Friday, July 30, 2010

31JUL10

Warm Up: DROM, 30 double unders, 20 Walking lunges, 20 APFT Style Situps

Practice: "Goat" Day Work on a weakness.....and work hard at it

Train: "1/2 Murph" For Time:
800m Run
50 Pullups
100 Pushups
150 Squats
800m Run

After the first 800m run, you can partition the pullups, pushups, and air squats as needed. A good technique is to do them "Cindy" style in sets of 5, 10, and 15 each. Keep the intensity up. Pullups are from full extension to chin over the bar. Pushups are from chin, chest, and thighs touching ground at the same time up to full extension. Squats are crease of hip below knee to full extension. Try to make that last 800m into a run and not a survival jog.
Time frame for this workout is 20-24 minutes. If not complete in 24 minutes, then stop.

Comments: Post your goat and reps and training time; or post your APFT scores and times
Another great week in the books!!
Next week is Week 7 of 8

30JUL10

Warm Up: 2 rounds of: 10 pull ups, 30 sec front plank, 30 mountain climbers, 5 burpees
Practice: 3 x 5 weighted dips (add weight each round, or work bodyweight if still unable to do dips)
Train: 3 rounds for time
10 x 135# clean and jerk (scale so that you can do reps unbroken)
200m Sprint (down and back 3 times on b-ball court)
3 min rest

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

28JUL10

Warm-Up:
DROM
20 Jumping lunges
10 Handstand push-ups
5 Max Jumps (take one step and jump as high as you can, helps to have a "goal" object you are reaching for)
Burgener Snatch Warm Up

Practice: 3 x 5 back squat: 65,75,85% of 1 rep max

Train:
30 x 115/65# Snatch lifts for time

This can be power snatch or full snatch. Just need bar to go from ground to overhead in one motion. You must stand bar up for it to count. This should be heavy so scale up if necessary.
Time Frame: 6-8 min
Comments: post your practice weights and training time
Post: stretch it out and enjoy THR off
How is your diet coming along: Still eating breads, pastas, cereal, grains, and other highly refined carbs and sugars? Cutting these out is the quickest and most effective way to a leaner body. Get serious with yourself....what does you plate typically look like?


Monday, July 26, 2010

27JUN10

Warm Up: different than usual
dynamic range of motion then,
2 rounds of 10 reps each of:
GHD situps
Knees to elbows
Air squats
Med ball push ups (10 with ball on R hand, 10 with L hand)

Practice:
Shoulder Press: 5 sets of 5 reps at 60,65,70,75,80% of 1 rep max

Train:
21-15-9 for time
Overhead Squat 95/75#
Pull-Ups
Time frame: 5-7 minutes
Comments: post your practice weights and training time

Post: stretch hams and quads

Sunday, July 25, 2010

26JUL10

RANDOM WARM-UP WEEK
Week 6 of 8 for this cycle
Warm Up: Dynamic Range of Motion then,
20 reps of Pistol (alternating single leg squats, 20 each leg), 20 reps of push-ups, 30 double unders

Practice: Dead lift 3 x 5 at 65,75,85% of 1 rep max

Train:
7 rounds for time
7 x 16/12# slam balls
7 x burpee box jumps (20 and 24 inches)

Slam balls are from ball over head to slamming the damn thing down as hard as you can. This exercise is only as hard as you make it. Your feet should be leaving the ground as you slam it.
Burpee box jumps need no explanation
Make sure you have a partner to track your rounds
Time frame is 4-6 minutes
Post your practice weights and your training time
Post: stretch out with your partner

Saturday, July 24, 2010

25JUL10

Off day
Watch this and tell me youre not ready to go tomorrow...ill kick you in the teeth


Friday, July 23, 2010

24JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: "Goat" day; work on something you suck at; do 3 sets of 5 or 10 reps

