The scoring was heavily weighted on Body Fat, as excess fat loss and retaining muscle mass is more important than dropping weight for long term health. Each contestant would get .5 points for every pound lost, and 1.5 points for every % of body fat lost.

Again congratulations to all participants, as a whole (everyone who came back for re-measurements) in 30 days, 132# was lost, and dropped 52.7% of body fat.

*I took before pictures of Heather, but unfortunately forgot to take After pictures! So those are unavailable.

Below are before and after pictures of Jason (Thank you Jason for letting us post your pictures)

Left = Before, Right = After

3 cheeseburgers were purchased, 1 from McDonalds, 1 from Wendys, and 1 is grassfed organic beef (the bun and cheese are not organic). Over the course of the 30 days (Jan 16-Feb 15), I will take pictures every 3 days of the burgers to check out the progress to see what happens to them. And as an added benefit, anytime any of you paleo challengers want to cheat you can take a look on top of the water fridge and see how these burgers have progressed.

*UPDATE Feb 13/2012

After 23 days, they all got moldy, however the experiment was inconclusive due to the Wendy’s burger having ketchup and mustard on it! (how unscientific of me). None the less below are the results.

• Organic Beef Burger – got pretty moldy, mostly the cheese and the bun
• Wendy’s Burger – Had condiments on it, so it molded all over, most likely due to the moisture
• McDonalds Burger- As you can see the bun got most of the mold, the cheese and beef are still fairly intact, and the mold looks more like spill over from the moldy bun. Also the McDonald’s cheeseburger did have ketchup on it.

In my experience, all real food will eventually get moldy. So which one will get moldy first? *This Post will be updated

“Nutrigenomics involves tailoring diets to someone’s genetic makeup,” said Koushik Adhikari, K-State assistant professor of sensory analysis. “I speculate that in five to 10 years, you would go to a genetic counselor or a physician who could help you understand your genetic makeup, and then a nutritional professional could customize your diet accordingly.”

Adhikari collaborated with Denis Medeiros, professor and department head of human nutrition, and Jean Getz, former K-State graduate student in human nutrition, for an article on nutrigenomics that was published in the January issue of Food Technology. Getz, now a student at the School of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University, wrote the article while at K-State.

Nutrigenomics is a fast-moving field of research that combines molecular biology, genetics and nutrition to regulate gene expression through specific nutrients. Nutrients have been shown to affect gene expression through transcription factors, which are biochemical entities that bind to DNA and either promote or inhibit transcription of genes. By understanding the roles of specific nutrients and how they might cause diseases, scientists could recommend specific foods for an individual based on his or her genetics.

Read more on Science Daily

Well, the Olympic media frenzy has started. More and more of the media outlets are starting to cover and talk about the preparation for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games to be held next summer in London, England. Stories about the competition venues (if they’re on schedule or way behind schedule), the host city, and the athletes that are hoping to compete are now almost weekly, if not daily, media topics. And why shouldn’t they be? The Olympic Games represent the elite competitive environment…the chance to represent your country as your “team“….and the highly sought after Gold medal, indicating that for that moment, you are the best in the world in your sport.

But what is the role of sport psychology at the Olympic Games? I’ve been honored to have attended 2 Olympic Games as part of the USA delegation. In 2002, I was the USA Men’s Alpine Ski Team Sport Psychologist for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. And then in 2008, I was the Sport Psychologist for the USA Olympic Diving team in the Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing, China. Let me tell you that there is no class or weekend workshop that can prepare a sport psychologist for their role(s) at an Olympics event. However, it is important to recognize that sport psychology has a very important role in helping athletes prepare for the “Olympic moment”.

I have practiced as a counseling psychologist in sports for over 20 years….and I’ve worked with Olympic sports (NGB’s…or National Governing Bodies) for 17 of those years. I’ve attended USA National Championships, World Cup events, World Championships, and Olympic trials….but the “Games” create a unique and complex set of challenges and hurdles for the athlete….and as a sport psychologist, it is important to be prepared as much as possible for these events. If not, you may become one of those stressors or distractions….and that is not a desired goal!

