Today I want to...no. I don't want to. I feel led to write about something entirely different than weight loss or training or anything along those lines. Today I feel led to write about sexual assault, as it is something that has been so prevalent in recent news. I don't know what your views might be about this, but I urge you to read what I have to say, as the stories I will be telling are 100% true and have not been tainted by anything in the media. I will not disclose any personal names in the stories I am about to tell for the sake of the people that these things have happened to. I'll start off nice and easy though.
Last night, June 12, 2016 at around 9:00pm, I was walking about 100 yards from Dick's Last Resort in Dallas, Texas. 100 yards. That is the length of a football field. There was no parking available any closer than this 100 yards, which isn't a far distance for a major metropolitan city. The sky still had some light in it, as my one other friend and I headed back to my car on this still evening. She and I were both wearing tank tops that revealed no cleavage and shorts that covered everything to the mid-thigh area. I chose this outfit because the weather yesterday reached the 90s, and we had spent the entire day walking through the Plano and Dallas area. Have you ever spent 12 hours walking around through DFW in the middle of June? It's hot. You dress accordingly. Now let's talk about makeup because apparently that matters too. The rain had begun around 4:00. My friend and I don't wear much makeup as it is, so most of the mascara that had been on our eyelashes that morning had washed away, leaving us in pretty much a natural state. Because of the rain, my hair had turned into a frizzy afro, so I had to put it up into a bun to avoid the 1970s look I was sporting. Okay, so back to the 100 yard walk. We turned the corner from the restaurant, and a white SUV began honking. I quickly noticed that a male was behind the wheel. He didn't say anything, but I saw the way he looked at us. His honking was not because we had done anything wrong. We were on the sidewalk, a whole lane away from where he was driving. No. His honking was a cat call. He must've thought we were attractive. Let's go back to the outfits we picked out. Did I pick my outfit because I wanted male attention? No. In fact, neither of us had spoken to a male all day besides a waiter at lunch and dinner. I picked my outfit for the weather. Back to the story. As we reached the parking area, I noticed several men all standing in different places, staring at the two of us. One tried to get our attention by saying, "hey ladies." Neither of us responded nor looked in his direction. My eyes were locked on the car and my hand gripped my keys firmly. I have been taught to have your keys ready because you don't want to be fumbling around in your purse in a city at night in a parking lot. So with my hand gripping my keys, I had the sharp end pointed out and my right elbow averted tensely so that if someone came up behind me, I would be ready to swing back in defense and then turn to threaten them with the sharp end of my keys. The friend with me stayed close by, using her peripheral vision to keep look out in every direction. Did we plan this? No. This is just common knowledge to women. This is normal. Our pace grew quicker. We reached the car. Before opening the door, I checked the backseat to make sure no one was inside waiting for us. I then jumped in and immediately locked the doors before ever turning the car on. Once the car was locked, she and I both breathed and began speaking again. We never mentioned the walk to the car because this was not a situation out of the ordinary. This is a typical trip to a car for women who go places in the evenings.
Now, nothing happened. But let's say something had happened, something terrible. It would've been taken to court. We would've been questioned about everything. Why were we out at night in Dallas without a man? Had we been drinking? Why did we pick the tank tops and shorts if we didn't want men looking at us? Did we tempt the men by wearing such revealing clothing? What type of makeup did we put on? Is eyeliner considered slutty? Why didn't we park closer to the restaurant? Do we have boyfriends? Are we sexually active? Why was my hair in a bun? Was I trying to show off my shoulders to men in a sexual manner?
Gentlemen, I must ask. When was the last time you walked 100 yards to your car at dusk and in 1 minute and 30 seconds, experienced a cat call, held your keys in your hands for defense, and checked around and inside your car for a dangerous situation? Probably doesn't happen that often, if ever.
I used to think the 1 in 5 statistic about women being sexually assaulted was nonsense. No way, I thought. It can't possibly be that many. But I've learned in the past two years of college that 3 of my closest female friends in the entire world have been sexually assaulted, and not a single one of them has ever reported it. I asked why they never told anyone who could help, and all of them had the same answer: they thought they would get in trouble. All 3 of those girls were assaulted by someone that they knew. Another one of my close friends was roofied at a club. She was never assaulted, but after realizing that she had been drugged, she told three people, and two of them blamed her for drinking in the first place.
So let me ask everyone. Are all women supposed to sit at home at night while the men go out and live freely? Are women supposed to burn all clothing that shows skin? Should we ban drinking for women? Should we require women to wear nun's dresses? Should we shame women who kiss a man but don't want anything more than that? Should we continue to question women who tell us that they have been sexually assaulted? By all means, no.
I truly believe that sexual assault awareness should be taught to high school freshmen as a part of sexual education. It is a shame that I did not know what rape and sexual assault was until I was nearly 19 years old, and if more people were aware of the parameters that these acts include, more action would be taken in regards to speaking out and granting justice. No girl, boy, man, or woman should ever be blamed for a monstrous action that someone else perpetrates, and no victim should have to be silent in fear that sexual assault was their own fault. It is time for these "gray areas" to become black areas. For wrong to be considered wrong. For men and women of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and social class to be treated equally. For people's bodies to be considered their own.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Sunday, April 17, 2016
My Non-Sugarcoated Advice on Weight Loss
I'm about to give you some advice that can save you hundreds of dollars and make you fitter than you've ever been if you just listen and take a little bit of action. Let's do a bit of a back story:
For the first 30 pounds that I lost, I counted every calorie. I kept my intake at 1200-1400 calories per day. I didn't know what foods were considered carbs, fats, or proteins, but I did follow the Paleo diet which did not cost me a single dime, nor did it promote buying any meals from companies or anything. During my next 15 pound deficit, I didn't count any calories. I weighed food from time to time to make sure I wasn't overdoing it, but I found out later on why even that was unnecessary. Now let's go back even further.
