To quote the late herb brooks “Great moments are born from great opportunity!" A great opportunity is exactly what I got when Crossfit and the paleo lifestyle was introduced into my life. I will now explain how Crossfit and the paleo diet have changed my life as well as some of the struggles that I have faced over the past few months.
It all starts with me, Mark Nine, a 25 year guy who was at a crossroads with both my mental and physical well-being. Growing up I was always very active playing most sports but primarily I focused on ice hockey. I played youth hockey, then on to juniors, and ultimately college. I was always in great shape but the diet was never my strong point; yes I was a sucker for the carbs and candy! In my third year at the collegiate level I sustained my 6th concussion which ultimately forced me to quit playing hockey. At this point the pizzas chocolate and beer really caught up to me.
I eventually made my way out to the strong island where I meet a colleague named Ted. At this point I was 225lbs and disappointed in my appearance and overall physical health, which in turn weighed on the mental side. Ted pestered me for a while to come and try the "Crossfit" saying it was awesome and all levels were welcome. Finally Ted succeed and I went to my first class I can remember it like it was yesterday it was a 5 RFT including lifts like the one that makes your legs hurt, and the one that takes your breath away, and don’t forget a few burpees sprinkled in. After that I was hooked!
I signed up shortly after and this is where the changes started to take place. I immediately started seeing changes in my attitude as well as physical features. I lost a few pounds and was infused with this new found energy. All though it was tough, seeing many of the beginning days I struggled to walk up the stairs at work, I loved it. The competitive atmosphere and the camaraderie between fellow Crossfit goers and the lovely coaches made the workouts not only challenging, but fun.
Now a few weeks in and full engulfed in the Crossfit lifestyle I started hearing about the paleo lifestyle and upcoming paleo challenge. Once again it took a little convincing from my pal Ted but I caved and went to the meeting. All early indications inside my head said, forget that I am not giving up my beer or my pasta and all the other delicious things I’ve come to love over the years. I went home that night and looked in the mirror and realized that this is the one thing that I have never tried challenge myself with and now was the time to do so.
During the paleo challenge I encountered several hurdles. After the initial detox, (which really sucked by the way) I ran into cravings. But with fruit and a little self-will I was able to curve the cravings. I can remember that it was not until 2 weeks in, when I started to see results physically as well as in my WOD performances, that I really took hold of the full lifestyle.
As I mentioned earlier I have had several concussions while playing ice hockey. What you may not know is that I deal with headaches every day. Some days are better than others but yet I will always have a headache. Since starting the paleo diet not only have I lost weight, inches in the waist, and gotten stronger but my headaches have improved. This was a big help to keep me going during the challenge and it will be a big reason for me continuing the lifestyle.
In summary Crossfit and the paleo challenge has set me up with a new outlook on my physical and mental well-being. I can honestly say I love Crossfit and all the things that come with it from the community atmosphere to the competitive drive. With such a brief Crossfit career my summary is short, but I now know with a little focus and determination I can achieve any goals I set my mind to.
“The Proof”
Day 1 Day 60
Waist
Day 1: 38 15/16 " / Day 60: 34 1/16 "
Hips
Day 1: 44 7/8 " / Day 60: 36 5/8 "
Chest
Day 1: 42 1/2 " / Day 60: 41 3/16 "
Thigh
Day 1: 23 1/4 " / Day 60: 23 1/16 "
Arm
Day 1: 14 3/16 " / Day 60: 12 5/8 "
Weight
Day 1: 219 / Day 60: 181
