Alex's Primal 12 Week Challenge page

[aw269]

Okay, I've been dallying with the PBD for the better part of 9 months and while I've lost some weight I've always stalled and found my way back onto the carb-wagon. Maybe it's because I'm a final year law student and I spend my time shuttling between bars on campus with friends, desperate attempts to cook between study sessions and going home to a decidedly unprimal family.

So now that I've graduated (hurrah!) I'm going to do a 12 week challenge learning from some of the mistakes I made when attempting the PBD before.

Premise:
begin a 12 week PB challenge which begins with a 30 day period with a reward for completion and then moves to a full 12 week challenge post reward.

Goal:
I am roughly 196lbs/14st but quite well built. From my research I want to get down to 10% body fat which should equate to close to 168lbs or 12st. I know that weight is a deceptive measurement but for the beginning I need a reliably easy way to gauge and record my progress.

I assumed at roughly 2lbs a week, I could get to my ideal body fat in close to 12 weeks.

Extra Guidelines:
Having dabbled in the PBD before I've found that real weightloss was hampered by the following:

1. excess alcohol - contributes to a lot of calorie consumption, as it is exceedingly easy to abuse the 'one glass of red wine' guideline, when socialising.

2. portion size - I think Mark has mentioned on MDA that even when carb-free huge portions don't help when looking to drop weight and I've definitely found this.

3. absence of intermittent fasting - something I've never tried before but am looking forward to giving a go.

4. not using a food diary which means it's easier and less accountable to slip up.

Therefore, in light of the last point especially, I'm writing this journal on MDA Forum in order to be more accountable and to be part of a community all trying to do the same thing.

Period:

30 days: 22nd September - 14th October 2011

12 Weeks: 22 September - let's say Christmas 2011

So, that's all for today's journal set-up. I'll check back later for a food diary/exercise update.

[Hedonist]

Welcome and congratulations on your graduation!

2. portion size - I think Mark has mentioned on MDA that even when carb-free huge portions don't help when looking to drop weight and I've definitely found this.

I don't remember him saying this. As long as you are avoiding sugar and dense carbs, this shouldn't be a worry. Eat as much meat, salad and lowish carb veg as you want.

[aw269]

Exercise:
Walking around London for an unspecified amount of time. 1.5 hours of walking the country lanes around West Sussex.

Food Diary:
Bacon and scrambled eggs for brunch.
Chili con carne for dinner (included kidney beans)
Salami as a small snack.

[aw269]

Exercise:
1.5 hour of brisk walking around the country lanes again.

Food Diary:
Bacon and eggs for breakfast,
Ham for lunch,
A bit of salami as a snack,

Kungpo Chicken and beat sprouts for dinner.

MDA community - Question: the sauce used to make the Kungpo chicken had a bit of sugar in it - is that going to screw up/set back the adjustment to burning fat not glycogen or is it negligable?

Thanks for any advice!

[aw269]

Exercise:
1 hour of brisk walking in the park.

Food Diary:
Bacon and eggs for breakfast,
a bit of ham for lunch,
salami and olives as nibbles, pre dinner.
BBQ steak, home made ratatouille, and corn on the cob,

MDA community - after searching the MDA archives I stumbled across articles on how corn is a grain and am now promptly devastated!

Question:
Has eating a large corn on the cob ruined my current transition to burning fat instead of glycogen, aka, will my body be starting back on day 1 again?

Corn Nightmare!!!

[aw269]

Exercise: 2 hours walking.

Food Diary:

Scrambled eggs for Breakfast,
2 sausages for lunch,
Primal pulled pork and broccoli for dinner.

Feeling a bit down - assuming it's the low carb flu setting in.

[aw269]

Day 5

Exercise: 2 hours walking.

Food Diary

Micro-fast until lunch.
Bacon and eggs for lunch.
Hungarian Goulash and vegetables for dinner.

[aw269]

Day 6

Exercise - not a lot, very busy day.

Food Diary:

IF til lunch.
Lunch - Sausages and scrambled eggs.
Dinner - meatballs.

[aw269]

Day 7

Exercise: walking around London, maybe an hour-ish.

Food Diary:
Bacon and tomatoes for breakfast,
Two sausages for lunch,
Roast Chicken and vegetables for dinner.

One week down - 2 to go before my body has fully adapted!

[aw269]

Day 10

Missed a few entires on the journal, but ate primally and did a bit of exercise so nothing too much to worry about.

Exercise
A good hour and a half of walking, maybe more.

Food Diary
IF for breakfast,
Sausages and scrambled eggs for lunch,
Beef stifado with broccoli for dinner, no alcohol.

10 days without alcohol, carbs, or sugary products! Huzzah!