Paleo Eating + CFSF is the winning combo for KS

Post Challenge Letter

This has been more than a 7 week challenge for me. When thinking about what to write, I realize that this has been a yearlong challenge.

It started in October of 2009 when I bought the first Paleo Diet book. It was foreign to me. No breads, no dairy, no sugar!

What would I eat??

I remember telling Chris that I wouldn’t get past breakfast. I put the Paleo book away for some time. I kept coming to CFSF and was dedicated to working out. However, I kept filling my body with garbage.

Why would I take two steps forward with working out and then one step back by eating poorly???

I finally decided that if I wanted to see improvements in my workouts and in my body, I needed to make changes in my diet. It was a slow change for me. It started by eating better on the days that I knew I was coming to the box. I knew I couldn’t complete a WOD with my stomach full of tacos, pizza, chips, etc. From there I focused on one meal at a time. I started with breakfast and realized that there is more than just cereal and milk. Then I eliminated milk and decreased the amount of bread I was eating. I kept reading the Paleo book and educating myself.

My goals were to lose belly fat and increase my energy.

But could I make it through 49 days??

I tried a mini Paleo challenge in July and quit after 2 weeks.

Did I have enough time to prepare foods?

Did I have enough willpower to stay away from Coke and sweets?

What would my friends and family say?

By the time the 7 week challenge started I was focused, determined, and ready to expand my Paleo eating.

For this challenge, there were no excuses. I was the one putting food in my mouth. I spent time on Sundays getting food ready for the week. I went from eating out at lunch everyday to packing my lunch. I knew I needed to stay away from fast food restaurants, especially the ones with Coke. I also needed healthy snacks so I wouldn’t be tempted by peanut butter M&Ms. I left the house every morning with one bag for lunch, one bag filled with snacks, and a big bottle of water. One point that I want to make clear… I ate FOOD. This was not a diet of deprivation. I ate real food, lots of food, and it tasted good.

What kept me going?

There were some ‘nay-sayers’ during this challenge that thought I was crazy. Their comments just gave me the motivation to work harder. There were also many cheerleaders such as my husband, my two boys, CFSF coaches, and CFSF members. I carried a 3-ring binder with me everywhere. I filled it with recipes, wrote down everything that went into my mouth, and also wrote down a daily devotional. If I wanted to reach for candy or a pop, I got out my binder and read my devotional or looked at recipes. It was a very powerful 49 days in which I saw changes in my body, mind, and spirit.

My workouts included CrossFit 3 to 4 times a week. I tried to do prescribed workouts as much as possible. I pushed myself to lift more weight and to complete an exercise without resting. I usually picked out someone in the workout to be my ‘rabbit’ and I would try to stay with that person or sometimes pass them. I also ran on the days away from CrossFit, usually with my two boys on their bikes. I made parallettes to have at home to work on L-sits and bought a jump rope to do countless double unders in the driveway.

What’s next for me??

I remember saying to Chris last fall that I didn’t need to make friends. I was only worried about getting a good workout and burning as many calories as I could. I was so wrong. I could not have succeeded in this challenge without the friends I have made at CFSF. I want to continue to make friends and to ‘pay it forward’ by encouraging those who are new to Paleo and CrossFit.

Kris aka ‘KS’