Train: For Time:
10 x 135lb Thruster
50 x Double Unders
8 x 135lb Thruster
40 x Double Unders
6 x 135lb Thruster
30 x Double Unders
4 x 135lb Thruster
20 x Double Unders
2 x 135lb Thruster
10 x Double Unders
This will surely suck bad
Time frame for this workout is 6 to 8 minutes. If you are not finished in 8 minutes, then stop. Scale either the weight of the thrusters or the number of double unders accordingly to try and finish within the time window.
Thrusters are from crease of hip below knee to active shoulders at the top, elbows locked and a portion of the ear visible in front of the arms when viewed from the side. You must clean the weight from the ground to start and any time you drop the bar.
Double Unders are simple enough. If you really, really, really suck at double unders then you can sub tuck jumps for them. Singles do not count.
Comments: post your goat with weights and reps; post your training time
Post: PNF, stretch, and roll.
Visit sicfit.com for more Videos

Thursday, July 22, 2010

23JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: Full Cleans 3 x 10 reps at 40-50% of 1 rep max

Training:
21 x 45# bar jumping squats
21 x push-ups
40m sprint (sideline to sideline and back on basketball court: across the court and back)
15 x 45# bar jumping squats
15 x push ups
40m sprint
9 x 45# bar jumping squats
9 x push ups
40m sprint
Stand neer the basketball court sideline and place bar on back and complete a full squat and explode up so feet leave the ground (feet leave ground or rep does not count)
Push-ups are push-ups
For the sprint you will be on the sideline (usually we run from the baseline) and run to the other sideline and back
Time Frame is 3-5 minutes (stop at 5 min)
Comments: post your practice weight and training time
Post: stretch it out with your partner

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

22JUL10

Off Day
Rest up and check out this article on chicken....Chicken Labels

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

21JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: 3x10 back squat at 40-50% 1 rep max

Train: For Max Weight
Every minute, on the minute, perform 2 x Clean and Jerks for 20 minutes total. Power Cleans are acceptable, just get it from the floor to shoulders, then from your shoulders to overhead. The goal is to add weight each minute, typically 5lbs total at a time. If you hit failure (don't complete the 2 reps within the allotted minute), annotate your max weight and then decrease the weight as necessary to be able to continue for the full twenty minutes. The quicker you perform your two reps, the more rest you'll have before the next ones come up.
Keep chugging away at it. It will seem relatively simple/easy at first, but quickly adds up and takes its toll on you.
**We may need to split up into different gyms or staggar the times a little in the evening. If you want to show up a little early then do so. You can really only work 2 people per bar on this and like it says it takes 20 min to complete this exercise

Post: PNF, stretch, and roll. Spend quality time on flexibility

Monday, July 19, 2010

20JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: Shoulder Press 3 attempts at new 1 rep max

Train:
For time
30 x 16/12# Wall ball
10 x 75/55# SDHP (Sumo deadlift high pull)
20 x Wall ball
20 x SDHP
10 x Wall ball
30 x SDHP
Wall ball is hitting 10 foot target and catching into full squat; SDHP is from below knees to chin at bar
Time frame is 6-8 min
Comments: post your new shoulder press 1 rep max and your training time

Sunday, July 18, 2010

19JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: Dead lift 3 x 10 at 40-50% of 1 rep max - de-loading week

Train: 2 options
APFT
and/or
1 Tabata Push-up set
2 min break
1 Tabata Air squat set
2 min break
1 tabata sit-up set
2 min break
1 tabata burpee set
done
A tabata set is 4 minutes of exercise broken into 8 segments. Each segment is 20 seconds of doing that exercise as hard/fast as you can followed by 10 seconds of rest.
Your score for each exercise will be the lowest number of reps you get in any of the 8 segments
So if you get 15,12,13,13,12,11,10,7 your push-ups segments your score is 7
Break into 2 groups so one group can time and count while the other does the exercise.
Comments: report your practice weight and your tabata set scores or APFT score (reps and time too)
Post: stretch

