Road to Freedom

Ahhh Fall....

Curling up with a blanket and a good movie, creamy soups, tasty desserts...all around laziness coupled with comfort food...

Perhaps it's the change of seasons..perhaps its the bouts pf sickness...all I know is I have not been motivated these past few weeks in my eating habits, workouts, and career.  My lack of desire, willpower, and strength has become quite a shock, so much so that I have kept the majority of it in secret.  What does it take to get on top of things?  I need to get motivated and I need some HELP!

So I am making a public declaration (to the 5 whole people who read this blog) to help with accountability and encouragement!  Now is a good time to cast your judgement when you see me fail--give me the ol' evil eye!  I have laid out my goals for the next 4 weeks--leading right up to Thanksgiving--and the details of this journey, so all can follow along and hold me accountable.

FOOD
- Drop to 17% body fat, drop to the 130s#
- Improve strength and time in workouts gearing up for competition season
- 5-6 TOUGH workouts a week followed by muscle strength shake
- Take supplements on a consistent basis

Protein:
- 12 blocks a day of lean poultry, fish, eggs

Carbohydrates:
- 9 blocks a day of veggies and low glycemic carbs (no carrots, beans, fruit, potatoes, starches)

Fat:
- NO MORE THAN 12 blocks of fat a day limited to healthy oils, avocado, nut butters (no nuts!)

NO: dairy, nonpaleo foods, starches, fruit, only limited alcohol

Daily Menu should looks as follows:
Bkfst: muscle gain shake with added fat & w/ sweet potato or banana POST morning workout
= 3P 3F 3C
Lunch: 3P 3F 3C paleo friendly meal
Snack: muscle gain shake with added fat and shot of esresso during work
= 3P 3F 0C
Dinner: 3P 3F 3C paleo friendly dinner

CAREER
Meet with Tim (the developer), Jud (the front man)
Gather stats (demographics, budget, forecast for housing) from the developers
Create my own guerilla style research survey
Gather professional data and create presentation/business model

Work enough shifts at Peche to create an income baseline

Here we go!  Who can't do something for 28 measly days!  It starts now! Time to get excited!

What I Know I Am

Look me in the eye
It’s okay if you’re scared- so am I
But we’re scared for different reasons
I’m scared of what I won’t become
You’re scared of what I could become
Look at me
I won’t let myself end where I started
I won’t let myself finish where I began
I know what is within me
Even if you can’t see it yet
Look me in the eyes
I have something more important than courage
I have patience
I will become what I know I am

These past two weeks I have experienced an epiphany of epic of proportions. I feel as if I’ve been freed. Freed to live. To explore. To pursue. To demand. I feel as if the doors have been opened and I am finally ready to walk through them. What brought on this epiphany? I realized that the life I was once offered here is not the one I want. So what am I still doing here? What is holding me back? Absolutely nothing. I WILL NOT let the fear make the decision for me. Fear of failure. Fear of being far away from the people I love. It is time for me to embrace the world, to find the life I was meant to live. To find my future. My future family. My future impact on the world. And I am ready now more than ever. Not only have I been given the power of capability, I have been given the confidence by those coaches who know the industry so well. “Lindsay, you’re so damn good. You’re ready.” The words every young budding artist is eager to hear. But the world has a way of pulling the rug out from underneath you, just to keep you on your toes, as if one final cruel gesture before you make that ultimate decision, just to see if you have what it takes to conquer. The second big lesson I learned is that no one, and I mean no one, can break my spirit. Go ahead and try. Push me down. Take away what I cherish. But don’t you dare stand in my fucking way. In the midst of my new found freedom, I was hurt. My spirits were broken and my trust was severed. And while I must stop to reflect, I realize that heartbreak, rejection, and simple kick you in the crotch luck is what I will be experiencing everyday in my new found freedom. Why? Because I have the choice. I have the choice and I have made the choice to grab the world by the balls and say “I dare you”. So I dare you. Break my spirits. Give me heartache. Turn my world upside down. Cause me doubt. Make me second guess myself. I’ll just be that much stronger. I will become what I know I am--- and no one will say otherwise.

You will see me in 6 months, NYC- mark my words.

