Hey 30, I see you, let’s do this!

The time is now 12:09am and that means that I am officially 30 and some change. I have to tell you, I had not been looking forward to this birthday. I know how most of you will react to me saying this, but 30 sounded old to me. It seemed so far off for so long and now here I am!

But truth be told, I also wasn’t looking forward to a new decade because I couldn’t imagine how it could possibly live up to the last. I LOVED my 20’s. I spent a quarter of them living in Manhattan– transforming from a sheltered Grosse Pointe girl, to a fast-moving, I-can-handle-anything kind of woman. I made great friends and had an absolute blast. My 20’s brought me love; the kind of love I dreamt of all my life. They brought me a little family, with 4 sweet furbarbies, and eventually a beautiful son. How could things possibly get any better from here?

And then my birthday actually came and you guys, I was blown away. I’ve always had lots of well-wishes on this day, but today, on this birthday, that number had multiplied by 100. And I’m not going to sit here and say that the number of Facebook messages you receive equates to the relationships you have. But I know for a fact that I spoke to so many more people today because I have finally come to a point in my life where I am one hundred percent comfortable with putting who I am out there, completely unapologetically. Sure, some people may not like what I have to say or what I represent, but the fact that I’ve taken this step has brought the most positive, supportive people into my life and today was a big reminder of that.

Sitting here tonight, I am also more confident than ever in my purpose. I know that a lot of people struggle at this point with, what they call, the quarter life crisis, but not me. Not today. I am a mother and wife first. Spending this day doing ordinary things for and with them suddenly felt so special. I love my role in this family. But outside of that, I am called to help people change their lives. I was put here, with these characteristics, this knowledge, and the capability to help people improve themselves from the inside out. I don’t question what the future holds for me because I can see it quite clearly. I was given the opportunity to share my passion and pay my complete self transformation forward and I will do that as many times over as I possibly can. That makes this next chapter incredibly exciting!

Yes, my 30’s certainly have some big shoes to fill, but I am absolutely confident that they will. In fact, I might need to get some bigger shoes for these goals! Here’s to everything that was, but more importantly, everything that will be. Tonight, I stepped out of the shower and saw something amazing. I looked 30 right in the face and thought, “let’s do this!”

When Weight-Loss Leads to Bigger Things

If you read my last post then you already know that three weeks ago, I committed to a 21 Day Accountability group in an attempt to get motivated and back on track with my health and fitness. What I didn’t …

Showing Myself Some Love

It’s hard to believe that the day of love is upon us again. Last year at this time, I had just found out that I was going to be a mom.  This year, this little munchkin is my husband and my sweet Valentine.  Does it get any better?  I mean, look at that silly face.  What’s not to love?

But this post is not about our newly acquired love.  It’s about rediscovering a once great love that I had for myself.  You see, before I got pregnant, I was in the best shape of my life.  I was active every single day and intentional with my eating. I was down to six percent body fat and felt like a rock star.  Then all of a sudden, pregnancy took over.  My body started holding onto fat like it was its job (it may have been,) the exhaustion had me on the couch whenever possible, and I made two new friends named Ben and Jerry. I remember being asked repeatedly by a family member how much weight I had gained as my pregnancy progressed.  I told them over and over that I didn’t know, but the truth was that I did.  I was steadily gaining weight and developing new stretch marks. At my last appointment before delivery, I was up a total of fifty pounds.  Yes, five zero.

Fast forward almost four months and I’ve got about fifteen left to lose. It doesn’t sound like much, but it feels like a ton. Up until this point, the weight loss could be attributed to breast-feeding and generally decent eating. For the most part, my days and nights have been consumed by baby. This was to be expected. But now, as I’ve become more comfortable with the demands and unpredictable schedule that being a mom requires, I am ready to recommit myself to well, myself.

And so, I’ve joined a group of women on Facebook in what we call an “accountability group.” Each of us has committed to spending the next twenty-one days following a fitness program, eating healthy, and encouraging each other’s journey. It has only been one day, but I can already tell that success lies ahead.

Please don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about the percent body fat or the six pack abs. This is about the way I feel mentally and emotionally when I feel good physically. This is about not having to rotate the same three outfits because they’re all I feel confident in. I want to take my son to the lake this summer and not waste a single moment wondering what my thighs look like in my bathing suit. But most of all, this is about showing myself the same amount of love that I show everyone else in my life. I deserve that much.

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing updates on my journey with you. I hope to connect with other people who have gone through this before or are in the midst of it now.

Until next time… Happy Valentine’s Day!