The idea that calories in = calories out is OLD, but more importantly, it's WRONG. I was even taught this idea during my Texas A&M Kinesiology course. If you burn more than you eat, you'll lose weight...that's what they told us. And that is why America is obese to be honest. Let me ask you something. Do you know how many calories are in a bottle of Coke? It's about 180. Now, do you know how many calories are in a half cup of almonds? 180. If I drank a soda everyday for my afternoon snack, I would gain weight. If I ate the same amount of calories in almonds, I probably wouldn't (depending on what else I ate that day.) So, you agree right? Calories are not the same throughout foods. It's all about the INGREDIENTS.
In addition, you cannot outwork a bad diet. I find myself guilty of this from time to time. I'll think, okay I'm doing a double CrossFit workout today, so I can afford to have a cheat meal. WRONG. The nutrients in the food you eat are still distributed through your body. Burning calories in a workout doesn't make it go away. So if you eat or drink foods with no nutrients, it's still going to sink into your body and rot (aka that stomach fat you can't seem to get rid of.) In fact, you'll be more successful with weight loss if you eat well all the time and never exercise. I don't recommend this, but it's true. It's 80% diet people.
It took me nearly a year to realize that I needed to get over looking at the calories on a nutrition label and look at the ingredients instead. We've been socialized as a society to not look at the ingredients because we don't even know what most of the ingredients are. Well, guess what. That right there is the key. The most wholesome foods do not have additional ingredients. There's a reason why there is no nutrition label on fruits and veggies. IT'S ONE INGREDIENT. Anything processed and packaged will have a list about a mile long with names you've never even heard of. It's especially important to watch out for items that claim to be "low fat" or "healthy choice." Read the ingredients on the back. If you see anything about corn syrup, sugar, xythlin, alkjnaliuehg, aeirhiuftin... (I made up the last three words but you get the point,) put it down. It's toxic. Your body can only use about 10% of the actual food in there, and the rest will be stored as fat (cue stomach fat again.)
You might be wondering, well then what am I supposed to eat? This is the hard part. Americans have trained their bodies to become addicted to sugar. Fun fact, sugar has a higher addiction level than cocaine. It takes months to rid yourself of sugar cravings, and it's not easy. I'm not going to "sugar coat" it for you. It sucks. But if you can get through the sucking, you will find a life that is so freeing, you'll never go back.
I've kept my weight off for over a year because I annihilated my sugar cravings. I used to drink 3 sodas a day, and now I haven't had one since September. The thought of even sipping a soda disgusts me because it will destroy my intestines and I'll be in a coma for hours. I get sick when I eat processed foods now. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy life. I still have pancakes, queso, and pizza every now and then, but it isn't the central part of my diet. It's extremely possible for anyone to live this way if you just have a little self discipline.
I challenge you to try it for a week. Go buy vegetables, meat, seasonings, fruit, and nuts at the store. You can even throw in some oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and honey as a sweetener. Make simple meals. Ground beef with onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers is my favorite. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Eat eggs and fruit for breakfast, or make an omelet with a side of oatmeal. Grab a rotisserie chicken if you don't wanna cook. You can even buy the frozen green beans and broccoli because they don't put additives in those. AVOID processed snacks. How do you know if it's processed? Read the ingredients. Seriously try this for a week and then tell me if you don't feel the difference. But if you do it right, you will. Say goodbye to stomach aches, bloatedness, and cardiac arrest in the future.
If you want additional information on this, watch the documentary "Fed Up" on Netflix. I actually cried when I watched it because it made me so worried about what I had put into my body for the first 18 years of my life. If you need any more reason to try out this one week challenge, watch the documentary!
For the first 30 pounds that I lost, I counted every calorie. I kept my intake at 1200-1400 calories per day. I didn't know what foods were considered carbs, fats, or proteins, but I did follow the Paleo diet which did not cost me a single dime, nor did it promote buying any meals from companies or anything. During my next 15 pound deficit, I didn't count any calories. I weighed food from time to time to make sure I wasn't overdoing it, but I found out later on why even that was unnecessary. Now let's go back even further.
The idea that calories in = calories out is OLD, but more importantly, it's WRONG. I was even taught this idea during my Texas A&M Kinesiology course. If you burn more than you eat, you'll lose weight...that's what they told us. And that is why America is obese to be honest. Let me ask you something. Do you know how many calories are in a bottle of Coke? It's about 180. Now, do you know how many calories are in a half cup of almonds? 180. If I drank a soda everyday for my afternoon snack, I would gain weight. If I ate the same amount of calories in almonds, I probably wouldn't (depending on what else I ate that day.) So, you agree right? Calories are not the same throughout foods. It's all about the INGREDIENTS.
In addition, you cannot outwork a bad diet. I find myself guilty of this from time to time. I'll think, okay I'm doing a double CrossFit workout today, so I can afford to have a cheat meal. WRONG. The nutrients in the food you eat are still distributed through your body. Burning calories in a workout doesn't make it go away. So if you eat or drink foods with no nutrients, it's still going to sink into your body and rot (aka that stomach fat you can't seem to get rid of.) In fact, you'll be more successful with weight loss if you eat well all the time and never exercise. I don't recommend this, but it's true. It's 80% diet people.
It took me nearly a year to realize that I needed to get over looking at the calories on a nutrition label and look at the ingredients instead. We've been socialized as a society to not look at the ingredients because we don't even know what most of the ingredients are. Well, guess what. That right there is the key. The most wholesome foods do not have additional ingredients. There's a reason why there is no nutrition label on fruits and veggies. IT'S ONE INGREDIENT. Anything processed and packaged will have a list about a mile long with names you've never even heard of. It's especially important to watch out for items that claim to be "low fat" or "healthy choice." Read the ingredients on the back. If you see anything about corn syrup, sugar, xythlin, alkjnaliuehg, aeirhiuftin... (I made up the last three words but you get the point,) put it down. It's toxic. Your body can only use about 10% of the actual food in there, and the rest will be stored as fat (cue stomach fat again.)