Lindsay's "I'm Going to Hawaii in 9 Weeks So You Better Get Your Ass in Shape Challenge"

The Spartan Challenge is coming to a close in 6 days- it's been a good run.  I have PRed on 5 lifts and lost 1% body fat.
Overhead Squat: 125#
Back Squat: 180#
Shoulder Press: 85#
Clean and Jerk: 115#
Deadlift: 220#
I'm giving one solid muscle up a try at the end of the challenge, and I'm an inch away from the ground on strict handstand pushups.  I will be attempting these once more at the end of the challenge to see if I can accomplish that goal.  I've hit a good portion of my goals (I set about 30) so I consider these past 7 weeks a success!! 
Today I am taking a break and feeding my cravings, because tomorrow I start a new challenge. I will be visiting Hawaii in 8 or 9 weeks, and I am ready to lean out for that beach bum perfect body.  These next weeks will focus on body weight exercise, speed, skill, and less heavy lifting.
New Goals:
drop 5% body fat (down to 15%)
stay consistent with blocks/paleo
5-6 workouts a week
consistent with supplements
accomplish several HSPU
several muscle ups
decrease mile time to solid 9 min mile
perform dips with ease and no shoulder/neck pain
perfect pullups and pushups.
Also:
reassess job-find one that helps get me on my feet and build up my savings, even if it isn't the perfect job
research "out of the box" careers for the future (reference Lindsay's list of silly things that make me content)
save money to volunteer for a wildlife organization in another country
two auditions
slow down to enjoy the process, not forgetting to prioritize things that make me content
work with bella to drop 5 lbs, rehab che

Thanks to my team and Coach Crystal for carrying me through my goals!  On to the next!

Age Inappropriate?

For those of you who know me, you know that I am one big ball of anxiety and stress. You know that you will never see me drinking with friends at the local bar, you will never see me out at a restaurant on a Saturday night, you will never see me relaxing at the river on a hot day. For those of you who don't me...well you probably don't know me because I am never out with friends at the local bar, i am never out at a restaurant on a Saturday night, and I am never relaxing at the river on a hot day.

My therapist said something to me this week that nearly brought me to tears. She said that the life I lead is age inappropriate. I am not living the life a 26 year old should be living. Not only am I just a high stress person, it is actually inappropriate behavior for anyone my age and I realize how much damage I am actually doing to myself.  Now of course, there are people my age who work more hours than I do, who have better jobs than I do, who make more money than I do. She isn't really referring to those kinds of qualities. Instead, I have the weight and amount of stress of someone who is middle aged with a family and a mortgage and a low paying salary. I don't live the life of a young girl in her 20's who is FREE to do as she wants, to move around as she wants, to play as she wants. I don't date. I don't have a lot of friends. I live my life in such a hurry to be better than what I am and am so tied down that day to day life is miserable. Why is this? One reason is because I have such high ambitions- I so badly want to make it to the top that I am terrified I will fail if I don't attack it now.  I don't want to look back when I'm 40 and unsuccessful and think "man I wish I made better use of my time in my 20s."  I don't want to waste one minute of my career piddling around. Yet, real careers are hard to come by and I still don't have one. ironic for all that work I apparently put in, right? Another reason is I have soooo many diverse interests that I want to do EVERYTHING! Part of that is the ADD talking, part of that is the grueling schedule of the American society. But mostly I have prioritized everything to be just as of high importance as everything else....in reality, meaning I haven't prioritized a damn thing. These are all pressures I put on myself and have been for the last 5 years, if not my whole life in some respects.

But I don't know how to be anything different. I don't know how to not care, relax, and play. I don't know how to not worry that I may not make a fabulous career for myself and say "screw it" and go to the river instead. I don't know how to not care that my dog didn't get proper exercise for the day. I don't know how to not care when I eat poorly.

So let's look at all the things I place of utter most importance, all of my WANTS in order to be happy. I would be on a successful (meaning, progressive) path as a film actor. I would be going to auditions, booking some, not booking others. I would be paying dues, doing the grunt work, knowing that one day, I will receive a great opportunity. I would have the body to go with it (you can call me superficial, but to me it matters). The red carpet figure---- weight does play an important role in the career of an actor and dancer. I've never had that body, and I deserve to desire it. I would have opportunities to pick up and move if I desired to spend some time in Africa photographing wildlife or live in a more concentrated film community. I would have opportunities to float around to volunteer my time to work with wildlife and conservation. I would have a savvy home that is mine filled with my family of pets, where dinner parties would consistently take place. I would have a self sufficient job that I knew, if nothing else, I could make into a career if I needed. Why waste my time being a waitress when that will never get me anywhere in the long run. Heck, I would even take on hobbies such as rock climbing and aerial silks, and, would you believe, travel?!! Can I make all of these wants fit into the same life or are they too diverse?

