Most people look at you a little funny when you tell them you’re Paleo or Primal, even in L.A. Especially when what started as a simple chat inadvertently becomes a half hour gush about all the benefits; Then you can actually see their eyes glaze over. I’ve never tried selling Amway or inducting someone into a cult, but I would guess the look is similar. Imagine explaining it to my family back in the cornbread, grits, and sweet tea lovin’ South… At least we see eye to eye on the subject of bacon.
Yummy.
My transition to the Primal lifestyle came about thanks to my husband, Brad. I’ve never really been overweight, but I’ve wrestled with my share of extra pounds over the years – and have the range of sizes stuffed in my closet to prove it. Graduated college carrying the dreaded “freshman 15” along with my degree. Lost several pounds (through some form of starvation, I’m sure), then eventually got married and gained a few back. Started working in an office that sabotaged me every morning with a pastry tray right next to the coffee pot, and…you get the idea. I mean, seriously, who’s gonna say no to a free guava and cream cheese strudel? I was an avid runner in my 20’s, but now at 35, long stints of cardio just didn’t seem to burn off the fat like they used to. And while I’ve never been much of a scale-watcher, I do notice when my jeans get tight (not in a good way) and things start looking…lumpy. Ew.
Brad’s an active guy – when we met 10 years ago he was into MMA and boxing, even fighting in some amateur matches. But after getting married, a cross country move, slogging through graveyard shifts, money stress, and simply getting older, one day he woke up with about 40 extra pounds that he couldn’t get rid of – no matter what he tried. 6 small meals a day; Nothing but protein shakes for a month; Lots of cardio; No cardio; Heavy weight, low reps; Light weight, high reps; Nothing seemed to work. Or, he’d lose 10 pounds and then put them right back on when he started eating “normally” again. And “normal” meant frequent late night Taco Bell runs, lots of pasta, and polishing off the occasional pan of brownies. OK, so I may have helped with the brownies.
She probably doesn't have to go to work.
So, both working full time (and on different schedules), in a huge city with long, traffic-clogged commutes, and lots of after-work commitments, how do we find time to cook all this stuff? It really isn’t as hard as you think, and that’s why I created this site. No matter how busy people are, they always find time to do the things they like. This isn’t just about looking good on the beach – Primal living improves my energy, my mood, and the clarity of my thinking so much that making sure I continue to feel this way has become a top priority. And in the process, I’ve discovered that I really LOVE cooking. If something’s important to you, you find the time.
Since going Primal, Brad’s lost 30 pounds so far. Of course, it isn’t only due to the change of diet – there’s also THE LUDUS. Like I said earlier, I don’t pay much attention to the scale, but I do respect what my jeans have to say. And last week I had to retire my old ones and go buy a size 2. Of course, my boobs have shrunk too, but that’s a story for another day. I’d say Goodwill is about to get a great assortment of women’s wear. Gotta make room in the closet for all those skinny jeans…oh, and all my tiny new ‘A’ cup bras.
Yay, Bacon!