Recently, I’ve had a couple people ask me on social media as well as on my blog how I’ve lost weight or what I’m doing differently to change my body. I’ve talked about it in the past, but thought I would bring it back up because I know other people have gone through or are maybe going through the same thing. Here’s a summary: I began CrossFit in 2010, lost about 30+ pounds, then I began competing for a few years, where I slowly gained more and more weight. Of course, most of that was muscle but I was also gaining fat in strange places like my knees, hips and even love handles. It was very upsetting since I felt like I was being as strict as possible with my food and working out more than I ever had in the past. Problem was, I was lifting and working out so hard and wasn’t eating enough. So I was f*cking up my hormones while not fueling in the right way. Real smart, eh?
After I decided I didn’t want to compete anymore, I cut back on my workouts, started lifting lighter, took more rest days and said F*CK IT. Straight up. I ate what I wanted (gluten free still since I have a gluten allergy) when I wanted and rested whenever it felt right. I stopped obsessing about my body and questioning everything and just went about my day trying to be as content as possible. Over time, my body started to thank me. My hormones started to calm down: I lost weight that I had gained in strange places, I slept better, my appetite regulated, and I was just happier with how I looked.
When people say CrossFit doesn’t make you bulky, I fully believe it’s what your viewpoint on bulky is, what your genetics are like, and I believe it depends on what type of CrossFit you do. To me, I felt very “bulky” when I competed in CrossFit and was lifting very heavy multiple times per day. I didn’t like how I looked or how I felt. I felt, well “bulky”. I would see other girls who were incredibly ripped and I just felt fluffy. I tried to concentrate on my performance and performance alone, but outside of the gym I didn’t feel comfortable. So nowadays, I still do CrossFit usually 5x per week at much lighter weight which seems to get lighter each week, I’m 30 pounds lighter and I’m much more comfortable in my skin. I just had to give up some physical strength to improve my mental strength and I’m so happy I did that for myself.
I still CrossFit, I still lift, I try new things like our Fit classes and I’m even thinking about taking up some reformer pilates after so many people recommended it in last weeks post! At this point, I’m just trying to live a healthy lifestyle and accept my body for how it looks today and hope to improve it in some way with each workout I do. Not stressing out about every detail of every dimple seems to have helped me in the long run. So what I’m recommending here is for you to stress less. Life has enough stressors already.
If you have some sort of experience you’d like to share with CrossFit or any other workout you’ve done and how it changed your life or what you did to make it work for you, share in the comments below!!
Wait, before I go, have you signed up my Blendtec giveaway?! It ends tonight, don’t miss out!!
Sunday – Rest day means lake day! I didn’t surf at all, but I watched people surf. That’s exercise, right?
Monday – My own workout – I have recently been working out Monday mornings by myself so I made this one up on the fly. I’m trying to make sure I do some butt intensive movements and ab movements at least twice a week and I was sore for days after this!
12 minute AMRAP:
10 power snatch (95/65)
50 double unders
20 bulgarian split squat -10 each leg (65/45)
Then
5 100m sprint followed by 100m jog
Between each sprint – abs
1st round – 30 leg raises holding a 25# plate towards ceiling
2nd round – 30 russian twists with 25# plate
3rd round – 30 reverse crunches
4th round – 30 leg raises holding a 25# plate towards ceiling
5th round – 30 russian twists with 25# plate
Tuesday – CrossFit Class – The second part of this workout was a buuuuurner. Try to do all of your wall balls unbroken. I didn’t, but you totally should.
Gymnastics Strength:
6 Rounds For total reps of: (one number)
30 sec Max Effort Strict HSPU – I used an ab mat for a target
REST 30 sec
30 sec Max Effort Strict Pull Ups – I did a mix of chin ups and pull ups
REST 30 sec
I got a total of 76 reps
Then 4 Rounds For Time Of:
10 Power Cleans (155/105)
25 Wall Ball
I finished in 7:52 using 85#
Wednesday – CrossFit Class – As I’ve mentioned before, I hate ring dips. I’m fine with not having pecs. And I would much rather work on my triceps before my chest. So I always do parallete dips with my feet raised. Triceps = real sore.
Snatch: 2-3 Warm Up Sets, THEN
5 sets of, 1.1.1. Quick Reset between singles. Adding.
I finished at 95#
Then 10 min Ladder Of: (3,6,9,12,15…)
Ring Dips – I did parallete dips with my feet raised
Box Overs (24/20)
Burpees
I got through round 18 + 12 dips
Thursday – Rest day! I love week day rest days because I get to wash my hair and do my makeup. I feel so girly on rest days.
Friday – Fit Class – Come try a week for free, these classes are so fun!
