5 Things People Assume About Me That Are Wrong
As Mark’s Daily Apple and the Primal community have grown in popularity, I hear a lot of stuff bandied about. Some of it is positive, some negative, and that’s to be expected. You can’t please everyone – I would probably be surprised if no one ever criticized me. However, I’ve noticed that for whatever reason, some people have a skewed perception of my opinion on certain issues. Maybe it’s my fault for not being more clear. Maybe they just haven’t plumbed the depths of MDA (I don’t blame them; it’s got some deep archives) to find the truth, instead going on what someone else told them. But whatever the reason, I have an obligation to set the record straight. I don’t want people getting the wrong idea about me or my ideas.
In this post, I’m going to describe five common misinterpretations about me and then explain where I truly stand. You may still disagree with me. That’s cool. At least then you’ll be able to criticize me for what I actually said or wrote.
So, what are some things people assume about me that are wrong?
That I support unlimited calories, endless grams of fat, and constant relentless gorging.
To my knowledge, I’ve never claimed that calories don’t matter (cue frantic searching of MDA archives). On the contrary, I’ve held that while calories are the ultimate arbiters of weight management, the beauty of a Primal eating plan is that obsessively counting, tabulating, graphing, and monitoring calorie intake often becomes unnecessary. You’re eating nutrient-dense and calorie-sparse plants, nutrient-dense animals (and their fat), and nutrient-dense and calorie-dense starchy plants (when desired/required), and you just need less food than before. You’re sated, you enjoy the food, you’re sufficiently nourished, and so you don’t eat as much. You’re not telling yourself not to eat X amount of calories; you just don’t get hungry for all those extra calories and so it’s not an issue that requires conscious thought. Some people may even find counting counterproductive to weight loss if the counting intrudes on their enjoyment of normal life and becomes a significant source of stress.
If you somehow find the will and desire to gorge endlessly on multiple thousands of calories of coconut oil and butter and red palm oil and mac nuts and grass-fed beef and wild-caught salmon, you can and likely will gain weight (and fat). All I’m saying is this: why would you ever want to? Calories do matter, though. I’ve always said that.
That I hate carbs in any form.
The reality is that I view carbs as an elective source of calories to be divvied out according to training volume, performance goals, and individual variation in tolerance/desire. If you’re regularly engaging in lots of anaerobic activity (HIIT, sprinting, heavy lifting, mid-to-high intensity endurance training, sports like soccer, basketball, football), you should probably eat more carbs to the tune of 100 extra grams per hour of anaerobic output. If you’re just doing lots of walking, lifting once or twice a week, and throwing in a sprint session every now and then, you’ll probably be fine underneath the Primal carb curve. I gear my recommendations toward regular folks getting regular, but not excessive or elite level, amounts of activity – the people who juggle work, family, sleep, and leisure with exercise. That’s me, that’s most of you, but it’s not everyone. If I come off as a carb basher, it’s only because I assume that most people aren’t doing the kind of activity that warrants carb-loading.
I am a big proponent of eating a macronutrient that works for you and your lifestyle and your needs, whatever those look like. I’m also a big proponent of gorging on in-season berries to the point of stomach upset (not really, but kinda). My point is that I don’t hate any and all carbs.
That I hate gyms.
I talk a lot about the benefits of being outside in nature, particularly being active outside in nature. I often suggest that people go for hikes on a weekly basis, preferably with family members (both hominidae and canid). I discuss spiritual encounters in nature, wherein people experience what seem like “mystical” states of mind simply by leaving city limits and rubbing up against some trees and greenery. I’ve explained how exercising outdoors is not only more effective, but also more sustainable – people are more likely to stick with an exercise plan when they do it outdoors. What wins?
Trail running through a forest of redwoods with the brilliant morning sun shimmering through the canopy overhead or jogging on a treadmill while watching close captioned American Idol?
Sprints on a beach (complete with adjacent natural sea salt cold dip wave pool) or sprints on a track?
Stand up paddle boarding on blue-green seas or, well, there isn’t really a gym equivalent to that one, is there?
I’ll always choose to workout outside if I can. Of course, I live in Malibu, where winter is when surfers wear hooded sweatshirts with their shorts and sandals, so I have the luxury of exercising outdoors year round. Many people do not. Perhaps my perspective is skewed.
