The Monday WOD, Chelsea, was a different kind of grueling but I discovered a different kind of strength by fighting through it. I worked as hard and as well as I could. Afterward I had a little trouble coming down from it, so I grabbed a basketball and headed into the gym across from the men's locker room. As I walked around dribbling and shooting free throws, I calmed down and stated feeling better. I felt so good that I ran around here and there. I tried lay-ups and funky running flip shots like skilled players do. Despite not being a skilled player, I dropped more through the hoops than I thought I would. I tried moving around like I had game, with equally surprising results. Mind you, I've never really had game. But when I considered that reality it freed me. I had nothing to compare myself to except me. And as I moved, shook, and shot, I rocked it. I was Michael friggin' Jordan--or rather the kids on the block you used to smoke me and laugh (except I didn't laugh. I'm not a jerk like that). I went into the locker room feeling like a million bucks even if, to an observer, I might have looked somewhat foolish at best.
I've also been trying very hard to shed the mentality that in two weeks this will be over. This is turning out to be less a matter of adopting an attitude, and more one of embracing reality. In reality, I will be doing what works for me--a combination of that which fits my lifestyle and that which gives results. I can no longer deny this thing called Paleo but I have to work within what I can do; yet I find myself more willing to sacrifice this or that when doing so provides such an obvious benefit. In truth, there's nothing to shed but pounds and fears.
This week I'm cutting fruit down and reducing dairy. I had 5 blocks (protein) of dairy, which is not as low as I wanted so I'm going to do three tomorrow. If I can stick with three, doing one per day next week won't be so hard. My four fruit (carb) blocks is better reduced to three, which also happens tomorrow, in the hope that I can manage two per day next week (not counting a recovery clementine if I need it).
I cannot see myself ever completely dropping dairy and certainly not fruit. I don't care what any self-styled CrossFit Paleo guru might lay on me, dairy can be a great and healthy source of protein and calcium, and fruit is tremendously healthy for us. And beside that, I didn't get fat eating fruit and yogurt. But if great things happen as I drop more fruit and dairy, then giving that same faceless CrossFit Paleo guru a double-fisted one-finger salute doesn't fly.
And I want to fly, so I press on.
Menu:
Breakfast (4 blocks)
- 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup blackberries, 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 10g chopped nuts
Snack (2 blocks)
- 1 block 72% dark chocolate, 1 kiwi fruit, 1 string cheese stick, 1 oz. natural deli meat, 2 Tara chocolates
Snack (2 blocks)
- 1 clementine, 2 oz. natural deli meat, 6 nuts, 3/4 cup snow peas
Lunch (5 blocks)
- 2-1/2 cups Chan chili, 2-1/2 cups spaghetti squash
Snack (1 blocks)
- 1/2 cup Chan chili, 1/2 cup spaghetti squash
Dinner (4 blocks)
- 3 cups fry mix, 1 tbsp. c-raisins, 3 blocks chicken & shrimp, 1 egg, 10g chopped nuts, 2/3 tsp. butter
Total water consumption: 9+ quarts throughout the day, including coffee and tea
I'll definitely be happy when the challenge is over, but I'm happier that the good things I'm doing never have to end. Based on the rules and all that, my total points for the day: 1 (gotta count that dark chocolate!)
Total points so far: 23
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