My dream of becoming your Primal Expert

As you know over the past six months I have become a real primal nerd. I am listening to podcasts about triglycerides and cholesterol in the car instead of listening to music, bike riding with podcasts such as The Primal Shift, The Livin' La Vida Low- Carb Show, Primal Blueprint, Able James Fat Burning Man, That Paleo Show and Nora Gedgaudas to name but a few. I must have racked up hours, and days and whole weeks listening whilst cleaning the house or driving to town. I go to bed early to read more fascinating research on the subject and found books such as Primal Body Primal Mind, Wheat Belly, It all Starts with Food, Grain Brain, Big Fat Lies, The Primal Blueprint and Sweet Poison absolutely gobsmackingly life changing!

I've stopped my four to five times a week gym going and I'm walking on the beach in the beautiful blue space near our house and bike riding in the stunning green space near the inlet where the wildlife changes on every trip.  I am doing yoga most days on the lawn in my bra and knickers (I'll explain one day) and I'm meditating more and walking around with no shoes on.  I'm eating, sleeping, living and breathing a primal lifestyle, and if you stop to ask me about it, be prepared to have your ear chewed off!

I've started a facebook page posting pictures of what I eat in the hope that I can give ideas to other people about what primal eating looks like and that it's easy to do.  I copy links to interesting articles that explain why the Standard Australian Diet isn't working so that other people can have their eyes opened too. I've shared family friendly recipes that have worked on my kids and hopefully on yours too.  I've started this blog for a more in-depth and personal feel about my journey and the things I want to share with you.  I've been offering free 'primal chats' to friends of mine who are hungry for the truth, thanks to you guys (R, J, K, H, N, C, C) for disclosing your personal information and trusting me enough to listen to my advice. It's been very encouraging to see that, even from a few small changes that big results have ensued.  Most of all it's been great to see that 'spark' back. Some of the information I have shared with friends or on Facebook has been shared with their friends, family and Facebook and that in itself is awesome too.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW THIS.

I can't believe that up until six months ago, I hadn't even HEARD of primal or paleo.  I feel that this information is kept from us, like some sort of conspiracy.  There are papers upon papers of evidence to back it up yet the government tells us to eat a high carbohydrate based diet that is low in fat and even advising our diabetic friends to eat carbohydrates with every meal, even though diabetic person's pancreas is broken and they can't produce insulin to digest the carbs (sugar). When someone is diagnoses as lactose intolerant they aren't advised to continue drinking milk but given some lactose digesting enzyme to inject are they?  No, they are advised to stop consuming lactose.  So why are diabetics, who can't digest sugar being advised to eat lots of it?  On a recent visit to my rather brilliant Doctor, I told her about my health transformation and I was surprised that she didn't object to it or call me 'dangerous' but she nodded and agreed, it's like her hands were tied as to what advice she could really be giving out. Why?

I've never been one to get fired up about political 'stuff' at all but the inaccurate dietary advice that is dispensed MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!  It makes my hands shake and I feel a deep need and urgency to GET THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD OUT THERE.  I'm no Naturopath, I'm no Doctor or Nutritionist who has spent years at University to gain credible qualifications that's for sure.  I am however living proof that following 'Conventional Wisdom" on diet and exercise (low fat, high carb, eat less, move more lazy greedy ass) DOES NOT WORK.  I sincerely gave it my all for 25 years, as a devoted gym goer, Fitness Instructor, Gym Instructor, Personal Trainer doling out the advice to exercise more and eat less, the results elsewhere were not that impressive either. I followed the government dietary guidelines on what to eat and at times I was doing ten exercise classes a week and I was always somewhat over weight, and it was a bloody struggle!  For the two years prior to going primal, I followed the CSIRO diet which is different than normal as it is quite low carb by Standard Australian Diet standards.  The missing component of the CSIRO diet though was FAT and it was also a high sugar diet (a bowl of low fat ice cream was legit every night, first ingredient: liquid sugar). Argh.  After two years I became seriously ill and wanted to die.

We have a massive influence on how our food effects out overall health just by choosing what we put in our mouth.  But I find people are confused as to what is good and what is bad and overwhelmed with what to choose for the best for themselves and their families. 

That is why I have decided to become a Primal Expert!  I think I am already there to a point in terms of what I have learned these past six months and that I am living proof of how you can turn your health around.  But to add more knowledge and credibility I have decided to study the Mark Sisson Primal Blueprint Expert Certification Course.  The course will strengthen my knowledge and give me some ideas on practical application.  I am following my bliss and I am empowering others with the knowledge they need for their own unique body, of which they are the experts of.

So it may be quiet over here on the Primal Soapbox whilst I study over the summer but I hope to be back bigger and better in the New Year!  Then I will be a fully fledged Primal Expert able to help you reclaim your health and feel better than you ever knew possible.  If you don't know what to eat I will menu plan with you.  If you don't know how to cook, I will cook with you.  If you can't be bothered to cook, I'll cook for you!  If you need some guidance on how to move your body, I'll walk, yoga, lift heavy things and sprint once in a while with you. If you need some stress balance I'll show you how to meditate, if you hate meditating, I'll massage you.  If you can't sleep, I'll show you how to optimise your sleeping just by changing a few things in your bedroom and getting outside in the morning.  If you can't get outside enough we will have a walk and talk consult on the beach. If your life has become all work and no play, I'll show you how to introduce play again. If you live on the other side of the world, I'll Skype with you.

I have to say, I am so excited.  It is like all the previous jobs of 'Helen of the past' can benefit my new chosen path.  Besides, it means I get to blabber on about my favourite topic lots more, hoorah to that.

Have you made the primal change? Do you feel better than before?  I would love for you to share your story here in the comments below, feel free to include a before and after picture.  Let your story help to spread the primal word. Love, H.

