My week in review...

So, I didn't make it to the gym as much as I wanted to.  I was home with a sick child with Strep Throat and a fever for 3 straight days.  She was so sick, that I let her stay at home while I ran the other 2 to school.  She said it hurt to lift her head up off the pillow.

I did, however, make it to CrossFit F-V yesterday to get in my CrossFit Games 16.1 workout.  I have to say, that with no cartilage in my left knee, walking lunges are a NIGHTMARE!!!  Also, as my first full WOD in over 2 years, it was brutal.  My knee, Quads and Glutes are SCREAMING at me today, and my arms and shoulders are whining fairly loudly.  I'll be back this week, to get more workouts in....and next weekend for 16.2.

I've done a lot of changing since I started this blog, and I've actually started to find the woman I always hoped I would be.  I wanted to love myself enough to do my makeup before I left the house.  Not because I needed to attract some guy (the reason I USED to wear makeup) but because I enjoyed looking nice.

Me wearing makeup is not a sign of my insecurity, it's actually because I've found the woman I was always meant to be.  I enjoy being a girl, just as much as I enjoy lifting heavy weights and sweating it out at the gym.  I know that I am a walking contradiction.  I love sports, watching UFC and love college football.  I remember watching the Tyson-Spinks fight with my uncle when I was in middle school.  I also like dressing up, looking cute, and all that that being a girly girl means.  I run in skirts, and I want my sports bra to match my outfit.  I'm proud of the fact that I can currently dead lift 165# and that I was once able to dead lift 225#.

I used to think that lifting weights, going to CrossFit, etc, made me less of a woman.  That people would view me as a tomboy.  Fact is, I am ME!  and I like the me that I am.  I like that I can talk about sports with my husband.  I like that I can work my butt off in the gym, then come home, take a shower and put on a dress.  We don't have to fit into a box that someone has decided makes us "girly" or a "Tomboy".  We can do what we love and define who we are as WE want to.

So, this is me.  I'm a CrossFitter, I'm a Younique Presenter, I love Makeup, I love sports, and I love Jewelry.  I can be all these things, without apology, because that is who I am....and I'm never going to apologize for being ME!

Be who you are, Love who you are, Accept who you are.  If you can't, then no one else will either.

Krista

Back to the GYM!!

Tomorrow is the day!

I was traveling last week, and I've gained a bit more weight.

I'm up 21 pounds from my lowest since I had my surgery....and 18 pounds from what I weighed consistently for 18 months, until my Nana passed.

So--Here's my goal:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday I will be at Club Worx for a WOD and some cardio work.
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I will be run/walking.

Depending on how my run/walks go on Tuesday and Thursday, I MAY go to CrossFit on those days as well.

Next weekend, the CrossFit Games Open begins, and I am registered.

I've got work to do....and it ain't gonna happen sitting in my house.

Time to get shit done!

As of today, 193.8
Goal around 150

Let's get it done!

krista

5 year blog-iversary

5 years ago, I started this blog, as a form of accountability for myself on my weightloss journey.  Read my original post here.

In that 5 years, my life has changed dramatically!

I have become a triathlete.

I have attempted 8 half marathons, and finished 2.

I have competed in a CrossFit competition.

I have had Gastric Sleeve surgery, which has helped me lose 95#.

I have started to gain some of that weight back, and am back up to 190#  (Still down 80#)

I've auditioned twice for The Biggest Loser, twice.

I have been brutally honest about my mental state, and how it feels to be me.

I have learned SO much about who I am as a woman, a wife, and a mother.

I have grown personally, and shrunk physically.

I have shared my journey, and a lot of you have been here since day 1.

I have been supported by my family every step of the way.  My amazing husband has held my hand while I cried and encouraged me every step of the way.  My kids have graciously forgotten what I looked like at my heaviest and swear that the pictures that I have of me "then" can't possibly be me.

My life has changed in more ways that I would have even thought possible.  I have had the help and encouragement of some amazing people along the way--Andrea Logan, Rachael Brown, Amy Smith, Jennifer VanAlstine, Michelle Bordeaux, Cassandra Reyes, Michele, Sarah and Sarah have all been amazing and supportive throughout this process.

I've been inspired by Cambrey Fuller, Jen Widerstrom, Dolvett Quince, Bob Harper, Chris and Heidi Powell.  Watching people take control and transform their lives  has inspired me, even at my worst to never give up.  Why do I still watch, The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition and My 600 Pound Life?  Those people inspire me endlessly.  They have allowed cameras to follow their journey in a very public way.  They have put themselves "out there" in a way far more public than I have with my measly little blog.

What's up next?  I'm back to Cross-Fit.  I finished my foundations class on Thursday, and will be getting back to the box to get my booty working out again.  When my Nana entered the hospital in December, she told me she was concerned about me, because it looked like I was gaining weight again.  I had only gained back 3 or 4 pounds at that point, but now, I'm up a total of 18 from my lowest weight since my WLS.  It's time to get it back, get the scale moving in the right direction again.  I have 2 goals with CrossFit and the remainder of my Weight Loss/Life journey.  I'd really like to be fit enough to no longer require Spanx.  In all, if I had to pick a number, I'd like to lose about another 40# from where I am today, which is 190#.

The awesome running support group that I love so much--From Left to right, Jennifer, Stacey, Julie and Rachael.  (The dude is the tattoo artist that did all of our tattoos this past July)

My awesome friend Rachael.  She inspires me, and keeps me going.  I love her for how amazing she is.  

Truth be told---when I lay down and the extra skin falls to the side, rather than standing up--things look a whole lot better.

Anniversary dinner with my hubby 

Me, Jennifer and Michelle--2 of my favorite people!

The morning of my Weight Loss Surgery

The morning of my Weight Loss Surgery

Me, My Sister and Denise Carter.  One of the most badass women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Me and Ali Vincent--the first female winner of The Biggest Loser.  She is so amazing and genuine.  

This is what I looked like after completing 4 WODs in one day at my one and only CrossFit Competition.  I think I want to go back to this same Competition in 2017 to see how different if feels at a much healthier weight.  The girls from my box were AMAZING and supportive.  One of them even submitted me to Women of CrossFit.  I was honored to work out with and know these ladies!

When all else fails, and you don't want to---you scrunch up your face and pull as hard as you can to make sure you don't get no-repped.

My original CrossFit coaches, Tyler and Andrea.  I'm so glad that Andrea kept asking me "When will you let me help you?"  If she hadn't persisted, I would never have tried, and fallen in love with CrossFit.  

I became a Triathlete

Finished my 1st Half Marathon.  3:25:23.  Almost 4 minutes ahead of the cut-off time.  So proud.  I cried for the last half mile.

I got to meet Running Royalty.  That's Meb Keflezighi, winner of the 2014 Boston Marathon

My awesome family--though it's a few years old.  I LOVE my husband and kids.  

Immediately after surgery.  The bruises are from my incision sites.

This past spring.  I bought this bikini to wear to the beach for Mother's Day weekend.  It ain't perfect, but it's a damn site better than where I started.  

This was just after finishing my 2nd half marathon.  It was July, in Chicago and was BRUTALLY hot.  It was about 90* and super humid.  People were dropping like flies all over the 2nd half of the course. There were med tents with kiddie pools full of ice and water, soaking those wash clothes I'm holding/wearing in my picture.  This was the hardest race EVER, so proud I could finish it.