Preparation part 2

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Leah Mae and Leah Renae Sommer

The Leah Sommer Doppelganger chapter is coming to a close. I, Leah Renae, have decided to take the plunge and change my last name when I marry my favorite person in the world later this year. 

The future Hudsons

 This last year has been incredible for me. With 2013 ending, 2014 promised exciting new beginnings, new memories and I did what came naturally to someone who struggles with weight and started eating whatever I wanted.  Unfortunately, I had somehow forgotten how hard I had worked to make the progress I had made in the prior years. I was now eating poorly, excersizing sporadically and in the end I gained back most of the weight I had lost over the past few years. 

But I'm not defeated. That's life. Time to move forward.

Weight management will be a life long process for me. I will have lows and highs. I know that this may not be the last time that I gain weight and lose the battle against the bulge, but I refuse to lose the war!

For the past few months I have been getting "serious" with my weight loss trying to go back to my size 4 by doing any number of new and improved diets and excersize routines. I started by cutting portions, then I cut bread, then I switched everything over to Carb Cycling and tracking every ounce of food that went in my mouth. All worked.... Sort of. After 2 months of my "new diet" I had only lost about 5 lbs. I was getting very frustrated. I had forgotten how hard it is to get the weight off and how easy it is to gain it back. 

Then I got engaged! What an amazing night. What an amazing man. We share so many similar interests. He might be the funniest person I know and he loves the Lord! My Mr. Right.  So when he popped the question one beautiful night while fireworks lit up the sky just enough to see him on bended knee, my first thought was YES, YES, HECK YES! but the next day the goal of getting back to my "best me" began to nag at my mind more than ever. I want to feel beautiful, not only for my wedding day, but I want to feel good about myself starting out my marriage. I want to start this new adventure on the right foot.  It's funny how when push comes to shove you know exactly what to do. It was time to Prepare!

• I immediately started cooking huge amounts of chicken on Sundays so I wouldn't have to think about lunches through the week. 
• I bought sliced turkey breast... and LOTS of it.
• I boiled a dozen eggs to eat as snacks
• I raided my parents garden and filled my refrigerator with peppers, kale, onions, cucumbers and snap peas.
• I found a protein powder that didn't make me gag and purchased enough to get me through for a month.
• I began following Doug Chapman's blog Hyperfit.com work outs and it kicks my butt.  
• I've said no to cakes and cookies and my biggest weakness BURGERS!
• I've started running most days. If you know me even a little bit you know that running is on my "fun list" right under sitting in a traffic jam. 

Now that I've been back to my old healthy habits for a few weeks it's even easier to stay on track. It's been 3 weeks since I've cracked down, and gone back to basics and yesterday I was down a full 10 lbs.
It's not always easy losing weight, but it IS simple. I was over thinking and worrying too much about the details and the long term plan when I should have only been focusing on my next meal and my next exercise. 
My goal is another 10 lbs in the next 10 weeks... I know that's a TALL order but doable with proper preparation. 

Partner in Climb

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A few weekends ago I ventured into Baxter State Park, in central Maine, with 10 other adventurous souls with the intention of completing a feat for which I was grossly under-prepared: climb Mt. Katahdin.

For our friends from away, Mt. Katahdin is the highest mountain in Maine at 5,269 feet.  Our planned route was approximately 5 miles up and 5 miles back down, which for some hikers is nothing more than a walk in the park, but for this gal, it was going to be a long day.

The intermittent gusts of wind blew in sheets of clouds, making for some gorgeous views.

But despite the beauty, wind is not exactly what you want when you're clinging to the face of a glacial boulder. 

Like perhaps many Crossfitters, my pace goal for this climb was to simply not be last to the top.  The boys, on the other hand (including my sweet, sweet Jeff), launched a bit of a race to crown a winner. This hustle to the top left me, what felt at the time, alone and somewhat scared.

