Food Fight

 

Food is a daily fight for me.  What to eat?  How much?  When?  I'm up a pound, I'm down a pound. I would say that I've always eaten healthy, but looking back that is definitely not true. My Husband signed up for a 30 day paleo nutrition challenge and he asked me to join him. I cringed when I heard the word paleo. It never made sense to me.  I guess because I spent the last 4 years of my life as a vegetarian trying to be a vegan.  Although I do eat meat now (I started during my boxing training), I fundamentally still believe it is wrong.  I've just sold out because it is hard to feed my kids with celiac disease and lactose intolerance a strict vegetarian diet...and because meat is delicious.  My food philosophy is that if God made it then it is good for me.  I don't think God created animals for us to kill them. Maybe I'm wrong.  I don't know.  It just seems wrong when there is so much other great food to eat...which leads me to beans.  God gave us beans. They are a source of protein and are delicious so why are they forbidden on the paleo diet?  And corn?  And rice?  Why can't you eat them? They sound healthy to me.  The bean thing seriously annoyed me.  I decided to get over my bizarre issues and do it with him to learn how it would affect my body, and see what everyone was talking about.

So here goes 30 days without dairy, grains, sugar, gluten, caffeine, soy, legumes, alcohol, and most importantly...diet coke!  I got up to 3/day and I'm quitting cold turkey.  

Day 1:  (Starting weight 132.0 after a weekend of binging) We did a very good job of shopping and preparing food last night so it made it easy, plus I was excited for a new challenge.  I ate a lot (more than usual) and felt fine until 6:00 when I absolutely crashed.  It took all my energy just to stay awake until the kids went to bed.  I was useless. The only time I really wanted a diet coke was in the afternoon when I woke up from napping with John.

Day 2:  (129.2) - I lost 3 lbs in one day after eating all that food?  Probably not.  My body is probably just regulating itself from my weekend binge, but it was enough motivation to keep going because I woke up lethargic and grumpy!!!!!  Didn't want to work out but I made myself do what I could.  I actually tripped and fell doing side shuffles.  Pretty sloppy.  Useless at 6pm once again.  Absolutely useless.  I ate SO MUCH food today trying to stay awake.  It's crazy.

Day 3:  (129.6) - Woke up feeling more energetic today.  Not 100% in my workout but just glad I went. I'm eating like a linebacker.  I can't believe how much food I'm eating.

Day 4:  (129.1) - Skipped gym today to do errands.  I ate a lot less today.  I'm not as tired or hungry (and didn't work out).

Day 5:  (127.9) - Wow!  I guess eating less made a big difference.  Down another 1lb+.  Had to skip the gym again today to do things.  I didn't eat much but did eat a big meal really late.  I felt really guilty about that and wondered how it would affect the scale.

Day 6:  (128.7) - Not working out and that big late meal showed on the scale but it's temporary.  I did a double boxing session today and stuck to my diet even at a birthday party.  Funny.  I wasn't even tempted by the cake.  I have no cravings.  The sugar must be out of my system.  I am satisfied and feel really good.  I am so confused and shocked that I don't miss my diet coke and don't have headaches from lack of caffeine.

Day 7:  (127.5) - I went out with friends last night and cheated with a few glasses of wine, but when surrounded by pizza and all sorts of great food, I was not tempted.  I stuck to my antipasto red peppers and pepperoni and then some very late night beef jerkey on the way home. haha!  Today I also cheated with some home-made gluten free pancakes...it's a family tradition I'm not going to give up.  We went to the movies today and I was well prepared with a bag of salt free mixed nuts, carrots and guacamole with a seltza water.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself and didn't miss my twizzlers and 200 oz diet coke!  Who am I?!?  I'm sure I'm just on a high of feeling so great and I won't be this good forever, but for now, I'm doing great.

Day 8:  (128.2) -

Day 9:  (127.4) - I had a great workout yesterday, and ate well.  I had large meals and one snack.  I love the fact that I am not counting or even thinking about calories.  I eat whatever I want whenever I want as long as it is in the rules.  The rules seem very restrictive, but because I'm not counting calories it feels very liberating.  This is probably the perfect weight for my body.  I feel amazing.  If I could just maintain this I'd be very happy.

...and that is where I stopped journaling daily because I went on a complete bender!  I think I got cocky that I hit my goal weight, add in some social events with alcohol, my son's birthday, etc... and I stopped eating paleo for 8 days.  I remember texting my friend to tell her that I had french bread and M&Ms for dinner one night!  My weight quickly returned to my starting point and I felt disgusting.

