21 DAY PRIMAL CHALLENGE - REVIEW

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE PRIMAL CHALLENGE

What kept me going throughout the 21 days was the fact that the daily challenges went beyond diet and exercise. My favourites included reminders to be present (basically, put the phone DOWN), listen more, relax and play more.


THE PRIMAL DIET

While I have indulged a little since my three weeks finished (see below), many of the habits I developed I would like to stick with. Why? Because they worked. Here are several examples:

1. No legumes: I avoided beans, peas, pulses and peanuts and there was definitely umm less gas #tmi? Now when I eat beans, I notice more bloating. I'm not going to be really strict with this one, because sometimes peas are the healthiest thing on a plate, but it is good to know that I can reduce gas by avoiding legumes.
2. Eating local organic food: This is because I felt better about supporting local farmers and it tastes better. Sure, it may be more expensive but I felt like it is worth it.
3. Cutting down on sugar: Resulted in fewer cravings, feeling more balanced mood-wise, and less headaches. It is very very hard though and I definitely wasn't perfect.
4. Homemade everything: I really enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, and to keep this going I have invested in some really pretty tupperware which I can't wait to arrive.

As I said before, I have indulged a little by making ice cream, cocktails and drinking beer.

The ice cream was a traditional recipe using egg yolks, double cream and honey toasted almonds.

Bramble cocktail made with blackberries and tequila

My favourite gluten free pizza in Pizza Express

THE WORKOUTS

I particularly enjoyed how much energy I had all the time, and how much better I slept. The workouts were never longer than half an hour, which was perfect as it meant more leisure time in the evenings and not feeling so 'burned out' from exercising for too long.

The PEM workouts (pull ups, squats, push ups and plank) I found to be really effective, and there's nothing more motivating than improving on these moves. I've gone from not being able to do a pull up, do managing 10 in a row!

I didn't manage as much sprinting however, mainly because I felt like a tit.

RESULTS

Overall I would say that I am satisfied with the results, both in body and mind, although I wouldn't necessary call it a complete transformation. As I mentioned at the end of my previous post, I believe that a transformation would require a lot longer.

I didn't lose any weight, but then I wasn't planning to, however I did notice an improvement in my skin which is so apparent now that I have been eating and drinking rather badly and it's all gone wrong! I suffer from rosacea and it pretty much disappeared in the first week which was bloody marvelous. I came across this article about how the primal diet and using coconut oil banished rosacea for one woman, and I did find this to be true. Since reintroducing sugar (albeit less than before), beer and milk my skin looks worse than ever*. I am really really hoping that my next challenges will clear it up again....

*Not: I'm not completely certain that it's not hormones and/or just bad luck. But I can hope there's a cure!

SO...NOW WHAT?!

I intend to continue tweaking my diet, keeping it mainly primal and working on reducing my alcohol consumption. More on that another time..!

It may be my age, but as I'm approaching 30 I have been thinking of who I want to be when I get there. I think self-improvement is essential to our enjoyment of the journey through life; it not only benefits ourselves but also others around us. With that in mind I am setting some goals for the next few years which I will discuss in the next post.

BEYOND GRAINLESS: DAY 13 JOURNAL

- Please visit here to see why I'm challenging myself to live as a modern cave-woman for 21 days -

LIFESTYLE - GET ENOUGH SUNLIGHT

The weather last Saturday could not have been more perfect for this challenge, which was to gain adequate sunlight. I was also in the East Midlands which helped. There is a lot of stigma surrounding the sun and it's health benefits. Here is what I think (taken from The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson):

"Vitamin D plays a critical role in regulating healthy cellular function, yet widespread deficiency occurs in the developed world due to sedentary lifestyles and irrational fears of skin cancer. Failure to obtain the bare minimum of sun exposure and vitamin D production actually increases your risk for a variety of cancers, including melanoma."

Here are a couple of photos from the day; one of my mum and sister with my step-nephew Tommy and one of my mum's pug puppy Dudley worn out after playing all afternoon.

SUMMARY COMMENTS:


Daily energy levels 1-10: started off a bit sleepy but woke up after a drink or two..oops! -7-

Hunger level between meals 1-10:ate consistently throughout the day, a nice breakfast followed by BBQ meat -6-

Satisfaction level with meals 1-10: Particularly good breakfast today, particularly as it was cooked my my step Dad! -9-

Struggles today with Primal efforts: I missed out on cake and ice cream, but happily settled for strawberries and cream. So no I didn't struggle at all really!


Best part: literally playing in the garden all day.



Benefits noticed from Primal efforts: lots of energy.

Daily highlight(s): the whole day. Aww.

Success score : 7/10

Here is Day 14

BEYOND GRAINLESS: DAY 3 JOURNAL

- Please visit here to see why I'm challenging myself to live as a modern cavewoman for 21 days -

AEROBIC ADVENTURE

Location: Gym NRG

Activity: Fat Burning Circuit (included rope, jumping squats, yoga stretches and cross punches)

Duration: 33 minutes

Comments: I burned 291 calories

STAND UP WORK STATION

Now here the 21 Day Primal Challenge guide gets a bit silly and suggests that you modify your work desk so that you can stand at it. Unfortunately, this is impossible for me as I spent the day shadowing someone, and was therefore at their desk. Sitting of course. Not that they'd let me raise my desk anyway; they don't allow you to have plants on your desk so I very much doubt they'll allow me to physically alter it!!

In a few weeks time I will move to the front desk and will therefore be able to stand if I wish, but for today and the near future I shall have to comply with company regulations. I think this is an example of where Mark Sisson has his head in the clouds...

SUMMARY COMMENTS

Daily energy levels 1-10: I felt energised -7-

Hunger level between meals 1-10: There was birthday cake at work which I resisted by getting myself some paleo snacks - boom! -6-

Satisfaction level with meals 1-10: Again I had a fab breakfast -9-

Struggles today with Primal efforts: I had a headache from lunchtime until bedtime. I have a feeling it was my body starting to detox, releasing stored toxins into my bloodstream. I also skipped caffeine, so it could have been related to that too.

Benefits noticed from Primal efforts: Same as before; no bloating. I also noticed that my chemical free deodorant from H&B works way better than Sure aerosol.

Daily highlight(s): Sharing a glass of wine with Chris in the evening whilst listening to music, reading and snacking on olives. My kind of multitasking! Also, this was dinner.

Broccoli Rabe

Daily needs to improve: I did some reading about the relationship between activity levels and primal diet, and discovered that a lot of people believe that if you are active - i.e. walk at least 5 miles a day and/or workout, which I do - and if you are not trying to lose weight then primal aligned carbohydrates can be very beneficial. This includes starches such as sweet potato and butternut squash. It was also interesting to read that during the first few days on a primal diet a lot of people describe feeling 'empty', as opposed to hungry, which perfectly describes how I felt today. It was more an absence of that bloated feeling which so many of us have learned to expect after eating.

Success score: 7/10

Click here for Day 4