The Primal Blueprint Health Challenge: Progress Report
The Prize:
The winner of today’s Primal Blueprint Health Challenge Progress Report Contest will receive their choice of any of Vibram’s four designs of Fivefingers.
The Contest:
Today’s contest is a piece of cake. Simply leave a comment in this blog post describing your experience on the Primal challenge thus far, and do it in 3 sentences or less.
How does the reality of achieving your challenge goals compare to how you thought it would be when you began the challenge? Has it been easier? More difficult? Are you happy with your early challenge results? What does Primal living mean to you?
Contest Deadline:
Midnight tonight, August 17th.
Choosing a Winner:
One comment, and thus one winner, will be chosen at random.
Eligibility:
From the United States to the United Kingdom and from New Zealand to New Delhi everyone is eligible. No restrictions.
Other Important Info:
- Remember to use your real email address in the comment board. If you don’t we won’t have a way to contact you.
- Multiple comments won’t get you multiple entries. One comment is enough.
To track all the contests visit The Primal Blueprint Health Challenge Contest Page for daily updates.
Visit The Primal Blueprint Health Challenge for challenge details.
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
Since going Primal I have more energy.I sleep better and look sh*& hot naked!
Going primal is a work in progress. Every day, every week I make adjustments. I’m finding the balance.
The Primal Challenge has gotten me off the roller coaster of carb/salt/sugar cravings! I wanted this lifestyle change to be easy (not an endless struggle) and so far it really has. Whatever the speed of my weight loss is over the long term, I now have confidence that I’m doing the right thing for my body and myself.
my goal of adding lean mass has been a tough one! I eat well all week long and regularly, but on the weekends when I am home with my wife (who is also living the Primal Lifestyle), I don’t eat anything bad, just not enough for my goals. So we sat down yesterday to evaluate what I need to do to make sure I am getting what I need so I can say I achieved my goal!
I’ve been eating the primal way for a couple of months now and feeling great… lost bf% w/o losing strength or muscle mass. I don’t think the challenge really made that much of a difference since I was already committed
I have had great success having a reason to stay focused. I’ve stopped letting my diet go way off as I have promised myself I would be careful. On the weekends, I struggle as my life isn’t so organized, but even a bad day on the weekend is better than a good day used to be.
Lose 8 lbs. – started at 148, now 146.7.
NEAN(Not Even A Nibble) on sugar, starch, & grains – doing great,w/1 24-hr ‘fail’.
Exercise 5x week – No, maybe 2-4.
Limiting coffee (with half-n-half) to 2 cups per day – yes, almost daily.
Journaling daily – Yes.
Overall – not stellar but doing pretty well. Easier than expected. Losing less weight than expected.
My biggest challenge has been giving up my coffee with double sugar! Coffee with no sugar sucks! Love the energy that eating this way and working out has given me…
I’m more than meeting my goals. No grains or legumes at all. Very close to 100% primal. Looking awesome and feeling great in the digestive sense, though cutting carbs from 200g daily to 150g has slammed my energy supply. Surely hope that switch flips soon!!!
Mark, your Primal Challenge has been a great focus for my own nutrition and a wonderful tool for introducing new trainees to paleo eating and the ‘Primal’ lifestyle. I was feeling very Grok-ish yesterday post-workout as I ate wild blackberries growing behind the gym. Progress on holding a back lever on the rings is moving along, hit a new personnel record for dips, and the ol’ abs are popping out like crazy. 42 yrs. old(young) doesn’t look like I always thought it would. Thanks again for the info and inspiration.
I’ve been primal since April and have not lost any fat yet (but was recently diagnosed as hypothyroid)so that’s part of my problem. However, I have gained 2 lbs of muscle recently so that makes me a very happy Grokette! Off to the gym now so I can get better at playing frisbee this weekend
I was thinking that it would be VERY HARD but I’m really enjoying it so far! Primal eating really means freedome from dieting for me, if I want some bacon, I’m going to eat it and not worry about calories or fat content!!
Going primal has stabalized my energy levels (more vitamins, less insulin spiking). I have lost weight and leaned out!
It has been easier than I thought. I now have an Spanish blog where I try to explain in simple words how low carb living can help you in many ways, it is not only about losing weight, it is about felling good, and being healthier.
