I've been reading that blog the last week or so. It's been nice to get a woman's view on all things (mind you a former vegan woman!) paleo/evolutionary health. She doesn't shy away from talking about things that effect us, and why eating this way is really really important for everyone, but especially women.
She has a super good suggested reading list, and I've already stuck a few of them into my Amazon wish list.
I declare her nifty. I stayed up too late last night watching "Fat Head" so this is really all I've got. But she is nifty.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Paleo is logic
I've been thinking about how easy it was for me to make this choice. After all, I don't believe in "diets" and have never purchased a book in my life before that said anything on the cover about transforming your life in 30 days. B.S.! would be the thought that would cross my mind if something like that jumped out at me.
The difference here is science. Logic. Facts. Those are good things in my world. And it's not just a diet, it's a lifestyle that encompasses everything. Eating, sleeping, waking, working, moving. Thinking! Learning about this lifestyle helps you shift your understanding of you, and your interactions with others.
Little background about me. I'm weird. Seriously. It's endearing to most people because I'm small and have a cute little voice and am very feminine and my physical features fit comfortably within the golden ratio. Who the hell talks about the golden ratio? Me. Weird people like me. And did you also notice that I said people are ok with this weirdness of mine because of my physical traits? We don't like to think we're ruled by our hormones, genes, and various other aspects of our biology in terms of our social behavior, but you'd better believe we are. If I were taller, larger, less feminine and had a deeper voice, my "quirks" would be abrasive and I would be labeled a freak and I would make people uncomfortable. Instead, due only to my looks and voice we get "oh that crazy girl! she's so cute when she starts talking about phalanges and synovial fluid!" And I do. Those are two of my favorite words.
I embraced my quirkiness a long time ago because the energy it took to suppress it and fit in with all the other girls was just too much. So I said fuck it bitches. Not really, but you get it right? Not worth the bother to look and act like I was told girls should.
I like science. I like anthropology. I like Darwin. I like math. I like religion. I like biology. I like physiology. I like how all of these things relate to each other. I like that there is a MATHEMATICAL EQUATION you can use to determine with near absolute certainty whether something/someone will be pleasing to the eye (that would be my beloved golden ratio).
I say near absolute certainty because of people like Uma Therman. I'm not going to lie, she is a mathematical anomaly, and completely stunning (in my book anyway). While I'm at it, Jennifer Aniston is in that boat as well. Men love love love her to death though. I think she's cute, but from a logical and evolutionary stand point, totally got where Mr. Brad was coming from. Here he is, arguably one of the most desired alpha males in our culture. And along comes one of the most beautiful alpha females in our culture...what do you expect?! Biology demanded that he end up with the more attractive of the two to settle down and make beautiful babies with. In my evolutionary fantasies, their (biological) son marries Halle Berry's daughter and then the most perfect offspring in all of human history is born.
However, I digress. My dad said once that I remind him of the main character in the TV show "Bones". I know too much crap that is not entirely useful on a day to day basis and I can be hyper logical. I love facts and nature and how biology really rules us. Everything we say and do in relation to others is deeply tied into our evolutionary journey.
No other lifestyle choice I've encountered on my health journey acknowledges this. Some claim to, and try to be all encompassing. Such as veganisim. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for the discipline of vegans. I have respect for why they make that lifestyle choice. I have vegan friends, and it is a lovely thought. Kind of like Communism - great on paper, but doesn't work in real life.Veganism fails to acknowledge the design of the human body (while Communism fails to acknowledge the human spirit). We were designed to be carnivorous omnivores. We cannot remain healthy while eating as if we are herbivores. We are not cows or goats or horses. Look at our spines! Herbivores have straight, fairly immobile spines. Stick a saddle on it's back and away we go. Look at the spine of any four legged carnivore. Quite like ours (yes, longer and with tails I know, but quite mobile and twisty turny when needed). Why would nature design a body that for all intents and purposes moves like a carnivore, but intend it to live like an herbivore? Herbivores have those straight spines in part because it makes it easier to keep your head to the ground so you can eat ALL FREAKIN DAY. Nature is not stupid, and it wouldn't do that. Physiologically speaking, you have more in common with a wolf than you do a sheep.
Which brings me back to why I like this Paleo lifestyle. It acknowledges this very basic fact. We are a product of our evolution. We are not just what we eat, we are everything we do in relation to what our DNA demands. So we are what we eat. We are how we sleep, how we wake, how we work, and we are how we move. And all of these things impact how we think. The very thing that we think is most "us". Our own thoughts. If we do not live in line with how this vehicle for our brain was designed to function, it changes our very thoughts!
It's a complete paradigm shift for most people. And I think one that's extremely important. When you look at life and our interactions with the world and all those in it through the lens of evolution, it just makes a hell of a lot more sense.
