Primal Fitness

BekkaPoo · 02-16-2011, 10:39 AM

The Characteristics of Hunter-Gatherer Fitness | Mark's Daily Apple

Quote:

Dr. Loren Cordain and a few MD colleagues have recently published a paper (PDF) called “Organic Fitness: Physical Activity Consistent with Our Hunter-Gatherer Heritage.”

Thoughts?

I am currently gym-less, but I ride my bike daily for transportation, walk the dog, and am about to go back to my aiki jujitsu training. I would like to get a fitness system going that is "organic" and not forced, and have been reading up on the Primal Fitness site.. I like his philosophy -- it makes a lot of sense to work with the body instead of against it.

IAgirl · 02-19-2011, 05:04 PM

I think he's overstating the hypothesis he advances, although the "program" recommended sounds totally reasonable! What could make MORE sense than making fitness not a chore and just part of living?
Look into non-exercise activity thermogenesis, it's kind of the same thing.
Love the part about dancing, dogs, and sex.

BekkaPoo · 02-24-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAgirl

I think he's overstating the hypothesis he advances, although the "program" recommended sounds totally reasonable! What could make MORE sense than making fitness not a chore and just part of living?
Look into non-exercise activity thermogenesis, it's kind of the same thing.
Love the part about dancing, dogs, and sex.

I think I will.. thanks.

Fluffy01 · 04-20-2011, 04:56 AM

Mark is wonderful! And he is so right! The key, though, is eating well for your body's needs. Once you do that, you can have fun with exercise because it won't be something you "need" to lose weight anymore just to keep you healthy. You can sprint, play, lift weights and then take two or three days off to rest or just go for a walk, and you'll be fine! It's amazing! I've dropped 8lbs in three months following his eating plan and having fun. My workouts right now consist of about 4 sprints and walking every other day...takes about 10-15 minutes, and I'm done!

Now I do want to be more tone, so I'm going to add in weightlifting for fun. However, it is no longer a necessity to me to lose weight faster...push myself harder to "burn the fat". I don't have to worry about injuries because I can go at my own pace. My body knows how to burn fat now without a lot of chronic cardio.

But like I said, if you want max results, you need to follow his eating plan. Basically whole unprocessed foods...meat/veggies/nuts/seeds/some fruit/fats like butter, coconut oil, olive oil, bacon grease. No grains. Grains are the worst...this includes rice and corn.

Trust me, though, after a week you won't ever miss them. The cravings go away, and you're just happy and healthy.

katblack · 07-04-2011, 11:22 PM

I would do a lot of walking if I were you. When I walked every night, I wouldn't gain any wieght when I occasionally slipped up from my primal dieting, I would always maintain my weight. I would walk on average 40 minutes a day.

BekkaPoo · 07-21-2011, 09:21 AM

It's been a while since I posted here, but I have finally got some primal-approved foods in my pantry. The nutella is all gone (cry

) but I have to do what's best for my health. In the last 2-3 months I've put on probably 15 lbs and I can't afford new clothes, so I MUST take the weight off.

So as of last night I'm back on the primal diet. Taking it one day at a time. I'll try doing some high intensity exercise in the house (too hot outside right now) for at least 20 minutes to get started.

I had a big bowl of sauteed veggies (in olive oil and a dab of butter) with cashews for dinner last night and will probably have the same for lunch today, along with a salad.

Hope everyone else is doing well on your paths!

SwtAnana · 07-21-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluffy01

Mark is wonderful! And he is so right! The key, though, is eating well for your body's needs. Once you do that, you can have fun with exercise because it won't be something you "need" to lose weight anymore just to keep you healthy. You can sprint, play, lift weights and then take two or three days off to rest or just go for a walk, and you'll be fine! It's amazing! I've dropped 8lbs in three months following his eating plan and having fun. My workouts right now consist of about 4 sprints and walking every other day...takes about 10-15 minutes, and I'm done!

Now I do want to be more tone, so I'm going to add in weightlifting for fun. However, it is no longer a necessity to me to lose weight faster...push myself harder to "burn the fat". I don't have to worry about injuries because I can go at my own pace. My body knows how to burn fat now without a lot of chronic cardio.

But like I said, if you want max results, you need to follow his eating plan. Basically whole unprocessed foods...meat/veggies/nuts/seeds/some fruit/fats like butter, coconut oil, olive oil, bacon grease. No grains. Grains are the worst...this includes rice and corn.

Trust me, though, after a week you won't ever miss them. The cravings go away, and you're just happy and healthy.

