Why do I keep calling myself JB? Stupid.
What’s up with my picture for this post? Yeah…I don’t know either.
Ok. I don’t really like talking about paleo with people. I definitely like talking about food, that’s for effing sure, but paleo…that’s a touchy subject. Even with people who eat paleo. Everyone thinks their opinion is right. Little do they know, it’s actually me who is ALWAYS right. Ok, I’m kidding.
But people don’t like being questioned, ESPECIALLY if it’s about what they eat. So I don’t question people. But when they question ME and tell ME what I’m eating is dumb, I want to cut a b*tch. Geez, that was a bit much. But seriously, I don’t question your oatmeal, I don’t care about your pizza, and I sure don’t give a f*ck about how many beers you had last night. So why do you care what I eat? Your life is YOURS. You make it whatever you want. You create your future. And you are in control of your health. So if oatmeal allows you to poop because of it’s ‘added fiber’ (well, you’re a liar) but I’m happy for you.
The thing is, the paleo diet was created off of the assumptions of the caveman diet. Cool. I’m not a caveman. I may not shower as often as I should, but I’m definitely not hunting down my food, suffocating it with my massive thighs, then eating it’s liver for extra iron. That’s just not me. Now chasing after a cupcake truck, that’s a different story. But I eat a certain way because it makes me feel better. My bowel movements are awesome. Yes, I did just say that. And I perform in the gym better than I ever have. Do I eat bacon? Yes. Do I eat a BALLS TON of fat in the form of nut butters? Yes. Do I eat chocolate covered walnuts far too often? Oh sh*t yes. But I still call myself paleo and am quite fine with that. Does that mean I follow the ‘paleo guidelines’ out there? No. But that’s because I was crazy strict paleo for some time and it didn’t work with my lifestyle. It made me crazy. Tell me I can’t have something, I want it 10x more. I’m like any other human out there.
But because of how much I’ve played around with my diet, I know what works for me. I know that I can’t eat a ton of cheese, but I’ll definitely do it sometimes. I know I will gain weight when I’m eating a sh*t ton of sweet potatoes, but I’ll still do it sometimes. And I know all this stuff because I’ve tried it all. I’ve been a little chubster eating my whole wheat sandwhiches and low fat crackers, thinking what I was doing was right. I’ve also been the very skinny person eating rice and beans. I was the person who hated the paleo diet and thought it was unrealistic. But then I tried it. And used my brain to it’s full potential. And figured out that what I had been eating in the past made me feel terrible.
Ok, now I’m just going on a rant. The whole reason I’m writing this is because paleo is what you make it. I update this website with recipes regularly to give people options. That may mean I will call my Bacon Alfredo a “paleo” dish or my coconut and almond flour waffle a “paleo” dish. You’re not cool with that? You havin’ a sh*t fit because cavemen didn’t have the means to cook like that? I don’t give a sh*t. Seriously. This is my website and I will make whatever I please and call it what I want.
I really do respect everyone’s opinion out there, but I also never want anyone to be afraid of trying the paleo lifestyle because they think it is intimidating and/or restricting. The paleo diet is what you want it to be.
Are you a Whole9 follower that restricts your sugar and does not make paleo pancakes because it is defeating the purpose of cleaning out your diet and getting control of brain? Awesome bro.
Or are you a Mark Sisson follower who still consumes raw milks and cheeses? Cool bro.
Or are you a Health-Bent or Civilized Caveman follower who mixes up their diet with gluten free meals and amazing primal desserts? Sweet bro.
I don’t care what you follow, but do one thing for me…stop questioning other people’s lifestyles. Stop forcing your ideas on others, paleo or not. And stop thinking your way is the only way. I eat this way because I love it, but I know my friends can eat grains and are perfectly fine. I don’t care that they do that, nor do I say anything when they do. Because it’s THEIR body and THEIR life.
And start reading. Figure out that one way isn’t THE ONLY way. These are some of my favorite websites and resources out there.
Health-Bent’s point of view- my favorite, it works best for me!
