Paleo Challenge Wrap Up

Today our box wraps up our Paleo Challenge for 2015 (start of challenge blog here). Our challenge was for 6 weeks as strict Paleo with out cheat meals. I went into this challenge very hesitant to make changes to my way of eating because I was already eating “clean” but I learned a lot about myself during this challenge that I wouldn’t have on my own. I don’t know how everyone else did but here is my recap and what I found to be beneficial and not so beneficial.

We started our challenge weighing in, getting measured (circumference measurements) and having our pictures taken, shirt off, sports bra on. Post measurements, we did a “baseline WOD” which apparently Satan created on a day when he wasn’t feeling well. Our WOD consisted of 7 body weight deadlifts (scaled to 75% of my body weight for 135#), followed by 7 OTB burpees as an AMRAP for 10 minutes. Then we were blessed with 3 minutes of rest and followed that with a 500m max effort row for time.

I get to do this WOD again today to see if I have progressed in my work outs since going strict Paleo. I’m not going to lie, I really don’t think I will see progress but that has more to do with my asthma being out of control than my body being healthier and performing better.

During the challenge I found that my food allergies are off the charts. I have been able to successfully introduce and keep 10 foods in my diet and so far my body has rejected 6 things that I’ve tried to incorporate. Considering that when I started I could only have 3 things to eat Morning, noon and night, 10 things almost seems like a party, almost.

My fat intake went up significantly and overcoming the amount of fat I was now eating was hard mentally. Alas, I powered though and I now enjoy eating tons of bacon. To be honest, I am probably eating too much bacon but let’s not nit pick. I also saw a HUGE reduction in us eating out, we only went out to eat twice in the last 6 weeks which is a wonderful change for us and our bank account!

I am holding out to see what my weight and measurements are before our WOD tonight. I know I have lost inches because my pants are fitting better and those in the box have been kind enough to tell me so. I don’t know if I have actually lost any “scale weight” but I don’t care about that number any longer. If I’m 180 pounds and ripped, who cares? I care about my body fat percentage and that is why I choose to do this challenge.

The main reason for going strict Paleo is to reset your body and make it start burning fat as your first fuel source oppose to carbohydrates. Your body will naturally burn carbohydrates first and because we can’t store them like we can fat, you have to replenish them regularly. Fat on the other hand, well, we all have ample fat storage and in my case, TOO much. My body stores visceral fat which is around my stomach area and is the highest risk area to store fat for diabetes, heart disease and all other kinds of horribleness.

So, I chose to do this detox to combat my fat and to hopefully increase the longevity of my life. As it turned out, this way of eating is what my body needs. This challenge gave me the opportunity to really face my food allergies head on and take charge of them. I do feel better, physically and emotionally. For so long I felt stuck because the scale weight kept going up, muscle was packing on and fat was like, I’m here for life, get used to it. I am happy to say that I have finally seen a change in my stomach region after years of not having the right “diet”. I’ve lost the perpetual bloat that I had (unless I introduce something new and it’s rejected) and my stomach feels so much better I can't begin to explain.

What did I find not to be so wonderful during this challenge? Eating this strictly isn’t easy and it takes your body and mind time to adapt. Social events are different when you eat on a restricted diet but I’m rather used to that. If you are out running errands and it takes longer than you expected and you didn’t pack a snack? You just go hungry because there’s nothing “quick” that you can grab. This way of eating takes planning but it’s for the best. I’d rather spend my Sundays bulk cooking so I can keep on track than eat fast food because I am too tired to cook.

All in all, I see myself staying as close to strict paleo as possible. I honestly don’t know if my body will allow me any other choice. One of my girlfriends told me she sometimes wished she had my food allergies so she could clean up her diet and I told her I wouldn’t wish this affliction on my worst enemy. I used to LOVE corn and white rice but after 6 weeks of not having it, I don’t miss it. There are day’s I will see a dreamy picture of Mac N Cheese or a giant piece of Chocolate Cake and I think back to how glorious it tasted and then I remember how horrible it made me feel. I’m happier when I eat well and that’s what it all boils down to for me, paleo or not.

#6weekpaleochallengewrapup