How Amazing 7.27.18

by | Jul 27, 2018 | Blog

The other day I announced that I’m starting a new blog series. Make sure you read what it is and why I’m doing it. Seriously – that part is important. It will take you 30 second. Read it now if you haven’t already.

My goal is to see just how amazing I can feel if I do everything as close to “best for me” as possible.

If you’d rather listen to this blog than read it, please click here. Otherwise, keep reading below. 

You guys. Please listen carefully.

Progress is not linear. There WILL be ups and downs. But I need you to embrace this one idea.

Do not quit.

The last 18 months (for me) have been both wonderful, exciting and incredibly hard. After months of weird symptoms (including losing feeling in both my legs for months), I was diagnosed with Hashimotos thyroiditis. At the same time, I was informed that there was some unexplained swelling around my brain. I had moved back to New England after 16 years in North Carolina and I was starting over. Completely over.

My marriage ended. My social circle evaporated. I was building a business own my own while dealing simultaneously with heartbreak and health challenges.

I wanted to stop trying. Many times, I wanted to give up myself and my health. The temptation was higher than ever to turn to food for comfort.

I refused.

Despite thinking, “What’s the point? My body is broken! Who cares? What does it matter?I refused to stop taking care of myself. I refused to lie and say I don’t care about my body, because I do.

I reminded myself daily that I don’t take care of myself to see the scale go down, I take care of myself because that’s who and how I want to be.

As I started to get a handle on my Hashimotos and reduce inflammation, I made the choice to go through the process of freezing my eggs. (In hindsight, it was absolutely terrible timing.)

My body, likely more sensitive due to the Hashimotos recovery, reacted harshly to the drug therapies. For months, I didn’t feel like myself. I was sad, tired and hormonally off kilter.

No matter how clean I ate or how much I worked out, my body wasn’t responding. There was much more happening in my life that compounded these stressors, but I’m not here to whine. The point is:

Yes, I was frustrated. However…

I reminded myself that self-care is not optional. It’s not something I do only when my body responds how I desire it to. It’s something I do no matter what.

I embraced maintenance and I embraced struggle.

I did the work. I stayed consistent. I studied my body.

Six months ago, I started to make some lifestyle changes. I started Transcendental Meditation. I got increasingly serious about removing toxic influences – toxic influences from food, from my environment, and even from people around me.

I stayed the course even when the results were more internal than external. 

I take great care of myself because it’s the right choice. It’s not something I do only when it goes right. It’s not something I do only when it meets my expectations.

It’s simply what I do.

I listened to my body and I leaned in instead of pulling away. I kept trying. I kept experimenting.

I modified my workouts. I doubled down on my mindset. I asked for accountability from people around me.

This morning, I went to the gym and my trainer took my measurements. We were comparing my body now to my body just 4 weeks ago.

My hips are smaller. My waist is smaller. My arms and my legs and my bust line are all smaller.

I was pleased that my body is responding. I was proud of the progress.

However, what I am most proud of is that I didn’t quit.

I will never quit. I love life too much to ever quit.

Do the work. Stop making excuses. Stop making it optional. Stop making it contingent on some external factor.

Never, ever stop trying. Not today, not tomorrow, not a month from now.

Okay. Enough of that. Onto today.

I was up later than normal last night. It was probably 11pm before I fell asleep but when my alarm went off at 4:45am, my feet hit the floor with a smile. Another day to take great care of myself!

5 – 6:15am: Dove right into work!

I don’t usually jump right into work first thing except on days when I workout early. Today was one of those days. I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish before heading to the gym.

6:15 – 8:15am: Workout (includes drive time)

  • Warm-up and stretching
  • 21-15-9
    • calorie row
    • calorie assault bike
    • 100m farmers carry after each round
  • Forearm smash (ouch!)

8:15 – 10am: Work!

10 – 11am: Food prep for weekend away

I’m attending a training all weekend and in order to participate in the training AND get my work done in the mornings & evenings, it’ll be easier for me to bring most of my food. The time that would otherwise be spent walking to a restaurant, waiting & eating is better spent staying on top of work. I love doing trainings and going to events, but it’s always a challenge to make sure I stay on top of my work.

I cooked up a bunch of cauliflower rice, some broccoli rabe, ground pork and salmon filets that I’ve packed and will bring in a cooler. I’m also bringing a case of water.

11 – 12pm: Packing for weekend & lunch

  • Leftover lobster
  • Brussels sprouts (cold)

12 – 1pm: Work!

1 – 2:30pm: Drive time for weekend away

2:30 – 3:30pm: Walk around the seaport

3:30 – 6:30pm: Work! (I’m super fascinating, aren’t I?)

6:30 – 7:30pm: Dinner in the hotel room

  • Salmon
  • Broccoli rabe
  • Cauliflower rice

7:30 – 8:30pm: Walk around the seaport

8:30 – 9:30pm: Reading and researching for upcoming Masters Club webinar

10:00pm: Bed!

Are you taking on the challenge of seeing how amazing you can feel each day? If you are, tag me in your Instagram stories!

See you tomorrow!

 

 

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