Badass Body Diet Update

Ok. So today is the third day of the Badass Body Diet. Yesterday was not a very good day. By dinner time I had missed two meals and two snacks. It was a busy day and I overslept which put me behind right from the beginning of my day. I did get my recovery shake in but I lived off that til dinner time. I don’t recommend this approach to the diet and Christmas doesn’t either. She wants you to eat your first meal within 45 minutes of waking up and so far I’ve missed this meal three days in a row. I am currently sitting at ballet class, it is 11:00, and I haven’t had anything but coffee. I did bring apple slices and peanut butter with me but haven’t taken the time to eat it yet. I am hoping to get my “hard” copy of the Badass Body Diet book today. I think that will help me to identify foods I need to eat at each meal quicker than is possible on my Kindle. I am grateful that Christmas is a low maintenance gal and there is not a lot of cooking involved in the diet. I grilled chicken last night, weighed and measured my portion, and planned on eating the leftovers today. However, the hubby came home, eyed that chicken and ate more than his share – read he ate all the remainder of the chicken.
I finally weighed myself this morning to get an idea of my starting weight. I will tell you my age but I will never ever tell you my weight. I am sure I’ve already lost 10 pounds ….. but who knows since I was afraid to weigh myself after eating a pint of ice cream Sunday before I started the diet on Monday. I really wanted a glass of wine last night but, with the help of my daughter talking me down, was able to resist. I shared with her my idea of having a “cheat” on Saturday or Sunday and restarting the diet on Monday as Christmas says that if you cheat you have to restart the 21 days. My daughter said this was not what Christmas meant and you are supposed to go the entire 21 days without a cheat. There are days I regret raising such a moral child and this is one of those times.

 

Additional Updates:  Soooo. I did pretty good until day five which was Friday.  And I did good on Friday until the evening whereupon I had wine, cashews and oreos for dinner.

My daughter reminded me that oreos are vegan but I had ten of them so I was pretty sure by this time that I would have to be starting over the diet per Christmas’ 21 day rules.  Saturday I had three orange crushes with crab legs down at the beach but was feeling pretty virtuous about not eating any ice cream that day as is my habit.  Sunday was Father’s Day and I ate so much on Saturday that by Sunday I had given myself an upset stomach and did not feel like eating much all day.  Until Sunday night when I found some leftover Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer and I’m thinking “what the heck I gotta start over tomorrow anyway,”  As you can clearly see, I struggle with this diet stuff.  However, while at the beach drinking my orange crushes and eating my crab legs this absolutely ripped, gorgeous woman walked into the restaurant.  Usually when I see these types they are young women but this dear lady was …. older.  Early fifties I eventually found out.  I kept looking at her and telling my hubby that’s the muscle definition I wanted when finally dear hubby told me to just go over and talk to her.  Turns out she’s a personal trainer, tried crossfit but it wasn’t a fit for her.  So I asked her for her deepest darkest secret about getting those ripped muscles.  And …… she eats clean.  All the time.  As we were talking her husband ordered her a salad with chicken on it and water.  Geesh.  Okay Christmas.  Here We Go Again.   Day One.

 

Oh Christmas I’m sorry I doubted you.

 

 

 

 

You’re Too Beautiful To Do That Exercise You Do

“You’re too beautiful to do that exercise you do.” What???? A woman from my Monday bible study had just asked me if I was still doing “that exercise thing.” When I responded that I was she hit me with the you’re too beautiful comment. On the one hand I was flattered she thought I was attractive. I am 61 years old and those days of being considered pretty or cute are long gone. On the other hand, I wanted to ask her “what exactly do you mean?” But I already do. For I have gotten this response before when people find out I “do” CrossFit. My former doctor (I stress former for a reason) used to caution me that CrossFit was an extreme sport and questioned if that was something I needed to be doing “at your age.” I have heard all sorts of retorts.
“I couldn’t do that – I’m too old.” “Why do you do that at your age?” And, of course, the be careful admonitions. So who does “DO” this CrossFit thing.
When I started CrossFit five years ago and walked into my first box I really did question my sanity. I had googled gyms in my area and wanted something different than I had been doing. I had been a runner and I went to a gym for circuit training. I was becoming bored with the whole thing and needed to jazz it up a bit. And jazz it up a bit I did! My first box was full of twenty somethings, mostly male. They had a lot of tattoos and big muscles. I quickly discovered that the majority of them were military personnel, police officers and firefighters – even the women. And they welcomed me with open arms. It was totally outside my comfort zone and I discovered the challenge of using my body in ways I never could have imagined at …. 56. Now I’m 61 and still doing that exercise thing I do.

When I was growing up, young girls were not encouraged or expected to pursue sports. Yes, there were the girls on the hockey team or the basketball team but ….. they were considered anomalies. Unusual. Cheerleading was the coveted sport of choice. If you could jump high into the air, do a split and you were attractive – well, then you practiced and practiced and tried out for the cheerleading squad. And, even then, everyone knew it was more of a popularity contest than an athletic endeavor. When you didn’t make the squad you were left feeling unattractive, unpopular, or fat.

I get many, many comments regarding CrossFit. From my friends who are younger, they are encouraging and supportive about someone my age pursuing the sport. From those my age, they are mostly incredulous that I would consider pursuing this sport at my age. And from the generation before me (think my parent’s age group – those in their late 70’s and 80’s) they consider my muscles gross and disgusting. Yes – I have had people comment that they think muscles on women are “disgusting.” I am writing this at my granddaughter’s ballet studio. There is beauty in their tiny bodies gliding across the floor; their arms floating out from their bodies like butterflies. But I think there can also be beauty in strength.

Courtesy of Greg Bishop Photography

I used to complain about my body when I was younger. I felt I was too fat. I was also twenty pounds lighter than I am now. I fit in the same size clothes as I did then. My shoulders are wider. My legs stronger. I love my shoulders and arms. I’ve never in my life liked my shoulders or my arms. Women my age are covering their arms as I am uncovering mine. No bat wings on this girl.

So it must be true what they say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.