Going Primal

I read The Primal Blueprint (Sissin 2009)  about two years ago and it was very thought provoking book.  So much so that nearly every time I sit down to eat, I can gauge the ‘primal-ness ’of my meal.  Now that’s not to say I often eat ‘primally’ but I at least think about it.

Sissin’s mixed narrative of storytelling and the science behind his primal theory kept me turning pages as I continued to hear his argument on how far we (society) have strayed from eating what our bodies were designed to eat and process.

I’m no expert book reviewer so I’ll keep his theory summary short and to the point.   

Regarding our eating habits, if you can’t kill it or grow it, it’s not natural and our bodies weren’t designed to process it.  From an exercise standpoint, he instructs to lift heavy things many times throughout the day with short powerful movements to engage muscles and the heart.  He also is a strong proponent to exercise moderation, as our bodies weren’t designed to endure extreme bouts of endurance.  (in this regard he clearly has no clue)

The other really nice thing about his theory is that moderation applies to his recommended eating habits as well.  He realizes that in today’s society, it is impractical (and really expensive) to jump in to this practice with both feet, without waiver.  He advises conscious decision making at every opportunity you have, realizing what constitutes a good decision vs a poor one.

Blah, blah, blah.  There’s a bunch of other good stuff in there, but that’s my summary.  If you want more go to Amazon.

So after I read this book I spent about a month attempting to go Primal.  In the process I learned a ton…so here’s  another summary:

My diet, along with much of the US, is typically very non-primal.  I eat tons processed carbs, fat and refined sugars!  I love carbs, fat and sugar!  I’m addicted to pastas and bread and chips and crackers and cereal and cookies and pizza and pop and candy bars and tacos and nachos…need I go on?

After manning up and ignoring the cravings, I was shocked at the steady level of energy that I maintained throughout the day. No sugar highs, no post lunch comas or fall on the dinner binges.  Sustained, natural, energy levels, all day.

After eliminating all the processed carbs and fat, while still eating as much as I wanted whenever I wanted (caveman style), I found myself dropping pounds and leaning out with very little effort! 

After a month I felt I had a pretty good handle on the Primal Blueprint theory.  I had seen what following the guidelines could do to energy levels and body composition.  I recommended the book to a bunch of friends, who all had similar experiences/results, and then I quickly and have since chosen to slip deeply back into my lasagna and garlic bread dreams.

With all that said, I’m jumping back on the Primal bandwagon for the next month to 6 week.  I’m running a ½ marathon in the spring and I want to smash a 6yr old PR (1:25).  It has little meaning in the big picture ironman scheme, but my ‘work on speed’ project would greatly benefit from me ditching this 5lb fatpack I’m currently running around with.

 ….this of course will all start  right after Paczki Day!

Hope all is wonderful!