Craig O. 2/07/11 Final Check In Week 4
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Craig O
Feb 8, 2011, 3:40:41 AM2/8/11
to January 2011 Clean Eating Challenge
Now the thing of it is, that a lot of us in this group were doing the
challenge because we wanted to. We wanted better workouts, we wanted
to start the new year off right, we wanted to Clean Up! and Clean
Out! A lot of us were already athletes, could do a pull up or a
muscle up, or deadlift 2X our own body weight. And going PALEO, we
knew that it would help us increase our WOD performance.
But the truth is, some of us were doing the challenge not because we
wanted to, but because we had to. I am one of those people. My
doctor was breathing down my neck. My December blood test results
were terrible, my blood pressure was sky high for 41 years old, and my
weight was up. Way up... 10lbs a year, a couple years go by, a couple
kids, jobs, etc, yikes that scale says 260! My doctor gave me a 3
month deadline. If I didn't change something by March 1, she was
going to put me on blood pressure medicine and diabetes treatment -
most likely insulin. So there it was, now or never, do or literally
die. NOTE: while sitting in the Dr's waiting room for test results, I
saw the TNT article on CrossFit gyms. I had never heard of them.
Sounded interesting. A week or so later, I got a Groupon email for
them. Was this divine intervention?
Like another post here, I bought the GROUPON and my first WOD at
Tacoma Strength was the day of our Wed evening Jan 5 CEC meeting.
Thinking I had just joined a gym, not a "way of life," I hadn't really
given much thought to my diet, other than "yeah... I'm fat and should
lose some pounds, I'll eat healthy while I workout." I thought my
main goal would be achieved simply by working out at Pine Street.
Upon Leon's urging to sign up for the CEC at my first workout, I
plunged in head first - I would be 100% from the get go and would also
eliminate all salt and all caffeine from my diet. Since it was about
increasing quality of life for me, I didn't really have any other
choice.
Now, in the end, we are being measured simply by photo, by chest,
waist and hips. And one of us will be declared a winner by maximum
changes in those measurements I suppose. But for me, and I suspect
many others out there, there are some other measurements not being
recorded by the XFIT Trainers that really do make us all winners.
For me, here are some of those measurements that I have seen change,
due to regular WODs and PALEO eating for just one month:
WEIGHT at Day 1: 256lbs. Weight Feb 7, 2011: 229lbs. A scale weight
loss of 27 lbs. I must have put some muscle on too!
BLOOD PRESSURE at Day 1: 155/110 with a resting HR of 87 (yikes!) BP
at Dr's office on Friday Feb 4: 115/72, with a resting HR of 64.
MEDICATIONS: I am off all stomach/digestion meds, and havent needed
them all month. It happened immediately and I stopped taking them the
first week.
ASTHMA: gone - no wheezing
SKIN CONDITIONS: cleared up, gone
HEADACHES: gone
JOINT SWELLING/ARTHRITIS pain: gone
EXHAUSTION: gone - lots of energy now
SLEEPING: better - full 8 hours now, and feel rested upon waking. I
actually get up when the alarm goes off and dont "snooze it" 8 times
anymore
SNORING: my wife says that she noticed I havent been snoring as much
the last 2 weeks.
EYES: vision seems better - havent needed my reading glasses as much
this month
TEMPER/IRRITABILITY: have received several comments the last 2 weeks
that I seem happier, more present, less irritable, more at ease, and I
apparently went 2 weeks without yelling at home (which I didnt
notice.) Also, weirdly, I have not been as aggressive a driver, and
have not been caught yelling at other drivers or chasing them down to
tell them how stupid they are. They dont seem to bother me as much
anymore.
There are more I am sure. I am also sure, that if you all look at the
last month, you all see some of the same results. Another post
earlier today said in regards to the challenge, "we are all winners
here for completing the challenge." After looking at my measurables,
I agree completely. And my doctor is flabbergasted! She hasnt seen
results like these before! Since all my test results are now below
normal, except for weight, barring any weird developments, there is no
chance I will be prescribed BP medication or insulin. And she is now
checking into the PALEO diet herself.
Thank you Leon for the push that first day to attend the CEC meeting,
and Lynn for guidance throughout the month of our CEC challenge. I
will be continuing on with this lifestyle change from this point
staying at 100% PALEO - because I still have work to do. It has
rubbed off on the family too. My wife and 11 yr old daughter are
sitting at about 70% right now. My 16 yr old daughter ( a tougher
sell ) is sitting at about 40-50%. They are all interested in
continuing as well and even perhaps increasing.
For those of you who contacted me in regards to a PALEO Chef's blog, I
should have something up by the end of the week, and will post the
link on here, so you can come check it out. One of my goals for the
site will be for you to submit a regular recipe and I'll "PALEO" it
for you.
Thanks - looking forward to the potluck on Saturday - I'll bring some
different types of homemade jerky.
Craig O.
challenge because we wanted to. We wanted better workouts, we wanted
to start the new year off right, we wanted to Clean Up! and Clean
Out! A lot of us were already athletes, could do a pull up or a
muscle up, or deadlift 2X our own body weight. And going PALEO, we
knew that it would help us increase our WOD performance.
