New Lifestyle?

My life has been changed....for the better obviously.  I just finished a 6 week nutrition challenge at the Crossfit box where I live work out at.  It was fairly simple and straight forward, which I like.  It was a modified paleo diet (if you don't know what paleo is just Google it), which basically meant meat, vegetables and limited fruit.  Our rules modified it in that it allowed diary and did not allow ANY natural sugar (maple syrup, honey etc.).  It also limited alcohol to 1 glass of wine or 1 shot of tequila a WEEK (that was probably the hardest piece for most of us). You could score points for eating clean, getting to the gym 3 times a week, not drinking and then completing a challenge a week.

Through my brother and his lifestyle I've been subjected introduced to the paleo lifestyle, in a non pushy way of course.  I even got a Christmas present to read all about it, but never really wrapped my head around eating left over meat for breakfast, so I never really tried.  Besides I knew my weaknesses and knew that even though I was close to being paleo, I like

• chocolate
• to drink copious amounts of wine
• and I stress eat

Brother

Yes, I did read it

So I figured I'd do the challenge and I remember saying to John that my goal was 4 out of 7 food points the first week, well I surprised myself and got 6 that week.  During about week 2 I was sold on this, I had WAY more energy than ever before (never had the mid afternoon slump), I felt good and honestly the scale was dropping.  While I try to live my life only slightly by the number on the scale, after having done Crossfit for over a year and seeing my measurements change but not the scale I was a little disappointed.  I was keeping my expectations in check talking to people who had done challenges before and never lost a pound.

Well 6 weeks ended yesterday and I lost 3" between my waist and hips measurements and dropped 14 lbs!  If I wasn't sold before I am now!  We also did 2 WOD's at the start of the challenge and are currently re-doing them to compare results. I have to do the final one tomorrow, but from today I increased my ring rows by 16 and went up 15# in my squat clean.

While I know that I'll keep this new lifestyle, I also know that I'm not going to feel guilty when I eat or drink something that isn't paleo friendly as long I as do it in moderation. Besides I ate peanut butter cups yesterday and they gave me a headache!

Now off to have a glass of wine (red wine of course)