That said, I like gyms. I work out in a gym on a regular basis. And bulky, oddly shaped natural objects like rocks and logs are fun to pick up and put down, and you can get really strong using them, but barbells, weight vests, kettlebells, and other manmade fitness tools are arguably better for building pure, raw strength. You know what? Make like Arnold and lug a barbell and some weights out to the forest and get the best of both worlds.
That I hate any and all forms of cardio.
One of my earliest and most popular posts was my tirade against chronic cardio, or the kind of extended mid-to-high intensity endurance training that made me sick, broke down my body, required me to eat an inflammatory diet laden with cheap refined carbs, destroyed my social life, and sapped my will to live. My terrible experience with high-level endurance training helped me find a more sustainable, more Primal path. It got me where I am today, basically. It was the impetus for my search for something better. I guess you could say I’m not a big fan.
I’ve become known for that stance on chronic cardio, but many people assume that distaste extends to all cardio. They assume I roll my eyes at people who ride their bikes to work, who run a 5k every now and then, who use the rower at the gym, who go hiking with heavy rucksacks, who swim laps. I don’t hate all cardio, though. I mean, how many times have you gotten annoyed with how often I tell people to walk, hike, and otherwise move around at a slow pace? That’s “cardio.” I fully support all forms of movement that result in improved health and happiness. I’ve mentioned before that my characterization of an activity as chronic cardio is more qualitative than quantitative. Rather than hewing to some objective standard, it often comes down to your subjective response. For me, running more than five miles or so becomes a race, even if I’m the only one around. I stop enjoying the run and start to focus on how fast I’m going, how far I’ve gone, and how much I can push it. I get sucked in to the competitive tunnel.
I’m not even against running the occasional marathon, if you truly enjoy it and it improves your quality of life. But training for marathons round the clock? Logging 15-20 miles a day? I can’t in good conscience recommend that people do that in the pursuit of good health. Do it to say you can. Do it because you love it. But don’t do it to live forever.
That I romanticize the hunter-gatherer existence.
I don’t romanticize anything (except, perhaps, grass-fed meat). I simply acknowledge the reality of our situation: humans, as a species, have evolved under various selective pressures and environments, and by studying those pressures and environments, we can learn about what lifestyle interventions might work for us, today, in the here and now. Moreover, we undoubtedly did not encounter 10-hour workdays consisting solely of sitting on our duffs, penned in by cubicle walls, isolated from our fellow humans (except by choice). We did not eat sugar, seed oil, and grain slurries out of colorful boxes and plastic packaging. It is a simple fact that some things about our modern existence are screwy and ridiculous, and when we spend our days sitting down, completely isolated from nature, from other humans (in the flesh), from edible plants and animals in their original packaging (absent some fur, perhaps), problems arise.
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors spent most of their lives outdoors. One wonders if perhaps spending time outdoors is therefore “normal” for our physiology and we should do it more often. Sure enough, recent scientific evidence shows that being outdoors confers numerous health benefits upon humans. Health benefits that we can verify with actual biomarkers.
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors got a decent amount of sunlight (being outdoors), depending on where in the world they lived. One wonders if perhaps sun exposure provides any benefit to modern humans. Sure enough, evidence suggests that vitamin D (which humans make from sun exposure) performs many physiological tasks, like immune modulation and bone calcium resorption, vital to our health. (Also, sunny days tend to make people happy, which counts for a lot.)
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors experienced high infant mortality. High infant mortality is not very good for human health.
Our hunter-gatherer ancestors did not have access to modern medical technology. Modern medical technology is good for human health.
Do I think we can gain valuable insight about what makes us tick and what works today by examining the ancestral environment? Yes, absolutely.
Am I happy to live in the 21st century where babies generally survive and people can hold all the world’s knowledge (and then some) in the palm of their hands and casually implore lightning to do their bidding with a flick of a switch? Heck yes.
To say that certain selective pressures helped determine the physiology of modern humans and that we can glean helpful and relevant lessons from studying (or even speculating about) said pressures is not to say that everything was perfect back then and we need to return to that perfect Edenic (that wasn’t) lifestyle. It’s just saying what it says. Nothing more.