Low carb culture in Spain and Latin countries is not easy to understand
Its only been four days since ive started this and i still am feeling well. I’ve had to go out to eat several times, but ive had no problem finding the proteins! Just gotta work on getting my colorful green consumption way up!
I’ve tackled the toughest part, avoiding the grains in my diet, and have been primal 80% of the first two weeks. Now, on to the finer points, and 100% primal.
A dozen eggs a day, a bread strike, and HIT workouts is making me lose fat and gain muscle. primal works, im sold.
I’ve done 3 fasts of 24 hours or longer. It hasn’t been easy. Not physically difficult, but mentally. I have also had difficulties seperating myself from the media. It is all around us and it seems like if one is not consciously avoiding it it is structured to remain constant in life. This is scary for me because I am a communications major who has taken a class called “media addiction”. I am aware of the addictive qualities and the associative problems correlated with compulsive media use. Life should not be about sitting in front of a screen but so much of my life is. Case in point right now. At least I am more or conscious of my use, but now I have to implement change.
I’ve first went Primal 2 weeks before the challenge began, but to sum up my experience so far:
It has dawned on me that this isn’t a temporary diet, or a quick fix, but a way to live a better and healthier life – this is a permanent change.
My diet and eating has found a happy rhythm and now I really want to focus more on my fitness.
The most important part for me has been understanding the biology, chemistry and reasoning behind my old flawed diet – this means that being satisfied in my weight/fitness won’t let me fall off the blueprint.
I feel better…but not much weight loss. I’ve cut grains out completely and “most” dairy (I still have yogurt once in a while).
I bought a pair of the Vibram shoes…oh. my. goodness.
There’s a learning curve for getting them on, but they are so comfortable.
I still struggle with carb cravings sometimes but so far it’s been great. I’ve lost about 15 pounds of fat (another 15 still to go) I’m up to 17 pullups and I’m looking forward to seeing my abs again. It’s been a good decade and I’ve missed them.
It’s amazing how much better I feel when I follow the Primal Blueprint. My energy levels are more even, as are my moods, and I feel more energetic. However, ice cream is my kryptonite, but the effects are proving less and less worth the temporary pleasure.
Despite my lifechanging move back to Austria, no job and being on a very limited budget I have incorporated the Primal ideas into my life and am happy about the 80/20 rule…it has been my lifesaver!
Marianne x
I wrote a haiku:
Day job at a desk
Aerobics teacher by nite
No longer drag ass
I just started a survival week in the hopes that is will jumpstart was has been a dismally poor primal challenge for me.
I had all of the best intentions, and the challenge started out amazingly well, but I found my old habits (binge eating and overeating) remained, albeit with healthier foods.
I think as far as progress goes, my lack of comes down to one simple thing: I didn’t set specific goals.
Knowing this I can move forward and tackle survivor week and begin anew on the 30 day challenge. I suppose progress comes in many forms…
I have constant energy levels, no longer do I feel tired after meals, because my insulin levels are in check. I am also getting leaner, and consequently my relative strength is getting greater! All good stuff!
It is easier than I thought to be primal. This new approach to eating has me feeling better and about 2 pounds leaner. You just need to shift your thought processes and challenge conventional wisdom.
All was going great untill i forgot about the “avoid trama” part, slipped on the wet grass at my friends bithday hot tub party and tore up the muscles, tendoins or ligaments in my leg,but still looking cool with my VFF’s and my cane. I hope to be wearing a new pair once i’m recoverd.
GROK ON
Feeling more in control! No grains (save for a light dusting of flour on a couple of meals) and only had alcohol twice (within predetermined limits).
I was fairly primal to begin with, since I avoid grains, fructose and vegetable oils, walk most days a week and shift large weights around. However, being in a desk job, and liking ice cream, chocolate and nuts a little bit too much, has left me with a suboptimal physique. I’m pleased to report that, by being stricter, I’ve dropped 1.5 inches from my waist since the challenge started, and 3lbs in the last week – oh and my butt no longer fails the pencil test (yay for kettlebells!)
The eating has been difficult. Barefoot running feels great. Go primal!