"STAY OFF THE F***ING SCALE"

Sept 25, 2012

Change (190lbs)

When i first started Crossfit in January of this year, i entered the doors of PortCrossfit looking to make a change. My goal was to lose weight and look better, i was so tired of feeling ugly because the those dreaded numbers on the scale or the size i had to wear.  I seriously thought if i returned to a previous weight or size i would be "happy". 3 weeks into Crossfit i stepped up onto a step and placed my other foot on the next step above, i previously could only take one step  with both feet at a time. I couldn't believe that i had become stronger already, especially since i had worked out at a gym for a year and the problem became worse. My mind set changed, the wods became about being strong, my eating became not about numbing emotional pain but fueling my body to increase strength and i for the ABSOLUTE first time in my life i forgot about the scale. 

ECTD (170lbs)

In April i jumped at the brass ring of opportunity and entered my box's Eat Clean Train Dirty Challenge. I thought that this challenge was a good way to keep myself on target with eating a paleo diet and challenge myself to become fitter. I was very nervous about having to be measured, i felt so embarrassed about letting myself go, i didn't want my coaches  to know. Test in day i waited til the very last second to have my measurements ,  and before picture taken. I will never forget the coach asked me how much i weighed, ugh, in that second i could have replied a made up number but i would know it was a lie, that i would be forever bound to my scale. I struggled because i knew i had to confront the feeling of humiliation i had regarding my weight, in order to change it...so i told the truth. It was a relief to say my weight out loud and  My coach well,  he didn't blink an eye. I only lost 6lbs in the 5 week challenge, but dropped my body composition by 31 points and WON the Challenge (female winner). I was dumbfounded to say the least....i knew my exercise pants were sliding down my body but  i had no clue...i didn't focus on the scale at all. I put all my energy into showing up to classes and trying. The all the coaches were smiling at my success, truly a no judgement zone...me i had a beauty pageant moment and cried all the way home.

Festivus Games (159lbs) 

 As i was putting in extra time into training for the ECTD challenge i was asked to join a group of new crossfitters in the Festivus Games, a beginner Crossfit Competition. I truly thought they were crazy ..why me..i cant do anything...compete that's just craziness...i am 47 years old! Then i remembered how when i walked thru those doors of PortCrossfit i truly could not do anything...how they scaled EVERYTHING for me. HMMMMMM.... why not me, why not compete for the first time at 47? I signed up the first week of may. I started to PR everything....it was as if my body had been asleep and just woke up. I became stronger, faster, fitter...i freakin amazed myself on all my  own accomplishments. I knew my hard work was paying off...eating clean, showing up to classes consistently,  and just trying. I was getting very nervous 2 weeks before Festivus, one of my kids dragged the scale out of where i had hidden it, i started jumping on the scale every day. I became so frustrated because the numbers didn't move, i approached my coach and said i think my weight loss stalled.  He replied "you lost how much?" Me "30lbs" He said "in how long?"  Me "in 6months"  He said "why do you think you have stalled" Me "cause every time i jump on the scale over the last 3 weeks it doesn't budge" He replied "STAY off the F***ing scale"  All i could do was laugh soo hard, got to love the coach! Then he proceeded to reassure me that i lost the large majority of the weight i had gained and now my weight loss would be slower and that my body would change in ways that i couldn't measure, to be patient. Me "i just want to be Fit" He replied "You ARE Fit!".  WOW i never had thought of myself that way. I went on to Festivus with a new confidence and PR'd my row by 2mins, PR'd my deadlift by 40lbs and did well on the "chipper" and place 16th  this was all done in front of my kids, my coaches and a few crossfit friends who came to cheer me on. This is the first time i thought of myself as a crossfit athlete...sooo cool!

Lurong  Living Paleo Challenge(156lbs)

I was approached by many women about the challenge...their concern? Being measured, before and after pictures, weighing in for "christine" workout. I was able to convince a couple  of the women to sign up for the challenge by explaining that the coaches are professionals and they could guess your weight within a few pounds accurately, the only one your keeping the secret of your weight from is you,  you are not just a number on a scale, if you can confront it you can change it. i also made a promise to one that if she signed up i would post my measurements, weight and before pictures. I truly feel that strongly about adapting to a paleo lifestyle and crossfitting that i gave her my word. 

my advice to get you thru the next 8 weeks:

1. STAY OFF THE SCALE...throw it out, hide it, have a family member hide it so you cant find it...it will prevent alot of frustration and emotional ups and downs based on the numbers that come up on the scale.  
2. remember you entered this challenge to CHANGE ...you are so much MORE than the  number on scale
3. you will feel healthier and perform better in class by eating clean and consistently showing up
4. MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY .....put yourself FIRST on your to do list!!
5. Sleep  (8hrs is best )is JUST as important as eating clean and woding make this a priority!! 
6. BE PATIENT...if your eating clean, showing up consistently, sleeping 8hrs you will see a change in the 9 weeks...i promise!!
7. If your struggling REACH OUT to a fellow crossfitter, or your coach and share your frustration ...we have all been there!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!!

I PROMISED

Before
 Sept 22, 2012
weight 156lbs height 5'5"
waist 32 1/8
hips 42 3/8
chest(measured under breasts) 31 1/8
right arm 12 3/4
right thigh 24 3/8