Dear Jenna is my favorite feature on The Paleo Project. Similar to an advice column, Dear Jenna was created by the questions I receive from readers. It’s written in the style of Dear Abby with the candor of Carrie Bradshaw. Want to be featured on Dear Jenna? Send me an email at paleoblog(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject: Dear Jenna

Today’s post is filled with follow-up responses from readers YOU have helped with your comments and advice.

If you read Dear Jenna: CrossFit Concerns back in May, where Hilary seeks advice on breaking into the intimidating world of CrossFit, you might be interested in her follow up:

Well I am now doing CrossFit! I had been doing private training with the coach 2 to 3 times a week for the last 5 weeks…..but this past week I did group classes! Have gone every day, wont make it today though, I am really liking it and feeling confident. Thanks so much Jenna!

I loved Brianna’s story immediately. In her post, Dear Jenna: Fifteen and Paleo, she wondered how she would start eating Paleo completely alone in a non-Paleo home, here’s her follow up:

 Hi

Its Brianna, the 15 year old crossfitter. I just wanted to let you know how my paleo is going, because you gave me some great advice that really helped me through my first month of paleo which was really hard.

I learned that I have a serious sugar addiction and anyway, the second month has been a lot easier. The first month I was not working out, because I got a concussion playing rugby. So I had a lot of time to eat everything. So the first month I saw no difference and it was really sad. But I kept remembering every time I ate non-Paleo what you said about me being a teenager and just living life. I made some of your recipes and they were great. I wanted to thank you for your support and putting my post on your website it was really positive for me thank you.

Merry Christmas.

I think I need to expand my taste, I don’t like a lot of the typical Paleo “to go” foods like hard boiled eggs, tuna, or jerky, but I do try to keep some trail mix around. I think that if I can just manage to get up earlier and eat a good breakfast then I can get through the day with just a snack, and start working out on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead. I was pretty set on working out after classes because I live about a half hour away from campus so it’s easier to do while I’m here. But, there’s no point in working out if it’s going to cause me not to eat well!

Dear Readers,

Thank you. After my last Dear Jenna post, I felt like I had been making excuses for too long. My first step was to call a friend who had really been a source of motivation in the past. My friend, Amanda, had ran along side me in my first 5 mile race. A race I never, ever imagined I would finish. Amanda was an athlete all her life, and continues to coach various teams. Her strength is infectious, so it was no question that she would be a huge help in getting back to where I wanted to be. We took the advice of a reader who pointed me toward the Deck of Cards workout. We completed it one snowy morning (days after the post) and I was reminded what I love about fitness: the satisfaction after I complete a workout, and the sense of camaraderie I feel when I work with like-minded females.

My next step was to find a place to work out that eliminated all of my previous qualms: cost, proximity, lack of females. I have passed a Gold’s Gym every single day on my way to work since May. It’s literally a 1 minute drive (on a main road, so yes I would drive) from my house. On Monday, following the post, I just pulled into the lot without giving myself time to doubt, and asked for a tour. The trainer handed me the class schedule, which was filled with daily classes: kickboxing, jumprope, boot camp, cardio sculpt, etc all at 6 p.m. This would give me plenty of time to get from work to the gym. Even better, I would be home 2 minutes after the class. No driving across town in traffic. No losing an extra 30 minutes a night just getting from my house to the gym, the gym to my house.

He told me that they were running a special, for $149, I would have complete gym access for a year – all classes included, no monthly fees. This is an unbelievably low price, that I could afford, but I decided to ask for it as a Christmas gift. Win Win Win WIN.

I really have all of you to thank for pushing me to where, sometimes, we just can’t get to on our own. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love, Jenna