I've been on a primal/paleo diet for the past 6-8 weeks and I was completely skeptical... at first. I'm convinced now that this is the way I will be eating from now on. I didn't realize how grains and processed foods made me feel until I gave them up. Now when I slip up and have grains (like when I was at the Mets baseball stadium with no good food options) I definitely feel the effects later (TMI warning: can anyone say massive gloating and gas!?)

I've gotten much better with my sweets too... I still occasionally get cravings but they're practically 70% reduced. The longer the intervals are between sweets, the longer I can go without cravings....and I NEVER thought this would happen

Now the fitness part, I'm working on it. I walk around the hospital all day 5 days a week so I'm getting some cardio but my main goal is to tone up. Hope everyone is having success and seeing some results!

Sent from my iPhone using CurlTalk

BekkaPoo · 07-21-2011, 01:11 PM

ITA about the bloating. That does tend to go away when you eat primally.

BekkaPoo · 07-22-2011, 12:10 PM

Even after just almost two days doing this I have noticed less bloating in my belly area.

I'm cheating a little bit because I just can't drink coffee or tea without at least a little sugar, but the difference is still noticeable to me.

SwtAnana · 07-22-2011, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

Even after just almost two days doing this I have noticed less bloating in my belly area.

I'm cheating a little bit because I just can't drink coffee or tea without at least a little sugar, but the difference is still noticeable to me.

I still cheat with sugar in my coffee too! I just don't drink it nearly as sweet as I used to. Today I was so tempted to get the cafeteria mac-n-cheese but I held strong and got the baked chicken with cabbage/spinach mix (which was delicious by the way). Maybe on another cheat day I'll opt for a small serving of the mac-n-cheese.... Mmmmmmmmmm

Sent from my iPhone using CurlTalk

BekkaPoo · 07-24-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwtAnana

I still cheat with sugar in my coffee too! I just don't drink it nearly as sweet as I used to. Today I was so tempted to get the cafeteria mac-n-cheese but I held strong and got the baked chicken with cabbage/spinach mix (which was delicious by the way). Maybe on another cheat day I'll opt for a small serving of the mac-n-cheese.... Mmmmmmmmmm

Sent from my iPhone using CurlTalk

I may have to have the occasional cheat day too.. I can't see going through this summer without even a single taste of ice cream.

Last night I made the most delicious chicken ever..

2 half chickens (I guess that's one entire chicken)

sea salt, fresh ground pepper, & rosemary on both sides

marinate for minimum of 1 hour with a bit of olive oil & white cooking wine, and a chopped or sliced onion and a few cloves of garlic (to taste.. I used 4 cloves).

After marinating, bake all ingredients in a cast iron skillet, with chicken skin side down for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Turn chicken over and bake for another 45 minutes skin side up. I added a dollop of butter to crisp the skin.

When the chicken is done, remove halves from the pan and make a glaze from the remaining juices with a tsp. of brown sugar (not primal I know! lol), a splash more of white cooking wine, and some butter. Whisk together in the pan and spoon the glaze over your chicken halves.

I also ate some steamed veggies with the chicken, and spooned some of the glaze on them.. this was sooo friggin good. I need to make this every week.

BekkaPoo · 07-26-2011, 12:00 PM

I had this for lunch today.. No-atmeal. It's pretty filling even without the eggs in it. I had it sin huevos, but still it was delicious. Thank goodness for the Magic Bullet I got as a wedding gift.

BekkaPoo · 07-27-2011, 08:15 AM

My pants are starting to fit better already.. yay!

I couldn't zip up/button my size 12s last week, but this week I can.

SwtAnana · 07-28-2011, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

I may have to have the occasional cheat day too.. I can't see going through this summer without even a single taste of ice cream.

Last night I made the most delicious chicken ever..

2 half chickens (I guess that's one entire chicken)

sea salt, fresh ground pepper, & rosemary on both sides

marinate for minimum of 1 hour with a bit of olive oil & white cooking wine, and a chopped or sliced onion and a few cloves of garlic (to taste.. I used 4 cloves).

After marinating, bake all ingredients in a cast iron skillet, with chicken skin side down for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees. Turn chicken over and bake for another 45 minutes skin side up. I added a dollop of butter to crisp the skin.

When the chicken is done, remove halves from the pan and make a glaze from the remaining juices with a tsp. of brown sugar (not primal I know! lol), a splash more of white cooking wine, and some butter. Whisk together in the pan and spoon the glaze over your chicken halves.

