My Strength is Stronger than my Strong...

Thanks to Aly RxStar for that AMAZING quote...when she told me this quote...I really had never experienced it...On Saturday, I learned what she meant by, "My strength, is stronger than my strong." On Saturday at the CrossFit Central Iron Belle Challenge, I truly learned what STRENGTH was!!! Not just physical strength, but mental strength. I accomplished things, that I NEVER thought I would ever be able to do!!! I have never felt so EMPOWERED in my life! On Saturday, I had the opportunity to compete in the Iron Belle Challenge with CrossFit Central in Austin, TX!!! What an AMAZING day it was. My team, the Wilke Warriors, competed in 3 WOD's. The first was a 2 mile run with stops along the way. The first stop we had to do 100 kettle bell swings with a 25lb KB, then ran a mile then came back and did 100 med ball passes and 50 burpees!!! WOD 2 was a dead lift ladder that my AMAZING teammate Leigh Ann did. She maxed out at a PR of 195 lbs!!! WOD 3 was 3 rounds of 20, 15lb dumbbell push presses, 20, 20" box jumps, 20 55lb squat cleans, 20 box pull ups, and a 50lb butcher down and back!!! We had 12 minutes to complete WOD 3 and we finished in 11:35!!! AWESOME!!! Never in a million years did I ever think I would be able to do this, but thanks to my Coach, Kat Von G and the AMAZING women at CrossFit Central, We DID it!!! I am a CHAMPION!!! I AM AMAZING!!!!

 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!!!

Poster Child

I wouldn't exactly say that I am the Poster Child for the Paleo Lifestyle...but I am definitely a success story. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I am SO proud of what I have accomplished since bringing the Paleo Diet into my life. I am AMAZED every time I look in the mirror at the person staring back at me. I am fitter, leaner, stronger and healthier then I have every been in my life and it is an AWESOME feeling. The true test to my total body transformation was this past week. I work in the school system and this week is our first week back. It is also the first time many of my coworkers have seen me since school got out. I am lucky that my head could fit through the door when I was leaving because of ALL the compliments I was getting. On my first day back, I wore a pair of new jeans that I had bought a few weeks back and they were TOO big!!! WOW! That was a GREAT feeling.  But you know what the best part was to all of it was, that I had several people ask me for information about the diet and about CrossFit. SO many people asked that I just typed up an email with information to get them started. If my success, changes one persons life, then it is SO worth it to me!!! I will admit that it isn't always easy but thanks to some very important people in my life it is much easier. The true test will be when I go to see my doctor for my diabetes. I can't wait for him to see my SUCCESS. He is the one that got the ball rolling for me but some very important people in my life, Leigh Ann, Kat, and Crystal have helped me to stay on the right path.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but you do not have to take that step alone. I am blessed to have people taking every step with me. If you need someone to walk with you on your journey, let me know...I will be there!

Paleo, Hawaiian Style

Hello All! I am sitting in the Admirals Club in Dallas waiting to hop on a flight to Beautiful Hawaii! This will be my first big adventure since I began eating Paleo. SO excited to see how things go in Hawaii! I will probably not post any entries while I am gone, but I will give you an update as soon as I get back!!! Wish me LUCK!

ALOHA!

Preaching Paleo

Preaching Paleo...that is what I do! Why not spread the word about an AMAZING thing that has truly changed my life! I never miss an opportunity to share my PALEO story and to encourage others to make a lifestyle change and go Paleo. Several of my friends are now going PALEO, or at least dipping their toes in the water to test it out.

Just last night I received a facebook message from a friend, sharing her story:

So, I have been following the paleo lifestyle pretty darn religiously. What I have found is that if I eat bread and cheese (like the pizza I ate with friends the other day) like I used to, I feel horrible and sluggish. It is amazing. It really has made a difference. I sleep better and I know this because I can actually remember my dreams. Lol I am down 8 pounds, but more important than that, I feel good. :-)

This is why I Preach Paleo. It is a life changer!

Paleo Resources

Several people have asked me for resources to help get them started on their Paleo Journey. So, here is a list that can help get you started. There are a TON out there and I am only listing a few....

Books:

• The Paleo Soultion by Robb Wolf
• The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat by Loren Cordain
• Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso
• The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy by Mark Sisson

Websites:

• http://www.everydaypaleo.com/
• http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
• http://robbwolf.com/
• http://thepaleodiet.com/

Facebook:

• Primal  Toad
• Everyday Paleo
• Fast Paleo
• Cave Momma
• Primal Trucker
• Primal Penn
• Fast Paleo

I hope that these are helpful to you!!!

Diabetes SUCKS....well it use too

Having a chronic illness in your life can at times be depressing. The day I was diagnosed, I had a doctor sit with me and tell me, "Lori, YOU have diabetes, it doesn't have you." Those words have stuck in my head every day since...but YES, there were times where diabetes had me...but those days are OVER!!! Now that PALEO is in my life, I go for days without worrying about my blood sugars...not worrying about if I eat something what will happen, and not worrying if I will or will not wake up in the morning!

I am a daughter, teacher, friend, marathoner, aunt, cousin and a diabetic. PALEO has given me freedom from diabetes. Yes I still have this disease, but I am healthier than MOST people out there.

For those of you who are reading this, if you have someone in your life with diabetes, tell them about the PALEO diet, give them my information, share with them my story. It will change their life forever! I am living proof!!!

History

For those of you who really don't know much about me, I have had diabetes for 24 years. I was diagnosed when I was 12 years-old. It seems like my whole life I have struggled with my diabetes. I was not a "BAD" diabetic. I stuck to my 2,200 calorie ADA diet. I didn't sneak candy or treats. I checked my blood, did my shots and went to ALL of my doctors visits, but for some reason I could never get a handle on my blood sugars. Yes, there were burst of time when my blood sugars would be spot on, but those were few and far between. I also was never a very "active" person. I never worked out, went to the gym or was a part of organized sports. Looking back, I think I opted out of those things for a fear of my blood sugar going low. Not having control of your body or your blood sugars is a scary feeling

Fast forward several years, as an adult, I still struggled daily with the balance of blood sugars, exercise and diet. Then I met my AMAZING doctor, Aaron King. He was the first doctor to actually sit down with me and look at my blood sugars and talk to me about them. He wanted to help me figure out this puzzle called diabetes. SO for a year or so, we played with basal rates, insulin to carb ratios, and everything else diabetes but still had no success. Month after month I would come to see him and I would leave feeling defeated. I was SO frustrated. I could not get everything under control and Dr. King let me know that it was not my fault. It was definitely not because of my lack of trying. I could run marathons, I could help calm down the most unruly child, but I could not control my blood sugars.

This past March I went for my 3-month check-up with Dr. King. It was a visit that I was not looking forward to because I knew that it would be the same thing. Before my doctor even came into the room, I was in tears and as he walked in and saw the tears of frustration that were rolling down my face, Dr. King looked at me and said " Lori, have you ever heard of the PALEO diet?" and those words changed my life FOREVER....