"I’ve been through life changing events the last 2 years. I’ve turned my world upside down. I’ve become a different person. It’s changed how people perceive me, it’s changed the relationships I have in life, it’s changed my career, it’s changed our finances; there isn’t a single thing that this weight loss hasn’t affected in my life. It’s been an emotional battle to figure out how I feel about that change, how I want to perceive myself and the new reality."
2013 Popular Posts
Moondog by Tony Smith
- Is depression an inflammatory & degenerative disorder?
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- Gluten Sensitivity on the Rise
- Paleolithic Nutrition: Alzheimer’s and Diet
- Travel: A day in the nation's capital
- John Michael: Notes on a Manifesto
- Simply Paleo: Sautéed Chicken with Broccoli and Carrots
- Eat This!
- 58 Paleo / Primal recipe links
- An Apple a Day: Polymeal vs. Polypill
Robert's Paleo Transformation
Robert before his transformation.
"About a year and a half ago, I was driving somewhere and counting my blessings. The only thing I could think of that might be a welcome improvement in life was to lose a few pounds. I had no idea that a transformation of this kind was even possible."
See the results of Robert's transformation here:
I Had No Idea That A Transformation Of This Kind Was Even Possible
Nicole's Paleo / CrossFit Success Story
I was about 30 pounds (of fat) overweight, I had constant heartburn, sleeping problems, and chronic allergies. Despite the fact that I had an incredible husband and stepson, amazing family and friends, a great job, and a beautiful home, and I still felt bad about myself. I knew that it was time to make a real, fundamental, and lasting change.
Read more: Paleo / CrossFit Success Story
Exercise is important, nutrition is key: How to loose 5 pant sizes
"Prior to my paleo lifestyle, I ate anything in sight at any time of day. I thought that if I ate small meals (of anything), then it would be OK. I was working out because in my brain at the time, I thought I could eat unhealthily and just burn off the calories at the gym. Needless to say, this did not work out very well."
Source: PaleoNonPaleo
Denise Minger's new book: Death By Food Pyramid
Reading The China Study a couple of years ago, I was puzzled by all the fanfare. Take thousands or correlations, pick the ones you want and make your own case. Then, be sloppy about how you characterized the foods. Put chicken potpie in the meat category and ignore the industrial inflammatory carbs that make up the bulk of the dish.
Struck by the weakness of the book - viewed by vegans and vegetarians as “authoritative” - I searched the net for detailed critiques and quickly found those by English major Denise Minger. As a physician conditioned to turning first to the basic science and medical literature, I was struck by her critical mind as it delved into the cracks in the data and uncovered The China Study’s flimsy infrastructure.
(I then read a debate between Dr. Loren Cordain, who has studied the Paleolithic diet for over 25 years, and T. Colin Campbell, the lead author of The China Study, and found a comment by Campbell discrediting the use of randomized studies -- after all, it's easier to make a case when one ignores the science.)
Now, Denise Minger, at the encouragement of publisher Mark Sisson, has written a book skewering the Food Pyramid. Since I have yet to read the book, I share Mark's comments:
“Now, with this book, she sets her sight on the disastrous, farcical USDA Food Pyramid, exposing the twisted liaisons between government and industry that enabled it and dismantling the shoddy science and erroneous conclusions supporting it.”
If you read the book, please share your thoughts.
Before: "Well over 320 pounds"
"My health the past 13 years has been a roller coaster ride. I had hyperlipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, several sebaceous cysts surgically removed, extremely severe acne (dermatologist treated 30 years), GERD, irritable bowel, and frequent strep throat. I had several extreme febrile episodes of unknown diagnosis. ...I frequently felt fatigued and just wanted to collapse when home from work; I had poor sleep for many years – I attributed it to being 40 and overweight. I also had significant joint pain and stiffness in my shoulders, neck, ankles and knees – again I attributed it to getting older, being overweight and past injuries."
Read more Before and After: Healthier at Age 44 Than 24: How I Lost 115 Pounds and Turned My Life Around
John Durant on the Typical Hunter-Gatherer Diet
"The typical hunter-gatherer diet was very diverse. Over the course of a year a diet might have included hundreds of wild plant species and dozens of wild mammals, fish, reptiles, and insects. Almost the entire animal would be eaten or put to use, including bones, organs, and marrow. Roots and tubers were an important food source. The wild predecessors to grains - like wheat, corn, or rice - were negligible until late in the Paleolithic, though some wild grasses were consumed (we ended up domesticating them after all). Some foods were eaten raw, but a variety of cooking techniques were used. Because of the wide variety of food available and the tribe's migrations, famine was rare to nonexistent."
Amanda’s journey from sick to wonderful
“In December 2009, I was 25 years old and weighed 210 lbs. I was obese for my 5’5″ frame, never felt well, and was popping handfuls of pills every day just to get by. I was taking 2 anti-depressants, anxiolytics, prescription sleeping pills, courses of Prilosec once or twice a month, acid-blocking pills or antacid tablets 1-3 times a day, anti-diarrhea pills several days a week, and I was constantly catching respiratory infections and frequently took courses of antibiotics.
