Along with Amanda and Cindi, I will be posting on the blog
to provide guidance, support, and initiate online conversations. Please read it, and post your questions,
concerns, stumbling blocks, and successes.
I have been at CFF for 2 ½ years now, so I have a pretty good idea of
what to expect from the mouths of Amanda, Dave, and Cindi. I don’t have any official credentials in the
Crossfit domain, but I have a lot to say and the ability to get people
talking. Therefore, I’ve been entrusted
with the task of funneling a bunch of bubble thoughts floating around my head
into a forum where everyone can benefit from healthy communication. In a moment of weakness, I agreed to post my
“Before” pictures (Jeez, that Amanda is persuasive, isn’t she?), so that we can
all see that the journey is ahead of us.
If you are also feeling courageous, we would love to post your “Before”
and then the much-improved “After” pictures as well. (Disclaimer: If you are a finalist, your
pictures WILL be posted)
Amanda and Cindi have put together an informative packet
about what to expect, and how to go about winning the whole thing. If you have read it, great, you are already
on the right track. If it’s still
sitting on your kitchen counter, take 15-20 minutes, and READ IT. It will answer a lot of questions for
you. You’ve already addressed the Why of
the challenge, simply by signing up. You
are ready to sleep better, have more energy, feel better, workout stronger and
faster, and slim down to a trim, muscled, toned version of your old self. The How is next.You’ve gotten your blocks. Planning is the key to success in this challenge. The rules are really very simple: Eat what you are supposed to, none of what you are not supposed to, drink your body weight or more in water, hit CFF at least 3 times/week, write it all down, and submit it at the end of the week. The blocks are a bit more thought-provoking, but after 1-2 days of cooking and meal prep, it becomes second nature. Know the Absolutely Not List of Foods (page 4) of your handout. There is no bargaining on this. Eliminate them, and your body will respond. Carefully shop the perimeter of the grocery store, and stay out the middle aisles, unless it’s the Gladware section, frozen vegetable, or spice aisle. You will be buying meat, tons of vegetables, some fruit and nuts. You need some vinegar, coconut or olive oil, spices, and nothing else. Pre-made sauces have sugar, corn syrup, soy, wheat, rice vinegar, or rice flour in them.
Get used to the real taste of
food, again. Start with mostly frozen
vegetables, unless there is a fresh one you are certain to eat. This will save you money, and help you
develop your preferences. Frozen
vegetables are also great for those who struggle with the time management part
of the challenge. Plant yourself in your
kitchen for about 2-3 hours a week, and prepare your food. Marinate and grill your meat or chicken, then
dice everything into bite-size pieces. On the zip-lock, write your blocks = the
amount (example 2 blocks=2 ounces) so that you know the moment you pull it from
the fridge. I even wrote the egg
requirement on my egg cartons. Keep your
scale, dry measuring cups, and a pyrex glass liquid measuring cup in the most
central part of your kitchen. Weigh your
meat every time. Chop or slice your
fresh vegetables, and steam or roast them.
Put them in a container, and immediately label the container with your
block requirement (1.5 cups = 2 blocks).
If you like to mix your veggies, write the 1 block requirement
instead. Wash your fruit and label the
container. Raspberries are my favorite
fruit serving because 2 blocks = 1 ⅓ cup.
Use a water container that is measurable and that you enjoy drinking
from, and keep it surgically attached to you.
In addition to your allowed blocks, you can have an additional protein
shake plus small fruit (a cutie orange or a half banana is ideal) immediately
following your workout. You should then
follow within an hour with your next meal or snack. This preparation and organization will make
the process go smoothly and you won’t find yourself stressing about the
choices. If you go out of the house on
errands or to work, take a cooler with you.
I can fit 4 meals in a lunch bag-sized cooler. If you are going to into the grocery store,
eat a snack or meal 15 minutes before to eliminate impulsive or poor food
choices.
Write your food down, that day, throughout the day. If you plan on writing your journal at the
end of each day, you may forget what you’ve eaten or the time you ate it. If you have a smart phone, be smart and use
it. I have a list app, and I write down
the food and time that I ate it. I also
use this to track my liters of water if I’m away from my home. If you are
feeling a certain way, chances are we have felt the same way during a
challenge. At some point during week 1,
you can definitely expect digestive changes, either diarrhea or
constipation. You will be tired, and
you will have a headache. You will be
grouchy, and you will consider giving up.
DON’T! Your brain is manipulating
you to feed your addiction. It does it
with drugs, alcohol, and yes, sugar.
Recognize it, understand it, and pass through it. Once it passes, you’ll swear you hear angels
singing Halleluia over you.
Yes, you can cheat, 1 MEAL per week, so plan for that
accordingly. If you have an impulsive
moment, then document that entire meal as your cheat meal. If you take a bite of something forbidden, you
might as well make a meal out of it, because that will be your one cheat allowance
for the week. Also, document exactly how
you feel the day after your cheat meal, so that you can see exactly how the
food affects you.
Are you headed for the Winners Circle? Here’s how to make
sure you are one of the finalists: Follow the block rules, every day. Document your meals, the blocks, your water
intake, and your workouts. Turn your
journals in each week ON TIME, in a hard copy to the gym, from Monday 5 am to
Tuesday 7:45 pm. Please make sure you identify yourself on your journal. Don’t miss
a workout -- at least 3x/week is required to be a finalist. Don’t cheat more than 1x/week. If you drink alcohol, that is your 1 cheat
meal. If you drink a lot of alcohol,
that will affect your metabolism for the next 48 hours.
You have chosen to participate in this challenge. Choose to view it in a positive manner, and
you will succeed. Take it day by day,
week by week, and before you know it the 30 days, plus many pounds and inches
are behind you. Don’t ruminate on what
you are eliminating; instead, turn your focus to a way of eating that improves
health, cleanses your body, and makes you feel much better throughout the
day. Please post questions, and I
encourage other readers to provide answers and thoughts. This blog is a forum for everyone to support
each other. We hope to make it a fun and
healthy diversion from your work day or those crazy kids. Let the 2013 CFF Paleo Zone Challenge Begin!
Excellent post Angela! Keep 'em coming, we are all going to have our struggles during this challenge but we will be successful through constant "positive" thinking! Good luck everyone!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for setting this up! I love the idea of having this extra support system. Day 1 down 29 more to go!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! We are hoping to make this a fun site for everyone to check into. Most of all, we want the challenge to be fun AND productive for everyone!
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ReplyDeleteThanks for setting this up. It's Day 2 and I'm starting to wonder if Paleo is a true eating discipline or something dreamed up by the resealable container manufacturers to boost sales. I just bought 2 more cases of Rubermaid containers. I hope it's enough!
ReplyDelete:)
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