I also ate some steamed veggies with the chicken, and spooned some of the glaze on them.. this was sooo friggin good. I need to make this every week.

That sounds absolutely delicious! I'll have to put that on my list of things to try (maybe sans brown sugar!).

Confession time: I cheated. Big time.
I was in the hospital yesterday and my resident invited me to a lunch for a CRNA that was retiring. I went with the hopes of saving money and was disappointed with the selection: bread upon pasta upon pound cake upon MORE bread. Even the fruit salad sat on top of a platform of wheat products, it was like a fruit pizza of sorts. I was disappointed at first but man oh MAN the sound and smell of *FREE* food was really getting to me... I was

ing all over the place. So sadly I gave in and while I loved every single bite, I paid the price for it and am still paying for it. It's all TMI to discuss lol. (To be fair, one of my colleagues also had some problems with the food and another colleague was out most of the week for similar issues....maybe something is going around?)

Now I'm having all types of carb carvings...this only happens when I cheat.

I dunno but sometimes when I see people who are NOT primal/paleo who at least look great on the outside, I question why I'm doing all this again.

Sure I've done some of my own research and have found articles that support the inflammatory nature of grains (and I've seen with my own eyes that people who are of an appropriate body size aren't necessarily healthy) but what if we're wrong? Admittedly, I do feel better when I eliminate/greatly reduce my carb/sugar intake but...is that buttery warm and sweet slice of french toast really that harmful?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BekkaPoo

I had this for lunch today.. No-atmeal. It's pretty filling even without the eggs in it. I had it sin huevos, but still it was delicious. Thank goodness for the Magic Bullet I got as a wedding gift.

OT: I am so sick of my Magic Bullet! It's absolutely great for smoothies but whenever I try using it for other things (ground up nuts or chopped veggies), it brings everything down to a PASTE and doesn't chop evenly. The infomercials made it seem so great. I'm happy you're having good luck with your MB but methinks it's time I just invest in a traditional food processor.

BekkaPoo · 10-05-2011, 06:38 AM

I haven't been doing primal seriously in the last month or so, and it shows. I gained another nearly 10 lbs and I'm in the "danger zone" weight wise..

Sooo, I'm back to meat, meat, and more meat, with the occasional side of veggies. It's a bit expensive, but I'm going to have to make this work. I have to see this as an investment in my health (rather pay a lot for food now than pay a lot MORE in the hospital if/when I get sick due to weight issues). On the other hand I can't afford to eat strictly organic meats or grass fed beef, so I do have concerns about GMO/hormones/medicinal residues in the meat I'm going to be depending on so much..

mrsgp101310 · 10-06-2011, 11:31 AM

So glad I found this thread, glad to find fellow curlies going primal

I've been primal for 4 days, yay! I havent had anything sweet for about 3 wks and no grains now for 5 days. Dont miss them at all (yet). I am also on day 25 of the Supreme 90 program, and that coupled with primal eating is a great combination! I am loving primal so far and I love that it's 80/20, not 100% adherance. I can have my 'cheats' here and there (weekends only) and it's ok. Since I started Supreme 90, I had been eating clean during the week, and on the weekends I would still have a couple of pieces of pizza, some wine and even mexican food and still lost 10.5" in 20 days! So I'm sure I will have an indulgence or 2 this weekend after no slip ups during the week, and after reading some of your comments about how your body responds, I'm a little worried about what my body will do if I give it grains & bad carbs! It'll all work out though

I will be measuring and checking body composition in a couple of days, so I'm anxious to see what I've lost this week going primal.

BekkaPoo · 10-06-2011, 12:26 PM

Glad you're having success mrsgp101310.

ShrekLover · 10-06-2011, 01:28 PM

I'm looking over the website while I eat Fritos and a snickers for lunch.

mrsgp101310 · 10-06-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janna

I'm looking over the website while I eat Fritos and a snickers for lunch.

Lol

Actually, you could be doing worse. Eating 2 slices of 100% whole grain bread has a higher glycemic impact than a Snickers bar!! hahaha

ShrekLover · 10-07-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsgp101310

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janna

I'm looking over the website while I eat Fritos and a snickers for lunch.

Lol

Actually, you could be doing worse. Eating 2 slices of 100% whole grain bread has a higher glycemic impact than a Snickers bar!! hahaha

Wow! That's so weird. Maybe I should replace my daily sandwhiches on whole wheat with Snickers every day. I mean I do want to eat more healthy....right?