We're Back!!!

Well hello everyone!  Considering that this blog has been dormant for over a year, I believe it is time for a do-over...or at least a fresh start.  I have felt a huge need to re-evaluate several things in life lately and the first step is to lay it all out there for the world to see.  I truly believe there are people out there in the same kind of situation(s) we are and can benefit from the possibility of change.  I won't attempt to bring everyone up to date, but will start fresh from here. 

CrossFit is a huge part of my life now, and I am proud to be a part of CrossfitX here in Bellingham.  I've never been part of a group so encouraging, so challenging, and so genuine.  For the first time in my life I feel like I "belong" somewhere.  It has been a huge struggle to get over my personal issues with self image and confidence.  While it is still a work in progress, I have come a long way.  Thanks to my amazing coaches at CrossfitX and the CrossFit community in general, I have lost 55lbs in 1 year.  I am halfway to my goal so far.  Although many people around me see a huge difference, there are days when I still feel like the "old" Brianne and can't see past the fat suit, so to speak.  I know that one day that will change, but for now it is still a daily struggle.   I'm known simply as "Bri" at the CFX gym, which I think is fitting because I've never been called by my nickname except by close friends and family.  I wanted to start over and I felt it was the best way.  It's almost like "Brianne" is representative of the old me who struggled to love herself each day; and "Bri" is becoming the girl she has always wanted to become....while being scared out of her shoes in the meantime! :)

Every day except for Wednesday and sometimes Sunday, involve some type of CrossFit workout.  Saturdays are especially fun because the workouts last at least 2x as long and I get the workout with people who are not normally in my 5:30am class. <---- That's right people, 5:30am...sometimes it wears on me but that's the only time I have right now.  There's 2 nights a week where I will either have another workout or go for a run; however, it's not much fun running in the cold right now so that has been put on hold for a bit.

On January 9th, we will start a new Paleo challenge at CrossfitX (CFX) and I am psyched!!!  After the holidays, I am ready to start fresh and get my body back into game mode. Once I experienced my first Paleo challenge last year, my body has never been the same as it was prior to Crossfit.  It rejects a lot of "junk" that I used to eat and I instantly feel like crap when eating things that are horrible for me.  Yes, that means I still do on occasion, but it never fails that I completely regret it.  I plan on using Sunday for cooking and I hope it is not too difficult.  Mom got me a new cookbook: "Paleo Comfort Foods" for Christmas, which I will be using a lot for my meals.  I will post recipes and pictures here when possible so you can all try your hand at it. 

I'm still hoping and praying that the day will come when I am healthy enough to try out for the police department when they open recruitment.  Right now I am close to reaching that goal, but it is still too far to grab a hold of.  There are many days that I wake up thinking "why keep trying? It is too far away, you will never reach that goal" but I can't allow myself to quit now.  I've come too far and my family has sacrificed way too much for me to give up.  I know God has a place for me in law enforcement, and I devoted 4 years of my life to achieving the best education I could get for it too.  I just have to let go of the misconceptions I have and take advantage of every day He gives to me.  I am thankful for every single day I have with my family, and I long for the day that I can help make their lives even more enjoyable and secure. 

As we go along, I will give updates on workouts (which are called WODs "Workout of the Day"), recipes, struggles, achievements, and opportunities. It's time to keep pushing past the ruts that come up and over the plateaus that show their ugly little heads.  One of my favorite quotes [which of course I don't know word-for-word] say something about "Be the kind of woman who, when she wakes up in the morning, Satan says 'Oh crap, she's up!".  It's GO TIME!!!