What other misconceptions about me and my message have you seen out there? Lemme know in the comment section! Thanks for reading, folks.
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
Hi Mark,
just received your news today… and I have to say this: you were the first who introduced me to Primal lifestyle and “Paleo diet”, and that was almost 2 years ago. And I value that more than anything because it changed my life, and my health!
So now of course I’ve read so many other’s books and websites, but for me it is the mixing of all information that is valuable. So of course I keep reading your news and the other’s, and I don’t bother with critics.
As someone said higher in the comments, I think you shouldn’t have to bother with the critics of people who didn’t read your works! (but I understand also why you wanted to clear up things)
And I would like to thank you for all the work done!
My boyfriend is one of those that think that Mark glorifies the life of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. He is very into human history and while reading Primal Blueprint felt that Mark was not 100% accurate in his description of the life of Grok made it sound too idyllic…that was enough for him to discredit the entire book. Personally, I think he was just looking for any excuse to say that the whole Primal/Paleo way of life is full of crap.
The thing that gets me, is he’s seen how I’ve lost weight and he also sees how eating grains affects me – especially gluten (he has a whole other theory about gluten sensitivities). I put on 5 pounds (ugh!) in January because I ate more grains than I usually do – especially wheat. Our meals are all basically Primal at this point, but he still snacks on candy, bread, and other non-primal foods on a regular basis and wonders why he feels like crap all the time, can’t get out of bed in the morning to go to the gym, and isn’t loosing any weight. I don’t lecture him because I figure I’ll lead by example – he’s a very intelligent man and I’m sure at some point he’ll get it, but until then, it can be very frustrating sitting back watching him do this to himself.
Young women think “at some point he’ll get it” LOL. After a few years go by, it becomes clear that intellect and discipline are not at all correlated.
I get the same response ( or lack thereof ).
What I love though,
My daughter telling people that her mother lost 30 pounds following this lifestyle. She also tells them that I do not adhere 100%, and am not able ( yet )to do the really “heavy/hard” exercise as she does.
I have never had a problem understanding any of Marks writings. If it wasn’t for this site and Marks enormous gift of knowledge, I’d still be over 200 lbs and miserable as hell.
And I suspect I’d have irreversible compromised digestion by now, based on the way things were going for a couple years before I went primal. A life saved?
I admire and respect you Mark Sisson, I have read your blog and books for the last two years and I have learned to live and love quality life over quantity. I’m healthier than ever before, I have learned the real meaning of control and moderation in all areas in my life and still working on them. I live a happier life now! thank you for everything you have done and shared with us!
Hey Mark,
Awesome post…and I recognize how frustrating it must be to be constantly bombarded with people trying to cut you down or misquote you or tell you that you must be crazy because of your beliefs. Sometimes, no, often, , no, ALWAYS, it is hard to be ahead of the curve with new ideas. It’s hard to be different, it’s hard to go against “conventional wisdom” and things like the Food guide or pyramid an buck the trends. I know I struggle with it, as many people in my extended family and friends don’t agree with me trying to live the Primal lifestyle, and sometime I get tired of trying to defend myself. Sometimes I give up, but then I always come back, as I know it is so much better than the alternative. So, I tell my son, yeah, it’s hard to be ahead of the curve and you just have to be strong (when he still mocks me for following a primal lifestyle as he has been brainwashed by his step-mother who is on Weight Watchers), so I just realize that I have to rise above it all and my health and test results are the proof in the pudding, or, should I saw, in the grass-fed beef! Keep up the awesome work and I’ll always keep believing in you…
In my experience as soon as you are in the public eye there will always be those that are not plagued by thought that will put the boot in no matter what you say or do.
Some will go to extrodinary lengths to find fault and spend hours searching information to bring you down. Call it he tall poppy syndrome, you are successful and have helped countless people (myself included) to shake up their make up. Because I have a brain and like to engage it, I take out what I want to put in…I don’t care about exercising inside outside or upside down, I just do it…pfffft I know what works for my body…what about that poster saying its cold outside how can I exercise…FFS what a numpty!! Gee if its cold outside ummmm exercise inside????
Mark don’t ever feel you have to defend yourself, you will always have these galactically stupid muppets trolling blogs wanting attention and waiting for a reaction..ignore, ignore…
You along with other great people have helped me regain my health, all your suggestions have allowed me to use my brain and figure out for myself that I ate too much crap especially carbs, cut them down, get my butt moving, and viola a new body has emerged.
Go you…and to the haters…get a life!
Last night someone in the shelter I’ve been at lately actually got mad at me for eating salmon and a raw onion.
I had just cut the ends off the onion and he sidled up to me and pushed my arm and knocked the onion down. I stayed chill out of reason, just picked it up and washed it off. I had a sharp knife in the other hand. Carefully kept it where it was…
The guy said he’d stomp my teeth in if I went through with eating my meal instead of the junk being served for dinner. So, I took big bites of that raw onion with a smile. Didn’t need to hurt him. He just backed off.
Before it was a shelter it was a crackhouse; maybe that contributes to some of the bizarre behaviour.
And maybe all the “cleaning” chemicals contribute.
Let’s spray Lysol everywhere, multiple times a day, until we can taste it in the air of the house hours afterwards!
I find your perspective refreshing!
Have you seen this? Confirms what Mark is saying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6U728AZnV0
Very convincing.
Seen this and couldnt resist having my 2 cents
I think there are so many haters out, and also the corps are suffering. Across the board they are not making the same money – people are used to the hard sell the soft sell, there bs and mind control. People are waking up and becoming more savvy and no so much the mindless drones of the past. Beware the Agents that are sent into stir things up. Not a conspiracy, its a fact. They want your money and they want your minds. But people are wising up. Thats what i see as ive followed mark for best part of a year. Personally im also gonna say I dont like Gyms, I think mudering yourself in a Gym for 3 hours and paying someone for the privalege is a fools errand. The body, like a car engine has a shelf life, and if you put the pedal to the metal consistantly…well im just gonna say im not in it for the ego but the longevity and i think so are many others. Nothing wrong with working out, but i do 20-30 mins at home most nights and thats enough ontop of walking and “life” *My 2 Cents.
Mark, I think that much of the criticism directed in your direction is your carb paradigm (the pyramid). Many question its scientific validity, including the insulin hypothesis that I think you’ve since abandoned. I realize that it’s a way of naturally keeping calories down, which is helpful for the overweight. However, it may be harmful for the younger, leaner demographic trying to solve other health issues. A few years ago in college I started eating according to MDA, which was then even more carb-phobic (refeeds and potatoes are quite recent trend). I ran into some common symptoms of restrictive diets (low libido, cold hands, low energy, etc). It might have been from low-carb or low-calorie in general, I can’t say for sure. It might have been due to extremely low leptin levels from low body fat. Either way, I am still fighting some of those symptoms (like the guy from your last post). This is the demographic that eventually goes to Matt Stone of 180 Degrees, who goes to the opposite extreme (junk food!). So what does one do? I would suggest that calorie tracking for the extremely thin is actually a decent idea, along with higher carb intake and frequent carb refeeds (a la LeanGains). The stance you have on carbs now is much laxer than it used to be, but you have to admit that for many years you too were part of the fear mongering, which has led some down the wrong path.
Martin, i hope you are joking. Either that or you truly are a fool. Think about your ancestors. Do you think they would exercise on ice like they had immunity to slipping? If you choose to exercise outside during the short span of icy whether in the year, then use common sense. Stick to the grass or non-icy areas. Think before you post.
Name-calling? Oh, my!
Who’s Martin?
Ice can be a a great surface for exercise. We are all terrain animals.
Last winter I tobogganed by sprinting down a big icy hill and then continuing with the momentum to slide far distances on my feet, butt, and back, often alternating between them in one run, and spinning too. It was a thrill. Ice is useful for balance practice.
Great article. Thank you for writing it. I completely agree!
This was a good post because it served as a healthy recap of the PB. One problem though…I wholeheartedly resolve never to count calories or carbs. But Mark suggests we stay within the 100 gram thresh-hold if not training hard. How do I know if I’m there without counting?
I think the best way is to just listen to your body! If you feel great, keep doing whatever you’re doing. If you don’t feel great, experiment with increasing or decreasing carbs.
Oh no, you don’t fall in line with what’s all over the media, but wait, it makes sense and doesn’t involve spending a lot of money. That’s why people put it down.
