My Primal Challenge

I know the Primal Blueprint works. I've done it a couple times for a week or two and began to see results quickly both times. Problem was, I didn't have my family bought in and come mealtime sooner or later I'd eat what everyone else was having.

Now I've decided to do it different. I'm going to buy the food and cook. I will control all the meals and ensure it's good for you stuff.

OK, so I haven't cooked much before.

I figure it has the right ingredients, it has to be better than the Standard American Diet right?

I'll post and track my progress here for anyone and everyone to see (and hopefully help) how I'm doing. I'll put in exercise, meals and how I feel that day. Just like a blog.

Here's where I'm starting:

46 yr old male
5'4"
176 lbs
40" waist

Averaging over several websites, my bodyfat is about 30% :mad:

Those same websites say 15% is healthy.... I figure 10% is a better target. I know, there are a lot of people around this website much better than that, but I'll just go for 10%

Doing the math, (20% of 176) I have to lose 35lbs of fat :confused: I really didn't think I was that far gone...

My eating yesterday, I did no exercise:

B - 3 egg (free range omega 3) omlett with red,orange, yellow bell peppers and some tomato

L - big ass salad with grilled chicken

S - macadamia nuts

D - Nitrate free spicy italian sausage with some grilled onions and colored bell peppers (my wife cooked this)

Welcome! Day one looks great - just make sure you're eating enough and getting enough fat :)

what kind of dressing do you use on your salads? commercially prepared dressings have PUFA oil of death in them ... I make mine from the seven seasons italian dressing mix and make it with cider vinegar, half almond oil and half olive oil and it's delicious and much more primal :)

Congrats on making a commitment - love the breakfast omlette, simple but tasty! :)

Thanks Buzz and Mikki!

I used a cajun rub on the chicken and then vinaigrette and olive oil as dressing. Yours sounds delicious. What's PUFA?

This is great, I don't think I've ever had anyone tell me to eat more fat :)

Funny side note. I googled vinaigrette to check spelling and McDonalds was the first sponsored listing!

Hi! I'm new and just started a journal today too. Best of luck to you. I think you are wise to start buying and prepping your own food. It is amazing how quickly cooking can be picked up... and it really is a pleasure. Warm regards, L

Here's my eating for today:

B - 3 egg swiss chard omlette.
I was told chard would reduce like spinach, but when I put it in a pan with olive oil, it turned crispy like a chip. My wife suggested I turn the heat down and cover it. That did the trick!

L - 1/2 a spaghetti squash (10min in pressure cooker) and hamburger/tomato sauce topping.

S - handful of nuts

D - Wife made porkchops with chipotle and roasted red pepper sauce with steamed cauliflower and broccoli on the side. Delicious!

Thinking about a glass of merlot now...

It's winter in Chicago and I don't like the cold so I'm doing P90X2. I preordered it in September and it arrived just in time for the holidays! This will get me through to spring.

I did the original P90X a couple years ago and didn't follow the diet plan. I became pretty fit, but didn't lose any fat. I've learned on this site that diet is 80% of the equation and I believe it.

Now I've gone Primal and will do P90X2. We'll see what the results that gets me.

I've done 3 workouts so far and will do yoga today. (I know Grok didn't have a yoga mat, but I don't think I'm as limber as he was!)

Some of the veteran P90Xers are complaining they don't get the "same pump," and are going to the gym to lift weights so they don't lose anything...

I kinda like the first phase of X2. They say it's establishing a foundation (I'm sure the pump will come later). The moves are based more on instability and balance. It's hard to pump big heavy reps when you're bent over standing on one leg or balanced on a stability ball! I like the way it forces me to use a lot of my body at once instead of just focusing on biceps for instance. Seems more natural and athletic to me.

And I'm not as sore as I was last time. After the first workout a couple years ago I was nauseaus. It reminded me of the first wek of football practice when I was a kid when everyone was hot and dehydrated.

My diet has been perfect since Sunday (New Year's Day). No sugar, grain of any kind or fruit. We'll see if I have to begin eating carbs to support the workouts as I go. I know I have plenty of stored energy waiting to be used first ;)

[url=http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-overall-diets?page=1]Top-Rated Diets Overall | US News Best Diets[/url]

At least it made the list.

All I can say to their evaluation is if my health isn't worth my time, what is? :mad:

Here's what they said:



#24


Paleo Diet

(2.0 out of 5.0)

Experts took issue with the diet on every measure. Regardless of the goal—weight loss, heart health, or finding a diet that’s easy to follow—most experts concluded that it would be better for dieters to look elsewhere. “A true Paleo diet might be a great option: very lean, pure meats, lots of wild plants,” said one expert—quickly adding, however, that duplicating such a regimen in modern times would be difficult.

They didn't like Paleo, that's for sure. Seems convenience is a high priority for them :mad:

I won't speak for anyone else, but if I can't make time for my health, I'm tossing the dice...

[url=http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/best-overall-diets?page=1]Top-Rated Diets Overall | US News Best Diets[/url]

Here's what they said:



#24


Paleo Diet

(2.0 out of 5.0)

Experts took issue with the diet on every measure. Regardless of the goal—weight loss, heart health, or finding a diet that’s easy to follow—most experts concluded that it would be better for dieters to look elsewhere. “A true Paleo diet might be a great option: very lean, pure meats, lots of wild plants,” said one expert—quickly adding, however, that duplicating such a regimen in modern times would be difficult.