“… one fateful day somebody posted a link to Mark’s Daily Apple.”
“I was completely blown away. Everything I thought I knew to be true about diet, health, and weight loss was all wrong.”
Learn more: I Am Strong, Energized, Off All Medications, and Feel Wonderful!
From “NEVER Paleo” to “Never Turning Back”
"I will NEVER go Paleo." Those are the words I repeated over and over to my CrossFit coach, members in my morning class and anybody else who found success with the highly controversial diet that is a throwback to the Paleolithic days."If cavemen had access to corn, potatoes and dairy, they would have eaten it!’ I believed every word of what I shared with people.”
Then, somewhat later -
This laughter came to a screeching halt when my celiac disease symptoms ramped up to life-altering proportions. After eliminating gluten and finding instant relief, I turned my attention to the many highly processed gluten-free products such as corn, potato and rice-based flours, baking goods, pastas and bread.
Mainstream online media advocating the Paleo diet for oral health!?
Speaking with sharecare, Dr. Robin Miller remarked that processed sugars and flour have reduced the diversity of the bacteria in our mouths thus leading to cavity formation. When asked what she recommends, she answered:
“I think we need to go back to eating like our little cave men and women use to, and eat fruits and vegetables and seeds and nuts and berries and organic meats.”
Well said except for the “little” part. Our ancestors from the late Paleolithic were taller & stronger than us:
"... a Spanish Explorer named Álver Núñez Cabeza de Vaca spent nine years (1528-1537) living with Native American tribes in the moderday southern United Sates and northerm Mexico. He described the indigenous people as tall and healthy: "[F]rom a distance they look like giants. They are quite handsome, very lean, very strong and light-footed."
“I saw one!” Welker gasped, still struggling to recover his breath. “He was naked, with long hair. Broad shoulders. Strong. He ran across the bridge. Disappeared into the woods.”
Success Story: Vegetarian gives up high-grain, low-fat diet
"I decided to stop eating red meat when I was 12 years old. It was a decision I made based on something I had read about slaughterhouses. I eventually transitioned into a full-blown vegetarian. My mom followed suit and we primarily lived off veggie burgers and salads during my teen years. Oh yeah, and popcorn was a big staple in our house, with fat free “butter” sprayed all over it."
And later:
"Eating a high-grain low-fat diet was causing a host of issues, including an increase in seasonal allergies, acne problems, and constant digestion trouble."
Read more: Mark's Daily Apple
Success Story: Tim Bauer Survives a Walk Around the Block
Tim weighed 440 pounds. He had sleep apnea and GERD and was borderline diabetic. His marriage was failing. He wondered if he would see his “two beautiful daughters grow up, graduate, have children of their own.” Food had taken over his life:
"Food was my release. It was my dearest friend. It never judged me or laughed at me, and it was there for everything. When I was happy, I'd celebrate with pizza. Sad? Drown it in nacho cheese. Worried? The crunch of Doritos can cure that. Stressed? That's nothing a pint or two of Ben & Jerry's couldn't cure. Angry? Take it out on a burrito."
Then, a remarkable thing happened: he survived a walk around the block. That was the first step that eventually led him to a Paleo diet and lifestyle.
Read more: I Lost Weight: Tim Bauer Cut Out Fast Food And Sugar And Lost 225 Pounds
New Book: The Paleo Manifesto
Just recieved my copy of The Paleo Manifestoby John Durant. Here is what Steven Pinker, the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, has to say:
“In an age of material abundance and high technology, why are we failing to thrive? Why are so many of us fat, tired, achy, depressed? Starting with the insight that every species is well suited to its natural habitat, John Durant explores how we might alter our own habits and habitats in ways that allow us to flourish. Durant is original, open-minded, and the nicest and smartest caveman you’ll ever meet. The Paleo Manifesto is brimming with ideas and a fascinating read.”
My son screamed at me: “IT’S NOT ABOUT THE CALORIES!”
I always had a weight problem. In my mind, I knew how to diet and I knew about nutrition. For the longest time, I really tried to follow what I thought was right-mainly counting calories. But my life was crazy: I was working 60-80 hours a week and raising three kids. Eventually, I just gave up. I gained SOOOO much weight. I gained 70 pounds. I was trying my best to stay active-I walked the dog, chased the kids around, but was still rapidly gaining weight. Finally, I went to see a doctor. His suggestion? To cut my caloric intake to 800 calories a day.
After the doctor visit, I went home to see my son. He was the one who introduced me to Crossfit and Paleo, and basically screamed at me, “IT’S NOT ABOUT THE CALORIES!”
MDA Success Story: John Mack
"I had always thought about losing weight but never gave it a fair try. I thought about it everyday. The hardest part for me was trying to find clothes. I would have to order them online or go to big and tall stores."
Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/down-100-pounds-in-9-months/#ixzz2eAm5p9US