Saturday, July 17, 2010

18JUL10

Off Day
Just wanted to say that the night group has been really impressive lately. You all are putting out amazing effort and people are really beginning to take notice. Take a moment to think back where you were 8 to 10 weeks ago....or for some of you just a week or two ago. For the most part you all have started to move into the 3rd part of your fitness evolution. We started by making sure you were safe; constantly correcting form, selecting your weights and reps for you. You then had to show consistency in the workouts. Not just showing up (which many of you have been really dedicated) but also focusing on that perfect form and repeating it over and over. Consistency takes a while. Its easy to let one day off turn into 3 or 4 but you know if you just show up to the gym those juices will start flowing through your veins and you know that in an hour you will have achieved something measurable that you can take pride in. This 3rd step is the hardest. Its turning safe, consistent effort into intensity. Its finding that inner voice to drive you to places you didn't know you could still go. Its not excepting failure and regretting what you could have done. It takes a while to learn what you are capable of. Most adults don't push past their comfort levels physically or mentally and this program is forcing you to do both. Over the next few weeks work on that intensity. Challenge yourself. Make and meet goals. Every one's fitness has improved drastically and from where I stand each night it is awesome to see your transformations. If one of your buddy's has fallen off the wagon, see if you can get them back on. Be encouraging but ultimately it is a personal choice to put yourself through this kind of lovely pain.
You are all inspiring others whether you realize it or not. Be proud of what you've done so far and get excited about the changes still to come. CrossFit is definitely a group effort, so don't let your battle down and lets all continue to embrace the suck together one burpee at a time.

Friday, July 16, 2010

17JUL10

WU: Standard
Practice: “Goat” day; work on something that you suck at. Do 3 sets of 5 to 10 reps.
Train:
50 x Double Unders or Tuck jumps then;
50 dips
50 x Deadlift 185#/115#
25 Pull ups
Start with the double unders or tuck jumps then complete the following 3 exercises in any rep sequence you choose. You DO NOT have to finish all reps of one exercise before moving to the next.
Time frame: 8-10 minutes (scale weights up or down to finish in this time frame; can also add weights to dips and pull-ups if need be)
Comments: post your goat and reps; and then post your training time
Post: stretch it out
Another great week of training is over! Great work CrossFiters

Thursday, July 15, 2010

16JUL10

Warm Up: Standard
Practice: Cleans 3 attempts at new 1 rep max; these are full cleans from ground up into a full front squat catch and then stand the weight up
Train:
5 rounds for time
10 x 45#/20# Pendulum barbell push press R
10 x 45#/20# Pendulum barbell push press L
200m sprint
3 min rest between rounds
This is a new exercise for everyone. Set up the workout by bringing your 45# barbell to the baseline of the b-ball court. Put one 45# plate on one end. On the opposite end you need something keeping it from sliding away from you (foot, wall, dumbbell). You will begin the exercise at the weighted end and perform a clean type motion to get that end up to your shoulder level (your hand will be above the plate on the barbell). From here place the end of the barbell in your right hand. Now you will perform 10 explosive push presses from shoulder to full arm/elbow extension. After ten drop the bar down to waist level and power clean it back up into your Left hand and repeat the push presses with that hand. When you finish drop the weight to your waist, then the ground and complete your 200m sprint (down and back 3 times). Take a 3 minute break between rounds. This may be hard to picture but we’ll be there to show you.
Comments: post your new clean 1 rep max and your time for each round
Post: Stretch it out with your partner

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

14JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: 3 x3 front squat at 70,80,90% of 1 rep max
Keep your elbows pointed forward and high so you do not dump the weight while standing it up. Get your hip crease below you knees to count

Training:
6 Rounds
10 x 40#/25# R hand dumbbell power snatch
10 x 40#/25# dumbbell overhead lunges
10 x 40#/25# L hand dumbbell power snatch
10 x 40#/25# dumbbell overhead lunges
Last day of half rounds or half reps, choose wisely
For this workout grab one dumbbell and make friends with it. Start with your db power snatch by lifting it from below your knees to overhead in one motion. When you finish your reps hold the db over your head while you lunge forward kissing your trailing knee to ground each rep. Each step counts as a rep. Put the weight down and begin your db power snatches with the other hand. Finally overhead lunge back to where you started - 1 round complete.
So to clarify chose from 6 rounds of 5 reps or 3 rounds of 10 reps
Video link of dumbbell power snatch lift
Time frame: 6-8min (stop if not finished at 8 min)
Comments: post your weights for front squats and your training time
Post: Stretch it out and enjoy tomorrow off
Remember nutrition class THR 15JUL10 at 1900 in Physical Therapy Room at DCC