I was disappointed in myself but I got it together and finished strong ending the challenge, feeling great, at 128.

I'm thankful that I took the paleo challenge.  It was enlightening to learn how my body responds to different foods by eliminating them and reintroducing them, paying close attention to how I felt.  I don't like counting calories.  Who does?  On paleo I can't emphasize enough how much I can eat.  I never count a calorie.  I eat til I am full and eat whenever I feel I need it.  I have never eaten this much in my life, but yet I drop weight or am able to maintain when I am disciplined. My body processes natural food easier and faster I guess.

I have decided not to label the way I eat anymore because sometimes my needs change.  I make my choices as clean as possible, with cheat days here and there, and I have found peace with that.  Now I have a restart button, a plan that I know works.

It's empowering to know that if I gain a few pounds I know how to get it off quickly by returning to clean eating and exercise.  I used to panic.  Now, I remain calm and just get back to the basics, confident that I'll be back to normal in a few days.  (I recently gained 7 lbs on a 5 day vacation, only to lose it all within 4 days.)

Interestingly, it is not all about the numbers though.  I've had 2 recent experiences that have taught me this. First, a very fit woman, taller than me, shared that she admired my figure. She only weighed 119lbs but I was leaner.  Second, I learned that a good friend whose figure I really admire sometimes outweighs me by 5-6 lbs.  I never would have guessed this.  I would have estimated that I outweighed her by nearly 10.  So I've learned to not freak about the scale. I pay attention to how I feel and how my clothes fit as much as I do the scale.

I have learned so much from my food successes and failures.  I encourage everyone to go on a food challenge.  Everyone's body is different so only you can discover what's best for you.  

Know this though...Sugar is the enemy.  I believe this is true for all of us.  It is in everything! The tiniest amount left me wanting more. It was a Kind bar with only 4g of sugar that started my bender.  Serioulsy, I got one taste and I felt like a crack addict manicly searching the house for more.  When I consumed zero added sugar I dropped weight, looked less "puffy", had amazing energy, felt like a million bucks, and had no cravings for junk food...even at birthday parties and the movies.  Honest to God, no cravings for junk (if you know me you know how huge this is). It definitely takes a mental adjustment but once you get into the groove it really isn't hard to avoid it. Just eat real food, and you'll feel so much better.  My energy level without it is unbelievable.  Go HERE to learn more and take the 10 day sugar free challenge. 

In order to be successful at sugar-free,  paleo or clean eating...whatever your goal is...you should BE PREPARED.  On Sundays during the challenge we would cook our meat for the week as well as chop our vegetables so everything was grab and go.  We'd always have nuts and other good snacks on hand everywhere we went. If we didn't do this we would inevitably get hungry and make a bad choice, which often leads to more bad choices (French bread and M&Ms for dinner?!?!?!).  As I type this I am eating a slice of pizza because I didn't cook my chicken last night and I'm too hungry to wait for it.  Ugh.

It is a constant fight, but I will not give up.

Here's a good article. 

Halfway to Haymakers: A message to current and future fighters

Congratulations, Haymaker!  You’re halfway there...and you have not quit (some have by this point, you know).  You’re probably wishing the fight was next week because you don’t know how you’re going to do this for 7 more weeks.  I very clearly, and quite seriously, remember often thinking at this point “if I hit this bag hard enough I may just break my hand and this whole thing could be over”.  I tried.

The first half of training you could be sustained by the cool factor.  “I am a boxer”.  “I am in training”. The event seemed so far away that it didn’t quite feel real.  Your friends and family were in shock that you were doing this, and that was entertaining.  It was new, fun and exciting.  Although it was physically demanding you were on a high because you were embarking on something big. Something most others are not willing to do.  You felt special.

You are over that. Now you are halfway through training and you have sparred your future opponent. (Yes, we know you were holding back...so was (s)he and don’t forget that for a minute.)  Now it is real.  The mood has changed. You are in training for a FIGHT.  A fight that everyone in your whole life will see - live!  A fight that will be on Youtube and the Haymakers for Hope website for the rest of your life.  No, not everyone can win (in fact, half of you must lose even though you have worked and fought just as hard), but you plan to win, and you certainly don’t want to embarrass yourself.  You are now feeling the pressure.  It is intense.  You are also physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted.  You have obstacles.   You are traveling for work.  Your kids are sick of going to the gym with you.  You have a minor injury.  Whatever it is.  You have to overcome it.  You must continue.  You’re going to have nights that you get beat up so badly that you will cry...or want to.  You’ll also have good days that help to keep you going.  You hopefully have a trainer that can carefully lead you through both.  

