CrossFit Hays has decided to create a five week Paleo Nutrition Challenge. It started Jan. 11 and lasts until Feb. 12. The challenge is designed to reward those who stay dedicated to maintaining healthy eating, sleep, and exercise habits over five weeks.
The point system goes as follows:
- For each day you eat 100% paleo = 3 points
- For each day you do CrossFit = 1 point
- For each day you do an activity outside of CrossFit (i.e. run, walk, yoga, etc.) = 1 point
- For each day you drink 64oz. of water = 1 point
- For each day that you get at least eight hours of sleep = 1 point
- 1 point for every 20 seconds you shave off the baseline WOD time (At the end of the challenge)
(7 point maximum per day)
At the end of the challenge, they will add up all the points and the person with the highest points wins!
I’ve needed some kind of motivation to change my eating habits anyway. I do CrossFit almost every single day and I have seen so much improvement. However, my body doesn’t look like someone who works out every day. It must be true that 80% comes from food and 20% from working out. Both equally important though. You can’t get the whole picture without both. So, I decided to try it.
It is now day three and I can’t even believe I’ve made it this far. Day 1 was terrible. I can’t tell you how many times I walked back and forth from the fridge to the pantry looking for something to take the cravings away. (My husband isn’t doing the challenge so there is still yummy stuff in our pantry). But I resisted! Day 2 was much easier. And surprisingly, I haven’t had headaches from cutting out the caffeine. I was an avid coffee drinker. I even went a step ahead and took pre-workout every day before a workout.
I will say that I didn’t have enough energy to go workout on the first day and I didn’t really want to go the next day but I forced myself and it went fine, even without pre workout. I’m surprising myself. I have my motivation back though, and I am back to going every day.
The 64 oz. water intake isn’t really a struggle for me. That is something I have been working on for a while now. I cut out sodas a long time ago so thankfully I didn’t have to add that to my list of things to cut.
I do need help with food ideas. I only know how to make a few paleo meals and I am going to get burned out of the same foods. I will have to do some research here and look for some recipes. Same goes for snack ideas.
I’ve also realized that in order for me to get 8 hours of sleep, I can’t go to the 5am class like I was unless I go to bed at 8pm which is impossible for me. I had been sacrificing sleep to go workout and sleep is just as important! So, I now go to the 6pm class. I definitely feel more rested now.
In order to help me train at a higher intensity, I knew I needed to find a healthy alternative to pre-workout so I ordered the BeetElite from Neogenis Sport. It is the equivalent of six whole beets! It is a source of dietary nitrates, which convert to Nitric Oxide in the body to help promote natural energy and stamina, support heart health, promote extended exercise endurance, and support healthy circulation. It hasn’t come in yet but I will tell you all how it goes.
I am also in search of a paleo protein powder to take after my workout. If you have any ideas, let me know. I will be doing some research soon.
Overall, I can already feel the benefits in just three days. I have energy at work. I am not getting tired or sluggish after lunch. I am always eating, which is fine because it’s all healthy foods and it’s never good to feel hungry. So, I am anxious to see if I can keep this going.
J