When I look at the past 5 years, I know that I have made progress in some important directions. I know I am slowly chipping away at my dreams. But what good does it do if I don't enjoy the process? If I don't enjoy the journey? But, how do you get anything accomplished if you don't consistently work on the little things? When I look back at the last 5 years, I definitely remember some happy times, but I definitely feel sad. Sad that I didn't enjoy my early 20s. How can I make it that when I look back on the next 5 years, I will be satisfied? Seriously, I have no idea. My day-to-day schedule is so jam packed with things, I feel, are urgent and need to get done. It's not as simple as just "being less busy" or "cutting down your to-do list". Those are obvious solutions I have already tried. Do other people not have as many important things on their plate? Do they not have as many responsibilities? Or do they just know how to balance it better? Seriously, is there a secret no one told me about??

One year.  That's it.  One year. In one year I will make an evaluation.  Will I be moving to pursue an acting career or will I change directions to pursue wildlife conservation?  In one year I will have the body I want.  In one year I will be happy, fulfilled, and living an age appropriate life.  In one year, I will be making the salary worthy of my talent, age, and education.  Okay, now how do I make this happen without making each day dreadful?

4 week goal update

The last half of the Spartan Challenge has just begun- week 5.  Over these last 2 weeks I have accomplished a few more of my goals, and are on track to attaining the others. 
- PR in clean and jerk @ 115lbs (which I hit 4 weeks ahead of schedule!)
- PR on overhead squat at a surprising 125lbs!
- PR shoulder press at 80#
- PR back squat at 175# (hit my Spartan goal 3 weeks early- woop!)
- I have been running a steady 10 minute mile when taking on multi-mile runs.  I still need to try to get that mile down to 8 minutes. 
- My kipping pullups are looking much stronger, getting more of that push away and not just dropping.  Chest-to-bar is just around the corner.
- Lost 1 % body fat, which is disappointing at first, but most of it was in my legs which is great!  I have also been putting on strength fast which is probably why the body changes are moving very slowly.  It is nearly impossible to workout intensely, put on a lot of muscle mass, and lean out at the same time.  Mainly because your body requires so much protein to feed those muscles.  Crystal and I decided to spend the next 3 weeks taking down the protein and intensity and working on leaning out.  Let's hit some mad results these next 3 weeks!  Shooting for 18 % body fat!

In terms of hitting those career and personal goals.....lets just say it's easier to lost weight.  Yeah.  Sad.

2 Weeks Down: Goal Update

So I set several goals for the 7 week challenge in my fitness life, career, and personal.  We're on the last leg of week 2 and need to check in with myself on how my goals are coming along---

Back Squat: 160lb- 5lb PR! (goal: 175lb)
Shoulder Press: 75lb - 10lb PR! (goal: 85lb)
Mile Time: 10 min - 2 min PR! (goal: 9 min sustainable)
Career:
Auditions: 1 television audition (Goal: 2 any audition total)
Concierge: covering Concierge while she's out of town for 10 days (Goal: to assist Concierge full time)
Acting Process: discovered a weakness, rounding out my process to listen more intuitively instead of relying on the intellectual (Goal: discover a new thing about your process)

Made some good progress keeping these short term goals on track, and am further along in some areas than I would have thought. Quite nice. I challenge you to break down all of your goals to a daily or weekly plan so you can stay on track.

Funnily though, the only place I haven't achieved any of my goals is my personal life.  It's surprising how little attention I've given that area of my life.  Why?  Because my goals are to slow down- but as you can see by the goals I have accomplished above, it seems that I have actually sped up.  hmmmm how to do both?

F**** DO IT ALREADY LINDSAY!!!

Little steps.  Little steps everyday.  Stop missing your mark on those little steps.  You wonder why you aren't making progress?  It's those damn little steps you are forgetting.  So get it together and do it already!

May 8 was the start of the Spartan Challenge with CrossFit Central-- a 7 week intensive challenge- food logs, indoor class, PT, extra workouts, sleep log, workout log, water log, maximum weight, supplements, ripping hands, burning quads, the list goes on. Welcome to blood, sweat, and tears. 

