I’ve gone Primal! Documenting my new Paleo/Primal Lifestyle

ImageI’m keeping this blog purely as my writer’s blog, but I thought I’d do a post to share what’s going on with me writing-wise and health-wise and give you a link to where I’ll be microblogging about my Primal lifestyle in case you’re interested.

I thought October I’d be using to brainstorm and plot a new novel for NaNoWriMo, but my agent nixed that. She doesn’t want me scattering my focus. Since I sent STEAM ME UP, RAWLEY out to my trusty Beta readers in the beginning of the month, it means I have nothing writing-wise to work on until that feedback comes in (next week for the last of it) and I can start revising it again. Luckily, this corresponded with my commitment to change my unhealthy eating habits. Since I’d reached a certain age, I’d started carrying an extra twenty pounds, but in this last year I added another ten, and my eating habits were getting horrible (sometimes having mini chocolate donuts, diet soda and popcorn for lunch).

After seeing pictures of myself at Dragoncon I finally had enough (it also didn’t help that none of my summer clothes fit me anymore), so I did a Master Cleanse diet. I’ve done them three times before in the past, and they always helped me kick my unhealthy eating and also drop 8-12 pounds. Also I normally only did it for 10 days. This time I did it for 18 days. I lost 12 pounds and about 5 inches off my waist! But normally you gain about half of it back, but I immediately switched to eating Primal/Paleo and I haven’t gained any of it back. I’ve now ended my third week eating Primal/Paleo.

Not having writing obligations has meant that I’ve been able to put my obsessive personality on learning the intricacies of eating and living this way, and use the time to learn and develop habits and shortcuts so that hopefully when I pick up writing again, it’ll integrate smoothly back into my life.

What is Primal?

primalIt’s a version of the Paleo Diet/Lifestyle, coined by Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple. Paleo is eating clean foods that don’t have any chemicals, preservatives or even additives like corn or soy. It also cuts out all grains. Primal is a little laxer, in that if you’ve done a 30-day strict elimination Paleo diet and then slowly add back some things like cheese or milk and it doesn’t bother you, then you can eat it (in moderation, i.e. it belongs in the tippy top of the eating pyramid). But it still needs to be clean, so my cheese is made from raw milk, as I have no problem with it. However, when I tried to add beer back into my diet (I love beer!) boy did it mess with my innards! So I’m going to have to learn to like red wine. Or try some gluten-free beer…

Anyway, if you’re interested in any of this, I started a tumblr blog, Primal FTW, so you can follow me there as I won’t be posting about it anymore on this blog.

What’s up with y’all? Have you started any new good habits?

7 Replies to “I’ve gone Primal! Documenting my new Paleo/Primal Lifestyle”

  1. After watching what goes on with people and food in the States, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not so much the whole grains, but the chemicals. The US is one of the only western countries that allows chemical pesticides and fertilizers in food, as well as cornstarch, and all sorts of additives we don’t need. Not to mention the horrible diets cattle, chicken and pork are fed. if you really love it, before you give up on beer try a German variety. It will not have all the chemicals or additives that American brands do.

    1. I’ll try that, Ella, as I love a good beer. I didn’t think I had a gluten intolerance, so the reaction floored me. And on the other, wheat’s been so modified, it doesn’t resemble what our forebears ate…

  2. Hey Angela! Very cool! I’ve been following a modified paleo diet for about 3 years now for health reasons and it has benefited me greatly. Sometimes it’s crazy hard to follow since I don’t love to cook much, but I also notice that if I stray and eat any gluten or very sugary things (even fruit), my digestion goes haywire.
    And yes, I agree, wheat and so many other veggies and fruits have been modified and overproduced so much they lack almost all the dense nutrients our ancestors ate.

    1. Another one! I’m finding so many folks are doing this, which is great. Was talking to both my aunt and my mom about this and they were both horrified at the idea of giving up grains, they just couldn’t imagine.

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