So much of Crossfit is nutrition, which is why this lifestyle is so difficult. I fell off the wagon. For most of May, I was eating a lot of sugar. It was stress or boredom or ... something. But a funny thing happened. So a couple weeks ago, we did the workout Cindy, which is a pretty grueling workout (20 minutes of pull-ups, push-ups, and squatting). The next day I ran a 5K. Then a rest day. Then the Filthy Fifty, which I completed (not quite RX, but I'm getting there). I can't believe I completed it. Yes, there was a time limit, but I was close enough and I kept going. Anyway, the next day was the first day of Crossfit Endurance, and I had to run another 5K. I got a horrible time (for me) - it was 1:30 slower than my 5K earlier that week. My knee hurt. I was mad at myself. My calves were super sore. So I had every intention of going back to Crossfit later that week (taking some rest first, of course). But I was sitting in my office on Friday and I just felt awful. I felt like allergies were coming on and I could barely keep my eyes open, even after taking something. I went home and drank a cup of coffee, and I slept all afternoon. I guess I needed it.
But then I slept in on Saturday. I didn't go to Crossfit Saturday morning. I never sleep in unintentionally. It was like my body had just had it. I still ate poorly on Saturday (we went to a casino, which had a buffet), but then decided that I needed to get back on track, both with workouts and with eating. I just didn't want my body to feel awful anymore.
So I've cut the artificial sugar and gluten. I'm definitely not full-on paleo, but I'm certainly better than I was earlier this month. I've done some tough workouts and I'm going back tomorrow. As much as it irritates the hell out of me, there's something to this nutrition thing.
There was an article on Crossfit Journal this week about a study done about emotional fitness and Crossfit. It was a small study - done in one gym. The participants were supposed to stick to the diet and workout regimen for 7 weeks. That's a long time. The ones who finished certainly scored higher on their emotional scales, but I'm more interested in the ones who didn't finish. What made them go back? Was it keeping up with workouts? I doubt that. I think people can be pretty consistent when they're having fun and seeing results. But the eating part - I'm guessing that's where they fell off the wagon. Eating is, for many of us, emotional. It shouldn't be, but it is. So what can Crossfit do about that?
5 comments:
holy crap! I couldn't agree more. The broken foot was to blame but that is just a lame excuse. I just ate Jimmy John's and pizza and beer. Yes...totally going against the many many months of gluten free hardwork I put in...and although it tasted good. I feel like 'pood'...seriously! I totally believe that most of our results are completely diet related. Not sure what CF can do...maybe have a therapist on staff? :)
I agree with Emily about the therapist. I had been paleo for months, hit an emotional rough patch, and went right back to eating junk food everyday. I keep going to Crossfit because I love the social part, but there's no question that I'm not making gains like I was. I've brought myself to a standstill thanks to carbohydrates. Why do we sabotage ourselves? There must be some intrinsic motivation that is routed in "caring" for ourselves, even though it manifests illogically.
Such a ripe topic, love it. Honestly, the book that changed a lot for me on the topic of emotional eating, is "Eating Mindfully". Taking a note from the lesson of detaching myself emotionally from negative people (or energy vampires in general) in my life, I'm slowly, *slowly* learning to detach from food as a source of comfort. It's a process. If there had been a box of doughnuts in my house tonight, they'd be gone. It was a crappy day. But I think the key is to be human - fine, make the slips, but get right back on the wagon. Not primarily for the weight loss, or the fitness, but to FEEL better, period. No food hangover, no emotional hangover.
I also think there's a lot to cooking food so that it's truly satisfying... so we don't feel robbed. Make sure you're getting enough fats, they definitely help with the sugar cravings. I'm thinking cooking classes with Kelly with a focus on fun. The Decadent Cavewoman? ;)
The Decadent Cavewoman sounds like a good name for a cookbook, TV show, magazine, lifestyle. Trademark it!
Post a Comment