Checking in: Day 21 of 45

Some days it seems like 21 days went quickly, while other days we think "are we DONE yet??".  The Paleo Challenge has been a huge change of pace in the Hanson home, but one we are still glad that we decided to participate.  I have seen huge changes in Jon, especially in the way his clothes fit.  Just a month ago, he got a pair of jeans out that were too tight to wear.  Now they are baggy on him.  He's doing great!  I've felt more changes than I have "seen".  My performance at CrossfitX has seen tremendous improvements since going strict Paleo.  I have more stamina than I used to, and I am ready to go for extra rounds at the end of the workout when I usually would be laying on the floor after a WOD. 

Tuesday night was the moment when I realized just how important nutrition is to my body.  You can have a trainer, or anyone for that matter, tell you over and over how much performance improvement you will see when you put your nutrition in check....but until you FEEL it yourself I don't think the light bulb will come on.  I finally felt that this week.  Tuesdays and Thursdays I workout at CFX in the morning, and then do my own workout (mostly cardio) at night.  We have a small room at the apartment office that has a few machines, including a treadmill.  For those of you who know me, or have known me since I started at CFX 13 months ago, I am *not* a runner.  If you asked me which part of the law enforcement PAT is most intimidating, I will have to say the run/sprint.  In order to achieve the minimum-passing score on the 1.5mi run, I have to complete it in under 14:32.  I have a wonderful friend, Susie, who helped me get over the mental aspect of running the 1.5mi without stopping.  But my time was always around 15 or 16 minutes and I felt like I was going to pass out when it was over.  Tuesday night was a turning point for me.  I told myself that I was not going to stop, and kept hearing my trainer, Travis, telling me "you can do anything for 1 minute" and just kept repeating that as each minute passed.  I set the speed to 8.0 and just ran, faster than I have ever ran before, and I didn't stop.  I completed that 1.5mi in 11:15!  Of course, this was on a treadmill so once I got the rhythm down it was just a matter of not stopping.  I am anxious to try the track again when it's not raining.  I only wish I had my phone with me to take a picture, because that meant so much.  I still view myself as the "fat girl" many days.  It's like the syndrome that size 0 models have who think they are fat.  I believe I will fight that image the rest of my life, but feeling the difference that Crossfit and Paleo has made is what I needed to keep pushing. 

WWU opened a position for campus police this last week, and yes, the application is already submitted :).  City of Bellingham also opened the applications for entry level officer, for which I will submit the application this week.  Things are moving fast, and only God knows what will happen.  But I know that if I continue to come to class, and I continue to take the advice (and implement it!) that my trainers give me, I will one day realize the dream I have for me and our family. I'm nervous as can be, but so tremendously thankful to everyone at CFX, they truly are family to me.
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I don't have a menu plan this week, as I am simplifying things for the next 7 days.  Our meals will be pretty simple, and perhaps a little boring, but I'm going to start trying to figure out Zone while still eating Paleo.  It's intimidating, but I think I can do it.  I've got lots to research and plan if I am going to take it on, but apparently it should kick-start things even quicker.

I'm not sure who all even reads our blog anymore, but I am hoping that somewhere out there, someone will take a chance on themselves because they deserve it.  Have a good week!