Our first week on the road is over! We’ve been about 2,200 miles already (from Exeter, NH to Captain Tom’s place in Cudjoe Key, FL… with a bunch of stops in between). Internet time has been sparse – we’ve had to drive pretty long distances each day, and conducted three workshops in three different states in a four day period. But now we’re settled in the Keys, and ready for a few solid days of vacation… interspersed with a Fort Lauderdale workshop on Wednesday, and blog updates and comments every morning.
We left Guerrilla Fitness and headed down to Live Long Fitness in Ocean City, MD. David and Lisa were fabulous hosts – we had a great time visiting and training with them before our workshop that night. We also met web designer extraordinaire Adam Kayce for some gym time and general hanging out. (That’s Adam giving me a row tutorial – he’s got lots of experience rowing on the water.) The Live Long workshop went really well, mostly because we had an engaged and enthusiastic group. Live Long is headed straight for a gym-wide Whole30 program next week – can’t wait to see how things go for them.
Adam Kayce, showing me what's what on the C2
Our next official stop was in NC, but we made a few stops in Virginia along the way… first to camp RIGHT on the beach. (Check the header photo – how often do you get to watch the sun SET on the East Coast?) The next morning, we made another stop to see our favorite Beach Girl Jeannie Bassi at Beach CrossFit/Hybrid Training Center. Jeannie and crew were super hospitable, letting Dallas and I pick up heavy stuff between group classes. Big thanks to Jeannie for the workout, and the fun!
Beach AssFit!
We moved along later that day to CF Durham, where Dave Rubin pulled together a huge mid-week group. It was a challenge to get through all the material by 9 PM, but we made it happen, mostly because the group was already pretty savvy to the nutritional concepts we were laying down for them. (CrossFit trainer Ashley is already familiar with our Whole30, and asks her new clients to do the 30 days as part of their CrossFit intro!) We really enjoyed the group, and hope to come back to the mid-Atlantic later this year.
Finally, we made our way to CrossFit East Decatur, in Atlanta GA. Shana and Jonathan pulled together a lively group – it was one of the best workshops we’ve had to date, thanks mostly to the audience’s enthusiasm, good questions and healthy dialogue. For those Atlanta folks starting your Whole30 – keep us posted as to how things are going!
CrossFit East Decatur Nutrition Workshop
On that note, Dallas and I mentioned on Robb’s podcast that we’ll be doing our own Road Trip Whole30 in May. First, we really need to spend some time 100% Eating Good Food ourselves – we’ve been having a little TOO much fun in the last month or two. In addition, we’re going to do this to dispel any and all future whining, complaining or excuses our clients and readers may have. Because if we can do a Whole30 while traveling constantly and living out of our car and socializing in a professional and casual basis pretty much daily, NONE OF YOU HAVE AN EXCUSE. So we’re announcing it now so y’all have some time to prepare – both mentally and grocery-shopping-ly.
For those of you who want to participate with us, the Whole30 Part II officially starts on Sunday, May 16th, 2010. We’ll be blogging about our experience while on the road, and providing you with a forum to post your own experience, ask questions, share recipes and offer support to others. So clear out those cabinets, get your shopping lists ready and finish off that ice cream in the fridge, because you’re about to go 100% clean, 100% of the time, for the next 30 days straight. Sound off if you’re in!
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Heck yeah! Been 100% clean since I got home from Atlanta, new challenge sounds like loads of fun. It was such an awesome experience at East Decataur! Also, I have a brand new shirt for max deadlifting awesomeness :)
Have fun with Captain Tom!
I’m totally in…I travel alot and try to eat clean as much as possible so looking forward to hearing about your clean eating and clean socializing adventures.
I’m in like Flynn! Been 100% since the day in Ocean City (so, a week in…), but I’ll gladly join the group and extend my 30 to a 45. Feeling fantastic, by the way, and PR’d my front squat this morning by 15 pounds.
I am so in. Actually started yesterday after a chocolate cake, Monster, candy bar binge Sunday night that left me laying on the sofa waiting for the room to stop spinning. And yes, I do realize I don’t get to go back off reservation until Sunday even though you just said to eat ice cream.
I’m in! Easy way to keep in touch while you’re on the road!! Yay!
