The Science Behind How Paleo Works

Have you seen Dr. Robert Lustig's speech on Sugar: The Bitter Truth? It's quite long, but worth it. It explains the science behind why low carb diets work for the majority of people. Be sure your brains are turned on (coffee) before you watch or you will doze off like I did the first time.

It's refreshing to hear why Paleo/Primal work in relation to chemicals and hormones in our body rather than "it's how the caveman ate." You will win a lot more arguments with those influenced by Conventional Wisdom and be able to convince more people to try Paleo if you can explain the scientific background.

If you feel like snoozing through your Monday or want to clarify some points in the speech, see below:

• Eating low carb will lower insulin (hormone released to regulate carbs).
• When insulin is low, you will not crave carbs (not as hungry) and have better leptin sensitivity.
• Insulin blocks leptin, thus making you feel hungry when you body is not (example: eat Chinese Food, you will be "hungry" 1-2 hours later).
• Lepin regulates hunger and energy - so by being more leptin sensitive you will be able to better control your appetite and have increased energy with less insulin.

Hopefully, the video will help you to better explain why Paleo/Primal works without referencing our ancestors (ensuing rolling eyes and saber tooth tiger comments).

Have a good Monday!
Krista

Family Matters

Sorry I haven’t updated in a little while. It’s been a busy week at work, at home, trying to get a template (that I like) to work, and updating the blog with static pages (menu bar). Hope you like it! Also, I didn’t feel inspired by any topics until I had dinner with my in laws.

Questions from family & friends

Ever since I went Primal successfully, several family and friends have thought about trying it. They ask a lot of questions that get me to think and look up answers. I’m terrible at explaining things – you don’t want me to tell jokes or funny stories…it’s just bad. For some reason I can’t put stories/explanations into words successfully without getting word vomit. You don’t want that in your carpet so I send links to websites or books to explain. 

Family successes & spreading the word

The other night my Mother-in-law was telling me of her success on Paleo. She read the links I’d sent her and changed her diet/workout accordingly and lost 6-7 pounds in a few weeks. This is really great for her because she has tried so many diets over the years, until recently she would practically starve herself (600-800 calories/day + chronic cardio) just to drop 1-2 pounds in a month.  We were so proud of her and now she wants to start cooking this way for my Father-in-law – great! Now he is in great shape for his age and he is concerned with his cholesterol and eating saturated fat than losing weight. To avoid word vomit, I just told them how I’d read several examples on Paleo/Primal lowering cholesterol for many who live by the diet. I don’t find it very convincing telling someone that you read something somewhere, because you can read about Elvis being abducted by aliens, probed, and is now back among us but that doesn’t make it true. So I followed up with some links today (click here if interested).

My Mother-in-law also told me about how she is pickier with what she eats. They were just returning from a class reunion and she told me that she is now thinking more about what is available and asking herself, do I really need that or maybe I should wait and see if a better option is put out. Like comparing instant mashed potatoes out of a microwave to having Paula Dean make them for you herself with all the fixin’s (I know which option I’d choose).  I laughed as she was telling me this, because the other day my Mom was telling me about how she is pickier about the carb options she consumes. My Mom has been going as low carb as possible, not fully Paleo, but she has seen the benefits and believes it can work (lost a total of 12lbs in 6 weeks) - great results for not a full 100% effort.

How to get your family interested in Paleo/Primal

Nothing speaks louder than actions. If you would like to get your family started on the Paleo/Primal lifestyle, the best way is to lead by example. Do not approach them about what you are doing and what they should be doing. No one wants someone else’s beliefs shoved down their throat. People want to make their own decisions. Wait for them to come to you – trust me, if they care about their health they will come.

How are you doing with Paleo/Primal? Has your family questioned your “diet?” Do you try to get them onboard?

Krista

Please excuse our mess....

...I'm working on a new template. Html has decided not to be my friend, but I will try to convince it by tomorrow!

