THE CHALLENGE
The summer is over. No more ice cream and fruity summer drinks. It’s time to get back on track. No better way to do so then with a Nutrition Challenge! Rather than reinventing the wheel, we will be doing a similar challenge to the last one. Why? Because it WORKED for the majority of our members AND because YOU requested it!
We have many new Daybreakers these days, so we want to give this another run. Remember, we use these challenges to see what works in our own personal lives… we don’t expect it to work for all of you. Take what works, and incorporate that in your routine… build up the right system over time. This isn’t a quick fix.
This specific challenge is about quality. No scales and no measuring cups, just quality foods, with a penalty for “treats”. It’s just 30 days to see if the pure quality approach works for you.
And you’re not doing it alone! Like the last time, you will have a partner for accountability. You’ll keep each other honest and healthy and if you have a “treat” you both pay the penalty (more on this later)!
THE RULES
What you can eat:
- Vegetables — Most veggies (no legumes… see below), white potatoes, sweet potatoes
- Proteins — Chicken, turkey, fish, grass-fed beef/steak, eggs, buffalo, venison, etc.
- Fats — Avocado, coconut, oils, nuts, seeds, butter (grass-fed only e.g. Kerry Gold, Kate’s, etc)
- Fruits — Fresh fruit
What you can’t eat:
- Sugar — honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, coconut crystals, artificial sweeteners of any kind (stevia, equal, etc.)
- Fruits — Dried fruit or anything with fruit concentrates (e.g. jams and jellies, drinks, etc.)
- Processed Foods — items you cannot make in your kitchen, items with ingredients you cannot find in your kitchen
- Grains — corn, cereal grains, wheat, barley, oats, rye or rice
- Dairy — milk, creamers, cheese, ice cream
- Legumes — alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts, tamarind
- Soy — soy milk, soy beans (edamame), soy sauce
- Fats — Canola, safflower and hydrogenated oils, peanuts or peanut butter.
- Quest Bars
Exceptions: Pre/Post Workout (within an hour before or after WOD):
- Fuel for Fire
- Progenex
- Paleo Natural Bars
- All athlete’s get a free pass for Our Saturday September 20th Internal Competition & Social if you’re signed up!
THE COMPETITION
1) BODY MEASUREMENTS
They will include: weight, waist, arm, hip and chest (women), leg and neck (men) AND a full length “selfie” (taken by YOU or a coach)
2) DAILY SCORE
If you eat within the parameters of the challenge (veggies, proteins, fats, fruits and limited starch), you get a YES for the day. If you don’t, you get a NO. Each partner will record their own daily scores to the Goal whiteboard at the back of the gym.
Burpee Penalty: For each “NO” you post on the Goal board, you and your partner must do 50 burpees each the very same day that it is posted. So if partner 1 is a “YES” and partner 2 is a “NO”, you both still do 50 burpees. (And you’re lucky, even 2 “NO”s are still only 50 burpees each).
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
- Sign up with a partner — Go to the back pull up rig and sign up on the “Goals” whiteboard. If you don’t have a partner, we’ll pair you up with one.
- Get your measurements/photo taken — See a coach before or after class.
- Begin logging your daily scores — Starting Monday, Sept 8th, log your scores to the back whiteboard and on our WOD post (on website). You will log a YES or NO.
- Pay your burpees — If you score a NO, be ready to pay up!
THE WINNERS
The #NoExcuses Nutrition Challenge ends on Thurday, Oct 9th! At that time, we will tally up the points based on a combination of team scores, measurements and benchmark WOD improvements. The winning duo will receive PRIZES!
HELPFUL RESOURCES
- DCF Nutrition Facebook Page – Community page where members trade recipes, cooking and eating strategies.
- Paleo Power Meals – Easy way to adhere to the challenge. Order online before Thursday. Get meals delivered to Daybreak (in our fridge) Mon and/or Wed of the following week. Easy and convenient!
- The Paleo Diet
- Coach Kate’s Food Blog
- Jen Lawrence’s Cooking Blog
- Whole30 Nutrition Blog
- Everyday Paleo Cooking
- PaleoOMG – Stay away from the baked goods
ANY QUESTIONS?
Post them to comments on THIS page and the coaches will respond (as will our members!).
Coach Kate’s Super Muffins have protein powder in them. Does that mean they are no bueno for the challenge? One of those and coffee is my pre-WOD fuel so I’m ready for that grueling 5:30PM class.
1 hour Pre and Post WOD snacks CAN have protein powder
I’m assuming all booze is out?
YEP…. Did the Challenge last time, that was the hardest part for me.. Pick a day over the weekend with your partner and “plan” a cheat day- then pay the burpee’s on Monday… It will help you make it through the week being 100% clean…
This morning Mel said no booze “in general”…so booze out of general must be ok.
Yes, all booze is out. It’s ONLY 30 days out of your ENTIRE life for something that could change your life.
Besides, your liver prioritizes processing alcohol.That means the fat you ate earlier gets stored and deposited on your body. Excess fat promotes inflammation which leads to asthma, acne, diabetes, heart disease, allergies, Alheimer’s, etc.
You’re welcome =)
You tell ’em Two Limes
Ha! That’s priceless!
Do we sign up somewhere?
Nevermind I should have read first!
Does it HAVE to be progenex protein powder or is a very high quality whey protein powder ok?
Any protein powder
Challenge accepted!
Actually, Mia and I already started (since last Monday)… Paleo it is!
Question: What’s wrong dried fruit? Can I still eat my Larabars???
I can’t be there Monday nite to weight in and get measured. Can I do it Monday morning around 0730 or Tuesday pre/post WOD?
Disregard.
Is balsamic vinegar (a small amount to mix with olive oil for a salad) Challenge-compliant?
Balsamic, apple cidar and regular vinegar are all good to go!
i’m going to try it.
and I need a partner…
Cottonseed oil? Can I get a ruling?
Did some research here Zev… Cottonseed oil is mostly used as a very effective insecticide. The fact that it’s used to control bugs deters me from it. It’s not on the “treat/no” list but I would try to find a different oil
Coconut water? Coconut water with “essence” of pineapple juice?
1 hour Pre and post workout only
Coconut milk OK for cooking and coffee? Almond milk OK for coffee?
Both are good to go!
I’m in for this but would like to keep eating whole grains.