You'll Always Remember Your First Time...

And I'm still thinking about it.

It was early on a Saturday morning.  Nothing special or particular about the day.  I woke up, questioned whether or not I would be able to do it...asked someone to watch me as I hesitantly attempted my first execution of it, then I did it....30 times.

I did my first unassisted pull-ups.

Having been athletic since my sophomore year of high school, accomplishing this was truly a milestone in my life.  I haven't been able to do more than a half-second dead hang to support my own weight on a bar.  I've been doing Crossfit for over a year, with no avail to overcoming the illusive pull-up.  I've been dreaming of it, fantasizing about it, and finally there it was.  A pull-up.  Then another, and another.  Over and over again I felt the excitement of this repetitive motion until I was exhausted...30 pull-ups later.

Yes, this obviously sounds like I'm comparing pull-ups to "something else" - but if you're like me...never having the ability to do these, and one day, the magic is there...it may as well feel like "the first time."  This was a moment that may stay with me forever.  I've certainly been thinking about it non-stop since it happened....like a love-struck pull-up fiend.

What was your first time like?

Why My Mom Should Try Paleo

My gym is going into another Paleo Challenge, and after the amazing effects of my initial entree into the Paleo lifestyle (better sleep, better energy, weight loss, fat loss, better skin, etc.), I thought it was time to get my family involved.  I don't believe in "gimmicks" - I believe in eating FOOD, and sadly, most of what people consume these days doesn't resemble the real thing.  I did the first challenge with my husband (he was mostly forced into it), but now that I have results and wisdom, why not help make my family healthier?  I became a fan of Paleo because it's a FOOD based eating style that supports the local farmers, the local ranchers, and the environment.  Novel, huh?

My sister visited a few months ago and got a few days of straight up, home cooked, Paleo awesomeness.  She was shocked by how well we ate, how delicious all the food was, and how easy it was.  She's following a mostly Paleo lifestyle now and feels "off" on those days she consumes crappy food.

So, time to get my mom on board.  I followed up to try and get her to confirm her acceptance of our next challenge and I got the following excuses:

1)  "Oh, I didn't see dinosaur when I went to the store the other day."
OK, we can overcome this.

2) "I don't have time for this"
Sorry Mother Dearest, I've traveled SIXTEEN TIMES in the past 6 months (many of those were cross country trips).  Oh wait, I was also working on my MBA, and training for the Boston and California International Marathons....while working full time.  You're not THAT busy. 


3) Isn't eating that much protein bad for you if you don't workout all the time?
Here's the funny part - Paleo isn't about eating as much protein as humanly posible.  It's about eating FOOD that comes from the earth.  I eat a boat load of veggies on a daily basis with lean, (usually grassfed) proteins. If you hate veggies and are using Paleo as an excuse to not eat your broccoli, yea, you can get sick.


This isn't about the before/after photos (although they are cool and very inspiring).  This is about reading your food labels, hitting up the farmer's market, and taking CONTROL of what you put on your plate.  This is about getting rid of the crappy chemicals and fake food that plague the American dinner table and replacing it with ingredients you can pronounce and foods you recognize.  


This is NOT about being on a diet.  It's not about doing this perfectly.  This is NOT a "lose weight quick" campaign.


Mom, I'm calling you out.  Shut up, and Sign up:
 http://pacificcoast.wholelifechallenge.com/

Kisses,
Your daughter