Book Review: It Starts With Food

As some of ya'll know, CrossFit Katy is a Whole 9 Nutrition Partner and, much to my excitement, a few weeks ago we received an advanced copy of Melissa and Dallas' new book, It Starts With Food, to review! So this past weekend I finally got down to digging into this gem and WOW! It is probably the most well-written and relevant book on Paleo Nutrition and Health since Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution. I hate to actually use the term Paleo when reviewing this book because one of the big messages that Dallas and Melissa try to make is that it's not about "Paleo". It's about food choices and lifestyle choices, period. It's about what makes you a healthier, more vibrant human being and what doesn't. Like the title says, it all starts with the food you put on your plates and in your body.

So I'm kind of a closet nerd...ok maybe I'm just a nerd. Who am I kidding? People know me. :) Anyway, I was really psyched and impressed with how much science Dallas and Melissa were able to cram into this book without making me feel like I'd just sat though a mind-numbing freshman biology class. The science was easy to understand and made so much sense. Now I know that having a background in Nursing and working as a Paleo Nutritionist gives me a little leg up with regards to the "science-y" stuff but I promise, anyone can understand and apply the principals put forth in It Starts With Food. And there are definitely some analogies that I will be applying in my own practice. I absolutely love the break down of the four Good Food Standards and the explanation as why certain food groups do or don't fit into the Good Food Standards.

As far as real-life food management, It Starts With Food scored a home run. Their Mealsimple Template and comprehensive chapters on proteins, veggies, and carbs make it easy to create healthy, well-rounded meals. No weighing or measuring necessary because, let's be honest, we're not going to carry around food scales everywhere we go AND we don't have to! And of course this book wouldn't be complete without an extensive introduction to the Whole 30. I have completed 3 Whole 30's myself and I think the first one would have been a lot easier had I had It Starts With Food at my disposal.

Overall, It Starts With Food is a must to add to your ever-growing nutrition/health/paleo library. So get your copy here and enjoy!

Hold On

"I can't remember all the times I've tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass..."-Adam Duritz.

This is probably one of my favorite quotes. It doesn't hurt that it's from my favorite band of all time, Counting Crows. But besides that, it has such a powerful message. I know that I have written a million times that I have resolved to blog more and every night I put it off, and the next thing I know, I've blinked and it's June! I feel like in the past four months I have been swimming, swimming, swimming and haven't had a chance to come up for air yet. When life gets crazy like that, it's easy to let things pass you by, but tonight, I am taking a moment to hold on...

Here's a little recap on what's happened in the past four months.

1) CrossFit Games South Central Regionals 2012:
This year, CrossFit Katy took San Antonio by storm! Our team entered the South Central Regionals ranked 12th after our performance as a gym in the CrossFit Games Open. At the end of the weekend we emerged in 8th place! It was an amazing weekend and I am so grateful to be a part of such an incredible gym. This year left me proud of what I was able to accomplish and motivated to become an even better athlete and teammate!

2) Neal and I got engaged!
After a little over three years together, Neal surprised me on bended knee at the Houstonian on a mini "stay-cation" weekend. We celebrated with a sushi dinner and took in a Radiohead concert (Neal's favorite). The date is set for October 2013 and I'm sure I'll have a lot more to post about it as the time gets closer.

3) We're in the process of expanding the gym....again!
Yep, CrossFit Katy is about to go to 5200sq feet which is incredible! The new space will allow us to change even more lives by bringing the best fitness program in Katy to more people and our current members can enjoy more space, more equipment and a continued devotion to bringing out the best in all of them!

4) I have a new baby sister!
Orli Leal Goldstein was born on May 17th which means there are now 7 combined Goldstein/Ramsey/Peitsch kiddos in this melting pot of a family! Pretty awesome and more than just a little bit crazy!

5) Neal and I may finally be moving into a house!
Yep, as long as all goes well on Tuesday with our inspection, Neal and I will enter the scary and exciting new world of homeownership! This is one of the most exciting things on my mind right now because it marks such an enormous step for us as a family. I am so proud of what Neal has accomplished in these last four years. I doubt that many people know how hard he has worked to get this far. And though I have been an integral part in growing the gym, I feel that I have been able to do so much more of the "fun stuff" while he has shouldered the burden of the actual business decisions. Words cannot describe how much I love him and how proud I am of him.

Wow! That list is pretty crazy. It's hard to believe that all of this has happened in less than 6 months! 2012 has been one incredible year so far. It's half way over and I hope to accomplish just as much in the next 6 months. Glad I took the time to stop, reflect, and hold on...