Going Primal
All Hail Lifestyle Plans That Encourage Playing!
When I started cooking and using Pioneer Woman as my guide, I thought for sure I’d gain a million pounds with all of that cheese and butter and nothing WHATSOEVER diet. You know what? Not an ounce. As I thought more about it I looked into the idea that if you eat a lot of diet foods (Over processed foods to remove calories or fat) – you do just that: You Eat A Lot Of Diet Foods. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought about this before. One of my favorite stories to tell about my horrible relationship to food is how I bought a box of 100 calorie dessert cakes one time for my office and ate the entire box (of 12) in one sitting. Do you know what would have been better for me? About 3 of any candy bar on the planet. I have always been notorious for pigging out on “diet” foods.
So, I stopped buying Fat Free cheeses and 100 calorie snack packs. We just started eating real foods. When I needed a snack I went for something like a Cliff Bar – not at all a low-calorie food but totally fills me up. I noticed when I started doing this that I ate a lot less. So, did I lose weight? No. Did I eat better, yummier foods and not gain any weight? Yes. I thought that was a pretty excellent lifestyle change right there.
But I still have this weight I want to lose. But I don’t really want to “diet” so to speak. I hate that idea. It’s failed me for years. I’ve been trying to lose the same 15-30lbs (depending on what point you stop me at) for the last 7 or so years. Obviously the “diet” concept hasn’t worked for me whatsoever. And I like my new outlook on food: Calories and Fat are NOT BAD. Over processed foods that no longer resemble anything “food” related? Those are.
So — When Modern Matriarch started talking about Going Primal, I listened. It sounded exactly like what I needed. A lifestyle change that simply focused on what our bodies genetically evolved to do. It’s not a diet. If you look at the 10 Primal Blueprint Laws only a few of them even directly relate to food. And they’re simple: Eat Lots Of Plants And Animals. Avoid Poisonous (Processed) Foods. Simple stuff, really. Then there are laws teaching you how to mimic the primal lifestyle in your current (hopefully NOT primal) existence: Walk A Lot. Lift Heavy Things. Play. Sleep. Very basic principals that get us back to the roots of the simple living our bodies were designed for. Yes, it’s about eliminating certain types of carbs – but it’s NOT about putting your body into ketosis like a lot of the trendy low-carb diets of yore did. It’s basically about removing the carbs (sugars, rice, grains) that stem from processing. Which is not a primal concept. We hunted and gathered – not refined our food. This is a good article that does break the food side down on a nutritional level.
My point? This seems to already fit with how I had changed my lifestyle anyway. It just gives me some sort of guidelines to do it with a purpose that will help me trim my body. After doing it for less than a month – Modern Primal Matriarch saw results. And not on the scale…just in her body. Yes, she talks about the struggles she had in the beginning as her body learned how to burn energy in a better way, but she’s never looked back. So – you know what? I’m giving it a try. I’m starting today because LilZ is at his Dad’s this weekend, we don’t have our big family dinner on Sunday, and MrZ will be around if I really do run out of energy to get off the couch. I’m going to really try to focus on all 10 blueprint laws, and not just the ones that will help me lose weight. I’m going to force Play Time on myself every day (although we do play a lot in this family, that won’t be too hard). I’m going to continue my walking with Sweetie. I’ll go to bed earlier. (If you can believe it, I’ve actually been staying up later lately. Until – like 10pm! Or even 11pm some nights! I’m a wild thang!)
Yes. I’ve done a million different lifestyle changes since I started this blog. I know that. You know that. But do my past failures mean I should give up trying? No. One of these days I will find something that just feels right and sticks. Maybe this is it. Maybe this is not. But I prefer the idea of trying to better myself and sometimes failing – than never trying at all.
AndyZ decided to beat me to the punch and went primal last night. He misunderstood the point, however.
Hmmm…this sounds really interesting. We play a lot but we also watch TV a lot. I will have to look into this more.
Hey! Thanks for linking to my blog post!!
Good luck with the primal lifestyle. Give it 30 days and then see how you feel at that point
I have to admit I’ve been following her journey – I’m a little fascinated by it. I likely will never go primal – largely because I would probably fail at it (I’m weak). But I will admit that we are eating less processed stuff than we used to.
Cool! I’ve been following AndreAnna’s story on Bodies in Motivation (Linda went primal for a bit, too, not sure if she still does it), then I discovered the Primal Matriarch blog. I’ve ordered the PB book and one of the cookbooks that AndreAnna suggested, and I can’t wait to try some of the almond flour-based recipes to help wean me off grains. I’ve been pretty good about limiting my sugar intake for a while, but the grain thing will be hard.
I will enjoy following your journey as well. Thanks for sharing!
I have been following Modern Matriarch’s journey too and am in a very similar boat as you. I think it is exciting that there seems to be an Internet revolution with this lifestyle. I’m going grocery shopping this weekend to officially dive in to being “primal”. Good luck on your journey! Keep us posted!
I’ve been off grains and sugars for a few years now, and it’s worked wonders for me. Ask me about where to get good almond flour in HSV if you need sources! The new Earth Fare is great for sales on organic/minimally processed meats.
Hmm – I’ve been working on the concept of eating real food (sorta Michael Pollin, I guess), but I’m not sure why to boot nuts? I’ll have to dig more there…. Good luck!
I’ve been wondering about this diet recently myself. I already believe that really processed foods are bad for you, as a diabetic I’m supposed to limit my carbs, and since we just started eating meat again, it sounded like an intriguing option. I’ll be very interested to hear how it goes for you.
Good luck! I think the avoiding of overly processed foods can pretty much only do good things!
Look at those eyes!!!
I bought the book. I’m reading it on the airplane tomorrow. I’m nervous about it – I’m nervous about owning it on my blog….and that thing that you wrote “Yes. I’ve done a million different lifestyle changes since I started this blog.” that’s why. But don’t you have to keep on trying until something works? It’s a rhetorical you….I have to keep trying.
Holy canoli! I’m starting a revolution here! I’m so proud of you for trying this. I figure this: if you learn one good thing about yourself, throw out one piece of junkfood, feed your kids and yourself a little better, than it was all worth it ya know?
Real Food, people.
If it rots, you can eat it.
If it was alive you can eat it.
(Kathleen: Nuts and seeds are integral!!! So much good fats and omegas! I eat a few ounces a day!)
If it was made in a factory and you can’t pronounce one ingredient, do not eat it.
Sleep more, get out in the sun, don’t stress so much, play with your kids. Run hard. Lift some heavy shit. Take walks.
I feel like finally, after years of stress and dieting and low-fat crap, I am free. I hope you enjoy being free with me.
I am here for you every step. Email me anytime (that goes for all of you, too!!)
I found what was really doing me in was portion sizes. I would eat until I was full and then a bit more because I was eating too fast and not listening to my body. I started making a concentrated effort in November to eat only until I was full and then STOP. I cut out sodas a bit earlier–last September–down to about 1/week. We joined a CSA which started in May, so we’ve been eating more veggies. And I’ve been making lunches rather than buying frozen dinner.
I’ve lost 14 pounds since November. It’s nothing “diet”, it’s just listening to my body and staying away from over processed stuff.
So, long story short? Good luck with the new outlook! Diets are totally overrated. I think simple rules and an awareness of self are far more effective! : )
I wish you all the luck in exploring Primal. I know it’s *IT* for me, and I know how good that feels. Would be awesome if it was for you, too, but more than anything I hope you find that niche, whatever it is.
Love the blog. Looking forward to future posts, especially about how Primal treats you.
Love your blog!
Gave you an award: http://lessofmimi.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/versatile-blogger-award/