Tag Archives: life

New Business, Progressive Diets, More Weight Loss – What’s CrossFit?

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Since the last time I posted, I’ve started a new business, gone full on OMAD with a mostly keto approach, given up CrossFit (not because I hate it, but because I don’t have enough hours in the day) and have lost about 20lbs.

Is this 20lbs of muscle? Maybe. I’m still strong. I can still lift heavy shit. Can I go and do 350lb deadlifts? Probably not, but I’m lighter, leaner, I feel better, I’m not injured, and I don’t have enough time to care about anything else, really.

I started making camera and bag straps. What? Yes. I couldn’t find what I wanted online, so I bought a bunch of supplies, and figured out how to make them myself. Dave saw my stacks of new supplies and about killed me.. “You’d better sell some fucking straps!” is about what he told me. HA. Okay! I can do that.

Fast forward about 8-9 months, and we now have a full blown camera, bag, and guitar strap business. Blossoming like whoa, I can’t keep up with sales or demands. I’ve been doing markets just about every weekend and selling them like crazy. They are a total hit, and the patterns and color options keep everyone coming back for more. SoRetro Straps is a play on my last name which is Soret. Get it? It’s become so successful that I’ve been able to book shows around the country. I will actually be traveling to Michigan for the summer to do various events and craft shows throughout the state. I leave in mid June, and won’t be coming back to FL til the end of September.

Dali is still charging ahead at full speed, so it’s Dali by day, and Straps by nights and weekend. It’s insane. I’ve been to CF once in the last month, and I’m hoping to go back sometime before the end of May, but I have the Jacksonville Jazz Fest coming up, along with another show called Vintage Market Days in Green Cove Springs. Anyway, this post isn’t supposed to be about straps, but about me. So..

OMAD. Or, One Meal a Day. I started doing this out of necessity, because with my craft/market events, I haven’t had time to eat more than once a day. So I decided to go full blown OMAD and just make it easier on myself. This means, I eat one meal a day. Usually just a nice big tasty lunch, but when I’m doing events, I’ll eat after the event is over with, or not at all depending on what time I finish. My meals usually consist of a giant salad with dressing and the meat of my choice, or a ton of chicken wings, or 3 or 4 hamburger patties with cheese and mushrooms, etc. Sometimes I go a little nuts at Five Guys, or I’ll eat a whole plateful of fajitas.

Where it’s strayed a bit from keto is what I have along with my meals. If we’re getting Mexican food, I’ll eat the corn tortilla chips. If I go to a BBQ place, I’ll have some cornbread. If we go to Five Guys, I’ll eat some french fries. And, if we go to the wing place, I’ll have tater tots, corn on the cob, or fries in addition to my food. It’s been working for me because I’m down more than 20 lbs since I started about 2 months ago, and at the lowest weight I’ve been in 12+ years. I weighed in at 189.2 this morning.

The biggest jump in weight loss came from cutting out the heavy cream in my coffee and switching back to unsweetened coconut cream from the can. This was also my initial start to it, so it could’ve just been a combination of everything. I’ve been wanting to cut back on dairy (again) and I finally made the switch off of cream again. The weight fell off, it seemed! Anyway. It was hard in the beginning to go back to OMAD, but that was simply out of being used to eating at night. When I started evaluating if I was really hungry, or if I was just used to eating, the answer almost always came down to I was just used to eating.

So, here we are. My 8 year CF anniversary is next month. I’d like to say I’m going to go, but we’ll see. I’ve been doing nothing but working nonstop and I love it. I’m visiting my mom right now in Madison, which is really the only reason I have time to even write this, but don’t worry, I brought a whole shitload of straps to sew while I’m here, and I’ll ship them all back to FL at the end of the week.

Dairy Free Coffee for Two Days

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I have been wanting to quit adding so much cream to my coffee for months, and months. And I’ve never found any worthy substitute, so I could never actually commit. I wanted a high fat, not coconut oil or butter, cream substitute that would leave me feeling full and satisfied. After the suggestion of some keto friends online, I tried unsweetened coconut cream and was astonished. While it wasn’t the same as regular heavy cream in my coffee, it still had that thick and creamy texture that I desired. And it had a slightly coconutty taste, but it wasn’t this slick layer of oil settling on top despite my best emulsifying efforts. So, we are two days in, going on 3 tomorrow, and I just went and bought 6 more cans of the stuff, this time from Trader Joe’s. I’m hoping theirs is better than the Thai Publix brand. I will report back.