Aw hell, I’m in! Recently my “mostly strict” paleo regime has been slipping toward “too indulgent with aspirations toward paleo”. It’ll be good to have a super clean refresher month to get back on track and keep the body comp changes coming along. Thanks for the motivation!
I’m in. I started on May 10th (yesterday) with a little trepidation but am in full force. It’s good to read all of the support and I can’t wait to see where this takes me. I have a coworker who is being “strict” for 2 weeks. She eats something daily that is out of her limits. What a joke. If you are going to do it you gotta go 100%.
SWEET! Glad to hear we’ll have some fun company along the way. After our dinner of fresh-caught mahi, mango salsa and grilled zucchini, we’re enjoying our Purely Decadent coconut milk “ice cream” tonight as a last hurrah!
I’m in. I am excited to who this will change me. Thank you for the motivation to start. (Started yesterday May 10)
I’m In! I just feel so much better eating no sugar. Although I did make the most amazing dessert I have to share with you all first. Vanilla coconut icecream topped with roasted banana (roasted in coconut oil), toasted walnuts, and orgnaic dark chocolate chips. Holy cow was it amazing and worth every bit of the sugar headache I had the next day!
By the way, hello to everyone, I’ve been following the blog for over a year now and I would love to be a part of this supportive community!
Thanks!
We started yesterday (11th May) on our return from the European qualifiers in Sweden. I ( Graham) woke up this morning with a thumping headachae. Will need to drink more water, as previously used to drinking milk, tea and juice.
Both looking forward to this challenge as we have given up our day jobs and plan to open a full time box in the next year.
Its time to walk the walk and stop talking the talk!
Thanks Melissa and Dallas.
@Kate,
That dessert sounds amazing. Though… there ARE alternatives that are pretty tasty that won’t send you to your own personal Food Hell. We like coconut milk poured over frozen blueberries or raspberries and walnuts or pecans. There are also some brilliant coconut milk “ice cream” options that are “less bad” than regular ice cream. Welcome aboard!
@Graham & Lorraine,
Glad to hear that you’re on board after the European qualifiers. We’re only 2 months into our “Whole9 Full Time” life, but despite the hard work, we’re so glad we’re (finally!) doing what we love full-time. Also, on hydration: I like iced herbal teas and mineral water as a way to get water into me. Keep us updated on your Whole30 progress!
Sorry I missed you guys in Atlanta. Just couldn’t swing the morning workshop. Hopefully you’ll do another virtual workshop soon.
I would love to get your guys take on IF. I work out in the mornings and typically don’t eat until lunch time. Wondering if I may be shooting myself in the foot as far as recovery?
Count me in for the Whole30.
Our box (CrossFit Sandy Springs) did a 6 week challenge in Feburary. I was strict for 30 days and then added back a glass of wine here and there the last 2 weeks. I felt amazing during the challenge and really had some good gains on my lifts/WODS.
Couple of questions of what’s in/out: Sunbutter? cashews? pistachios? dark chocolate? I love dunking dark chocolate into Sunbutter – kinda like a paleo Reese’s cup.
Another Crossfit Sandy Springs kool-aid drinker here… Ready to go for 30 days again with my buddy Wade. Like Wade said, we did this at our box for 6 weeks and I also saw some of my best results so it is time to lock it down again for 30 strict days. mmmm Sunbutter. I can’t buy it or I eat the whole jar.
I love these challenges. Thanks for the inspiration Melissa!
Dallas and Melissa~
Count me in for the challenge! The 30 days will be over right around the time you stop by our box on June 15th. Can’t wait to see you guys!
Great timing! Count me in too! We’ll see you in Oregon in June~
Dallas sportin’ a gym jones tee. Love it.
Perfect timing! I’m in!
Count me in Melissa,
I’m the 3rd in the list of kool aid drinkers from Crossfit Sandy Springs. Looking forward to go paleo (no excuses) given how you guys can do it on the Road while socializing, I really have no excuse. !
I’m in, it’s long past time for me.
p.s. I’ll be at your seminar at west houston on the 23rd with Grace so that’s a good incentive for accountability.
I’m in. Been Paleo since February, but indulging more on the weekends than I should. Only thing I’m going to have to sacrifice is the tbsp of cream in my coffee and the 11am stick of sugar free gum…hmmm wonder if that’s just a habit? :) Good timing for heading into summer and I just finished day 13 of PTP. Planning to bring some people along with me for the ride too. Thanks for the challenge!
