You guys have seen it: organic sweeteners designed to fool consumers into thinking they’re choosing a healthy option. Evaporated cane juice, sugar in the raw, blue agave nectar…
My take on it has always been the same; you’re body doesn’t care if it’s high fructose corn syrup or agave nectar. It ALL gets metabolized as sugar, and any form of sugar should be limited.
Check out this post for and expose’ on agave nectar. Post to comments if you have any questions.
Check out what Mark has to say about the staple of the Western Diet : Why Grains Are Unhealthy.
The New Food Pyramid
So we are about three weeks into this whole paleo challenge, and I’ve noticed a progression in the gym:
Week 1: “I can’t eat bread and sugar!? What am I supposed to eat!?”
Week 2: “I’ve dropped 6 pounds already! This is awesome!”
Week 3: “I tried this new paleo recipe -insert recipe here- it was delicious!”
Hopefully week 4 will bring some of you a new outlook on your food.
Some of the recipes people have been telling me about sound great (samples for the trainers are always appreciated). Darcy has a good one for Paleo Candy Bars; we are in negotiations with her right now to trade them for her membership. A few of you have been raving about the Roast Sticky Chicken found in our recipe section (try out some of the links found there to websites for more recipes). A couple of you asked about the Apple and Pork Roast I was bragging about (I held the sugar and added sweet potatoes)… yea, I love my crockpot. Here are some yummy breakfast options Kristin H. sent me.
So, you can see that whole, “What am I supposed to eat!?” question is easily answered. The possibilities are endless. I told someone today that I eat more variety and better tasting food now then before I started eating paleo. It’s about eating real, fresh food; not foodlike products made in a factory, packaged with a health claim on it.
So try some new recipes and let me know how they go!
So, is everybody feeling like they need to jump start their nutrition for 2010? Indulge in the holidays a little more than expected? I know I did. Enter the Paleo Challenge.
Here are the rules:
Keep a detailed food log. What you ate, how much, and what time.
Eat Paleo foods. Meat and veggies, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, NO SUGAR.
Get your before picture taken at the gym before Jan. 8th.
Participants will put $10 in the pot, winner takes all. The winner will be chosen by two criteria: food intake quality, and body composition change. Notice I didn’t say weight loss. This isn’t the Biggest Loser. If your body needs to lose weight you will; however, this is a poor indicator of fitness. Body composition shifts (decreased fat and increased lean body mass) are much better for this.
Check out these pictures of JR. I had a little over a month with him on his Paleo Challenge and the changes were awesome!
So what do you have to lose? The worst thing that can happen is you lean out, improve your performance, and look and feel better. The challenge starts Monday Jan. 4th and ends Feb. 1st. Get after it!
Check out this video of the Polar Bear Plunge:
Polar Bear Plunge 2010 from CrossFit CDA on Vimeo.
Hopefully, everyone is still eating like they should with me not there to pour Tabasco on your english muffins. Here is an email I got from my Dad (check out his blog) today about his progress:
“I remembered this morning that it’s been 90 days since I started Paleo. I’ve lost 20 lbs. It’s been pretty enlightening for me, and so easy. If only people would realize that high-carb, calorie laden foods don’t satisfy you, and before you know it you’ve consumed more calories than you need, and a short time later you’re hungry. I see it all the time. It’s so easy to understand, nothing magic or hard to prepare.”
He also told me about a lady at my Mom’s work dying of a heart attack at 50. Kind of reminds us that this stuff is for our overall health and longevity, not just looking good at the beach!
I’ve added a few blogs to our links list. Randy’s will be there so you can check up on him, as well as Kristin’s and Alex’s blog. Check’em out!
I’ve had a few questions about going Paleo recently. Where does dairy fall in the Paleo Diet? Strict Paleo omits dairy altogether. Think about it for a second…what animal drinks milk from another animal? What animal drinks ANY milk as an adult? Kinda’ against the laws of nature if you ask me. There is also an insulin response from milk, and that is what we’re trying to minimize here. Also, many people are lactose intolerant, and MANY more are intolerant to a lesser degree and don’t even know it. You may be able to digest milk fine, but the symptoms can vary from person to person…everything from psoriasis and eczema to acne and arthritis. People live with these things all their lives and never think milk might be the causative factor.