For what it’s worth, I already feel less bloated, less self conscious, and I feel like my stomach is flatter over the last two days. I’ve still had some dairy, like cheese and sour cream at Chipotle yesterday and again on my fajita salad today, but the difference is astounding.

As for missing my dogs, the immediate sting and shock of them being gone has faded, but I still feel like everything else happening around me is completely and utterly insignificant. My head is full of… Nothing matters, nothing’s important, what’s the fucking point, who cares about whatever it is you’re complaining about, omg, seriously, shut the fuck up already.. I find their dog hair on my clothes from time to time and instinctively, I go to brush it off, and then I stop and think how I don’t have a steady, reliable source of dog hair anymore. And then I still proceed to pick it off my clothes. It’s sad. The whole thing is sad.

Yay dairy reduction.

Processing all of the Attention – 10/13/16

Life,

So, I knew that I’d be posting about this interview with Buzz Magazine, and I knew I’d be sharing it with friends and family, and I knew I’d cringe at the video of me talking (one of those things, like people hate it when they hear their voice from the outside). But I never expected this sort of attention or response from it. I didn’t expect the texts and messages of praise and congratulations. Or the high fives and other positive notes from everyone. It feels really good that my little blog has gotten some sort of recognition, and that it is completely as a result of the work I’ve put into it. Take it a step further, and I can attribute the successes of these little achievements to CrossFit. All because I went out on a limb and tried something completely unfathomable and crazy and wild. And I loved it..

Now, I want to take a minute and address my Depression post from over a week ago. Going back and reading it, I’m like oh my god, what was I thinking?? I feel fine right now. Normal, a little stressed, kind of crazy, but overall, at peace with my life. I had a great dinner, it’s Thursday. Work is getting one, customers are happy, the dogs are happy. Life is pretty fucking awesome right this moment. I know it’s not always awesome, and sometimes I break down while I’m driving or when I’m in the middle of working from the sheer weight of everything that’s expected of me, wondering if this is really what I’m supposed to be doing. But right now, it’s all pretty damn good.

With that being said, what I wrote then was absolutely true as of then. That was exactly what I was feeling at that moment. And for me to have gotten to the point where I blogged about it, means it was really intense and very real. I remember feeling completely helpless and held hostage by my emotions. I was so worried that this time, it wasn’t going away. It wasn’t just a phase or a few bad days. It lingered and stayed with me, haunted me. IĀ  know people have read the post, but I don’t know what anyone thinks about it. My first thoughts are, I hope nobody thinks I’m totally off the wall when they read this.. and then I go on to think, well, if I’m feeling this way, then others have to be experiencing this, too. Maybe my posting about it will help others recognize that they aren’t so alone.

I also know that this is one of those topics that is almost completely taboo to bring up in discussion, and that’s fine. It’s a very private, personal experience that most of us aren’t comfortable with sharing. I sound like I’m all big time expert on this shit, but I’m not. I’m just really relieved that I’ve made it over the hump again. I want to thank others for understanding, and for being my friends, through all the ups and downs. Life is good right now, and this is awesome.

Don't worry, I was sitting at a stop light.
Don’t worry, I was sitting at a stop light.

It has been months since my last post.. I am still here.

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I feel like I’m in a confessional. Forgive me Father.

I also feel like a broken record. I keep posting and apologizing for not posting. I’m thinking to reformat how I do this. I’m coming up on my 5 year CrossFit anniversary in a few months, and keeping track of my daily WODs… well, it’s really cool. But I suck at managing something that only feels like an obligation right now.

I’ve gone through so much in the last few weeks. A fast track to Hell and back. It wasn’t my Hell though, it was my Mom’s. I need to stop and spend some time and really devote a few hours to writing and updating this. So I can put it all in writing and give the story the time it deserves.

