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I have the same problem with accountability! Hope this challenge is just what we need. Good luck!

I am finally doing a NF challenge! I have been doing CrossFit and kind of following a Paleo Lifestyle for the past 3 years, but I need to take it to the next level to reach some long time goals. I have never had great self-esteem or confidence and tend to comfort eat when my depression kicks in, so I am hoping that reaching my goals will help that improve. I am a 911 dispatcher and shift work has not been my friend. I am down to 157lbs (including muscle gain) from just over 200lbs. I have lost a total of 60lbs since starting CrossFit. While I keep reminding myself that that is amazing progress, I am still not happy with how I feel and look. By leaning out, I hope to say goodbye to my stubborn love handles and stomach and gain a more defined look. I want to look strong, not skinny. Main Quest: To lean out and be in better shape Lean out: Work on lowering my BMI from 25% to 20% Stick to a more strict (90%) Paleo Lifestyle Make this a permanent change Plan my meals before I go shopping Plan my shopping and food prep days so they are more efficient Stop caving when family and friends question my food choices. It's my life. Fitness I already do CrossFit, so now its time to be more aggressive in my training (i.e., run a little faster on that sprint, hold a sub 2min split when I row, start a strength training program like Hatch Squat with a coach's help) Join the YMCA and swim 2-3 days a week (working out the finances now to make that happen by the end of August) Go to the doctor and get a new inhaler so my asthma is no longer a limiting factor. STOP procrastinating! Make mobility part of my daily routine. I am currently reading "How to Become a Supple Leopard" and follow mobilitywod.com Survive the Tri-State Tough Mudder in October Keep working up the mileage running 3 days a week Life Quest: I have been a 911 dispatcher for 7 years now. I love what I do, but I am tired of where I am working (the town, not the department). I have found it difficult to feel like I fit in and make new friends in the super rich and high end area I work and live in. Preppy I don't mind, but I have never been a junior league or country club type of girl. Dating has been a disaster and I am ready for a change of scenery. Update my resume Figure out where I would like to live next Look for dispatching jobs in those areas Be financially prepared for a moveAlso, through feeling and looking better in my main quest, I hope to work on being more confident and outgoing and not feel quite as lonely or like an outsider as I do now. Talking to new people is VERY awkward for me lately. As of 7/29/2013 Height: 5'5 Weight: 157lbs Clean: 125lbs Jerk: 95lbs Snatch/OHS: Don't do due to shoulder injury Deadlift: 230lbs Bench: 75lbs increasing as shoulder stability improves Front Squat: 155lbs Back Squat: 170lbs I'll post a photo and measurements soon. I'm currently at work. I am really looking forward to this. Thanks! ~Jules

"It Starts With Food" is a great read! I've been a follower of Melissa and Dallas for several years now. I'm not a strict Paleo eater, but I definitely have room for improvement (one of my goals for this challenge). I recommend trying it strict for 30 days though so you can really see how the foods you want to eat affect you. I never knew my "seasonal" allergies were as bad as they were because of a gluten sensitivity until I did my first whole30. It is totally worth it to do it. Great set of goals. Good luck!! PS... its always more fun to misbehave

will be spectating at the north east regionals. good luck to everyone competing!!!! ~Jules

I still have pasta and pizza as the occasional cheats, and toast with an omelet when i order out, but gluten messes up my allergies big time so I usually avoid it. My typical substitutions for "breading" are almond meal and coconut flour. They don't have overly strong tastes so they wont over power what ever it is you are cooking. It has worked well in recipes for meatballs or meatloaf as well. I am in the 80/20 percent group with how strict I am with Paleo/Primal (I'm trying for 100% now to reach a few goals). If having the occasional dairy or bread does not bother you, then go for it. Just remember that keeping it in your diet keeps the intestinal damage/irritation active (at least my understanding from what I have read). If it works for you, do it.

I am in the shoes right now! While I am no where near the runner you are (learning again after being diagnosed with asthma following a very long respiratory infection) I am also trying to lean out and get my BMI lower. I am 33, 5'5" and 155lbs (down from 185lbs 2 years ago. I'm down 50lbs total so far (gained some in muscle) and 4 pant sizes). I am trying to tone up and loose the love handles. I also don't need 6pack abs, but a flat stomach would be nice. My two favorite resources for paleo is Whole30 and the Foodee Project. I also use the guidelines from Robb Wolf and Mark Sisson a lot too. The Foodee Project has teamed up with whole 30 so they have tons of paleo approved recipes and will even help create shopping lists for you. For me at least, that helps take some of the guess work out of what to cook. I CrossFit 4-5 times a week and I also try to mix in some running and swimming as well. The swimming part I just added in to try something different. Good luck!!! Any recommendations for a newbie runner? ~Jules

I use heavy cream in my coffee still. I got nuts when I do a challenge and have to give it up. I start drinking ice tea with lemon all the time. Not the same, but still refreshing in the summer!

