The Paleo Solution: Book Review

The book is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the things that really helped my reading of it is that I had already listened to many of The Paleo Solution podcasts featuring Robb Wolf.  That was crucial for me I think because it helped me to understand his personality and style, as well as already gave me some exposure to all the technical vocabulary in dealing with digestion etc.  Robb is pretty laid back.  This is not an academic treatise. He jokes around and writes as if he’s talking to you.  You’ll have to read it like that.

If you’re looking for a good book that: explains why eating paleo is best for your body, how to do it, explains other crucial elements you need to look, feel, and perform your best (like sleep), and gives practical suggestions, you’ve found your book.

Even if you don’t agree with everything Robb says (most of conventional wisdom doesn’t), the book is still a fascinating read form a “how does that work?” perspective.  I was impressed with how he made complex subjects understandable.  There’s only so much an author can do for a lay audience and I think Wolf did a superb job. Some portions I did have to reread slowly just to get it but that’s not his fault. I’ve just never read the vocabulary before.

For me, most the book’s value is in explaining why this stuff works, and giving a thirty day meal plan (complete with recipe’s) in the back. I highly recommend it and rank it 5/5 stars.  I greatly look forward to his next (more in-depth) book.

I recommend checking out his website and podcast:

http://www.robbwolf.com/

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-paleolithic-solution/id340221970

Dairy-free time

I finished the last of the Kerrygold butter last night and am ready to go dairy-free with Ben and Chuck. I’ve gone back and forth in the past with dairy, but seem to always come back to it because grass-fed butter just tastes so damn good.

However, there are other, arguably healthier sources of fat, such as coconut oil, beef tallow, and fish oil. And always make sure to save any excess fat when cooking meats. Fat is essential to our brain and cell health (despite what the establishment tells you), so don’t let it go to waste!

Salmon, Broccoli, carrots, and springsteen tickets.

Salmon, Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, a jug of water and Springsteen tickets.  A great day!

Please support my Penguin Plunge!

Please support my Penguin Plunge! I am jumping in the Hudson River on March 3 as part of the FEE (Foundation for Economic Education) plunge team. Plungers are raising money to benefit community events here in Irvington, NY.

Please donate to my plunge.

Plunge Day:  March 3, 2012
Start Time: 11:30am
Where: Matthiessen Park Beach, Irvington, NY

The Irvington Penguin Plunge is the first F.A.C.E. community event whose primary goal is to raise funds to help restore Irvington’s tradition of fireworks at Matthiessen Park. In addition to the fireworks, we are working to restore many special events, services to the seniors and programs cut from the budget. Some of these programs and events are Friday Night Youth and Teen Open Gym, Halloween Parade, The Egg Hunt, and the Turkey Trot.

If you are in the area, sign up and join us!

30 Day Dairy-Free Challenge

Yesterday, I posted a weekend challenge about going dairy-free. I suggested that we start this weekend and go dairy-free for 10 days.

Well, Ben Stafford upped the ante in the comments. He wrote,

Chuck…must be telepathic or something…I’ve been thinking the same thing. I’ll one up you though…How’ bout 30 days?

You are on, Ben Stafford. 30 days it is. Starting officially on Monday, February 20, Ben and I are going to go dairy-free for 30 days and publicly track our progress on this blog.

Why am I doing this?
I am doing this because I’ve hit a weight-loss plateau. The only questionable food group I’ve regularly consumed since going primal is dairy. (I consume a fair amount of cheese and kefir.) Also, my complexion is better than it used to be pre-primal, but it can still be better. I’d like to see if cutting out dairy will make any difference in those areas.

Who is in with us? Clear your homes of dairy products this weekend (give them to someone who needs them) and leave a post in the comments letting us know you are joining us!

Weekend (and following week) Challenge: Cut Out Dairy

I am going temporarily dairy-free, and I challenge you to join me. Since I’ve started with eating primally, I’ve always included moderate-to-high amounts of dairy (cheese, yogurt, kefir, cream, milk). I’ve never tried to cut it out of my diet, and I am curious as to how my body will respond.

Want to know more about dairy and the primal lifestyle? Read this.

For the next 10 days, I will not consume any dairy products. I will keep the rest of my diet, exercise, and sleep the same. I will note any changes in an upcoming post.

Have you cut out dairy from your diet permanently, or at least for a period of time? What were your results? How did you benefit?

Friday’s Primal Success Story: Kristy Griner

Remember Dean Dwyer?  His blog Being Primal  recently featured a fantastic success story Q&A with a woman who decided go Primal – with ridiculously amazing results.  36 year old Kristy Griner went Primal and had an incredible transformation from a women who weighed 284lbs and was comprised of 49% body fat to someone who now weights 163lbs, is 23% body fat and “can dead-lift something that that weighs more than your refrigerator.” Take a minute to check out the inspiring story.  Thanks for the motivation Kristy!