May be a little off subject…When I was first diagnosed with Type II Diabetes I was required by my HMO to attend a meeting (presented by an insulate Manufacture) as to how to control my blood sugar by (1) diet and lifestyle changes and (2)How to self administer injections.
During the first half of the meeting, we were asked what we were doing at the time to control our condition, I mentioned that I had success by using a High-Protein Moderate-Fat Very-Low Carib Diet.
Upon hearing this a Nurse-Practitioner, employed by the HMO, exploded in anger, telling me (and all in the room) that ALL diabetics should only eat a High-Carib, Low-Protein, Zero-Fat Diet….All other diets were “Unhealthy” Why? Because THAT is what “she was told”…I explained to her “So basicly.You’re a PARROT! Never looked at any of the studies,and that before the advent of injection insulin, this was a method of treatment”
Let me give an aside here, My Professional “LOW Point” was that before my disability which caused my retirement,I was a Hospital Administrator, a Director of Radiology. I traded trying to save trauma victims in the ER, for trying to make “Bean Counters” who had NEVER had to empty a bed pan UNDERSTAND….. So, let me say that too many people in the medical profession just repeat what ever the official line is from the Drug Companies. (That,and 99.8% of ALL Nurse Practitioners are idiots…But they work Cheap.)
So when it came time for the 2nd half of the class (learning how to self-inject) I was the ONLY person in the room that didn’t have to stay….Which I just as loudly pointed out to Nurse Nasty.
So Mark, If you are “Caching Flack” it just means “Dude, You’re over the target”
Well, you had me until you called practically every nurse practitioner an idiot.
I agree with you that RNs can tend towards being “rule based”. My mother was one. She’s had a life with more downs then ups because she thought life was about memorizing a set of rules.
On the other hand, Doctors are not always the cream of the crop society likes to make them out to be. I’ve watched MDs struggle with basic math calculations (seriously). Most have never had courses on nutrition and struggle if you’re eating a “weird” diet. (Because the system wastes years training them to be surgeons, even if they never do anything more than a few stitches.) I’ve even had MDs give almost frantic advise based on what amounted to heresay. I had to go look up the numbers myself to make a rational decision on it.
The difference between those experiences is that a nurse practitioner will at least charge less for a cookie cutter medicine by rote experience then your average MD. And usually with less ego to boot.
Phew! Having said all that, I tend to think that almost any practitioner has their heart in the right place, regardless of credential. The system puts MDs on the top of the medical “smarts” pyramid, but I’ve found both intelligent and no so much providers are everywhere, also regardless of credential. We’re all flawed people, working in flawed systems, on a flawed planet. I get frustrated, too, but I try to give others some slack.
A RN is NOT a Nurse Practitioner (but all Nurse Practitioner were at one time RN’s)
The problems with NP’s Mis-Medicating are well known within the medical community, towards this end The current proposal is that all advanced practice registered nurse programs will require a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree by 2015, thus effectively eliminating the MN or the MSN as an entry to practice degree. However, all state Nursing Boards will be required to revise their current Practice Acts in order for this to become mandatory.
Please contact your state legislators to force change before you or someone DIES at the hands of people unqualified to provide care.
Mark,
One of the things I like most about your site is how moderate and anti-dogmatic your views are. You always consider the other side of the coin, even if it goes against your knee-jerk reaction (ex. “is this paleo?” posts allow for grey areas of quasi-paleo foods). I like that you give your perspective on an issue, but tend to ultimately say that if something ultimately makes one feel good, she should do it.
Keep up the good work! Yours is the only blog I keep up with consistently!
I definitely believe that Paleo/Primal is the most healthy way to go. Am still looking for balance within this lifestyle however as I have a goal to drop some body fat. I am a distance runner by choice because I love it but have noticed with a low carbohydrate high protein diet I definitely feel zapped in my long runs if I slip into ketosis. I am alos curious about caloric intake. On a primal diet I am not cosuming much more than 1000 calories per day on average with deficits of 500-1200 depending on activity but am having a hard time dropping body fat. I guess getting below 20% is just going to take time and I need to be more patient but I just want to make sure I am doing anything to sabotage my goals. Any suggestions would be AWESOME. Thanks
You may want to try increasing your calorie intake. 1000 seems too low.
