Body Image

April 2013         August 2013        January 2014

So here we have a pre CrossFit pic, 2ish months in, and yesterday (7 mon)  Yes I realize that is an awful swimsuit top..I have purchased a new one, but wore the same for comparison :) The difference in weight between each picture is roughly 10lbs (plus quite a bit of muscle gain).  Between the first and last picture I have lost 4 inches off my bust, 4inches off of my waist,  4inches off my hips, and 2inches off my thigh.  I can't say I have reached my goal yet, BUT I'm clearly much closer than I was in April, and I can't wait to see what the results are come April or May! :)

Body Image:

As proud as I am of my weight loss and transformation, I posted and deleted that picture probably 5 times.  I have never been comfortable with my body and putting it here on the internet for all to see is pretty frightening.  I have definitely had some harsh critics over time from middle school bullies to people who were very close to me, but overall the harshest critic has been myself.

I was at the Great Lakes Invitational a few weekends ago (a CrossFit competition in the area that brings some big athletes into town).  It was a wonderful display of talented athletes and beautiful bodies.  I found myself looking for girls about my height and build to get some good goals.  I have always found the athletic build to be the most attractive and appealing to me.  I also think it's probably the most realistic body type for me to strive for.  I'm 5'10" and have broad shoulders and wide hips.  I'm not going to look like a lot of the traditionally attractive looking celebrities, not unless I cut my legs off below the knee and develop an eating disorder.  I know a lot of models are my height, but have very small builds and I would assume a lot of them don't eat very much.  In high school my lean body mass was measured at 133lbs, so I would assume now with muscle gain it's at least 140-145lbs.  Can I weigh 125lbs like Giselle?? I wouldn't want to see myself that way or see what it would take to get that way.  Yes, I realize there are some people who are naturally very thin, but it gives usnrealistic expectations for some people who strive to look like that.

I think if I lean out another 10 or so lbs and gain some more muscle, I'll be right about where I'd like to stay and maintain forever!  With that said, I need to learn to love and respect my body at all stages.  I have a healthy goal for myself, but I have to realize throughout this experience that not everyone will agree with how I do it or how I want to look.  I have had people tell me the body type I'm aiming for is unattractive or bulky, which I was very offended and hurt by.  I have spent 25 years being uncomfortable with my body and to hear that what I am close to and what I want is unattractive?!?! It's frustrating!  BUT, then I realize...it really doesn't matter.  They aren't me.  They don't get to own my body and they don't get to experience the pride I do when I reach a goal.  Ultimately, I am responsible for how I look and how I feel about the way I look.  So I'm setting a new goal for myself!  As I reach new goals, continue to respect and love myself!  At the end of the day, a person who is comfortable in their own skin and loves them self is the most attractive anyway!

I'll get off my podium now...Until next time, stay strong! 

A Year in Review and a 2nd Recipe Too!!!

Snowed in...what better to do than reflect on a great year and mess around in the kitchen!

So....I missed my 6 month CrossFitversary...I'm sorry baby!  I can't believe how the time has flown by!! I'm not quite as strong as I thought I'd be 6 months in, but looking back and where I started, I have to pat myself on the back!  I'm two pants sizes smaller...probably 10-15lbs of FAT lighter and a heck of a lot stronger than where I started!  (My next post will have before and after pics with exact measurements!)  I remember not being able to hardly overhead squat the PVC pipe and last week I got 108lbs (I think I could have gotten more ;) !!  Besides the obvious health and looks benefits of my 6 month journey with CrossFit and overall better health, I feel like I have gained more confidence, pride, and an ability to put myself outside of my comfort zone!
Looking back on years past and new years resolutions I've made and EVERY year...it has been to lose 20lbs!  Not that I don't have 10 or so left I'd like to lose, I'm happy to NOT have that goal this year and hopefully never have a weight loss resolution again!
Goals for 2014-
Eat Clean
PR every time we max out (is this unreasonable?)
Make it to the top of the rope every time I climb it!
Master body weight moves
Be more supportive and listen more
Keep my room clean :)
Make new recipes and be more accurate with the measurements so I can share them with all of you!....transition to my recipe..

So, I have recently signed up for Green Bean Delivery (a grocery delivery service that delivers organic and local (when they can) groceries in Indianapolis).  I have opted to get the fruit and veggie bin and not look at what is coming in my bin!  This way I am forced to get creative in the kitchen AND make sure I'm varying the foods that I eat!

My last two bins I have gotten each had full heads of cauliflower.  I have seen a lot of recipes calling for riced cauliflower as a substitute for rice in dishes, soooooooo I put those bad boys in the food processor and bagged them for stir fry!  After having a delicious cauliflower soup at Cerulean (if you haven't been there...do yourself a favor and go!), I decided to try out a soup....here is what I came up with!

Paleo?? Coconut Curry Cauliflower Soup

Cook Time: However long it takes you to cook it

Serves: However many people eat it :)

1 1/2 Tbs bacon grease

1 Tbs coconut oil

1/2 yellow onion finely chopped

2 to 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped

1 head of cauliflower finely chopped

1 can of coconut milk (Canned is very important!!! Taste of Thai or Thai Kitchen) Do NOT get low fat!

1/2 cup coconut milk original flavor from the carton (like Silk brand)

1 1/2 tsp Red Curry or more...I probably used more (do this to your taste)

1 tsp cayenne pepper (also more if you like a little more heat, although the red curry is a bit spicy)

salt and pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in a pot over medium heat in the combination of coconut oil and bacon grease.  When onions have become soft and translucent, add in the chopped cauliflower and canned coconut milk.  This is where you can get all crazy with the spices.  I said 1 1/2 tsp of red curry, but I probably ended up using more...this is to be made however you'd like to eat it, so taste as you go and YOU decide!  After you've got it nice and spiced the way that you like it, choose your own adventure....do you prefer a chunkier soup or a creamier soup??? If you are like me and prefer a creamier soup, let the soup cool slightly and place it in the food processor or blender and blend adding coconut milk from the carton until it is at your desired texture!  

I garnished with additional red curry on top to make it pretty!  I think it would be really yummy with something crispy on top like a fried leek or bacon crumbles!

Hope you enjoy! Please comment with any tips or modifications you have to the recipe.  These are all approximate recipes, so I apologize if any of the measurements are off!  As far as the spices go, you could take this is any direction you want to go.  If you like spicy...try the curry...if you are earthier try some cumin or nutmeg!