You might be wondering, well then what am I supposed to eat? This is the hard part. Americans have trained their bodies to become addicted to sugar. Fun fact, sugar has a higher addiction level than cocaine. It takes months to rid yourself of sugar cravings, and it's not easy. I'm not going to "sugar coat" it for you. It sucks. But if you can get through the sucking, you will find a life that is so freeing, you'll never go back.
I've kept my weight off for over a year because I annihilated my sugar cravings. I used to drink 3 sodas a day, and now I haven't had one since September. The thought of even sipping a soda disgusts me because it will destroy my intestines and I'll be in a coma for hours. I get sick when I eat processed foods now. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy life. I still have pancakes, queso, and pizza every now and then, but it isn't the central part of my diet. It's extremely possible for anyone to live this way if you just have a little self discipline.
I challenge you to try it for a week. Go buy vegetables, meat, seasonings, fruit, and nuts at the store. You can even throw in some oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and honey as a sweetener. Make simple meals. Ground beef with onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers is my favorite. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Eat eggs and fruit for breakfast, or make an omelet with a side of oatmeal. Grab a rotisserie chicken if you don't wanna cook. You can even buy the frozen green beans and broccoli because they don't put additives in those. AVOID processed snacks. How do you know if it's processed? Read the ingredients. Seriously try this for a week and then tell me if you don't feel the difference. But if you do it right, you will. Say goodbye to stomach aches, bloatedness, and cardiac arrest in the future.
If you want additional information on this, watch the documentary "Fed Up" on Netflix. I actually cried when I watched it because it made me so worried about what I had put into my body for the first 18 years of my life. If you need any more reason to try out this one week challenge, watch the documentary!
Thursday, February 18, 2016
CrossFit: The Cult Culture
My background with sports is pretty typical. I was a t-ball star at 4 years old. That was the last time I would ever be a star at anything except in the eyes of my mom. I played soccer, basketball, and then volleyball as I got older. I tried tennis one summer, but it took me 2 hours to get one serve in the right spot, so I didn't pursue that dream any longer. I also gave gymnastics a shot when I was really little, but one fall off the balance beam was all it took for me to quit that hazardous sport.
When I graduated, I told myself I would keep working out, but the rec center was such a long walk from my dorm, that I stopped going there during my first week of college. Then my fitness revolution began. I found out that the rec was only .8 miles away and not the 800 miles I originally thought, so I started riding my bike there, doing some weightlifting, exercising on the elliptical, and then riding home. Riding my bike eventually turned into running, I started doing more intense weightlifting, and I quit the elliptical and turned to more difficult forms of cardio.
I met Kat Hill in February of 2015, and we became immediate friends as we were both on the Paleo diet. She was also working out to get in shape, but she did CrossFit. I had heard of CrossFit before from my former youth ministers Jon and Sallee, but I had never gone to one of the classes, mostly because I thought it would be too difficult, and I was very happy with my routine of listening to my headphones and keeping to myself at the normal people gym.
After 7 months of working out at the gym, Kat finally got me to attend a CrossFit "community WOD." I already knew it was going to be bad, considering the ridiculous name "WOD" which stands for workout of the day, but she assured me that the community WODs were scaled for the general public since they are free. So on this day in the heat of July, I walked into this CrossFit place thinking that I was a pretty fit girl and shouldn't have much to worry about if the general public could do this. We even got to join into a team of 4 to complete the WOD, so I was like oh heck yes, we can knock this out.
100 air squats, 100 box jumps, 100 med ball slams, 60 pull-ups, 60 push-ups, and a 1600 meter run later, I was lying on the floor, red (closer to purple) faced, covered in sweat, gasping for air, and (between breaths) informing Kat that I would never attend one of these military torture centers ever again.
I couldn't walk for two days. I kept thinking back to the WOD and getting more flustered about my inability to do so many of the movements. I was completely unaware that I couldn't even do a full-depth squat until I saw these people's butts hit the ground on every rep. It was easily the hardest workout I had ever done.
So when I went back to CrossFit during the next week, I was really confused by my insane behavior.
I went to Sanctum CrossFit in Prosper, Texas where I introduced myself to Mike and Jared, two of the coaches there. They gave me a free week trial, which is all it took for me to fall in love.
The following reasons are just a few of the ones I could come up with to try and explain why I liked CrossFit so much:
1. The coaching
After months of doing things on my own and thinking that I was doing them correctly, I finally had someone giving me direction and telling me that I was actually doing everything wrong.
2. The competition
Each WOD is done by a class of people all trying to do their very best. If I slacked, I would come in last place. Even if I tried my hardest, I would still often come in last place. It drove me to push myself harder than at the gym when I had no one to compare myself to directly.
3. The quick intensity
WODs usually only last from 5-45 minutes. 30-45 minute WODs are very rare, so most days, the intense workouts are over in 20 minutes. If you take a look at the science behind it, this 20 minutes of high intensity interval training burns more fat than a 2 hour session at the gym. AND it burns fat for up to 24-48 hours after the workout.
4. The culture
Something about the cut off tank tops, tattoos, wrist wraps, ropes hanging from the ceiling, lack of air conditioning, people flying through the air on rings, and the cheering on from your teammates as you finish just keeps you coming back. During my first week, there were people that didn't know my name who were high-fiving me as they lapped me in sprints. And they were right there at the finish line waiting for me to get done, not because they had to be, but because they had too been there before and wanted to show their support.
5. The ever-changing challenge
Everyday is different, yet everyday you still hear "dang that was a rough one." In fact, I don't believe anyone has ever walked away from a WOD saying "wow that was great, we should do it again!" I never get tired of going to CrossFit because the workouts are constantly changing. In 7 months, I have only done the same workout....nope never. I've never done the same one twice.
