Comments on: Is it committment and discipline or the day’s biggest reward?

By: Patty Z

Patty Z — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:30:37 +0000

So…this is the first week I felt even a little compenent to be in the gym with my fellow cross fitters. Everyone is great! I just need to start learning your names. I went from the 12 inch box to the 20 inch tire in about a week’s time. Crossfit has made me much more aware of where my strength comes from–it even improved by golf game!!! And the biggest accomplishment, as of today, I will never do a girl push up again. Thank you Carl! Can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

By: Briar

Briar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:46:13 +0000

I think that we are all in varying degrees working on paleo/zone and as I become more in tune with how I feel and how my workouts go I really understand that the only way for me to continue to feel this good is by upping my adherence to paleo foods. That being said, I can be horrible at wise food choices, even worse at preparing meals. But a year ago I felt way worse, and ten years ago I was a fast food vegetarian and sick constantly. I am inspired by how I feel and even though I may mess up alot I also have changed a lot in six months. I think it is as important to look at what you need to change as it is to appreciate the changes that you have already made. Each time I decide to eat toast and feel sick afterwards I am reminded why I shouldnt eat it. Next time is another opportunity to improve, until I no longer even feel the urge to get the toast (at least I hope).
By the way, I actually sauteed our zucchini squash with peas, tomatoes, peppers from our garden and ate it with a local free range flank steak last night! Okay forget about the inflammation element for a moment and consider that I (who hardly ever prepares meals) made up my own recipe and actually cooked! It was delicious and yet another reinforcement that that is how I want to eat all the time.
Jen, I dont get to tell you and Carl how much you have changed my life. I really feel that meeting you was a divine sign that came at a turning point for me. Thank you so much for your support!

By: Nikki Charns

Nikki Charns — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:26:58 +0000

I love this thread. I so agree with you Jen on many levels. It is a process and for me it has taken a while to really get how good I can actaully feel. With each change I made with my diet and fitness I felt great and thought, oh this is good and then it would get better . I was one of those people who thought paleo could never be for me. Now I love it, I get so excited about what I am going to eat or what crazy concotion I am going to make in my vitamix each day . AND it is a huge committment and a lot of work. I am constantly planning and preparing food, I am getting the hang of it and am learning to make large batches of things when possible. I am always excited to hear about new receipe ideas.
It seems like many of us are wanting and needing more support to stay on track with our nutrition. Erin and I have been throwing around some ideas of how to support eachother. Here are some thoughts, whoever wants to particpate lets set some goals for this coming week, and just like in the gym plan our action steps to making them happen. The thing that would be different is that if you chose you would share your goal as a comment on the blog for everyone to see and support you. You could ask for help in whatever way you need it from all of us. Erin thinks she will do best if she checks in everyday. I think that can be really helpful, some people may want to check in every week or something in between. We are all in different places and our goals may look super different but that is ok, we all have to start some where. Who’s in???
So sad to be working tonight and missing all the fun, can’t wait for the next one, have a great day.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:59:08 +0000

Oh yeah, and along with Rachel, I thank you for that pic of Andres!

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:58:28 +0000

I agree with Jen, that even a “moderate” amt of crap eating does have its affects. I had some ice cream last night after going without dairy for awhile (sticking to paleo choices) and this morning my stomach was yucky. I didn’t even have that much. For me, realizing how much nutrition is so essential in reaching my maximum fitness goals has totally blown my mind. Before being introduced to crossfit and paleo/zone I thought I would have to settle for the extra layer around my belly, that a pull-up wasn’t possible for me, that I was not an athlete, that I lacked discipline and willpower. Meeting all of you and stepping into this facility has really changed my view of myself, and I thank you for that. This is a gift and a joy!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:42:57 +0000

Thanks for posing for the picture, Andres. I’m pretty sure I have more to say about the joys of CrossFitting, but I can’t think right now…

