Monday Nutrition Tip of the Week: The Challenge

Back in December I posted about Michi's Ladder and said that Zach and I were considering doing a food challenge after the first of the year. Well, here we are, January 10, and I think we have the challenge nailed down. We're presenting this to the Wednesday Fit Club at school, but if anyone else wants to participate too, that would be awesome!

If you plan to participate, leave me a comment. If there are enough people, maybe I will get a Facebook page going that is dedicated to the challenge.

And oh, I have to give credit where credit is due: the food challenge idea and the rules are based on Beachbody Coach Barbie Decker's challenges that she regularly runs for her customers.

Why would we do a food challenge like this, you ask? I've been wondering the same thing, and here is what I came up with. Eating healthy and exercising can be a lonely proposition. Most people either don't know or don't care about it, so it's important to connect with like-minded people who can challenge each other to do better and be better. And maybe when the uninterested folks sit up and take notice of the great results and great health we're enjoying, they'll want to join up too.

For this first challenge, we are going for 10 days of clean eating. Barbie's challenges are usually around 20-25 days, but I thought we'd start small. We'll be on the honor system, so if you cheat, you're only cheating yourself!

So without further ado, here are the challenge rules!

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Dates:  January 16 – January 26, 2011

Rules: 

1.      You must work out at least 7 days of the 10-day challenge. Duration of the workout should be at least 30 minutes.

2.      You must eat “clean” (using the top two tiers from Michi’s Ladder as your guide) for ten days – you get two cheat meals during the ten-day challenge. No cheat snacks!

No alcohol, no soda, no caffeine! (Decaffeinated coffee is okay.)

Clean Eating Sources:
www.thegraciouspantry.com
www.eatcleandiet.com          

3.      You must eat 4 to 6 small meals per day; ideally breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner. (Eat every two to three hours.)

4.      You must eat at least 1,250 calories per day (unless you are less than five feet tall). This challenge is about eating clean and being healthy – not about starving yourself.

To check your calorie intake, use www.myfitnesspal.com.

5.      Eat a balanced diet that includes carbs, protein, and fat. You may not eat cereal four times a day and call it “clean.”

If you need a meal plan, become a Beachbody Club Member – they post a new meal plan every week that includes all meals and snacks. (Visit http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/coachSusanH and select “Join”.)

6.      You can only eat from the top two tiers from Michi’s Ladder! 

7.      Shakeology, Recovery drink, protein supplements, coffee (decaf), natural almond/peanut butter, and almond milk are allowed.

Good luck! Remember, leave me a comment if you're going to participate, and keep me posted on your progress!

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Workout of the Day:

P90X One on One Volume 3: Chest, Back, and Balls

It's snowy and in the 20s in Texas today, but we bundled up and worked out in the shop. Good insulation keeps that thing about 20 or 30 degrees warmer than the outside temp. And we only got interrupted by "Will We Or Won't We Have School" calls three times.

Tonight: Workout with Tony Horton! I'm wondering what it will be. With the late night planned and the double workout today, tomorrow morning's workout may be a lonely one for Zach.