CrossFit Journal: Getting off the Crack, by Nicole Carroll

February 24, 2007

Getting off the Crack, by Nicole Carroll - Oct 05 CFJ

I never thought what I ate mattered. I was thin and muscular. My athletic performance was decent. I generally felt pretty healthy and happy. So I was skeptical about diet having any kind of real impact on anything. For my whole life I had been eating a lot of whatever the hell I wanted and seemed to be doing just fine. But I did have a sense that this wasn’t true for everyone and that as a trainer, people would be asking me questions about nutrition and diet. I knew CrossFit prescribed the Zone diet so I bought the books, read them, got my measly block prescription and tried the diet. The deal I made with myself was that for two weeks I would weigh and measure precisely. If after two weeks I wanted to go back to eating the way I was before I could. No guilt, just an experiment.

Four weeks into the Zone diet, I was stronger and faster than I had ever been. I had lost fat and gained muscle. My benchmark workout times decreased, and my pull-up numbers increased. I hit PRs in deadlift, back squat, and push jerk. I had more energy, recovered more quickly, and could push harder more often.

This entire article is available in the CrossFit Store.

Comments: Getting off the Crack, by Nicole Carroll - Oct 05 CFJ

1. Posted by Spider Chick on February 25, 2007 5:32 AM

It was this article, and that picture, that got me committed to the Kool Aid. Nicole, you are a huge inspiration. And, just as you said I would, I got the same results that you described in your article. Thank you for cracking the code for me. CrossFit and The Zone are the Rosetta Stone of fitness and beauty.

Semper CrossFit!!

2. Posted by nicole on March 10, 2007 4:18 PM

Spider chick,
Thank YOU!

3. Posted by Pam on March 10, 2007 9:50 PM

Hey Nicole, I train with Kat Finnerty at San Francisco's Krav Maga school. I gotta say you're an inspiration! I've checked out several movies from the website and have adopted "Nasty Girls" as my personal work out 1st song to get me going! My arms are getting cut, I'm getting strong and then I started feeling self conscious about being "bigger than the guys," especially since I'm, what, barely 5'? Anyway, after seeing you and how great you look and how strong you are, I take pride in the results of my hard work! Rock ON, girl!

4. Posted by Patrick on March 28, 2007 1:29 PM

Nicole, you look awesome!!! You are the living brathing definition of beauty. Keep up the good work.

5. Posted by linda rocco on April 7, 2007 5:02 AM

Wow you look great! A pur inspiration to me! I'm new to all this.How do you get started with crosBlockers? Whats that? As I mentioned already all new to this.Can you point me in the right direction? I would greatly appreciate any directions.Thanks for your time:)

6. Posted by Alex on April 8, 2007 8:38 PM

Fantastic abs Nicole. Which exercises do you recommend? How often do you train them and what reps work best for you?

Many thanks

Alex

7. Posted by Robin Elmore on April 10, 2007 4:09 AM

Who is the author of Zone diet. I love your abs and have been trying to eat right but sometimes it's hard. I would love to have abs like that.

8. Posted by Ivanovich Rhénals on May 9, 2007 10:28 AM

You're awesome. An example for people like us

9. Posted by Tango on May 26, 2007 11:27 AM

WOW!

10. Posted by kelly starrett on June 13, 2007 11:45 AM

I love your abs too.
And your back squat.

Kstar

11. Posted by thompson on June 23, 2007 7:14 AM

You are great Nicole... Never seen any women with a greater leg strength.

12. Posted by Mike on September 6, 2007 8:55 PM

Hi Nicole,

Fitness has always been my passion. I studied Kinesiology at UGA and now physical therapy in graduate school. I'm A.C.E certified as a personal trainer, but you and the others at Crossfit had me curious. I recently adopted the CrossFit training methods and I am now in the best shape of my life. You are an amazing athlete. Thanks!