What is the Paleo or Primal Diet? Is eating so much FAT even healthy?

I love eating Primal.  I actually love it more than when I ate whatever-the-hell-I-wanted.  It may sound weird that any restriction of food choices would actually be liberating.  To me, it is more of a framework; a structure to healthy living and life.  Eat Meat.  Eat Veggies.  Eat Fats.  Avoid Grains.  Avoid Sugars.  Avoid Legumes.  Avoid Processed Foods. There are definitely some middle ground questions around dairy, fruits and nuts.  I eat them pretty regularly, which is probably why my weight-loss is slower than most.  But I FEEL AMAZING.  Seriously.  AMAZING.

Anyway, I could tell you more about Paleo/Primal, but so many others have done a great job.  My favorite one is Fit Bomb's "What is The Paleo Diet?"  It is insightful and pretty much all encompassing.  It talks about the reasons behind the limitations.  It also provides TONS of links to further info.  If you clicked through and read all the info in all the links, you'd probably have read enough to get college credits.  But even just reading his take on it will clear up a lot of questions and mis-conceptions about fat, grains, and sugar.  It also answers some questions about why eating meat is actually BETTER than eating none at all (vegan/vegetarian).  

Side note:  A dear friend of mine posted an article on my Facebook page about why Paleo/Primal is bad for your health (this article was from the stand-point of a raw vegan).  I'm in the process of writing a response, but it is quite a long article, so I've gotta get my ducks in a row before responding.  

Let me know if there are any questions that Fit Bomb's Article doesn't answer for you and I'll do my best to research the answers for you!

Beginning to Lose it

It has been a little over 6 weeks, since I began eating primally.  So far, so good, I'd say.  Although the weight loss has slowed down, I'm still losing, which keeps me motivated.  Even on the days when I weigh myself and I realize I may have done more of a 60/40 than an 80/20 (primal/non-primal ratio), I still feel better than I have in a very long time.

It seems to be less of a struggle to go out to eat than I was expecting, which probably isn't the greatest thing ever: I should definitely be eating at home more.  The price tag of fresh veggies and meat is much more expensive on the "outside" and I've found very few places that serve grass-fed meat.  I have been bringing my lunch with me to work, which is not nearly as social as going out with a group to a local fast or slow food eatery, but I feel better by using the groceries I've bought for the week and not spending extra cash.

Some of my recent foodie loves:

• Grass-fed Mozzarella balls (about an inch in diameter - they come packaged in water) drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  I know this would be yummy with tomatoes and basil, but even by it self, it must be tasted to be believed!  
• Grass-fed skirt steak marinated and then grilled to perfection
• Lunch meat (Whole Foods roasted turkey, roast beef, or Applegate salami or ham) wrapped in a delicious, fresh piece of red leaf or romaine lettuce
• Coconut cream (take a can of real, full-fat coconut milk and put it in the fridge for an hour or so - we just have the A/C on in the house and that is enough - and then open the can and scoop out the soft, fluffy, coco-licious cream at the top) over frozen cherries
• Bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, BACON! Yeah.
• Olives
• Mild Kim-chi
• Farmers Market fruit, for when I need something sweet
• Grass-fed, Beef summer sausage

Chorizo Buttered Veggies (with a bit of Chalula Hot Sauce)

Bacon Buttered Veggies
Last night I made myself a new amazing veggified bacon meal.  It's also amazing with chorizo and chalula hot sauce - don't skimp on the butter!  Here's the recipe (for 1 serving):

1 slice of raw bacon chopped up into medium sized pieces
1 big bunch of fresh veggies cleaned and roughly chopped (I used long purple beans (they called them purple asparagus's at the farmers market, but I think that's bologna), green beans, wax (yellow) beans, kale, and some crazy type of spinach where you can also eat the stems (it's purple and green))
Grass-fed butter (Kerry Gold, anyone?!) to taste (I probably used about 4 tablespoons)

Start with a cast iron pan on medium heat.  Once its toasty, throw in your bacon pieces and mix around until they are cooked through and a little crispy.  Then add about a tablespoon of butter (or two if you're in the mood) to the pan and let it melt.  As soon as it is melted, toss the veggies into the pan and toss to cover with bacon pieces and melted butter.  Add more butter if you feel like it.  Toss and wait a minute and a half and then toss again, on and on until your veggies are cooked to your liking.  I added some pepper and truffle salt.  It was yummy.  Check it out!

Primal-ish Vacation in L.A.

My hubby and I just got back from a vacation to Los Angeles.   We had a wonderful time.  I think we may actually move there in the not too distant future.  I would love to be closer to my parents and family (San Diego area).  I'd love to have hubby closer to the entertainment industry (that's his thing) and I'd love to be out of this terrible Chicago weather.  Sure, it's summer time and I can't really complain about it at the current moment, but here's the thing: When it's winter it is dreadful and all you can think about; when it's summer, the thought that winter is coming is dreadful and all you can think about.  At least that's the way it is for me.  It's sort of like looming darkness at the horizon.  But the very best, most wonderful part of possibly living in So. Cal. is the availability of fresh "beyond organic" veggies, grass fed/free range beef, poultry, eggs, and fresh seafood!  I mean, really... they even have "fast food" that is organic (I LOVE TenderGreens - more about that later).  So anyway, I'd like to move out there sooner than later.