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:30:48 +0000

Ellie-that is exactly how I think of it too. In terms of the food prep think of it in terms of prioritizing caring for yourself. I know being a single mom who works outside the home is not an easy prescription for taking care of yourself-but it must be done. This is a way of demonstrating to yourself and your family that you care about yourself and care for yourself and you pass that on to those around you. Like in my house I am a tyrant about getting the bathroom to myself and a wrestling match, if for example one was occurring, has to be done away from the bathroom door. Otherwise, as I shout at my kids-I will have a stomach ache and be a grouchy Mom. Hmmm, maybe it is different. Anyway-food prep and choice and eating can be a very stabilizing structure sometimes. I literally remind myself when I feel a moment of annoyance about how much vegetable chopping I do-that I am grateful for the vegetables on my counter and that the days of Ramen noodle soup are behind me. Grateful that the days of belly aches and searching for bathrooms and low energy are behind me. Grateful that the list of health problems and bottles of prescription meds my older relatives take will not be in my kitchen cupboard.
Ryan, I disagree actually with the idea that there is a difference between a terrible diet and a mostly good one when it comes to CrossFitting. For many of us who have a very fine tuned sense of our performance even a “moderate” amount of crappy food affects us. For those of us with food sensitivities or digestive issues there is no eating wheat a couple times a week. This is why I beg all of you to go 3 weeks as clean as possible so that you can have a sense of the effect of even one or two off meals. It doesn’t mean you won’t have them-or as I like to think of it-choose to have them, but you know the effect. Joint pain or inflammation will be present with any amount of inflammatory foods-even once a week. Does it mean that if you cant’ eat “perfectly” then don’t bother eating better? Of course not. We are all at different places on the continuum of wellness and fitness. If you are content with the wellness and fitness in your life then you don’t even have to think about whether or not to eat doughnuts. Doughnuts are delicious. Eat them sometimes. If you want to move to a different place on that continuum then you have to take the actions that will bring you there. Right now, with the level of training I am taking on, I know that means an adherence to a food plan that doesn’t give me much wiggle room. But I am EXCITED about that. It isn’t burdensome. If I wasn’t taking my training up a notch, I’d still be eating chips and salsa a couple times a week and I’d be happy about that too. The extent to which you change your diet is not based on some arbitrary idea of what is the “right” way to eat. It is based on what you need to do to achieve the level of wellness and fitness you, as an individual, would like. When people tell me that the diet changes are “too difficult” that signals to me there is not clarity in their personal goals and desires for their own wellness and fitness. A food change that is not in alignment with a person’s individual dream for themselves will always be “too difficult”. Many times, if I am honest with myself about a few weeks of not great eating I realize that I needed to just nourish myself with delicious food. To hang out with my kids and eat popcorn. To bake cookies and eat them warm with hot chocolate. To drop down my training a little because I had hit a plateau. Whatever. Those few weeks I had lost touch with my fervent wish to be energetic and well and powerful. Then I can be honest about stopping those food choices and remembering I love to be as well and fit as I can. Then I feel as nourished by salmon and asparagus as cookies and milk. Let’s keep this conversation going-it is an important one.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:57:52 +0000

Hi all,
All this food talk is making me hungry. On that note. I am having a hard time with the food too. For me it is all the food prep that I have to do. I have ever been a very organized, together person and having to thing ahead fr ever meal and cook or nearly every meal is really hard. I have found thinks a lot easier when I look at what I can eat instead of what I can’t eat. It is not that I am really taking a bunch of things out of my diet, I am just adding a bunch of new and delicious things to it.
I think we should use the opportunity of the BBQ and each of bring the recipe for the dish we bring so that every one can have it. I will bring my recipe for baby carrots!
See you all there.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:28:25 +0000

Crossfit workouts make me happy. In that I totally agree. In fact at this very moment I’m being forced to stay at work instead of coming in for the WOD and I’m really, really pissed. I’m going to be grumpy all night.

Not to be a downer, but the food is still a struggle. I totally agree that the difference between paleo/crossfit vs. soda/TV is stark, and that the later makes me lethargic and gross. But that’s the not the problem. The problem comes when the difference between diets is more subtle; when your diet contains more bread and moderate amounts of processed sugar, less meat, or maybe even a donut on Sunday mornings.