1. The Season of Transition
2. Getting Back on Track—Slowly
3. A New Focus: Learning to Jump
4. The Power of Practice—Even When It’s Hard
5. Staying Grounded in Small Wins
6. Next Steps: Healing, Strengthening, and Building
7. A Peek at What I’m Eating
8. What This Season is Teaching Me

The Season of Transition

It’s been a few weeks since I wrapped up my 6-week calorie deficit and took a much-needed vacation to reset. And I’ll be honest; it’s been challenging to find my footing again. Moving from a strict deficit phase back to maintenance calories feels like shifting gears without a map. I’m not just talking about the calories or the workouts, there’s been a lot of life stuff, too. End-of-school-year chaos with my kids, dance recitals, choir concerts, work, volunteering, and let’s not forget the coursework for my college class. Oh, and the cherry on top? A week-long battle with a cold, sore throat, cough and body aches that left me half bedridden and totally wiped out.

Getting Back on Track—Slowly

Coming out of a focused goal like a calorie deficit can feel…weird. It’s unsettling, almost like I’m floundering without that target in front of me. Before vacation, I had structure: track, hit my numbers, repeat. Now, it’s about maintaining and it’s a different kind of challenge.

Thank goodness for Coach Amber. My bi-weekly check-ins with my nutrition coach are a godsend. When I start to feel like I’m spiraling, she helps reign me back in and focus on what’s important.

So, here’s what I keep telling myself: It’s okay to feel a little lost. I don’t have to have it all figured out. All I have to do is focus on today. Then tomorrow. One step at a time.

A New Focus: Learning to Jump

One thing that’s kept me feeling energized during this transition has been a 21-day Double Under Clinic at Crusher CrossFit. It’s three in-person classes and daily practice to level up our jump rope game. Double unders (when the rope passes under your feet twice in one jump) have always felt impossible for me. Day one? Total chaos. My brain and body were not even in the same time zone.

We did slow-mo videos of our jumps, and let me tell you, watching yourself in slow motion is…humbling. Our homework after that first class? Penguin taps and ghost DUs (double unders without a rope). My daughter giggled as she watched me practice—I’m sure I looked absolutely ridiculous. But here’s the thing: those silly drills worked.

By class two, I landed my very first double under! Coach Wyatt caught it on video, and my face said it all—pure shock and excitement. It was a lightbulb moment: once you feel it happen, you realize it’s possible. That feeling of, “Okay, I can do this!” I left that class two with 20 total individual double unders.

The Power of Practice—Even When It’s Hard

Then life threw me a curveball—my cold took over. I missed practice. I missed workouts. I missed feeling like myself. By the time class three rolled around, I hadn’t practiced at all in a week. I showed up anyway, telling myself I’d just see what I could do.

At first, it felt like I was back at square one. My coach recorded more videos for me, and I was so close to stringing two in a row together but couldn’t quite get it. But I wasn’t done yet. I stepped off to the side, set up my own camera, and kept trying.

And then—it clicked. Two in a row. Then three. Almost four. My coach heard the rhythm of the rope and turned around to see me beaming. I was so proud of myself.

You might be thinking, “Seriously? Jump roping?” But if you haven’t picked up a jump rope in years (or decades), I challenge you to give double unders a shot. It’s humbling. It’s hard. And it’s such a cool feeling to see yourself get better at something that once felt impossible.

Staying Grounded in Small Wins

These double unders have been more than just a skill to learn—they’re a reminder to celebrate the process. Even when everything feels like it’s going sideways—injuries, sickness, life—I can still find joy in the small wins.

In fact, a friend recently asked me, “How is your gym teaching you how to eat?” She shared how her trainer gave her a strict meal plan for lift days and non-lift days, but didn’t really explain how to eat when those three months were up.

I told her that’s not how it’s been for me. My nutrition group has never been about a rigid plan—it’s always been about learning how to hit macro targets, how to adapt, and how to build a sustainable approach that actually fits my lifestyle. From day one, it’s been about making healthy choices in any situation—not just in the gym or on lift days. And that’s what’s helped me stay grounded, even when the rest of life feels chaotic.

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” ~Abraham Lincoln

Next Steps: Healing, Strengthening, and Building

As I move out of deficit mode and back into maintenance calories, I’m excited for what’s next: body recomposition. My goal is to build lean muscle and maintain a healthy weight—slow, steady, and sustainable.

But first, I’ve got some healing and strengthening to focus on. My lower back injury has taught me that core stability and hip flexor strength are absolutely essential. So my next steps? I’m adding in daily at-home exercises to target those areas—simple movements that build a stronger foundation for everything else I want to do.

Of course, I’m still hitting the gym. I’m learning that progress isn’t just about lifting heavier weights—it’s about building a body that moves well and feels strong, every day.

A Peek at What I’m Eating

I also wanted to share a few meal ideas that have worked well for me lately—because so many people have asked how I’m fueling this journey:

Pre-workout:

• Protein Bar
  OR
• Overnight Oats with Almond Milk, Chia Seeds, Vanilla Protein Powder and PB Fit

Breakfast:

• Coffee w/ 1 TBLS Half n Half, 1 TBLS Collagen Peptides, Mocha Protein Powder for flavor
• 2 Eggs, 1 Egg White, 1/4 Cup of Cottage Cheese Scrambled
  OR
• Overnight Oats with Almond Milk, Chia Seeds, Vanilla Protein Powder and PB Fit

Snack:

• 2 Protein Pancakes (125g) with either 1 TBLS of Syrup or Peanut Butter (depending on if I want sweet or savory)

Lunch:

• Protein Shake
  OR
• 6oz. Plain Greek Yogurt, 1 TBLS Vanilla Protein Powder, 1 TBLS Chai Seeds, 15g

Snack:

• Protein Bar (if I didn’t have one already for a pre-workout snack)
  OR
• Pistachios (30g shelled ,60 g in shell)
  OR
• Protein Coffee (great for when I’m craving an Iced Carmel Macchiato from Starbucks!)

Dinner:

• Salmon filets with roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli
  OR
• Marinated Chicken, with Quiona, and roasted veggies or a bed of Spinach
  OR
• Just Bare, Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast again with lots of roasted veggies

Snack (if I’m still under my targets):

• Apple with Peanut Butter

Something I find really helpful is loading all my food into my tracker the night before for the next day. It lets me play around with what I can (and want) to eat, making the next day feel totally stress-free!

**Be on the lookout for a recipe section coming soon**

What This Season is Teaching Me

This phase—the weeks after my deficit, the weeks of trying to find my rhythm again—has been a humbling but powerful reminder. Progress doesn’t stop when the “goal” ends. In fact, that’s when it matters most.

It’s easy to chase a number on the scale. But real growth? That comes from showing up on the days when you’d rather hide under the covers. It comes from choosing a walk when you’re feeling tired, or practicing double unders when you’re frustrated, or giving yourself grace when your body just needs a break.

How about you?

Have you ever felt stuck or lost after reaching a goal? What small wins are you celebrating lately? Drop a comment below or message me—I’d love to hear your story and keep cheering you on.

Let’s keep showing up—one day, one choice, one double under at a time.