6. Functional fitness
CrossFit movements are designed to emulate movements that might come your way in real life. In fact, not very long ago, some friends and I were locked out of the gate of an apartment complex. And while I don't condone breaking and entering, I really needed to get to my car, and our friend that actually lived at this complex wouldn't answer her phone. So instead of waiting outside in the cold, I looked up at the 8 foot fence, took a big leap, grabbed the top, and lifted myself over to the other side. I know a lot of people can probably do that without the help of CrossFit, but remember I am the same girl that lasted one day at tennis camp. For me, I would've never been able to do this without CrossFit.
I had to leave Sanctum CrossFit when I went back to school, but I joined CrossFit Aggieland here in College Station. I've accomplished things that seemed impossible when I first began. I can do a full-depth squat, climb a rope, overhead squat, snatch squat, and just last week I learned to do a handstand for handstand push-ups after finally convincing myself that I wasn't going to fall and be paralyzed. What's hilarious is that most CrossFitters can do this in their sleep. There is a never ending amount of improvement in this world, and it's so addicting. I now know the rush it is to hit a personal record, learn to do the crazy gymnastic movements, increase mobility, and be functionally fit.
The definition of the word cult (aside from sinister religious beliefs) is a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing. So I guess I'm involved in many cults. The Paleo Diet, Texas A&M, MSC FISH, and CrossFit. But you know what they say. It only takes 2 Aggies to change a light bulb and 1 CrossFitter to survive the apocalypse.
When I graduated, I told myself I would keep working out, but the rec center was such a long walk from my dorm, that I stopped going there during my first week of college. Then my fitness revolution began. I found out that the rec was only .8 miles away and not the 800 miles I originally thought, so I started riding my bike there, doing some weightlifting, exercising on the elliptical, and then riding home. Riding my bike eventually turned into running, I started doing more intense weightlifting, and I quit the elliptical and turned to more difficult forms of cardio.
I met Kat Hill in February of 2015, and we became immediate friends as we were both on the Paleo diet. She was also working out to get in shape, but she did CrossFit. I had heard of CrossFit before from my former youth ministers Jon and Sallee, but I had never gone to one of the classes, mostly because I thought it would be too difficult, and I was very happy with my routine of listening to my headphones and keeping to myself at the normal people gym.
After 7 months of working out at the gym, Kat finally got me to attend a CrossFit "community WOD." I already knew it was going to be bad, considering the ridiculous name "WOD" which stands for workout of the day, but she assured me that the community WODs were scaled for the general public since they are free. So on this day in the heat of July, I walked into this CrossFit place thinking that I was a pretty fit girl and shouldn't have much to worry about if the general public could do this. We even got to join into a team of 4 to complete the WOD, so I was like oh heck yes, we can knock this out.
100 air squats, 100 box jumps, 100 med ball slams, 60 pull-ups, 60 push-ups, and a 1600 meter run later, I was lying on the floor, red (closer to purple) faced, covered in sweat, gasping for air, and (between breaths) informing Kat that I would never attend one of these military torture centers ever again.
I couldn't walk for two days. I kept thinking back to the WOD and getting more flustered about my inability to do so many of the movements. I was completely unaware that I couldn't even do a full-depth squat until I saw these people's butts hit the ground on every rep. It was easily the hardest workout I had ever done.
So when I went back to CrossFit during the next week, I was really confused by my insane behavior.
I went to Sanctum CrossFit in Prosper, Texas where I introduced myself to Mike and Jared, two of the coaches there. They gave me a free week trial, which is all it took for me to fall in love.
The following reasons are just a few of the ones I could come up with to try and explain why I liked CrossFit so much:
1. The coaching
After months of doing things on my own and thinking that I was doing them correctly, I finally had someone giving me direction and telling me that I was actually doing everything wrong.
2. The competition
Each WOD is done by a class of people all trying to do their very best. If I slacked, I would come in last place. Even if I tried my hardest, I would still often come in last place. It drove me to push myself harder than at the gym when I had no one to compare myself to directly.
3. The quick intensity
WODs usually only last from 5-45 minutes. 30-45 minute WODs are very rare, so most days, the intense workouts are over in 20 minutes. If you take a look at the science behind it, this 20 minutes of high intensity interval training burns more fat than a 2 hour session at the gym. AND it burns fat for up to 24-48 hours after the workout.
4. The culture
Something about the cut off tank tops, tattoos, wrist wraps, ropes hanging from the ceiling, lack of air conditioning, people flying through the air on rings, and the cheering on from your teammates as you finish just keeps you coming back. During my first week, there were people that didn't know my name who were high-fiving me as they lapped me in sprints. And they were right there at the finish line waiting for me to get done, not because they had to be, but because they had too been there before and wanted to show their support.
5. The ever-changing challenge
Everyday is different, yet everyday you still hear "dang that was a rough one." In fact, I don't believe anyone has ever walked away from a WOD saying "wow that was great, we should do it again!" I never get tired of going to CrossFit because the workouts are constantly changing. In 7 months, I have only done the same workout....nope never. I've never done the same one twice.
6. Functional fitness
CrossFit movements are designed to emulate movements that might come your way in real life. In fact, not very long ago, some friends and I were locked out of the gate of an apartment complex. And while I don't condone breaking and entering, I really needed to get to my car, and our friend that actually lived at this complex wouldn't answer her phone. So instead of waiting outside in the cold, I looked up at the 8 foot fence, took a big leap, grabbed the top, and lifted myself over to the other side. I know a lot of people can probably do that without the help of CrossFit, but remember I am the same girl that lasted one day at tennis camp. For me, I would've never been able to do this without CrossFit.
