Confessions of a Naughty CaveGirl

My paleo diet... hmmmm.
I'm not one to jump on band wagons, follow trends, or keep up with the jones'. In fact, if "everybody's doing it," I'm likely to run in the opposite direction. Hmmmm. Maybe that's why I run barefoot? I have noticed something though. There's a common denominator among barefoot runners. Well, at least some male barefoot runners. Kilts, Crossfit and Paleo. What's up with that? Three years ago I rarely saw a man wearing a kilt (let alone running in one) and I had no idea what Crossfit was, and Paleo was something akin to grunting men carrying large clubs and dragging their women by their hair. Now that I'm running barefoot I'm discovering more people who fit this kilt-wearing, crossfit-training, paleo-eating profile. This perplexes me. And even though I'm a chick and I could get away with the kilt wearing part, I have to admit, the Crossfit and Paleo diet obsessions are peaking my interest as well. Is that weird? Or is it that I just want to see more hot, sweaty, fit men getting in touch with their feminine side? Hmmmm. Maybe I've been watching way too much Spartacus.

At any rate, my recent research adventures have pushed me over to experiment with a Paleo diet. People have asked me... why do YOU need to diet? Um. I'm not exactly sure why I'm doing this except that I've been reading Robb Wolf's book The Paleo Solution and I'm seriously intrigued. Not quite sold yet, but seriously intrigued. I'm not doing this because I'm interested in losing weight, getting fit or reversing disease. (Well, the reversing disease part is a little serendipitous at this point since I'll be going in to have two biopsies done on both my breasts in a couple weeks. Crazy, huh? It was my first mammogram too! ) But, really, that's neither here nor there at this point. So I've decided to become a cavegirl out of curiosity. Well... at least for thirty days, anyway. After that, I'm not guaranteeing anything. No dairy? I can do that. No whole grains? I can do that too. But, wha???? NO BEER? NO ALCOHOL? A girl's gotta have her happy hour, right? I've got two young X-gamers or (more likely) future Jack Ass prodigies on my hands. Enough said. Mama needs a serious cocktail or two to cope with their daily stunts.

So, needless to say, the no alcohol part has not been an easy task and I will readily admit to falling off the wagon once...er... twice... er... OK. More than a few times over the last nine days. The problem is, I had a serious milk habit prior to taking on this little adventure and now that I can't drink milk (or beer for that matter) with my dinner I'm thinking... ahhhhhhh....wine is a grape, which is technically a fruit, which could have easily wound up in the hands of a caveman. Cavemen had kids. And I'm sure cavekids were just as unruly as ours and hey... fermented grape found on the ground + caveman + unruly cavekids = a much needed paleolithic happy hour. Heck, they may have even experimented with mushrooms or peyote to escape the stress of cave-life. And I'm sure cave life was pretty stressful. I just read an article today that claimed the ancient Brits were an especially savage lot. You would have been a totally stressed out caveman if you lived in England, having to deal with cannibalism and all. Yikes! 

At any rate, I'm trying to be good now and I'm not planning on drinking anymore wine or beer or mixed cocktails of any kind for the rest of my paleo tour. I'm not "planning" on it. But, how does that saying go? "The best laid plans of mice and men..." Yeah. That one. We'll see how this goes.
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Comments

  1. I don't know anything about males wearing kilts.

    I don't really have anything positive to say about crossfit wod's.

    As far diet. Just eat healthy, and know what makes you feel good and what does not. No doubt food intake is major factor in how we feel day to day. If your a good weight, generally healthy, fit. I see no reason to follow a strict paleo diet unless you really desire to. Certainly you could also choose to follow portions of it, but not all of it.

    Frankly our lives are short. Life should be enjoyed to the fullest. We all deserve a drink from time to time, or some Humboldt if we desire. Any healthy person this will not effect in moderation, and the buzz is one tool in a bag of tools that can freshen our spirits. We have numerous tools to deal with stress. Alcohol is one if we can use it in moderation, and responsibly.

    Let your personality dictate how disciplined you become. This is what happens when ya start hanging around the crossfit group. That crew loves to push the paleo stuff.

    Personally I think your artistic personality should allow some wiggle room in this type of diet. Otherwise your trying to reshape your personality. Though it is your journey. So do what feels most natural to you.

    No doubt the cave people used various tools of drinks, magic mushrooms, etc. These were to relive stress, spiritual journeys, social related. No doubt the paleo does not reflect cave people like diet 100%.

    Just keep it simple. Eat healthy, play hard, rest hard. Enjoy life the way you see fit. Last time I checked my doctor was not demanding I completely avoid alcohol, weed, mushrooms, etc. respect your being, and be balanced. Most natural things in moderation are generally OK. Assuming you have a healthy emotional state to keep things balanced properly.

