Thursday 02.23.12

As I head toward the finish line of my second go-round with The Whole30, I am convinced more than ever that the first and most important step toward good health is eating whole foods that are minimally processed. The farther away from the center aisles of the grocery store I stay, the better I feel about what I set on my plate. By eating fresh, simple ingredients, I avoid the pitfalls of added sugar (in all its many forms) and sodium, and I enjoy the full flavor of foods as they were meant to be eaten. My nutrition flails when I become lazy and complacent. It becomes easier to order out some Chinese or throw a pizza in the oven more often than to whip up a quick (and more nourishing and just as tasty) omelet or salad. The question then becomes how awful do I allow myself to feel - tired, cranky, bloated, and sluggish - before I turn things around? If I wait too long then the situation turns into a horrible Catch-22 of eating poorly, then feeling crummy and demotivated, and ultimately slumping in front of the TV, logging onto the internet, or crawling into my bed instead of a fitting in a good workout or making a better meal.

Whether or not you're keeping track of Paleo points, we hope this month's challenge got you thinking about how you nourish your body, how the foods you eat affect your mood, and your food habits. Our intention for this food challenge is to raise awareness about healthy eating and what it means for you and your fitness and wellness goals. Paleo is not the only answer for eating well, but it certainly illuminates where sugar creeps into our diet, how eating is not always driven by hunger, and how certain foods are true non-negotiables for sanity (e.g., that glass of milk before bed, cheese on top of a salad, or a single square of dark chocolate). You may find as you experiment with some of the "cheat" foods that some don't sit as well with you as you once thought. Or maybe you just re-invigorated your weekly menu by mixing things up in the kitchen. Either way, we hope all of you take some new habits with you as you come off the challenge next week.

Today we buddy up to make it through the WOD. We're throwing ALL of our favorite full body movements into the mix to work our core muscles, arms, legs, and booties. Beware the word "can't" in the box these days. It's a burpee every time it's uttered. We don't believe in "can't". We believe in effort.

WOD
Skill: L-sit
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While one partner completes a 100 m sandbag carry, the other is working to finish:
100 pullups
100 KB swings
100 wall balls
100 burpees