The wind made several attempts to knock me over.  I distrusted the foot holds and the upper body strength needed to hoist myself over each new rock (some bigger than my MINI Cooper).  I doubted myself. And then I cried a little.

When I finally caught back up with Jeff I was angry with him, that he'd left me to tackle the scary part by myself.  He simply responded that he knew I could do the scary part myself.  He saw the strength and bravery I needed, maybe even during the moments when I didn't.  I forgave him, of course, but not before I made him trade me the Twizzlers he had in his pack for the boring raisins I had in mine. :)

I tell this story because this morning I'm typing from the waiting area of Massachusetts General Hospital. Jeff is a donor match (for legal and privacy reasons I'm not sure exactly what I should divulge, but let's just say its more serious than blood...less serious than a kidney) for a patient he's never met. Today he saves a life. 


And while he admits to only a low-level of anxiety about the surgery and recovery, I can only imagine that he's feeling unsure and perhaps even scared. But I sit here, with complete faith and admiration of his strength. Many people, maybe most people, would not make such a sacrifice for a stranger. 


He inspires me every day to be better, to climb higher.


Want to know how you can save a life today too?  I encourage you all to consider donating blood.  It's not painful or scary. And you get a cookie. 
Find out where you can donate: http://www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation

Throw Like a Girl

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As a young girl, I very much remember staring with envy at my classmate's hair pinned up in curlers in preparation for dance recitals, or the growing collections of badges across pressed Girl Scouts' sashes.  I wanted so badly to be a part of these activities with other little girls. 

But growing up as a girly-girl was simply not in my parents' plan for me. Instead I played ball.  At age 5 or 6, I was the only girl in the league if I remember correctly.  And in all the years since my Title IX moment, I've only missed two summers of softball.  

While I may be a little older, and a little (okay, a lot) slower, the fundamental movements and competitive spirit of the game are just as fresh in my mind as they were even a decade ago.

It is because of this competitive spirit, that nothing - I repeat, nothing - makes me more irritated as when some guy waves in the outfielders when I (or any girl really) step up to the plate. Conversely, fewer things bring me more satisfaction as when I send the first pitch right over their heads and find myself easily settled on third base.


I am a girl. And I play ball like a girl....a girl that will slide, throw a laser, or tag your chauvinistic-ass out.  

Here's to all the girls out there that aren't afraid to get some dirt under their nails.

Who Gets the Box in a Breakup?

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Girl meets Boy. At CrossFit. Girl likes Boy's hang snatch form. Boy likes that Girl is also into bacon.  Girl and Boy live in bliss, bragging to their friends about how many pull-ups their new special someone can knock out. 

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/73746512621248481/

But what happens when Girl and Boy are no longer held together by their shared hatred of burpees?  What happens when the cathartic, athletic outlet for frustration and anger experienced during a breakup becomes nothing more than a mainline to the source of the frustration?

In the process of dividing shared assets (you take the blender/I'll take the Lord of the Rings boxed set), does someone have to give up the box and find him or herself a new CrossFit family? 

I have my own opinion, but I'm interested to hear what you all have to say about it.  Let us know what you think! 

When Leah Met Leah

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It's an interesting and unconventional relationship that Leah Renae and I have. We started this project without knowing very much about each other. And now that we've put our names out into the world, we are connected. We have each had to trust that The Other Leah would handle our unique situation with care. 

And while it was never something that we were actively trying to arrange (in fact, it was part of our schtick that we'd never met), we found ourselves with an opportunity to connect face to face. 
So as a part of my (half)cross-country trip, I scheduled a stop in Akron.  Leah Renae and CrossFit Legacy were kind enough to have me. And James Schooling from Ultra Mega Photography was kind enough to capture the occasion for us.  

 Check out some of the photos from out workout.

Warming up - Leah Mae with a little kettlebell envy

Adding up reps.  CrossFit math is tricky.

