Paleo Diet Blog

Paleo Diet For Beginners

From The Sydney Morning Herald:

Unleash your primal energy through an all-natural prehistoric diet.

About 18 years ago, I started competing in fitness figure competitions and needed to lower my body fat. I had about 22 per cent body fat and needed to reach 16 per cent.

My trainer told me to cut out grains and starches, including bread, pasta and rice, as well as refined sugars. My eating plan consisted of fish, chicken and other meat, eggs, salad, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds. This was my first experience of the Palaeolithic or ”caveman” diet, which is based on the premise ”if the cavemen didn’t eat it, you shouldn’t, either”.

After overdosing on protein at first, I focused on a plant-based fresh-vegetable diet that included 65 grams of animal-based protein a day. I felt strong and full of energy, and never hungry. I leaned up ready for my competition and placed second. Since then, I’ve based the way I eat (and cook) on the paleo lifestyle.

Read the rest here.

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Rock out with your Grok out!

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Paleo Cereal

After a great game of tennis yesterday, I went back to my friend’s house were he proceeded to demolish a bowl of cereal. As I watched this take place, it occured to me that I haven’t had a bowl of cereal in probably six months at least. Maybe it’s because it was hot and that bowl filled with cold milk looked delicious; or maybe I was just yearning for days gone by when I could kill a box of Fruit Loops in one day. Whatever it was, my mission for today was to create a bowl of paleo cereal.

The ingredients:

• Raw pecans
• Organic blueberries
• Organic strawberries
• Almond milk
• Cinnamon

Is it 100% paleo? Well you can probably argue about the almond milk; but it’s pretty damn close.

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Paleo People Granola

A new entry in the portable paleo-friendly snack category is the wonderful lineup of granola-like treats offered by Paleo People. Made from a base of paleo-friendly fare like nuts, seeds and fruit, Paleo People’s granola snacks are a great way to stay paleo on the go.

What is particularly nice about the products is the variety of available flavors. Flavors include:

• Apple Crisp
• Banana Nut Crunch
• Cacao Nut
• Cappuccino Crunch

From an aesthetic point, Paleo People has done a great job with their packaging, using bright easily distinguishable colors for each flavor. If I have one criticism of the granola, it would be that the protein content –roughly 3 grams per serving– could be a little higher.  That aside, all the flavors are really good. It is hard to pick a favorite from the four, but with a spear to my head, I would probably pick the Cappuccino Crunch.

As we all know it can be tough to find something paleo-friendly during the day when you are away from home. Paleo People’s granola packs are super easy to throw in your bag and take with you anywhere.  Also, as mentioned on the Paleo People website, the granola is very versatile. I’ve had it as part of my workout protein shakes, with some greek yogurt and on its own.

So if you’re looking for a convenient paleo-friendly snack take a look at Paleo People’s granola. Best of all, if you can’t decide which flavor your want, get the variety pack.

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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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