Let the Wild Rumpus Begin

In case you havent heard, this years Primal Challenge is going to begin on September 7, the day after Labor Day. It looks like this year’s challenge is going to be better than ever.

For those of you who werent around for the challenge last year, heres how it worked. In addition to encouraging individuals to make a personal commitment to the primal lifestyle for 30 days, Mark would post a new contest on his blog every day. The easier contests only required you to do something like leave a comment or friend him on Facebook. Other contests required more work like making a recipe video or writing an essay. Each contest had a prize with a primal theme, some bigger than others of course. I was a finalist in both the fitness and recipe video contests last year but didnt win. Mark did send me a t-shirt, though, which I thought was kind of cool.

Mark plans to focus this years contest on aligning your lifestyle behaviors with each of the 10 Primal Blueprint Laws. Maybe they talk like this all the time at the Sisson household, but I always chuckle a little when I hear The 10 Primal Blueprint Laws because it sounds like some sort of kooky religion. Until, of course, you find out what the laws actually are. Need a refresher Here you go:

1. Eat lots of animals, insects and plants.

2. Move around a lot at a slow pace.

3. Lift heavy things.

4. Run really fast every once in a while.

5. Get lots of sleep.

6. Play.

7. Get some sunlight every day.

8. Avoid trauma.

9. Avoid poisonous things.

10. Use your mind.

(Question: why are insects specifically mentioned in the first law Are they not animals

As cooler weather moves in and we settle into new routines, it is a wonderful time to focus awareness on the diet and lifestyle choices that you want to include in your life this coming year. Use the challenge as an opportunity to set in place a well-practiced consistency that will allow you to avoid the binge and restrict drama that accompanies the holiday season and new year.

If you are new or new-ish to The Primal Blueprint, there are a lot of resources these days to help you get going. Mark has even put together a fancy Primal Blueprint Essentials Kit which walks you through your first 30 days step-by-step. People generally lose 4-8 pounds of body fat in their first 30 days, but in my experience huge changes in energy levels and an increased sense of well-being come in just a week or two.

For those of you more experienced with the The Primal Blueprint, the annual challenge is a fun way to revisit the fundamental principals. In typing out the Primal Blueprint Laws just now, I see that I really havent put made play a priority in my life. I happen to be recovering from a sprained ankle at the moment, but I need to do some thinking about how I can make active play a regular part of my life. Also, for me, if Im not paying attention, my diet tends to slip back into something that may be more convenient but less healthy. I intend to use this month as a chance to focus on being more consistent. I also look forward to the inspiring transformation stories that always emerge during this time. Mostly though, I want to win the cow!!

In the spirit of the challenge, Ill be having a few giveaways here at This Primal Life in the coming month. Check back for a chance to win some free stuff.

So what about you Whether you are new to primal or have been at this a while, are you planning to participate in the challenge this year Which of the Primal Blueprint Laws, if any, do you plan to focus on