Meet the old Andrew
My senior year my dad (who is in the Army) was stationed to a new post (Carlisle Barracks) so I would be going to a new school for my last year of high school. Always a big exercise and nutrition guy, I was always involved with sports (Wrestling, MMA, soccer) and always researched new ways to train and fuel my body for performance.
I got really into some different martial arts and a training system called Training for Warriors. It outlined workouts and diet in a book and I liked it, mostly because of the structure. I followed it to a T, and got pretty good results, but honestly never really improved much and didn't have the energy and drive I wanted and I felt restricted by having to eat numerous times a day.
I continued this program and truthfully might have taken it too far (overtrained) but I was doing all the "right things": eating whole grains, ridding of sugars, getting my veggies and fruits, and taking all the right protein powders, creatine, NO2, multi, and other supplements.
When I moved I became consumed with this lifestyle and spent all my time doing, preparing, or thinking about my next workout or meal. Skip ahead a few hellish weeks and this turned into me evoking a bad case of anxious obsession which included some depression and some harsh physical downfalls such as weight loss, sleep deprivation, irritability and a number of mental issues. It lead to a vegan phase and anxiety about how I should train to be the best... whatever.
I went to counseling, which somewhat helped, but the real upper was a little blue pill and my discovery of the Primal Blueprint. I could go into detail about my glorious transformation, but I feel I'd loose the majority of you if I haven't already.
To make it brief I felt amazing not long after making the transition to the Primal lifestyle. I gained 30lbs of pure muscle and increased every lift by big numbers. Notice how I say lifestyle, not diet. Sure the diet rid of all the macro-nutrient, calorie confusion, it gave be long lasted energy, foods I LOVE to eat and make, unbound me from the need to eat many times a day, and I'm sure it did wonders for my insides like GI health, gut flora, heart/arterial health, etc. What really put the icing on the cake --well more like gravy on the meat-- was the living like our ancestors. How simple and effective they were with bare feet to strengthen feet muscles, move around at a slow pace, lift heavy things, and sprint once in a while.
They didn't have technology thus were not sedentary and had ample time to use their brains and hands as well as form relationships. They didn't stay up too late watching tv and had great sleep, took the time to make the food they ate and benefitted from natural whole foods and constant movement. Getting sun everyday led to great health and being exposed to germs and bacteria boosted immunity.
Now I am able to tap into their lifestyle that, unbeknownst to them, was keeping them vibrant and "the fittest". I also love to research and read blogs about ancestral health and what it means for us today.
THIS IS NO FAD DIET!!! IT'S THE OLDEST LIFESTYLE AND KEPT OUR ANCESTORS ALIVE TO PASS ON THEIR GENES TO US... WE"RE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT!
I got really into some different martial arts and a training system called Training for Warriors. It outlined workouts and diet in a book and I liked it, mostly because of the structure. I followed it to a T, and got pretty good results, but honestly never really improved much and didn't have the energy and drive I wanted and I felt restricted by having to eat numerous times a day.
I continued this program and truthfully might have taken it too far (overtrained) but I was doing all the "right things": eating whole grains, ridding of sugars, getting my veggies and fruits, and taking all the right protein powders, creatine, NO2, multi, and other supplements.
When I moved I became consumed with this lifestyle and spent all my time doing, preparing, or thinking about my next workout or meal. Skip ahead a few hellish weeks and this turned into me evoking a bad case of anxious obsession which included some depression and some harsh physical downfalls such as weight loss, sleep deprivation, irritability and a number of mental issues. It lead to a vegan phase and anxiety about how I should train to be the best... whatever.
I went to counseling, which somewhat helped, but the real upper was a little blue pill and my discovery of the Primal Blueprint. I could go into detail about my glorious transformation, but I feel I'd loose the majority of you if I haven't already.
To make it brief I felt amazing not long after making the transition to the Primal lifestyle. I gained 30lbs of pure muscle and increased every lift by big numbers. Notice how I say lifestyle, not diet. Sure the diet rid of all the macro-nutrient, calorie confusion, it gave be long lasted energy, foods I LOVE to eat and make, unbound me from the need to eat many times a day, and I'm sure it did wonders for my insides like GI health, gut flora, heart/arterial health, etc. What really put the icing on the cake --well more like gravy on the meat-- was the living like our ancestors. How simple and effective they were with bare feet to strengthen feet muscles, move around at a slow pace, lift heavy things, and sprint once in a while.
They didn't have technology thus were not sedentary and had ample time to use their brains and hands as well as form relationships. They didn't stay up too late watching tv and had great sleep, took the time to make the food they ate and benefitted from natural whole foods and constant movement. Getting sun everyday led to great health and being exposed to germs and bacteria boosted immunity.
Now I am able to tap into their lifestyle that, unbeknownst to them, was keeping them vibrant and "the fittest". I also love to research and read blogs about ancestral health and what it means for us today.
THIS IS NO FAD DIET!!! IT'S THE OLDEST LIFESTYLE AND KEPT OUR ANCESTORS ALIVE TO PASS ON THEIR GENES TO US... WE"RE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT!
Meet Andrew Today
What was the biggest challenge to adopting a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet?
My biggest challenge was finding ways to provide for my lifestyle in modern society, more so in my "modern home" at first my family was skeptical but with the results as awesome as they are, no one can complain.
What advice (if any) would you give to someone interested in trying a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet? Were there any obstacles that you overcame that could help future dieters?
Stick with it! It may seem a little crazy at first, but your body is begging you to do it and it will thank you everyday you do it. I took it from an extreme stand point and did a huge switch... worked for me, not for everyone. Ease into it and surround yourself with people (and food) who support you and have similar mind sets.
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Tried a paleo or low carb diet? Join Today and contribute to a better understanding of this way of eating!
Tried a paleo or low carb diet? Join Today and contribute to a better understanding of this way of eating!
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