I’ve had a couple people ask me about how I started on paleo. And a few have asked me about how I started CrossFit. So I’m combining them into one! My story isn’t unique. It’s pretty similar to most people’s out there so I hope it’s not too boring. It most likely will be though.
Here’s my background. I didn’t really play sports growing up. I swam for 9 years of my life on a summer league and just a little in high school. I was never extremely good at it, but I lived at my pool in the summers so it was just what you did. I never tried any other sports because I was too scared. I was too scared to try volleyball because I would have to wear spandex shorts. I was too scared to try lacrosse because I didn’t think I was cool enough to fit in with those girls. And I didn’t run track (well, for a month I did) because I sucked at running. And hated it. So sports didn’t really suit me. So I kept to myself, sang in choir, and worked out on my own…not knowing what the hell I was doing.
I had a couple personal trainers growing up that helped me get a little bit more into being in the gym and comfortable with lifting weights. I had boyfriends who were always into fitness so it made me want to try it and look cool. Obviously, that didn’t help me. But it made me never really feel intimidated with lifting weights around dudes. Lifting weights always gave me some sort of empowerment feeling.
So when I was in college, I worked at the student rec center where I began to work out more and more. And, of course, this was where I met my college boyfriend. I actually started talking to him because he would come into the gym, do a 20 minute workout, be drenched in sweat, then leave. I didn’t get how he could get in such a good workout in such a short amount of time. Long story short, we started dating, I weighed in at about 150lbs and was not in shape AT ALL. So, to try to keep my boyfriend around, I started doing CrossFit on my own in a small gym so I could do workouts with him.
I began searching the archives of crossfit.com, watching all the videos, figuring out how to clean and snatch, and trying all these things out by myself in the student rec center and the small private gym I went to. I taught myself the kipping pull up on the pull up bar in the park and bought my own jump rope to practice double unders 20 minutes a day.
While just doing CrossFit, I lost about 15 pounds. The more I read through crossfit.com, the more I began to understand how important eating healthy was. So I put on my big girl pants and started asking questions. My boyfriend at the time ate Zone, so I cleaned up my diet a bit, started eating zone portions and lost almost another 15 pounds. That means I got down to almost 120 lbs. I’m 5’7. That was the smallest I had been since I was in junior high.
So after about 6-8 months of doing CrossFit on my own, I decided to join my first CrossFit gym, CrossFit Evolve. They started teaching me how to actually lift correctly and dealt with my excessive tape use from ripping my hands every day. After only about 2 months there, I moved and started working out at a bunch of different CrossFit gyms in Denver.
This was when I decided to go paleo. All the way. I hated the idea of it, thought it was stupid, and refused to give in, but my then boyfriend and I decided we would try it together. The CrossFit gyms we went to both promoted the diet so we thought it was worth a shot if it would make us better at CrossFit. So I started cooking a ton more, looking at paleo recipe blogs, and reading The Paleo Solution and the Whole30 a ton. I fell in love with websites like Balanced Bites, Mark’s Daily Apple, Everyday Paleo, Health-Bent, Elana’s Pantry, and a ton of smaller ones. And I finally began to cook for myself for the first time in my life. And loved it. I loved trying new things and seeing that other people, who didn’t even eat paleo, liked those meals. So I started making my own meals and before I knew it, I was writing the nutrition blog for CrossFit Flex Gym and then finally started writing my own (mostly so I could cuss more and write whatever I wanted).
Now, it wasn’t until I started working out at CrossFit Broadway that my body really changed. Once I began working out with dudes that made me lift heavy and fast, I put back on almost 30 lbs. That means I went from 120 lbs to 150 lbs in probably 6 months actually eating cleaner and working out harder. Funny world we live in, just hilarious. I do have some hormone issues that I haven’t been able to figure out, but mostly I think I put on weight because my body was trying to figure out how to deal with the stress being put upon it with lifting so much more weight.
So here is the summmary. I’ve been eating paleo for over a year now and CrossFitting for over 2 years. I went from 150lbs of NO muscle to 120lbs of some muscle and NO fat to 150lbs of lots more muscle and some fat. I’m not shredded like a lot of the CrossFit women out there and I truly wish I was smaller. BUT I would never in a million years lift less to lean down. Never. I have worked very hard for 2 years to become stronger and fitter and to think about lifting less than my body is able, is just stupid to me. CrossFit has given me the strength to do things I didn’t know were possible so why would I deny those things and make myself weaker just for asthetic appeal?
I still play around with my diet monthly. I’ll cut out nuts, I’ll cut out fruit, I’ll try new vegetables, eating less protein, eating more protein. It’s a never ending process trying to figure out what my body likes and dislikes. And it’s ever changing. What my body liked a year ago when I started paleo is completely different than what it likes now. So it’s annoying. And listening to your body it’s a tough process.
CrossFit and paleo pretty much run my life. It’s often a love-hate relationship. I hate that I can’t eat a pound of almond butter in one sitting because I’ll crap myself all week. But I love that I can feel 10x better eating almond butter than I did when I ate grains. I hate that my ass and legs are bigger than they ever have been, but I love that they can lift more than they ever did before.
So that’s my story. It’s not that interesting, but hopefully it helps you with figuring out how you want to lead your life of healthy eating and healthy living. Do what makes you happy. Whatever that is, just do it. You only live once. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’m sure I left out a ton of stuff.
Love your blog. Do you have any recommendations on wtf to do to keep hand rips at bay? I’ve been doing this to my self wayyyy to much lately. Thanks for inspiring me and letting me know a big ass and thighs are ok :p
Dani,
Get a corn/callus shaver from a beauty shop. It has a plastic handle and a really sharp blade that can be replaced — it kind of works like a cheese cutter. Shave down your calluses on your hands so that they are even with the rest of the palm. It really reduces rips.
