“when you start to eat clean like we do with paleo, it takes a little bit for your body to adjust as it detoxes from the crap that we had been eating before. Just keep in mind that eating paleo is more about a lifstyle change, one that will give you the results you are looking for, but you have to give it a little time. Hence the TWO WEEK challenge. You will start to feel better and more energized as your body adjusts.
Eating out on Paleo is not as hard as you might think. All you have to do is ask a few simple questions. For Example, ask the waitress how many ounces of meat comes with a particular meal, they usually can find the answer for you. Most places will substitute fruit or extra vegetables for the poorer choice carbs. Skip out on the bread and order everything dry (all of the toppings, dressings, etc on the side). I usually take almonds with me and order my food dry so that I know that I get all of my fat blocks and it makes it easier than trying to calculate how much fat they use to cook my food. I also order a second serving of vegetables to get myself close to my blocks. It’s not a perfect measurement but by now you should be able to eyeball what a block looks like and get yourself fairly close while enjoying the fact that someone else is cooking for once.”-Andres
Well, what’s left for me to say? Thanks Andres. Brilliant. Look everyone, here is where I get to bust out my CrossFit attitude. It doesn’t even suit me all that much, but every now and then it is time for some tough love. Imagine not making these changes. Imagine being 40 or 50 or 60 and feeling like crap everyday. Joints hurting, back hurting, being weak and tired EVERY DAY, ALL DAY. Taking 2 or 3 or 5 prescription meds. Having nothing to talk about to your friends and family except all the details of your doctors appointments. This isn’t a 2 week condition. It will be who and what defines you. Yuck. I think most of us have a little personal wake up call about taking better care of ourselves. Sometimes we lack the support and information to act on it which really sucks, but luckily you all have that.
I will tell you that my committment to this all really started when I saw my own family and my friends’ Moms start to get unwell. More Drs. visits, some surgeries, some meds etc… It might sound silly, but around that time I started to get a catalogue in the mail called Title IX which is women’s athletic wear (including real sports bras). The models are real people (although my sister claims they are freakish superwomen) and it tells a little about them. Many of them are in their 30s, 40s and 50s. I realized very clearly that those were the women I wanted to model myself after. As soon as they have a CrossFitter in that catalogue I’ll order something. So, look ahead. Envision yourself in ten years and then see how you feel about two weeks.
Back to Andres’ comment at the top. Since he has been CrossFitting and Paleo-Zoning his body has changed a lot. I believe, correct me if I’m wrong, he has dropped nearly 20lbs. He is absolutely correct. I do not find it difficult to eat Paleo-Zone at restaurants. Exact Zone prescriptions will be challenging, but the basic idea is available everywhere. As soon as you start making up reasons why it is too hard you’ll stop doing it. All family-style restaurants will work. Anyplace that can cook you a steak or a piece of fish or a chicken breast, give you a salad (or double salad without cheese and croutons, vinaigrette on the side) and some side servings of vegetables (butter or oil on the side) will work. I can even eat at Italian places: side orders of meatballs in sauce or sausage in sauce. Mexican shrimp cocktail is one of my favorites. Don’t forget restaurants are in the customer service business. Tell them nicely what you want. You’ll be surprised. Sure, you’ll be a little off on your blocks, but this is for the long haul. Make it realistic, use common sense. You absolutely have to enjoy life and if you begin to feel that eating well impedes your enjoyment of life you will stop eating well. If eating out increases your enjoyment of life then keep doing it and you can do it well. Congratulations to everyone-One week down, one left to go.
Jen you are the best. So glad you said this today. I hope many of you are planning on sticking with me on this journey after the 2 weeks are over!!
Thanks Jen and Andres, very inspirational! I went out to dinner at The Grill last night. I had the spinach salad, which was alot of spinach topped with onions, peppers, tomatoes, 2 hard boiled eggs, oil and vinegar on the side. I also got a side of ham and a fruit cup. It was easy and delicious!
Is this always part of the Crossfit lifestyle or are we special? I now we complain alot but I really do like that we are doing this. It will be nice when the two weeks are over. I am looking forward to a cheat meal. Not so I can eat a bunch of non paleo stuff but so that I can eat as much of what ever I am eating. Thank you for helping us with this.
I meant “know” not “now”.
Hello me again,
I clearly chose the wrong food for my dinner tonight and I now feel like I am going to throw up. I had seven small chicken sausage links, two cups of steamed broccoli with lemon and pepper, six cups of lettuce (baby greens) with a half cup of celery and some elephant garlic on top and some balsamic vinegar. For desert I had one and a half cups of strawberries. Holy cow I am full. Hopefully it lasts til tomorrow! Good stuff.
Too bad I didn’t read this before the weekend. Too many temptations when we spent the weekend with a nana cooking mexican food, candy all over her house, and cinema food. But I think part of really sticking to this type of eating is the returning to it when you have deviated. I have renewed committment for this week and for my life (and hopefully Ron’s as well). Anyway although not everyone is posting I am thinking I may not be the only one who has had a few bad moments so I am going to admit it and hope it helps for anyone else who is struggling. On to the next meal!
Last Friday I was very edgy, everything got on my nerves..ANGRY, but after the cross fit workout I felt much better and much nicer. Went to Phx to celebrate a friend who graduated with her BSN. We ate out for 2 days and 6 meals. I had 1 cheat meal(chicken wings, quesodilla etc..)sampled a little but felt horrible, did not drink alcohol, but now I have friends interested in checking out cross fit. could it be that I am showing results? hmm
Briar, don’t worry you are not the only one. When you have to cook for 16 guys at work and they don’t want to eat paleo-zone it’s very hard. Let’s just say I’m starting over this week.
Jenny