Over the years, I’ve learned to think of my body as a science experiment. Our bodies are constantly changing along with our environments, so if we want a certain something, we have to experiment with everything else to get it right. I’ve talked about this before and I’m going through it once again. For me, I don’t want to get a whole lot stronger because when I get stronger, I get bigger. And when I say this, please don’t take it offensively. This has nothing to do with anyone else or anyone else’s size. I just honestly don’t want my legs or my shoulders to get bigger. But with CrossFit, and especially right now at my gym since we are in a strength cycle, putting on extra mass is pretty easy for me because I still get excited about getting stronger. I get excited about my lifts getting better and my engine increasing, but then I look in the mirror and I’m not content with what I see.
This isn’t me crying about my weight or complaining I’m not skinny enough. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. Nowadays, I just begin to assess what I’ve been doing lately to gain weight or mass:
- Am I lifting more?
- Am I not taking enough rest days?
- Am I going heavier in my metcons?
- Am I eating more than I usually do?
I go through all these thoughts and start figuring out what has changed and what factors need to be altered to still be happy both physically and mentally. Since we are in a strength cycle at our gym and constantly increasing weights, I had to pull aside the coach and let him know that that’s not something I want to do. I have also decided that for a while now I’m going to mix in some different workouts and try new things to see how my body reacts to it. That means I’ll probably do a CrossFit class, then a Fit class then a Barre class and I may start adding in some yoga. I like being more muscular because I prefer that look and since CrossFit has helped me gain more muscle than I would have ever gained doing anything else, now I am able to manipulate those muscles more and challenge them in different ways. Such as Barre class, which I’m absolutely loving even though it is completely different from CrossFit! I plan to change up my routine for a month or so and see what the difference is because at the end of the day, our bodies and environments are always changing, so we might at well treat them as an experiment and see what happens!
If it were years ago, I would never have been able to do this. I would have gotten frustrated and cried and just not cared enough to understand why things were changing. It’s easier to get pissed off instead of taking the time to evaluate what changes are happening and why. It’s also easier to say something doesn’t work and throw in the towel. Earlier last week, I got a little frustrated then I decided getting frustrated wouldn’t do anything. What would help is my perception on how to alter my situation. I think it’s pretty cool to be able to think of our bodies are experiments instead of things that we have no control over. Sure, we may go through things that we can’t control such as illness or stress or whatever else, but if we are able to mentally control how we see our situations and what will lead us in better directions, we are often able to feel more in control and happier with what we have now. I’m not sure if this is all making sense today, but what I’m trying to say is: remember that you can control your life, one step at a time. There are always hurdles and changes and ups and downs, but if you treat your life, body and mind as a little experiment, you will constantly open your eyes to new and exciting ways to live a healthier and happier life! Now go try new things and get excited about how you’re taking care of your body!
Sunday – Rest Day
Monday – Rest Day – 8 hour drive back home from Nebraska
Tuesday – Back at it after 4 days off!
EMOM x 12: 1 Clean & Jerk. Fist set at 65%. Add as you wish. Goal of 95%. – I got to 125#
Then 15 min AMRAP Ladder Of: (3-6-9-12-15…)
Deadlift (225/155)
Wall Ball
Pull Ups
I got 18 + 42 using 125#
Wednesday –
Back Squats: 4 x 5. All sets at 83% (15 mins) – I used 155# for 2 sets then went down to 145# for 2 sets
Then 3 Rounds For Time: (12 min time cap)
35 / 30 Cal Row
15 Thrusters (115/75)
I finished in 9:48 using 65#
Thursday – Rest day – too sore to function
Friday –
3 rounds for time (19 min time cap):
300m run
25 kettlebell swings (70/55)
60 double unders
25 burpees
Then 3 rounds of: 20 GHD sit ups and 20 jumping lunges
Then I did a Barre Forte Lohi Class!
Saturday – Fit Class
- 7 minute AMRAP warm up: 100m run, 7 goblet squats, 7 high pulls, 7 incline push ups,
- Core workout: 3×1 minute rounds: 1 minute to complete 10 floor press (with barbell or plate) and 10 wipers with weight raised over head then in the remaining minute v-ups, russian twists, and ab mat sit ups. So you’ll do 1 minute of the press, wipers then v-ups then 30 sec rest then do it with russian twists then 30 sec rest, then do it sit ups. And do that 3 times through.