I am still here. I am still working crazy hours. I am still going to the gym. I just got home from spending a few weeks up north with my Mom and John. I am trying to find and establish my new normal. Trying to juggle my emotions from dealing with death and dying, to acting happy with customers, pretending like I care about what is seemingly now mundane bullshit. Trying to be healthy again. Trying to re-establish healthy choices. Trying to just be happy and content. Holy fuck. Trying to be happy.

When I see people I normally would have engaged in light-hearted conversations with, I turn and walk the other way. I don’t want to deal with it. I don’t want to deal with small talk or chit chat. I don’t want to be asked if I’m okay, or how are you holding up….? With big doe eyes. I’m fine. The reality is, all this small talk and chit chat doesn’t matter to me. And I’m tired of wasting my time on shit that doesn’t matter.

I just want to be alone, and work, and work out. And get shit done. I’m fine. I’m tired of crying, I’m tired of recanting the story, the series of events, the days, leading up to John’s passing.

I don’t want to argue about dimensions, or debate with customers about where their package is (thanks UPS…) The phone rings, and I cringe. The front door to the office opens and closes and I lock myself in my office, and hope that one of the boys deals with the in flux foot traffic.

I feel like this has been part of the real me all along, except I’m even more straightforward than ever before. Fake it til you make it? I don’t really care. Not right now, anyway. Maybe it’s just a phase. Maybe I’ll want to open up to people again, but right now, the only person who understands me is my Mom, and vice versa. If I’m not talking to, or spending time with my mom, then I just want to be alone. Please.

Sunrise on Lake Waubesa 8/31/16
Sunrise on Lake Waubesa 8/31/16

Monthly Update – May 2016

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My training has been consistently inconsistent. I have really tried to stay in a good routine these last couple weeks, and just last week, I determined that I would work regular people hours like everyone else, regardless of what work was left for the day. This means I need to work on my efficiency, perhaps go in to the office earlier and get more done during my quiet time, and then be out the door by 5-5:30p. This allows me to go to the gym in the evening if I want to, eat dinner with Dave, watch a TV show or two, and then get to bed by 11p. Last week it worked pretty well, so I’m hoping that except for extreme install circumstances, or crazy deadlines that come up sometimes, that I can stick to that.

Today I came home around 4p, which was wildly luxurious. Dave and I had an early dinner, which was also fantastic, because it means I’m not eating at 9p and going to bed soon after. So bad!

My gym time has been 2-3 times a week, plus here and there at our neighbor’s gym, called Training for Warriors – River City. They are a CrossFit style gym, but without the dirt and grunge and nitty gritty. They have AC, no tires, no ropes, they don’t do Olympic lifts, but the body weight type stuff is very similar, as is the camaraderie. They are just starting out, and since we did some decals for them, I traded training time for installation time. Total win win for everyone!

So all in all, 4-5 times a week maybe. The TFW stuff is usually not as intense as CF, unless I make it more intense, or add in more reps. I hope they do well! They could really get a great customer base and following if people find out about them. It’s most of what people want from CF, but with AC and spotless equipment and spaces. The training and coaching is a bit more individualized, and it definitely can cater to an older population, too.

So, with my new ‘normal’ schedule happening again, I want to start blogging again. Stay tuned.

 

Jax Beach Sunrise

Jesus, I forgot how to post here – 3/24/16

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So with this crazy turn of events at the office (two long-term employees left suddenly and within a few weeks of each other) I had to really prioritize the activities in my life. Obviously maintaining our business is important, and obviously my health/fitness is important, but there are only so many hours in a day/week/month and boom. Time has flown by.

I have eliminated, ignored and pushed away the things that simply don’t matter to me. I have adjusted my entire schedule to ensure that three things happen. a) I go to CrossFit b) every email and phone call is answered, every file is set up, and every order is produced, and c) I Sleep.

I eat when I can, whether from meal prep or simply by going out to eat. I try really fucking hard to go to bed before 11p. I get up at 5a to work out, and then I work my ass off the rest of the day, sometimes into the night. Gotta get shit done and I can only ask so much of my amazing boys who have stood by my side through all this chaos. Everyone has busted their butts to make this work, and we’re killing it. Sales are insane, business is insane. I’m learning a million things and proud as punch of what I’m capable of doing now, and beaming with pride at my efficiency. I love that my boys are right there with me, learning along the way, and we’re all doing whatever it takes to make it all happen.

