Paleo Challenge Update from Kristen

We are now 2 weeks into the Paleo Challenge! Everyone is doing so great! I wanted to hit home the point of getting enough nutrients, and getting your needs met nutritionally through enough protein, fat, and complex carbs. Sometimes when people do a challenge such as the paleo challenge, they will do 1 of 2 things. They will eat the same thing for 30 days because they know it is “safe”, OR they will eat a lot less because they have eliminated so many foods out of their diet.  If you want to keep up some of the Paleo principles as a lifestyle, you won’t be able to sustain it doing either of these choices.  Variety will keep you feeling satisfied, and getting enough calories will not cause you to lose muscle mass, and feel low in energy during crossfit.

For women, you should not be eating less than 1350 calories, especially if you are training more than 3 days a week.  Men should not be less than 1700 calories. Paleo does not enforce counting calories, but if you are feeling low in energy, writing down your food and seeing how many calories you are at will not hurt for you to monitor your energy levels.  Adding in another ounce of protein at each meal, sweet potatoes for a post workout snack, and eating every couple hours with a variety of food will help for you to sustain the Paleo challenge for another 2 weeks.  Keeping going everyone, we are in the home stretch!

-Kristen Bell, RD