Crossfitters- a question

Britt71884

I am in my third week of crossfit and I LOVE it!  It was suggested by one of my coaches that I eat paleo so I started that about a week and a half ago.  I'm really struggling with it.  I don't know if it's because it's so restrictive or if I'm just withdrawling from sugar/carbs or what.  Obviously I want to get stronger and improve my fitness but I'm not doing crossfit to become a competative lifter- I just love the workout and the people.  My question is- how important do you think a paleo diet is to your success at crossfit?  Do you eat that way?  If not, what's your diet like?  Thanks for any help!

kmartini1021

I don't do paleo and I still consider myself to be successful in my workouts. I've already seen a huge difference since starting CrossFit and I've maintained the same diet I had before going into it. That being said, I cut out refined grains and sugars a long time ago and avoid any foods with preservatives. I still eat whole grains and fruits.

Starryfish

Most people at my box dont eat strict paleo. Only maybe <20% eat strict paleo. Probably about another 25% try to do semi-paleo or just eating healthier.

If you have weight to lose or are really looking to tone up than paleo will really help you accomplish that along with crossfit. Having said that, IMO, you dont need to eat paleo to get results from crossfit. From 2 months of crossfit, i have lost one dress size and I dont eat paleo. 

Britt71884

Thanks guys!  I have about 10lbs to lose and I was eating SO MUCH SUGAR before I started paleo.  I feel much better in these 2 weeks with no sugar but I just can't see myself maintaining a diet/lifestyle with no grains, little fruit and no dairy.

Brie2010

I CrossFit and I don't eat Paleo.  Diets that restrict any one food group are just not for me.  I follow the 80-20 rule usually with my eating--80-90% of my food is healthy, 10-20% is more fun.  Right now, being pregnant, I am more lenient than usual.

At my box, the people who eat Paleo are generally the ones who get the best results and wind up being super cut.  But, I think that's more of a function of them watching what they eat closely generally, and not necessarily the whole specifically Paleo thing.  I have a feeling that if anyone was careful about their diet, they'd see similar results, but Paleo is a CF trend so it's what most people do.  If I ever get to a point where I just had the last 5-10 pounds to lose to be super fit, I might try Paleo, but for now, I just don't have the desire to do so.

My box doesn't push Paleo very hard compared to some I've seen.  I'd say maybe 25% of people there eat Paleo.  Everyone else sees great fitness gains, too.   If your goal is to just get in better shape and have fun, Paleo eating is not necessary.

Britt71884

Brie2010:

I CrossFit and I don't eat Paleo.  Diets that restrict any one food group are just not for me.  I follow the 80-20 rule usually with my eating--80-90% of my food is healthy, 10-20% is more fun.  Right now, being pregnant, I am more lenient than usual.

At my box, the people who eat Paleo are generally the ones who get the best results and wind up being super cut.  But, I think that's more of a function of them watching what they eat closely generally, and not necessarily the whole specifically Paleo thing.  I have a feeling that if anyone was careful about their diet, they'd see similar results, but Paleo is a CF trend so it's what most people do.  If I ever get to a point where I just had the last 5-10 pounds to lose to be super fit, I might try Paleo, but for now, I just don't have the desire to do so.

My box doesn't push Paleo very hard compared to some I've seen.  I'd say maybe 25% of people there eat Paleo.  Everyone else sees great fitness gains, too.   If your goal is to just get in better shape and have fun, Paleo eating is not necessary.

Thanks Brie!  It really nice to hear that  

suzannepdc

You are probably going through the "carb flu" as your body adjusts - but it will get better, I promise!

I have been eating Paleo on and off for almost 2 years now (tecnically primal since I still have a full fat Greek yogurt now and again). I have a huge sweet tooth, so if I fall of the Paleo wagon, it's in a cookie or something similar or beer, tasty, tasty beer. 

Anyway, I was a huge skeptic, huge, as in, seriously?  you are going to cut out a whole food group?  No way.  Then I did a small Paleo challenge just to try it (and partially to prove it wrong!)  I will say that within a few days, I was convinced.  I already ate pretty well (followed WW for over 7 years), but I had much more energy and just felt better once I started eating this way.  I also definitely think it helps your performance in the gym.  As strange as this may sound, I can definitely see a difference when I am eating Paleo and when I am not. 

I agree that you can be successful in CF not eating Paleo, but I will say that it also can help.  But it is hard.  I didn't eat a lot of sandwiches anyway, so that hasn't been a big deal, but it takes much more planning sometimes because your options are more restrictive.  I say try it for a month and then go from there. You can tell your coaches that it's just not for you.  Most of my coaches eat Paleo when they are training (like now, for the games) and then eat a more lax version when they are not.

