Last week I had a bit of a run in with an unhappy woman who emailed me letting me know that I don’t eat enough and that I give off the wrong message when I post what I eat in a day. I try to preface everything I do or say, but there are always things that people interpret the wrong way. And the last thing I want to have is people comparing in a negative light. What’s funny about what I do is that I always have someone saying I eat too much or I eat too little. So which one is it? Well, it’s neither. They are probably just comparing to what THEIR body needs instead of understanding that what MY body needs is completely different. Our life stressors, our schedules, our bodies, our needs, our workouts…they are all different. So why would you compare?
Well, because that’s human nature.
If you think I eat too little, well consider my workouts. Last week, my workouts that I’m actually working the entire time range from 12-30 minutes. So that means I’m working out a max of 30 minutes per day. Max. So if you’re working out 1-3 hours per day, you obviously need a different amount of fuel compared to a person like me who is working out for 30 minutes. If you think I eat too much, well that’s weird. Have you seen the normal American diet lately? Come on, bro.
My point is, stop f*cking comparing. No single person is like you, so why would you compare yourself to someone else? I share what I ate in a day to help inspire you with your own meals or show you that eating clean while traveling is possible or help you see that daily healthy eating habits are possible. It’s not for you to think that you should be eating 10 plantain chips because someone else ate 10. Instead, you think – Oh, maybe I should check out plantain chips for a snack for myself. It’s all about perspective.
Comparison is the the enemy. It eats us lives and hinders our growth. So stop comparing. Stop slowing yourself down. Take responsibility for your own needs, your own body, and your own decisions. That’s going to get you so much farther in life.
Sunday – See video here
Every 3 minutes for 6 rounds:
10 thrusters
10 bar facing burpees
10 pull ups or toes to bar (alternating)
My slowest time is 1:47
Monday –
Back Squats: 4 x 5. All sets at 83% (18 mins) – I used 135#
Then 9 min AMRAP Of:
5 Squat Cleans (165/105)
10 Toes 2 Bar
I got 7 + 2 using 85#
Tuesday –
Every 90 sec for 9 sets (12 mins) – 2 Snatch + 1 OHS:
Sets 1-3 @ 65% of 1 rep max snatch
Sets 4-6 @ 75%
Sets 7-9 @ 85%
I worked up to 95#
14 min AMRAP Of:
40/35 cal Row
30 Box Jumps (30″/24″) – Must Step Down
20 Burpees
10 Squat Snatch (135/95)
I got 2 rounds + 8 calories using 65#
Wednesday –
20 mins Moving w. Purpose:
Deadlift: 8 reps with 5 sec descent each rep. 2 sec reset at the bottom of each rep. All sets at 50% of 1 rep max. – I used 105#
Single Arm OH Squat: 8 & 8. As heavy as great movement allows. – I used 10# dumbbell
30 sec Hollow Hold
I got 4 + 8
Every 2 mins for 10 mins:
200m Sprint. (“Crack n Back”) – slowest time was :47
Thursday – Rest day
Friday – Rest day
Saturday – Rest day
____________________
Free Travel Workout:
2 rounds:
50 side skater jumps
40 jumping lunges (total)
30 burpees
20 hand release push ups
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Hi Juli!
I’m not sure if this would garner much interest besides my own selfish- wants (I’m needy!) but just wondering if you could do a post about to-go lunches or packed lunches. I’m a 9-5 gal and am always looking for fast, easy paleo lunches that I can grab on the go. If you have already done this post I apologize in advance I’m lazy and haven’t creeper-stalked your blog in a while. 🙂 Thanks for everything you do for us! You rock!
that would be great! it’s difficult to break away from work sometimes, and it would be nice to have a healthy easy lunch.
Seconded. (Thirded?) Meal prep for the 9-5ers who commute and cram in gym time and don’t have much time to cook during the week. I’m always eating the same things that pack: a salad with deli meat, baked sweet potato that i reheat, crockpot chicken that i reheat, sliced up fruit, and sometimes leftovers from dinner but I would love to get your take on some easy traveling foods.
Also I know that most paleo people don’t count macros or calories, but i particularly hope for super low fat options and lots of veggies!
Hi Juli!
Thanks for being a positive role model! I agree with you 100% that body comparison is a motivation killer… Do what is right for your body! I was told before that I was too muscular for a woman and looked like I was on steroids..(lol) this was told to me by a co-worker that complained about not being as fit as she wanted… I told her I love to workout and do Crossfit!
Love your cookbooks! Love your Blog!
I often make PaleOMG buffalo spaghetti squash chicken for lunches. It’s easy to make ahead and reheat everyday for lunch! I don’t get bored with it. I’ve also been known to do jar salads (lots of recipes out there). These make it easy to prep ahead and grab and go (or does stay fresh and not soggy in the jar). But, I’d be game for a post on the topic too!
I think that woman’s unhappiness says so much more about her than it does about you. I think after all these years of inspiring blog posts and delicious recipes, if you were steering us in the wrong direction with our health and eating habits, we would know it by now.
As for me ( and I may speak for many of your followers), but all my stained, wrinkled print-outs of your recipes that I keep in a stash folder, making again and again, have made my paleo lifestyle so much more fulfilling and interesting. If my friends ask me for help or suggestions with healthy recipes, I always direct them to your blog.
