Primal Update

Let the record show that I have dropped over one percent of my total body fat percentage in six weeks.

GO ME!

Gone Primal

So I recently (i.e. about a month ago) found myself gazing down upon a friend's unread copy of The Primal Blueprint. (Side note: it remains to this day, to the best of my knowledge, unread by said friend...to losely quote his reasoning, "If I read it then I know and have no excuses." ha!). I have to admit it was a very interesting and informative read. So the general jist according to the author, Mark Sisson, is that we should eat and live more like our primal ancestors. So, eat and play like a caveman, not work and die like a cubicle-bound insurance claims representative. It's actually quite difficult to fully encapsulate Sisson's principles in a single sentence but the idea is that modern culture puts too much emphasis on eating processed carbs and grains and killing ourselves at the gym, with the result being...well, no long-term positive result. Instead a vicious cycle develops in which we gain and lose weight and in the process set ourselves up for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and a long list of other ailments which are now inflicting humans more than every before. So The Primal Blueprint discusses how a primal existence is healthier and more enjoyable, and more true to our evolutionary development. To sum it up: turn off the television, put down that cupcake, grab a leg o' lamb and go play Frisbee with your dog. Ok, that's probably an oversimplification, but if you want a more technical explanation...buy the damn book.

Anyway, I've been "primal" for about 30 days now. I actually started primal living the day I cracked the book open and read Sisson's quick list of the primal living principles. And despite my above mentioned friend's criticism that perhaps I should read the book in its entirity before diving in head first, I think it actually gave me an advantage. First, it was so cool to notice some change in my body's reaction to this new lifestyle and then read that exact change in the book the following day or so. For example, I noticed around day 8-10 that I no longer required my usual 5-6 daily feedings and that my overall need to feed had dropped significantly; I then read something to that same effect a day or so later. Second, slowly absorbing the information in the book and applying the neccessary change to my life was easier in piecemeal, opposed to one drastic and cold-turkey stop to my previous dietary and exercise habits.

So, a month in and the results are as follows: can eat fewer meals, can actually skip a meal or two and be fine (those of you who know my previous anxiety and physical reaction to skipping a meal will understand the significance this holds for me), a steady supply of energy throughout the day that is high in the morning and slowly dwindles til its bedtime, and a stack of jeans that are a little too loose now. I pretty much have the dietary changes down, but finding the time to include fun and a daily nap in my busy schedule is a little more challenging. But I'm happy to report that I survived the 30-day Primal challenge (which is try it out for a month and see how it impacts your life). It isn't even necessary to buy the book to get started, Sisson's blog, www.marksdailyapple.com has all the information needed to successfully go full on Primal.