Athlete Profile: Brittany Hallahan

Name: Brittany Hallahan
Age: 29
Height:5’5”
Weight:  Almost to goal
Crossfitting Since: July 2011
Attends Class:5+ a week
Favorite Quote:  ‘It is meant to be hard, if it was easy everyone would do it’

  HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CROSSFIT?

I first heard about CrossFit from one of my friends who had moved to NJ from Atlanta.  I   was tired of my workouts and he suggested I check out CrossFit.  At first I was intimated by the workouts so it took me almost 6 months to check out a free class and sign up for Fundamentals.  Had I known how much I would love it I would have jumped at the opportunity the first time he mentioned CrossFit to me.

WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU STARTED CROSSFIT?

To make it through a class…To be honest I do not know that I had any goals when I first started.  Ultimately I was looking for a change in my workouts and to be in better shape.

HOW HAS CROSSFIT DIFFERED FROM YOUR FORMER TRAINING?

Light years different…The first time Coach Dan called me an athlete I laughed.  Much to my Dad’s dismay growing up I never played sports.  I was active with dance and cheerleading but would not have considered myself overly athletic.  Before Crossfit I was one of those girls that would go to the gym take a class once or twice a week then jump on the elliptical or treadmill for an hour followed by sit ups before calling it a day.  I rarely lifted weights especially heavy weights and had never worked with a barbell.  I believed that if I lifted heavy weights I would get ‘bulky’.  After Fundamentals I worked one on one with Coach Dan to improve my form and increase my comfort level in classes.  I quickly changed my mindset and am now proud to be a ‘strong chick’. 

WHAT TYPE OF RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN WITH CROSSFIT?

Since joining CrossFit I have lost weight and sizes in clothing but more importantly CrossFit has made me realize that being strong and healthy is the most important factor.  There is no better feeling then Rx’ing a WOD that you thought you would never be able to do.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CROSSFIT HOBOKEN?

AMAZING!!!!  Not only does CrossFit Hoboken offer great workouts but they have awesome coaches who care about each member’s success.  When you walk through the door, you walk into a community that supports and challenges you to be a better athlete.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT YEAR IN YOUR OWN FITNESS?

I am going to continue to work on my pull ups.  I’ve come a long way, when I started I was using two green bands and I am down to one red band.  I would like to be able to Rx a WOD when pull ups are involved.

NUTRITION QUESTIONS

WHEN DID YOU START EATING PALEO?

February of 2011.  I signed up for the Winter Paleo Challenge

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD LOOK LIKE YOUR YOU?

Lots of protein, vegetables and some fruit.  I typically make myself an egg white omelet for breakfast with veggies and top it with homemade guacamole with a cup of coffee to get me started.  I wake up early so I normally need a mid morning snack, maybe some fruit.  Lunch is a large salad with protein, maybe chicken or fish.  Then I have turkey roll ups with slices of red peppers or an apple with sunflower butter to get me through the afternoon and my workouts.  For dinner, a large plate of vegetables and protein.  I will have ½ a sweet potato or a little rice a couple times a week.  Last and most importantly I’m finding a happy balance with my love for dark chocolate and red wine.

HOW DID PALEO ACCELERATE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?

The first week I lost 5 or so pounds.  After the initial week my weight continued to go down but more importantly I lost inches.  My clothes were looser and by the end of the 45 days I had dropped a full size in clothing.  What girl wouldn’t like that!!!!  The weight loss was more than welcomed but I also found that I slept better and once I eliminated/minimized the amount of sugar I consumed, I had more energy and overall just felt better.

HAVE YOU FOUND IT HARD TO ADHERE TO PALEO DIET?

Not really.  It’s all about planning and being aware of what you are eating.  I have found that if I give myself a ‘cheat’ day I more compliant and do not ‘fall off the wagon.’

OTHER THAN PALEO WHAT OTHER DIET TOOLS HAVE YOU USED?

I’ve tried other diet tools in the past but have found that Paleo works for me.  I have incorporated some of the foods allowed from the Zone Diet.  I am allergic to almonds so I find that I am limited in some of my snacks.  I allow hummus a couple times a week with vegetables as a snack.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF GOING PALEO?

Explaining and getting my friends to understand my new way of eating.  I have always been picky when it came to some of my meals but they did not understand why no diary, grain and legumes.  Also I had to change my Starbucks order.  I was always a big fan of a Triple Grande Soy Latte and the occasional Carmel Macchiato.

DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE WITH THIS WAY OF EATING PERMANENTLY?

Yes, I do.  I learned a lot about my eating habits from completing the challenge.  I have taken the tools I learned and incorporated them into my everyday life.  I am aware that not everywhere you go (i.e. restaurants, picnics etc…) are going to be Paleo friendly but you can make healthy choices and one meal off Paleo is not going to derail the progress I have made.