NEW CHALLENGES!!

I have not given up in fact it's quite the opposite.  After spending Christmas with family and eating pretty much everything I try to avoid I came back feeling like poop.  But I did have a few huge accomplishments while I was gone.  I attended two WOD's at two different gyms on vacation in the middle of winter. . .I normally don't workout when I'm visiting family but I did it.  I got up early and I went on my own and I realized even more than I had before that my gym "Crossfit Verve" is pretty much the best gym in the world!  I didn't get any instruction at either gym I attended, the people were nice enough but my expectations were way too high.

Anyways I got back from visiting the family and immediately started a whole30.  It felt great to be eating healthy again and I never wanted to cheat or go back to the junk I was eating before.  I completely my whole30 with a final weigh in and body fat dunk test. . .and before completing my whole30 I started a 6 week challenge, I'm doing it on my own but Crossfit verve is doing a big competition of it all.  I am trying to add Zone to my paleo eating and it is hard to measure every single meal and add protein, veggies and fat every time I put something in my mouth.  But regardless of how I do I write everything down! I've made it to at least 4 workouts including yoga since I started and hoping to just keep adding to it.

Challenge starting stats Jan 25th, 2013:

227.0 lbs

My body fat dunk test was better than I had expected even though I was only down 5 lbs from September I lost 10 lbs of body fat and gained 5 lbs of lean muscle mass.  Also I dropped 4% body fat!!! 

Starting Measurements:

Bust: 39

waist: 35

hips: 49

Arms: 16

Legs: 28

I still have a long ways to go but it's good to know I'm making progress. . .hopefully this challenge will get me over this plateau and get me to my pre-pregnancy weight just over 10 lbs away from that.

I told my husband his has to start eating 2 paleo meals a day and has to cut out soda completely so far so go, he hasn't been perfect but he fits into his jeans that had gotten too tight so it's a start.  It makes it easier too when I don't have to make him something different to eat! Being the awesome wife that I am I have found some awesome recipes that helps him get through the day while feeling like he gets an extra treat, a paleo treat!

One of our favorites has been

Paleo Chocolate Pudding

1 Can full fat coconut milk

1 cup dates

a few drops of vanilla

4-5 Tb. cocoa powder

blend the dates and some of the coconut milk in a food processor, then strain the small date pieces to get a better "pudding" texture. add the remainder of the coconut milk and other ingredients in the food processor and mix through.  place in fridge until thickens. ( A couple ours) it tastes good immediately too if you just can't wait.  Here is the link for the original recipe.  My husband loved mixing some fresh berries in with it.  ENJOY!!