I love Whole30! I have even attended a few of Melissa and Dallas' workshops. I even went so far as I have one of their t-shirts. I love when people ask me about paleo or what Whole9Life is. I'm a walking billboard. Love shirts from places, gyms, people like Whole9Life (aka Whole30). Lol... I do the 30 days challenge every so often. The most fun with them is when I can get a few friends to do it with me and we take turns cooking meals for everyone. Always try to find something new. The Foodee Project is a fun web site if you ever need recipe ideas and they teamed up with Whole30!!!

First thing: We have all been there, so never think you are alone in this. What works for everyone is different, but I hope this can help. Sleep is definitely key and planning. I do shift work on a rotating schedule (did 1130pm-730am for 5 years!), so each week I pick one day and use that as my food prep day. That can be anything from making healthy snacks to cooking bulk chicken so I have ready protein any time I need it. My schedule is always an issue so I put everything into my phone calendar. I even schedule sleep, eating, and crossfit. I found this really helped me on days when I was lacking motivation and just starting. Making small goals can really help. I made a list of everything that was bothering me, then I crossed off everything I had no direct control over. I rewrote the list of what I did have control over and ways I could work on it. I kept it posted on my fridge and on my bathroom mirror. Every time I went to comfort eat I saw that list. Every time I felt plagued by how fat I felt I saw the list on the mirror. The best thing I did was ask for help. I asked for friends and family to help keep me accountable and some to do it with me. Every time I accomplished a goal from that list I celebrated it. My job can be very stressful and I sometimes carry that with me when I leave. I'm a Paleo diehard, but I do agree that though "I think" everyone should try it, not everyone wants to. That's ok. I am in the 80/20 Paleo group. I love to cheat on pizza and ice cream from time to time and have often "fell off the wagon" and landslide off my plan. Enjoy the cheats. Make them something to look forward to. I stay Paleo because I have food allergies so a lot of my diet is out of necessity and not as much by choice. On days where I really dont want to cook or I really dont want to be healthy, I put on pandora or a favorite playlist of songs and try to make it fun. I dance and sing along in my kitchen as I cook. That has had some embarrassing moments when my roommates walk in, but a good laugh always makes us feel better. Time to cook is always an issue for me, so I try to cook in bulk. Popping leftovers in the oven or microwave for a few mins is a lifesaver instead of cooking every night. When I am frustrated with work, my "so tight its non existent" budget, or studies I try to go for a walk, go for a ride in my jeep with the top down, listen to a few of my favorite songs, take my camera and chase my cats around, read a web site called tiny buddha, and the list goes on. Find things that you enjoy and do them when you are low on morale or hitting a wall with your studies. Write down what bothers you and see if that can help you unload some of the burden. Call a friend, come here (as you have) and ask for help. Even just sitting in the sun for a few minutes can help. I know you have a few injuries you are working through, and as frustrating as they are, find things that you can do to help work towards your goals. Walk around the block, swim or water exercises, yoga? No matter what you chose to do, keep trying. Keep reaching for those goals, even when you dont want to. The more you try, the easier it will become. Resisting the donuts at work is never easy, but I have done it so many times now I know I can do it, and that confidence does make facing the challenge easier. And once in a while I reward myself with enjoying one. The same with exercise, which ever form or style you chose, at first it was a chore to do every day, but that also became easier. Even on the days I didnt really feel like going. Now its harder for me to skip a day than it is to go. Hope this helps. ~Jules

I like a small bowl of fruit, like mixed berries or pineapple, when im having a sweet tooth. Maybe with a small piece or two of dark chocolate. I try to keep those to a rare treat and not all the time. My ultimate craving though is sunbutter with celery or bananas. ~Jules

http://journal.crossfit.com/2009/11/learning-how-to-do-full-cleans.tpl this might help ~Jules

http://whole9life.com/2012/01/whole-30-v2012/ is a great resource on what is and is not paleo, and my go to when im not sure. sugar in any form is not paleo if you are going strict. fruit juice is sugar, but allowed in small moderation. dairy in any form affects your gut sensitivity so that is why many people avoid it. the more natural the state of the milk (heavy cream is least processed compared to skim) the better if you choose to use it. I have also tried using clarified butter in my coffee since I prefer not to drink it black (am slowly weaning myself off cream). not a bad way to go. it all boils down to how strict you want to be and how your body reacts to it. i use heavy cream, cinnamon, or the clarified butter in my coffee and have not had any issues with it. coconut or almond milk are good as well. sorry if that sounds like im preaching. i do not mean it that way. writing quickly before the phone rings again at work. never a dull moment in dispatch! ~Jules