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Cutting the Crap….again!
By Holly | April 27, 2010
It started yesterday, my commitment to 30 days super-strict, clean eating.
I drove up to Albany CrossFit with my best friend, Kelly, this past weekend to attend Whole9’s workshop. Melissa Urban and Dallas Hartwig are the founders of Whole9. They recently ditched their day jobs and took on Whole9 as a full time business. They have a killer website ~ www.whole9life.com and I recommend you guys check out their stuff.
I have been in dire need of a RE-SET on my nutrition. It has been one year since I was in Chicago for Robb Wolf’s Nutrition Certification, which completely changed my views on food and health. Oh, I’m Paleo, for sure, but my “treats” have become more and more prevalent over the past few months. “I’m Paleo, but it’s Saturday, so I’ll have the pizza and wine. I’m Paleo, but I did good all day so I’ll have some chocolate (whatever, it’s dark chocolate, with almonds!). I’m Paleo, but this cookie is gluten-free).” I still won’t touch dairy, beans and grains (minus the pizza), so clearly my problem lies with sugar.
I wanted to share with you my goal. Check in with me, ask how it’s going. The next month holds my boyfriend’s birthday, a Sugarland concert (Corona?! No) and other commitments with friends and family. That’s life. I need to re-train my body on real foods, change my taste-buds again and feel good.
I am also using the next 30 days, plus, as a little experiment. Strict, clean eating 30 days. Once 30 days is up, I’m not going to go on a food bender, but keep my eating clean and “test” out certain “less than healthy” foods, one at a time, and see how it affects MY body and MY performance. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. This is a lifestyle. Maybe I have 3 pieces of cheese and my stomach is destroyed for 2 days, or I indulge in a pancake at breakfast (one pancake, not 3 ginormous pancakes), feel a little sluggish, but okay.
A little refresher:
No, No!
1. Sugar (dense carb = increased insulin response. No natural sweeteners)
2. Processed foods/preserved foods (in a can, box, etc.)
3. Artificial sweetener
4. Alcohol (much to my dismay, this includes no tequila – damn it! It’s all the same; alcohol, any and all are neurotoxins)
5. Grains (contain lectins, a plant protein with defense compounds and are acid resistant, think acid in your stomach. They arrive in the small intestine intact and do not break down, causing damage in the gut lining. This allows other particles to cross undigested, which sends your immune response into overdrive, attacking some things that should actually be there. Hmm, Autoimmune Disease, yes? Yes. Lots of info on lectins, sorry. Let me know if anyone wants further info. Interesting stuff. Grains = bad; wheat, quinoa, rice, buckwheat, oats, rye, barley, millet, corn, legumes, dairy (in grain-fed cows)).
“If part of your immune response is always allocated to repairing gut irritation, you are essentially sick all the time.” -Robb Wolf
6. Legumes (see above re: lectins. This includes soy and peanuts)
7. Dairy.
Yes!
1. Meat, fish, eggs, poultry (look for your best possible choice; grass-fed beef, locally farmed eggs, wild-caught fish)
2. Veggies (okay, this involves multiple grocery store trips per week, I will survive.)
3. Fruit, some
4. Fat (mix it up, not the same ole’ almonds day in and day out.)
Coffee, black, in moderation is okay, too. Thank the good LORD!
As far as macronutrient combinations, your goal should be carb, protein and fat with each meal and snack. From my Zone days, I was TOTALLY hung up on having all 3 at the same exact time. If you are out and about and all you have on you is an apple and almonds ~ flippin’ eat it!
Sorry this is so long! Thanks for allowing me to enroll you guys in my goal. This may have been a refresher for most of you, but maybe it inspires some of you to re-set your nutrition button.
Lastly, keep up with your fish oil. How much? Grab your bottle and use Robb Wolf/Whole9 fish oil calculator:
http://whole9life.com/fish-oil/
In the words of Melissa Urban:
“It’s not that effing hard…Don’t you dare tell me this is hard. Giving up heroin is hard. Drinking your coffee black is. Not. Hard.”
Topics: Cynergy Central, Nutrition | 11 Comments »
April 27th, 2010 at 9:45 am
I need to reset with you..
Nice post Holly!
April 27th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Thanks Linds!
April 27th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Awesome post Holly and I love that you shared your goal with us. A great reminder that even if you have slid off a bit, it only takes the next meal to get back on track.
Keep us posted as you go through your process and thank you for providing the knowledge behind the inspiration!
April 27th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Thanks Holly girl! I may need a shoulder… I started yesterday.. NO sugar! P.S. Day #1 down…Bring it day #2! Stooooopid Easter destroyed me….
Time to say bye to the bad stuff inside! <3
Back in the ZONE now…. Thanks for the great post! Good luck.
For the record…You look fantastic on the outside
April 27th, 2010 at 10:28 am
Holly, this is an awesome post. Thanks for sharing your learnings and adding some humor. Putting your goal in writing and sharing it with everyone will keep you honest and on track. Some may think it’s silly, but I have not once taken off my “I am Paleo” bracelet since the challenge last fall. It’s my way of keeping me honest with myself. I stray once in a while (a slice of bread or glass of wine) but I always get right back on track. Four months after the challenge and I am within 4 pounds of my challenge weight. It definitely isn’t easy sticking to any diet/lifestyle change but hey, if it was easy ANYONE could do it! If there’s anything I’ve learned from CrossFit, it’s determination to succeed.
April 27th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Great post, Holly… As someone who has fallen off the diet wagon hard since Sectionals wrapped up, I’m also in need of a recharge.
April 27th, 2010 at 11:17 am
FILTHY LEGUMES!!
Holly, brilliant post! Too long?? Not long enough! I’d love to see weekly updates. I think it’s very brave of you to “put it out there” and let us know what your intentions are. (Scott, I don’t think it’s silly; I wear dogtags with a similiar purpose and haven’t taken them off in two years…and find you a constant source of inspiration, quietly leading by your actions).
Holly, this is a great reminder for those familiar with paleo and a nice “how do you do” for those who know nothing about it. Thanks for sharing your experience in Albany. You are a trainer/fellow crossfitter I truly respect and admire. You always carry yourself with grace, train us with a caring and skillful eye and work YOUR ASS OFF during WODs. It is IMPOSSIBLE to work out with you and give anything less than 100%. Good luck and stay focused. If it was easy…everyone would do it!
April 27th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Great Post Holly – thanks for sharing! We all need to “reset” once in a while!!! Keep us posted on your succeses…..You are an inspiration.
April 27th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I love that you posted this first of all!! I love that you enrolled everyone within your crossfit community as well as your Lulu-sisters:)
I too—started yesterday; after recieving info about my knee issue and lack of working out for a bit–i need to eat clean; to save myself from feeling more like crap:)
SO together we can work it “out” at work hold each other accountable–I am not sure of “paleo” as you know, more becuase of my understanding of it–i am going to research it further
I look forward to hearing about it–and helping each other out
April 27th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
WOW! Thanks to everyone who commented and contacted me! I really appreciate your support and your individual stories/feedback. I’d love to hear more about where you guys are at in terms of your nutrition ~
Off to a fundraiser dinner! I will keep my almonds in my pocket
April 27th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Holly! This is amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing with the team! Wow, you have really up’d the bar in goal setting by throwing this out there! Can’t wait to hear the daily updates! What is the best kind of clean treat we can get you on day 30?