I had to leave Sanctum CrossFit when I went back to school, but I joined CrossFit Aggieland here in College Station. I've accomplished things that seemed impossible when I first began. I can do a full-depth squat, climb a rope, overhead squat, snatch squat, and just last week I learned to do a handstand for handstand push-ups after finally convincing myself that I wasn't going to fall and be paralyzed. What's hilarious is that most CrossFitters can do this in their sleep. There is a never ending amount of improvement in this world, and it's so addicting. I now know the rush it is to hit a personal record, learn to do the crazy gymnastic movements, increase mobility, and be functionally fit.
The definition of the word cult (aside from sinister religious beliefs) is a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing. So I guess I'm involved in many cults. The Paleo Diet, Texas A&M, MSC FISH, and CrossFit. But you know what they say. It only takes 2 Aggies to change a light bulb and 1 CrossFitter to survive the apocalypse.
Life of {Py}lori
The past few weeks have been pretty trying for me. One of the things I can't stand about myself is my seemingly poor immune system and inescapable attraction to bad luck. Add those two together, and you get someone who winds up with weird sicknesses too often.
I hate this for several reasons. Not only is it a huge hassle to miss work or school and make a doctor's appointment, but it's honestly just embarrassing and makes me appear like a hypochondriac to anyone and everyone. I started out the first week of this semester by getting strep throat, causing me to miss a day of work and a meeting. So after that, I decided that the next time I felt sick, I would simply ignore it until it went away.
A week later, I was having severe stomach problems. After every meal, I would have intense pains which usually ended in me vomiting up everything. I would take medicine to try and solve the issue, but then I would throw that up as well. I figured it was just a typical stomach bug or possible food poisoning, so I firmly stuck to my plan of avoiding the doctor and missing school or work.
It kept getting worse. Eventually, water wasn't even sitting right with me. I walked around in constant pain, but I didn't tell hardly anyone because I knew they'd think "Oh Shelby is sick again." That isn't the stereotype I want for myself at all because a) I'm not an attention seeker. I don't need people to feel bad for me. There's a reason I don't post my illnesses on social media of any sort. The only time I tell people is when it causes me to miss an event that I have already committed myself to, which unfortunately, usually involves many of the same people all the time. Reason b) is because I don't like appearing weak. I've worked very hard to lose weight and build muscle. I joined CrossFit to be a part of the ultimate challenge and become the fittest version of myself. The last thing I want is for anyone to think that I can't take care of myself due to weakness.
So about 12 days went by before I finally let myself go to the doctor. Any stomach bug that lasts for over a week is something straight from hell. Of course, I had to go through the embarrassing task of asking off of work for another doctor's visit. The doctor checked me out pretty thoroughly and finally informed me that I had slightly torn part of the lining in my stomach, causing a lot of irritation. The only fix was to take a small pill everyday for a month. So, I followed the doctor's orders.
A few days later, I was still in bad shape. That's about the time when the doctor called to inform me that my blood test was positive for H. pylori. In non-medical terms, H. pylori are bacteria that live in the wall of stomachs and eat away at it, causing a lot of pain, and eventual stomach ulcers. New medication was prescribed, and again, I followed the doctor's orders.
With the 8 pills a day I was now taking, I successfully felt like a 75 year old, and I thought surely this would be the end of the trilogy.
But the trilogy turned into a saga. A few days later, the pain had returned, and brought a 101 fever with it. I waited it out, waking in the middle of the night having sweated through my clothes and 6 blankets wrapped around me, but still somehow shivering.
I called the doctor and informed him what was happening, asking what I needed to do. He advised me to go straight to the emergency room, as these were symptoms of stomach ulcers. I called back two more times, practically begging to just come into their office instead or going to the ER, but they didn't have the equipment for these problems.
I won't bore you with the 7 hour story of the ER, the liter of medicine I drank to get a CT scan, the nurse I had that forgot 3 times to bring me a blanket, the IV stabbed into my forearm, or the many grams of morphine that coursed through me (best part of the day.) But at the end of the 7 hours, I was sent home with a 104 degree fever, stomach still in pain, and a bill that my dad will be getting in the mail soon.
This story is not because I need attention. I just need understanding. I don't know why my immune system fails me or why bad luck circles around me like a fly in a barn. The health issues combined with all my car tows, parking tickets, sweet potatoes catching fire in the microwave, and embarrassing incidents with strangers add up to the equivalent of a really bad reality TV show.
Really bad reality TV shows provide for some descent entertainment. And that is the reason why I blog. So please don't feel bad for me. All I ask is that you can be patient with my reality TV show of a life and chuckle about it as you read along. Enjoy.
I hate this for several reasons. Not only is it a huge hassle to miss work or school and make a doctor's appointment, but it's honestly just embarrassing and makes me appear like a hypochondriac to anyone and everyone. I started out the first week of this semester by getting strep throat, causing me to miss a day of work and a meeting. So after that, I decided that the next time I felt sick, I would simply ignore it until it went away.
A week later, I was having severe stomach problems. After every meal, I would have intense pains which usually ended in me vomiting up everything. I would take medicine to try and solve the issue, but then I would throw that up as well. I figured it was just a typical stomach bug or possible food poisoning, so I firmly stuck to my plan of avoiding the doctor and missing school or work.
It kept getting worse. Eventually, water wasn't even sitting right with me. I walked around in constant pain, but I didn't tell hardly anyone because I knew they'd think "Oh Shelby is sick again." That isn't the stereotype I want for myself at all because a) I'm not an attention seeker. I don't need people to feel bad for me. There's a reason I don't post my illnesses on social media of any sort. The only time I tell people is when it causes me to miss an event that I have already committed myself to, which unfortunately, usually involves many of the same people all the time. Reason b) is because I don't like appearing weak. I've worked very hard to lose weight and build muscle. I joined CrossFit to be a part of the ultimate challenge and become the fittest version of myself. The last thing I want is for anyone to think that I can't take care of myself due to weakness.
