You gonna blog again?

Thanks to everyone who has asked me this question over the last 200+ days. As I always say, knowing you’re reading keeps me writing.

So. My break from blogging in one paragraph. My diet is 90% Whole 30. The remaining 10% is about 5% paleo and 5% vodka, wine, and dark chocolate. I do CrossFit 6-7 days per week. I run 4-5 miles 1-2 times per week. I am still sleeping and drinking lots of water (and always 32 oz before a wod). I’m mentally best in the gym and working toward mental strength generally. I have never felt better physically and never had more confidence. I’m surrounded by goodness.

Today our Fit Bodies family is starting another wellness challenge. So no time like the present to bring back the blog.

Who knew I’d have an annual report of measurements. Here it is, this year over last year (364 days later)

2013 (2012)

Weight 146.6 (159.5)
Body fat 24.2 scale (27)
Belly button 31.5 (34.75)
Hips 38.75 (42.25)

Results. Stay close and you’ll see more.

So why Jens 3.0? Well. The last year has been amazing. My life has transformed. Some people have referred to me as Jen 2.0. I’m truly blessed to know what the power of transformation feels like. But. The journey continues. And I’ve never been more sure that 364 days from now, I want to be reflecting on another transformational step on this journey.

Found a quote just today about growth. “It is when you allow your weakness to become your strength that you discover your true self.” (Thanks Melinda Jane from What Makes My Heart Sing on FB)

Never. Before. Has. That. Been. More. True. Right now my journey takes me to a valley. And I’m going to throw my arms around it. Embrace it. And listen to the universe.

Lets do this.

Sure, I don’t have pizza and ice cream and chocolate. But I also don’t have guilt. I don’t have mood swings. I don’t have hunger pains. I don’t have endless thoughts about my next meal. I don’t have pants that are too tight. I don’t have excuses. I don’t have hangovers. I don’t have to hit the snooze button and miss my workout.”

—Day 20

All still true. All still beautiful. 126 days later.

I found this tonight when I started reading from the beginning. At times it felt like a walk down memory lane. Other days, it seemed familiar. And funny. And sometimes I felt like I was talking to someone I used to know.

146 days later, the change I’ve experienced on my Whole30 journey is overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong. I’m in love with it. I just don’t know what to do with it sometimes. I’ve had a hard time finding the words lately. In fact, I didn’t plan to drop off the face of the blog for 12 days. I just did.

But today I celebrate that the Whole30 milestones just keep adding up. I am convinced that when we choose happiness and balance, we discover our true selves with strong mind and body.

Once I chose optimum health (remember those 9 dimensions: Nutrition, Sleep, Stress Management, Active Recovery, Injury Rehab, Fun and Play, Personal Growth, Temperance, and Exercise), I created the perfect conditions for my body and mind to thrive.

In the past month, I’ve started a new career. And been recognized as a Woman of Distinction in my community. And hit a deadlift PR. And did 10 pullups without dropping. Twice. And I’ve had a blast being a mom, a wife, a daughter, and a friend. And Saturday at this time I will be done with my first sprint triathlon.

What does it all mean? Where does it go from here? How will I change? Or not?

Oh who knows. I still don’t have all the answers.

But the difference between tonight and Day 1 is that tonight I throw my arms around the journey. I embrace the change and the growth. I celebrate every footstep, every twist and turn, and every milestone on this path.

I step back in awe of the power of taking responsibility for choices.

And happiness.

And health.

WOD:

WOD:  #doin work

10 Muscle Ups  (20 Chest to Bar Pullups)  or 10 Man Makers

20 Handstand Pushups

20 Hang Power Snatch (115/75lbs)

30 Plate Burpee to Overhead (25lbs/15lbs)

40 Overhead Walking Lunges w/plate (R/L=2)

50 Deadlifts (115/75lbs)

14:50 (65#–thought/wished I’d had 75# but I counted wrong; 25# plate)

STRENGTH: Deadlifts – Warm Up – 5 @75%, 5 @80%, 5 @ 85%

5 @ 185, 5 @ 205, 4 @ 230 (new PR!)

PWO SFH shake

2 eggs, 1/2 avocado, sweet potato hash, kale, sausage

Tuna, Greens, Chicken, Nuts

1/2 lara bar, cherries

Shrimp, vegetable stir fry (peppers, onions, brussel sprouts, broccoli, zucchini)

coconut manna

Nutrition
Pwo sfh shake and berries
2 eggs 1/2 avocado sweet potato kale
Leftover chicken veggies and sweet potato
Coconut cream and berries
Repeat of lunch
Coconut

Instead it’s 133 (actually I just typed 123). To be completely honest, things are feeling a little arbitrary at this point. 47 days left, but who’s counting.

Numbers, numbers. As long as we’re counting, I’d like 2 pieces of dark chocolate and 1 glass of wine.

Only a few times since I started over 4 months ago, have I longed for something non-whole30. I’ve wondered if just 1 something would really make a difference.

Yeah, yeah. It probably would.

(Insert some really enlightening and motivational thought here.)