Monday, July 12, 2010

13JUL10

Warm Up: Standard + Burgener Snatch

Practice: Shoulder press - 3 x 3 at 70,80,90% of 1 Rep Max

Train:
Day 2 of half reps or half rounds (volume reduction week)
4 rounds
20 x 55#/30# DB Swing
16 x Knees to elbows
30 x Box Jumps (24" box)
Dumbbell swings to American Standard (ear hole covered by arm at top)
KTE are just that - hang from bar keeping elbows straight and brings those knee up until they touch your elbows
Box jumps - as always you must come to full hip extension at some point above the box
Time Frame: 2-4 Minutes (stop at 5 if not finished)
Comments: post your practice weight and training reps or rounds with times
Post: stretch
**There will be a nutrition class held at DCC Physical Therapy on Thursday night at 1900** Encourage all of you who have not heard this yet to attend. If you are hoping to make some body composition changes and learn how to kill these workouts then you need to understand what to put in your body.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

12JUL10

Starting Week 4
Warm Up: Standard (full)
Practice: 3 attempts new 1 rep max deadlift 1-1-1
Train: 1/2 Volume the next 3 days - You can cut the reps or rounds in half (weights stay as prescribed)
4 rounds
20 Jumping split lunges
20 Burpees
200m Sprint (6 lengths of b-ball court or down/back 3 times)
Again, the first three days of this week will be 1/2 volume; so either cut the reps or rounds in half here. Before starting your lunges have your timer hold their hand on your head while you are standing tall. For jumping split lunges you need to touch your timers hand each time you jump up and your back knee needs to kiss the ground on the way down for the rep to count. DO NOT COUNT YOUR BUDDY'S REP IF THEY DO NOT MEET THE STANDARD
For burpees your chest WILL touch the ground for the rep to count. No more 1/2 push-up burpees. And your feet will leave the ground and your hands will clap overhead. A burpees is not a push-up at the bottom; a burpee is chest to floor to feet off the ground.
Sprints are sprints - give everything youve got
Time frame: 4-6 min (stop at 6 min)
Comments: post your new 1 rep max and your training time
Post: stretch it out, take care of those hands

Saturday, July 10, 2010

11JUN10

Rest Day
Here are two very good articles on nutrition from Mark's Daily Apple
Depending on your goals, read:
How to gain weight and muscle (without adding body fat)
or
How to maintain muscle while losing weight

Friday, July 9, 2010

10JUL10

Warm Up: 1/2 Standard
Practice: Fuzzy Bunny
Work on something you are badass at. Do 3 sets of 5 to 10 reps (you choose). Knock this out and then think about how good you are at that.....yeah you rule
Train: Lets do a Chipper
"Angie" with bonus suckage for time
Just do
100 Pull ups
100 Push ups
100 Sit ups
100 Air squats
100 Slam Balls (16#/10#)
100 Side to side jumps over dumbbell
These can be done in any order but you must complete all 100 reps of that exercise before moving on to the next.
Pull ups in any fashion, from full extension to chin over bar (kip, swing, squirm, jump, negatives, whatever)
Push-ups to crossfit standard
Sit ups are APFT style, feel free to lock your feet in
Air Squats are full knee/hip extension at the top to hip crease below knees at the bottom (Stop cheating, do the full range of motion)
Slam balls only count as a rep if the ball gets above your head (and slam that ball with everything you have!)
Dumbbell jumps are double leg hops back and forth over a dumbbell of your choice, each hop is a rep
This is a Chipper which means it is supposed to be a grind. No a lot of thought put behind this, just get it done. Yep, thats 600 reps so be sure to be heydrating before and during the workout.
Time Frame: until complete
Comments: post your fuzzy bunny exercise and weights/reps; post your training time
Post: Be sure to stretch after this and enjoy your Sunday off peoples!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