Read More @ Psychology Today

Readers Summary:

1. Why can’t you lose weight when you change lifestyle?
2. What is an uncoupling protein (UCP)?
3. The difference between Anthony Colpo and Robb Wolf and the Oprah!
4. Why Oprah is still fat?
5. Dr. Kruse’s screening question for assessing Leptin status.

Now we know definitely that Leptin controls all energy production by regulating all the hormones in the body. But do you wonder what happens when that regulation goes awry in the muscles? Well, here is some information about one part of how Leptin works to keep us fit when your body is sensitive to it.

When Leptin was discovered in 1994, no one really had a clue as to its many functions. One function that was particularly murky was how the brain controlled peripheral energy utilization and optimized it. It is awfully hard to realize that the hypothalamus (size of a pea) can control the need for fuel of 20 trillion cells in the human body. Well in the last few years, scientists found out about uncoupling proteins (UCP). So far five have been discovered in mammals. The one we will discuss today is UCP3.

This protein, UCP3, allows Leptin to work inside of peripheral cells like the muscle cell. For UCP3 to work optimally, it requires optimal functioning of Leptin and thyroid hormone simultaneously. In muscle cells, UCP3 is the dominant UCP in humans. So it is vital to maximizing efficiency in exercise and energy use. What UCP3 allows the muscle to do, is to shift out of regular oxidative energy production done at the mitochondria and making energy in the form of ATP, and into making pure heat without generating ATP. This biochemical action decreases ROS (levee 3) at the mitochondrial level, decreasing cellular stress. And therefore the energy is dissipated mostly as heat. Another protein, UCP1, is dedicated to doing this same action when it is activated 100% of the time.

Read more on Dr. Jack Kruse’s website

Protein: Lean Meats, and Fish

Carbohydrates: Any vegetable that grows underground or above ground, and some fruits (best eaten after workouts or early in the AM)

Dietary Fats: Nuts, Seeds, any fats extracted from nuts and seeds, and some fruits like Olives, Avocado, Chia Seeds, Cocunut Oil. Also a high quality fish oil high in Omega-3′s like Nordic Naturals, Norwegian Gold, or Poliquin Uber Omega 3′s  (1-3 grams per meal) can be apart of your dietary fat intake.

*No Dairy (cheese, milk, yogurt), No Grains nor Gluten

Include one from each category above in all your meals for 30 days. The person that loses the most bodyfat wins the pot (Male and Female will receive $230 as the prize money)

Sample Meal Plan

Breakfast: Free Run Whole Eggs,  Apple, 3 capsules Omega-3 Fish Oils, Almonds
Snack: Deli Meat,  Walnuts
Lunch: Almond Flour crusted herb chicken, snap peas with Organic Butter and Sea Salt
Supper: Sweet potato,  Salmon,  Avocado, 3 capsules Omega-3 Fish Oils

Play around with the ratio of protein, carbohydrates and dietary fats, you will find one makes you  more full, and full with energy more than the other. Good luck everyone in the challenge!

Challenge Rules, Details and Prizes click here

Recommended Cookbook

Well Fed by Melissa “Melicious” Joulwan

The above cookbook I found very well layed out, and recipes are easy to make, what I like most of all is that she provides tips on how to plan for the week, and making the transition to paleo food choices.

2010 was the year of Crossfit for my husband and I. Our world was rocked with new friendships, a new lifestyle and new bodies. It bought us even closer. I went balls to the wall. Trail running, Crossfitting, paleo and some pretty epic stuff: Triathlon? Sure! Sign me up! Duathlon? Why the hell not! Muddy mountain trail run? Duh.

Life couldn’t get better.

Two years before Crossfit I was in an MVA and injured my back. My progress was careful, heavily regulated and very modified. Like many people, I experienced dramatic improvements in strength. I went from struggling with a 45 lb deadlift to PRing at 185 by the end of the year. My pain disappeared during WoDs and seemed to come and go in cycles instead of being constant. I had spent 2 years being ground down by pain and prescriptions, now I was thriving and had thrown those prescriptions out. However, after 120 WoDs in February 2011 I walked out of my first WoD. I laid on the ground in tears.

