#TeamMonica.

I mentioned a certain "Paleo challenge" the other day and thought I'd elaborate. There are a lot of "nutrition/paleo/clean eating/sugar detox themey challenges" out there and, for the most part, they're pretty much 6 in one hand, half a dozen in the other...the moral is always just cut the crap, eat REAL FOOD.

HOWEVER, this challenge grabs me for some reason and I had to dive back in. The Lurong Living Paleo Challenge (also the Lurong Living Real Food Challenge) is all about a lifestyle. Targeting my people...the Crossfitting kind, it is 8 weeks of programing, goal setting, community recipe and meal plan sharing, and accountability to stay "clean". I participated with my box, Crossfit Strong, in 2012 and it was a time I felt at my best. What is it about competition mentality that makes me wanna put on my game face and prove that, in fact, Team Monica always wins?!

For those who don't know, the Lurong challenge has a foundation of the typical paleo food list. The yes, the no, and the use in moderation foods. Eliminating dairy, sugar, grains, legumes and alcohol. I log in daily to report for 6 possible times of eating a day and click either "cheat" or "clean" and send it off into the judgement of the www world. Benchmark workouts mark the progress from beginning to end as well as the tangible results of weight and measurements changes.
Here's one of my favorite lifting buddies and I after she did one of the benchmark WODs with me at open gym today. Thanks for always pushing me to be better and dancing around barbells with me, Taylor!

The forums offered on the Lurong website connect you with people of all walks participating in the same lifestyle change movement. Sharing recipes, asking questions and educating ourselves, it's an extension of the Crossfit camaraderie and connection of people that I love so much. I really love people. I know. THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION.

Anywho, for someone who was needing a swift kick in the booty to refocus for the fall and get back on track with my weight loss, I was eager to sign up for this challenge...AND to tell people I signed up. I have no problem letting people know I'm participating because...yep...there goes that accountability thing again. I'm all in, folks. And while, I can't base a lifestyle solely on a challenge here and there, I sure can use these as stepping stones and opportunities where needed. And this one was needed.

I have no intention of ending these "cheat" free days when we hit the challenge's end on November 9th. I have no intention of it being easy. But I also have no intention of letting Team Monica down. Again, Team Moncia always wins.

Thank you guys for the love, support, and check-ins.

Finding Fit,
Lisa

The Root of Today.

Today started with a traumatic experience...it was possibly preventable, yet somehow inevitable...and, because of it, I have been changed. Yes, you guessed it...I had a root canal.
Did I mention I have a flair for the dramatics?
There's a point to this, I promise.

I was in the chair for a good 2+ hours when all was said and done; and, leaving with a growling stomach and a half numb mouth didn't exactly bode well for a girl in the midst of a "nutrition challenge". Milkshakes, ice-cream, slurpies... That was the list I got for things to consume in the coming hours. I have to say, the long gone, old mentality would have said "well YA! you deserve that now" or "well there's just no way around it..." And I know I'm not alone in that.
Not this time. Not this girl. I've made a promise to work hard and have been completely committed to this particular 8-week Paleo challenge (we'll address that later) and I was not about to throw consistency out over dental work and Novocaine.

SO first stop before meds and back to work, was The Juice Bar. Knowing it would be a while before eating, I needed nutrients. The good ones. I chose a hefty green cold pressed juice, comprised of only veggies and some fruit, with no other added junk like so many "juices" out there have. (Read your labels, people!)
The bottle of green goodness sustained me in my groggier state, and I'm sure the straw slurp-sip out the side of my mouth was an excellent added bonus.

As I arrived home tonight, my mouth incredibly sore, I was starving. My solution was crushed up tuna, crushed up avocado and some homemade jalapeno ranch sauce. Though the mush was less riveting in texture than my normal kitchen endeavors, it was yummy and compliant. Beyond that, I was satisfied and fed and proud to have not fallen prey to the typical exemption to the rule moments that accompany being sick...

My dental centered rambling is all to say...there are no excuses. Slow your roll. It just takes a little thoughtfulness and remembering where your priorities lie. At the root of it, choosing the healthy solutions is choosing the healthy ME.
I will not claim to have my act together 100% of the time (or I wouldn't be starting this blog project) BUT I have to be encouraged by these small moments of victory, and share them as ideas and inspiration for someone else like me, in need of a little victory...and some pain meds...


Finding Fit,
Lisa

The Meaning is 3-Fold.

Well, it's happening.
I am starting a blog...however, in an effort to rid you of any preconceived expectations for witty commentary and perfectly arranged thoughts, I have to tell you...it's not for you. Nope. This is for me. I need a place to hold myself accountable to transparency and a genuine account of this journey I'm on (and have been on...and will be on...)
So with that out of the way, my goal is to designate this little personalized sliver of cyber space to my journey in weight loss. <I will be posting my story in future posts for those who do not know already>
I need a place to share my triumphs and pitfalls and to be completely honest about "how it's going". ..we all love this question, right? "how's it going?"...to be completely honest or not to be, that's always the question...WELL, here is where I want to be completely honest, AND, because of that, I am praying for open doors for more honesty and accountability in my life and amazing community of friends and loved ones encouraging me to work hard and be the best I can be. Thank you to those who already do this, and to others, know I have asked for this tough love so don't feel bad prying a little.

As seen in the description, what I want to share is three-fold...like the box for Chandler (FRIENDS references may be a regular occurrence also). Finding Fit is about the perpetual journey. It has been ongoing and, while I know there are those who have struggled with obesity who would seek that one and done fix-it solution, I am not them. Finding Fit is about moving forward with this healthy lifestyle and continuing to find the "fittest" version of Lisa. To me that doesn't have to mean just physically (though, that would be a perky lil sideshow) but, instead, encompasses a completely balanced life with these three particular areas to be "fit".

The physical side will come from adventures with Crossfit. I hope to share things here and there about workouts, including things I struggle with and areas where I excel!

Fueling that habit, and hopefully fueling pounds shed, will be the adventures in the kitchen. I love to cook and have found great joy in sharing that with others. A lot of people ask for different recipes and meal prep techniques I use and this is where you'll find them, as well as the links to those inspiring ME.

Above and beyond anything I can put in my body or perform at the gym, I am 100% certain my Jesus and His amazing Grace gives me strength and HE will do above and beyond what I can even imagine. He has laid it on my heart, for some time now, to put this out there, whether for 1 person or for100.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20

Thank you for making it this far and I hope you'll come along with me as I bring you the details of my journey...

Finding Fit, 
Lisa.