We are well into our second week.  I don't feel great though.  What the heck?  On paper, my food log looks great.  I'm struggling to get all those extra workouts in a week but I'm busting my butt to find time.  Averaging 7 hours sleep, 3 Liters of water a day.  Supplements.  Sounds like I'm on track right?  But when I really listen to my body, I don't feel like the work is there.  Why?  Consistency.  What about those few supplements you missed that day..oh and two days later.  What about that shit load of chashews you had at work...oh and two days later. Since when is 4 blocks of protein, 6 blocks of fat, and 2 blocks of carbs considered Zone?  Oh right. Little steps that you're not taking.  If you're going to put in the effort, then freakin go all the way!  I hate to be Nike, but seriously, just do it already.  The fire has been lit.  The master plan has been layed out.  All you have to do is follow through.  And yes, those little bitty seemingly stupid things do matter.  In an earlier blog I list my goals for the next 7 weeks, 4 months, 1 year, and they are incredibly intense ones.  Some of my trainers have looked at me like "um, seriously??" and yeah, seriously.  So get on it.  Find that fire and use it EVERYDAY, ALL DAY.  No more pussying around.  You want to put on enough muscle mass to add 20 lbs to your deadlift PR in 7 weeks?  You want to lose 5% body fat in 7 weeks?  You want a muscle up in 7 weeks?  Then work on those ring dips every morning when you wake up.  Then work at that pull up push away every morning when you wake up.  Get your damn food on the scale. Do the work, do it all, and do it with maximum effort.

Grrrrr....now I'm angry....

Zucchini Puree and Plum Tomatoes

Boil 1 lb zucchini cut into slcies till tender. Drain and chop, strain through colander, mash. Heat 2 tbs EVOO, remove from heat, add 1 lb plum tomatoes cut in half, place cut side down and 6 cloves sliced garlic cloves. Season salt and pepper. Add Zucchini puree to pan with tomatoes, stir in 2 tbs EVOO, salt, and 2 tbs chopped parsley. serve hot or cold.

Bell Pepper Puree

*serve as dip or accompany to fish

Place 6 red bells on foil and broil fill blistered or roasted for 30 minutes. Peel and seed. Blend peppers to a puree in processor with 2 cloves garlic, 4-5 tbs vinegar, pinch ground chili pepper, 1 tsp ground cumin, 4 tbs EVOO, salt. Serve with 2 tbs chopped parsley, 2 tbs chopped cilantro, and lemon peel.

Chermoula Marinade and Sauce

Mix 2/3 cup chopped coriander, 4 garlic cloves crushed, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground paprika, 1/2 tsp ground chili pepper, 6 tbsp EVOO, juice of 1 lemon

Mint Tea

Heat a large teapot. Put 1.5 tbs Chinese green tea, a large bunch of fresh spearmint washed and dried, and honey to your taste. Pour in boiling water and infuse 5 minutes.

Fruit Salad with Honey and Orange Blossom Water

Mix juice of 1 orange, 2 tbs honey, and 1 tsp orange blossom water into serving bowl. Clean 1.5 lbs mixed fruit and place immidiately into juices. Leave to marinade for an hour. Garnish with mint leaves.

Fish Cakes

*great as a protein snack

Cut 1 lb white fish filets skinned into pieces and put into food processor with 1/2 tsp cumin, pinch of chili pepper,salt, 3 garlic cloves crushed, 1 egg slightly beaten, handful chopped parsley. Process for 5 seconds till finely chopped only. Sprinkle almond flour on plate. Wet hands and form fish mix into egg sized ball, flattened. Flour all over. Shallow fry cakes in EVOO till brown and cooked. serve hot or cold.

Sweet Potato Salad

Fry 1 large chopped onion in 2 tbs EVOO. Cut 1 lb sweet potatoes peeled into pieces. Add to pan and barely cover with water. Add 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp paprika a little salt, 2 tbs EVOO. Cook until potatoes tender. Serve at room temp with 6 green olives, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 tbs EVOO and 2 tbs chopped parsley.

Roast Pepper, Tomato, and Apple Salad

Place 3 red bells on foil and broil till skin blistered or roast in oven for 30 minutes till soft. Peel and remove seeds. Cut lengthwise.

In pan, fry 1 large onion sliced in 2 tbs EVOO over med heat. Add 4 cloves garlic chopped, stir. Add 1 lb tomatoes peeled and chopped and 1 or 2 chili peppers left whole. Season with salt and pepper, cook 15-20 minutes.

Quarter and core 2 sweet apples. Stir red bells into onion mixture, place apples cut side down. cook gently till apples tender, adding water if necessary. Serve cold, drizzle with a dash EVOO.