The difference here is science. Logic. Facts. Those are good things in my world. And it's not just a diet, it's a lifestyle that encompasses everything. Eating, sleeping, waking, working, moving. Thinking! Learning about this lifestyle helps you shift your understanding of you, and your interactions with others.
Little background about me. I'm weird. Seriously. It's endearing to most people because I'm small and have a cute little voice and am very feminine and my physical features fit comfortably within the golden ratio. Who the hell talks about the golden ratio? Me. Weird people like me. And did you also notice that I said people are ok with this weirdness of mine because of my physical traits? We don't like to think we're ruled by our hormones, genes, and various other aspects of our biology in terms of our social behavior, but you'd better believe we are. If I were taller, larger, less feminine and had a deeper voice, my "quirks" would be abrasive and I would be labeled a freak and I would make people uncomfortable. Instead, due only to my looks and voice we get "oh that crazy girl! she's so cute when she starts talking about phalanges and synovial fluid!" And I do. Those are two of my favorite words.
I embraced my quirkiness a long time ago because the energy it took to suppress it and fit in with all the other girls was just too much. So I said fuck it bitches. Not really, but you get it right? Not worth the bother to look and act like I was told girls should.
I like science. I like anthropology. I like Darwin. I like math. I like religion. I like biology. I like physiology. I like how all of these things relate to each other. I like that there is a MATHEMATICAL EQUATION you can use to determine with near absolute certainty whether something/someone will be pleasing to the eye (that would be my beloved golden ratio).
I say near absolute certainty because of people like Uma Therman. I'm not going to lie, she is a mathematical anomaly, and completely stunning (in my book anyway). While I'm at it, Jennifer Aniston is in that boat as well. Men love love love her to death though. I think she's cute, but from a logical and evolutionary stand point, totally got where Mr. Brad was coming from. Here he is, arguably one of the most desired alpha males in our culture. And along comes one of the most beautiful alpha females in our culture...what do you expect?! Biology demanded that he end up with the more attractive of the two to settle down and make beautiful babies with. In my evolutionary fantasies, their (biological) son marries Halle Berry's daughter and then the most perfect offspring in all of human history is born.
However, I digress. My dad said once that I remind him of the main character in the TV show "Bones". I know too much crap that is not entirely useful on a day to day basis and I can be hyper logical. I love facts and nature and how biology really rules us. Everything we say and do in relation to others is deeply tied into our evolutionary journey.
No other lifestyle choice I've encountered on my health journey acknowledges this. Some claim to, and try to be all encompassing. Such as veganisim. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for the discipline of vegans. I have respect for why they make that lifestyle choice. I have vegan friends, and it is a lovely thought. Kind of like Communism - great on paper, but doesn't work in real life.Veganism fails to acknowledge the design of the human body (while Communism fails to acknowledge the human spirit). We were designed to be carnivorous omnivores. We cannot remain healthy while eating as if we are herbivores. We are not cows or goats or horses. Look at our spines! Herbivores have straight, fairly immobile spines. Stick a saddle on it's back and away we go. Look at the spine of any four legged carnivore. Quite like ours (yes, longer and with tails I know, but quite mobile and twisty turny when needed). Why would nature design a body that for all intents and purposes moves like a carnivore, but intend it to live like an herbivore? Herbivores have those straight spines in part because it makes it easier to keep your head to the ground so you can eat ALL FREAKIN DAY. Nature is not stupid, and it wouldn't do that. Physiologically speaking, you have more in common with a wolf than you do a sheep.
Which brings me back to why I like this Paleo lifestyle. It acknowledges this very basic fact. We are a product of our evolution. We are not just what we eat, we are everything we do in relation to what our DNA demands. So we are what we eat. We are how we sleep, how we wake, how we work, and we are how we move. And all of these things impact how we think. The very thing that we think is most "us". Our own thoughts. If we do not live in line with how this vehicle for our brain was designed to function, it changes our very thoughts!
It's a complete paradigm shift for most people. And I think one that's extremely important. When you look at life and our interactions with the world and all those in it through the lens of evolution, it just makes a hell of a lot more sense.
Monday, April 9, 2012
So maybe don't eat cake-even if it's gluten free
Or you may find that your dermatitis herpetiformis comes out to say hi.
Sounds bad huh? Kinda depends really. For me it can be. For most people, it's just a warning they got glutenated. Basically they're tiny, itchy, watery filled bumps that are supposedly only associated with gluten in those sensitive to such things. I put supposedly in there, as I for sure made an all kinds of gluten free cake, and frosting and those little bastards still came out to play. Kept me up last night I was so itchy (I shall intentionally digress here. You know what really bugs me? When people say they itch an itch. Like: "I was itchy so I itched it." No you didn't. You were itchy so you scratched it. Itch is what it does to you, scratch is what you do to it. Got it?).