So about 12 days went by before I finally let myself go to the doctor. Any stomach bug that lasts for over a week is something straight from hell. Of course, I had to go through the embarrassing task of asking off of work for another doctor's visit. The doctor checked me out pretty thoroughly and finally informed me that I had slightly torn part of the lining in my stomach, causing a lot of irritation. The only fix was to take a small pill everyday for a month. So, I followed the doctor's orders.
A few days later, I was still in bad shape. That's about the time when the doctor called to inform me that my blood test was positive for H. pylori. In non-medical terms, H. pylori are bacteria that live in the wall of stomachs and eat away at it, causing a lot of pain, and eventual stomach ulcers. New medication was prescribed, and again, I followed the doctor's orders.
With the 8 pills a day I was now taking, I successfully felt like a 75 year old, and I thought surely this would be the end of the trilogy.
But the trilogy turned into a saga. A few days later, the pain had returned, and brought a 101 fever with it. I waited it out, waking in the middle of the night having sweated through my clothes and 6 blankets wrapped around me, but still somehow shivering.
I called the doctor and informed him what was happening, asking what I needed to do. He advised me to go straight to the emergency room, as these were symptoms of stomach ulcers. I called back two more times, practically begging to just come into their office instead or going to the ER, but they didn't have the equipment for these problems.
I won't bore you with the 7 hour story of the ER, the liter of medicine I drank to get a CT scan, the nurse I had that forgot 3 times to bring me a blanket, the IV stabbed into my forearm, or the many grams of morphine that coursed through me (best part of the day.) But at the end of the 7 hours, I was sent home with a 104 degree fever, stomach still in pain, and a bill that my dad will be getting in the mail soon.
This story is not because I need attention. I just need understanding. I don't know why my immune system fails me or why bad luck circles around me like a fly in a barn. The health issues combined with all my car tows, parking tickets, sweet potatoes catching fire in the microwave, and embarrassing incidents with strangers add up to the equivalent of a really bad reality TV show.
Really bad reality TV shows provide for some descent entertainment. And that is the reason why I blog. So please don't feel bad for me. All I ask is that you can be patient with my reality TV show of a life and chuckle about it as you read along. Enjoy.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Frozen and Black: The Truth Behind Whole 30
So I had a few goals for 2016.
1. Learn how to really cook
Last semester, I ate the same thing almost every week, and none of it came from any type of recipe. I just threw things together. Ground beef and onions. Eggs and sausage. Chicken and sweet potatoes. I got so tired of it, and it made Paleo very bland. I didn't use any of the resources on the internet or in cookbooks, and in turn, I spent a lot of money going out to eat, bought groceries that I didn't end up using, and burned out on the lame meals.
My parents got me 3 Paleo cookbooks for Christmas, and one day when I had a lot of time, I sat down and planned out what I was going to eat for a month. I picked different recipes for every meal, wrote up a plan of when I would have leftovers, when I could eat out, when I would need to meal prep, etc. At the beginning of each week, I go back through the meals and write down everything I will need to buy at the grocery store. This prevents me from buying anything I won't need or buying so far in advance that the food goes bad.
I have stuck to this plan to almost a T. I have really enjoyed some of the meals and switched them out with others that seemed really difficult. Yesterday I had a great adventure traveling all over College Station to try and get my phone fixed (I shattered it while carrying in groceries), so I didn't have time to prepare lunch. I went and ate Torchy's to numb the pain. But I love this planning thing. I don't have to worry about having time to cook or question what I will eat. It's already done! And just for the record, I'm a pretty fantastic chef.
2. Do a Whole 30
I've been wanting to do this challenge for a while. It's 30 days of extreme Paleo. No added sugar of any sort (stevia, honey, syrup, etc.), nothing processed, no dairy, no grains, no legumes, no happiness (just kidding!). I didn't think it would be so difficult, but I'm one of those people that adds sweet-n-low to coffee and tea, despite the cancer it might cause. I also drink smoothies from Smoothie King, pour honey on sweet potatoes, and occasionally get brown rice. All of this is a no from the Whole 30 people. They also say that chewing gum is a no. Whoever wrote that was clearly tripping.
I started on January 15. So for 19 days I have drank only water, black coffee, and black tea. It's a miracle I'm still here. Some people don't really know the point of doing it, but giving yourself discipline for a structured amount of time is beneficial in so many ways. It makes you stronger mentally and physically. I'm trying to be the best version of myself, and challenges like this give me a chance to test my will power. I've lost the 5 lbs. I gained during Christmas, seen dramatic muscle tone improvements, and I feel 1000x better.
Fun story, I had to go on winter retreat for MSC FISH while doing Whole 30. I packed down a cooler with meals for 2.5 days. On the first night, I had grilled chicken a frozen broccoli that I planned to heat up for dinner. Well, there was no microwave. And also no forks, since everyone else was eating pizza. So I ate cold chicken and frozen broccoli with my hands while everyone stared at me.
The truth about the Whole 30 you've been waiting for is just that. It's gonna be really difficult. You have to plan around events. You probably won't have to eat frozen broccoli, but you will be drinking black coffee and tea. I really encourage anyone to try a challenge. It's a great head start to a healthy lifestyle. Once you realize how great it makes you feel, you'll know that the frozen veggies and black coffee was worth it. Actually, you might not think that at all. But at least you accomplished something.
3. See old friends
I fell off the radar last semester, and I lost touch with some really great friends because of it. I've gotten my time management together, and I won't let that happen again!
4. Play basketball
I really do miss playing this favorite sport of mine. Practicing for 3-4 hours a day in high school, Saturday morning drills, and hundreds of career games kind of burned me out of basketball for a while. Coach Hodge yelling, "we're burning daylight!" is still a recurring dream I have. But every time I see someone playing, this longing in me to relive those days takes over. I started playing ball again with some of my MSC FISH friends, and it has made me so happy. Of course, I can't shoot or dribble like I could in my prime (wow I sound old) but I'm in a lot better shape! I can run the court and play defense like never before. Just for old times' sake, I ran some sprints we used to do for conditioning. I improved my times ten fold, which gives me a lot of encouragement to keep getting fit. I joined an intramural team, but I'm gonna need to dig up the basketball shoes I buried a while ago!
