Preparation

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No matter what you do, whether at work, at home, with your diet or your work out regiment, with a little preparation you can accomplish more than you thought possible. However, when we give little preparation, we get little results.

Last October I decided that I wanted to begin trying to get into the best shape of my life.  I knew it would take some time so I started working out at Crossfit Legacy. In no time I was having fun and enjoyed my new plan. I began to feel stronger and have more confidence, but two months into my work out regiment I realized my work outs were being negatively affected by my eating habits in more than one way.  

1. My extra weight made certain movements more difficult.  

2. Because of my food choices, I wasn't optimally fueling my muscles or brain.  I realized that in order to properly get the results I wanted I would need to change my eating habits.

Now in order to change my eating habits I couldn't just cross my fingers, and wish the weight away, I had to... you guessed it... PREPARE for the big change!  It took me a month of research, getting an accountability group together, putting together healthy shopping lists, clearing my fridge and cupboards of the evil tempters, mentally noting things that I would have to cut out once I made the switch and searching for recipes that sounded yummy but were easy enough to get me started.  I wanted to be as prepared as possible so that I had no excuses once I began.

On February 1st 2012 I gave up sugar, grains, legumes, starches, dairy and processed foods.  And on that same day I can honestly say I also began gaining more strength, energy, alertness and a good feeling about myself.  My preparation was paying off! I lost 17 lbs in 3.5 months and have felt amazing in the process.

But, if you're anything like me you sometimes fall off the wagon... I woke up this morning, was rushing around trying to get ready for work and realized I hadn't allowed enough time to make breakfast and I didn't have any food in the house to prepare my lunch.  My lack of preparation almost derailed my days food intake. Time to start preparing again!

1. look up a few good recipes that I can make to get me through the work week lunches

2. Get an accountability partner or group to not only help encourage me and cheer me on, but to commiserate with when I start craving cup cakes again.

3. Always have fresh fruits and vegetables ready and available for when I need a little snack.

4. Look ahead at my calendar to see what events or things are scheduled in my future and find creative ways to stay on track. Like bringing my own food to a picnic, check a restaurant menu online ahead of time or avoiding the work lunch room when someone brings in hot, fresh doughnuts to share.

Act As If

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I should start by saying that I am not a religious person. I wouldn’t even consider myself a spiritual person. The power that I believe in is that which lies within each of us. Humans are remarkably resilient, with finely-tuned hormonal and chemical coping mechanisms which help us to both survive the most extreme physical and emotional traumas and to celebrate the mundane accomplishments in our everyday lives.



I believe one of the greatest accomplishments a person can make is bridging the gap between our mental and physical selves; to put our own goals and dreams into action via the sheer force of self-determination.


There have been plenty of theorists, millions probably, who’ve noted the connection between mental inputs and physical outputs. My father was one of them. As one of many tennis coaches I’ve trained with throughout the years, his practices rarely involved stepping a single foot onto a tennis court. He frequently led me through a series of visualization techniques, where I would imagine myself, for example, hitting the perfect forehand-- with the most fluid low-to-high swing, where contact is made precisely on the racquet’s sweet spot, and the ball clearing the net with the ideal trajectory resulting from the topspin created by this perfect forehand.


I’ve pretty much been visualizing events in my life ever since. Job interviews, first dates (OK, let’s be honest those are pretty much the same as job interviews), combating my (recent) flying fear, these are all things in which I believe I can shape the outcome with some focused mental energy. Call it what you want, but I’ve found Acting As If to be a powerful tool when other resources or abilities are still just out of my reach.


I challenge all of you to practice this week. Choose one thing that scares you or needs work, whether that’s a snatch balance or asking your boss for a raise. Sit quietly and imagine yourself succeeding, imagine how your body feels – active shoulders/weight in heels or direct speech pattern and tone – and imagine smiling with a genuine confidence that no one could possibly rip away from you. Like all other things in life, this takes practice. You may not believe in yourself yet….but you will. In the meantime, fake it. No one will know the difference.

Three Oh!

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Today I'm 30! Ironically I feel exactly like I did yesterday, so that's a plus. But obviously I'm not 20 anymore.  I don't feel, look or act 20 and I'm not sure when the change happened because every day I have felt just like I did the day before...

As I drove to work today I tried to imagine I was 20 and who I would have wanted to be at 30. I'm happy to say, I think I would have been proud of the future me.  In my 30 years I've wracked up a life times worth of memories, experiences, successes and failures.  Bear with me, because I'd like to share what I have to show for my 30 years:

Loved Ones:

I feel very blessed and thankful for every person God has brought into my life. My family has grown so big. 2 loving, happily married parents, 6 siblings, 7 nieces and nephews and an adoring Grandma.  I never realized you could love so many people so much. My friends, co-workers and gym buddies show me daily how to be a better person. They forgive me when I'm frustrated, they laugh at my corny jokes and thankfully they love me when I'm annoying...

Health:

I'm thankful for my health and the track I am on to better myself.  I'm proud to say that I reached both of my fitness goals: 30 double-unders and 10 uninterrupted pull-ups by 30. I'm excited that I have begun this new life style. I feel like this is the foundation for a full and happy life.

Life:

I'm thankful for my awesome job and the  place I call home. My house is more than I could have ever dreamed of owning and I'm thankful every day I get to enjoy it! My real life group has changed my life... literally! Each girl has contributed to the quality and direction of my life.  Their continued support and acceptance for all my short comings is a blessing and comfort everyday. I've grabbed life by the horns. I've enjoyed jumping out of planes, hiking, riding horses, white water rafting, drinking too much, the Warrior dash... twice! long vacations, watching my nieces and nephews grow, moving to Arizona, moving back to Ohio, Crossfitting and the spontaneity of LIVING!

Emotions:

I've felt heart break and loss of loved ones. but I've also felt love and acceptance. I've held babies, and loved my family. I've been bruised, cut and fallen down many times but I also know what a loving embrace feels like, and I can recognize a memory in the making. I've helped people through hard times and I've latched on to others during my own.

Love:

I've loved! I've loved and been loved.  By God, my family, by extended family, by friends and my church. I've been loved by my best friend, a man, my dog, and even by people I've never met... it's true!

Slim:

I have the best friend a man can have.  She has spent the last 9 years watching me struggle to get fit and never judged when I failed. She's licked the tears from my face and has busted my lip open out of excitement.  She has helped me get a job by jumping out of a 3rd story window and has never met a dog she didn't hate or human she didn't love. Her little vibrating body and kidney bean shape welcome me home every day. She forgives me when I'm angry with her and snuggles close when she's scared. Everyone who meets her loves her... and shes mine! :)

I'm 30, like it or not, and wouldn't change a thing for fear of missing out on any one of the things above...