I just read your blog tonight for the first time. This post first and then many more. I love it. I walked into our local crossfit gym last June on an impulse to change and I’m hooked. Change feels good, but I keep it to myself. My change is for me and everyone else has to walk their own road. Keep loving life and living passionately.
That’s awesome vB, good for you!! Keep doing what you’re doing and making yourself happy!
Bravo!! I get questioned all the time as well. I’m not strict as I should or could be but being deployed make eating paleo really stinking difficult. But I do what I can with what I have and when I do “cheat” I pay for it later… In more ways than one, if you know what I mean. So keep it up, I really appriciate your blog and all the fantastic recipes that I will soon have to try after I get back home from this deployment.
Thanks so much Inkaholic!
Thank you so much for this Juli. I am so sick of people making paleo impossible to follow by creating unrealistic restrictions. You hit it on the head: I am so proud of the people that can live that way, but I also feel the apex of caveman/woman evolution is the elusive cupcake truck hunt 😉
I.love.cupcakes.
I stumbled upon your website because of your post for sweet potato brownies! Thank you for your posts! You have a more down to earth approach to this whole Paleo business in my opinion. I dropped sugar, wheat & dairy for 10 days – my workouts were AMAZING, and I dropped 5 pounds. Then, sugar & I got back together and had, what you might refer to as “make up sex” and now I’m addicted again! I think time for Whole30 just to prove to myself and see my workouts and general health improve! I am definitely going to keep following!
Sugar is quite the bitch. If i want to be completely clean on my diet, i don’t even go near sugar and the cravings go away pretty quickly. Give sugar the cold shoulder! you can do it!
I am so late to your party because I just found out about you through Multiply Delicious. Once I got here and started looking around, I stumbled in here. I can’t even tell you how much I LOVE this post. I am fairly new to Paleo but I already know that “strict” Paleo isn’t going to work for me (I did it strict, strict for several months) so I’ve been trying some variations. It’s going to take me a bit to figure it all out, but in the meantime, I wish I could have written this myself.
Also, Ima just give you a High Five (I actually do have a regular post on my blog called Friday High Five – you will be on it this week) for your recipes that use regular ingredients. Not too much craziness here – just the sort of site I’ve been looking for to help me along my Paleo way.
Glad I could help Helen! You will figure out what works for you, it definitely takes time
love it!
Thanks Jessica!
You are such an inspiration, Juli ! I am new to your blog… just stumbled upon it searching for recipes… this rant has given me such relief, and now I can accept the fact that I shouldn’t beat myself up over falling off the paleo wagon every now and again. Thanks for being strong… sometimes being strong isn’t a measure of how much we can lift, but how much we can bear. You rock, Chicklet ! Good luck in the Open ! (p.s. I only got 104 burpees)… lol… 🙂
ONLY 104 burpees?! Are you kidding me?! That’s awesome! Be proud of yourself Nancy!! Congrats!
Ok, I’m not stalking your blog I swear…well maybe I am but my stalking stops there 🙂 I had to comment on this because I feel the same way.
I am trying Paleo(ish) eating because clearly I am not getting all the results that I want with the way I’ve been eating for years. So I’ve been posting on FB about my new eatingl, and of course someone posts an anti-Paleo eating blog on my page. And of course this friend who posted it is not one that I’d ever seek fitness/eating advice from because I know how she eats and (not) exercises. I don’t bust her a** for eating sh*t food and doing jacksh*t for exercise but ya know clearly *I* am the one “drinking the Kool-aid” as far as Paleo is concerned.
Whatever. Tonight I’ll enjoy my deer steaks, grilled asparagus and cauliflower “rice”, bask in the fact that it’s delicious food and remind myself that “she” doesn’t even know what a dead lift or box jump is.
It happens. Some people don’t get it and that’s ok 🙂 your body may be different than hers anyways. Keep kickin ass Becca!
What type of Almond Butter do you user or where do you buy it from?
I like fresh grind almond butter from Whole Foods
I freaking LOVE your brutal honesty, and acceptance of yourself. It is so refreshing! You are officially my new girl crush, you are awesome =D
Thanks so much Kandace! If you don’t accept yourself, life kinda blows