CrossFit South Bend

  Video Transcript: Today we're going to try to answer the question, can I ever have pizza and chocolate chip cookies again? Now, it really isn't about those two particular foods, I just happened to use my two favorite off plan treats as examples, but for you it could be something like wine or lasagna or chocolate or whatever it is that's your absolute favorite off plan thing. This is a question I get a lot and in particular, I get it from people who are in the following situations. One situation is people thinking about starting the journey of eating healthy for the first time. They're like, well, if I do this am I ever going to be able to have these things again? Another set of people is people who have transitioned from eating mostly processed and refined foods most of the time to real, whole food and to the point where they're cooking and not eating fast food and processed foods as much and they're wondering, hey, when my grandma makes those chocolate chip cookies for Thanksgiving or Christmas or when it's my wedding or an anniversary or a birthday or something like that, can I have these things? Now, the answer as always with all the things that we discuss is, it depends. It depends. The general answer is something like, yes, you can have those things. But it depends. So what does it depend a lot on? It depends a lot on the state of your health. So for example, if you have a chronic health condition like an autoimmune condition, let's say celiac or ulcerative colitis or some other chronic health condition, then it may be and probably is a very, very good idea to stay away from these things long term because they can be very, very, very pro-inflammatory, especially in the case of autoimmune conditions. But also more generally. Now, if you don't have one of those things, then the decision is really up to you and I can't sit here and tell you that those things won't adversely impact your health, but that being said a point that I always try and drive home that I think is crucially important is the following. There is more to health than food, and there is more to life than health. So health is incredibly important. I think health is something that makes life all the more enjoyable and is a necessary condition for doing a lot of really amazing and important things. But health is not everything. So what are the conditions under which you would have pizza and chocolate chip cookies, even if they are negatively impacting your health? Well, a good way to think about it that I really like is the idea that save it for a really, really special occasion. The hard part here is people always wonder what does occasionally mean? I tend to think and from what I've seen from both myself and the people I work with is that true, legit special occasions don't really have much more than once or twice a month. There might be some unique months but generally, once or twice a month. Like if you planned out your year of special occasions that you thought were going to happen, real, legit special occasions are once or twice a month. Like, a birthday for a immediate family member, or your brother's wedding, or a major job promotion. Someone bringing doughnuts to work on a Wednesday or you going through the checkout counter and seeing the candy bar you like or there just randomly being nachos at a restaurant on a Saturday is not a true special occasion. So it needs to be a true special occasion, and in addition to that it needs to be a food that you really enjoy. It shouldn't just be something that you eat just because it's there. For example, if you're at a wedding, this actually happened to me at one point a few years ago. If you're at a wedding and there's lasagna there, I just happen not to like lasagna, it's just not my thing, you shouldn't go for the lasagna. You should save what you really, really want to have for that really special occasion. So you want to make sure, A, that it's a legit special occasion, and realistically if you're having more than two of these a month your definition of what a special occasion is too broad. And B, it needs to be something that you really, really, really, truly, deeply want and you're willing to accept the consequences that may come digestive or in terms of brain fog or what have you. If both of those things are satisfied, then enjoy it and have it and eat it mindfully, don't just scarf it down, have it with other people and celebrate but do so in a way that you are actually, truly enjoying it. So I would say if you do not have a chronic health condition and if it is a truly special occasion and if it's something you truly, truly, truly want, then in those instances, yeah. Your grandma's famous chocolate chip cookie recipe for Thanksgiving or that one thing that your parents always make when you go home or something like that, or if you're traveling to a foreign country and it's these folks who are making something that's their best dish and it contains something that you don't normally eat in it and you don't have a chronic health condition, just have it. It's that one thing that one time, it will be okay. Really, with these things, we can stand a little bit of it once in a while. It's when we have it repeatedly, that's an issue. All right guys, so I hope I've answered the question for you. Can you ever have pizza and chocolate chip cookies again, and thank you guys for tuning in. I'll see you next time.

In this video Tara and Anthony from the Primal Kitchen in Granger join us again to talk about the thing everyone cares about the most: the food! You guys are getting an exclusive preview of some of the food items that will be available at the Primal Kitchen such as chicken and waffles, a bison sirloin, all of the Primal Kitchen condiments and so much more. I personally got to try the bone broth the Primal Kitchen will be offering up when it opens, and it was, in all honesty, the best bone broth I've ever tried. We're super excited for the Primal Kitchen to be opening in the next couple months!

