Friday, May 28, 2010

2 weeks

So I was told that I need to update by more than one source, so here goes.

Started the Whole 30 on Monday May 17. Its been almost 2 full weeks since I have had processed sugars, carbs, or grains. The first couple of days were ok. Day 3 there was an episode of vomitting with sweats/shakes. It was a rough day. But I've been feeling rock solid ever since. I've also been doing the PTP program and loving it. I've been working out 5 times a week.

Twice this week someone has brought donuts to the office. And twice this week I have abstained. I've come too far to quit now, right? Today the big wigs announced that they were buying pizza for the office on Tuesday. Guess I won't be participating in that either. This had me thinking today. My employer has in the past made some big gestures towards improving the health of the employees company wide, which makes sense because healthy employees have less sick days, on the job injuries, etc. But how is it helping us by serving pizza and donuts all the time? Followed by having us sitting in cubes for 8+ hours a day while they work us to the bone (the work volume at my office has been insane since Thanksgiving, morale is low, and 13 employees have quit this month alone)? I realize that it's perceived as a good gesture to provide these types of meals for the employees, but when more than 60% of the department has a weight problem, what's the motivation?

I've read on the Whole 9 website of people who have completed the Whole 30 about how it changes their relationship with food. I'm not even 2 weeks in and I can already see that my relationship with food has been changed. Instead of picking out all my change and hitting the vending machine, I plan ahead for those mid-morning/mid-afternoon snacks and pack jerky, nuts, and fruit. I've found that a couple of walnuts and some cold water goes a long way in quelling the mid morning hunger strike. I also find that I don't eat when I'm bored any more. I drink water...a lot of water.

The workouts have been excellent. There's been a few of them that have called for running, box jumping or jump roping that I've avoided because of my bum ankle that is just now getting healed up from the sprain that I had a month ago. I'm think that after this press/deadlift PTP is done I'm going to do some Crossfit Football WODs for a couple of weeks and then do the PTP with front squats and possibly pull ups. I'm not really sure how I'm going to work that out, but I really need to work on my pull ups since I can't really do them. I now have the assistance bands and the plyo boxes, so I might as well work on them right? I know that I am getting stronger as well. I warm up with 135# on the bar for deadlifts and it's starting to feel like nothing. I'll do some warm up presses with a standard Oly bar (45#) and it feels like a feather. Can't wait to do the 1RM of these exercises in a few weeks.

Haven't weighed myself since I started this because I don't want to see the fluctuations and think "what's the point?' I'm planning on weighing in on either Monday or Tuesday, so hopefully it's a good result.



Sunday, May 16, 2010

Whole 30

I've been doing a lot of research lately. Researching the basic formula of human performance. I know what I want to do, and I know that our race is capable of much more than what we think. There was once a time when man had to walk everywhere, hunt, kill for food, gather necessary vegetables and fruits. Times were probably much simpler then. There wasn't a worry about showing up late for work, or paying bills on time. Or what is going on with American Idol or Justin Bieber (just who is this no talent hack anyway? Seriously, are they selling record deals at the mall now?). The only concern in life was just surviving. To me it doesn't really matter what you believe, evolution or creation, there was this time when a daily stressor was running away from dinosaurs, tigers, bears and finding your next meal. Sounds a little better to me than sitting in traffic going to work every morning.

This rambling does actually have a purpose. At the beginning of April I started blogging about my first attempt at the Paleo Diet (aka: the caveman diet, the hunter-gatherer diet, etc). Well, I am attempting it again. Basically. I am beginning the Whole 30. The Whole 30 is a commitment to 30 days for nothing but solid, good foods. Lean meats, vegatables and fruits. This is to reset my body and hopefully drop some pounds. All while putting up more pounds in the weight room. I came across this blog this past week and the information I read has opened my eyes. The blog is www.whole9life.com. It can get pretty science heavy and throws around some bit words like glucose, cortisol, insulin, etc. I suggest you give the site a glance. I'll post some other links in the coming month.

I will also be following the Whole 9's PTP (power to the people) program for the next 35 days or so. This is a strength program designed to increase my overall strength. I'll be working primarily on the deadlift and the shoulder press. There will be plenty of other exercises thrown in there as well. The PTP is on the Whole 9 website as well.

Now I know that I've said in the past that I'm going to a better job of posting on this thing. I'm still really going to try. I really do enjoy writing. However, there may only be 1 big update a week. I'm going to keep a food journal and also jot down any thoughts or observations about how I'm feeling along the way. I'll try to share that all with you as well.