Cut Yourself A Break & A Little Piece Of Cake

To often many of us look at food as a negative.  We see it as something that changes our body in a way that stops us from putting on the bikini, from wearing trunks with no shirt, and overall from expressing ourselves through clothing.  It’s the thing that makes us overweight and that takes us from a size 6 to an 8. It’s the thing that we immediately turn too when we aren’t getting the physical look we want and don’t look like those models we see in the magazines. 

Just like you can look at the glass as half full or half empty… you can look at the donut as 400 calories or half the calories because there’s a hole in it.  I choose, half the calories (:

All of us have different goals.  Some of us track our food because were prepping for a show.  Some of us have dietary restrictions.  Some of us weigh our food because were looking to hit new numbers in the gym… This is all awesome.  You know what you have to do.  Keep at it.  I’m rooting for you!

However, there are many of us that work a full time job that maybe doesn’t require manual labor, we may have families that need time and care or simply we may have hobbies that don’t demand us to be in the gym everyday. I find most often that THESE are the people that beat themselves up because their body doesn’t look the way society says it should.  We have that extra little pouch on our stomach; our legs have fat that moves when we walk, we have the beer belly that would easily disappear had we not had a social life.  It's these people that I am challenging right now.  I’m not going to tell you to workout 5 days a week, or to cut back on eating a certain food. Here is my challenge for you….  It’s a challenge of changing your mindset.  Changing the way we see the food we put in our bodies.  Changing our expectations (or our finish line per say) of our bodies looking like people who train hours a day or people who model for a career, to being happy with bodies suitable for a lifestyle we live and love. 

ENJOY IT. 

When you drink the beer – taste it.

When you have a home cooked meal – savor it. 

When you have a cookie, a donut or a brownie – INDULGE.

This isn’t me saying eat all the amazing food in the world and forget about health, because I will be the first to say I am (in general) a very healthy eater.  However, this is me saying… cut yourself a break.  Stop beating yourself up for enjoying something that has more calories than water.  For having more fat on our bodies than we did before this thing called life came and changed a few things on us.  It’s okay to splurge here and there.  To have a balance but get excited over your food. 

Of course we can all lose a pound here and there and it’s a journey that I highly respect and look up too, however, it doesn’t have to be a miserable process.  If this one goal of losing a few pounds or looking a certain way is stopping you from enjoying and appreciating one of life’s greatest things… food… then we need to sort some things out. 

Some of my friends joke and say I am a “fat kid at heart”… and although I almost break my retinas rolling my eyes, I think I’m proud of it.

I’m proud I haven’t let this world beat me up to thinking I can’t enjoy what I eat.  I’m glad I can fully savor a meal, and feel like a 12 year old demolishing a donut on occasion.  I love being able to sit by a fire during the summer with a s’more in one hand and a drink in the other without feeling guilty.  

For being able to cut myself a break, and on occasion, a piece of cake.

There are so many things in this world that can make us feel guilty… why do we let food be one of them?

Do I want a 6 pack? Yes.  And I know good and well what I would have to do to get it.

But the way I see it… I got a little extra layer of life. 

            It’s an extra layer of thanksgiving dinner around the table with my family

            An extra layer of bonfires with s’mores and drinks with friends

            An extra layer of being home with my mom baking in the kitchen

We are aware of what we need to do to get results.  It clear – you want to lose weight, we have to change our eating and workouts.  We want a six-pack, we need to be strict in tracking our food and diligent in our training. And if you chose you want a certain result – COMMIT.  GO FOR IT. I will be your biggest supporter. However, some of us are perfectly happy with what we do, how we eat, and what we look like but then the world makes us second-guess it … DON’T. Stop right there.  Quit looking at that model in the magazine. Quit listening to that commercial about losing 20 pounds in a month.

Food is here to nourish us.  To keep us alive.  To bring us together.  To be a positive aspect in our lives. TO BE ENJOYED.  Food is fuel. So I think it is about time we stop giving it a bad wrap and cut ourselves a break.

In short, my challenge to you is this - when you eat:

Learn to love it. Get excited about it. Make yummy noises. Let people see how much you enjoy it – whether it is a carrot or a piece of cake. 

And if nothing else… Don’t be the person at the table that’s talking about how many calories your eating while others are enjoying it.  Leave the people who know how to enjoy their food- to enjoy it.

It’s rare to find – and those people are my favorite. 

As my best friend Gabrielle would say…

 “Who needs washboard abs when you’re surrounded by people you love, good blueberry pie, and the outdoors?”

This post made me hungry... time to go get some ice cream!