While on our trip, we (did i tell you hubby is doing this too??!) were able to keep pretty darn close to our paleo/primal food preference during our trip.  Sure, it's probably because we were in one of the most image-conscious cities in the U.S., but still.  We found a great place for breakfast called Square One Dining.  We actually ended up going there for breakfast twice.  I got the skirt steak (grass fed?) and eggs (farm fresh), with organic mixed green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette and split an organic fruit bowl with the hubby.  We came back the next day for an exact repeat performance.  Now, this wasn't cheap (although looking back, we both agreed we could have totally skipped the $7.50 fruit bowl), but it was delicious.  Total yum-athon.

On my second day, we actually decided to drive down to Encinitas to visit some friends and visit with my parents.  For lunch with my parents, we went to King's Fish House.  I had the grilled Atlantic Sea Scallops and veggies and a side salad.  Not too bad at all!  The veggies in the meal were not organic, but I prefer not to be too overly picky about my veggies.  Quite delish, actually.

For dinner that night, our friends took us to an AMAZING Peruvian place called El Q'ero Restaurant.  OH MY GOSH!!!!  The food was so yum.  We all split an appetizer of quinoa breaded scallops.  (Perhaps I have an addiction to scallops?  Knowing is half the battle.  I think I get it from my mom.)  For my entree, I had the "appetizer special" of diced Ahi Tuna and Watermelon ceviche in a soy vinaigrette topped with tiny bits of basil and served over a piece of boston lettuce.  Now for all of you who are not into raw fish: I AM WITH YOU!  Seriously, not really a fan.  Kinda grosses me out.  But I decided to try this and it was ABSOLUTELY THE BEST THING I HAVE HAD IN A LONG TIME (and I eat at some amazing restaurants).  So yeah.  I wish I could have it again, but alas, I do not live in San Diego or even California: YET.

Then there is my all time favorite "fast food" organic, local restaurant: Tender Greens.  If you live in L.A. or San Diego and you HAVEN'T been there... turn of your computer and GO RIGHT NOW.  Totally delicious.  Did I mention I had them cater my wedding in San Diego (and everyone was amazed at how great the food was?!)?  Ok, so the meat is all local as are the organic veggies.  Everything is tasty and fresh.  We ate at the one in Downtown Hollywood 2 times on our trip (only 4 days).  It really is that good.  Go there, and let me know what you think.  I love their "Backyard Steak" salad with red and golden beets, butter lettuce and radishes, and their home brewed iced tea (is it passion fruit maybe? -- not sweetened, but so good).  Also, check out their "side" of roasted veggies!

Tender Greens: Backyard Steak Salad and a half side of roasted veggies

Last but not least, if you have ever had the issue of lettuce going bad in your veggie drawer at home, try prepping your lettuce and sealing it into mason jars for easy travel and it'll stay fresh longer (they say up to 9 days!).  Check it out on lifehacker here.

Um, also, P.S. I actually LOST weight on my vacation.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Oh my! I love hearing wonderful news from old friends!

I have been kind of addicted to this whole paleo thing.  I mean REALLY addicted.  But you know what?  There are WORSE things to be addicted to.  I feel amazing.  I am healthy, strong, energetic, happy, and I WANT to exercise.  Now if you know me, that last part about the exercise... well, it just doesn't sound like me.

The hubby and I went out for a walk by the lake this evening and just for fun I decided I wanted to sprint.  I have exercise induced asthma (at least I did last time I checked - I haven't sprinted in maybe 4 years) so I wanted to just do a little and see how I felt.  I was wearing my vibram five finger barefoot shoes, so the grass under my toes felt amazing.  I only sprinted for maybe 7 seconds, but I gave it 100%!  Then I slowed down to make sure I wasn't going to have "the weasies," but I didn't.  I was just fine.  So I waited a minute and then did it again.  Hubby even did 2 sprints.  It is really great to know your body can perform like it was made to... just like a cave (wo)man!

Also, after I got home from work I checked my emails and had received a really great note from my old friend Gabi at BrokeAss Gourmet.  She writes a great blog with lots of yummy recipes and she even writes for exercise.com and treehugger.com.  She and I worked at Camp Tawonga together back in the early 2000s.

She writes:

Hi Anne!

Wanted to let you know that your Paleo post was incredibly inspiring to me! After I read it, I started looking at my diet and thinking about the ways I could move it in the direction of primal/paleo eating and, to my surprise it was shockingly easy to do. It's been about a week-and-a-half and my energy is boundless, I've lost almost 10 lbs and my hair, nails and skin look amazing. Normally I think diets are silly, but I now see why this one is so popular. At first I was worried that it would be impossible for a professional food writer to make it work, but it's amazingly doable--and I love the 80/20 rule, and feel quite certain I'll eat this way for the rest of my life.

Hoping all in your life is wonderful. Thank you so much for turning me on to such a great thing. Your blog is great!!

Love,
GLM


This is so great!  I love it.  I look forward to seeing more Paleo friendly recipes on your site and can't wait to hear more about your experience!


And yes, the 80/20 rule is a lifesaver!  It makes paleo so doable.