Just my two cents.
that’s so awesome!! thank you so much, alaina!
That is hilarious how many times people say these things to you. Always trying to attack others in order to cover up their own insecurities. Honestly, why do people care so much about how much others eat? Is your diet really screwing up their life that much? I seriously doubt it. And obviously you are eating enough. Do you look malnourished? Hell no! Your body is on point girl! You keep doing you!!
Claire- I know that you asked for Julie’s opinion, but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in on lunches. MEAL PREP!! I tend to do this Sunday mornings- I will make a big ol’ batch of something (chilli, chicken breasts, etc) and pack my lunches for the week from that. I am okay with eating the same or similar things every day, so it may not work for you. Or, I will have chicken and spinach and sweet potatoes Monday and Wednesday, chicken and broccoli Tuesday and Thursday. I usually get a salad for my Friday lunches. I have found that preparation is the key- if I don’t prep, its bad news. I’m also lucky that we have a fridge/freezer here at work, so I tend to bring in a couple of days worth of breakfast/lunches and sometimes will freeze extras to have on hand at work.
Thanks, Katie! As a former Whole30’er I’m definitely a PRO at meal-prep! I usually set aside my Sunday’s to make lunches, prep food, etc. I just love how creative Juli can get with her recipes and ideas– so just looking for some additional help that way! I do love me some sweet potatoes, grilled chicken, and spinach– I just love trying new things! Sometimes Juli will come up with things that I wouldn’t have ever thought of! Thanks for helping me to clarify my request!
Hey Claire, I’ve got some perspective too – I am a newly minted stay-at-home-mom but was a 6:15-to-5’er before that. And honestly, I think it’s even more important to know what I’ll be having for lunch now that I’m home with a baby, because otherwise it’s me, the peanut butter jar, and a spoon.
As part of preparing for my baby I discovered a whole world of people who prep lots of meals for their crockpots and then freeze them. I’m a pressure cooker girl myself, but I have found that I can chunk up chicken or stew beef or whatever, add the sauce/flavorings, and freeze it in a bag that will make one night’s dinner plus leftovers for lunch. I can prep several bags at once, so say I make one batch for dinner and two for the freezer, it takes hardly more time at all. You cook it after it’s frozen so it doesn’t get that leftovers-from-the-freezer taste. I’ve also started freezing meats for the grill this way, with the marinade already in there, then assigning my husband to grill them. 🙂 No work for me. Anyway, the key is that I put away enough in each bag that there will be dinner for two and lunch for one. Then I always know I will have something easy and healthy for dinner, and also lunch the next day, so my life is easier. I have found that life with a baby requires at least as much planning and organization as life as a working girl. I can’t even imagine those of you who go back to work with a baby, my hat is totally off to you!
And I have found that a lot of the flavors and sauces in Juli’s recipes translate well to my add-bag-O-food-to-pressure-cooker strategy. So, not the same, but sooo easy. And, nom nom paleo featured her teriyaki wings a while ago – YUM! I made a big batch of that sauce, got a big bag of wings from my wholesale club, and now I can have wings from the freezer any time I want. 🙂 Thanks Juli! I need a bigger freezer!
I think I used to get angry with other people for how little I perceived them to eat when I used to struggle with the last 15lbs. I know you know that their anger comes from their own disappointment and not knowing how to live their every day lives with their every day habits and that your results are just all those habits consistently done without thought. I feel like people don’t see or understand how long it takes someone who “has it all figured out” to get to that point. Their stress and anger doesn’t help them either and I’m not sure they understand that either.
Juli,
I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do. I stumbled upon your blog about a year ago and I love your style of writing. You’re so transparent and honest. I recently bought your first book and have made a recipe from it each week. The recipes are amazing! :))
Thank you again!
Please don’t let the few negative comments stop you from continuing to post your food and workouts! I love getting inspiration from these posts!
So many haterz out there! Obviously no one can be liked by 100% of people and stupid comments like that woman’s come from jealously. So don’t sweat it girl, keep doing you! Love your blog, all your recipes and snapchats 🙂 !!
People get SO weird and can be SO opinionated about foods! Just look at the conflicting “research” of the nutrition community over the past 20 years and its clear that diet is a contentious issue. Don’t take it to heart- you’re obviously taking great care with your fuel and workouts and its working for YOU. You’re an inspiration and great resource for so many people, and I for one love your recipes and meal ideas! As a fellow road warrior, I really appreciate your tips and ideas for eating well while traveling!
Hi Juli, I’m a new follower of yours and really enjoying the blog and podcast. I’m also new to CrossFit (which is how I heard about your blog). The podcast on not overdoing it in the gym and this about not comparing myself to the seasoned CrossFitters in my gym are super relevant in my life right now! I want to do this forever so I’ll heed your advice 🙂 Your cookbook is en route to my house right now, I’m looking forward to trying some new recipes. Thank you!!
i watch people compare themselves in the gym all the time and there’s definitely a fine line between comparing yourself in a positive way (like trying to beat someone’s time so you push a tad harder than you would have if you didn’t know their time) and beating yourself up about not hitting a weight someone else did. hope you LOVE the book!!