Have you ever heard of Orthorexia Nervosa?

Everyone knows that you can't talk about CrossFit without also mentioning Paleo.  This is now pretty ironic considering that CrossFit fired Rob Wolf over political BS, and he's still THE go-to guy when explaining the methodology of how and why many CrossFitters eat.  We're ordering our own cows, buying our own chicken eggs, planning our meals, reading the ingredients list like it's the latest edition of People and most importantly, are always on the lookout for the next great Paleo dessert!    

To maintain my sanity, I (Chuck) try to fit in a Hershy's special dark chocolate every now and then, and even a slice or two of pizza once a month when I get the craving, or emotional (luckily, that's not too often).  There are some whom rarely if ever deviate from Paleo and/or other healthy diets as well.  Although it is not listed as a mental or eating disorder in the DSM-IV and not considered to be a part of the DSM-V due in 2013 ORTHOREXIA NERVOSA has become increasingly common since it was coined just over 10 years ago.   Coined by Steven Bratman,   Greek orthos, "correct or right", and orexis for "appetite"is literally "correct appetite."  Bratman describes the term as "an unhealthy obsession of the health conscience individual with healthy eating." 


As Paleoists', we try to avoid foods containing additives, preservative and ingredients with 3 or more syllables.  The orthorexic may avoid these also, however this can sometimes lead to anorexia nervosa.  The anorexic avoids foods with the intention to become thin, while the orthorexic doesn't wish to become anorexic, but simply desires to be healthy.   Where does this obsession come from?  Many sources can contribute to this unhealthy obsession, such as, family (how many of your mothers told you "A minute on the hips, forever on the hips"?), trends ( e.g., Grass fed cows are on the way!  Grains will kill you!  A billion Chinese really could be wrong!), recent illness (Bourbon.  Still trying to forget about that). 


We all want to be our healthiest and feel our best in and out of the studio, and sometimes we choose to avoid certain foods that go straight to our hips or contribute to the spare tire .  That's normal and expected.  In order to be successful, there will need to be sacrifice and determination, but we don't expect you to be Posh Spice.  Do what works for you, and don't get crazy  if you take one bite of Dryer's Ice Cream with xantham gum as one of the last ingredients.   However, if you ARE training for an event like CrossFit Sectionals, Regionals, fitness shows, then of course, eliminate temporarily, but don't depravity indefinitely.  Also, should you need anyone to share your Wilbur Burger at Corn Pass Roadhouse with, I'm just a phone call or Facebook away.      


Also, I have yet to see an anorexic, orthorexic, CrossFitting Paleoist.  "Orthoexercrossfitter Nervosa?"  You heard it here first, folks!