New Years Paleo Challenge – Day 14
Day 14
I don’t think any of our Paleo Challenge athletes should weigh and measure their food. I think a vast majority shouldn’t keep a food log.
The reason for this is the same reason why we don’t prescribe bicep curls or jumping on one leg while you rub your belly: the clinical evidence we’ve observed shows no improvement in how an athlete looks, feels, or performs, and in the majority of cases (including this one) this technique is detrimental.
After spending years pushing people to weigh/measure and log their food the vast majority didn’t see any significant increase in their health or fitness and many displayed neurotic behavior that led to a decline in their fitness and significant stress in their lives.
You, the human animal, knows how to eat. Somewhere down there in your psyche is an omnivore that knows how to survive, and what to eat to ensure that survival.
We have to draw it out of you by teaching and by pack behavior, but it’s there. And I don’t think that paleolithic ancestor used FitDay.com.
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January 19th, 2012 on 10:13 pm
I’m not taking part in the challenge, but I’m playing along at home, and I have a question.
I noticed during the strength portion today that on heavy lifts, I get lightheaded and my vision blurs a little. Seems like a lot of people around me were experiencing the same. Is this a diet issue, or just to be expected when near the top of the range?
Since I feel like you’re going to ask, what I ate today prior to the workout follows.
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs and 2 sausage patties (organic, nitrate-free), 2 shots espresso.
Morning snack: 1 red bell pepper and a handful of almonds, 4oz coffee.
Lunch: pulled pork with guacamole, 4oz coffee.
Afternoon snack: handful of almonds.
After work, pre-WOD: same as breakfast. 4oz coffee.
Also drank water throughout the day, totaling around 3 liters.
January 20th, 2012 on 7:47 am
@Tim I had a little of that the first couple of days, it looks like you drink a lot of coffee were you drinking it with cream and sugar before and now drinking it black?
I also went strict Paleo, and took out all forms of sugar, and nuts as well, after the first week I haven’t had any of that, how long have you been eating Paleo?
BTW what did you have for dinner?
January 20th, 2012 on 10:17 am
Does vanilla or hazelnut coffee (the ground coffee in kcups, dunkin, etc) have sugar in it? Thanks in advance.
January 20th, 2012 on 10:25 am
Have run into my first rough spot doing the challenge. The past two nights I have not been able to sleep through the night. Generally I’m waking up multiple times during the night, sometimes hours apart, sometimes minutes. Could just be a temporary thing, but I was wondering if anyone had any remedies or suggestions?
January 20th, 2012 on 11:26 am
@Nate O-I’ve been taking ZMA. It’s a natural sleep aid. I’ve been getting some of the best sleep of my life. Only struggle is going to bed. I’m a night owl, but I’m averaging 6-7 hours a night on weekdays/8-10 on weekends (I don’t set the alarm on the weekends). I’ve been taking the fish oil, too.
Are you stressed out about anything? Watching TV before bed? Those can be factors.
January 20th, 2012 on 12:54 pm
@Tim S. – Add iodized salt to your food, lime/lemon to your water, and/or endurolytes, which you can order at Amazon.com.
@Nate – add a hand size piece of starch with dinner.
@All – don’t recommend taking fish oil at night, just breakfast/lunch. It will keep you up!
January 20th, 2012 on 1:39 pm
@Niki – I’ll take a look at ZMA as long as it doesn’t lead to groginess or preventing me from waking up to my alarm. Have you had any issues with it?
@Brian PCF – Will do. Why does the starch help with sleeping through the night? In general I’ve been eating my starch at lunch on the days I go to the gym. I would have thought that eating it closer to bed would make it harder to fall asleep/stay asleep.
January 20th, 2012 on 3:07 pm
Louis – I’ve always taken my coffee black. I know it seems like a lot, but it’s the equivalent of a tall from starbucks plus two shots. I’ve been low carb since 2005, paleo since around September. I had ribeye and broccoli for dinner; didn’t list that since it was after the fact.
Brian – Thanks. I already use iodized salt, will try the citrus.
January 20th, 2012 on 3:37 pm
@Nate O.-No issues with the ZMA. I think I actually read about it in one of Brian’s previous Paleo Challenge posts. I’m very anti-meds so I try to limit my intake of anything, but I really feel it works. You might want to try some decaf tea before bed, too.
Still looking for a good pork belly restaurant….anyone? anyone? Bueller?