- Then 5 rounds (25 minute time cap) of: (I finished 4 rounds with 3 minutes to go but had to coach so I left early)
- 400m run
- 3/3 kettlebell clean and squat – I used 35# KB
- 2 rounds of Cindy (5 pull ups, 10 push ups, 15 air squats)
- 1 minute plank hold (I did weighted with 25# plate on my back)
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At Home/Travel Workout:
10 minute AMRAP:
20 hand release push ups
20 tuck jumps
1 minute rest
10 minute AMRAP:
20 jumping lunges
20 pike push ups
1 minute rest
10 minute AMRAP:
20 side skaters
20 bench dips
On Sale Fitness Apparel:
This Pretty Blue Racerback Sports Bra (40% off)
This Comfy Tank Top (15% off)
These High Rise Shorts (33% off)
These High Waisted Leggings (33% off)
These Nike Flyknit Running Shoes (33% off)
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What I Ate in a Day:
This is what I ate on Friday! I started my day off at about 5:45am. I had a glass of cold brew coffee with some water added to it along with a splash of heavy cream and stevia extract.
After finishing up my Fashion Friday post and newsletter, I made breakfast around 7am. Breakfast sausage (find the recipe in Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook), sautéed arugula and spinach and Wildbrine kimchi. After breakfast, I took Jackson out for a little morning walk.
After going to the Social Security office to change my name, I headed to my gym to do a quick workout by myself then went to a chiropractor appointment. After that, I went to Barre Forte Lohi for a noon workout. After our workout, a friend and I grabbed bulletproof coffee at Carbon. Sooooo good. Seriously.
Usually a bulletproof coffee will hold me over for a while, but since I hadn’t eaten much, I was pretty hungry once I got home so I snacked on some Milton’s gluten free crackers (just a little bit left in the bag) and heated up one of my pancake breakfast sandwiches (they will be on the blog this week).
I worked on the blog for a while after a late lunch then took Jackson out for a long afternoon walk. Once we got back home, I made shake with frozen banana, almond milk, gelatin, unsweetened cocoa powder and maple syrup.
Since my husband tends to work pretty long hours in the summer, we don’t eat dinner until 8pm most of the time. Which means I want to eat by 6pm. I’m loving this Krave beef jerky for snacks. Yes, it has sugar in it, but I haven’t found another that I really love that doesn’t. All the others I’ve tried are SUPER chewy, like bubble gum, and I’m not a fan of beef bubble gum. So I had a couple pieces of this jerky before dinner!
For dinner, I made tacos with what I had in the fridge: Siete Foods cassava tortilla, Primal Kitchen Foods chipotle lime mayo, sautéed peppers and onions, grassfed ground beef with LOTS of spices and hot sauce, red jalapeños, lime juice, goat cheese, cilantro and homemade tomatillo salsa (which will be on the blog this week!). I was still hungry after one tacos so I ate more just without the taco shell!
If you have any questions about what I eat and why, feel free to leave them below and I’ll answer them ASAP!
I love this post because it’s so real. Thanks for opening up and sharing with us about your health and fitness journey.
Maybe you have already done this, but…would you consider talking about how much weight to start off with if someone wants to get toned/gain muscle.
I’m having a prob because I just started lifting some weight a few weeks ago and it feels great but i have no freaking clue if I’m supposed to be lifting heavy and doing a few reps or lifting light and doing a million reps. Everyone says something different.
I want to be strong and toned and lean, but I don’t know where to start on the weights!
You’re amazing and i’m excited to hear the progress report in a month!
xooo
Lauren
PS. I want to live on a lake too!!!!
that was the hardest thing for me too when i started lifting. and i don’t think any one thing is correct. mixing it up with higher reps and lighter weight then lower reps and heavier weight is always a good thing. that was what i loved about crossfit so much was it gave me a number of reps to shoot for as well as a weight to work up to! so i can’t say one thing is right, so just play around with it and mix it up regularly. and if you’re really looking to dial it in, working with a trainer would be even more helpful!