What has suffered? Lots of things. Friendships, free time, shopping (boo hoo), wandering around Publix or Target to kill time, blogging, reading, my tan, my dogs (probably the worst part of all this…), my phone time.

I haven’t blogged consistently in months. I quit WAG (it sucks, you can keep your high carbs and nutty macro counting, I’ll keep my high fat, low carb diet). I don’t keep my phone near me in production anymore. I simply don’t have the time or energy to focus on meaningless texts. If it’s important, email me or call the office. If it’s not important, I’ll get to it later. I have quit making plans with friends, and I have quit attending most social functions and gatherings unless they are something I really want to be a part of. I have learned to say NO. Nope, I can’t. Nope, I’m fucking busy. Nope, I don’t have the time. Sorry. Sorry, not sorry. I have shit to do and if I put it off, I’ll just have even more shit to do.

We did manage to plan a few great weekends over the last month or so. We got to go to South Florida at the end of February for Dave’s grandfather’s birthday (96!) in which almost the entire family was in attendance! The next weekend, I was able to go down and visit with April and Preston! (Dave’s sister in law and new nephew!) and his mom even made it too. It was a fantastic way to spend time with them! And then this past weekend, we somehow pulled off the trip of a lifetime, and took all of our employees and their girlfriends to Miami for Ultra Music Festival. We booked a big condo in North Miami (Aventura) and made a vacation out of it. Friday through Monday, we danced, laughed, ate, hung out, talked, shared a bunch of amazing stories and created some awesome memories. I answered the Dali phone (forwarded to my cell!) all the way down on Friday, and then shut it down when we arrived. We got right back to it Tuesday morning and everything just fell back into place.

I will make a conscious effort to blog more. I have been keeping up on my workouts, going consistently to the gym and shooting for 3-5 times a week right now. Once I get used to the 6a classes, it’s not an issue, but once I miss a couple, it’s so easy to turn off my alarm and say fuck it, I’ll go later. (That’s what I did today!) The down side is, if I say I’ll go later, I can easily just be like whoops, ran out of time, oh well. I forced myself to go tonight and I was so glad I did.

 

So here we go: CF Day Whatever – Small Class – 3/24/16

16.5 was announced in the middle of our WOD, but whatever, we kept going!

1000m row Buy In

4RFT

15 KB swings (55/35) I did 55lb

10 pistols (I used a band, best pistols I’ve ever done, probably)

5 Burpees

Finished in 14:24 Oh yes.

Quad City, Bitches.

Okay, I’ve waited too long to update. 2/20/16

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Yeah so it’s been about 2 months now. I’m just going to throw in the towel on trying to play catch up and just note a couple of my PRs I’ve hit and exciting events since then. šŸ™‚

2 months in review:

Back squat PR: 295 ~12/19/15

Front Squat PR: 245 2/3/16

Running 400m and then another 400m 2/9/16 FIRST TIME since I broke my foot!

I started going to 6a CF 2/2/16 with my friend Lisa. Because accountability works. I’ve been so busy lately at the office with two of our former employees now gone, that it’s been complete insanity trying to manage both of their roles mostly on my own. Thank god for my other two guys who have totally stepped it up and jumped right in to help. They are a godsend. The 3 of us together totally get it all done, and it’s really awesome, but it’s ass-busting work. By the time I’m done in the late afternoon/evening, the last thing I want to do is work out. So, if I go at 6a, there are no excuses.

I began stringing kipping pull ups together. 1/30/16 Did a set of 4, and then 3 or 4 more sets of 5.

Mom came with me! 1/30/16

My 4 year CrossFit anniversary 1/24/16

Birthday cosmo was delicious.

In a total moment of sheer stubbornness, and Dave was out of town, I moved my old king sized bed from upstairs to downstairs at our old house, in an attempt to ‘stage’ the house for buyers. Then the guy who was interested made an offer, so now we’re under contract. Fingers crossed closing moves forward without any issues! Supposed to close within the next month or so.

 

Enjoy the pictures. šŸ™‚