Everyone's got an opinion on kale. Some people love it. Some people love to hate it because it's been the new "it" vegetable for the past few years. And Jim Gaffigan says kale tastes like feet. The main point of this video is not just to show you a kale recipe that you may like. But also to show you that trying the same food in a different way might change a food you don't like into a food you like. Raw, boiled or steamed kale, in my opinion tastes pretty gross. So, on that, I agree with the kale detractors. However if you saute that same kale with ghee, garlic, and salt it ends up tasting really good (or at least in my opinion). It's also a super quick side dish that takes less than 10mins from start to finish. Give it a try and see what you think. Everyone's taste is different so you may not like it. But then again, you might be able to add a new vegetable to your repertoire.

In this testimonial video Heather tells us her story. Heather had a lot of benefits from the 90-day nutrition coaching program like fewer cravings, more energy, better recovery from workouts, etc. But one of her most amazing accomplishments came from a race she recently did. I'll let her tell you how it went in her own words. "So I've been an endurance athlete for 15+ years and have followed the same principles / guidelines as most (i.e. carbs, Gatorade, gels granola bars) before and during most events. Rinse /Repeat. Always feeling like I had to have that cup of gatorade or gel shot to achieve peak performance and avoid hitting the dreaded "wall". I always go out too fast and then hang on for dear life at the end of most events. Yesterday I completed my first "primal" half marathon and I have never felt more amazing before, during or after. First time in my entire life that I had ever had a negative split for an endurance event and my last mile was almost a minute faster than my first. I only had water during and then a banana immediately following. Wow. I'm sold ..Primal endurance works." So, for those of you who don't know what a negative split time it means it means that Heather ran the second half of the race FASTER than the first half, which is a really amazing accomplishment. For all the endurance athletes out there who think Gatorades and goos are the only way to go you should know that there's a different way that can give you more energy, better performance, and better recovery. Heather, we're so proud of you and all of your progress! We can't wait to see how you do in the Boston Marathon in just a few weeks!

This week's Wellness Wednesday serves a double purpose:

1. We give a quick and simple answer to the question: can you have carbs on the Paleo diet?
2. We give you a quick preview of our upcoming public Paleo grocery store tour on March 7th at 6:30pm at Fresh Thyme Market in Mishawaka? (This video was from a prior Fresh Thyme tour in January)

Here are some things I’ll be talking about at the tour: -Which types of fruits and vegetables are the best to buy organic? -How to get the best quality seafood -Is it necessary to buy grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork, eggs, and chicken? -Which fats are the healthier and which are the least healthy? -Quick and easy Paleo meals -Which dairy products are the healthier and which are the least healthy? -If you’re going to have chocolate as a treat which type is the best to buy? -Which drinks you can have besides water on the Paleo diet? -And much more I hope to see you guys at Fresh Thyme on March 7th at 6:30pm!!  

In just a few months the South Bend/Granger area will be home to one of the first Primal Kitchen restaurants not just in the country, but in the world. The Primal Kitchen restaurant will be a series of primally minded restaurants throughout the country that focus on making delicious, nutritious, real whole food meals that are convenient and affordable. In the video I sit down to chat with Tara Olson (co-owner of the Primal Kitchen restaurant with her husband Tom Olson) and Anthony Fulton, who will be the General Manager of the Primal Kitchen restaurant in Granger. In this video, which is part 1 of a three part series, Tara and Anthony discuss the philosophy behind the Primal Kitchen restaurants and what got them interested in being involved in the project. In part 2, which will come out in few weeks Tara and Anthony will give you guys an exclusive preview of certain menu options that will be available (spoiler: they sound delicious!) In part 3, Tara and Anthony will be taking us through the Primal Kitchen restaurant itself once it's fully open. You guys can follow the Primal Kitchen South Bend on Facebook and Instagram. And, if you're interested in more details about the Primal Kitchen restaurant chain you can check them out here. http://www.primalkitchenrestaurants.com Tara, Tom, and Anthony we just want to say thanks so much for bringing this great restaurant to our area! We can't wait for it to open.

In the first video in this series "What causes irritable bowel syndrome" we talked what IBS is and how small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is typically the main cause of irritable bowel syndrome. If you haven't checked that out yet here's the link: What causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome? In this second part of the series, we talk about natural solutions for irritable bowel syndrome. We talk about ways to get address the root cause of irritable bowel syndrome with your doctor or another qualified health practitioner. But we also talk about natural ways to temporarily alleviate symptoms if you're not currently able  to address the root cause of your irritable bowel syndrome. Disclaimer: Any advice received in this video is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. We recommend that you consult your own doctor or other qualified health professional regarding the treatment of any medical condition and that you speak with your doctor before taking action on any nutritional or health recommendations we provide. The information we provide is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. It is offered for educational purposes only, and statements we make have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.