Let's Make it a Thing of the Past

I know I’m preaching to the choir, but it looks like McDonald’s confirms that it’s no longer using ‘pink slime’ chemical in hamburgers.  Read article.

In addition, the article highlights other questionable chemicals showing up in our foods.

I’ve said this before, but it’s time things change out there.  Maybe in 40 years people will start to look at this kind of food the way we now look at cigarettes -  BAD!

Chris and I are so into the show “Mad Men” and they used to smoke ALL the time.  In the office, on a plane, during pregnancy, in the car with kids and at home.  You name it, they smoked there.  To them, it wasn’t a bad thing.  They heard stuff that it was bad for you, but really didn’t see the effects.

I think it’s time we make this thing we call food a thing of the past.  Like smoking at work or in an airplane.  YUCK!  Can you imagine a three hour flight with that crap?

-Dionne

Super Duper Bowl

Fastest rowing team ever. But not soo good at the hspu...

I am not a football fan.  The last time I watched any part of the Super Bowl was the year it was in Houston.  I had some students in the marching band at U of H, so I watched the half-time show.  Yep, I’m a Band Nerd at heart.  I’ve never been very interested in sports in general.  Until CrossFit.  Now, I love to watch a good lift, and have even spent time just watching weightlifting videos on line.  I will gladly spend a good portion of a Saturday watching a CrossFit competition, because I can fully appreciate how difficult the tasks are.  It’s inspiring to watch good athletes conquer a tough workout.

Back to the Super Bowl.  I still don’t care about football.  Not even a little bit.  But we have our own Super Bowl coming up soon.  It’s called the CrossFit Games, and it starts with the Open.

When I say something about the Games to non-CrossFitting friends, I tell them that it’s basically the Olympics of CrossFit.  The winner is said to have earned the title of “Fittest on Earth”.  Hardcore.  But the road to the games is a long one, and it begins with the Open.  Starting on February 22, there will be one workout posted every week for five weeks.  Athletes have until Sunday evening of each week to complete the workout and post their scores.  The top 60 individuals move on to Regionals.  There are also teams of three male and three female athletes from each registered affiliate.  Top athletes from each Region will compete in the games in California this July.

Did you know that we took a team to the South Central Regionals last year?  Ben, Phil, Chris, Teresa, Dionne, and Alexis put us on the map with an impressive finish in the top 20.  We have some amazing athletes at CLCF, and they’re going to kill it this year!

So when you start hearing buzz around the gym about the Open, that’s what we’re talking about.  Even if you’re not ready to sign up and compete, you’ll get your chance to see how you stack up on Fridays...

So who’s got Games Fever?!?
-Crystal

Obsessed

Obsessed is the word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.

How many people have had friends and family members tell you you’re obsessed with Crossfit and the food you eat?

When Chris and I went to visit friends, you could tell they would never understand our obsession with working out.  

To them it’s something you do several times a year.  They are the kind of people who are not overweight or have health issues so working out isn’t always on their minds.  So Chris and I just don’t take our conversations there with them - we can go on and on about Crossfit.  It’s our hobby and it is something we both enjoy doing together.   

Then there are those friends who make fun of us.  If they ask me to move a couch, and I say I can’t, their response is, “come on Crossfit, I thought you were all tough.”   Or they talk about how they only pay $50 a month at their gym…  I don’t even want to go there.

Any of you have haters out there?  

Why Endurance?

We all have no problem lifting the weight, swinging the bell and moving our body weight.  I hear all the time about our body weight goals, pull-up goals, back squat goals. But very rarely do you here anyone at Crossfit saying anything about endurance goals.

So, why endurance? Endurance is HUGE in Crossfit.  Every single one of those elite athletes we watch at the Crossfit Games are not only powerful, but they are fast and can last a long time doing what they are doing.  They have endurance.

I’ve been to several Crossfit Affiliates the last several months and none of them offer an endurance class for their members.  Not only do we have one, but we have one during a time that is convenient for most of us.  You need to take advantage of this.

Don’t believe me?  Ask your fellow Crossfit endurance class “regulars.”  Recently, most of them ran a 5k race in Pearland and did awesome!

Michael Schubert 25:38 7th place
Laura Revels 27:26 3rd place
Bonnie Frankum 30:12 4th place
Cindy Renaudo 30:36 5th place
Holly Peterson 31:17 6th place

Take the time to congratulate them and ask them about how endurance classes helped them.  Classes are every Saturday at 9 a.m.  Don’t let the word endurance scare you.  Endurance will make you a better Crossfitter.  

I don't want to be RUDE....

One of the most challenging parts of eating an unconventional diet is social functions.  Well, CLCF-sponsored functions are delightful in this regard, but how about a dinner party with your non-CrossFitting friends?  A potluck at your church?  A family gathering?  I don’t know about you, but these were really hard for me to navigate at first.

If a friend invites you over for dinner and then serves pasta, garlic bread, and cannolis, what the heck do you do?  After all, you don’t want to be rude, do you?

First, let me address this mindset.  Is it “rude” to refuse food that is bad for you?  If a friend offers you a cigarette, are you going to smoke just to be polite?  If you were an alcoholic, would you drink your friend’s home brew just to make him happy?  Think those are extreme analogies?  Sugar addiction is strong, and it is deadly.  It’s not rude to turn down food that isn’t in your nutrition plan.

At this point, most of my friends and family know that I don’t eat the way they do.  They’re used to it, and they know that I’ll take care of myself.  I’m not offended if I’m offered non-Paleo food, and they’re not offended when I say, “No, thank you.”  It works.  However, the transition into Paleo was more of a challenge.  Besides the fact that I was still craving all of that crap that will kill you, my non-Paleo peeps still had no idea what the heck I actually eat.  Some of you are just getting started and dealing with that now. 
Here are some of the things I do to navigate a carb- and sugar-packed function:

• Eat healthy, satisfying food beforehand (i.e. protein and fat).  If I really feel the need to, I might sample my friend’s dish that she’s so proud of, but I’m not going to eat a large portion of it.
• Offer to bring food to share.  Fruit, nuts, and dark chocolate are an easy favorite.  Veggies and guac or jicama and salsa are more good options.  Load up on the good stuff, and take small bites of the bad stuff (or just avoid it completely).
• This one is gonna sound strange, but it works.  Visualize yourself at the event in question.  Decide ahead of time how strict you’re going to be.  See yourself loading up your plate with meat and veggies, and walking right past the dessert table.

Be sure to let your friends and family know that you’re starting a new, healthy lifestyle, and do your best to surround yourself with supportive people.  If people aren’t being supportive, don’t be afraid to be rude.  Well, maybe not rude, but don’t cheat on your new plan just to be polite.

I know a lot of y’all are about a week in on your 24-Day Challenge and/or switching to Paleo.  How is it going?  What challenges are you facing?