I am so glad that we got the chance to meet and learn a bit more about each other.  Beyond some of our shared interests, Leah Renae and I are similar in a lot of ways, despite our very different backgrounds.  The most apparent, to me anyway, is that we are both independent spirits who value the things we are able to accomplish on our own.

If there is one way in which we can set an example for other women, I hope it is in this way. 

Balance

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Wow! Life has been absolutely crazy. I took a week off, to work on my house. That was totally needed for my houses sake and for my mental sake. There is nothing like the satisfaction of breaking a sweat to make your own house into a home. I had a week of friends and family piling in to my little living too just to get instructions on what to do and how they could help. I'm so blessed!

I've also taken a slightly new approach with CrossFit. I've backed way down from the intensity at which I've spent the last 2 years working. I realized sometime during the Open this year that I wasn't competing against myself anymore and was making myself sick with anxiety over doing well. I've always loved the fun and challenge of CrossFit but it had become this other thing that taunted me that and would mess with my head by telling me I just wasn't good enough. That's bull! The reality is, I may not be a super star or he fittest person on the earth but that doesn't change my worth and I certainly shouldn't hang my identity on a wod. 

I've been going 3-4 days a week and just pacing myself. I truly am enjoying it. I guess you could say I'm treating my new strategy like a healing injury. I'm taking it slow, pushing myself hard but listening to my body.  Outside of cf I've been able to add in relationships I had neglected, get things done around the house and meet the extra demand work has taken recently. 

All in all I feel happy with where I'm at. Amazing friends and family, a great Coach, and a more balanced feel to my life. 

Before...

After!

Before...

After!

Old bronze before...

Sleak black after!!

After!

Honor Thy Mother

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I write occasionally about the ways in which my father influenced my independence, my decision making skills, and other traits that are very much woven into the fabric of my personality. But it is not often that I write about the ways in which my mom has shaped me as well. And today perhaps I should.

My mom, Pam, is a lead-by-example parent. She feels strongly about her own beliefs but never judges or puts down those with differing viewpoints. She accepts everyone as equals. Her approach is subtle; she's a great listener and always supports my plans to save the world, no matter how wacky!  

As I've grown older, I've been able to more clearly identify some specific things that make me truly appreciate the kind of parent she was to me. Some women are defined by motherhood in an absolute way. The kids' hobbies become her only hobbies, and homework/art projects/science fair submissions are mission critical and appear on each day's to-do list. Thankfully for me, this does not describe my mom.

While a loving and committed mother, she was very much her own person with her own hobbies. Front and center of those hobbies is, and always will be, tennis. She has been very active in the tennis community since before I was born and still plays at a very competitive (national) level, no doubt frustrating scores of players twice her size and half her age.  

She has instilled in me the notion that you're never too good to practice.  And that progress isn't necessarily about your win-rate, but about the self-improvement you've made through hard work and dedication. Despite more than a handful of trips to recreational tennis' greatest stage, she remains passionate about her athletic journey.

The last ten years have thrown a few major curve balls at us. It maybe would have been easy for her to settle into a dreary pocket of self-pity, with sadness for things lost.  Instead she has paved a new path for herself. A path that has led to experiences well outside her comfort zone (ahem, salsa dancing) and, I think, widened the way she sees the world.  

She has shown me, and everyone around her, what it means to venture into the unknown with grace.  That you don't need to know what lies around every corner, just to know that you're strong enough to face it. Whatever it is. 

So when I talk about my mom, it is always with pride and genuine appreciation for the things she's taught me.  I am grateful to have a truly positive role model in my life.

And what should every girl get to do once with her role model?  ROAD TRIP!!

My mom and I are leaving in a couple of weeks on a 2,200-mile adventure. I'm so excited to get to share this experience together. I'll be posting some pics to d&d, so be on the lookout. On the lookout literally and figuratively please....if you see us stranded on the side of the road, call AAA.  

Happy Mother's Day!