RELAX
First and foremost - Congratulations to everybody that stuck it out all the way to the end.
Now, on to business... Although the challenge is over, there are still some transactions pending between us. I need some info from you guys that will wrap this event up.
#1 - INTANGIBLES:
How'd it go for you? Do you feel good about yourself? Better or worse than before you started the challenge? This is where you will provide me and your fellow PC participants with anecdotal evidence. For those of you that have not yet bothered to comment on the blog, please realize that it is a facile task - won't you please honor us with your thoughts? I know that you are quite busy and it is just arduous to spare the tens of minutes that it'll take to type out the text. We appreciate your sacrifice.
#2 - TANGIBLES:
Share your recorded measurements. I have noticed a visible difference in appearance on some of you peoples. Still, we need to see the numbers; we need finite numbers. What was your starting weight - ending weight, inches lost/gained, body fat percentage changes, etc. I hope that you kept track like you said you would.
#3 - DECLARING A WINNER:
Consider this, if you did not take measurements/numbers how the shit can you win? Don't forget, we did say that we would all contribute to a "kitty" and declare the top 3 winners. Pay your dues, bitches! If you didn't follow the rules, I don't know what to tell you. Honor your word... or you can consider it a Paleo Tax - either way, pay the piper.In order to declare a winner, we need your results posted and your thoughts broadcasted.
Put up a post or comment with tangibles and intangibles. Being a wordsmith may help, but in the end the tangibles are the biggest factors to note.
We will read one another's posts and each make our own list of who we consider to be the top 3 people. From there, we will use the Borda Count Method to choose the top 3 based on our list. Sound OK? Don't worry it is an easy task, it just takes a bit longer than just counting ballots.
Manni, why are you making this so complicated?
Shut your monkey face, that's why!
Everybody was given access as an author/contributor to the website. If you do not have it, let me know and I will email you the access. By being an author, you have the ability to post pictures and what not. I'm sitting at the edge of my seat.
-Manni
"I can swim through land"
I didn't see the two blogs, so I'll post these here while I have them on my mind and transfer them over when the time is right.
ReplyDeleteIntangibles: I definitely got a little stricter with my diet, and I'm very grateful to everyone who did this challenge to help make that happen for me. I've also felt much more energetic. Before the challenge, I had trouble getting up for the 11am WODs on Saturdays, and now I have trouble sleeping past 8:30am.
Tangibles: Down maybe a pound from 178 to 177, and definitely looking leaner. I've hit a lot of PRs in many different movements over the past 6-7 weeks, and I think my stricter diet only helped.
This has definitely helped me. I lost 9.6 lbs and 10.5 inches. Although I guess the amount of inches depends on the amount of places you captured. More than the weight, it has taught me to grocery shop, pay attention to vegetables (sorry I had forgotten you), has helped me stay awake to be the fabulous grad student that I am, and I have noticed an improvement in my sleep. I also have noticed better recovery times and have had some great workouts. Thank you Manni and everyone that supported this I intend to keep going as best I can.
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn't see significant changes, and considered going "off-Paleo" many times throughout the challenge, but I'm glad I stuck with it. I'm planning on continuing to eat "clean" for the most part, but I won't/can't deny myself frozen yogurt and the occasional french toast. My stats are as follows:
ReplyDeleteIntangibles: I think around week 4 or 5 is when I started feeling better in terms of recovery. It gives me peace of mind knowing I'm eating healthier and getting good nutrition in.
Tangibles: I only lost 2 lbs, but still took off 3 inches overall. I hit a few PRs, and am aiming to do WODs rx'd (or as rx'd as possible) more consistently.
Intangibles: Perhaps the most important thing this diet did for me was force me to start preparing my own food. I pretty quickly felt like I was recovering better after workouts, allowing me to get one or two more workouts in per week. I also didn't feel as sluggish in the workout following a big workout. Overall, I felt like I was getting a lot more out of my training.
ReplyDeleteTangibles: I improved my 5k race time by over 1:30. Less than 38 hours after that race I ran a 10 mile race and improved my PR by over 4:30. Running MUCH faster and recovering much faster. Only lost about 4 lbs, but cut over 1" off my waist, added almost 1/2" to my chest, 1/4" to my arms, and about 3/4" to my thighs.
I will pretty much stick to Paleo most of the time because, having never really cooked much before, all the recipes I know now are Paleo. I'll probably allow myself some cheats when I eat out, but will still try to avoid all grains. Beans and good Wisconsin cheese may sneak back into my diet from time to time...
I echo all of the positive comments. Lost ab fat and may have actually gained muscle mass. Felt more energetic, slept better, posted good WOD times. I actually didn't find it that hard to stick to, either, and appreciated that it made me start cooking again (I used to cook all the time but got away from it).
ReplyDeleteI ended the challenge a few days early and took about a week off, but I'm back on now, mainly because I really liked the progress I made. I'm going to try to go 6 days on, 1 off for the next few weeks and see how that works. If anyone wants to do another group challenge sometime soon, I'd be down.
As most of you are aware I told everyone I was not going to participate in the challenge as I was already eating close to paleo. That being said I ended up succumbing to the guilt of not suffering with the rest of you and thought to myself "eh...what the hell". Like I said I was already eating close so I might as well tighten up the diet right?
ReplyDeleteMoving to a more strict paleo diet was a lot easier then I thought it would be. The hardest part was giving up pizza and beer. I have the occasional sweet tooth but was able to address that with some trail mix. Cooking my own meals and in bulk (crock pot and grill) was the key to my success.
On to the good stuff...results! I started a loose interpretation of the paleo diet on 2/1 and tighten the noose when the challenge started in March. My original goal was to lose weight as being a keyboard ninja at work and keeping long hours will crush your body. I was a hefty 240lbs wearing size 40s (yes - you all read correct!). When the challenge ended I was down to 215lbs and rocking some 36s. I missed the xfit classes last night but went to Golds (don't judge me) on my own and tipped the scales at 213.3! This was a lot of hard work but it definitely helped to know everyone else was doing the challenge and getting it in at the gym as well.
I turn 30 at the end of July and my new goal is to get down to 200 by then.
Intangibles: I feel like the biggest thing this challenge did for me was helped me really focus on what I should be eating at all times and to think through my eating choices. I think I was expecting drastic results and unfortunately didn't see them. But, I'm hoping this is a slow process and that not everything happens overnight (especially good things!!). So, I'm going to continue focusing my diet on vegetables and legumes and what I conisder "semi-grains" (i.e. quiona, buckwheat, amaranth). I found this guy Brenan Brazier who is an ironman triathlete and over 20 years has (according to him) "perfected" the vegan diet for an athlete. He has a 12-week meal plan focusing on veggies and legumes and I think I'm going to try it out. I also thought it was interesting and liked him because everything he says is consistent with the paleo thinkers - except substituting legumes for meat.
ReplyDeleteOver the course of the six weeks, I think I overindulged on protein bars (with chocolate...so this probably didn't do good for cutting out my sugar cravings) and nuts. Going forward, I'm going to use this guy's protein concoction and recipes, still aiming for 100g/day but not through things with sugar and chocolate. I'm also going to make sure I cut down my nut intake to just 1 serving/day!! I just love me some nuts, haha. ;)
Good Stuff - Even though I dont think I've lost any fat, I do NOT crave cupcakes anymore!!! That's a huge deal for me. I have no desire to go across the street to bakeshop. And, I don't really crave pizza and nasty food anymore. I think a lot more about what quality food I'm putting into my body for nourishment, rather than for taste.
Thanks SO MUCH to everyone for helping me through this challenge -- I definitely would not have done it without this!!