Sweet potato sickness
Cool patterns arise when working with humans, food, and CrossFit. Some things happen that can easily be repeated for the benefit of the whole. Others things, like sweet potato sickness, happen so we can stop the pain once and for all.
Most would think that since sweet potatoes are Paleo we should be cool, right? But that argument is crap because fruit is Paleo and it’s not cool at all. Not to belabor a point but, the sickly sweet potato anomaly is the perfect opportunity to re-state the one and only Paleo definition that every single human should be following now and forever…
The number one Paleo commandment, the most important of them all; Do nothing that hurts, Do only what heals.
Surgery is Paleo if it keeps you alive. Antibiotics are Paleo if you fend off a deathly ailment. Eating only the items that make you better regardless of the fact that cavemen had them or not is our one and only food goal. Everything else is an attempt to make something bad, slightly better.
This leads us to the sweet potato and the very reason why they are rarely needed, if ever. Sweet potatoes have a lot of carbohydrates. As you recall most of us searching for a lean, healthy, and fit physique would do well to eat little in the way of carbs, much in the way of fat. However, for those athletes competing, sweet potatoes can become a little boost when nearing competitive events.
Over the years an interesting sweet potato sickness has come about. Not often, but enough to detail it’s effects ensuring sweet potatoes remain the rare boost they are suppose to be, not a contest crippling allergen they could be.
Sweet potatoes contain raffinose, an oligosaccharides made up of glactose, fructose, and glucose, three different kinds of sugar. SP’s also contain fiber and so forth usually making the release of the carbohydrate content a little more steady than say white bread. Again, the carbohydrate content is exactly why we avoid sweet potatoes except competitive events, leading up to them, or special circumstances.
Raffinose is often inert for most actively engaged athletes, however, some folks feel like they have been kicked in the gut from even slight amounts. From time to time, while testing sp’s prior to events, athletes say things like “I just couldn’t eat anymore because my stomach was so full”, or “I felt like I had to shit all day”. These are symptoms, and while your body deals with symptoms you perform worse. Performance can be anything you want it to be-a CrossFit competition, a football game, your job. Symptoms are everything preventing you from being awesome, and most of those are preventable.
Sweet potatoes, or yams if your in Africa “should” be on the paleo approved list from time to time, but so should pizza and doughnuts. When it comes to humanity, should never equals reality. Should says “this is hurts, but I should be fine, it’s Paleo.” Reality says, “this hurts. Stop now”.
If your not logging your food, or if your a Paleo weekend warrior living in 80% land, then chances are you have a lot of other items you need off your table before your worry about sweet potatoes. For the rest of you that truly believe your a sweet potato sicky, ensure your coconut oil consumption is high as it promotes proper gut health. Then experiment with a variety of vegetables. Try squash and like items that don’t seem to bring about as many issues. Always detail the results so you can see exactly which one works for you, and never assume caveman had all the answers, they just didn’t have all the temptation.
Strength:
Jerk
1×3@70%
1×3@75%
1×2@80%
1×2@85%
Skill:
Snatch balance
Perform (2) reps EMOM for 7 minutes.
*Hold the basement for (5) seconds before recovery.
Goat work
*Chose one movement you are not awesome at and get better.
15 minutes
Post impression to comments.
Tyrone is lookin’ awesome. I still remember bein’ his first Saturday wod partner. He shows great dedication to this sport.
Jerks @ 115, 120, 140(oops), 135
Snatch balance @ 75#
Dip & butterfly work
And Kim got an UN-BANDED pull up this morning!!!!
Nice work Kim…
Good work this morning to each one of you 5amers. It was a great time to be with each one of you. I found out from Mitchell the outlet malls down just north of Cinncinnati are selling crossfit gear. We agree that means a road trip is in our near future.
Michelle is looking so much better on Handstand Push-ups and Jerks. Krissy – I am chasing how strong you are! Nikki got over the rings on her muscle up and just as each first time goes lost the hold, but MAN you got it! Sandy, Lauren and Kim fun times this morning – your Snatch Balance look really good and fearless! YOU GO GIRLFRIEND! DAWG, YOU GIRLS ARE BAD ASSES!
Did some push presses, and tried handstand walks.
I also have a question about back at the ranch,since there might be swimming, I have a friend who has his life guard license. I could totally ask him to help us out! He knows about it but he doesn’t get off til 2 pm. I am not sure what time we will be in the water. Should I still ask him if he wants to help out?
Brian Hunnicut not only got into a handstand for the first time ever tonight, but is super close to his first Hspu!! Way to go Brian!
Nice work Honeycutt!
Sure Pres, ask away.
6pm was fun! Shelly’s back!! So glad to have you again, Shelly. Becca got three pull-ups in a row and didn’t know she could do one. Awesome! Paul ran the 400 in 1:43. Super cool! He made Ben P run with him and as Ben was beating him he said, “oops, I didn’t start the watch, Ben. Sorry, man” lol!!
Holly, Scott, Becca and Joe I would like to see you guys post something about your goats that you worked on…
Keep up the excellent work!
After thought – think about those whose houses are underwater or in water tonight and had to evaculate because of Isaac. Send up a prayer.
Jerks – 150-160-170-185.
I didn’t MAKE Ben run with me, he wanted to. I was ahead of him, but my hammy tightened up, so I stopped. I did scew up the stopwatch though.
Thanks Chas! It felt great to be back.
Worked on Jerks, front squat, bench press and (not so) awesome attempt at double unders.
Fun 6:30 – great to see so many new faces!
Jerks at 95/100/105/110
Snatch balance at 50#