A blog about the Primal Blueprint diet and lifestyle
The Primal Blueprint Health Challenge that is going on throughout the month of August at Mark’s Daily Apple is in full force. I’ve been checking in there daily to get updates on the latest contests and to check out the contest entries of my fellow primals. Some of the haikus, including my own, were a little painful (though the winning entry was inspired, but I loved reading the entries to the Quotable Quips contest and am waiting with much anticipation the results of the Post-Its and Tell Your Story contests, neither of which I found the time to enter. I did, however, enter a few of the other contests and I thought I’d share some of my entries here.
I am most proud of my Quotable Quips entry. I’ve never felt particularly adept at writing tag lines or clever one-liners so I was very proud of myself when my entry received an honorable mention. Dave thinks it would make a great primal t-shirt:
Stop killing wheat; eat more meat
I also entered the Show Your Lunch contest. The prize is a mace. I was pleased to discover that the modern mace doesn’t have spikes. If I win, I’ll be sure to post a video of my new garage mace workout. I took a picture for the Show Your Breakfast contest but in typical fashion, never got around to submitting it. Unbelievably, I did manage to enter the Show Your Groceries contest. I wish Dave could have been in the photo but he was at work and I felt I had to take advantage of the fleeting moment of motivation. Finally, I also entered both of the Primal Video contests. You can see my recipe video on the Garlicky Squash Fritters post and also on YouTube. Here’s my primal fitness video, which is also on YouTube.
My entry to the Primal Blueprint Health Challenge "Show Your Lunch" Contest - kielbasa, sauteed egglant and summer squash with basil
My entry to the Primal Blueprint Health Challenge "Show Your Groceries" Contest. Check out that basil plant!
I hope the Primal Blueprint Health Challenge is achieving its goal of motivating people to try a primal diet and approach to well being. Regardless, it’s been a fun distraction during these long, August days and an interesting glimpse at a diverse group of people.
Now on to a few other matters. First of all, please go to the 2 Blowhards blog for an excellent, recent interview with Mark Sisson. You may have to scroll down a bit to get to the interview as I am late in posting this link. To give you a sense of some of the funny and informative material in this interview, here’s a short excerpt:
MB: When you present the Primal vision, do people resist it God knows that a lot of what you preach isnt the usual thing.
MS: Most people have habits and assumptions based on learned dogma that is generally flawed. Its not their fault, its just the way information is handed down in a democratic society. Its tough to change, especially when you have years invested in a behavior you thought was benefiting you.
MB: For instance …
MS: For example, the eight glasses of water a day mantra was like a game of Telephone gone awry. Someone did a study in the ’40s that showed that the water content in the food of a healthy human averaged about 64 ounces a day. Over the years that was described as the equivalent of eight 8-ounce glasses, which eventually became the advice that to be healthy you must consume eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day. Bullshit.
MB: Really
MS: Our ancestors didnt carry an Evian bottle in a mesh bag around with them all day. They got all the water they needed from food, or from licking the dew off a leaf. In general, drink when you are thirsty, but dont force yourself to drink when you are not. Moreover, too much water can be a bad thing.
MB: Do you mind sharing a few other examples
MS: Sure. 1 Grain eaters (especially vegans today resist the notion that grains are bad because the Food Pyramid suggests that everyone should get 6-11 servings a day.
2 In many cases, runners and triathletes often cant fathom that the thousands of miles they have logged might not have been good for them since, after all, Ken Cooper said more is better when it comes to aerobics.
3 Cholesterol-phobes have a tough time reintroducing yolks to their otherwise bland egg-white omelets because they think theres actually a connection between consumption of cholesterol and blood lipids (theres not, or that blood cholesterol is the cause of heart disease.
Read the whole 2-part interview at 2 Blowhards.
Next, you may have noticed that I’ve started to include a few advertisements in the right-hand sidebar. I have gone through some trouble to ensure that the advertisements are only for companies and products that I trust and feel proud to support. Some of these advertisements can generate a small amount of revenue, and others are just organizations that I support. Writing this blog has turned out to be more time-consuming than I anticipated and it would be nice if it could contribute a little something towards groceries. If not, though, I’m having enough fun with it that I’ll probably keep writing it anyway!
Finally, I spent a good chunk of time yesterday experimenting with some new primal recipes! Some were definite winners so check back soon for new recipes or, if you haven’t already, subscribe to This Primal Life via email or RSS to be informed of new posts immediately.
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Your quip was funny 🙂
Good looking groceries, good looking kids, but it’s no surprise… just look at Mom!
Many of the comments on that great interview were from complete morons. I wonder if most even read it.
That was a witty quip 🙂
I read the interviews and it was very interesting. While I haven’t read the book, I do have a few issues with the total approach (namely, we haven’t been hunter gatherers in quite some time) but the basic advice is sound. I’m totally on board with reducing carbs, sugar, processed foods, etc., and tossing most current “conventional wisdom” to the wind.
My mantra these days is traditional, local, sustainable. Keep it as close to the way God intended as possible. The Weston A. Price Foundation is a great source of information ( http://www.westonaprice.org ). Maybe if we keep exposing the lies of the food pyramid people will embrace a more natural way of eating and we will be healthier overall!
Hi Grok – Thanks! After I read your comment I went back and read the comments on the interview. I guess because the 2blowhards site isn’t focused so much on nutrition, much less primal/paleo nutrition the comments are bound to be skeptical. They struck me, for the most part, as skeptical in a pretty reasonable and constructive way, though…. was this not your impression? A rigorous but constructive debate might do more to convince people than a lots of comments in agreement.
Hi Joanna – I’m a big fan of the Weston A Price foundation. I love my Nourishing Traditions Cookbook. There are also some wonderful recipes in Mary Enig and Sally Fallon’s book, Eat Fat to Lose Fat.