Wow….what incredibly serendipitous timing. I just recently started reading you blog and even before seeing this piece was going to start my Whole 30….what…on Sunday May 16th!!! I’ve been paleo eating and x-fit since Nov 2009- feel great and first winter in 5 years where I have not had a single cold…the last few I literally had 8-9 between October to March. This was one of my major reasons for looking into this lifestyle and now have reaped so many benefits….but there have been little things that I have had trouble letting go of (little too much sugar, usually chocolate, starbucks lattes, etc) and the vino-so I am ready to make a break (for a little while:-)) and hopefully come out the other end with more of an ability to moderate my intake of the things above. Love the blog and site. Heard you guys on Paleo Solution (big fan of Rob and Andy as well).
One question- I travel with my job and have been thinking of getting an olympic barbell set to do some heavy lifting while away (the lifts I am proficient at and can do safely of course). Any recs???
Thanks for your time!!
Diana
Awesome, everyone! So glad we’ll be meeting some of you along our road trip route as well!
We’ll post the full Whole30 program (updated for 2010) on Sunday morning. We’ll include what’s “in” and what’s “out”, and list our participation guidelines.
@Diana: Visit http://www.againfaster.com (the equipment store). Any Oly product they carry will do the trick, and Jon, Sam and crew will take great care of you. Tell them Whole9 sent you!
I personally use the York women’s training bar for my Oly stuff, but find the diameter too thin for deadlifting. We also have the Wright Rubber plate set, and have found they hold up well (even the smaller plates).
Best,
Melissa
@Wade, IF is sort of an “advanced topic”. We might tackle it on a future post, because we get the question a lot (and feel the concept is both over-played and over-used). In general, though, you ARE shooting yourself in the foot by not eating for hours after your workout, IF your primary concern is recovery. Get that post workout meal in!
Hi Melissa,
how long are we talking here? I remember Matt L saying something like not eating post workout to improve insulin sensitivy…granted I guess it’s goal oriented, I’m not crossfitting at the moment, I dialed my activity back a lot because I was burning out. Just sleeping, lifting and “whole 30-ing”.
Roelant
I think I answered my own question, nvm
Great idea on doing Whole30 on the road! Speaking as an experienced ‘strict while travelling’ eater it’s definitely not an easy task. After hearing about your decision to do a Whole30 Part II, since we did a 45 day challenge back in January/February (thanks again for the great article!) Vanessa and I were able to convince our head trainer here at Crossfit Ramstein to do a 30 day strict eating challenge Summer Edition. We’re tweaking a few things based off of how things went last time and starting ours on June 1st. So we may not be starting with you on May 16th, but we’ll be right behind you!
@Roelant: I’m going to answer anyway. :) Different thoughts on a PWO meal for different goals. If you’re maximizing recovery, getting that PWO meal in is going to be critical. If your ONLY goal is to restore insulin sensitivity, then you may want to reduce the number of carbs in your PWO meal – but that doesn’t mean you should skip it altogether! Robb’s recommendation to include half your daily carbs in that PWO meal might not work for everyone, especially those who are sensitive to the “carb crash” effect.
@Lauren: ROCK ON, sister! So excited to see what you + Vanessa + Ramstein comes up with this time around – keep us posted as to how things are going, and drop in here from time to time to share your experience and wisdom (having been around the block with this one before).
I’m in! I’ve been allowing too many indulgences since the Get Lean challenge at my box ended on the 1st.
I wrote to ask about consulting a few weeks ago and I understand the limitations with that while you are on the road…but this seems like a good way to get some of the support/tough love in the interim. I have actually been following your blog since Feb 2008, which was when I started Crossfit. I have seriously (read: completely) slacked off over the last several months and am in dire need of a fresh start. So I’m in. Thanks for adding some motivation.
I am in. Was pretty clean with my eating after my brother and his wife showed me your original blog last half of 09 and absolutely loved it. We had our whole family on board and all kinds of people constantly asking about paleo and clean eating daily. Found out I was pregnant and my body went crazy with food aversions and sickness. I am 5 months along now and feel somewhat back, so I need to jump back on full fledge- the more I wandered it seemed the more everyone in my house did too! Ready to have this baby get a taste of the clean life!
love the shirts!