Primal Journal (PBNewby) page 5

[Primal Primate]

Hey PBNewby,

Our winters up here seem to be getting drier and drier and cold. I remember when I was a kid there being tons of snow around but in the city there seems to be short stints with lots of snow and then warm snaps that melt it. Our mountains (only 45 minutes west) have tons of snow in them though. I don't ski but have been toying with the idea of trying to snowboard one of these days. I also am hoping to get out and try snow showing this winter. I hope you are able to get some skiing in before the weather turns warm!
Cheers!

[PBNewby]

I think snowboarding is a good path. It might take a bit longer to get going, but the advantage is that you only have to learn one method. With skiing, you learn to snowplow, then you have to learn to ski parallel. With snowboarding, all the techniques you learn on your first day remain relevant even when you get to be more proficient. Not true with skiing, you kind of have to learn to ski twice.

[PBNewby]

Yesterday, I went to bed around 10p. Woke up this morning and didn't eat breakfast. Had two or three dates for lunch, and a mug of tea in the afternoon. It wasn't until 5:30p that I had a real meal. Spent the day on the computer, and didn't feel hungry until around 4p when I left the computer and started thinking about having a meal.

That's kind of the thing about this primal diet, I notice that I am not hungry when I am engrossed in a task or project. It is not until I set things down that I realize I haven't eaten, and a meal would be good.

Hopefully, I am also losing some weight. Althought I haven't exercised much in the past two days. We shall see.

[PBNewby]

Out for dinner last evening, I had sausages and french fries. Ate all the fries, mostly because I was hungry, and partly because I was celebrating. They seemed to be wholesome homemade fries, and after all, they were the first potatoes I had eaten in four months (other than yams at thanksgiving). The sausages were awesome!

[PBNewby]

Today, February 3rd, is measurement day!

Measurements on Oct 3:
weight: 80.9kg (178)
belly: 40"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Nov 3:
weight: 77.8kg (171)
belly: 38"
biceps 13"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Dec 3:
weight: 74.4kg (164)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Jan 3:
weight: 74.9kg (165)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Feb 3:
weight: 73.0kg (161)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Total lost in 16 weeks: 17 lbs. (-4 lbs over the past month)

Here is a chart of my weight since the first of the year (leaving out that horrendous blip of a line over the xmas break!):



No change in my measurements, but I lost 4 pounds in a month. Averaging a pound a week is about half the weight loss I experienced in the first eight weeks of being Primal. I've kept up some level of exercise this month, sticking mainly to push-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, sometimes curls, and a very small amount of walking. Went skiing for the first time this season, last Friday. Plan to ski at least 4 more times this month, perhaps more if the snow is good.

Glad to say I am up to 10 chin-ups at once, and even made it to 12 one day in January. Some days I do them in two sets, usually separated by a couple hours. So, maybe 10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon.

Ate lunch yesterday at 1p. I was stuffed! After that, I ate 3oz cheese, about 1oz almonds, 1 oz chocolate, one date, and maybe 6oz red wine. This was all later in the evening, and I didn't eat again until breakfast this morning, around 9:30a or 10a. I wonder if that is considered an IF...? probably not.

Turned 49 last month, that was a biggie for me, although I expect that 50 will be a much bigger deal.

Just some random thoughts, since I don't get to post very often these days.

[PBNewby]

Been thinking about the FOUR foods I won't eat... I feel this list is much shorter than 'what I will eat' and consequently, easier to keep track of.

grains (wheat, rice, corn, quinoa, i.e. pasta, bread, crackers, cake, cookies, tarts, chips, donuts, toast, bagels, etc.)
sugars (candy, ice cream, syrup, honey, icing, kool-aid, etc.)
tubers (potatoes, although I do eat Yams on occasion.)
legumes (beans, peas, soy, peanuts, etc.)

I practice the SeeFood diet. At the grocery store: if I cannot see the food, I do not buy it. For example, a box of pasta, or cereal, or a health "nutrition" bar. Those are packaged so that the actual food is not visible. Meat, cheese, apples, even bacon are all packaged so the food can be seen. I buy them. Fresh fruits and vegetable are all visible, you can hold them in your hand and sniff them for freshness!

There are a few exceptions on both sides, however.

Bread can usually be seen through its packaging. oops!
Pasta can sometimes be seen through the bag or box. oops!
Eggs can be seen, but you must open the lid. yay!
Milk or Orange Juice in plastic jugs and glass bottles can be seen. yay!
Cheese is sometimes in opaque packages but rarely. yay!
Frozen berries and frozen seafood is usually in opaque bags. yay!
Butter usually cannot be seen. yay!
Yogurt usually cannot be seen. yay!

And my wife repeats the adage:
"stay out of the middle of the grocery store."
Which is true. In our local Safeway, we walk the perimeter of the store, venturing one aisle in to pick up frozen veges and fruits.

[PBNewby]

Skiing yesterday! Yes. it was a great day, sun in the early early morning and a snow-storm rolled in about 11a. Skied about 3-4 hours total. Not as sore as the first time (Feb 1st), so it appears that things are looking up for a decent season exercise-wise. Looking forward to the next storm...

[PBNewby]

Skiing today. Big snow storm and lots of fresh snow happening now!

[PBNewby]

Today, March 3rd, is measurement day!

Measurements on Oct 3:
weight: 80.9kg (178)
belly: 40"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Nov 3:
weight: 77.8kg (171)
belly: 38"
biceps 13"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Dec 3:
weight: 74.4kg (164)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Jan 3:
weight: 74.9kg (165)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Feb 3:
weight: 73.0kg (161)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Mar 3:
weight: 74.1kg (163)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Total lost in 20 weeks: 15 lbs. (+2 lbs over the past month, most of it in the past weekend due to improper eating)

[PBNewby]

Measurements on Oct 3:
weight: 80.9kg (178)
belly: 40"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Nov 3:
weight: 77.8kg (171)
belly: 38"
biceps 13"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Dec 3:
weight: 74.4kg (164)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12"
chest: 43"

Measurements on Jan 3:
weight: 74.9kg (165)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Feb 3:
weight: 73.0kg (161)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on Mar 3:
weight: 74.1kg (163)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Measurements on April 3:
weight: 73.5kg (162)
belly: 36.5"
biceps 12.5"
chest: 42"

Not much different in the way of Primal this month. Took a vacation, and recovered nicely (although I hadn't really strayed in my eating habits).

Here is the 6-month chart of my weight since beginning this fine journey: