but all together I really feel like a new person. My brain works better and I don’t spend hours of my day thinking about food. The old tempting things at work are no longer an issue for me and I’m even excited when I get to say no to thing I know aren’t good for me.

I am trying veggies I would have never tried before and it’s cool because they actually taste food.

All that to say, WELCOME to the Whole30 way of life. It’s a trip worth taking! I can’t wait to share it with you.

Beth

The Process of Inoculation

inculcate |inˈkəlˌkāt; ˈinkəl- instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction. 

• teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by such instruction : they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture.

When I was 440lbs there were a ton of ways I was numb to the fact that I was slowly committing suicide with my habits. One of my drugs of choice was technology (TV, intertent, and video games). I always thought I never had enough time for working out, training, and going to the shooting range. 

Then I had an Ah Ha moment when I sat down to watch the show Biggest Loser with an entire large pizza all to myself. I realized two things in that moment; 1. that with all the technology - there wasn't enough time for what I truly desired in my heart to do, which is martial arts. 2. was that I was living vicariously though others and I wanted to start doing what I use to love. 

This realization has changed my life forever... my down time has been transformed into something amazing. It's actually enjoyable and peaceful since I am not filling that time with video games, TV, and videos. In fact, I am also saving tons of money since we don't have cable and video games to eat away at the budget. Now I am not saying that technology is bad in and of itself but what I am saying is anything moderation is key! but the real challenge is to ask yourself this - Is this benefiting me?

If you too would like to know what technology freedom feels like - check out this challenge on Whole9.com - Kill Your TV. It will challenge you in ways you probably never foresaw. 

Here is to the inoculation of deadly habits and the welcoming of life giving changes!