Cheating is not an accident!

 What happens when we cheat. Maybe we do it once and that's it. It could be a monthly occurrence, even weekly. More than likely when we cheat it becomes a more regular thing than intended. It's like cheating on homework or a test at school. You might do it the first time because you forgot to study or just ran out of time. Next thing you know you are cheating on every assignment or test you have putting you further and further behind because you aren't learning the stuff anymore. Not that I EVER did that! The same thing can happen with our food. It's not an accident when we cheat. The food or drink doesn't jump in our mouth, we make the decision of what we eat. 

I am not saying my diet is perfect and I never cheat. In fact being real, I made the choice, a bad choice on a meal this week. I have plenty of excuses of why, but the bottom line is I made a bad choice.

 There are several things to consider when talking about cheat meals. What are your current goals?  If you are in a challenge (like I currently am) cheating really shouldn't be an option. If you are fighting a sugar addiction cheating isn't an option. If you are trying to obtain goals that require hard work and dedication why would you want to cheat? But maybe you have reached current goals and are at your ideal weight and HEALTHY, there is a difference. You don't want to deprive yourself from some of the luxurious foods or drinks that can be had and that's ok. When you are going to cheat do it because you want the food, not because it is just there. You don't have to eat the cake at the birthday party just because it's there. Wait until you really want it! When you have something off your diet, savor it. Don't sit and eat a whole bag of chips, a pint of ice cream, or a box of girl scout cookies. Have just enough to curbe your desire, enjoy in little bites and be done. Take note on how your body reacts to these foods you have removed from your diet. Keep these indulgences short and sweet then get right back on it!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Our Paleo

 So, this is what we have been doing. We have been eating paleo, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, some fruit and nuts, and little starch, and trying to eat non processed food. No sugar, legumes, dairy except clarified butter every once in a while. We have been focusing on eating three meals a day and trying to minimize snacking. This helps on late night food cravings which I have always had.  

Previously we had been taking supplements. BCAA's, glutamine, creatine, fish oil, and powder whey protien everyday. We have stopped taking all supplements at this point. Fish oil will be added back when we find the best ones for the value. The rest of the supplements will be added one at a time every two weeks following the end of our Whole 30 challenge. We have been eating real food for our post wod nutrition.
One of the biggest challenges I have taken on is cutting back on coffee. I was drinking about a pot and a half by myself everyday. I have cut back to 3 cups a day right now and plan on getting rid of it completely for right now. Once I break my caffeine addiction I will limit myself to two cups a day with the potential of pre workout caffeine.

Where I come from

I don't claim to know everything about diet and nutrition or even all that much. I am passionate about health and fitness, and truly enjoy researching anything to better myself and my knowledge about health, particularly diets. 

In addition, I also have the privledge to help people in ways outside of diet and fitness in my everyday life. I work in the medical field impacting peoples life on a regular bases, so I'm fortunate enough to witness smiles of life change everyday. My hope is that some readers( if anyone reads this:)) will gain some knowledge, encouragement, recipe ideas, and effects of eating clean. 

My first blogging experience is starting off with mine and my wife's venture through our Whole 30 challenge as well as our Primal Journey Paleo Challenge at Milestone Crossfit (one of the best crossfit gyms around!).  This is our first Whole 30 challenge so we are not entirely sure what to expect but we have been eating paleo for awhile now. I will be posting meals that we have eaten, good and bad, as well as the effects the diet has had on our bodies: tired, alert, changes to weight, measurements and body fat %.