09JUL10

Warm Up: 1/2 Standard
Practice: Full Cleans 3 sets of 3 reps at 70,80,90% of 1 rep max
A full clean is from ground, jump it up and catch in full front squat and stand it up
Train:
50 Dumbbell Hang Power Clean and Jerks for time
40# men 25# women
Start standing with a dumbbell in each hand (40# in each hand). Begin each hang power clean by keeping arms straight with weights hanging to the outside of your thighs. Bend your knees until db's are just above knees but keeping your chest up and maintaining inward curve of low back. From here explode up into a power clean making a hammer curl type motion when catching the dumbbells (remember this is power clean so no full squat necessary). Stand the weight up; your palms should be facing each other and your head. From here you want to get the weight over your head so use push press or push jerk to complete the motion (as you fatigue you will need to move toward push jerk) . Only counts if elbows are locked at the top and you stand up the weight. Drop the weights back down to your shoulders first, then to the sides of your hips to start over.
There are videos of this movement on CrossFit.com if you want to watch (or just google it)
Time Frame: 4-6 minutes
Comments: post your practice weights and training times
Post: stretch it out

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

07JUL10

Posting this early because tomorrow we will meet at 0600 @ EMEDS for 5k run for time.
Will do abreviated warm up there and then go for a little run.
At some point during the day get to the gym to knock out 3 sets of 3 front squats. Be sure to warm up some prior to going after your first set. This is important as next week we will establish 1 rep max's for front squats for the 1st time. So today go heavy on your 3 sets. Be smart but add weight each of you final two sets.
Post: stretch

Monday, July 5, 2010

06JUL10

Warm Up: 1/2 Standard (full DROM but 1/2 reps on strengthening)
Practice: Strict Shoulder Press 3 sets of 5 reps at 65,75,85% of 1 rep max
Train:
1/2 "GI Jane" for time
50 Burpee Pull-Ups
Compare to 04MAY10
Jump down to the floor touching your chest on the burpee, pop up and instead of jumping and clapping your hands, jump up and grab the pull up bar and pull your freaking chin above the bar. Repeat 49 more times. Done. Weak on pull ups? jump higher. Still too weak? Place box under bar so you dont have to jump as high.
Time Frame: 3-5 min - If not finsihed at 5 min then stop. You need to move quickly.
Comments: post your practice weights and training time
Post: Stretch it out

Sunday, July 4, 2010

05JUL10

Start of week 3
Warm Up: 1/2 reps of standard warm up; really work on max range of motion and maybe add some resistance as we go less reps this week during the warm up
Practice: Dead lift - 3 sets of 3 reps at 70,80,90% of your 1 rep max - setting the table this week to get new 1RM next week
Train:
"MAJ Morning"
5 rounds for time using 45#(25#female) plate for resistance (just to make it awkward)
20 x 45# Sumo Dead lift High Pull (SDHP)
10 x 45# Thrusters
10 x Body weight dips
For the SDHP I want you up on a 8-12 inch step so that when you lower the plate you are getting adequate range of motion (otherwise the plate hits the ground before your hands get below your knees). Grab the top of the plate for this lift. Maintain a fairly wide stance and jump that weight up to your chin with your hips. Keep your arms straight for as long as possible to transmit all hip motion to the plate. As the plate travels up toward your chest, pull with your arms keeping your elbows high.
Move to your thrusters and hold the plate in a completely vertical position in front of your face to start. Keeping the plate vertical throughout will make this movement much less difficult.
Bar dips are the standard from fully locked elbows at the top and dropping down to nipple line at the bottom.
Time frame is 8-10 minutes
Comments: post your practice weight and training time
Post: stretch, stretch, stretch and eat within an hour of finishing

04JUL10

Rest Day
Happy 4th of July CrossFit crew
Enjoy the day off

Saturday, July 3, 2010

03JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: Goat; work something you suck at

Train: For Max Weight: "The Bear Complex"
Compare to 07May

This will consist of 5 rounds with five minutes rest in between rounds. Goal is to achieve heaviest weight on the last round.
Each round consists of 7 reps of the following 5-movement sequence.
Power Clean
Front Squat
Push Press
Back Squat
Push (Rack) Jerk (from behind the neck)