Carrots with Mint

Peel and trim 1 lb carrots, cut into long slices. Put carrots in pan, barely cover with water. Add salt, simmer covered for 10 miutes. Uncover to reduce liquid for another 10 minutes. Add 2 cloves garlic crushed, 1 tbsp dried mint, 2 tbsp EVOO and toss. Serve hot or cold.

Pear and Leaf Salad

Prepare dressing of juice of 1/2 lemon, 3 tbs EVOO, salt, pepper. Peel 2 ripe pears and cut lengthwise, remove cores. Turn slices in dressing, fully coated. Toss pear slices with 4 ounces salad leaves.

Grated Cucumber and Mint Salad

Peel and grate 1 large or 3 small Asian cucumbers. Drain juices in colander. Mix with 3 tbs EVOO, 2 tbs lemon juice, 1 tsp orange blossom water, 2 sprigs of mint.

Mashed Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Prick 1.5 lbs eggplant with pointed knife. Place on piece of foil. Roast in 475 deg oven for 45-55 minutes. Peel and drop in bowl of water with a little lemon juice. Drain in colander. Press out as much of water as possible. Chop flesh while still in colander with knife, mash with fork, get rid of most of juices.

Cook 1 lb peeled and chopped tomatoes in 4 tbs OO with 5 garlic cloves chopped and salt over low heat for 20 minutes. Mix with mashed eggplant and add pinch ground chili pepper, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tbs chopped parsley, 2 tbs chopped cilantro. Garnish with handful black olives.

Tangine of Chicken with Lemon and Olives

In a wide casserole dish, heat 3 tbs EVOO with 2 onions grated, saute over low heat. Stir in 2-3 cloves garlic crushed, 1/2 tsp crushed saffron threads, 1/2 tsp ground ginger after onions have softened.
Add in 1 chicken, cut into 8 pieces, season with salt and pepper, and pour 1 1/4 cups water. Cover, simmer, add more water if becomes dry. Lift out done breasts after 15 minutes. Cook remaining chicken for anoter 25 minutes. Return breasts.

Stir in juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tbs chopped coriander, 2 tbs chopped parsley, peel of 1 large preserved lemon cut into strips, and 12-16 green pitted olives. Simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes until reduced sauce is thick. If too much liquid, lift out chicken and reduce sauce furthur.

Roast Chicken with Raisin and Almond Sauce

*this recipe calls for a cous cous, raisin and almond stuffing which i have omited for paleo reasons. able to sub ground cauliflower if desired. otherwise use raisin and almonds to toss into sauce.

Rub 1 chicken with mix of OO, juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, salt, pepper. Put breast side down in roasting dish. Pour 4-5 tbs water into dish.

Cook in 400 deg oven for 1.5 hours. Turn chicken after 50 minutes, brush with 2 tbs honey. It is done when the juices run clear.

Toss drained raisins (soaked in water for 10 minutes) with cinnamon and orange blossom water to taste. Fry 1/2 cup almonds in OO. Coarsely chop and toss with raisins. Add mixture into honey sauce at bottom of pan. Place back into oven to meld flavors. Cut chicken and pour pan sauce over to serve.

Chicken with Figs and Walnuts

Cook, covered, 2 large sliced onions in 2 tbs butter and 1 tbs sunflower oil in large pan over med heat. Stir in 1 tsp ground ginger, pinch saffron threads, 1 tsp cinnamon. Add 1 chicken cut into 6 pieces, season with salt and pepper, chicken pieces 25 min later.

Let onions reduce to rich brown sauce. Stir in 1 tbs honey. Add 1/2 cup walnut halves and 4-8 fresh figs peeled and cut in half. Cook them for 2-5 minutes. Add chicken pieces under figs and cook a few minutes more.

Chicken with Caramalized Onions and Honey

Blanch 1 lb shallots or baby onions in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain, peel, trim roots. Saute 1 onion chopped until soft over medium heat in a large pan or casserole dish. Stir in pinch of saffron threads, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and add 1 chicken cut into 8 pieces. Season with salt and pepper, brown chicken all over.

Add 1 cup water and cook covered over low heat for 15 minutes, turning pieces of chicken until breasts are done. Lift out breasts. Add shallots and cook covered for 25 minutes until remaining pieces very tender.

Lift out chicken pieces. Stir 1-1.5 tbs honey to pan. Cook uncovered until water evaporated, onions are caramalized. Return chicken to pan until heated through. Sprinkle with fried almonds.

