The Primal Prattle

Hi folks!

Ok, enough with the research (reading about the benefits of low-carb living over an almond latte and cinnamon roll)--it´s time for action. Going to go 100% primal for the next 21 days. That´s how long Mark says it takes to convert to fat burning mode in his recent interview with Dr. Mercola. A little bit about me. I´m 45, hypertensive (on two different medicines longterm that I´d really like not to need anymore), and about 211 pounds. Forty-five isn´t old, but it feels old. I notice myself feeling a little stiff when I sit down in the shower. Not good. No doubt it says something about my slothful ways that I can´t even motivate myself to stand up to bathe. Ahum. Never mind though, I´ll start in on some form of primal exercise later...just let me have a go at this 21 day dietary challenge first. Tomorrow is day one. I´ll let ya´all know how it goes...

I'm 46 and started a week ago, so I'm rooting for you!

Yeah! A reply...I love replies! Thanks for the rooting support RitaRose. I can certainly use all the rooting I can get especially from my natural cohorts--midforties primal newbie writer types who share my penchant for alliterative handles. It´s silly and it´s narcissistice but it´s true: now that I´ve started my career as an MDA journalist I like to imagine that I have a broad and international readership that takes an apt interest in what I´m making for breakfast. So if you´re teetering on the edge undecided whether or not to reply let me give you that little push. It´ll make my day.

For my first primal breakfast I´m fixing bacon (duh!). Also some nopales otherwise known as cactus, a pretty common staple here in Zacatecas, Mexico. Usualliy I buy them already cut into strips, but yesterday I scored some whole paddles at the farmers market. I´m cooking them whole for the rustic visual appeal. Nopales help control blood sugar and are thus good for diabetics, a disease I don´t presently suffer from though it´s high on my list of things to worry about. You can buy capsules of dried cactus here in health food stores. To round out the meal I´m going to fry me up an egg.

Welcome funny guy!

Mark says 80% of your changes will come from diet and 20% from exercise. Maybe to start with, your 20% can be standing up in the shower. ;)

Ah Belinda, you slave driver you! Stand up in the shower? I´m not sure if I´m ready for that yet. Thanks for the warm welcome though.

If my scale can be believed, I lost two pounds yesterday. This in spite of my midnight indulgence with my insomniac partner, yet another plate of bacon and eggs. Stayed up till three in the morning reading a thread on here about the "Perfect Health Diet," and how we really should be eating white rice and potatoes afterall. Oh, and those omega-3 fatty fish capsules you´ve been downing, not a good idea. Kind of frustrating. I get the idea that nobody really knows what the perfect diet is, or maybe there isn´t a one size fits all one anyway. Not being a biochemist I´m unlikely to figure it out myself. While there´s still some controversy about various starches at least the experts do seem to agree on somethings: snickers bars and dorritos are out. Bummer.

Other than the sugar content, maybe you could justify an almond Mounds bar ... dark chocolate, almonds, coconut... what's not to like :)

Nooooooo.... don't do it!

Oh! Years ago, my ex's dad was told to lower [I]his [/I]cholesterol by eating [I]foods [/I]lower in cholesterol. I had to show him how lame that was because, according to his rules, a 3 Musketeers candy bar was just fine. It said so right on the label!

So yes, you can justify a candy bar, if you think fat-free is the way to go. Scary.

Liminal, it sounds like you have a great attitude, and that's half the battle!

Keep it up!

And yes, you will eventually have to stand in the shower!

[I](way too many exclamation points - but I really mean it!)[/I]

RitaRose, RitaRose, RitaRose....of course you are right--more physical activity has just got to be part of my program, eventually. No more leaning against the kitchen cabinets when I do dishes so I don´t have to support my whole body weight. No more preferring to read at home rather than Starbucks (ewww, I know) so that I can lie down rather than sit. It´s not as if I´m really sick or anything. I could get out and move my body, I´d just rather not. As it happens, "eventually" is already on the calendar. As soon as I finish this initial 21 day dietary challenge I plan on adding in the exercise component: walking 10,000 steps a day with my pedometer, bodyweights exercises, even sprints--the works.

In the meantime I´m holding firm to my regimen. I joke but so far candy bars haven´t been much of a temptation although I did almost give in last night to a sweet tamale. My partner was waving it in front of my nose and making "emmm" noises. The dietary tweak I´m considering is cutting down on the protein a little. Liminal_luke can´t live on bacon and eggs alone, or can he? Opinions vary, but I´m thinking upping the veggies can´t hurt. Might even go out for sushi to finally answer the question, is rice a gateway drug?

Don't cave already!

Honestly, the cravings will disappear (or at least be beaten into submission), but not if you give a little here and a little there.

Stay strong and it will get easier! And your partner gets a finger wag for tempting you with something you shouldn't be having...