SARAH GETS STRONG: A CROSSFIT/PALEO LOVE AFFAIR *

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My name is Sarah and I'm a once-skinny-kid macaroni-eating-swimmer now dangerously turned on to CrossFit, Paleo nutrition and overall badass-ness.

I am training as a first time participant for CrossFit's 2011 Sectional Qualifier and, through this, hope to increase my physical strength and (otherwise absent) mental fortitude. No more frustration during WODs. No more "I can't". I will stop being good at one thing, and become great at everything.

Join me on my journey to greatness!




crossfit homies

MANNY @ INVICTUS

RACHEL @ ALBANY

DREW @ ROCKLAND

AUSTIN @ ALBANY



Themed by Monique Tendencia.
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How I survived a Full Month of Paleo-Zone (without wearing a straightjacket)

(Also today’s post for AlbanyCrossfit.com— check it out!)

No weekly cheats. No Paleo-Zone ”ish” nonsense (what is with people and this Paleo-ish, Zone-ish crap? You either do it or you don’t, folks) I’m talking full on, weighed and measured Zone-age— something that I TRULY BELIEVED I would never, ever agree to do. And, look at me now. Swooning… (ish).

After a weekend of not strictly weighing and measuring my food (and, additionally, inhaling a pint of ice-cream), I have concluded that I need Zone. It’s the macaroni to my cheese (that I would never eat). It’s the cinnamon-raisin bagel to my Philadelphia cream-cheese (that I would never eat) It’s the… OK, you get the point (and I’m getting hungry).

The Zone to my Paleo.
 
Come on, it even sounds fitting. I WILL admit, however, that I trash talked this plan during my month long journey. I did. I didn’t understand it and neither did my body, so… I was a hater. A crazy, trash-talking Zone hater. Whether it be because I was not fully embracing the adjustment or refusing to mentally accept it, I just could not wrap myself around Zone. 

                                             
                                                   Hitting some chest-to-bars with the ladies of HTFU 

It wasn’t until the end of week 2 that I began to see an incredible difference in my physique as well as fall into the habit of weighing and measuring. It actually started to grow on me and I felt very confident knowing exactly what and how much I was ingesting.

This may sound a little neurotic, but hear me out.

For an individual that is 100% committed to becoming a competitive CrossFit athlete, Paleo-Zone is a fabulous option (but not the only option—this is just my opinion). For myself, it eliminates the temptation of cheating (i.e., hand-packed pints from Stewart’s) and eating when I’m bored or not actually hungry (i.e., baking and eating Paleo muffins when I should be writing a paper), as well as prevents me from ordering food 1-3x a week. Gross.

The secret to Zone is tweaking it to fit your body’s needs and your personal goals. Remember this. It is very likely I will adhere to Paleo-Zone, but may not have the same ratios or blocks as I did during this past month. Starting Zone is very “guess-and-check” and therefore you learn from what you’ve experienced—and, this past month was my first experiment.

And, I survived (without the straightjacket).