**Alternative recipe: Cook chicken the same. Peel and quarter 4 small pears. OVer med heat, saute pears in large skillet with a little butter and a little sunflower oil. Present ontop of chicken pieces.

Roast Sea Bass with Herbs and Onion Confit

In covered pan, cook 1 lb onions sliced in 4 tbs OO over very low heat for 30 mins. Stir in pinch of saffron threads and 1 tbs honey, salt and pepper. Cook uncovered for another 10 minutes. Spread over bottom of ovenproof dish.

Slash 1 large sea bass across thickest part to ensure even cooking. Rub fish with salt and OO, stuff with a mixture of 2 tbs chopped parsley, 2 tbs chopped coriander, 4 garlic cloves crushed, juice of lemon, salt and pepper.

Place stuffed fish on bed of onions and roast in 375deg oven for 25 minutes.

Roast Cod with Tomatoes and Other Veggies

*traditional dish calls for tomatoes and potatoes. Substitute with sweet potatoes or paleo friendly veggie of your choice*

Slash skin of 6 cod fillets across thickest part to ensure even cooking. Mix chermoula ingredients (2/3 cup chopped coriander, 4 garlic cloves crushed, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground paprika, 1/2 tsp ground chili pepper, 6 tbsp EVOO, juice of 1 lemon) and marinate fish in half the quantity for 30 minutes.

Cut 1 lb tomatoes into slices along with other sliced veggies of your choice. Place in bottom of OO coated baking dish, coat veggies with OO, salt and pepper. Put in 475deg oven for 50 minutes (if using potatoes), shorter time if using softer veggies. Place fish fillets on top, skin side up, return to oven for 10-12 min, until thickest part of fish flakes.

Pour remaining chermoula sauce over pan.

Tomatoes Stuffed with Roasted Peppers and Tuna

Place 4 red bells under broiler until blistered al over or roast in hottest oven for 30 min. Peel, discard seeds. Cut peppers into strips.

Mix 3 tbs EVOO, 1 seven ounce can tuna, 2 tbsp capers, 4 tbsp black olives, peel of preserved lemon (chopped), 2 tbsp chopped parsley to peppers.

Cut circle around stack of 6 large tomatoes. Remove center and seets. Fill with rst pepper mixture and replace caps. Bake at 350deg for 20-30min.

Chicken and Onion "Bstilla"

Cook over very low heat 2 large onions (sliced) in covered pan with 2.5 tbsp sunflower oil for 30 mins. Separately fry 1/3 cup blanched almonds in 1/2 tbsp sunflower oil. Drain. Stir in 1/2 tsp ground ginger and 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon into onions, add 10 ounces bite size chicken breast, season with salt and pepper. Cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes. (Make sure no remaining liquid in pan) Add 1/2 cup cilantro. Sprinkle with almonds.
Opt: Spread mixture over almond flour crust to simulate the pastry of a traditional bastilla. Bake until crust is done.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and a dash of honey.

SPARTAN CHALLENGE

So here we start.....the Spartan Challenge...the training that all spartan soldiers must endure....or something like that.

I'm beginning a 7 week intensive challenge with CrossFit Central called the Spartan Challenge and it begins today!!  I will be taking on extra workouts, chronicling a workout journal, keeping a food and sleep log, Zoning/Paleo, compiling before and after photos/body comp, and will be motivated and held accountable by my wonderful coach and awesome teammates!  Below I have listed my specific/attainable/high bar goals for the 7 weeks so y'all can hold me accountable!  I promise to blog about my experience as I take on this journey in my attempt to see intense results in 7 weeks!  Here we go!

- I will lose 5% body fat (+2% per 3 weeks; down to 15-16%)
- I will eat clean 95%, Paleo/Zone 85%
- I will discover a new Paleo recipe each week
- I will perform perfect chest to bar pullups
- I will perform strict handstand pushups
- I will get 1 muscle up
- I will set a personal record in deadlift (goal 220lb)
- I will set a personal record in back squat (goal 175lb)
- I will set a personal record in clean and jerk (goal 105 lb with correct form)
- I will accomplish a sub 7 min Fran!
- I will improve my mile time to 9 min-mile
- I will be consistent daily with supplements

Success Story compiled by Heather Hodges

“I remember hating my body and wanting to lose weight since middle school. I wasn’t over weight then but more so ahead of the development curve than other girls my age, so I thought I was fat. In college, I actually started to put on weight and hit 170 pounds for my 5′6” frame. I was a modern dancer all my life but the weight never seemed to come off. I started using trainers at the gym, scaling down what I ate, etc etc and I finally shed to 155lbs. It wasn’t until a year or so later I was able to drop to the 140s and then eventually 130 while I was dancing intensely in NYC. However, when I came back to Texas, i was suffering from depression, a serious breakup, and a dead end in my career with no job to back me up. The weight crept back on. In August 2009 I had reached back to 155. I was so ashamed because my previous weight of 170 was just a jump away. It broke my heart that after all that hard work and the obstacles I had been through to slim down, I had gone right back to where I was. I couldn’t get control and I became more and more depressed about it. I started with a nutritionist for a mild eating disorder and distorted body image. That’s when i started CrossFit in August 2009.”

