Welcome 10 week Paleo Zone Challenge Participants!

Today is Day 1 of the Paleo Zone Challenge, and I'm guessing you are feeling a little stressed about the commitment, excited about the changes coming your way, and overwhelmed at how much time you are spending thinking about food and food preparation already.  Let's break down what you can expect from Week #1, and how you can be sure your first week is off to a successful start!

Plan and prepare, plan and prepare, plan and prepare.  You will read these words many times, because this is the key to achieving your goal.  If you have not yet gone to the store, then place that at the very top of your priority list, and I mean top, above brushing your teeth and and taking your next shower. Besides, a snow storm is coming.  You can now cross bread and milk off your list, as you only need to get meat, eggs, vegetables and toilet paper.  Have all the materials on hand to make your first week 100% successful, not 95%. 

Know that Week #1 is a bit daunting.  It's no different than the first minute of a long run, ridiculously hard WOD, or any other giant challenge you've faced.  At this point, the game is equally mentally and physically challenging, and you must overcome both.  But you have accepted big challenges before, and you can do it now.  Focus on learning your new routine.  Week #1 is filled with adaptation, changes, and lots of thought revolving around food and food prep.  I assure you, by Week #2 this part won't be so difficult. 

A couple of suggestions from a PZC vet:

• Do not go more than 2.5 hours without eating.  If you are eating 6 meals a day, and you are only awake for 16 hours a day, that's roughly every 2.5 hours.  Once you get behind in your meals, it's hard to catch up.  If you get behind, it's better to skip your last meal than to have it at 9:30 pm right before bed. 
• Do NOT skimp on the water.  Drink your body weight in ounces, and stick to it.  If you are not getting up twice a night to pee, you aren't drinking enough (that will pass as  your kidneys adapt and  your body gets used to the hydration)
• Don't get fancy with your food yet.  Instead, use the spices with which you are comfortable, and stick with grilled/roasted marinated or seasoned meat, and steamed or roasted veggies.  Eat plain nuts or seeds, and learn your block sizes of each. 
• Look at the block amounts.  1 small artichoke is 1 block, and so is 3 cups of Bok Choy.  When you are not very hungry, go with the smaller block amounts.  After your workout, have the larger amount blocks.  If  you like broccoli but don't want to eat 4 cups of it, split your blocks.  Have 2 cups of broccoli with 1/4 c of sweet potato.
• Get rid of your weakness foods.  If cookies have gotten you to where you are, get them OUT.  For me it was red wine.  When I started my challenge, I gave all my wine to my friends.  Do not keep anything in the house that will allow failure in a weak moment.
• Know that you will experience negative physical changes - INITIALLY.  You will get a headache, somewhere between 2 and 7 days.  You will experience digestive changes as your intestines adapt.  Your poop will look different and there will either be a traffic jam or a flood, it's different for everyone.  All of these symptoms will pass, it's simply your body adapting.
• And finally, ASK QUESTIONS or EXPRESS CONCERNS!!!!! We want success for all you, and we are all here to help you WIN! Remember, 10 other people might have the same question as you, so post it here in the comments and I will answer it.  Cindi and Amanda both have a lot of knowledge and experience with this, so ask them when you're in the Box. 

I could go on and on, (already have) but I will have a new post most days.  I would love it if you follow the blog by subscribing.  These posts are not pre-prescribed, so I am happy to follow your lead if you have a hot topic for discussion.  I've been through these challenges and had great results.  I maintain a Paleo Diet, and I am a thousand times healthier for it. 

Now, 3-2-1 GO!