Wod

Clean and jerk ladder
15 minutes
1 minute 1, 2 minute 2, etc.
When caught in the vortex start at half your number
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,3,4,5,3,4,5,3
Power clean 100-110-115@ 5 reps

Nutrition
Pwo sfh shake
2 eggs 1/2 avocado sweet potato hash kale and sausage
Salad w chicken
Coconut cream w berries
Fried chicken, kale, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, sweet potato

Wod: vortex
Run 1.5 miles
Odd minute 15 push ups
Even minute 15 jumping lunges l/r=1

Strict press 3@85

Nutrition
Pwo sfh shake
2 eggs 1/2 avocado sweet potato hash kale & sausage
Salad w chicken; coconut cream and berries
1/2 apple; nuts
Flat iron steak; steamed veggie
Coconut cream

Max reps 3 rounds 1 minute each with a 1 minute break after each round

burpees
Power snatch 45#
Box jumps
Thrusters 45#
Chest to bar pull up (I did ring dips because of my hands–ripped from Saturdays wod)

267 reps

Nutrition
Pwo sfh shake
2 eggs, 1/2 avocado, sweet potato hash, kale and sausage
Chicken and salad w 1/2 avocado
Brussel sprouts
Berries
Leftover hamburger, farmers market asparagus, broccoli
Coconut manna

39 Ways Not to be Like Everyone Else is a little tough love-ish in parts, but a great read. It sums up a lot of what I’ve been up to, though not everything here is for me–or anyone else for that matter.

Bottom line, everyone owns their own journey. Reading this will help you think about what elements of your journey you care about.

WOD:

16 Min AMRAP

400m Run

15 Ab Mat Sit Ups

10 Deadlifts (225lb/155lbs)

5 Bar Facing Burpee

5 rounds & run=16:40

CASHOUT: 6 Curb and Back SPRINTS (Your rest is time it takes you to complete the previous sprint)

STRENGTH: Deadlift – warmup – 5×75%, 5x 80%, 5x 85%

4 @ 225 (PR and weekly goal!)

Nutrition:

PWO SFH shake

3 eggs, sweet potato hash brown, kale, sausage

Leftover “rice” and stir fry; brussel sprouts

Coconut cream with berries

Chicken, 1/4 sweet potato w/ almond butter, brussel sprouts, salad, beets

blueberries & coconut manna

Meet the 15th place finisher in the national chess tournament in Nashville, TN this weekend–a big shout out to my hero (and son) Pierce!

So, Mother’s Day rocks. Happy day to all the moms out there and to all the people who love my children and so many others like a mom–our family, friends, babysitters, teachers, neighbors, and the generally nice group of villagers it takes to raise happy and healthy kids.

I’m a big believer in it takes a village–I’ve never believed that I could do it all alone (not a big surprise if you know me) and so I share today with so many, many people and I hope you do too.

And the chess champ thing, well, that’s just impressive. And I definitely didn’t have anything to do with it. It’s more than I could have even wished for.

Speaking of wishes, I read a great blog piece today Am I Mom Enough? A Motherhood Wish List where a mother reflects beautifully on what she really wants to teach her child. I tried desperately to have a few favorites, but they’re all my favorite, so here’s a few:

I hope I raise a child who will stick up for a kid who’s being bullied on the playground. I also hope I raise a child who, if he’s the one being bullied, fights back. Hard. Oh, and if he’s the bully? I hope he realizes that his mother, who once wore brown plastic glasses and read the phone book on the school bus, will cause him more pain than a bully ever could.

I hope I raise a child who is courageous when sick and grateful when healthy.

I hope I raise a child who relishes life’s tiny pleasures—whether it’s a piece of music, or the color of a gorgeous flower, or Chinese takeout on a rainy Sunday night.

Anyway, read it if you want to, it’s touching. And a bit affirming depending on your perspective.

My day started with breakfast in bed (nuts & berries)

Then the first ever trip to the dog park (we all survived, thank you for asking)

Then a delicious Whole30 Mom’s Day Breakfast: eggs & avocado, kale & sausage, sweet potato hash browns, berries and cream

Normally I would use these fancy glasses for mimosas, but this is satisfying and delicious!

Then a deep clean on both kids rooms (like the 5-hour, 2 trip to Goodwill kind). Great bonding with my Mom who is an awesome project genius. Thanks Mom!

Then a Whole30 dinner (hamburger, chicken, brussel sprouts, 1/4 sweet potato) with lots of leftovers for the week.

No WOD today.

And this is just plain funny.

Choose happiness always.

Love Whole9. Love Dallas and Melissa. Can’t wait for their new book It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways.

Today they posted a link to a blog entry I’d read before, but it was a great reminder to read The Whole9 Health Equation again. (Reminder that there are 9 dimensions of optimum health according to Whole9)

The Health Balance equation builds on these elements.

This valuable bit of perspective reminds us that while nutrition (diet if you must call it that) is the foundation for our health, that we make other daily choices that factor in (heavily, in fact) to our results.

The concept of “balance” is not only the ideal of sensing an evenness, but Dallas and Melissa draw the parallel to a bank account in this case. Our choices are credits and debits to this balance. For example, good nutrition can be a credit but lack of sleep can be a significant debit. Therefore, the big picture goes beyond nutrition to include other factors as well.

They caution against a nutrition solution to a lifestyle problem. Diets don’t do it. We have to make lifestyle choices that are sustainable. Using the health balance equation can help us crank up our awareness and see the big health picture.

WOD: Nothing like a Saturday morning Hero WOD at Fit Bodies. Good times.

Badger

3 rounds for time

30 squat cleans 65#

30 pull ups (my hands are a disaster)

800 m run

36:14 RX

Nutrition:
PWO SFH shake

Leftover Whole30 lasagna & coconut manna

Larabar

Beef & Chicken Stir Fry (broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini) with Fried F’rice

Mixed nuts

Nutrition
Pwo sfh shake
3 eggs, 1/2 avocado, kale, sweet potato hash
Leftover steak and chicken in salad; chopped veggies
Coconut cream with berries
Leftover hamburger and steak, asparagus, 1/4 sweet potato w almond butter, salad
Coconut cream w coconut bites