In highschool, I had a long distance running coach, Ms.Bethea, that taught me to take baby steps to my goals to help the time pass. We'd go on a run and she would be beside us, saying, "Baby steps to the mailbox!...Baby steps to the pole!...Baby steps to the sign!...Baby steps to the next driveway!" To this day, I use this strategy to reach my goals and then some. I think this strategy is so necessary to Crossfit. Whether it be increasing press weight by 5 lbs., getting one more pullup, deadlifting your body weight, learning how to do a handstand pushup, running a 5k, or choosing to eat the right foods, there are baby steps all along the way.
Eating properly is a journey unto itself. Right now, I have realized several things about my diet: I don't drink enough water, I am not consistent with taking fish oil to reap the benefits, and I am a slave to sugar. Soooooooooooo, you may guess, my baby steps to better health consist of drinking a tall glass of water(about 16oz) 3 times a day (with my 3 main meals) WITH one fish oil. I can do this.
Next, I am gearing up to challenge my enemy...Sugar! It lurks at every corner! It is in everything! I have baby stepped my way to eating whole, sometimes organic, foods so that I know there is no added sugar. But it is amazing how hard it is to avoid when you are not eating at home! Consider this. Today I ate a common lunch with relatives to celebrate my Granny's birthday. And I say "common" because I do not want to insult whoever brought the food- I am thankful and it was delicious! However, until I became a bounty hunter targeting sugar in my diet, I would have never considered how much of it we all eat without paying attention. We had baked beans-sugar, cole slaw- sugar, bar-b-que sandwiches with sauce- sugar in the bread, sugar in the sauce. Teas and coffees- sugar. Then, we had cake and brownies and lovely homemade mints- sugar, sugar, sugar! So what did I do? I eliminated the bun, and went ahead with the beans and slaw. I drank water and avoided the tempting deserts, except for one little mint. I was literally, so proud when I walked out of Granny's house, for avoiding the gooey brownies and then when I got in the car, guess what!? Dear, sweet Granny had set a bag of them in the seat next to me to take home! Augh!!!!!!!!!!! "They're for the kids" she says. She is a different woman than I. I gave myself a pep talk and made it back to Murfreesboro (from Shelbyville) without braking open the bag. I threw away half of it and gave the other half to the kids, as it was intended. They have years to develop the love hate relationship that I have with sugar! But, this is why I do try to shield them from it when at home. They are going to get it everywhere, at least I can influence their eating habits from home.
One baby step I have adapted to is to eliminate thousands of teaspoons of sugar over my lifetime by enjoying the real flavor of coffee with only cream added. Maybe one day, I'll go black, but for now, this is working great- for at least a year now!
Tonight I have thought up a chant I will say to myself when I encounter my enemy, thief of my life, of my good health, of my memory, of my stable moods, of my preferred body weight! Argh!!!Sugar!
Sugar be gone, belly be gone!
Mood be stable, Muscles be able!
Hair be shiny, skin be clear.
Energy abounds, Now kick it to the hounds!
We'll see how much of this I remember when it stares me in the face tomorrow!
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!
Way to go at Granny's! I know that was hard, you are doing great! I'm so proud of you!
ReplyDeleteI am trying to get more water in too. Maybe we can help encourage each other with the one big glass before each meal :) I'm off to drink the one I missed with breakfast!
Thanks! Cheers! I need to grab me a glass right now, too! Don't forget your fish oil!
ReplyDeleteJust a minute ago, while I was chopping a red onion, Sophie was remembering how we cried in your kitchen while you chopped onions!
Good times!