To begin, power clean the barbell and stand up to full hip extension.
Next, do a front squat with the barbell.
You can NOT do a full clean from the ground and have it count for both.
From the front squat, do a push press to full extension (active shoulders).
You CAN combine the front squat and push press into a thruster.
From the top of your push press, transition the barbell to behind your neck (receive it softly by bending your knees to help absorb the weight - otherwise your neck will end up bloody by the end).
With the barbell behind your neck, do a back squat.
At the top of your back squat, either come to a pause or use the momentum to go straight into a rack jerk. Complete the rack jerk by standing to full hip extension with active shoulders.
From the top of your rack jerk, transition the bar back in front of you and down to the ground.

Repeat six more times to complete the round. Rest for five minutes when complete, then add weight and do it over again for a total of five rounds.

THERE IS NO RESTING ALLOWED ON THE GROUND!!! You can rest in any other position after you've power cleaned it, so long as the weights are not touching the ground.

REMEMBER, all squats are to crease of hip below the knee!"

Comments: post your goat and associated weights; then post your training weights.

Post: PNF, Stretch, and Roll.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

02JUL10

Warm Up: Standard

Practice: 3x5 @ 65,75,85% of 1 rep max
Full cleans - ground to catch in full front squat and stand it up

Train: 5 rounds for time
Set a cone or DB at half court or equivalent distance that you must travel around
95# Overhead lunges to half court (45ft) then overhead walk back to base line (start point)
30 Wall ball shots (16# ball & 10ft target)
75# Dumbbell Farmers carry to half court and back (75# in each hand)
Place your 95# barbell set up and 80# dumbbells at the baseline of the basketball court. Place an obstacle at half court to go around.
Perform overhead lunges with the barbell out to half court (kissing trailing knee to ground to count) and then keep the weight overhead as you go around the obstacle and back to where you started. Put the weight down and move to the wall ball shots. You must complete full squat (hip crease below knee) for the rep to count. Go back to the baseline and grab the dumbbells and walk out to half court around obstacle and back. Repeat four more times.
Time Frame: 10-14 min (honestly I'm not sure, but we'll stop at 14 min)
Comments: post your practice weights and training times
Post: stretch, foam roller if you got it. focus stretching on low back today

Food For Thought as we begin our journeys home over the next couple of months:
from MarksDailyapple:

The freezer has ice cream and frozen pizzas, but it’s the pantry that harbors the usual carb suspects – chips, cookies, crackers, pasta, cereal and bread galore. If you’re not careful this cool and dark space could derail your best efforts to eat Primally. So follow these 10 easy steps and you’ll be well on your way to having a truly Primal pantry. And be sure to share what’s in your pantry in the comment boards! Are we missing any major Primal staples?

1. Junk Food Extermination


The first step toward Primalizing your pantry is purging it of the wrong foods. You need to approach the contents of your pantry as if you’re a medieval cleric purging the church of heathens. Think dogmatic. Think Spanish Inquisition. As Primal Blueprinters we pride ourselves on being flexible. After all, we got into this lifestyle because we were willing to buck conventional wisdom and consider a vastly different viewpoint to nutrition. Forget all that. Today, if you truly want to Primalize your pantry, you need to toss out every thing that might tempt you to stray from the pure and noble path as ordained by evolution itself. Okay – lofty language aside, going purely Primal means completely avoiding the foods that mar that purity.

Toss your processed foods and prepackaged meals. No more baked beans, bland soups, or loaves of bread collecting mold alongside dry pastas. Get rid of the cookies, crackers, and chips standing in your way. No holds barred, people.

2. Donate


When I say toss out, I mean “toss out of the pantry and in the general direction of a plastic bin or paper bag perfect for delivering to a food bank.” You may be going purely Primal, but tons of needy people don’t have that luxury. You’re worrying about insulin spikes and tallying glycemic indexes while scores of others are worrying about more important things… like hunger. Take a big box, fill it up, and donate it. Try Feeding America to find a local food bank.

