Success Story
Nate L. (age 10)

I am a ten year old boy from Evanston. Crossfit is a great experience for me. Crossfit is awesome because I got stronger and made new friends. Also I feel healthier. It's like playing on the playground except you're learning new things at the same time. I eat healthier because of Crossfit. I don't eat as much candy. In my lunch, I always pack arugula, some fruit and a source of healthy fat and protein. My goal is to compete in the Crossfit games when I'm twenty.

Full Story is here.

Nutrition

"Paleo Basics"

We believe that a commitment to CrossFit is only part of the equation in achieving your fitness goals. What you put into your body will directly impact your success. We don't prescribe fad diets. Instead we recommend eating a balanced diet that will help your body run at its optimal level.

In plain language, base your diet on garden vegetables, especially greens, lean meats, nuts and seeds, little starch, and no sugar. That's about as simple as we can get. Many have observed that keeping your grocery cart to the perimeter of the grocery store while avoiding the aisles is a great way to protect your health. Food is perishable. The stuff with long shelf life is all circumspect. If you follow these simple guidelines you will benefit from nearly all that can be achieved through nutrition.

"Paleo Basics"

What's IN

Lean Meat (all you want): beef (sirloin, petite), pork (tenderloin, sirloin, center cut), lamb, chicken breast, turkey breast, any fish, sardines, shrimp, scallops, crab, any seafood, whole eggs, & egg whites.

Not-so-lean Meat (occasionally): bacon, sausage, & marbled steaks

Most Veggies (all you want): except potatoes, corn, beans, & peas

Any Fruit (never eaten alone and only in moderation if you want to lose weight)

Nuts & Seeds and their butters (no peanuts! and eaten in moderation if trying to lose weight)

Flavors: any spices, any herbs, tomato paste, crushed tomato, chicken broth, salsa, coconut milk, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, walnut oil

ONLY in Extreme Moderation (think cheat meals only): honey, stevia leaves, real maple syrup

What's OUT

No Sugar Or Artificial Sugar: Equal, Splenda, Stevia powder, pure cane, corn syrup, fructose, molasses, maltodextrin, agave nectar, etc

No Junk Food: cakes, desserts, cookies, candy, chocolate, pastries, chips, crackers, ice cream, snack foods, etc

No Grains: wheat or corn products, rice, pasta, bread, oatmeal, cereals, etc

No Legumes/Beans: peanuts, peas, soy, tofu, anything that says “bean”, etc

No Dairy: milk, butter, yogurt, cheese, cream, ½ & ½, etc

No Processed, Man-Made Stuff

BEST PALEO WEBSITE: www.thepaleodiet.com

What Foods Should I Avoid?

Excessive consumption of high-glycemic carbohydrates is the primary culprit in nutritionally caused health problems. High glycemic carbohydrates are those that raise blood sugar too rapidly. They include rice, bread, candy, potato, sweets, sodas, and most processed carbohydrates. Processing can include bleaching, baking, grinding, and refining. Processing of carbohydrates greatly increases their glycemic index, a measure of their propensity to elevate blood sugar.

What is the Problem with High-Glycemic Carbohydrates?

The problem with high-glycemic carbohydrates is that they give an inordinate insulin response. Insulin is an essential hormone for life, yet acute, chronic elevation of insulin leads to hyperinsulinism, which has been positively linked to obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, blood pressure, mood dysfunction and a Pandora's box of disease and disability. Research; "hyperinsulinism" on the Internet. There's a gold mine of information pertinent to your health available there. The CrossFit prescription is a low-glycemic diet and consequently severely blunts the insulin response.

Please feel free to send us your questions

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