Get out of the gym.

Recently, a good friend of mine and I were talking and the conversation of being “in shape” got brought up.  Within the conversation I made the blunt and honest statement of saying “No, I am not in as good of shape as I have been in the past, but I truly believe I am healthier than I have ever been“.  This may sound contradicting but the more I thought about it, the more I have become confident in my statement.

Perhaps some of us walk into a gym, dreading it, but thinking that what were doing is healthy, because working out our body is the healthiest, right?!

How about our minds?  How often do we think about exercising our brain as much as we exercise our bodies?  Or even better yet, how often do we take the time to let our minds relax in a state where it is truly at ease.  I would bet you it is not all to often.  We are so busy running to work, making sure we have food for ourselves/our families, taking care of the pets, going to class and all the other daily stresses and then we proceed to drag ourselves into the gym because it just seems like the right thing to do.

It seems as though we lost the real idea of what being healthy is all about.

It’s about our bodies, our minds, and our overall well being all being in sync.    

Ya see, reaching a state of being healthy isn’t about how many times you’ve went to the gym this week, how many miles you ran, or how many pounds you’ve lifted… sure, it is part of it. However, to me the real question of whether or not you’re at a state of being healthy is “Do you enjoy what you do?”.  THIS is the key. 

ENJOYING IT.

So maybe it’s not the gym that thrills you or gives you a sense of satisfaction, but perhaps maybe it’s rock climbing. Or maybe running miles upon miles isn’t your forte but hey, there’s rollerblading or even hiking!  There are so many endless possibilities to stay fit and active and going to the gym is only… ONE. 

After spending my summer in California I got a little lost in the great outdoors of Glacier National Park in Montana.  The time I spent in Montana left me with no CrossFit box, no weights, and certainly no equipment.  But what I did have was my imagination, a pair of shoes, and an amazing landscape that I was ready to take full advantage of.  Like I often say, life happens… and sometimes as much as we think our bodies need a workout or exercise, our minds need it even more.  In Montana, I went for jogs around the campsite.  I brought a towel to the beach and did sit-ups and pushups on it.  I went for long hikes. And some times I just sat, enjoyed a Moscow Mule by the fire and gave my body and mind a little time to relax. 

California also gave me similar situations.  I had limited time at a CrossFit box, which was a big change compared to Iowa, however it gave me time to explore other options.  Sure, I wasn’t lifting everyday or making big PR’s at the gym, but I would go for jogs to learn about the area I lived in, long walks to the beach, I would find stairs to climb to prep me for the hikes in Montana, and sometimes took a jump in the ocean to tread water.  Did this put me in the best shape of my life?  No. But did it make me healthier? Yes. 

These other things I would do; walks to the beach, swims, stairs, hiking… they gave me an outlet to be on my own however, it also gave me the ability to strengthen my relationships by doing them with others. 

I hiked to the Hollywood sign with my sister, which led to a deep heart to heart that inspired me to start this blog. 

I got out in the water and learned to surf, which helped me face my fears and give something new a try.

I went for jogs in Montana, which allowed me to see the landscape and appreciate NOT being in that high of elevation all the time (the breathing was a struggle)

I went for hikes with my family, which gave us all something to remember and helped me add a few things to my bucket list. 

And the funny part was… none of these took place at a gym, but still encouraged a healthy lifestyle. 

In high school and my early years of college, I was a bit of a fanatic.  I would work out three times a day, all of which was in the gym.  And on top of that, I would pass up going out with friends or eating a certain food because in my mind, it was going to ruin the body I always wished for.  I had this impression that I was healthy and that what I was doing was making me healthier.

I was wrong.

I would beat myself up for eating sweets, or simply missing one of my three workouts.  I would stay in on a Friday night in college because I was nervous that it would affect my workouts, or once again the body I always wanted. Coaches, parents, friends, and so many other people tried to tell me to chill out but I was so sucked in there was so escaping. 

I’m not entirely sure when the switch was flipped or when the transition took place but now that I am out of the fog, it is incredibly clear to see how much healthier I am.  The gym may not be the first place I report every morning, but my health is the first thing I think of without a doubt.

I have found hobbies that bring me closer to friends.  I have gained a deeper appreciation for the world and all it has to offer.  I have learned to cut myself a break and not be so hard on myself for not having the most perfect body in the world.  And I have found sources of joy and fulfillment within everyday of my life – outside of the gym and away from the barbell. 

GET OUT OF THE GYM.

If you don’t like it… LEAVE

If it is more of a burden to your day… FIND YOUR JOY.

If it’s just not your gig… LET’S FIND YOURS.