3. Nuts/Seeds/Nut Flour
Pantries are the perfect spots for instant snacks. It’s just that most snacks aren’t all that Primal – except for nuts and seeds. Raw almonds, walnuts, macadamias are some fantastic options that will stay fresh for at least a couple months, but they probably won’t last that long. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are some other great options. As with anything, just be sure to watch the flavored varieties. If you’re eating toffee-encrusted chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, you’re not really going Primal.

Nut butter and flours are good to have on hand, too. Almond butter makes a great alternative to peanut butter, and both butters and flours are great Primal sauce thickeners. Nut flour also introduces the possibility of Primal baking – it’s not a perfect replacement for traditional baked goods, but there are unique benefits to cooking with nut flours, like increased heartiness and a different flavor profile.


4. Healthy Fats
Keep your pantry well-stocked with olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and various nut oils – all healthy, Primal fats that you’ll be using on a daily basis (assuming you’re cooking every day). Sauteeing meat, frying eggs, making salad dressing mean good, healthy fats are absolutely integral in the Primal Blueprint, and the pantry is the best place to store them. Fat does go rancid, though, so be sure to buy only as much oil as you’ll finish in a month.


5. Sweet Tooth Suppression
We all have a sweet tooth. Sweet stuff tastes good to us because it gets us eating fruit, which in turn spreads the seeds around and profligates the fruits’ reproduction. So it’s normal for us to keep some sweets in the pantry – just don’t go crazy with it and stick to acceptable sources. Honey is good to have on hand, as is semi-sweet dark chocolate (go for a good quality, mostly-cacao chocolate bar, which isn’t all that high in sugar and is decidedly more Primal than, say, a Hershey’s bar).

6. Tea Time
We should limit our caffeine intake, but teas are excellent members of any healthy Primal pantry. Try to stick to the “true” teas: white (best), green (good), oolong (still good), or black (good, but not great). All come from the same plant, but the white and green teas are simply less processed. You know how we feel about over-processing, and the less a tea is processed, the more antioxidant properties are retained. Enjoy tea time, but avoid the cakes and scones you might have enjoyed on your last trip to England.

7. The Spice of Primal Life
Primal eating often gets the bad rap of being bland and tasteless. While Grok may not have had cumin, coriander, cinnamon, or curry at his disposal, spices are still Primal friendly (and, I would argue, absolutely essential to enjoying life – Primal or otherwise). If you can spare it, devote a shelf in your pantry to your spice collection. It’ll be an expensive initial purchase, but once you’ve gathered a nice arsenal of spices you’ll be set for a long time. There’s nothing worse than getting the urge to make some complex dish and having to run out to the grocery store each time for ingredients.


8. Jerky
Again, the key to avoiding temptation is stocking your pantry with instant Primal foods. Keep some jerky on hand – beef, buffalo, salmon, turkey, deer, moose. Even better, make your own jerky so that you get to choose what goes into your body. Keep in mind that most homemade jerky (or quality jerky purchased in a store) is less processed and will therefore go rancid much faster than the stuff you get at the truck stop. I somehow doubt, however, that eating your jerky on time will be a problem.

9. Dried Fruits
We’ve told you to take caution when eating dried fruits before (on account of the high sugar content), but they can’t be ignored when stocking your pantry. Instead of wolfing down an entire bag of dried apricots, though, try making your own trail mix. You’ve got nuts, semi-sweet dark chocolate, and dried fruits all in the same place – mix it all together! That way, you won’t just be eating dried fruit, which is delicious and healthy, but never really fills you up (meaning you’ll just keep eating and eating).

10. Canned Goods
You’ve ditched the canned beans and cherry pie filling, but don’t eschew the can altogether. It’s a good format for vegetables, and its convenience simply cannot be ignored. Canned tomatoes are just as good as most fresh tomatoes (sadly, it’s tough to find a good tomato nowadays), and even better for making sauces (don’t forget to keep some tomato paste on hand, too). Canned artichoke hearts, canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) and canned coconut milk are also staples to have on hand. We can’t expect to always have the time or inclination to go stock up on fresh produce, and canned vegetables give us the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of vegetables while saving time and money (canned is always cheaper).

01JUL10

Off Day!!!!
And its now July so we got that going for us...which is nice.
Rest up, eat well.