So, Week 3 was R-O-U-G-H y'all. Turns out my wellness coach at Title Boxing was right (go figure). My body could not sustain itself without clean carbs. In week 3 I crashed real hard, my muscles were fatigued, heavy and weak. I realized my body wasn't getting what it needed for me to maintain the rigorous, high intensity work outs I was putting it through. I rested, ate clean carbs, and some pretty unclean ones too, and regrouped. This week I am going from boxing 3-4 times a week to two times a week and beginning the Couch to 5K program (which means I'll be doing walk/jog intervals three times a week). My high intensity workouts will take a step down and my activity level will go up since I will be working out 5 days a week instead of 4 days. On the days I do the Couch to 5K I also do an arm and core workout.
I have to be able to do at least 17 push ups (Navy approved form) in 2 minutes in order to rank in the "good to excellent" category for my gender and age, because obviously "satisfactory" or "good" isn't enough for me. I've never had a lot of upper body strength, but that doesn't mean I can't gain any now. My body is much stronger than I have given it credit for in the past. So I'm excited to watch myself improve in the pushup arena.
I had my wellness check in today and it's been a little over 3 weeks since my initial meeting. Y'all I've lost over 6.5 inches and 1% body fat in just over 3 weeks! I wasn't expecting that at all!
I also spent an hour and a half with my recruiter today and he complimented me on my progress and he said, "Nothing motivates like seeing results". Hooyah Chief, Hooyah.
Grocery shopping has gotten much easier though, I usually spend around $65-75 a week (depending on what I'm cooking). So anyone that says eating healthy isn't affordable is clearly over buying, or buying groceries and then eating out every day or every other day. Granted I'm shopping for me, but I have left over food that rolls over into the next week too, so I don't think it'd be that big of a difference to shop for two people.
Week 4 has already started off well. I feel strong and able to challenge my body once again. When I eat something that isn't clean my body responds to it negatively. Whether my stomach aches or I even get a headache, my body tells me it's 1. Not appreciative of my choice and 2. Was hoping for something it could turn into fuel. This change is one of the most challenging for me because eating something I used to enjoy a lot of the time is no longer enjoyable. Mentally that's a big switch to make. To realize what you used to enjoy and get pleasure out of no longer satisfies like it used to is hard because my mind still tells me, "One piece of french toast would be amazing right now", and when I eat a piece of french toast (like today... a great example of an UNclean carb) and feel bloated with a stomach ache and slight headache for about an hour I realize that even though I KNEW french toast was enjoyable at one time, it no longer is. My body would MUCH rather have cinnamon sweet potato fries fresh out of the oven, or almond butter with a giant honey crisp apple, or pineapple, peaches, blackberries and blueberries with coconut water blended in my NutriBullet.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that what I used to know to be true isn't true anymore and that's a big adjustment I'm having to make. I can't explicitly trust my past experience anymore, I need to remember to pause, and ask myself do I know this to still be enjoyable, or am I confident that it will still be enjoyable since making the changes I've made in the past three weeks. If the answer is no, then I need to look for a better option. If the answer is yes, then go for it! Within moderation of course. If the answer is I'm not sure, I hope to take the time and consider if I'm willing to be wrong and suffer the possible physical consequences.
Even though y'all have already picked up on it, I want to be honest and come out and say that I am no longer doing the purest version of the Whole30 anymore. It's not the version that program endorses. However, I'm taking the principles of the program and using them in addition to clean carbs a few times a week (no more french toast... unless it's with Ezekiel 4:9 bread) in order to continue a longterm lifestyle of clean eating and consistent physical exercise.
I'll keep blogging about the coming weeks though; because I do still think it's important to share my journey of clean eating and exercising so that others (and me too) can know that just because you set out to do something and it doesn't work out the exact way it's "supposed to" or you believed it would, doesn't mean you failed. Course correction, adapting to unforeseen challenges and obstacles is how we grow, learn more about ourselves, the world and others, and how we attain the end goal.
So, until next Monday!
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