    Then again I live in infamous Humboldt county. Maybe I'm not the best to take advice from. My thoughts tend to be forward thinking, and not of the norm. Sounds like you are similar, and your allowing crossfit to alter your natural center. Though I know how to play really hard with a fit body, but still have fun and unwind. So I feel my fun is more then deserved.

    Nothing like a good beer after a good workout on a outdoor hike. Or some SeaMOnKEy around the camp fire to unwind, and explore your inner journey.

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  2. Looks like Butner is making these long comments a habiit ;)

    I think the barefooters are attracted to paleo and Crossfit annd kilts because they all promise a more natural way to move and live. After several months of strict paleo though, I've taken more to the Primal Blueprint approach. It's a little more sensible. Most of what paleo has done for me is just to reprioritize my diet away from startchy carbs toward lean meats and veggies.

    And wine and beer is on the diet...at least the one I followed (Cordain). Nothing wrong with booze inn moderation.

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  3. I've been doing paleo for a while. I love my glass (or two) of red wine at night.

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  4. I totally see your points and I have to wholeheartedly agree. I'm all about the balance and moderation AND the adventure, exploration and journeys into new unexplored territory. This would be Crossfit and Paleo for me. Haven't tried a kilt yet, but can't imagine it that much different from a regular skirt, except if I were to wear it like some of you BFRs, which I'm afraid just wouldn't be very lady-like. Hahahaahha!

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  5. I find it really interested how runners in particular have featured a social "back to basics" kind of shift. We're throwing out those humanly-imperfect running shoes and going with the feet that evolution gave us, we're going on these "paleo" diets, we're wearing KILTS for Christ's sake!!!

    History shows that trends like this have happened in the past (ie American Indian Movement, African Diaspora, etc), but usually in oppressed groups and not necessarily for health reasons that have a scientific backing.

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  6. I find this Paleo and Crossfit stuff interesting. Changing my diet couldn't hurt and a little more strength training are both 2011 goals for me. But I like moderate approaches to things.

    BTW, I hope everything goes fine with your tests.

    I've never worn a kilt. But I imagine it's liberating when you run because you're free and clear down there.

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  7. Ken - you should read Robb Wolf's book, The Paleo Solution or check out his website: http://robbwolf.com/
    Its definitely an interesting read. Some of it gets a bit intense, but if you're curious like me you'll get something out of it. Like I said, I'm not 100% sold right now, but a lot of his stuff makes sense. I'm always skeptical about stuff like this, especially when politics start to bleed into the conversation, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

    I hope my tests are uneventful as well. Will know more in a couple of weeks... I hope.

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  8. I am very much into paleo diet. Do I stick into it religiously? Nope. I do believe very strongly though that in the world we, humans come from grains were accessible in very small quantities. It is easy for us to get hooked on them because (whole or not) they provide us with quick energy. But since our everyday lives do not lend themselves to using up that energy right away, we pay the price.
    I was very much intrigues by Gary Taubes books. Not really paleo but throwing light on history, politics and science of nutrition.

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  9. So I mentioned the Paleo diet to my wife yesterday after reading it here, I had heard of it previously, told her I saw it on a barefoot running blog, and I was intrigued with it. She ordered Robb Wolf's book and a recipe book as well last night. I need to lose weight, and this diet appeals to me since I am lactose intolerant, I am really excited to do it. So between barefoot running and Paleo, I am golden. Not sure I can do the kilt.

    Barefoot Gamer

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  10. I have been curious about the Paleo diet as well, but am not so good to excluding food groups. That being said, I am always wanting to improve my health and think that we've gotten way to lazy with the way we eat. I'll have to check out that website and I hope you keep us posted on how it goes and how you feel.
    I like what Luke said. I think more and more we are realizing how oppressed we really are and running in general and more specifically barefooted, is a way that we can free ourselves from others telling us what to do, when and how to do it.
    I hope your biopsies turn out o.k. You're way to young to be dealing with that.

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  11. Gamer and anyone else who wants to explore the paleo diet - check out the links I found. These are some good sites for finding recipes and info. My husband is also trying the paleo diet with me and we struggled a bit in the beginning with what was paleo-friendly and what wasn't. Its taken a little getting used to. Robb Wolf's book has enough recipes to last the whole 30 days (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

    http://www.thefoodee.com
    http://paleodish.com/
    http://everydaypaleo.com/
    http://jensgonepaleo.blogspot.com/

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  12. Jen: Exactly! And just to some up these sentiments with my favorite Bannister quote ever:

    "We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."

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  13. Zapmamak,
    the Paleo diet has started. Finally got around to starting my own blog, mentioned you in the first post. Hope injuries are doing better.

    My blog:
    http://cavemaneatsandruns.blogspot.com/

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