Britt71884

Thanks for the response Suzanne!  I felt a lot less sluggish and tired after just a few days of eating like this.  I really didn't want to see these results though- then I could justify not eating so well

Hokiegirl82

I've been Crossfitting since early November, and have been eating Paleo since March 5. When I first signed up at my box and the owner mentioned paleo and what it was I thought "I would be so miserable not eating grains and dairy! what a horrible way to live!" and went on my merry way of eating healthy like normal and going to CF. My box did an 8 week Whole Life Challenge (like the whole 30, just longer) back when I started but I did not participate. They announced a spring challenge starting on March 31, so I did some research and decided to give paleo a try. The people at my box who eat paleo seem to really love it, but most of them are 80-20 paleo eaters, and still indulge in treats now and then. I was curious to see how paleo would affect me, so H and I started eating paleo on March 5 to get our bodies used to it before the challenge. The first week was hard, but I didn't feel horribly tired from carb withdrawl, just a little, and after the first week I started to feel great. We've been eating paleo for 7 weeks now, and I feel great. I have more energy, I sleep so much better, I have lost a few pounds, no more tummy issues (I think I must have some sort of dairy intolerance because with no dairy, no tummy problems), I have gone down a pants size, etc. I don't think eating paleo is for everyone and I do plan on going back to having some dairy like a small amount of blue cheese on a salad or some heavy cream in my coffee if my body responds ok, and maybe some pasta once or twice a month after this challenge ends on May 25, but H and I are going to continue eating paleo as our lifestyle because it suits us.

KatelynS07

I haven't started CrossFit yet, but I have been eating Paleo for a little over 2 months. I ate a traditional healthy diet before. Very minimally processed foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, fats, etc.

I had 60-75 pounds to lose, and in the last 12 weeks, I have lost 24 pounds. I have not increased my exercise, and actually have been working out minimally for the last month. I feel significantly better after switching to eating Paleo. My hair is healthier, my PMS symptoms and cramps have disappeared, and I no longer have breakouts. I eat sweet potatoes and honey and drink wine occasionally, but otherwise follow a Paleo diet.

 My husband was really skeptical, but since switching, he lost a thin layer of fat he had, and about 10 pounds. He looks great and is loving the change.

 I will agree that it sounds like you're dealing with carb flu. Paleo does require a lot more prep work and our grocery costs have increased because of our additional meat eating. We have both decided that this is a lifestyle we want to stick with for the future.

hikerbeth

I think it's pretty typical to feel crappy for a couple weeks if you go full Paleo.  That's what I've heard.

I decided just to cut grain as opposed to a full Paleo diet.  I eat pretty limited sugar anyway and just couldn't give up my dairy.

I have definitely noticed a difference in my definition and recovery time after workouts and I just don't feel as good when I eat grains any more, but I wouldn't necessarily say that it has changed my performance at WOD's.

Mrs Manners

I came into this backwards, I ate paleo about 18 months before starting Crossfit. I believe eating paleo has been a huge boost to my overall health, wellness, energy and weight loss goals. However, I don't think it's necessary to eat paleo to be successful at Crossfit (or any other sport).

I eat this way because the quality of foods I put in my body are important to me, because eating grains causes me to feel bad and because unstable insulin levels poorly impact my energy, health, appetite and weight loss. 

ETA: I do eat butter but consider it a fat, not dairy  

pfal6

suzannepdc:

You are probably going through the "carb flu" as your body adjusts - but it will get better, I promise!

I have been eating Paleo on and off for almost 2 years now (tecnically primal since I still have a full fat Greek yogurt now and again). I have a huge sweet tooth, so if I fall of the Paleo wagon, it's in a cookie or something similar or beer, tasty, tasty beer. 

Anyway, I was a huge skeptic, huge, as in, seriously?  you are going to cut out a whole food group?  No way.  Then I did a small Paleo challenge just to try it (and partially to prove it wrong!)  I will say that within a few days, I was convinced.  I already ate pretty well (followed WW for over 7 years), but I had much more energy and just felt better once I started eating this way.  I also definitely think it helps your performance in the gym.  As strange as this may sound, I can definitely see a difference when I am eating Paleo and when I am not. 

I agree that you can be successful in CF not eating Paleo, but I will say that it also can help.  But it is hard.  I didn't eat a lot of sandwiches anyway, so that hasn't been a big deal, but it takes much more planning sometimes because your options are more restrictive.  I say try it for a month and then go from there. You can tell your coaches that it's just not for you.  Most of my coaches eat Paleo when they are training (like now, for the games) and then eat a more lax version when they are not.

 

This exactly. The first 2 weeks is the hardest as your body adjusts and learns to function with less sugar. The more I research on plaeo the more I believe that it's the way we all should be eating. I am in the process of transitioning my kids to 90% paleo.