So, do I drink milk? Yes I do, because it’s delicious and I love it! I went sans dairy for a while and didn’t notice any difference in my body composition, performance, and any other measures. But that’s just me. Will dairy derail your Paleo progress? I would say more than likely not. The grains and sugars are the real enemies here. But remember, if your going to drink milk, go for the whole kind. Anything else is more processed, and taking the fat out intensifies that insulin response.
Another complaint I get is Paleo is so hard! Well, that is a lame excuse. It is easy and affordable. I eat A LOT and am a poor Mo Fo. Which means I shop exclusively at Costco. Here are a few staples of my diet:
Trident Salmon Patties: (Wild Caught). At $13 for a pack of 12, this is poor mans Salmon. I cook 2 of these bad boys up, throw on a slice of cheese, and go to town! No buns!
Hunk-O-Turkey: Costco also sells a large chunk of deli style turkey meat. This is the stuff you see behind the counter at the grocery store before they slice it. They run about $19 for one (not sure how much they weigh, but they are big) and it lasts a long time. I usually cut it in half and throw one in the freezer so it doesn’t go bad. I slice it up and it goes on my 2 minute salad.
They also have a big tub of organic spring mix salad for $4. This is the same price you pay for a small tub anywhere else. See the salad above.
And one of my favorites…2 whole young chickens, for $10. See the roast sticky chicken recipe (scroll down), it’s delicious. Just one chicken serves 4 or 5 people.
There is a lot more, but this should keep you busy for the week. Do you have any Paleo recipes you want to share? Post ‘em to comments or email them to me!
While you’re cruisin’ the net, be sure to check out Alex’s blog. She has jumped on the Paleo bandwagon, and her and Jarod tell me they love it and have never felt better. I have definitely noticed Jarod’s performance improve in the gym as well.
Questions? Post to comments or ask me directly. Be sure to check the nutrition tab up top for more recipes/guidance.
I just attended the CrossFit Nutrition Certification held by Robb Wolf (smart dude, good blog!), and I must say, it was very eye opening. There was a ton of great information, but if I could sum up what I learned in 3 words it would be – DON’T EAT GRAINS! So standby for more of my typical food interrogations when I get back…I plan on making the Gestapo look like a bunch of preschoolers.
Speaking of food…my Dad Randy, whom many of you have already met, has decided to make a few changes in his diet. The past few years of badgering by yours truly just wasn’t enough to get him to change his carb binging ways. Recently, he had some blood work done. He’s been healthy all his life with normal markers. This time, his doctor asked, “What are you doing different?” Doc then explained that at the rate he was going, he would probably be on cholesterol lowering meds within a year. This was a much needed wake up call for Randy. Since that time, he has embraced the Paleo diet, the same one we recommend to you hard core CrossFitters. In 6 weeks he has lost 11 lbs, and is feeling better every day. Read about it here on his blog. He will be visiting this week (getting thrashed in the gym), so be sure to pick his brain about his experiences thus far on “the easiest diet ever,” as he calls it.
Questions about what to eat? Check the nutrition tab at the top and ask us!
Can you find me? Hint: look for the guy with huge teeth.
As everyone probably read last week, I’ve been training a few people out here in my free time. Remember JR, the former Marine Scout Sniper that decided to take the CrossFit/Paleo Diet challenge? Well, my time with him is up, so now it’s up to him to stay motivated and keep training. He was nice enough to let me take some before/after pictures of his short journey. Keep in mind I only had 35 days with him, but the changes he’s gone through are amazing!
This is what CrossFit combined with a diet low in sugar and starch will do for you. JR lost 10 pounds-take into account that he gained muscle and strength, meaning he lost more fat than that – in 35 days! I wonder what he’ll look like after 6 months of training and eating Paleo?! He promised to give me updates every month, so I’ll keep everyone posted on his progress.
Anyone interested in taking the Paleo challenge? Are you ready to take your fitness to the next level and greatly improve your body composition? If you’re still not sure about the Paleo Diet, check the nutrition tab up top and ask the trainers!
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