Life B.C.

Double chin and flabby arms at my bestie's wedding 

progress

finally muscle tone in my arms!!

Pushing myself beyond my limits in the gym

When I refer to my life B.C. obviously I mean before Crossfit!!!  Let me just explain myself before Jan 2011.  I wasn't in terrible shape, obese or anything horrible.  I was simply a few pounds overweight and existing on chemicals while torturing myself on the treadmill daily.  I thought I was fit because I could run 5 miles and go home and eat a Dannon light and fit yogurt with a Fiber One bar.  Was I in terrible shape absolutely not.  So when my fiance started Crossfit in Oct 2010 I was completely close minded.  Did he really think that he was burning as many calories in a 45 min workout as my 90 minute cardio sessions?! No chance!!  He came home day after day telling me how great he felt and how amazing the workouts were.  I ignored him for a solid three months before I decided maybe I should be more open minded and honestly I was starting to freak I only had six months to get my flabby arms in shape before the walk down the aisle.  So I started at Crossfit in January with low expectations.  I did a few workouts and still wasnt loving it.  I was scared I was going to get bulky from the Olympic lifts and discouraged that I could not even do a pull up.  I was most definitely closed minded to paleo.  It seemed like a cult of meat eating freaks!  But I stuck with it and after about 2 months of consistent classes I was hooked!  My double chin was starting to fade and my abs were actually showing some progress.  Excited with my results  I wanted to try this paleo everyone at Crossfit always spoke of.  So I started with a classic 30 day paleo challenge.  After three days I was freaking out!!!  I needed my chocolate covered pretzels with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc big time!  I stuck it out and it was so worth it.  After about a week my body felt AMAZING.  Any constipation issues were entirely resolved and I had already shed three pounds on the scale. (which is enough to make me stick with anything sadly)  But beyond the physical I just felt better I was in control of my food and eating real whole foods no more chemicals.   My performance in the gym was also much better.  That 30 day challenge turned into a way of life around our modern townhouse and I couldn't be more pleased.  I do cheat once a week or sometimes more. (Italy...hello wine and pasta diet) However for most of time we eat paleo or make our best attempt to.  The thing I dislike the most about paleo are the diehards that treat it like a religion.  The people that claim one day of cheating or one meal with gluten can reverse all forward progress.  This blog is my attempt to make paleo seem like a realistic option for regular people!  I will post our easy affordable recipes that anyone can make and share my daily struggles to keep my sugar addiction in check!!