Juligirl,
I’d like to see these criticizing heffas in this comments section have the stones to be photographed in those HAWT workout clothes and outfits that you do for the whole cyber-world to see, not to mention publishing their opinions and feelings and bad-ass recipes like you do. Girl I don’t even know you, but it pisses me off when I see someone hating on somebody as beautiful and funny and courageous and generally kickass as you! You’re tha bomb.
And hey ladies, why don’t we support each other rather than tearing each other down, yo!
it’s amazing how being masked makes us feel powerful. the things people have said to me over the internet are absolutely things they would never ever say to my face. but that’s the world we live in now. i’ll keep being myself and continue to meet amazing and supportive women like you! thanks for the sweet words and for being a supportive woman. hopefully more will be empowered by you supporting another woman’s differences!
Juligirl,
Sounds like you have the right attitude and thick skin to handle the haters, and I admire that. I mean, you have a widely-read blog, published cookbooks, and amused and amazed thousands of people, and are you even 30 years old yet? The success you have right now is more than many people will have in an entire lifetime. For cryin out loud people, cut a sister a break!
I will also say this: not to sound like a Lifetime Movie of the Week, but the beauty INSIDE is so much more important than how cut your abs are, or how high your badonkadonk sits, or whether you drink a bulletproof coffee or a martini for lunch. Loving yourself, and the love you spread to others, even those you may have never met, is the greatest characteristic anyone can have. (A hot body doesn’t hurt, however. Nor does a martini at lunch!)
P.S. I hear ya on the “masked” comments thing…alas, I don’t put my real name nor my picture on any part of the Web if I don’t have to (and I don’t have Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc)…I have sort of a high profile job, and maaaayyyybe I typed this up during my work day…umm hmmm
Nothing but love, girl!!!
Firstly! What ^^^ LawBetty said!!! Man! I commend you for how graciously you handle some of these beatchy comments! ????????????????????????
You are hilariously funny, look fantastic, are an amazing & creative cook, annndd write a badass blog!! You go girl! Ignore the “heffas” lol
Anyways, quick question. I really enjoy the what u ate in a day post. You often have snacks and stuff on there that you enjoy. Do you have one blog post where all these snick snacks are on please? I want to go online shopping for snacks and it’s taking me quite some time to find all the cool, different snacks and treats you have posted about. If not, would you please consider doing one?
Thx in advance, and keep up the goodness woman xoxo
Nadine
i’ll definitely put something together in my community tab for snacking and travel snacks! then other people can add their favorites too!
I find this just *so* interesting.
I’m like you- I workout 5-6 days a week because I love it. I ate pretty strict paleo for about 2 years but after about a year I started to get that sortof fluffy look. For me, my body just needed CARBS and was not coping with the high fats. I did a little macro counting to figure out what was going on to try and adjust my food accordingly. Once I upped my carbs and dropped fats it gave my muscles a much fuller defined look intead of looking just looking ‘big’.
I totally agree with your body is your experiment- whether its with your workout or with your nutrition.
I love this! It’s exactly how I feel about CrossFit and how it’s impacted my body. I love getting stronger and setting personal bests, but at the same time, I don’t want to become bigger than I am because I like where I’m at physically. It’s difficult to express this to some of my coaches who compete at a higher level, and it’s certainly not an insult to that body type, but it’s not what I want for myself. You hit the nail on the head. I varied my CrossFit routine up with Barre a few months ago and loved the new challenge. 🙂 I hope you continue to enjoy it as well!
