Seems like this whole Paleo thing is popular these days. This article, a little more bluntly discussing if it’s smart eating or a diet fad. Read the article Paleo Diet: Smart eating or latest fad?
So here is my take, and if you’ve talked to me about food or nutrition for more than 5 minutes, you know what is coming next. Paleo is neither a fad, nor diet. But a change in lifestyle. Changing your relationship with the food you eat. And knowing where that food comes from. Do I eat corn? Occasionally. An occasional grain? Yes. Will I enjoy a homemade piece of bread? Probably not. I may eat it, but for me that’s where the joy would end. (and for the record and peace of mind for those joining us in Project::Reset, I am not doing any of that right now) Without standing too tall on my soapbox – Paleo isn’t about restrictions, but choosing to take out the manufactured and unnatrual production line that our food system has become. And for me, I’ve had life altering health benefits from eating this way.
Have you tried Paleo? Like, really, tried it? The good ol’ college kinda try? If so, what was your experience? The good, bad and the ugly…
My Paleo experience included a span of 7 PR’s in 12 days. Haven’t seen anything like that before or since.
I’m in with Hirst here… got stronger while getting leaner and came off high blood pressure medication. And it stuck. We love science to back things up, I know. But you can’t argue with personal results and mine have been fantastic. And, as far as science goes, obesity and diabetes are on the rise continuously and we haven’t yet seen a cure for cancer. So, I’ll stick with what seems to be working for me.
I’ve been anywhere from 90-100% Paleo over the past year. In that time I’ve gained 17 pounds and my bodyfat% has dropped. As with most people I was concerned about the effects on my heart after a year of eating so much fat, so I recently had full bloodwork done. To my (somewhat) surprise all of my cholesterol and triglyceride levels were in the “excellent” range, despite my daily consumption of 5-7 eggs, meat with every meal and ~5,000 calories mostly consisting of fat and protein. This stuff works…
Here goes nothin’… but I suppose if it’s already out there lost in the world wide web, linking to it here would be no different…
Here’s my picture story – http://www.crossfitnorthatlanta.com/wod/2010/3/24/paleo-crossfit-does-a-body-good.html
September 2008 is when I started Crossfit, January 2009 is when I started tinkering with paleo, and January 2010 is when I started my 90-100% paleo lifestyle, and I haven’t looked back. Fast forward that March 2010 picture to now, and there’s absolutely NO denying that PALEO PRODUCES POSITIVE RESULTS. I can’t imagine living any other way.
I have been studying this whole nutriton thing for over a year through pubmed, blogs and books. There is plenty of scientific data out there to support a paleo lifestyle. Unfortunately all these “scientist” have an agenda rather than stating what the data actualy means.
Although I have been eating “clean” for the past year or so, with the encouragment of some of the members of our gym I decided to do the Whole9 30 day challenge. I’ll admit, weeks 2-3 were miserable. I could barely lift the bar, let alone any weight. BUT- shortly after, it started raining PR’s. I broke out the umbrella and have been doing my paleo dance in the rain since! (I am about to start month 3)
I’m a huge fan of cave man style eating. Being somewhat cave manish myself this appeals to my sensibilites. While, I’m not 100% paleo ..I like black beans occaisionally and well, there’s my vice around a couple drinks here or there. I have to say that it’s really the only eating style that makes sense. I have cut out almost all refined grains and sugars from my diet. I’ve seen the results first hand of falling of the wagon into land of frozen pizzas and french fries it ain’t pretty. I’ve also see myself spring back to life after sixish months of crossfit and radically changing my eating style. My philosophy is if I’m going to train this hard then I need to have a 360 degree approach and eat as well as I can to maxmize my results.