5. Floss
I'll get back to y'all on this one...
This semester got off to such an awesome start. I'm so thankful to be an Aggie, be an AD for FISH, be a basketball player again (sort of), and be a member of CrossFit Aggieland. Here's to my latter half of college!
1. Learn how to really cook
Last semester, I ate the same thing almost every week, and none of it came from any type of recipe. I just threw things together. Ground beef and onions. Eggs and sausage. Chicken and sweet potatoes. I got so tired of it, and it made Paleo very bland. I didn't use any of the resources on the internet or in cookbooks, and in turn, I spent a lot of money going out to eat, bought groceries that I didn't end up using, and burned out on the lame meals.
My parents got me 3 Paleo cookbooks for Christmas, and one day when I had a lot of time, I sat down and planned out what I was going to eat for a month. I picked different recipes for every meal, wrote up a plan of when I would have leftovers, when I could eat out, when I would need to meal prep, etc. At the beginning of each week, I go back through the meals and write down everything I will need to buy at the grocery store. This prevents me from buying anything I won't need or buying so far in advance that the food goes bad.
I have stuck to this plan to almost a T. I have really enjoyed some of the meals and switched them out with others that seemed really difficult. Yesterday I had a great adventure traveling all over College Station to try and get my phone fixed (I shattered it while carrying in groceries), so I didn't have time to prepare lunch. I went and ate Torchy's to numb the pain. But I love this planning thing. I don't have to worry about having time to cook or question what I will eat. It's already done! And just for the record, I'm a pretty fantastic chef.
2. Do a Whole 30
I've been wanting to do this challenge for a while. It's 30 days of extreme Paleo. No added sugar of any sort (stevia, honey, syrup, etc.), nothing processed, no dairy, no grains, no legumes, no happiness (just kidding!). I didn't think it would be so difficult, but I'm one of those people that adds sweet-n-low to coffee and tea, despite the cancer it might cause. I also drink smoothies from Smoothie King, pour honey on sweet potatoes, and occasionally get brown rice. All of this is a no from the Whole 30 people. They also say that chewing gum is a no. Whoever wrote that was clearly tripping.
I started on January 15. So for 19 days I have drank only water, black coffee, and black tea. It's a miracle I'm still here. Some people don't really know the point of doing it, but giving yourself discipline for a structured amount of time is beneficial in so many ways. It makes you stronger mentally and physically. I'm trying to be the best version of myself, and challenges like this give me a chance to test my will power. I've lost the 5 lbs. I gained during Christmas, seen dramatic muscle tone improvements, and I feel 1000x better.
Fun story, I had to go on winter retreat for MSC FISH while doing Whole 30. I packed down a cooler with meals for 2.5 days. On the first night, I had grilled chicken a frozen broccoli that I planned to heat up for dinner. Well, there was no microwave. And also no forks, since everyone else was eating pizza. So I ate cold chicken and frozen broccoli with my hands while everyone stared at me.
The truth about the Whole 30 you've been waiting for is just that. It's gonna be really difficult. You have to plan around events. You probably won't have to eat frozen broccoli, but you will be drinking black coffee and tea. I really encourage anyone to try a challenge. It's a great head start to a healthy lifestyle. Once you realize how great it makes you feel, you'll know that the frozen veggies and black coffee was worth it. Actually, you might not think that at all. But at least you accomplished something.
3. See old friends
I fell off the radar last semester, and I lost touch with some really great friends because of it. I've gotten my time management together, and I won't let that happen again!
4. Play basketball
I really do miss playing this favorite sport of mine. Practicing for 3-4 hours a day in high school, Saturday morning drills, and hundreds of career games kind of burned me out of basketball for a while. Coach Hodge yelling, "we're burning daylight!" is still a recurring dream I have. But every time I see someone playing, this longing in me to relive those days takes over. I started playing ball again with some of my MSC FISH friends, and it has made me so happy. Of course, I can't shoot or dribble like I could in my prime (wow I sound old) but I'm in a lot better shape! I can run the court and play defense like never before. Just for old times' sake, I ran some sprints we used to do for conditioning. I improved my times ten fold, which gives me a lot of encouragement to keep getting fit. I joined an intramural team, but I'm gonna need to dig up the basketball shoes I buried a while ago!
5. Floss
I'll get back to y'all on this one...
This semester got off to such an awesome start. I'm so thankful to be an Aggie, be an AD for FISH, be a basketball player again (sort of), and be a member of CrossFit Aggieland. Here's to my latter half of college!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Intentions, Comparisons, and Gingivitis
So it's January 6. Maybe you made a resolution, and maybe you didn't. Maybe you've already "failed" and maybe you're attacking this year head on. Whatever your case may be, I hope you don't let 2016 pass you by.
I was talking with my friend AJ at Jupiter House the other night. We brought up how we didn't really have New Year's Resolutions, but we did have goals for improvement this year. We also talked, rather in-depthly, about the difference between ideas and actions, as well as comparisons. The conversation is still on my mind, so I want to share a bit with you!
You know that thing that you've always wanted to do, but never have? It's like the intentions have always been there, but you've never actually been intentional about it. Last year, for me, it was losing weight. I used to always think about swimsuit season and picture myself strutting in a yellow-polka dot bikini, rather than wrapped up in a towel on the beach, sprinting to the water when I took off the towel, in fear that someone might see me. I was never intentional about wearing the bikini though. And every year, swimsuit season would come around, and I would still be hiding in the towel.
Those years passed me by. I remember seeing this motivational quote that said something like, "tomorrow you'll wish you had started today." AND IT'S SO TRUE. The only regret that I have about living a healthier lifestyle is not starting sooner.