The main reason I have any concern over the itchy bumps is because they can lead to psoriasis for me. I actually have to be pretty careful not to injure (ie-break) my skin, because that brings inflammation. Inflammation triggers the immune system further, sends white blood cells and such to the cut/open wound/whatever. In a person that has a normal immune system, that's all good. Immune system kills the bad guys that may have made a mini incursion into the host, and everyone is the better for the incident. In a person with an immune system that believes it is a freakin Navy SEAL that's on a mission, and that mission is to destroy the host's first line of defense (that would be skin), that's really not cool. Do not stimulate The Hussy's immune system. There is an upside to that crazy immune system o' mine. I don't get colds or the flu. Which is good because if I did, I'd probably get pneumonia. Because my immune system is, as previously stated, crazy.
Anyway. The moral of the story is even gluten free cake is bad for you. And me. Probably mostly me. This is a sad, sad day indeed.
Sounds bad huh? Kinda depends really. For me it can be. For most people, it's just a warning they got glutenated. Basically they're tiny, itchy, watery filled bumps that are supposedly only associated with gluten in those sensitive to such things. I put supposedly in there, as I for sure made an all kinds of gluten free cake, and frosting and those little bastards still came out to play. Kept me up last night I was so itchy (I shall intentionally digress here. You know what really bugs me? When people say they itch an itch. Like: "I was itchy so I itched it." No you didn't. You were itchy so you scratched it. Itch is what it does to you, scratch is what you do to it. Got it?).
The main reason I have any concern over the itchy bumps is because they can lead to psoriasis for me. I actually have to be pretty careful not to injure (ie-break) my skin, because that brings inflammation. Inflammation triggers the immune system further, sends white blood cells and such to the cut/open wound/whatever. In a person that has a normal immune system, that's all good. Immune system kills the bad guys that may have made a mini incursion into the host, and everyone is the better for the incident. In a person with an immune system that believes it is a freakin Navy SEAL that's on a mission, and that mission is to destroy the host's first line of defense (that would be skin), that's really not cool. Do not stimulate The Hussy's immune system. There is an upside to that crazy immune system o' mine. I don't get colds or the flu. Which is good because if I did, I'd probably get pneumonia. Because my immune system is, as previously stated, crazy.
Anyway. The moral of the story is even gluten free cake is bad for you. And me. Probably mostly me. This is a sad, sad day indeed.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
I'm eating cake right now
For breakfast.
I'm feeling hormonal.Today is supposed to be day 33. I decided on Friday I would stop eating eggs for a bit to see if that sped up my healing process for my spots. I had 2 eggs left. Sure, I could have thrown them out, or made an omelet or something. But omelets don't sound super awesome when you're a hormonal woman. So I made a gluten free cake last night. I actually just finished the small piece I'd cut for myself last night that I so could not finish. I almost couldn't finish it just now. Don't you worry. The rest of the cake will probably go to waste. Oh well. It's mine to waste if I want to.
Now, progress. Aside from being super hormonal right now (which 30 days of anything cannot even hope to correct...maybe after 60 days I'll start to see more of a difference. Don't think though that I'm some sort of hormonal monster, I just really crave sugar and feel like a stupid girl for a couple days. I even get super tempted to watch romantic comedies and such.), I feel pretty awesome. I've come to realize fajitas are not my friend though. That is sad. I don't know if it's the peppers or the onions, but something does not sit well. I'm thinking peppers. Life without onions? Can you even imagine?! No thank you sir.
As of yesterday, I was just over 107. Not going to lie, that kinda freaked me out. I don't want to get too skinny. Remember, weight loss was not a goal, and while I didn't mind the 5-7 pounds, getting under 108 (the least I've weighed since I was 19 and went on BC), was disturbing to me. So I did lots (and by lots I really mean a fairly reasonable amount) of weight bearing exercise yesterday. More muscle=more weight. This morning I'm just over 108, but I know that it's just water/hormone stuff. I guess I'll get to whatever I'm actually supposed to be at and that will be that.
I no longer feel bloated after I eat. My tummy is SUPER flat all day, and you can even see my abs more. Oh and even more exciting? I'll have to remind myself of this if I look at the scale and feel too skinny. My cellulite (my celly as I not so fondly refer to it), is going away.
Can we talk about that crap for a minute? That was a gift to me from birth control. It gave me cellulite, turned me into a raging bitch (mostly that's gone, but lets just say it still sneaks out from time to time), killed my patience, made me gain 20 lbs (which wasn't a bad thing for me at the time since I started at 94 lbs), and messed up my, uhhhhh, well, you know. Lets just say it was extremely effective at preventing me from getting preggers because when my boyfriend was not too terrified to try to touch me, I "wasn't in the mood". Thanks pharmaceutical companies! I really appreciate it. No, I mean it. Really. Ok, not really,. You guys need to fix that shit.