It seems stupid to me now but I had taken on the “Suck it up” mentality. I didn’t want to be that chick that was always whining about hurting. I’d grimace and tell concerned coaches that I could push through. That night in February, as I laid on a Canadian ice pack (snow in a ziplock bag), I got the talk from a coach: Back off of the WoDs and start dealing with things. I was told that I was using WoDs as a distraction from the pain, and that my determination was doing more harm than help.

Read More @ The Moose is Loose Blog

Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself.  Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.  Read The Road Less Traveled.

Read more @ Marc & Angel Hack Life

One year ago 5 writers decided to speak out.

Their goal wasn’t any radical message. It wasn’t spiteful or full of venom. It wasn’t a fight they were looking to pick. It was simple a statement, “No more, This is our line in the sand.”
They weren’t going to hide anymore. They weren’t going to pretend anymore. They weren’t going to be told what they needed to be or how they needed to look. This was their line, and against what society thought they weren’t going to move.

Last year Roo came to me with a question, “Can I write an article for Old Country…”

That article was the line. And she stood on it. I decided to stand on that line with her. One by one our friends stood on that line with us. We were gonna let everyone know it was ok to be strong. It was ok to not fit some mold we were all told from childhood we needed to fit in.

We wanted everyone to know what we all so deeply believed in, that Strong was Beautiful.

We keep referencing these 5 writers from last year. Marissa, Joey, Carrie, Michelle and John…
Thats right, we had one former Division 1 college wrestler speak out about his battle with body imagine. Yes we are Strong but even the Strongest are effected by this.

When I started to choose the writers for this years series I knew I wanted to have another male writer. And honestly one named popped into my head. A Club supporter who I actually became close with through this series last year. We live on opposite sides of the border but through this message I found a life long friend in Chris Schaalo.

Chris is a Coach for Crossfit Games Power House Crossfit Taranis and his article today is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read. Z

When Z asked me to guest post for the annual “Strong is Beautiful” week on OCS I was a little stunned, I’m not exactly a talkative or outspoken person, what makes him think I have great things to say?  However the minute I agreed to take part I knew exactly what I was going to do for the post.  I have a story to share, and I’m probably going to tear up more than a few times writing about it as it is very close to my heart; however, it is one that gives me strength everyday inside and outside the gym.  You see, I have witnessed the quest to be strong save a life and I believe it can save many more.

Now this wasn’t in a physical feat of superhuman strength type way.  There was no mom lifting a car off her child, or boy pulling his younger brother up from a cliff after a slip.  This was far more miraculous.  I was approaching a 23rd birthday, and enjoying the final days of an amazing first Christmas holidays I was able to share with my girlfriend of about 6 months.  Everything was better than I could have expected, I was falling head over heels, spending day after day laughing and learning with her until we had coffee one Saturday night.  She blindsided me, things weren’t working – it was her not me… the usual break up story you hear about.  4 days later I’m pulled aside by a mutual friend at the gym, Alicia is in the hospital – don’t worry she is ok “but she has a long road ahead of her” he says.  He won’t tell me what happened.  Nobody will answer the house phone.  After what was by far the longest 5 hours of my life, most of it spent wondering and worrying on her doorstep, a family friend of hers arrives at the house to collect some things and informs me that Alicia had attempted suicide.  Excuse me?  Suicide?  How in the world does a gorgeous, ambitious, passionate and loving person like this be driven to such an aggressive last resort?

Read More @ Old Country Strong Blog

First, we must define the different types of pain you can experience:

• Fatigue and discomfort.  This is an unpleasant feeling produced by effort, but not strong enough to be labeled “pain.”  Athletes learn to be “comfortable being uncomfortable,” as such efforts are a regular and necessary part of most sports.  With continued effort, discomfort can turn into …
• Positive training pain.  This pain often occurs with endurance exercise, and includes muscle fatigue and sensations in the lungs and heart that can range from unpleasant to what is typically thought of as pain.  It is neither threatening nor a sign of injury. Because athletes know the cause, are in control of their effort, and recognize that these feelings are beneficial and can enhance performance.  In short, positive training pain is a good sign of effort and improvement.
• Negative training pain is still not indicative of an injury, but goes beyond positive signs of training benefit.  An example may be extreme soreness that lasts for days.  There may be an overtraining risk.

Read More @ Applied Sport Psychology