Paleo Diet Blog

A typical paleo meal could include grilled chicken with a salt-free herb dry rub, grilled fennel brushed with olive oil and grilled halibut.

From The Press of Atlantic City:

Our Stone Age ancestors lived in an uncomfortable world, spending their 30-year life spans hunting and gathering without air conditioning or heat.

But some say cave men ate better than we do.

That’s the premise behind the Paleo diet, a health and weight-loss trend that encourages people to eat modern-day versions of Paleolithic food.

Several weeks ago, one group of health-conscious Californians took on the Paleo diet and planned to spend nine weeks eating like cave men. That means consuming only animals, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and mushrooms, said Rick Larson, co-owner of CrossFit West Sacramento, the gym running the challenge.

“A lot of people at our gym were getting good workout results, but I knew they weren’t supporting it with their diets,” Larson said. Because other gyms in the CrossFit family have had success with the Paleo diet, Larson decided to test it at his gym. Fifteen people took the bait.

Like any diet, the hardest thing about the Paleo diet is what you can’t eat.

Out is anything humans began eating after the agriculture and animal husbandry revolutions, meaning no dairy, beans, grains or starches and absolutely nothing processed.

“If you can’t eat it raw, then you shouldn’t consume it,” Larson said. (Although, since our Paleolithic ancestors did have fire, cooking food is permissible.)

Read the rest here.

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I have two broad goals for the rest of the year. To be under 220 pounds by July 1st, and to be at 200 pounds or lower by the end of the year. Well, today is July 1st. I woke up this morning, got on the scale, and the magic number was:

218.5

Goal #1 has been accomplished!!! 218.5 represents a loss of 30.5 pounds. Remember, this has been accomplished not by being 100% paleo (though that is certainly a worthy goal), but by sticking to the main outline of the paleo plan. If I can do it, then you can do it. Now go eat some raw meat.

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As my half birthday unceremoniously passed on June 6th, I realized the middle of the year is a good time to reflect on what  I have accomplished, reflect on what I haven’t accomplished, and redefine my goals for the rest of the year.

What I have accomplished:

Around November of last year, I was first introduced to the paleo diet. I bought the books, did a bunch of reading, and really tried to gain an understand of what it all meant. I decided that starting in January I would commit full time to the paleo lifestyle. My first weigh in had me tipping the scales at 249 pounds. Not acceptable. However, I did my best to stay 100% committed for as long as I could, and after several months I was down to as low as 222 pounds. Not too shabby! I was, and continue to be, proud of this accomplishment.

What I haven’t accomplished:

Life is stressful. Staying paleo all the time is not easy. When you have no one else to do it with, it is even harder to stay on the path. What I haven’t accomplished, for the last couple months at least, is staying on the 80/20 plan (eating paleo at least 80% of the time). It has been more like 60/40. I’m currently clocking in at 226.5 pounds. I’m still thrilled I’m no longer 249, but one can’t help but think where I would be if I had been at 100% for six solid months.

My goals for the rest of the year:

I have two goals for the rest of 2010, and I think they are achievable .

1. Get under 220 pounds by the end of June.

2. Get to under 200 pounds by the end of the year.

These are both doable, and I can’t wait to share with you when I have reached them.

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If you have been into the paleo scene for any reasonable amount of time, chances are you’ve come across Mark Sisson’s blog. Through his company, Primal Nutrition, Mark has dedicated his expertise and experience to designing supplements, eating plans, and exercises that maximize the paleo life style. His book, The Primal Blueprint, is one of the best selling nutrition books of the last decade. In it, Mark lays out what is fundamentally the paleo diet plan, along with some great tips on exercise and general eating habits. His newest book, The Primal Blueprint Cookbook, includes numerous delicious recipes that will keep you on the primal track.

Mark, a recognized expert in the field of supplement design, has created several products that have received nothing but glowing reviews.These include protein shakes, anti-stress formula, omega-3 formula, and more.   Mark designed all these products from a primal/paleo point of view, and according to the reviews…it shows.

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A couple weeks ago I got on the scale, looked at the number, and realized I had been slipping. I went from 222 to 229. I recommitted to getting back on track, and I did. This morning I weighed in at 222.5.

Remember, it’s ok if you get side tracked. The key is to acknowledge it and address it. It’s never too late to start over.

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Cavemen Cookies - The Tastiest Paleo Cookies Around

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to sample some cookies from Caveman Bakery. Caveman Bakery is run by Stephanie Lester, a paleoist and former attorney. After several years of suffering in the legal world, Stephanie decided to follow her heart and her taste buds. She left the legal world, opened Caveman Bakery and started producing tasty paleo treats. She produces two great products, Cavemen Cookies and Tropical Cavemen Cookies. Stephanie was kind enough to send me 6 of each. She bakes, she gives, she can draft my will…..Stephanie is a keeper in my book! Ok, on to the cookies.