There are so many things we stress about day-to-day, fitness and health should not be one of them. Find what you love, and let it be your source of fitness. 

I have found the healthiest version of myself.  A version of myself that allows my body to be challenged and tested, while my mind is able to explore all the curiosity it has ever had.  Sure, some of it takes place in a gym - but most does not. 

I promise you, there is more to fitness and health than a gym, and I challenge you to find the healthiest version of you, both body and mind. 

No, I am not in the best shape I have been in, but I am the healthiest I have ever been.

The world is here to be explored.  Go get it!

Thank you.

Just like that my 8 weeks in San Diego has came to an end.  Months of “I can’t wait”, “____ more days”, “I wonder ____” have now turned into “What I learned _____”, “I really enjoyed_____“ and “If there’s a job there next year______”. It seems as though in a blink of an eye, my dream summer was here and now I’m looking back at it with smiles rather than looking forward to it with nerves. 

People who know me, know I am not a very emotional person. I get hurt, I get sad, I get ecstatic but on most occasions – I can keep it contained to myself. However, things have changed a bit.  I joke about how maybe the San Diego air or water has changed something within me. However, the truth is it’s not the air, it’s not the water, nor is it the sea or sun.  Rather, it is the people who have been along for the journey.

Many times when I’m somewhere new I think about where I came from.  Not literally where, but whose helped, whose been along for the ride, and what situations got me to where I am today.  I’m not saying I take it for granted when I’m in the moment, but I find most times I think about it more when the moments gone instead of when I’m in the moment.  I can be certain I am not the only one who does this.

 I’ve made it a point to change this.  To really think about my story and journey in the moment. This summer I promised myself to soak it all in, every experience, every sunset view, every hug and truly be in each moment.  

I think I can say I was successful in doing so. On multiple occasions, I have been brought to tears in San Diego.

I had tears when I hugged my parents in the airport in Chicago, saying goodbye for the 8 weeks to come.

I had tears when I arrived and saw my sister anxiously awaiting with a huge smile at the airport.

I had tears when my friend Taylor left after 5 days of exploring, laughs, and good company.

I was brought to tears when my brother showed up at the bar and completely surprised me, to spend less than 48 hours in San Diego to celebrate my 21^st.  

I had a tear in my eye as the week of the CrossFit Games ended and I reflected on what an incredible experience I had just had.

I had tears in my eyes leaving my last workout at CrossFit Society knowing how rare it is to find such amazing people like the CrossFit HQ crew, Society coaches and coach Matt and Mike.  

I was choked up hugging every person I met this summer, saying “See ya later” as I thought about everything I got to experience in San Diego because of them.

I fought back tears as I left the CrossFit office for the last time hugging Jackie, Tamar and Kyla thinking of how endlessly thankful I am for the opportunity they gave me.

And now, as I type this I have a tear in my eye because… well, why wouldn’t I?!  

I am overwhelmed. 

There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded how incredible the people in my life are.  To name them all would take me days.

I have friends that have been with me every step of the way,  put distance aside, understood my wild spirit, and constantly reminded me of their support. I have people who have doubted me, which in return, drove me to achieve even more. I have people from high school who have recently reached out to me to congratulate me even after years of not talking. I have Kyla, Jackie, and Tamar that have been incredible mentors all summer and have taught me so much both in and out of the office.  I have coaches like Matt and Mike in San Diego that have welcomed me into their classes and watched me hit new PR’s, sharing in the excitement.  I have boxes like CrossFit 8035, and CrossFit Invalesco back home that have seen me develop and helped me reach my greater potential.  I have aunts, uncles, and cousins that have shown their endless love and encouragement for me with cards and packages in the mail.  And as for my parents, brother, and sister… well, there are no words to express how incredible they are – if you know them, you get it.

So there is the answer…

I am overwhelmed with love and support to the point of tears. (Don’t worry, this is a good thing)

All of these experiences and milestones wouldn’t be what they are if it wasn’t for being able to share them.  It just goes to show… We need each other.  We can do good things on our own, but together we can accomplish GREAT things.

I have spent an unforgettable 8 weeks here in San Diego and I have so much to be thankful for. I have met unforgettable people.  I have seen sunsets that take your breathe away.  I have eaten some of the tastiest food. I have experienced the CrossFit Games surrounded by the fittest people in the world. I have learned from amazing mentors. I have been coached by some of the best coaches in the world. And I have lived my dream for the past 8 weeks that brings me nothing but tears of happiness and overjoy.

This post is simply to say thank you. Each of you has taken part in my journey and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Time for another adventure.