More Food, What?

Evan and I make a great pair - he's practical and I'm emotional, he always has the answer and I'm full of questions... He can lift heavy shit and I can run circles around him.

But the latter of the 3 we wanted to work on because well...I want to lift heavy shit too. 

So last week we started a new workout plan - to build muscle while still working our endurance - and to say it kicked my butt is an under statement. The workouts are like nothing I've ever done before and I did show girl prep... I was exhausted. And sore. And I felt like a slug. I was completely ready to throw in the towel: "This isn't worth it." "I'm not good enough to do this." "I don't care anymore."

I knew I was just feeling sorry for myself, which I do from time to time. Thankfully Evan was excited enough for both of us to work on lifting and drug my sorry butt back to the gym every night and got me through those grueling workouts. 

You know that whole idea that you have to fuel your body? And how that means not only eating the right food but eating ENOUGH of the right food? I was working out [hard] twice a day and eating roughly 1700 calories. What I realized was that I wasn't fueling my body enough and it thought I was starving it. It was slowing down (the exhaustion) and starting to hold onto every calorie it could (the slug) - not ideal. 

So we got a new meal plan and a new outlook on the workouts. I'm eating 2500 calories and while I'm still sore - I feel 10x better. It was seriously just that simple. [Oh the workouts are still grueling...]

There's a lot to learn when it comes to health and fitness. I think that might be what attracts me the most - I never stop learning. From show girl knowledge to weight training knowledge there's more to it then proper form - food plays a HUGE role in how your body reacts to a workout.  

I would've hated myself for quitting. Plus - I'll never say no to more food...or carbs.

What 2500 calories look like:

Immediately following morning workout:
Protein shake using 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk mixed with water

Meal 1: 1 Whole Avocado
4 slices Bacon
3 Whole Eggs

Meal 2: 6oz Ground Hamburger 73/27
1 cup Green Beans
1/8c Sunflower Seeds
1 TBSP Coconut Oil

Meal 3: 6oz Skinless Boneless Chicken breast
1cup Broccoli
1cup White Rice
1 TBSP Coconut Oil
28 Almonds

Meal 4:   Protein shake using 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk mixed with water

Plain and Simple

There are times when it feels like you need 48 hours in a day just to get done all the things you HAVE to do - forget about the things you WANT to do. I sit behind a desk...for 8 hours... Do you realize how much I could get done outside of the office with even 2 of those 8 hours? SO MUCH.

And then there's the house work, cleaning, and laundry. Don't forget the 6 hours of sleep I need to function. So when you tally it all up - I'm left with roughly 5 hours for the things I actually want to. A mere 5 hours. It's exhausting just thinking about it all.

Then I see a something like this:

Ok, ok. I get it. 

So we wake up and go to 5am workouts - not because it's easy but because it's worth it. 

Evan schedules showing after showing so we can get the rentals occupied. 

I food prep so we're prepared for the week - and so Evan doesn't cheat too much. 

And when I throw a tantrum because "I'm too tired and have too much to do and don't have time" Evan figures out how to make it all work.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Evan is full of grand ideas [some more daunting than others]. And recently I've started having some ideas of my own. So we work to stay inspired. And more importantly we continue to support each other so that someday our ideas can be reality. 

And when we have a free day - we make sure to enjoy that time together.

So ok, I'll stop complaining. I'll stop whining. [Or at least cut it down]

Because I Need a #Hashtag

Here we are - almost a month post show. And I just know you all have been chomping at the bit to see what I have been up to, right? Probably not but I'll tell myself this blog is important to people haha.

It's true what they say, give a mouse a piece of cheese and he'll want the whole cow. They say that right? Well in my case, give me an Oreo and I'll want a dozen strawberry donuts. The carbs and sugar have been great for crossfit but not so great for my mid section - or face - or overall feeling in general. The transition hasn't been a super easy one. My smile hasn't changed, my confidence is still there but going from so much structure to having very little tests my will power. Going from hawk eyes to friendly eyes from your watchful coach - from having a strict goal to a more lenient wish. My mindset used to be, "You can't eat that it'll mess up the look on stage" and now it's, "Well my dress will still fit if I eat that." Aka - I have very little will power when left my own devices. 

So here we stand, at the corner of jump back on the wagon or get run over. I'm choosing to get back on and guess what?? I'm yanking Evan and a couple of my bridesmaids on with me! Things are less sucky when you have buddies right? Truth be told, as great of a couple as we are [insert barfing here], we aren't the greatest at holding each other accountable when it comes to food. Evan ate 2 donuts? I can total handle 2 donuts [true story]. Let's not dwell on the fact we don't have the same body types or metabolisms...

So we're calling on the accountability of others on this #journeytotheIles!

The extra the donuts are being frozen for our allowed cheats [once a week]. The extra thermos are being stock piled. And the Kroger ClickList is our new best friend - keeping us [me] from impulse buying as we meander through the aisles. 

I think I'm more excited than him but like always he's smiling and pretending.