WEEK 7

We have less then 2 weeks left in our 3-2-1 Reset challenge.  Hopefully everyone is learning how this is a way of eating  - not just a 8 week "diet."

We will be taking pictures and collecting food journals next week.  You will also need to do the benchmark WODs and compose a summary about your experience.

More details about pics, Wod and our end of challenge meeting (Sunday, March 14) will be posted soon.
Let us know how thing are going.  It has been quiet around here lately....???

The picture above is from the Paleo Brands website.  They have a Bacon and Tenderloin recipe on their home page and lots of other good info under the "Start Here" and "Learn" Links.

Comments

[julie beattie]

ok- so this sat I went off the eating plan a bit. We were having breakfast for Dinner and after my egg and veggie omlet I was spying my son's leftover pancake and hash browns with envy. So I thought- what the hell its a saturday night and I am not having a glass of wine or anything- I am going to treat myself because I want to. So I ate it . I came home; totally felt the need to lie down- and I am not usually even a sitter- and I completely passed out. It was very interesting to observe firsthand my body's insulin reaction to that little feast! Very strange....

[Leeny]

We get so used to that icky feeling that we don't always recognize it. It's amazing how sensitive to food you can become once you "reset" your system. I find that I'm getting full faster and I just stop when I get that feeling. After not eating grains, I don't feel bloated and sluggish after meals any more. We went to I Frattelini on Saturday night and it was easy to order the filet medallions and sub asparagus instead of potatoes. Afterward, 4 of us split a flourless coconut/lemon cake. It was really light with a fair amount of sugar, I'm sure, but we all just had a taste and I didn't feel deprived at all. So far so good!!

[Nancy]

Julie, I had a similar experience. Made gorgeous homemade pizza last week for my family. Ate one piece, and about an hour later had a massive headache, which I never get. Funny thing is -listen up Elizabeth :)- it didn't even really appeal to me. Totally could have taken or left it. Paleo is definitely a lifestyle now.

[Parth]

I've had some grain based foods this past week (in small quantities), and I didn't record any adverse effects, because 90% of my meals and intake are paleo derived. I figure as long as the majority of my nutrients are coming from whole, fresh foods, my body should be able to tolerate the bad 10%. I've used these past 3 weeks to really understand my body, and tweak the diet to see what works and what doesnt. My biggest discovery, especially if body tranformation is part of your goal, was the effect of nuts! I cut nuts out of my diet for about a week now, and while I have kept my intake of proteins, fats and other nutrients about the same (or even more), I dropped 5 lbs of weight in 10 days. I'm definitely seeing more dramatic changes by taking out some of the calorie dense sources and replacing them with more filling ones - so instead of nuts, i'll eat some slices of turkey or something. I don't know how much psychology plays a role in feeling icky after eating grains etc. because I felt that ick feeling right at the half way mark, when we sort of went off the wagon a little - but all my recent transgressions with foods have not yielded any ill effects. I wonder if its because I've told myself its ok to do that, as long as I climb right back on!

[Leeny]

Parth,
I'm motivated to cut out nuts now. They're just so easy to grab, but they really don't do much in the way of hunger satisfaction for me anyway. I'll see if it makes a difference in our final stretch!

[Natali]

If I learned one thing from this way of eating is that it really can be a lifestyle change and choice as to how you want to eat. I was on vacation all of last week and really went into it with the mindset that I would just try my best to not go too far off the wagon... and I didn't. I had a few drinks at night, but after 5 hours of skiing I thought I deserved it! I took tuna, jerky, lara bars and trailmix for lunch on the slopes and it kept me away from the junk at the lodges...I ate paelo for breakfast and dinner and got some questions and comments from our friends that were with us, especially out to dinner, but I just got on with it. I did, however eat a piece of cake and icecream at my sister's birthday dinner last night and experienced a huge headache and woke up feeling hung over..ugh that was enough to tell me its not worth it!! Week 7..can't believe your here.

[Parth]

Somehow, oddly enough, even though we're at the end of the challenge, i'm not getting that "almost done" feeling, because we're probably going to continue with this model for a lot longer!

[Leeny]

Parth,
I feel the same way. I think that's why the "end" is a bit unceremonious because it really isn't an end per se. After this point, I hope to use my newfound body awareness and nutritional enlightenment toward making better, more informed choices. If I cheat, that's my choice and I know the consequences. I feel like I'm in control here. Overall, it has been a hugely positive experience for me.

Posted by: Leeny |

[michelle]

Things are still going well for me. I am still tempted by all of the foods at the restaurant that are alway in my face and find that frustrating. It is almost easier to be strict Paleo. Love how this way of eating makes me feel though which is reason enough to forge on and work out the details of making into a livestyle.

[Tom]

I have not posted for some time, but I am still carying the paleo torch pretty well. This whole experience has definitely changed the way I look at food, and now I gravitate towards healthier choices naturally. I must admit to pretty much daily small cheats, but my new found awareness stops me before, say...I eat an entire bag of popcorn, or inhale those ten cookies before I realize it. I have also dramatically increased my intake of veggies. Prior to the challenge I was consistently weighing in around 188-193. Now I range between 177 and 180. My goal is to get down (and stay) at around 175. In agreement with the comments above...nothing needs to end next week, it is a change that we should stick with from here on out!