I'm supposed to go to the dentist on Friday. I've been told for about a year that if I didn't start flossing, I'd get gingivitis which sounds kind of bad, so I think that I should try to avoid it. But alas, the dentist appointment is two days away and I have flossed all of one time since my last appointment. So I probably have gingivitis, and the dentist is going to ask that horrid question, "how often do you floss?" I'll probably lie and say once a week, but she will see right through me and my gingivitis gums. Then I will get another lecture about taking care of my teeth, and I could tell the dentist that I don't have time, but the truth is, I'm just lazy at night.
So start doing that thing you've always wanted or needed to do, or you'll wake up, and it'll be 2017 and you'll have let another year pass with what to show for it? Gingivitis and cellulite. You can't lie to the dentist, and you can't lie in a swimsuit.
Now about comparisons. It's become increasingly easier to look through someone's social media and think that they have it all together and that they're so much better than you. But another quote AJ and I talked about recently is that comparison is the thief of joy. It's so absolutely true. AJ mentioned that people really only post their highlights in life, and that's all anyone sees. It can be very discouraging to see someone succeeding or getting what you want, while you have a rough patch.
Let me tell you this. My instagram and Facebook accounts probably make me appear like a really fit college kid with awesome friends, an exciting life, and a lot of motivation to be healthy and active. Well, all of those things are true on my best days. But what I don't ever post about are the bad days. Some people know this about me, but others don't. I struggle with severe anxiety. I'm not talking about just overthinking things. I mean the kind that is debilitating--where my body will go into convulsions because it is feeling too much for me to handle. The kind that has put me in the hospital for panic attacks, passing out, and experiencing derealization. The kind that has required me to miss class or miss events because I can't get my thoughts or heart racing under control. My anxiety got so bad this past semester that I was terrified to get out of bed for a while. I was having one to two panic attacks everyday, until finally I got the courage to see a doctor. I've been on medication for 2 and a half months now, and it has made all the difference.
The point of this is, don't compare your failures and successes to others. Yes, I've lost 50 pounds, but it doesn't mean that someone who lost 10 pounds is less successful. While I was losing weight, I was having horrible anxiety that not many people knew about. So my life may have looked fun and perfect, but it wasn't. It was a trying time and a struggle that I hope no one else has to go through.
The journey to make a change is unique to everyone. Remember that putting it off will only cause regret of the lost time later on, and comparing yourself to others will steal the joy from your personal experience. We all have our own battles!
I was talking with my friend AJ at Jupiter House the other night. We brought up how we didn't really have New Year's Resolutions, but we did have goals for improvement this year. We also talked, rather in-depthly, about the difference between ideas and actions, as well as comparisons. The conversation is still on my mind, so I want to share a bit with you!
You know that thing that you've always wanted to do, but never have? It's like the intentions have always been there, but you've never actually been intentional about it. Last year, for me, it was losing weight. I used to always think about swimsuit season and picture myself strutting in a yellow-polka dot bikini, rather than wrapped up in a towel on the beach, sprinting to the water when I took off the towel, in fear that someone might see me. I was never intentional about wearing the bikini though. And every year, swimsuit season would come around, and I would still be hiding in the towel.
Those years passed me by. I remember seeing this motivational quote that said something like, "tomorrow you'll wish you had started today." AND IT'S SO TRUE. The only regret that I have about living a healthier lifestyle is not starting sooner.
I'm supposed to go to the dentist on Friday. I've been told for about a year that if I didn't start flossing, I'd get gingivitis which sounds kind of bad, so I think that I should try to avoid it. But alas, the dentist appointment is two days away and I have flossed all of one time since my last appointment. So I probably have gingivitis, and the dentist is going to ask that horrid question, "how often do you floss?" I'll probably lie and say once a week, but she will see right through me and my gingivitis gums. Then I will get another lecture about taking care of my teeth, and I could tell the dentist that I don't have time, but the truth is, I'm just lazy at night.
So start doing that thing you've always wanted or needed to do, or you'll wake up, and it'll be 2017 and you'll have let another year pass with what to show for it? Gingivitis and cellulite. You can't lie to the dentist, and you can't lie in a swimsuit.
Now about comparisons. It's become increasingly easier to look through someone's social media and think that they have it all together and that they're so much better than you. But another quote AJ and I talked about recently is that comparison is the thief of joy. It's so absolutely true. AJ mentioned that people really only post their highlights in life, and that's all anyone sees. It can be very discouraging to see someone succeeding or getting what you want, while you have a rough patch.
Let me tell you this. My instagram and Facebook accounts probably make me appear like a really fit college kid with awesome friends, an exciting life, and a lot of motivation to be healthy and active. Well, all of those things are true on my best days. But what I don't ever post about are the bad days. Some people know this about me, but others don't. I struggle with severe anxiety. I'm not talking about just overthinking things. I mean the kind that is debilitating--where my body will go into convulsions because it is feeling too much for me to handle. The kind that has put me in the hospital for panic attacks, passing out, and experiencing derealization. The kind that has required me to miss class or miss events because I can't get my thoughts or heart racing under control. My anxiety got so bad this past semester that I was terrified to get out of bed for a while. I was having one to two panic attacks everyday, until finally I got the courage to see a doctor. I've been on medication for 2 and a half months now, and it has made all the difference.
The point of this is, don't compare your failures and successes to others. Yes, I've lost 50 pounds, but it doesn't mean that someone who lost 10 pounds is less successful. While I was losing weight, I was having horrible anxiety that not many people knew about. So my life may have looked fun and perfect, but it wasn't. It was a trying time and a struggle that I hope no one else has to go through.
The journey to make a change is unique to everyone. Remember that putting it off will only cause regret of the lost time later on, and comparing yourself to others will steal the joy from your personal experience. We all have our own battles!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)