Going Primal

I have mentioned on here that our family has made some big changes with regards to how we think, eat, and consume our food.  Normally, I eat pretty healthy, but this past year was not my best and we ate out a lot (both good and fast food).  About 2/3 of the way through my pregnancy I developed a nasty little Coke habit, one that cost me a cavity, and more than a few pounds I am sure.  It wasn't long after I had my little cubby that we were living in a hotel, moving, and getting settled in a new house/area.  Then it was the holidays.  Oh, the cookies that were made here!  I started feeling a bit like a sugar addict, craving all sorts of the badness that tastes so good when it hits your lips!  I didn't like how I felt, or looked, and knew it was time for a change.

I read Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson and it was a easy and great read that flies in the face of everything you have ever learned about nutrition and exercise (Conventional Wisdom).  Backed up by science, it focuses on eating real food (not processed), minus sugar, trans-fats, grains, and legumes - just like primal man did before the age of agriculture when all of today's chronic illnesses and epidemics got started.  It was pretty much a summation of all different nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle information that I had been researching the last couple of years.  It brought it all together in one place and was the first "diet" book that was really and truly about a lifestyle change.  The author asserts there are 10 ways of being Primal in the modern world:

1.  Eat lots of animals, plants, and insects (no bugs here, thank you!)
2.  Move around a lot at a slow pace
3.  Lift heavy things
4.  Run really fast once in awhile
5.  Get lots of sleep
6.  Play
7.  Get some sunlight every day
8.  Avoid trauma (be smart, seatbelts, etc)
9.  Avoid poisonous things (McDs, anyone?)
10.  Use your mind

So really, only the first one is about the actual diet, although it probably is the biggest component.  The rest is how you move, think, act, and be in the world.

Many people, when they hear of how we have changed, say, "I couldn't do it."  My response is that I couldn't either, until I did.  And honestly it is a lot easier eliminating a whole food group than counting calories, eating fake food, or counting points.  I did a complete overhaul on our cupboards, throwing or giving everything away with hydrogenated oils, trans fats, canola and other vegetable oils, flours, grains, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, genetically-modified organisms, etc.  We buy and eat a ton of meat, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruit, and nuts.  We buy mainly organic, local, grassfed, pastured meats, eggs, poultry, and pork.  I cook just about everyday and we eat primarily out of our fridge and off the counter.  Real, fresh food.  And it tastes great and is very simple.  We both feel amazing and have taken off about 10 lbs each.  Eric has 2 inches gone from his waist in a month.  We aren't super hungry anymore either, and we eat until we are satisfied, which is a lot less than we ate before - just naturally.  Eric's migraines are almost gone, and he has more energy.  For me, I just feel good!

We have had a few "treats" here or there, but honestly very rarely ever feel the urge to stray.  And if we do, it is more of a thought than a "omg, I must have that NOW" type feeling I've had on other programs.  I have also had to give up dairy due to Oliver's sensitivities, so that has been a big change.  I miss cheese, (and could technically have quality full-fat cheese with this way of eating), but found substituting coconut milk for smoothies, and creamer is working just fine.  I find it much better to focus on what we CAN have, which is pretty much anything else.  We eat plenty of great meat, use plenty of fat in our cooking (extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, and butter - just call me Paula!), and haven't met a roasted vegetable we didn't like!

It has only been a month, but I can truly see this being a very long-term thing for us.   Personally, I need to incorporate the exercise portion (which is hard with a baby and the winter up here), but I do pretty well with all the others, most of the time.  We aren't perfect, and even the author says to shoot for 100%, knowing you will realistically hit the 80% mark.  And I am cool with that.  And how can you not love a program in which you indulge in a glass of red wine with some dark chocolate every night?!?

I really encourage you all to read the book, but I will warn you - it slaps conventional wisdom right in the face.  Eat fat to lose fat?  Saturated fat is healthy for you?  Carbs are ruining your body and your hormonal sensitivities?  YES, all true.  Open your mind, and if you decide to give it a shot, I'd LOVE to hear your experiences.


****Of course, I am totally a Primal Mother (extended breastfeeding, babywearing, bedsharing, etc) but that is a post for another day :)  See, it all ties in so nicely!