The top 5 reasons why you need to join the 2016 CFN 6 week Paleo Challenge
1. It will save your life…..literally:
Very few people in today’s society appear healthy. Kids are heavier, teenagers are sleep deprived and muffin topped, the middle aged are completely stressed out, and the elderly are resigned to walkers and wheelchairs. What we eat is hands down the biggest influencer on our health, wellness, and longevity. Our ancestors in the hunter-gatherer era were virtually free of degenerative diseases. They were powerfully built with strength and endurance. The bottom line here is that we are genetically wired for a lifestyle that is all but gone now. We live in a world where everything is fast paced and eating habits are governed by too many people who care more about money in their pockets than the health and well being of their citizens. What often happens is that when people do the paleo challenge and completely eliminate grains and dairy for 42 days they discover that their body has extremely adverse reactions to things they had grown accustomed to eating on a daily basis when they are reintroduced. Am I being overly dramatic in saying it could change your life? Not really. Anything that can cause drastic changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation, the aging process, etc. is a bonus in my book. If nothing else those of us with children need to think of longevity. I personally want to be out in the yard playing with my grandchildren one day.
2. Community Support:
It is always easier to face a challenge when you are doing it with other people. Most people who are regularly in classes with you in the gym will be completing the challenge with you. This sense of support gives you the push to make it through the hard days when cravings are intense and you want to cave in. Knowing that others around you are experiencing the same things and are pushing their way through this lifestyle overhaul too will stop you from “cheating.” For all of our members on facebook, we will also have a group on facebook for all of us to post recipes, or vent about the challenges and frustrations of following the paleo way in a very non-paleo world.
3. You’ll feel better:
People who follow a Paleo diet report the following: better sleep, less fatigue, more energy, and reduced allergy symptoms. Also following the Paleo diet reduces inflammation in the body which helps with migraines, asthma, allergies, food sensitivities, autoimmune disorders, Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, IBS, rashes eczema, acne, fibromyalgia and pain disorders, hormone imbalance, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, thyroid disorders, hypertension, fertility issues, PCOS, depression…and more. Let’s face it, eating clean always makes people happyand causes them to feel better about themselves.
4. You’ll perform better in and out of the gym:
Better fuel = better resources for your body to draw from when working out, plus all the health benefits associated with lower inflammation are now out of your way and your body can function optimally during the WOD’s and recover better post WOD. This will also transfer into your everyday life. In your jobs, homes, and other activities you will notice that you have less fatigue and are able to accomplish more.
5. I am doing this with you 🙂
I know this isn’t really a great reason to do the challenge but let me explain. First and foremost I feel like I need to apologize. I am always encouraging people to stay on track, prep food, and make time for yourself to workout and eat healthy no matter what. To be completely transparent, lately I feel completely hypocritical. I have fallen into a bad pattern of little working out, poor meal planning, and lack of sleep. To make it worse I try to make excuses for myself to make it ok. I recently read a quote that read, “someone who is busier than you is running right now.” It hit me like a ton of bricks and was so true. I actually saw it on facebook and realized that the twenty minutes I just spent scrolling the newsfeed could’ve been twenty minutes in the garage squeezing a quick workout in between juggling two jobs and taking kids to every sport known to mankind. I am excited to do the challenge and will be blogging about it weekly to give further insight to the things you all will be feeling and experiencing. I am expecting you all to keep me accountable in the process.
Important Dates for this years challenge:
Jan. 2 or Jan. 7: These will be our two paleo seminars. Attendance is optional, but if you have never done the challenge before we would love for you to show up and learn as much as you can to set yourself up for success. (Jan. 2: 11:00) (Jan. 7: 11:00).
Jan. 11-Feb. 22: Actual Challenge Dates. Measurements and Baseline testing will take place the week of Jan. 4.
Jan. 30: 10:30 – Check in meeting with Amy. Come in and express successes, frustrations, and get questions answered about how you have been feeling so far.
Feb. 27: Paleo Potluck at the Brights
~ Amy
