It’s MONDAY! Woot! Woot!  This time of year in the DC area is as close to perfect as you can get — the leaves are starting to change, the weather is crisp and cool. This seasonal change makes me want to declutter, and get ready for the long winter’s nap. Oh wait, we don’t get to nap all winter! Well you know what I mean — just get things in order, evaluate things in life, reflect on and appreciate where I am now. Remind myself to Be Here Now. 

I found this great post that really highlights the reality of obesity and its effects on all of us. It’s obviously a pro-paleo site but the stats and information do speak for themselves when it comes to what we eat and how we feel. Take some time today to look at all the interesting statistics it offers!

Yesterday, I came across a facebook post yesterday between my friend and super great athlete Jeremy Kinnick and one of his athletes who was sharing some thoughts about the challenge and eating clean. Another friend of the athletes piped in and said something to the effect of you all are crazy with this stuff and moderation is the key. Eating a little bit of everything is fine as long as it is in moderation.

This is probably an approach that we all take in most facets of our life.   Balance. I think this idea of balance belongs in some things in our life — but not for everything. Jeremy is completely right when he says:

Jeremy Kinnick And this “balance” is part of the problem with Americans and their health… In no way can eating that garbage ever do anything positive for you and anyone else.

Is he saying that you should NEVER ever eat it. Well in a perfect world, the answer is no, you should never eat crap food.  But we don’t live an in ideal world, so sometimes you will have cake, or eat at Del Taco. The is that you can’t ignore the real fact that crap food is crap food.  And when you make the choice to eat it – and we all do from time to time, don’t pee on your own leg and convince yourself it’s raining.   You are in control of your choices, and this includes the choices you make when it comes to the food you use to fuel your body.  Eating Del Taco, or a McDonald’s Big Mac will never, ever be the optimal, healthy food option you need to obtain peak performance from your body – period. And if you eat it as the norm, you are doing a lot more damage than you probably realize.  So, when you talk about balance what are you really saying?

Many of us CrossFitters/Paleo followers follow the 80/20 rule in general. Are we saying that the 20% of the less than ideal food is what we should be eating?  No. But we are making a conscious choice to allow certain foods. Some athletes out there do not at all. They embrace all that eating the way you should has to offer — Jeremy Kinnick is one of them and he is 100% right on.  It’s his life, his life’s mission and he is proof that it works in more ways than just physical.

I choose a more relaxed view and do, probably more than I care to admit, choose foods that I probably should leave well enough alone.  But its a CHOICE I make and I do know the repercussions and quite frankly, can see and feel them every day.   I think the issue is many people when they say moderation and they reason with themselves and others about why they eat the way they do — are blatantly ignoring the truth and that’s the issue.  Get informed about the food you eat, and then own the decisions you make about what you are putting in your body — honesty is the best policy!

Today’s workout was hard but I loved it. And I am getting really good at Knees to Elbows. So good that Coach Jerry- our gymnastics guru- asked me where they came from! Now that’s progress people!!

As many rounds as possible in 15 mins of:

Warmup
600m jog

• High Knees
• Toe Touches
• Side Shuffle
• Lunges

10 Handstand Holds 3s
Skill

• Med ball cleans

• KTE

WOD

• 8 Power Cleans 75
• 8 Wall Balls 10
• 8 Knees-to-elbows

8 Rounds