It makes me sad you won’t be doing Cf as much. I think your body looks fantastic and you are an inspiration to everyone. Not a single woman would ever look at one of your pics and think your legs aren’t thin enough or your shoulders are too big. I know we are our own worst critics, especially people in this industry – bc we know how other women are and we know we are constantly being judged. But i truly think you look incredible and your body is def one of my goals. To think you’d want to change any part of it, baffles me. I hope women don’t see this and think they need to stop doing as much crossfit, bc what they should be doing is looking at you and realizing how you look today, right now, is because of a lot of work at the gym, doing crossfit, and eating intuitively. People need to understand that fluffy legs don’t sprout overnight after doing too many squats. Whether or not you do barre today or tomorrow or start running marathons doesn’t change what people see now – and that’s you looking incredible and I hope they realize that. You are an inspiration. Please know that, and know not a single person sees any of the flaws you see. <3
I don’t think you need to be sad about me trying other things, danielle! i never talked badly about myself or my body, I just merely said I wanted to try something different to see what happens. i would not be where i am today without the help of CrossFit and I will never quit crossfit, but after doing it for 6+ years, i also do know how my body responds and how it changes as i increase my weights in crossfit. what i don’t know is how my body reacts to doing other workouts like barre, so i want to see what happens. this isn’t talking shit about crossfit in anyway, my life wouldn’t be the same without crossfit, it’s simply me saying I’m going to do crossfit along with other workouts to see what happens. people have to find what works for them and i’m just now showing multiple workouts instead of just one, which i think is helpful for people who may not like crossfit or do crossfit regularly.
Thanks for the great post! Just goes to show that you need to listen to your body and change things up when they don’t feel right. Plus, it keeps the muscles guessing! Hope you’re having a great week.
Try the Chef’s Cut Jerky – the turkey one is really good!
Juli – have you ever done Pure Barre? I am a cross fit and Pure Barre addict. I love that they are completely opposite – in every way. Was just curious if you knew if the Barre Forte LoHi was similar or different than Pure Barre. I live near there so may try it. I also love Bulletproof Coffee but haven’t tried the shop right there on Platte – need to!
i haven’t tried pure barre, just barre forte!!
This is the first time I have ever posted anything, not sure why, as I have always wanted to but been hesitant, so here I am. I am very impressed with your webpage, honesty and progress. I am 46 years old and have struggled with my “appearance” since 9th grade. I went from strict dancing (thin, sleek and slender) to needing something to fill that void when I had to quit – which was weight lifting, and I put as much heart and soul into weight lifting as I did dance, and although the results were quick, they were devastating. I gained over 50 pounds in one year, mostly muscle, but I didn’t get lean and long looking – I looked thick and fat!!! As I struggled to take the size off (by lifting more and dieting beyond measures and did cardio, cardio, cardio in addition, I continued to look thick and un- feminine, I felt ugly), people who knew me “before” were not kind although they meant well. My Dad told me how I ruined myself, my grandmother called me a boxer, I got made fun of for being bigger than most of my dates and if only I had a dollar for each time someone told me I was so pretty, if only I could lose some weight. I could go on and on. After I quit lifting entirely, I have been doing cardio for the past 20+ years with honestly no results. I lost a little size, but think I have fallen into the same old and too much “1980s” cardio routine. Time and two children later give me very little time to get to a gym and classes, which make putting on shoes and literally running out the door the easiest, quickest and most affordable way to try to get into shape. I have started the “paleo” band wagon in February. At first, I lost some size without trying, but then have hit a plateau and maybe even have gained some weight back. I haven’t found what is right for me yet. I have switched up my “running” to shorter distances, faster pace with challenges and more trail running rather than just flat running for 5+ miles at a time. In addition, I have been doing resistance training at work (push ups, lunges, etc.) and forcing myself to get off of my butt every hour, even if it means to climb 5 flights of steps – just to keep things moving. I have only been doing this for a short time so not much to tell at this point, but have that battle in my head that less is not more and that I am getting out of shape and need to run all of those miles. I will say one thing though – I suffer from low back pain and sciatica AND moving this way (even running trails), has actually helped alleviate a lot of the pain. So there is a positive of sorts. Anyway, I just mostly wanted to get my story out there – and let you know that I enjoy reading your posts, love what you are doing and wish I had something like this years and years ago………
body stuff is so incredibly frustrating. and even when people seem like they may have all the confidence, you never know what is going on inside. bodies change with time, especially when having children is involved and hormones get all out of whack. I hope you can find a workout you truly love and that makes you feel your best. keep up with working as hard as you can, when you can, and definitely keep up with the resistance training, it will absolutely help long term. good luck, you got this!!