But the truth is, some of us were doing the challenge not because we
wanted to, but because we had to. I am one of those people. My
doctor was breathing down my neck. My December blood test results
were terrible, my blood pressure was sky high for 41 years old, and my
weight was up. Way up... 10lbs a year, a couple years go by, a couple
kids, jobs, etc, yikes that scale says 260! My doctor gave me a 3
month deadline. If I didn't change something by March 1, she was
going to put me on blood pressure medicine and diabetes treatment -
most likely insulin. So there it was, now or never, do or literally
die. NOTE: while sitting in the Dr's waiting room for test results, I
saw the TNT article on CrossFit gyms. I had never heard of them.
Sounded interesting. A week or so later, I got a Groupon email for
them. Was this divine intervention?
Like another post here, I bought the GROUPON and my first WOD at
Tacoma Strength was the day of our Wed evening Jan 5 CEC meeting.
Thinking I had just joined a gym, not a "way of life," I hadn't really
given much thought to my diet, other than "yeah... I'm fat and should
lose some pounds, I'll eat healthy while I workout." I thought my
main goal would be achieved simply by working out at Pine Street.
Upon Leon's urging to sign up for the CEC at my first workout, I
plunged in head first - I would be 100% from the get go and would also
eliminate all salt and all caffeine from my diet. Since it was about
increasing quality of life for me, I didn't really have any other
choice.
Now, in the end, we are being measured simply by photo, by chest,
waist and hips. And one of us will be declared a winner by maximum
changes in those measurements I suppose. But for me, and I suspect
many others out there, there are some other measurements not being
recorded by the XFIT Trainers that really do make us all winners.
For me, here are some of those measurements that I have seen change,
due to regular WODs and PALEO eating for just one month:
WEIGHT at Day 1: 256lbs. Weight Feb 7, 2011: 229lbs. A scale weight
loss of 27 lbs. I must have put some muscle on too!
BLOOD PRESSURE at Day 1: 155/110 with a resting HR of 87 (yikes!) BP
at Dr's office on Friday Feb 4: 115/72, with a resting HR of 64.
MEDICATIONS: I am off all stomach/digestion meds, and havent needed
them all month. It happened immediately and I stopped taking them the
first week.
ASTHMA: gone - no wheezing
SKIN CONDITIONS: cleared up, gone
HEADACHES: gone
JOINT SWELLING/ARTHRITIS pain: gone
EXHAUSTION: gone - lots of energy now
SLEEPING: better - full 8 hours now, and feel rested upon waking. I
actually get up when the alarm goes off and dont "snooze it" 8 times
anymore
SNORING: my wife says that she noticed I havent been snoring as much
the last 2 weeks.
EYES: vision seems better - havent needed my reading glasses as much
this month
TEMPER/IRRITABILITY: have received several comments the last 2 weeks
that I seem happier, more present, less irritable, more at ease, and I
apparently went 2 weeks without yelling at home (which I didnt
notice.) Also, weirdly, I have not been as aggressive a driver, and
have not been caught yelling at other drivers or chasing them down to
tell them how stupid they are. They dont seem to bother me as much
anymore.
There are more I am sure. I am also sure, that if you all look at the
last month, you all see some of the same results. Another post
earlier today said in regards to the challenge, "we are all winners
here for completing the challenge." After looking at my measurables,
I agree completely. And my doctor is flabbergasted! She hasnt seen
results like these before! Since all my test results are now below
normal, except for weight, barring any weird developments, there is no
chance I will be prescribed BP medication or insulin. And she is now
checking into the PALEO diet herself.
Thank you Leon for the push that first day to attend the CEC meeting,
and Lynn for guidance throughout the month of our CEC challenge. I
will be continuing on with this lifestyle change from this point
staying at 100% PALEO - because I still have work to do. It has
rubbed off on the family too. My wife and 11 yr old daughter are
sitting at about 70% right now. My 16 yr old daughter ( a tougher
sell ) is sitting at about 40-50%. They are all interested in
continuing as well and even perhaps increasing.
For those of you who contacted me in regards to a PALEO Chef's blog, I
should have something up by the end of the week, and will post the
link on here, so you can come check it out. One of my goals for the
site will be for you to submit a regular recipe and I'll "PALEO" it
for you.
Thanks - looking forward to the potluck on Saturday - I'll bring some
different types of homemade jerky.
Craig O.
Stacy M.
Feb 10, 2011, 9:37:29 AM2/10/11
to January 2011 Clean Eating Challenge
Craig,
I am sitting here reading your post with tears in my eyes. I haven't
met you yet. I do most of my workouts at Fawcett. Your journey is
truly inspiring. It is amazing to me that the groupon came to you
right when your doctor told you to make some changes. The fact that in
one month you could avoid insulin and blood pressure medication just
from the way you eat and exercise is phenomenal. What does this say
about mainstream America? I am very proud of you and I look forward to
meeting you on Saturday at the potluck. Keep up the good work.
Stacy Montemayor
avery cederstrand
Feb 10, 2011, 1:41:13 PM2/10/11
to January 2011 Clean Eating Challenge
wow this is amazing, the only difference i had was i was SUPER
irritable the first two weeks and my energy was lower but your right
about the skin clearing up which i didnt expect
keep up the good work
irritable the first two weeks and my energy was lower but your right
about the skin clearing up which i didnt expect
keep up the good work
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