Leah T. and Laura M. are both athletes at CrossFit High Voltage Voltage. In September 2009 we went to Robb Wolf's CrossFit Nutrition Certification class at CrossFit Monrovia. We learned so much and we want to share it with everyone to live the best life possible! We will do our best to help you in your endeavors in either the Zone or Paleo lifestyle. Please feel free to email us with any questions! paleoblocks@gmail.com
Laura's Story:
I started CrossFit in May 2009. The benefits have been beyond amazing! I have more confidence, I feel great, have good posture, my muscles are strong, but most importantly, I feel healthy! I only wish I would have started it sooner!
When I started college in 2003, I began to fall into bad habits of constantly refilling my COKE at the soda machines and eating the corn dogs, macaroni, and ramen that seem to be the staples of a college diet. The combination of bad eating habits and very little exercise led me to hover around 200lbs. (YIKES!)
In 2007 I had graduated and I was unhappy and more importantly UNHEALTHY! That October my brother convinced me to get a membership at 24 Hour Fitness (which, if nothing else, got me into a working out mindset) and we started the TNT Diet, I dropped 30 lbs with it. It did work but it was hard to stick to and the rules weren't very clear; though it did help me eat more meat and veggies making it an easier transition to the Paleo diet.
My brother yet again insisted I join this new workout regimen I'd been hearing about from him for the past year called CrossFit. It was crazy hard, but every time I left the gym I felt amazing (this still happens!). I was immediately addicted to CrossFit. I wanted to learn more about the lifestyle and eventually I read the Paleo Diet. Leah and I decided to go to the Nutrition Certification class and I haven't eaten the same way since. I feel better than I ever have; and combined with CrossFit, I know I'm on the path to be the healthiest I can be. Paleo + CrossFit just makes sense! Here's a Before and During Picture. I'll try to post more once I get to a better place. I will never EVER go back to the bad habits I had. I'm thankful everyday for CrossFit, the great people at CrossFit High Voltage and the constant support from friends and family.
About Leah:
I began doing crossfit in January 2009 at CrossFit High Voltage (formerly CrossFit North Hollywood). Prior to that, I didn't have much experience exercising at all. I had been doing typical globogym workouts (running on a treadmill, doing nautilaus weights, etc.) for about 2 years. And before that, I hadn't exercised since gym class in high school! I was hooked on crossfit after my very first class.
Soon after I started crossfit, I started to think about the nutrition aspect. Although I've never had that much difficulty with my weight - I'm naturally thin and tend to not overeat - my diet was pretty poor. I'd been a vegetarian for several years, and a lot of my diet consisted of grains (e.g., bread, pasta). I read about the Zone Diet on http://www.crossfit.com/ and decided to give it a try. The change in my diet, coupled with the regular crossfit WODs, resulted in a huge change in my body. I lost weight, but more importantly I think, I gained lean muscle mass.
Slowly my diet has evolved to be completely Paleo. And although I do not weigh/measure my food, I do use my experience with the Zone to eyeball quantities at times. In November 2009 I began eating meat and eggs as my sole source of protein and I've never looked back! I feel better than I ever have in my life and I hope that I can help others feel the same way I do by spreading the word about nutrition and supporting healthy eating habits.
On a side note, I began a year long, strict paleo challenge on January 1st for 2010. That's right, no alcohol, sugar, grains, soy, or corn! No cheating at all! It helps to have a partner who is going through the same thing (mine is our very own newest PaleoBlocks team member, Cristina). Together we're realizing that once you stop eating certain things, your body (and mind) stop craving them. And the challenge has helped us come up with some very creative treats (e.g., our yummy paleo ice cream).
