A Tisket a Tasket, Crossfit is Fantastic!

The end of November marked the end of the old, non-crossfit Misty and celebrated the new, soon to be fitter, Crossfit me! It has been a month since I began working out at Crossfit Minnesota and in that short amount of time I not only feel better, but I am definitely stronger, I'm LOVING my workouts again, my body hurts less in the bad ways, and now hurts more in the good ways...

Plus, last Friday I got my first blister from doing pull-ups. I have arrived! Technically I have TWO blisters, so that makes me double-y bad ass IMHO.

The Crossfit methodology not only promotes total body fitness and doing exercises that incorporate a full range of motion, but they also have a lot to say about proper nutrition. We have all heard the old adage: "food is fuel". Well, that is exactly right and exactly what Crossfit believes as well. The mileage you get out of your body day-to-day or during any given workout is directly related to the kind of fuel you put in your gas tank... Needless to say, I do NOT do a very good job of putting quality gas in my tank....

So I have decided to embark on a challenge. The Whole 30 challenge, to be exact. Starting January 1st, my goal for the next 30 days will be to adhere to a strick paleo-based diet consisting only of lean meats, vegetables, nuts and fruit. No chewing gum (even sugar free gum), no sugar in my coffee, no beans, no peanuts, no Caribou Campfire Mochas... This is going to be tough, but I'm actually really excited for it.

If I'm honest, I am definitely looking to lose some weight during this challenge and beyond it, but in addition to that I'm excited to see what other good things might happen if I fuel my body with 100% healthy foods 100% of the time.

The 30 day challenge is meant to eliminate ALL inflammatory foods (no refined sugars, no artificial sweetners, no dairy, no grains etc). I have some struggles with my lungs (possible sports induced asthma, overall just kind of wimpy and phlegmy.) and I also have a couple of nagging injuries. I'm curious to see if by eliminating inflammatory foods then I might also eliminate some of the inflammation in my posterior tibial tendon and in my hip and help my body heal.

I know the question that you are itching to ask: Misty, what about eating all things, but doing it in moderation? My answer: Great suggestion, but I don't seem to be able to do that. The balance between eating healthy and allowing a little junk food in moderation seems to be a balance that I cannot maintain. I will do well at it for awhile, but eventually the french silk pie wins. Then it wins again and again and again.

I do not label myself as an emotional eater, but there is something about the convenience of junk food (not to mention the taste) that always makes it an easier choice. If I don't allow myself that choice, then I will be forced to make food choices that are healthy.

I admire you if you are able to do the whole "moderation" thing, but I can't. Please don't judge me. Don't tell me I'm setting myself up for failure. Failure, (and insanity) to me, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I have tried moderation and it doesn't work and it does not heal my body.

...besides, what is so wrong with challenging yourself to do something difficult? It's only 30 days, right?

The Whole 30 challenge is not for everyone, and the Paleo diet is not for everyone. Heck, it might not even be for me. I know once I complete the challenge I will definitely reintroduce some foods... but I'll talk about all of that stuff later.

Let me know what you think.