I want you to know that all of these feelings are normal, and everyone feels the same way if they are giving this experience 100%.  Don’t feel alone.  Talk to your teammates if you’re lucky enough to have them, or to current or past Haymaker friends, your trainer and sparring partners.  Just knowing that someone understands how you’re feeling helps a lot.  Commiserating with someone who is going through the same challenging experience is powerful and bonding.  You may find some of your very best lifelong, foxhole friends in the ring.  

You have just added fundraising to the long list of your anxiety and responsibilities.  Do not stress about this.  Seriously, don’t.  It starts out slowly and you may feel that you won’t make the minimum but it is like a wave that gains more and more power as it gets closer to the shore.  Just keep telling everyone what you’re doing, keep the fundraising link as your email signature, use social media, send letters or emails to your network, ask friends to share your story, blog your experience if you choose, and it will happen.  Sharing parts of your journey along the way really helps people to feel connected and invested so share pictures and training stories whenever you can.  Remember, ticket sales count toward your fundraising and those really pick up at the end.  

A beauty of the fundraising is the timing of it.  Just when you are feeling completely overwhelmed by training, the donations and words of encouragement start hitting your inbox.  Soak this in.  Read every message and gain strength from it.  Appreciate every donation no matter how big or small because it means that someone cares.  They are supporting you and lifting you up, filling you with their energy and love to help you stay strong.  I remember getting a very generous anonymous donation one day while I was waiting for the kids at the bus stop.  This donation not only got me to my current goal, but it came with this Arnold Schwarzenegger quote:  "Strength does not come from winning.  Your struggles develop your strengths.  When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.”  It happened to be exactly what I needed to hear at the time because I was struggling.  I just started weeping.  It felt like a strong, warm hug and it fixed what was feeling broken that day.  There were many moments like that.  Receiving support from old friends and new, family and even strangers will help you remember that you’re not alone, that you’re doing this crazy thing for a great cause, and that you are loved.  It will sustain you the rest of the way.  

The days will start to go by faster and training will most likely become more intense (sorry, but it’s true).  The countdown is on.  As you feel the pressure intensify I hope that you’ll trust your training. You’ll find peace believing that you have done and seen it all in training, and that you can handle whatever happens that night.  Also, remember you are doing something incredible.  You are not only helping the important fight against cancer, but you’re also transforming yourself.  

You will never be the same after this experience.  Becoming a fighter, and a member of the Haymakers for Hope family,  is joining a small club of very special people who can push themselves beyond their limits, can stare fear in the face day after day and overcome it, can train as athletes, are tough enough to take all the punches, who have a fighting spirit, who never give up even when they want to...all while helping others.  It is an elite club and you will forever be a member.   After spending 4+ months getting punched in the face every day everything else in your life will be in proper perspective, and you will draw upon your fighting experience to help you through any tough bumps in the road. You will be stronger than you ever were before.  This experience will always be in your back pocket.  

What helped me immensely the days leading up to the fight was to focus on how FUN the night would be.  It’s a celebration of all of your hard work! Haymakers puts on a great event.  People from all parts of your life will be there.  Your fight is only 6 minutes of this epic night.  No matter if you are first or last, enjoy every single second of the evening.  The real gift is in the training...the friends you made, the sacrifices and hard work that made you stronger, the discipline you discovered you had, the skills you learned, the support you felt, the money you raised, and the amazing new muscles! The grand event (when else in your life are you ever going to have an entrance video?!?) is icing on the cake!   

So, leave it all in the ring. Hold nothing back.  It’s only 6 minutes of your life.  Make it great.   A message our trainer gave us that really fired me up is that fight night is when you get to show the world what you’re really made of, and no one there will ever look at you the same again. (Think about that for a minute.)

Also, just think...the second the final bell rings your life is yours again!  You can eat and drink whatever you want, and you never, ever have to be punched in the face again (if you don’t want to)! You’re almost there.  Stay strong.  As Muhammad Ali said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don’t quit.  Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.”

In your corner,

- “JP”

My Haymakers for Hope Photo Album