Eating Paleo is not an easy concept to get your head around initially as it cuts out a lot of things that most people have considered a staple part of their diet for all of their lives; potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Just what are you meant to have with your meat and vegetables at dinner time? Or lunch without sandwiches? Are you crazy?!
However, as we explained in our opening talk on the subject at the beginning of the challenge, it takes perhaps a week for you to realise that you can live without those items and not long after that to fully feel the benefits of not having them in your diet. You have more energy and your energy levels are more balanced across the whole day without having the highs and lows associated with big sugar spikes (pasta lag anyone?!). This is not to mention the longer term health benefits that a wheat and sugar free diet brings.
Ten of our members completed the challenge and i have to say they are very happy with the outcome. Plan P included a detailed meal plan drawn up by our 3 AA rosette winning chef, a food diary, a carefully structured training programme of lifting and WODs (workout of the day) and full support via email and phone. We didnt allow them any cheat days so that they could feel the true benefits of being 100% 'clean' and most of them trained at least three times a week down at the box.
The measurements we took were:
Weight (Kgs)
Body Fat % (as a total)
Body Fat % (as a score in four areas of the body; biceps, triceps, hips and shoulder)
Waist in Inches
Hips in Inches
So what happened and how did they feel?
Between them they lost 27.8kg in weight (aprox 4.4 stone), 19.4% body fat and 15 inches around their waists!
(I dont want to give out individual results and names over the internet but if you would like more exact details then they will be available down at the box. Also, the 15in waist measurement total was only between 7 people not 10!)
Not bad eh? And this includes a few people who werent looking to actually lose much weight but to just lean up around the mid-section. The before and after photos we took showed great differences and we kept having to remind ourselves that this was in fact only a 30-day challenge and not longer. Imagine 30 days from now being over half a stone lighter and having 5% less body fat around your mid-section? You'd take that wouldnt you?
I should also tell you that we saw some amazing increases in strength during that time as well proving that you can indeed get stronger and lose weight at the same time. One Deadlift went from 140kg to 170kg and one Shoulder Press from 32.5kg to 50kg.
CrossFit and Paleo are a potent combination.
A week after the challenge has finished and all of them are still sticking to the plan by their own accord. Indeed why would you want to go back to eating how you were when Paleo makes you feel so great? One of my clients has even started another 30 days right away as he cant wait to see even more improvements.
In fact two of our members let themselves have treats last weekend, chocolate, milk, bread, pizza etc for finishing the challenge but told us how terrible it made them feel for a good few days after eating it. We have just become accustomed to eating this stuff and its not until we clean our systems out that our bodies respond and complain when we bring those food types back in.
Here is a quote from one of our members:
"Having talked myself into giving this eating plan a go and impressed by the 'things to eat' list my brow furrowed heavily when reading the 'things not to eat' list (politely referred to as 'foods to avoid'). 30 days later and 'wow', who knew i could cook and real tasty stuff too?
With plenty of example menus to get you started, I had at least one unique dish every day over the full 30 days without once resorting to an omelette! In fact I have taken the view that the weight loss, lost inches and reduced body fat are more an added bonus to the good eating rather than a key motivator (but were very welcome of course) Many thanks guys!!" Steve C BN2
Our next Plan P challenge starts in September and we are combining the elements together in a package to make it simple for you to get involved:
~30-day Plan P guide including detailed meal plans, food diary, shopping lists and exercise guide.
~Personal two hour Intro course at CrossFit Connect.
~One months membership at CrossFit Connect.
~Two nutrition talks by our 3 AA rosette winning paleo chef.
~Full health check and measurement assessment at beginning and end.
Cost = £150
If you would like to know more about the next Plan P challenge, CrossFit or simply want to see the place where our members are seeing so much success then give us a call, drop us a line or come down to the box and say 'hi'. We are a friendly, community driven gym where top quality coaching and nutrition advice are combined to get you into the best shape of your life.
Ten people...thirty days....27.8kgs...19.4% body fat.... doesn't this sound like something you'd like to be part of?
http://www.crossfitconnect.co.uk
http://www.planp.co.uk
http://www.cavemansnacks.co.uk
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