Cavemen Cookies - Inside of Bag

The cookies were shipped quickly and arrived housed in an unassuming “natural” looking brown bag. Inside the bag was all killer, and no filler. The cookies themselves were of a good size, with a very “unmanufactured” look. The ingredients: simple and to the point. The Original Cavemen Cookies are made with honey, almond flour, walnuts, raisins, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The Tropical Cavemen Cookies are made with almond flour, honey, unsulfured coconut, macadamia nuts, and ginger.

Cavemen Cookies - Back

Both versions are delicious. I actually thought the two different versions tasted pretty similar, with the taste of the Tropical seeming to be dominated slightly more by the honey. If I have a criticism of the cookies it would be to create more of a differentiation between the flavors. That small crumble aside, I knocked out both bags in a couple days. Even though each cookie only has 60-65 calories, they are quite filling. This is probably due to the texture of the cookies, which I would describe as just short of sticky.

Cavemen Cookie

What I loved most about the cookies was that I could throw them in my bag, and no matter where I was during the day I could dip into my pocket for a tasty paleo treat. Never under estimate the value of a portable paleo treat. “Portable Paleo”….hmmmm. That sounds like a good name for a company. You heard it here first!

Cavemen Cookies - Side

In conclusion, if you are looking for a sweet little somethin-somethin to have for dessert, or as a go-to treat on the road, check out CavmanBakery.com.  The cookies are delicious, they are paleo, and they are clearly made with love and attention. Stephanie is super cool as well. It takes a lot of guts to quit an established career to follow your heart. As a paleo wannabe, I’m very glad she did.

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I started a new job a couple weeks ago that has really put a strain on my ability to post frequently, as well as my ability to stay paleo. Basically the last two weeks have been filled with beer, pizza, hot dogs, mac n’ cheese, etc. I weighed in this morning at 229. That’s up 7 pounds from my last weigh in. NOT ACCEPTABLE.

The important thing is to not get overwhelmed. I knew I was slipping, I’ve now acknowledged it to myself (and all of you), and now I need to address it. Time to refocus and get rededicated.

I said from the very beginning that I would chronicle the good, the bad and the ugly. Well things have gotten bad…..maybe even ugly. Time to remedy the situation.

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So now that I have lost about 27 pounds on the paleo diet, I thought I’d make a short list of things I have noticed as a result of my slimmer figure. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just what I can think of off the top of my head as I sit here watching the NBA playoffs.

• Every time I wear pants, I now need a belt.
• Shirts I used to never wear because they were snug or small, now fit perfectly.
• I don’t wake up with back pain anymore.
• I have much more endurance when I play sports.
• When I go out to eat, it is not uncommon for me to not finish my plate (unheard of before).
• I feel more confident.
• I think my hair loss has slowed (wishful thinking?).
• I never get the “light” or “fat-free” version of anything; if I want the good stuff I have the good stuff.
• When my girlfriend’s mother give me her standard “you’ve lost weight” line after not seeing her for awhile….I now think she really means it.
• Girls throw themselves at me on a regular basis (see comment on hair loss).

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Scale

Been awhile since a weigh-in, so I threw myself on the scale this morning. The reading:

222

Last time I weighed in I was 224.5, so we are making progress. That is 27 pounds lost to date.

Booyakasha!

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A whole chicken is great for snacking

One of the best things you can buy if you are going paleo is a whole chicken. Available at most grocery stores, a whole roasted chicken is great for a meal in of itself, or for random snacking throughout the day.

Packed with protein and tastiness, nothing beats opening the fridge and just picking at some nice cold chicken. Eating it with your fingers even gives you that primal feeling we all thirst for.

There is a little walk-in restaurant near me that I avoided for about 2 years. The name of  the joint is Crisp & Juicy. I never went in because…..well……frankly, with a name like Crisp & Juicy, I had no idea what it was and it didn’t sound very appealing. Well one day I finally summoned the courage to go in. The real reason I went in was because I’ve been living in the same city for about 3 years now, and it was the only place I had never been to eat.

As it turns out, Crisp & Juicy is a little Peruvian chicken shack. They serve, hands down, the best chicken in the entire world. They are cooked rotisserie style over an open flame, and the flavors are just magnificent. So now, about once a week, I pop in and pick up a whole chicken for $10. It’s great to know that whenever random hunger pangs strike, I have some great protein available to pick at.

Go out and get one today!

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