If you do rip, make some tape gloves for your hands. Just google crossfit and tape gloves and you will find a how to video on how to make them.
Also, don’t be afraid to drop off the pull up bar when you start getting tired. I find that the times that I rip are when I force too many pullups and my grip gives, allowing for more rotation and rips.
Good luck!
I honestly never did anything for my calluses so I’m not the best person to ask. I just taped them up, got better and pull ups after a looong time, and didn’t rip as much. It’s all about learning to not grip the bar quite as much so you’re not getting as much torque on your hands while you kip
Thanks Javier and Juli for the tips. I just finally got off the bands for my pu’s and I’ve been ripping the whole time. ACK!
Hand maintenance with a pomous stone is very helpful too. Every time you shower, rub your hands with it. It makes all the difference.
Love this! I was the biggest hater of CF and paleo and then I started them both about a year and a half ago, and I just got my L1 cert and most days, I don’t miss any of the crap I used to eat. It still gets old having to explain to people why I eat the way I do, so maybe I’ll just direct them to this post 🙂
Thanks for your story – I can relate so well! I’d love to hear more about your hormone issues – I have been investigating and struggling with my own over the last 2 years. And it’s really only your opinion that matters, but I agree with all the other comments: you look great!!
Karen, email me and we can chat more about it!
I would love to see more on the hormone issues as well….I am currently struggling. Are you brave enought to do a post on that???
I’d also love if you’re able to post about hormonal issues as I have definite problems going on.
I’d love to hear about the hormone issues as well. I have PCOS so it’s particularly interesting to me. Thanks!
Hey dude! It would be cool if you could do a post (or just post in a comment!?) about things you think are most important for beginners and how to get to competition level fitness. I love the shit out of CrossFit. I’m still pretty new to it, but I would honestly LOVE to be good enough to compete some day soon, but I don’t really know how to get there. My box isn’t super hardcore, it’s mostly families just trying to get in shape or whatever, no competitors or anything. What do you think are the most important tools to get there?
I agree w/ Haley. I am new to crossfit and would like a few tips on getting started. Awesome post too! You’re an inspiration 🙂
If you can get into a CF gym, I definitely recommend that first. Having a coach to actually tell you what to do and what not to do is super helpful. We don’t always know what our own bodies are doing. Your coach will guide and help you. Just don’t be scared to try something new, it’s always fun conquering something you didn’t think you could do before!
Start out by seriously competing, just in smaller events. That opens up your eyes to what you need to work on and how you need to get there. I was smaller and thinner, putting on weight helped me get better. I also recommend trying to do more strength training along with met cons. When I started with crossfit, I did 3 days of lifting and 6 days of met cons. So I would do strenght monday, wedensday, and friday along with my regular workouts. It’s just putting yourself out there, trying new things, and maybe even getting to a more competitive gym at some point. That definitely has helped me out some!
I just want to fly to Colorado from and hug you!
I love that you are honest and open and happy with who you are – thighs and all! I’m slowly getting there, started my Paleo lifestyle cold turkey with the Whole30 and have now started to Zone. As much as I still freak out on the scales, I’m learning to love my muscles and know that like you, I feel awesome not eating grains and all those other nasty inflammatory foods.. And I have to say, my first taste of almond butter was a life changing experience!
Thanks for being so inspirational!!!
The question I wanted to ask if its not too much trouble, when you are getting close to competing and start Zoning, how many blocks do you have?
P.S I’m on deployment (from Australia), will keep an eye out for Sergio!
I have done 9-11 in the past, but now try to do 11-13 blocks 🙂 and thank you Sarah, please watch him for me. I already cried today thinking about his deploying.
I love the honesty in this post! I’m impressed with the amount of determination you have, it takes a LOT to teach yourself double unders and kipping pull ups! I honestly can’t imagine… I’m glad you have this blog. You post recipes that people like me can realistically re-create! I’m not awesome at cooking, but no one can tell.
Also, you should make more cooking videos!
Than you so much for sharing. I’m also 5’7″ and while Ive never gotten down to 120 at my thinnest I was 130. Then I had kids and started lifting heavier. Now that I crossfire I cant get below 140 and its making me crazy. My body is opposite of yours. My legs are super toned and defined but my stomach is nasty. Just Huck. I would pay a lot of money to have your abs. You are such an inspiration.
If I weren’t allergic to nuts (which makes paleo challenging) Id be eating a jar of almond butter in a sitting.
Thanks for sharing! I met you at Regionals last month I think you look fabulous, strong and healthy. I think a lot of females start CrossFit with the goal of leaning and losing and somewhere along the way the goal shifts. That empowerment that comes from lifting heavy shit and moving a lot faster than ever before takes hold and takes CrossFit to a whole new level in our lives. It’s pretty cool to witness through coaching and just being around the CrossFit community. I too have CrossFit thighs and now have these mutant traps that used to kind of make me a little self conscious, but I’m now pretty proud of the fruits of my labor. I mean, I’ve literally worked my ass off to get where I am. Anywho, I hope to run into you at the Games and look forward to reading your quirky posts!
That damn picture again. I don’t know how to get rid of it!
i really loved this post! I am 90/10 paleo most of the time (i have a weakness for air popped corn, i’ll admit, so that and greek yogurt make up my 10-fail) , but i dont do crossfit, i am just a runner. I love your honesty. Everyone has a different story. Paleo or my version of it plus stepping up my running has enabled me to lose 25+ lbs. I love paleo and i have a hard time understanding why people diss on it. Eating bread is so disgusting to me now.
Thank you for sharing!