Tuesday 07.31.12

This is what it is really all about.

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TOMORROW, AUGUST 1st

30-Day Paleo Challenge BEGINS!

What will YOU be having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

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Alright, Warriors, it's time to make everyone look at us with that, "So what CAN you eat?" look in their eyes. Our second 30-day Paleo Challenge begins tomorrow. The above photo pretty much sums it up - drink lots of water and eat lots of veggies, protein, and healthy fats (e.g., olive oil, fish oil, nuts, avocados, and coconut oil), while staying away from foods with inflammatory properties (e.g., SUGAR, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy).

If you plan on participating, PLEASE REVIEW THE RULES AND DOWNLOAD/PRINT THE SCORESHEET. Late scoresheets will not be accepted this time around, so be sure to review the scoresheet due dates (and maybe reminders for yourself). Please submit *new* recipes in the comments of the Paleo Challenge Page. Those that participated previously, please do not submit repeat recipes.

I emphatically urge you to view this as a learning experience, especially if you've never attempted eating clean. Yes, we're competing for points, but more importantly, we're trying to learn how to make better choices with our nutrition. Nutrition is the foundation for everything else we do in and out of the gym. We can choose to get caught up in the details of what is "Paleo" and "not Paleo", or we can focus on eating less CRAP. Below are my top tips for a successful 30-day Paleo experience:

• PATIENCE. It's going to suck before it gets better because habits are hard to change overnight. That 2 PM Diet Coke is no longer an option, so what will be your mid-afternoon pick-me-up? There is a whole new set of ingredients to work with, and all of them may be new-to-you. Make the best choices you can with what is available.
• SPICES. Cinnamon makes everything better, as does vanilla extract. Garlic salt is amazing on salad greens and just about everything. When in doubt, add more - your taste buds will thank you.
• PLAN AHEAD. Planning ahead is the absolute key to success for any whole food, eating clean endeavor. It's much more difficult to "grab and go" or pick something up "along the way". Use the weekend to grill up a bunch of protein (e.g., chicken, ground beef, pork) for the week. Cook up several dinners ahead of time. Making better choices begins with better preparation. Have some "go-to" foods on hand at all times.
• TALK. Confused? Having a hard time? LOVING Paleo? Can't find your favorite ingredients? Talk to your fellow Warriors and Coaches Sarah & Jacob! This will be the 3rd 30-day challenge for Jacob and me, and we eat Paleo a good portion of the time. For some of your fellow Warriors, this will be their 2nd time through. Benefit from everyone's experience.

Still need more tips to get you started? Check out our blog posts tagged with "Nutrition" as well as the following:

• What Jacob and I keep on-hand in our house.
• Great web resources for Paleo-friendly recipes (and MORE tips)!

We hope you're excited to re-vamp your nutrition! May the best Warrior win!!

WOD

Warm Up:

5 minutes

1 barbell complex (sub in 6 kipping pullups for pushups)

instep stretch

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Every 2 minutes, perform 7 Curtis Ps for a total of 10 rounds (20 minutes)

1 Curtis P = hang squat clean, lunge left (with bar in front rack position), lunge right, push press