About this blog

In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Baby Step It

It has taken me a good year and a half to get to the point where I am ready to do this the right way. I would recommend to people that don't want to do it, but want to do it (if you know what I mean!) to practice making one healthy change at a time until it becomes old hat.

For example, we cut out diet cokes a long time ago just because we realized they weren't good for us. I pretty much limit myself to water, milk, tea and coffee. I do not even care for that daily diet coke anymore. Evan used to expect me to buy them every time I went to the store, so trust us when we say that you can give it up and adjust!

Another example would be to make a transition to only eating stone ground whole wheat products- no enriched flour! I only buy bread from Great Harvest, or most often I buy Ezekial bread that is packed with whole everything (frozen section of Publix)! My kids have never compained. If you are dedicated, like my friend, Amanda Beam, then you can make it yourself! Oh, the smell of bread in the house! You can also use pita bread instead of regular bread and this makes for good sandwiches or even to use for pita chips!

The transition that I am making this time is to eat more veggies than fruits. So, you see, there is always something new to train yourself at, and I suggest doing it one change at a time if you are not excited about all the hurdles in your way!

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