Dana Shaw is a coach and the general manager at Crossfit 416, so health and fitness are a big part of her life. But even coaches are human, with their own ups and downs.
2020 has been a crazy year for all of us, and on top of the pandemic, Dana had her first baby in July! New motherhood brought some big changes to her lifestyle and routines. The Fall Body Care Challenge came at the perfect time for Dana to reset some of her nutrition habits that had slipped during pregnancy and quarantine.
“I really needed a kick in the butt! I wanted to restructure my eating habits, and I got my friends and partner to join the BODZii challenge with me.”
With guidance from her personal BODZii challenge coach, and support of friends and family who did the challenge with her, Dana absolutely crushed it.
Challenge Results:
- Lost 8 lbs and feeling great, with increased energy and better sleep
(10 lbs lost in total 2 weeks post-challenge as her new healthy habits continue to pay off) - Overcame sugar addiction and got used to tracking food
- Drinking 2.2L of water daily (before the challenge Dana drank less than 1L per day)
Mini-Challenges Dana Completed:
- Kitchen Clearout! (Goodbye wine and processed sugar)
- 30k Steps in a day
Here’s a Q&A with Dana on what worked and how she feels now after completing our Fall Body Care Challenge! (If you'd like to learn more about our next challenge, click here!)
What did your life look like before and after our Fall Body Care Challenge?
Before the challenge, I was taking care of a two and a half month old and not being the most disciplined with my diet. I was eating a lot of junk I didn’t even realize, like grocery store granola, that I thought were healthy options. I wasn’t thinking about the types of food I was eating, or prioritizing the quality of food.
This challenge helped me realize that even if I’m not super strict, I can still make good changes that become habits. It’s been a great reminder to get the groceries back in check as I adjust to my new life as a busy mom. I reduced a lot of the added sugars that had crept into my diet.
What were the biggest struggles you faced and how did you handle it?
In the first week and a half, resisting treats was hard. The challenge started in October and with Halloween, there were lots of temptations with chocolate or wanting to grab a drink with a friend. I would pick a day where I’d have chocolate and wine and stick to that. For the whole challenge I only had 3 or 4 cheat days, which normally would have been way more!
After the kitchen clearout, I went through sugar withdrawal and I was more cranky than usual. My partner was able to support me through the challenge since he was doing it too. There were lots of little ways he’d help, like refilling my water bottle whenever he refilled his so we get enough water for the daily check-ins.
I also had my own personal group chat with my two friends who were doing the challenge with me. We would help each other stay on track and share recipe ideas to hit our protein goals. The challenge Facebook group is full of recipes as well.
What did you find the most helpful about this challenge vs. making the same changes on your own?
In the past when I was on my own, I wasn’t as committed to the changes I wanted to make. This time, because of a great group where everyone participating in the challenge was so active, it helped hold me accountable for the four weeks. Having my friends and partner doing it with me was another great support that got me through.
On top of that, it’s awesome that everyone gets a coach to hold them accountable. I’m so thankful to Coach Zeynep for checking in with me and adjusting my macros to help with breastfeeding. I could always talk to her and the check-ins were as detailed or as quick as you needed. The bonus point system also got me doing things I normally wouldn’t have, like clearing out my kitchen and striving for 30k steps.
Having BODZii run these challenges and allow us to get our friends and family involved is really great. It's perfect timing for a lot of people during COVID19, when many of us have been falling off track with our nutrition. I’m definitely continuing with BODZii and I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Our next challenge is right around the corner! Learn more here.