“I went to a free Saturday workout with my roommate and fell in love with the gym and the coaches (I met Heather here at the pull-up bar station!). I had never lifted weights, butI knew after that first workout that this was a gym who saw results! Most obvious, the amazingly sculpted and beautiful coaches that led the work out. Wow, this place must work if all the coaches look like that!!”

“Since starting CrossFit I have dropped to 145-149 pounds, but most importantly I have gone from 32% body fat to 20.7%! I’ve seen the most results in my upper body, arms, and waist. My booty and legs will be the most difficult, but I have finally started to see results there and I can’t wait till it melts off! Crossfit has given me such an empowerment over so many things in my life, especially food. I have a “no way am I eating that” attitude because I can see the work that I’m doing is paying off and I’m anxious to see how far the rabbit hole goes. While being restrictive and depriving in your food habits doesn’t always have positive effects, in fact most nutritionist frown upon this, the change for me was to not use food as a solution to everything. If I fall into depression, instead of using food to comfort, I go do a workout to give me strength. I also have realized that I can have that Mexican food and those desserts whenever I want. There’s no restriction necessary. But now I am choosing to eat healthy (and not fighting it) because my body functions better. Not because “I’m dieting.” Mentally I’m better focused mainly because I’m getting up everyday to do something very active. It keeps my mind clearer throughout the day. It allows me to access the enjoyments in life by working out my anxiety through workouts. When you’re a CrossFitter, there’s no room for BS in your life. period.”

“Sectionals came about because my wonderful trainer said “Hey I’m competing in this competition. Hey you should do it too.” The mere suggestion by her showed me that she actually had the confidence in me to compete in this thing, and she saw the spark and the drive that I had really sunk into the few months before. If it was an option for her, it was an option for me. Once I started thinking about it, I was like “cool, I’m a weightlifter competing in a weightlifting competition. I’m badass. “ I became addicted to the thought and thus began the journey.”

“Sectionals for me was bittersweet at first. I was immediately disappointed with my performance (classic Lindsay). My goal was to finish all the workouts and I didn’t finish two. But I left with a fire and a desire to rip someone’s head off next year. As it sank in, I started examining the things I learned at Sectionals about my body, my weaknesses, recovery, strength training, endurance, nutrition, and injuries. The truth is, I learned a whole heck of a lot and I wouldn’t change the experience for the world. I saw amazing performances by some amazing people. I want that. I can taste it.”

My future goals are to drop to 16% body fat, put on some mega muscle mass in the upper arms (I want my muscle up!), get that 6 pack I’ve always wanted, and slim down those legs!! I’m an actor and I want to be red carpet ready! So now my body won’t keep me from booking a job (like before) but will instead help me book the job. My cardio still suffers (i’m an asthmatic) so just getting through long workouts is always a challenge. I’d like to compete at Regionals next year (who knows, maybe even the Games)! In life, I want CrossFit to continue to promote healthy/conscious eating habits and a healthy state of mind. The clearing of the mind and the perspective CrossFit gives me will help me pursue my life goals as an actor and, some day, as a wife.”

Lindsay, your story is empowering and very inspirational. I’m honored to be your friend and coach. You have tenaciously stuck to your training and made enormous gains in strength and fitness and have met goal after goal. I know your final goal is not far away! I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am that you took on the challenge of training for and competing at Sectionals. You did what thousands didn’t have the courage to do! Well done! Now, “On to the Next One!!!”

"meal of the week", tips, and tricks

“spaghetti” casserole
Layered in a casserole dish: big portabellas, steamed spaghetti squash, sautéed onions, olives, extra lean ground turkey, spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and the special ingredient to give it that zing: sundried tomato pesto. Since all items are already cooked, put in the oven at 350 degrees and bake till warmed through. I swear it tastes like you’re eating a delicious pile of Italian food!