Great article, but I must admit that I was hoping you’d finally address the testosterone and HGH allegations!
You have helped me achieve optimal health Mark!! I always try to absorb as much information as possible from your posts and your great books. They have helped me understand how our body was meant to fuel itself based on our ancestors diet. The Primal Blueprint has changed my life. Thank you. You have a great blog and its sad when people try to tarnish your name with false information.
I think at the end of the day we need to do what we know is best for ourselves.
Do I think I need to be outdoors more? Absolutely! But at the moment I live in New England and being outdoors really doesn’t work for me right now.
I never take any one thing as absolute. I don’t have to be PERFECT PRIMAL, or PERFECT PALEO, or PERFECT CLEAN – I just have to be Kyra.
But thank you for being an amazing guide in the right direction!
Amen sister……
I’m not surprised you’ve been misunderstood, Mark. It happens to the best of ‘em, even Led Zeppelin …
http://bit.ly/knaTGh
+1
RIGHT ON! Glen2gs,
I love the analogy of the parrot.
This probably true of most of the medical “establishment”.
Whenever my diet or lifestyle comes up or somebody asks something, these are bound to come up. It’s good to clarify!
Well said, Mark!
Hey Mark, what do you think about P90X and other programs like this? There sure is a lot of cardio, like 1h daily at high intensity, and it’s nothing compared with insanity. I am really curious what do you think. The food they are suggesting are really close to primal.
Mark designed the P90X diet.
Hello Mark,
I have taken alot of your advice and it has helped me. Now, I hope my advice can help you. Ignore the whiners who attempt to discredit your good work. For those of us that follow your site, buy your books, apply the Grok lifestyle…we know what works. I have seen some of these weak links on the web attempting to discredit you and they always come across as extemely jealous. Keep up the good work, stay positive and continue to leave the naysayers in your wake! This is the best way to “answer” the dream stealers.
Mark’s blog entry is more than just “setting the record straight” IMO, it is also a good reinforcement / learning experience taken from an interesting perspective.
Whoever has misinterpretations about Mark just doesn’t realize how amazing he is. He is an expert in nutrition and exercise. He’s changing lives to live healthier and feel their best. His knowledge he has is outstanding, he works hard to bring his knowledge to us here on MDA, he is out to help us. I’ve followed his advice for years and i feel better than i ever have!!! I’ve always believed in what Mark says and i always will because what he says and does WORKS!!!!!
I truly believe you should question everything (and then question it again), at least until you can make an educated decision based on the literature, materials, and experiences you’ve subjected yourself to. That said, I think some people (strictly for argument’s sake) tend to add a cynical or overtly negative connotation to their inquiries, twisting an idea so much that they lose sight of the basis of what they’re questioning in the first place. Inevitably, this leaves you having to defend the ideals you’ve already thoroughly explained, all because people are either ignorant in their arguments or just badly misinterpret any given point, or both. What’s worse is the latter typically spreads those misinterpretations like wild fire, hence the necessity for a post like this.
I get the glassy-eyed-horror-look when I say I cut out grains, eat very little fruit, and load on vegetables and high-quality protein. I happen to have congestive heart failure, BUT I have a cardiologist who fully supports my diet (I take my food journal to appointments). For right now, I’m grateful for medications that keep fluids from drowning me. At my last visit, I asked if I could get rid of any of the medication. She said when I turn into a lean, mean, fighting machine, we’ll talk. Notice she said WHEN! not IF! This just shows-to-go-you that some western trained docs really are ok.
On another note, a co-worker asked what I was doing and I told her the basics (as above) and suggested the best place to check is MDA. Well, now SHE is a shadow of her former self! That’s two of us; bit-by-bit, step-by-step.
One last thing. I found a good MDA companion book. Gedgaudas, Nora T., CNS, CNT. “Primal Body, Primal Mind.” ISBN978-159477413-3. A little more draconian than MDA, but excellent information. Gedgaudas advocates no dairy (what? no cream in my coffee), no coffee (WHAT????? she’s in Portland, OR and says no coffee? What’s that about???)…. But she also has an easily understandable chapter about leptin (no, not lectins, leptin). Check it out. And as usual, as Mark says, (sic) use what you can.