Primalita page

[alejan]

So, I am a newbie primal. My boyfriend had Mark's book and got the ideas running through my head (I was particularly compelled by Mark's citation of Professor Jared Diamond of UCLA). Now I am on to the tough part: acting on the idea.


First off, I should say that I am a young professional (just out of college), so I definitely have a budget and a tight schedule. What are the key foods I should try to focus on? What are the go-to primal foods that are easy to make?


Also, I am an ex-distance runner, so I am not very familiar with what bodes with primal activity. Thus, any advice on that subject would be helpful. Does yoga fit in a primal life? What does Mark say about flexibility in general?


Lastly, I'd love any support of words of encouragement. I am a picky meat-eater (ex-veggie), love sweets, and am having a hard time with cravings thus far. I think most of all I miss having the crunchy saltiness of chips!


Thanks everyone! Looking forward to being apart of the community!


-Alexandria

[Mark Sisson]

Welcome, alejan.


I published this page just for newbies like yourself:


http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/


Take a look, read the book and come back often. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are glad to have another forum member on board.


Grok on!

[Diana Renata]

Welcome to the Primal way of life.


I know what you mean about a small budget. I currently live (and live well) on less than $18,000 a year- which means some creative budgeting.


If you like eggs, you're in luck. They're super cheap and full of great fat and protein. Boil some up and you have a portable, filling snack. Plus they cook up really fast and you can do a million things with them.


Let the crockpot be your friend. It's a real lifesaver when you have zero time to do any "real" cooking. Throw in some meat, some veggies, and some seasoning and you have a meal. It's just that easy.

[alejan]

Thanks!! I made some hard-boiled eggs this morning!

[Diana Renata]

Ohh, and if you want to dress up your egg salad, add some vinegar, or some cajun spices, curry, raisins, sunflower seeds, or anything else your imagination can come up with.

[SassaFrass88]

Alejan,


One thing to remember, is, if you continue to have cravings for sweets, one thing that really helps me is to up the good fats.


If I had a binge day (ahem hello 4th of July!!! Ack!), the next day, I will eat really low carb, with lots of protein & veggies, but MOSTLY fat. Then, the next day, I will throw in some intermittent fasting (like try to skip a meal or two). I find, that if I am eating 'Primally' correctly, then skipping a meal is easy to do since your hunger and cravings are gone.


Just a suggestion, since I am also a huge 'sweets junkie' and have had success with the above regimen since going Primal nearly a month ago.

[pk]

Hey Alejan... like you, I eat primal and am on a budget... I like buying sirloin (inexpensive cut of meat, and lean...not that fat is bad!). If you prep it right, it can be quite tender, and very tasty!


I like to massage the meat with some seasalt, black pepper, and a bit of olive oil... let it sit for a few hours, then grill it up, or even cook it in a pan with some freshly sliced garlic.


A pound of organic sirloin should cost you about 5-7 dollars a pound.


enjoy


-pk


ps - your bf is lucky! a primal gf...

[pk]

Also Mark,


Thanks for compiling all that info in the newbie post... Such an amazing resource.


best,


-pk

[hannahc]

Harb boiled eggs are one of my favorite foods! Get the best eggs you can afford though, it really does make a difference. My husband is a graduate student and I work full time, so I know about the budget constraints too, but we have learned to cut back on a lot of extra things to afford high quality food. It definitely took a while to adjust to, but I just don't buy many shoes or clothes anymore until I need them (and learning NEED was a big one!).


I was almost into the vegetarian camp before we switched to primal, I could go days without eating meat without missing it at all. Once we started adding it to most meals though, and once I rediscovered my love for bacon, the fats in the meat became the most delicious taste I can get. And I agree with SassaFrass that when you up the fat and have a few really low carb days (like under 50), your cravings for sweets almost disappear entirely. Another staple for me are still nuts and seeds right now, walnuts/pecans/almonds, and almond butter (which I like to eat with a spoon when I'm still hungry after a meal). I keep frozen berries in the freezer, they are wonderful as a sweet snack!, and lots of lettuce and veggies in the fridge for salads.


And until recently I was absolutely in the chronic cardio/bordering on extreme exercise camp, and once I switched to more walking (longer, easier long workouts) and a few times a week of sprinting or intense circuit training (shorter, harder short workouts) I feel so much more balanced! I don't feel bad just doing 45-50 minutes of pilates or yoga on my easy days, and only 20-30 minutes of sprints and body weight exercises or circuit training on my hard days. I haven't had any grains in over a month now, and only one cheat day with a scoop of ice cream from our local parlor, and already I feel so much better I wouldn't go back to my old "healthy" diet and exercise regimen. Good luck with your switch!

[alejan]

Since my posting, I have found seeds as a great snack for replacing chips, which has helped me through some cravings. I also have found that once I got going on PB, I have felt less carb cravings. I am eating more protein (turkey bacon and eggs every morning), and feel less hungry. So, I am well on my way.


Thanks, everyone!


pk- yes, my boyfriend is so lucky to have a primal girlfriend! I hope he knows that!!