Bring Sally Up Workout – I did mine with a 35# barbell on back
Then: 1 min/45 sec/30 sec*
lateral jumps over pvc/glute kickback with dumbbell in knee pit
100m sprint
TRX hamstrings curls/TRX ski jumps with knee touch
100m sprint
Uneven squats holding a kettlebell/Bridge raises with one leg in the air
100m sprint
Lateral band walks/One legged pistols to bench
100m sprint
*Do each movement for 1 minute, then each movement for 45 seconds, then 30 seconds, then do 100m sprint.
Saturday – CrossFit Class – Did you guys watch the CF Games this weekend? They did this workout, but with heavier weights. Ew. I was fine with using only 85# and that felt super heavy to me.
Hero Workout “DT”
5 rounds for time:
12 deadlift
9 hang power cleans
6 push jerks
*All weight is at 155/105 – I used 85# and finished in 8:55
I’m right there with you on going lighter. I’ve been injured in the past, and as I get older it takes bloody forever to heal. I decided last year, fug it I’ll do the weights I want, if I get a RX, awesome, if not so be it. I’ve had some battles with my coach over my choices, but my reasoning; I get to have fun, I still get a decent work out and my chances of injury are much smaller.
Do you have any recommendations on how to talk to/tell your coaches you want to go lighter?
I love my coach and he does think girls should lift heavy (scaled to each person of course) so I don’t know how to express this to him.
ugh, i’ve totally been there, it’s really challenging with coaches. just be honest, tell them that you’re not looking to get bigger or stronger or whatever it may be and you just want to feel good after your workout. if a coach isn’t supportive of you being happy with your workout, then the gym needs to figure their shit out.
You’ve always looked fabulous but so glad you found that feel good balance that we each need to figure out for ourselves. You’re a great role model!
I’ve had a very similar experience, although I stopped doing Crossfit consistently in 2012. I usually do yoga and pilates now. A couple times a month, I’ll do a wod. I had to be VERY clear with my coaches that my goal was to have fun and get a good workout in… not lift the heaviest weight, or go the fastest. The best coaches support that, and the ones who don’t, welp, I don’t go to their classes!
My body changed quite a bit, and I also had a lot of people ask what I was doing. I’ve actually told people I’m on the “f*ck it” diet, for the last two years. I eat and exercise however I feel, and it’s incredibly liberating! Do whatcha wanna!
I obsessed over counting calories but never truly knew how much my body needed so I would be as low as 1200 a day up to 1800 a day. I worked out 6 days a week doing weight lifting and cardio. Changes were being made slowly but not the ones I was expecting to see. I started a crossfit/paleo lifestyle about a month ago, stopped counting calories and being so particular and my body has changes so fast in a month! I feel more confident and so excited to see the other changes to come!
Thank you for sharing your journey!
I completely know where you are coming from. I started cross fit and within weeks my jeans were tight around the top of my thighs and bum, I was stronger- yes but like you I felt ‘bulky’ and manly’ I know my body and realised I can’t lift heavy weights for more than 12 reps. Once I went back to that, my jeans started to fit. I am still lean but feel better in myself. You have to do what’s right for your body and what’s right for you. No one size fits all. Love your blog.
Glad you feel more comfortable in your own skin- you look amazing!
After doing ballet for 20 ish years, I had a pretty f’ed up view of my body and struggled with a bad relationship with food for a long time. After finding crossfit, I loved how the focus is on what your body can DO and not just what it looks like (the opposite of ballet, basically) so it has done wonders for me mentally! I think it’s all about finding balance between those 2 things!
Hi there, I was wondering how you knew yoru hormones were out of whatck? I have a feeling that mine are but I have no idea how to tell for sure. I would love some input from you and could share more of my situation if we could get in touch. I love your blog and your recipes!! Thank you for sharing.
every single sign that i had some sort of adrenal fatigue pointed to yes, that’s how i knew. you should chat with a doctor about getting yours checked if you’re really worried!
I came from a background of bodybuilding before I started CrossFit. It was freeing to focus on performance and to just eat what I felt I wanted (paleo back then). I gained bulk too and felt fluffy. Eventually, I changed my diet because even on a paleo diet, I felt restricted. So I changed a few things, finally got pregnant, and now post pregnancy, I’m leaner than I was when I was competing in bodybuilding, but I eat a lot more food…when and what I want and I never feel restricted. I don’t go as hard at the gym and definitely listen to my body. Most of all, I’m happier for it and my body looks better than it ever has. I think the takeaway is, people need to take care of themselves for health and the rest can fall into place (slowly).
I just started crossfit and I am addicted. I have a gymnastics/cheerleading background and I have always been pretty competitive with myself. Any recommendations so I don’t bulk up too much? I am worried the better I get, I will always just want to keep pushing myself with heavier weights. I am petite (5 ft, 115 lbs) so really don’t want to get too big and your post has made me a bit worried.. haha
you know, I can only speak from my own experience and staying light in workouts and even just lifts works for me and keeps me from gaining a ton of weight