CAVEMANiac

So I jumped in 100% to Paleo and after trying to maintain that diet, I have decided that ultimately, Paleo is not completely for me. Not that I am just turning my back, but I am modifying Paleo / Primal to fit my needs. I guess you can call it the Sasquatch / Bigfoot / Harry & The Henderson’s Diet (I am probably not the first to coin this diet name). Really anything Harry could eat is fair game (pets are off limits, though). I am still trying to adhere to as close to Primal specifics as possible, but am making some modern day changes that still work for me. 

I really excluded most non-Paleo items from my diet in the first few weeks and have slowly re-introduced items back one at a time to gauge effects on my system. Yes, I had 100 times more energy and feel amazing since changing my diet, but I also attribute those energy levels to the increase in exercise and the reduced stress levels I have tried to create in my life. So far, all white starches are out for good, as are most grains (I am eating some rice here and there). I have also brought back some beans to my diet, since they seem not to have any real negative effects on me and are a good source of protein from a non-meat perspective. I was just eating way too much meat and that can not be healthy for me in the long run. Sweets and sugars are still used very sparingly, if at all. I am also much more aware of any processed / preservative-filled foods I am consuming.

So, overall, I have transformed from a fast food fueled, dead-end diet to one that is very healthy and easy for me to maintain going forward. Trying to go full-Paleo was a great catalyst for me to get where I am today.

On another note, I have lost at least 10 pounds to date (mostly in my stomach area) and have gained a good amount of muscle. My strength and stamina has increased dramatically and my blood pressure is maintained at a very healthy level. I have seen huge gains in my workouts and my overall outlook on life. My mood is much elevated and I am killing it at work (since I am in software sales). I owe so much of the “new me” to my Crossfit coaches and family. Specifically Murph and Caleb for constantly pushing me past limits I thought I could not exceed and the guys and girls I train with on a daily basis for challenging me, as well.

The challenge is really only 1/3 over, but I am seeing such tremendous changes in my life and health already. 

I wore my new Reebok Flex Nanos to Crossfit today and loved them. I cranked out a few hundred burpees in them and they kept me nice and stable for a few hundred more kb swings. Expect a more detailed review within the next week or so (I used to work at a sneaker shop in high school, so I have an above average knowledge of athletic footwear).
Spent most of the afternoon watching the Giants manhandle the cheeseheads. I am a die hard Giants fan, so today was a good day. I had my first cheat meal of the challenge. A few slices of pizza and a glass of root beer. Honestly, I don’t know if I will cheat again. I really did not enjoy the pizza in the way I used to. It felt foreign to my taste buds and the sweetness of the root beer was almost overwhelming. Maybe it is all mental and I am looking to deep into this; or maybe my tastes in cuisine are changing for the better.

I won’t lie. I looked at today’s WOD and almost didn’t want to go to class. We had to do 5 sets of 10 burpee box jumps, 10 sumo high lifts, and 10 thrusters (with a 1 minute rest inbetween each set). Anyway, I sucked it up and hit Wood hard. wood was the name of the WOD. I did not come close to rx’ing the weight, but finished it in pretty good time; under 20 minutes. A few months ago, I would have been carted out on a stretcher before completing round 1.
And the challenge continues.

Man created the wheel and discovered the flame. Now I will reinvent myself and reignite the fire inside me. I have made shallow promises in my past 30+ years on this planet. Crossfit has helped jumpstart my life and now I am embarking on a 90 transformation. This blog will allow a glimpse into my journey on the path to becoming a dedicated Crossfit athlete and living a healthier lifestyle.

Photos, goals, meals, workout results, primal recipes that rock, etc… I will try to shed as much light into my days, weeks, and months over the next 90 days. I am just a normal guy that let myself go for too long and got lazy. Now, I have decided to take back my health, one day at a time.

I hope I can inspire some and entertain the rest. This is my de-evolution into a CAVEMANiac!