11 weeks

I am in my eleventh week of my Crossfit journey. This has truly become a new lifestyle for me.

I used to hate it when people said "it really is a lifestyle change". For me, I thought I was living a healthy, active life and there was something wrong with my body. I thought I had been cursed with a body that was not going to change, no matter what I did. I would go to the gym and spend time there--I really would work out in ways that were challenging or unusual to the people around me--but never at this level of intensity. I would make time in my schedule to go regularly, too, but would often have periods where I just wouldn't make it for a week, or I'd do 25 minutes and call it done. As for healthy eating, I've always had a sweet tooth. Anything I could do to justify those choices would come out in spades when I just "didn't feel like" making a different decision. And I certainly wouldn't set aside time to cook the day before. It certainly didn't occur to me to plan ahead. I definitely wasn't planning rest and laundry around my lifestyle, either!


But now I've understood what a lifestyle change truly is, and I'm committed. Last night I prepared my breakfast for post-WOD nutrition this morning. I took out all my gym/shoulder/travel bags and packed full sets of gym clothes for four days. I set my alarm for 4:45am--without hesitating--and went to bed early.

All this was done after my husband invited me to go to dinner with him. I did go. We haven't gone out for the length of the Whole30 (I'm on day 28!) and I was happy to go out with him. We went to a Mexican restaurant that we have frequented in the past. I am familiar with the menu and made a decision about my order before we walked in.

When we sat down they put chips&salsa at our table, and I immediately asked, "can we get some hot carrots, please?" and requested a glass of water with lemon. When the carrots came I munched happily, and didn't really notice the chips at all. Then the waiter came around to take our full order.

"Beef fajitas, please," I said with conviction.

"Okay, black or refried beans?"

I said, "I don't want any of it, actually. I just want the meat and the veggies." The waiter looked at my husband, who shrugged, and back at me. He nodded and wrote it down.

Then my husband ordered, and it occurred to me that he could have my rice&beans and tortillas. So that was served, and since it "wasn't mine" I wasn't even tempted. The meat and veggies were so good! I was sorely tempted to go back for lunch today, but decided to have my salad with chicken as I planned last night.

I have one of my gym bags in my cubby at work, and I'm planning to go to the box tonight for some supplemental cardio. I did the WOD this morning, but I want more cardio. I am changing, and I want more change. I want it all.