My 2 rather depressing realisations about exercise

My current bedtime reading, confronting yet obvious

 

One: Exercise won't help you lose weight. 
This is a chapter in the confronting book I am reading by David Gillespie. Gillespie has a wad of evidence to back this up.  Over the past thirty years the health equipment, gym and weight loss industries have boomed and been sustained like nothing in our economic history.  The boom in the physical movement industry came about the same time we were told to "eat low fat and eat more healthy whole grains".  Look around you, look down at you, it didn't work.  We, as a nation have got sicker and fatter yet we are moving more than ever.  If we are overweight it all boils down to it being your fault, you were too lazy or you didn't have enough will power to avoid the fattening foods.  Its all your fault. You fat lazy fecker. 

But what if that isn't true....I am currently feeling a bit depressed that my firm beliefs of the past 25 years are being throttled but I am also washed with massive flowing relief and an inner knowing that OF COURSE it doesn't make any sense to flog ourselves into a crippling sore wreck of a mess in the name of health and weight loss.  Right?  I can certainly feel my poor old knackered adrenals breathe a sigh of relief. I'm so sorry adrenal glands!

We as humans are very efficient at using our calories.  Exercise just doesn't burn many off those calories unfortunately.  An example Gillespie gives is,

"The 150 calories in a glass of apple juice would let us ride a bicycle 8 kilometres, but the same energy (in petrol) would push a car just 250metres."

Two: Exercise classes are such a waste of my time. 
I am a regular gym goer of 25 years (side note:  have I ever achieved my goddess like bodwah from this...answer: no)...I used to be an Aerobics teacher for godsake and Personal Trainer and Gym Instructor....I BELIEVED THIS SHIT WORKED!  And yet I used to always feel a bit inadequate about my less than ripped Instructor body.  But like I say I believed it would help me lose weight, one day and I was terrified to stop in case I suddenly ballooned. So I continue to go to the classes, it's always a mad scramble to get there on time, it takes about an hour of prep and driving to get to my gym.  The class is an hour, then there is the showering...all up it takes me 2.5hours to workout.  Usually after all that faffing about I'm knackered and a bit moody and over it for the rest of the day.

This book is bleak and negative (the first chapter is "Why diets don't work') in that it goes against everything we are told to believe about what it takes to be healthy.  But I like it.

On the upside of gym classes now guys....

At the beginning of the year when I was super sick, I was feeling so nauseous and anxious that I couldn't handle going to the gym.  But I wanted to move my body, it's what it's used to (and god what if  I balloon?) but in my debilitated and exhausted state all I could manage was some yoga which I did mainly outside on the grass, gentle and sometimes harder bike rides, walking in the forest and on the beach. I had to keep going as a mother, house wife and gardener so I was still moving around at a moderate pace for most of the day and lifting heavy things such as my 16 kilo kid! 

What happened was rather lovely.  I didn't balloon, I stayed about the same, even dropped a couple of kilos.  I felt more centred, less rushed, I was on my own time frame.  I developed an intuition for what would work best for me on that day, not Chronic Cardio because today is Step Class but more I feel tired today some yoga would be yummy or I am bounding with energy lets do some sprints.  This way of moving is inclusive too as my kids can come along or bounce on the tramp and watch me zip up and down the drive way a few times or punch out a few press ups or squats. It also is great on time as I can walk with my friends and chat at the same time.  Also being outside in nature has numerous benefits. 

• The white light on my eyes first thing on a morning helped me to sleep better at night because it regulates my circadian rhythm
• Being in the sunshine helps me produce much needed Vitamin D, a very important factor in proper digestion and gut health
• Being in nature makes you feel relaxed and happy
• It's fun seeing all of the animals out in nature and that makes you feel good too

Now I am not knocking gyms and classes at all.  In the past when I was working ten hour days ducking to the gym (secretly so the boss didn't see me having a break gah) was the most efficient and convenient way to de stress midway through the day.  When my kids were pre school going to the gym was awesome because of the crèche facility, often providing the only sixty minute kid free time in my day.  And I still love the gym now, I love Helen Powley the teacher cos she is like a Mother Hen loving all of her gym going girls and that's nurturing.  I love seeing my pals there and the coffee and chats afterwards.  It's a great place to feel part of the community and to connect and socialise with other women you may not otherwise encounter during the day. 

There are many benefits to exercise, but I do believe that weight loss is not one of them.  As Mark Sisson states in THE PRIMAL BLUEPRINT (I'm a big fan)

80% of body composition success is determined by diet

 

Mark Sisson's advocates the following three primal blueprint laws with regard to exercise that will optimize gene expression and promote fitness

 

Move frequently at a slow pace

Lift Heavy things

Sprint once in a while

 

Sisson suggests

• avoiding chronic cardio (frequent medium to high intensity sustained workouts)
• avoiding chronic strength training (frequent and/or prolonged sub maximal lifting sessions ending in exhaustion)
• Avoiding Regimented Schedules (instead allow for spontaneous, intuitive variation in type, difficulty and frequency of workouts)

  

So that's what I am going to do and doing all of this knowing it's for the myriad of health benefits gained from exercise and not to lose weight.  I will still go to the gym but that will mainly be to see my pals. 

 

So what do you think of the above?  Relief? Disbelief?  Let me know. 

I recommend a read of Gillespie's book, you can click on the above link to order a copy, I am an affiliate of Fishpond and receive small commissions for any books purchased via links I provide.  Otherwise, head down to your library and see if they have a copy...can't be arsed to read it? No worries I'll bring all the main points home for you.

  

I have added an email thingy at the bottom of my page so that you can sign up and receive email notification of a new blog post.  You can also email me directly at primalsoapbox@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook and Instagram as Primal Soapbox.