How to Improve Your Run

Happy Monday everyone! Today marks my first day of training for the Paczki Day 5K and as I begin to prepare, I am reminded of what it was like to be a new runner. There are so many things that …

Mapping Out My Fitness Goals

I have always been the type of person who is motivated by goals and deadlines. I loved planning parties at our house because I knew that it meant we’d get the house in order. Just ask my husband, who completed our …

Shifting Your Thinking for a Better Life

We’re one week into 2017 and boy, has it not been what I expected. New Year’s Day, I woke up to a sick baby, who was congested and uncomfortable. When his symptoms worsened, we ended up at the doctor. He …

Recipe of the Week: One Pan Sausage and Veggies

I know I’m not alone when I say that finding a delicious meal that is actually easy is like hitting the jackpot. I found this recipe on Pinterest and tried it for dinner this week. It was incredibly easy and …

Two Thousand Seventeen

With the start of a new year and all of this talk of resolutions, I am reminded of the reason that I started Snickled Pink. It wasn’t to get likes on Instagram or pins on Pinterest. It was to share …

The Truth About Your First Workout

It’s been just over 4 months since my last “work out.” The last time I went for a run was during my first couple of weeks of pregnancy. I got extremely sick afterwards, having no idea what my body was up to. Don’t get me wrong, my husband and I go on hikes through our property every week but I haven’t worked up a real sweat in far too long.

Finally feeling more like my old self these days, I was ready to get back on the horse. This morning I made it outside for a good run (okay, the dog would tell you it as a light jog) and finished up with some weights.  It was after all of this that I was reminded of some very good and very bad news about your first workout back. As it turns out, it’s one piece of news that swings both ways.

Your first workout is always the hardest. We’ve all been there. It takes everything in you to get into those workout clothes and even more out of you to actually get out there and do it. You feel like total garbage during and after your workout. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it can only get better and easier from there. That first hurdle is the worst. Before you know it, the motivation seems to come easier and your body grows stronger and more capable.

And so, let this post serve as a reminder that the first day is a tough one, but you are tougher! Once you get back on the horse, the rest of the ride will get easier, I promise.

 

The Truth, the Whole30 Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

 At Snickled Pink, you ask and I deliver. Over the past couple of days, I’ve had quite a few people reach out with questions about what this “Whole30” mumbo jumbo is all about. In all honesty, this is my first time going through the program, so I am still learning. I’ve done a good deal of reading however, and with just 2 days under my belt, already have some insight to share.

The Whole30 program is based on an idea similar to “you are what you eat.” If you remember back to my post about fueling your machine, I spoke about this a bit there. Created in 2009, the Whole30 program operates around the idea that certain food groups may be adversely effecting our bodies and minds. There are a wide range of symptoms to consider, including poor energy levels, skin or digestive issues, body pain, etc. The list goes on. If in fact one of these symptoms is a result of diet, then the only way to truly find out is to eliminate certain foods and see if a difference is noticed. When you commit to the Whole30, you are committing to 30 days of focusing on real food and removing those that are potentially harmful.

Here are the DO NOT rules:

Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial.

Do not consume alcohol in any form, not even for cooking.

Do not eat grains.

Do not eat legumes.

Do not eat dairy.

Do not consume carrageenan, MSG or sulfites.

Do not try to re-create baked goods, junk foods, or treats* with “approved” ingredients.

Day 2, I walked in to work and the first thing that I said to my coworker was, “This Whole30 thing is really hard.” Truth be told, I didn’t think it was going to be. I cook a lot at home and feel like my meals are generally pretty healthy. When I went to prepare food for day 1, looking through our pantry and refrigerator, I realized that a lot of what we eat is not on the approved list. Pasta sauce has added sugar. So does almond milk. Nearly everything does. Cheese is a staple in our house and that’s now out. I absolutely love salad, so I figured I could just eat those. Well, if you want dressing, you’re going to have to make it because there is sugar in it otherwise. I’ve now been to the grocery store 5 times in 2 days. I’ve spent, what feels like, more money than I usually do and am doing way more work!

If it sounds like I’m whining, I am. Well, I’m not anymore, but this was basically what I described that morning at the office. Then I began writing this post and read something on the Whole30’s website that I’d like to share with you, because it’s so true: “It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.”

It was at this point that my post originally concluded. I would, however, like to share with you an anecdote that occurred between writing and editing. I planned a Whole30 taco dinner for my husband and I to enjoy last night. I had to run out on my lunch break to get the appropriate seasoning packet and a different store on my way home from work for another ingredient. After getting out of work late, I got home and began preparing dinner. I was beyond hungry. An hour later, I took the beef out of the oven and set it on the counter. Now, when I say “counter,” I need you to imagine a counter covered in boxes and giant tubes of construction glue. (We’re still unpacking and getting settled in our new house.) It was a balancing act to say the least. Just as I went to plate our meal, the bowl of beef went crashing to the ground. Glass was everywhere. All I could do was stand in silence staring at my meat on the ground, as my husband came running from upstairs. Thinking about all of the planning, and trips to the store, and time spent preparing, I nearly melted down. After a visit to the fridge and some not-so-careful consideration, we were off to our local Mexican restaurant.

And so, today is my second Day 2 of the Whole30 this year. I told you that I would be 100% honest with you form the beginning and so here is my not-so-pretty truth. I worked my butt off, struggled, and failed. These things happen. The only thing that we can do is pick ourselves back up and try again. I’m proud to say that I have. I hope that you find success in your eating, be it through the Whole30 or something else. I know with great certainty that you can do it.

For more information, visit http://www.thewhole30.com.