Coming soon: A better template with a menu bar to static pages (not blog posts) that will describe what paleo is, FAQ's, Recipes, Before and After shots, etc.

Krista

Weak moments

We are human. We are going to have weak moments and make mistakes. Some days those extra donuts your co-worker brings in is just going to keep screaming at you until you silence it in your belly. Other days you are going to be stressed and cooking a meal may not be a priority on your list of things to get done. Guess what. It’s okay.

When we start a diet, we get it in our heads if we cheat or mess up once that we have to start completely over. That’s not how it works. You just start where you left off. :) Many people, including myself at one time, think that once cheat then you may as well cheat the rest of the day because you blew it. Wrong again! If you are going to give in and indulge, the most important thing is not to feel guilty – enjoy the indulgence! Otherwise it isn’t worth it. Don’t use one treat as an excuse to over indulge the rest of the day either, that’s coming from guilt. 

Yesterday my boss brought in mini pastries for everyone in the office in appreciation of our hard work. I enjoyed them for about 30 minutes. I slowly ate the croissant and black berry turnover – savoring them since it is a rare treat to have pastries. After about 30 minutes, my stomach wasn’t happy with me. I had an ‘ache’ that wouldn’t go away for a couple hours. A good reminder of why it is good to rarely treat yourself to pastries.

Normally, I would’ve ignored the carb loaded free breakfast garbage to save my 20% for other treats I enjoy more (chocolate, ice cream, etc.), but it was a special time of the month. I don’t know what it is about that time, but I always have a little less self-control, which sounds pathetic but it’s true.  Because you are in some pain (cramps) and have some additional emotions expressing themselves, you feel like ‘what the hell, I deserve this.’ Maybe we do deserve the treat, but recognize (and I did) why you are letting yourself have something you normally wouldn’t and enjoy it.

Again, Paleo/Primal isn't a fad diet, it's a lifestyle. You can treat yourself once in a while, but not everyday. So be sure to enjoy it and then go back to your regular meal plan on the lifestyle. That's what makes Paleo/Primal work for me.

Today I was in line for coffee and a large woman in front of me ordered a Double Skinny (skim milk) White Mocha Latte and asked if the scones had blueberries – they did – so she purchased one as well. She was trying. With the skim milk in the latte and the blueberries in the scone, this is an example of CW affecting our health choices. I wanted to reach out to her, but most people don’t want you offering health advice unless they ask for it. 

And hey – I could be wrong. Maybe she is following a healthy lifestyle and she had her weak moment of indulgence today, just as I had mine yesterday. I didn’t say anything. I let her have her moment, just as I would want someone to let me have mine. Sometimes we need to stop being so overly critical of what others are doing. Step back – you don’t know their situation or what they are going through.

Life lesson I need to follow more often is not to judge another person buy their actions.

Okay, enough sappy crap. Where’s my 3^rd challenge?! 

Krista

Day two begins with a picnic

Today US Wellness is donating a whole cow to the winner of this challenge! That's awesome - except I have no storage space for a cow, dead or alive. :-P

Have you heard of US Wellness meats? They sell only grass fed products for a great price and ship it right to your door. You must order a minimum of $75.00 of product to purchase, which I'm still trying to convince my husband about. I really want to try Pemmican (like a primal candy bar, but with meat). ;-)

"The winners will receive sirloin, brisket, short ribs, back ribs, rib-eye steaks, T-bone steaks, NY strip steaks, Delmonico steaks, filets, bottom round roasts, center cut roasts, chuck, tongue, liver, heart, kidney, beef tallow, marrow bones, beef stock, and an oxtail."

Since the prize has raised the stakes, the challenge can't fall short. Somehow I need to gather eight friends and have a primal food picnic with a fun primal activity. Yowza! I don't even have 8 primal friends (that live in Iowa). May need to involve the family for this one!

Luckily, the submission isn't due until October 3rd...I can do this. :) 

Are you up for the challenge? Any primal 'activity' ideas? So far all I got is climbing a tree or beating my brothers with sticks.

Krista