Trick: if you’re short on time and bored with your food, try the prepackaged seasoning section at your grocery store. You can find tasty Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, taco seasoning, creole seasoning to spruce up your dish in a quick amount of time.

Tip: This week, my challenge to myself is to lay off the sweets. I have a major sweet tooth. Typically, I don’t give in but since starting a new job at a hotel, I am finding delicious pastries and chocolates are sitting out just waiting for me to taste them at my convenience. The solution? I bought some figs at Central Market to satisfy that sweet tooth. Figs are a naturally fat free and naturally sweet food, no preservatives needed. And you only need 2 or 3 to satisfy that craving.

Tip: Looking for a dessert? Try roasting grapes in the oven just till the juices have thickened. The sweetness of the grape is condensed, and the consistency tastes like a delicious preserve.

time to grow up

Who are the people you admire most? Why do you admire them? All the people I admire (my family, my coaches, my favorite artists) have something in common: they are smart. They are smart about their decisions. Smart about their careers, how they love, how they rest, how they workout, how they play. It's time to be smart about our decisions. Valuing who you are and knowing what you're worth. Can you list 10 great things about each person you admire? Can you list 10 things about yourself? Never shortchange yourself. Know what you want, and demand it. Never settle for anything less than you're worth. Be smart and humble enough to know what you need and make decisions that benefit you in the long run, no matter how much that decision hurts now. Be honest with yourself. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and making excuses. Be smart about who you are and what you do. That's being an adult.

ULTIMATE GOALS

Acting/Dancing
- Perform on Broadway
- Finish short by 2011 and expand to feature
- a part on 2 established features by end of 2010
- 2 commercial roles by the end of 2010
- A finished demo reel by the end of 2010 (3 more good shorts to add to resume)
- Well known name in Austin acting community by directors/casting directors/agents
- Branch out and hit the New Mexico and Louisiana markets
- Start making connections in LA (Veronica’s promise to start sending me to LA when reel is finished)

Personal
- Learn to sing like I was performing on Broadway
- Learn to play the piano
- Learn to tap
- Fulfilling career that parallels acting, provides financial support, sets up a second possible career path and provides fulfillment that I’m making a difference in the world
- Set up retirement plan
- Travel like you’ve never seen! “Where’s Lindsay?”
- Adopt second dog
- Contribute ample time and money to wildlife conservation and pet rescues
- Research these causes around the world
- Teach Bella to urban mush!
- Find my husband and start a family
- Make more friends
- Find time to relax every day and smell the roses that I’m supposed to be smelling
- Sleep less, play more!!
- Enjoy the process of it all!

Crossfit
- 15% body fat; size 4-6
- high quality foods in proper fat/carb/protein proportion
- Muscle up by August 30
- Deadlift: 270lbs
- Clean and Jerk: 145lbs
- Squat Clean: 175 lbs
- Push Press: 100lbs
- Snatch: 145lbs
- Back Squat: 250lbs
- Filthy Fifty: sub 30 min
- Elizabeth: sub 10 min
- Fran: sub 4 min
- Grace: 3 min
- Diane: sub 4 min
- 8 min mile pace
- sub 8 min 2k row

NEW JOURNEYS

I started Crossfit under the training of Coach Heather Hodges. She introduced me to Olympic lifts, pullups, double unders, the spirituality of weightlifting, she watched me achieve my first Personal Records, she was there to witness me shed pounds. She has seen me through some tough personal battles and some tough workouts. Without her encouragement and never failing belief in me, I wouldn’t have had the success I have had thus far. Heather has since left Crossfit Central to start an amazing journey: her own crossfit, Defiant CrossFit! Though I am sad to see her go, I am so excited for her new journey! She is one special woman and deserves the best!
And I’m excited to start my new journey to becoming an elite Crossfitter with Coach Crystal McReynolds! Crystal is one of the most inspiring athletes I have witnessed with my own eyes. Her magnetic personality, humble spirit, and her own true success story make people drawn to her and want to get to know her. I am proud to say that she is now MY coach and will continue me on to reach my ultimate goals.
This blog will be a process where I will share my journey and log my success and failures for others to follow and learn from; everything from my personal goals, my career goals, and my goals as a crossfitter. Most importantly, this blog is not about one genre of my life or another, it’s about finding the balance between them all to lead a truly fulfilling and rewarding existence as one of God’s creatures. Without all facets of my life in working order, the others would not be possible, as each area inspires the other. So…HERE WE GO!