This makes me happy. I love skating!
Woot! One month Paleo strong! I’ve made several changes in my lifestyle, which encompass the “Paleo lifestyle”, not only to improve my life, but to improve my derby. Here’s a list. I like lists.
1) Strict Paleo “diet”.
2) Paleo approved heavy lifting (less cardio, heavier weights, shorter workouts).
3) Lots more sleep!
So, the Paleo eating has been fantastic! You have no idea. Or maybe you do. I’ve been doing the diet thing since I can remember. I always felt miserable. Counting points sucks. Counting calories sucks more. Always worrying about my food sucked. Now I’m eating devoid of grains, processed sugar, and excessive fruit, and not worrying about calories. I get to eat (pasture-fed) butter, cream, coconut oil, eggs, meat (mmm...bacon), veggies, and some fruit. I’ve actually cut the fruit out more, to lean out.
The workouts have been intense, and awesome. I no longer feel like I need to spend an hour or more in the gym, for the sake of a “good workout”. I’m lifting heavy (deadlifts, bench presses, etc.), and doing short cardio workouts (no more than 15 minutes). I’m really keeping track of my numbers, so I have something else to focus on, other than my looks. Though, I have noticed some pleasant changes in my body.
Sleep. Oh, how I love thee... I’ve been reading “Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar, and Survival” by T.S. Wiley. It has been extremely eye opening for me! The author correlates our sleep patterns with how we eat, and our obsession with carbohydrates. I’ve made sleep more of a priority, even to the point of cutting out one of my derby practices, to get more shut-eye. Yeah, it’s been rough pretty much going home, prepping for the next day, and then going to sleep. But I can’t even express how much BETTER I feel! I used to nod off in traffic, heading to work or home. I don’t anymore. I actually fall asleep faster, and I’m able to go back to sleep, if I wake up in the middle of the night.
I feel a combination of these three points have really helped me on the track. I’m skating faster, harder, and longer. I don’t feel horribly exhausted like before. I mean, I seriously felt tired just during warm-ups! My legs would burn! Not anymore. I can focus so much better as well, and I feel less grumpy. Derby is becoming a joy again, rather than a chore. I also feel much more bouncy on the track again. Jumping doesn’t feel like I’m lugging my body around. I also feel SO much more power in my stride. I can’t even express how satisfied I am with the results I’m experiencing, with only a month of changes!
Here’s to more changes to come!
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