Over the next few weeks, we will re-examine a few sacred cows of the Crossfit/Paleo movement. This week, we’ll start with dietary carbohydrates.

Carbs were (and still are in some circles) considered the holy grail of performance nutrition. The fitness/bodybuilding community in the 80s and 90s pushed the idea that low fat/high carb diets were the key to fat loss and muscle gain. About 10-12 years ago, the low carb diet craze began to take hold and many went the opposite direction with good success.

Crossfit came along and advocated the Zone diet, which was very low calorie but balanced the carb, protein, and fat ratios. Over time, there was a shift toward Paleo nutrition for good reason, but a very low carb version was where the community as a whole headed. I was no different, being one of the early adopters of low carb paleo and intermittent fasting.

Are carbs really that detrimental to your health? That most people, including athletes, were eating too many processed carbs is true. However, does that mean that all carbs outside vegetables are bad for your health and performance? No way.

The full article and part I of Carbs, Curls, and Cardio will be in member inboxes later today!

My articles on training and nutrition are part of the membership package at Crossfit Portland. Email info@crossfitportland.com or call us to discuss these and other benefits to joining!

Warm Up

1) Shoulder Seq
2) 2 x 10 Low Dip Swings (if doing MUs)
3) Quick Bar Complex

Mobility

1-2 rounds:
10 + 10 sec Table Presses
10 + 10 sec Bridge Presses
10 Spinal Rocks

WOD

“Nasty Girls”

3 rounds for time of:
50 Squats
7 Muscle-ups
135/95 pound Hang power cleans, 10 reps