My spots. They are the bane of my existence. But they're healing. Slowly but surely, and faster than usual. These things really do take forever to go away, but they're all so much better than before I started this. I no longer look in the mirror at work and feel like my face looks like it's falling off. Granted, office bathroom mirrors have the worst lighting a woman could ever find herself in, but now my skin even looks good in that light. That is saying something!
I'm trying to figure out what will be for breakfast over the next few weeks. You wouldn't think that's so hard, but my brain is super hardwired to eggs/toast/bacon are what breakfast is made of. Toast is gone forever (even the gluten free kind. I've noticed such a huge difference in the mornings with my tummy that I can't go back to gluten free bread). Eggs gone for (hopefully) just a bit. Bacon will not cut it all on it's own. I have some grapes. My favorite genetic modification. Seedless. I have to go to the grocery store(s) today, so I better figure it out.
I don't think grapes are like pineapples yet in that pineapples have become so dependent on us humans, that they no longer make seeds. So seedless would indeed be some sort of genetic modification.
That doesn't have anything to do with this, just a digression. That's how my brain works.
I'm feeling hormonal.Today is supposed to be day 33. I decided on Friday I would stop eating eggs for a bit to see if that sped up my healing process for my spots. I had 2 eggs left. Sure, I could have thrown them out, or made an omelet or something. But omelets don't sound super awesome when you're a hormonal woman. So I made a gluten free cake last night. I actually just finished the small piece I'd cut for myself last night that I so could not finish. I almost couldn't finish it just now. Don't you worry. The rest of the cake will probably go to waste. Oh well. It's mine to waste if I want to.
Now, progress. Aside from being super hormonal right now (which 30 days of anything cannot even hope to correct...maybe after 60 days I'll start to see more of a difference. Don't think though that I'm some sort of hormonal monster, I just really crave sugar and feel like a stupid girl for a couple days. I even get super tempted to watch romantic comedies and such.), I feel pretty awesome. I've come to realize fajitas are not my friend though. That is sad. I don't know if it's the peppers or the onions, but something does not sit well. I'm thinking peppers. Life without onions? Can you even imagine?! No thank you sir.
As of yesterday, I was just over 107. Not going to lie, that kinda freaked me out. I don't want to get too skinny. Remember, weight loss was not a goal, and while I didn't mind the 5-7 pounds, getting under 108 (the least I've weighed since I was 19 and went on BC), was disturbing to me. So I did lots (and by lots I really mean a fairly reasonable amount) of weight bearing exercise yesterday. More muscle=more weight. This morning I'm just over 108, but I know that it's just water/hormone stuff. I guess I'll get to whatever I'm actually supposed to be at and that will be that.
I no longer feel bloated after I eat. My tummy is SUPER flat all day, and you can even see my abs more. Oh and even more exciting? I'll have to remind myself of this if I look at the scale and feel too skinny. My cellulite (my celly as I not so fondly refer to it), is going away.
Can we talk about that crap for a minute? That was a gift to me from birth control. It gave me cellulite, turned me into a raging bitch (mostly that's gone, but lets just say it still sneaks out from time to time), killed my patience, made me gain 20 lbs (which wasn't a bad thing for me at the time since I started at 94 lbs), and messed up my, uhhhhh, well, you know. Lets just say it was extremely effective at preventing me from getting preggers because when my boyfriend was not too terrified to try to touch me, I "wasn't in the mood". Thanks pharmaceutical companies! I really appreciate it. No, I mean it. Really. Ok, not really,. You guys need to fix that shit.
My spots. They are the bane of my existence. But they're healing. Slowly but surely, and faster than usual. These things really do take forever to go away, but they're all so much better than before I started this. I no longer look in the mirror at work and feel like my face looks like it's falling off. Granted, office bathroom mirrors have the worst lighting a woman could ever find herself in, but now my skin even looks good in that light. That is saying something!
I'm trying to figure out what will be for breakfast over the next few weeks. You wouldn't think that's so hard, but my brain is super hardwired to eggs/toast/bacon are what breakfast is made of. Toast is gone forever (even the gluten free kind. I've noticed such a huge difference in the mornings with my tummy that I can't go back to gluten free bread). Eggs gone for (hopefully) just a bit. Bacon will not cut it all on it's own. I have some grapes. My favorite genetic modification. Seedless. I have to go to the grocery store(s) today, so I better figure it out.
I don't think grapes are like pineapples yet in that pineapples have become so dependent on us humans, that they no longer make seeds. So seedless would indeed be some sort of genetic modification.
That doesn't have anything to do with this, just a digression. That's how my brain works.
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