Testimonial: 20 pounds less in 20 days
Millions a day are dying because of full bellies causing terminal disease. Losing the battle with the knife and fork means losing your life.
Christen is not yet where she wants to be but she believes, for the first time, that CrossFit+Paleo is her last chance, and she is giving it all she has.
The following is authored by: Christen Baldwin
I had been at my wits end for quite a long time when it comes to eating. I’ve tried Paleo/Paleo Zone several times but I never able to achieve success with it. I knew I was doing something wrong. In August 2012, I was reading a story about Nick Anderson who had lost a bunch of weight and he mentioned a guy named Josh Bunch who was helping to change his life. I read some of Josh’s blogs and I really liked what I was reading. I asked my CF coaches about him. I immediately contacted him and asked for help. I honestly felt like he was my only hope. He got back to me and told me he could help but it would have to be “ME” who changed. It FINALLY clicked for me. I was getting tired of reading stories about people who had found success with Paleo/Crossfit. I really wanted to be one of those success stories. I want to be one of those people who inspired others.
On August 29th I started following the meal plan gave to me by Josh. I told him he would have to tell me exactly what to eat. I’m weird but I prefer repetition and eating the same things over and over again. I freak out when I have a lot of variety and trying to plan meals. It just doesn’t work for me. I needed Josh to say “eat this food/this much food” for my meals. It’s now September 17, 2012 and I have lost 20 pounds. I have stuck with the meal plan and ate exactly what Josh told me to.
I won’t lie to anyone and say it’s been easy. I have had good days and bad days. I’ve cried because the grocery store was out of kale, I’ve thrown a few tantrums over salmon and I didn’t go shopping alone in fear I’d get weak and sneak a cupcake! I felt like crap the first few days but it was all worth it. I can now see I am like night and day. I know it’s because of what I was eating. I truly believe that sugar, excessive carbohydrates and food addiction makes me crazy! I feel I can be mean, depressed, negative and most people annoy me when I am eating junk food. I don’t want to talk to most people and that’s an awful way to be.
However, cutting out the crap food and doing Paleo correctly changes everything for me. I am so happy. I laugh out loud again. I feel like having fun. I want to go to Crossfit. I feel like cleaning the house. I have ambition. I have motivation. I feel positive about everything. I feel 100% different than I did on 8/29 when I started and NOTHING will tempt me to slide backwards. Even my boss says he notices a difference. My energy level is through the roof. I’m not dead exhausted doing WODs or rowing. I have a long journey ahead of me and I’m not really focused on that right now. I’m focused on taking things one day at a time, eating what Josh tells me to and convincing the produce manager to order more kale every week!
Strength:
Jerks
1×3@75%
1×2@80%
1×2@85%
1×1@90%
1×1@95%
For Score:
3-Muscle-ups
7-Rack to overhead 95/135
3-Handstand-pushup
7-Box jump 24/30
AMRAP 20 Minutes
Auxiliary:
Support hold
3xmax seconds
Post time to comments
Christen, Your story IS precisely what I needed to hear today. Food has a strangle hold on me (because I let it). When I “stay paleo” consistently I am the best me I can be. I appreciate being reminded just how fabulous clean eating makes you feel. Thank you for sharing your story! You got this and I wish you all the best as you continue your journey!
I am TORE UP from Saturday…had to modifiy this one.
3 + 6 (modified last 2 rounds to 1 MUP/round)
6(m)
So excited for Christen and her journey (hope she submits a follow up in the coming weeks). Also very proud of my hubby who has taken the leap out of him comfort zone and is doing things he never thought possible (proof was in watching him compete over the weekend). This man continues to amaze me everyday and for that our love/bond grows stronger!
Thanks baby! I love you!
5+5 M ( Alternating dips and hips to rings for MU’s)
5+10 (m)
I can’t wait for this WOD this is pure crossfit.
Good to see the smiling 5am faces this morning.
And good to see yours, too!! We’ve missed you, Buddy!!!!
glad you were able to make it in Joel!
Joel! Yay!!!
good news, good new, joel.
7+6m (2 rds band progression, 5 rds hips to rings for MUPs)
Great Job Christen! Proof once again the Paleo/CrossFit is the best way to live your lives!
Shelly/Robin/Nick –
Thanks for the support. I definitely want to keep updating every so often. I think that will help keep me on my toes and motivated to see myself in pictures getting smaller for others to see.
5 + 1 m for mups (progressions or h2r)
5am is awesome! Joel loved being with you this morning. You remind me of Josh how you went about your modifications with clarity of purpose and deligence in your work ethic! I would love to see you Thursday and Friday am
Ryan I believe no pain on the first couple rounds is a clear sign Melissa’s hands and recovery are working. Good job keeping it fun!
Again Mitchell, Nikki, Krissy glad to see you guys in the game and past the injuries! Always fun in the mornings with you. Krissy your hip to rings are so powerful, start thinking you can get the muscle up. You should be able to taste it!
Teri, Robyn, Lauren – love you guys. It’s always a great morning with you! I’m calling out Sandy and Kim… Isn’t there suppose to be a phone tag going on in the mornings. Missed you guys!
Michelle – Grrr! The handstand pushup and the now the muscle up!!! I am going to stand in amazement when I get to watch your physic grace those two movements!
AND did anyone else know Debbie Alexander has the second heaviest Jerk of the women at Practice? Second only to Mindy, who can press a small car overhead!
Awesome group of people!
This is exactly what I needed to read! Awesome.
Heaviest jerk 110lbs
WOD: 5ish rounds.
Great 430 class! And Tyler, keep care of yourself!!
Holy 4:30 class!!! 24 people today… I think that’s a record!
With not much time to instruction or explanation you all blew this out of the water. Great job to everyone and thanks for being so cooperative.
5+1 RX
Awesome work with a huge class mindy. And it was tons of fun. 8+8
6 + 10 m
6+6 (M)