Why My Mom Should Try Paleo

My gym is going into another Paleo Challenge, and after the amazing effects of my initial entree into the Paleo lifestyle (better sleep, better energy, weight loss, fat loss, better skin, etc.), I thought it was time to get my family involved.  I don't believe in "gimmicks" - I believe in eating FOOD, and sadly, most of what people consume these days doesn't resemble the real thing.  I did the first challenge with my husband (he was mostly forced into it), but now that I have results and wisdom, why not help make my family healthier?  I became a fan of Paleo because it's a FOOD based eating style that supports the local farmers, the local ranchers, and the environment.  Novel, huh?

My sister visited a few months ago and got a few days of straight up, home cooked, Paleo awesomeness.  She was shocked by how well we ate, how delicious all the food was, and how easy it was.  She's following a mostly Paleo lifestyle now and feels "off" on those days she consumes crappy food.

So, time to get my mom on board.  I followed up to try and get her to confirm her acceptance of our next challenge and I got the following excuses:

1)  "Oh, I didn't see dinosaur when I went to the store the other day."
OK, we can overcome this.

2) "I don't have time for this"
Sorry Mother Dearest, I've traveled SIXTEEN TIMES in the past 6 months (many of those were cross country trips).  Oh wait, I was also working on my MBA, and training for the Boston and California International Marathons....while working full time.  You're not THAT busy. 


3) Isn't eating that much protein bad for you if you don't workout all the time?
Here's the funny part - Paleo isn't about eating as much protein as humanly posible.  It's about eating FOOD that comes from the earth.  I eat a boat load of veggies on a daily basis with lean, (usually grassfed) proteins. If you hate veggies and are using Paleo as an excuse to not eat your broccoli, yea, you can get sick.


This isn't about the before/after photos (although they are cool and very inspiring).  This is about reading your food labels, hitting up the farmer's market, and taking CONTROL of what you put on your plate.  This is about getting rid of the crappy chemicals and fake food that plague the American dinner table and replacing it with ingredients you can pronounce and foods you recognize.  


This is NOT about being on a diet.  It's not about doing this perfectly.  This is NOT a "lose weight quick" campaign.


Mom, I'm calling you out.  Shut up, and Sign up:
 http://pacificcoast.wholelifechallenge.com/

Kisses,
Your daughter

Life Lessons From Tough Mudder

I had the distinct privilege of participating in a grueling Tough Mudder event this past weekend with Dave and 14 of our friends.  Together, we were "Team Pretty" - ready to rock the 7,200 ft. base of Snow Valley Ski Resort.  There's nothing like spending 4 hours in the heat, on a 10 mile course, with 21 obstacles and more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain, as a means to learn a little about yourself, your husband, and your life.  Totally not your average Saturday.  But then again, these aren't your average friends.

It may have been my brain frying from the combination of reduced oxygen intake and sun exposure, but I'd like to think I learned a few things on Saturday that could be called "Life Lessons."

Lesson #1: Stay With Your Buddy
You may feel like you have enough spunk and pizzazz to throw yourself into an ice bath and power up a hill, but when you get to life's bigger obstacles (like 12 foot walls or a mid pit filled with live electric wires), you're suddenly not so tough by yourself.  Make sure you have someone to help you over your life's walls...it doesn't matter if they're your best friend or a significant other, as long as you trust them to shove you hard enough to get through the tough spots.

Lesson #2: We're All Different - And That's Awesome
Some of the Mudders were ready to take the course by the horns, others were vomiting from over-exertion.  Then there were those teams who let all their true colors fly - like this "I'm On A Boat" team that my "Team Pretty, B Squad" had the pleasure of running with for the day.  Yes, they were different, and that was awesome.


Lesson #3: You're Capable of More Than You Think (and if not, get shoved)
Somehow, some way, little Christina Dotson to threw herself off of a 15 foot ledge into a lake of murky water.  The poor thing couldn't jump off the Goleta Pier a few short days beforehand.  But she faced it and ran off the ledge like there was no ledge.  And when you're still facing your fear, sometimes a little shove in the right direction is all you need.

Lesson #4: It's Not Always Pretty
Jen almost crotch kissed the side of the swinging rings water pit (yes, it's ok to make that noise), I  almost crashed into Christina's head at the bottom of a water slide, and a few men felt like they lost "something" in the arctic enema (as they all came out screaming like 6 year old girls). Yea, it's not always going to be pretty; however, if you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep going, you'll be golden.


Lesson #5: You'll Always Learn Something New About Your Significant Other
Apparently, my husband is an expert keg tosser.  Who knew!?!?  And the team benefited from all of the free beers he won.