Laura made me that mug. Rad huh? So rad.
I need to make something perfectly clear. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a doctor. And I am not a therapist.
I am a food blogger. A human, paleo food blogger. I put paleo friendly recipes on my blog, on a weekly basis, to help people create more exciting meals for themselves, their family, and their friends.
Not ever, EVER, have I told you to follow my blog, eat how I eat, or drink what I drink. I live my life, share it with the world, and that’s it.
I do the same on my other social media portals. Like Facebook, Twitter…when I tweet twice a year, and Instagram. But when people lash out at me for what I eat, because I’m not “supportive” to the paleo community, I get very frustrated. Once again, I am NOT your doctor, I am NOT your mother, and I am definitely NOT your therapist. I am not a person who tells you what you should put in your mouth or how you should exercise or how you should deal with your issues. Because, well, you are not me. And I am not you. Our bodies are made differently and our minds are programmed differently. So what I may be shoving in my mouth truly has nothing to do with you. Because I’m not shoving it down your throat.
“Dieting” or eating a certain way is very difficult for some people. I would know, I’ve been there. Transitioning to paleo was incredibly tough for me when I first did it. But as I’ve gone on, I’ve figured out that eating a certain way that someone else tells me to, rarely works. Example: nuts. Almond flour pancakes, almond butter cookies, or just snacking on nuts. None of that works for me. Doesn’t mean I hate those bloggers or friends that have told me to try those foods. It just means those foods aren’t the best choices for me. Because MY body does different things than THEIR bodies.
What I am is a person who lives an incredibly happy life, with delicious food that makes me feel good, without ever feeling guilty or deprived. I eat the food that I know won’t make me sick and pass on the foods that I know will. I drink, I eat, I laugh, I workout, then I eat again. I don’t expect anyone to live a life like me, especially eat like me, but that’s exactly why it is my life.
Paleo is a controversial subject. But it’s only controversial when we make it that way. For me, it’s no longer controversial. It’s no longer frustrating. And it’s no longer an agreement I must follow. It’s a guideline to creating a healthier life for myself. That life includes bloody marys, sweet potato fries, vodka sodas, pupusas, roasted brussels sprouts, steak, kombuchas, dark chocolate, arepas, coconut butter, oh and bacon. Are all those things paleo? No. That’s why I’m not making those recipes for my blog. But it doesn’t mean I’m not shoving them in my face.
So while you’re worrying about what is going in my gut, I’ll be out enjoying life. Paleo or not. I recommend you do the same.
preach, girl! <3
Juli – I don’t think it’s right for people to lash out at you. There is never a one size fits all approach to health and fitness. The thing about paleo that will help anyone is to cut out (or drastically cut down) on the amount of processed garbage we eat. Other than that I think it’s best for people to find what works for them. Paleo works for me and you but it may not work for someone who isn’t ready to make the “transition”. As you said, it’s a hard transition to make… especially in the early stages. Hopefully, your blog and others like it can help ease the pain of making the transition to a paleo lifestyle.
I LOVE this! Sometimes I feel guilty because I don’t do strict Paleo all the time, but then I realize that I would not be happy being strict all the time. Especially when some non-Paleo foods don’t make me feel sick or gross (corn, small amounts of cheese, dark chocolate). For me Paleo is a guideline, but by no means will I get bent out of shape when I consume something that isn’t on occasion. That’s why I LOVE your blog!
I just signed up to Instagram so I could see what all the buzz is about. That person went way over board and obviously doesn’t read your awesome blog! That person probably doesn’t realize that every Paleoer eats non Paleo every once in a while! Even Rob Wolff talks about non-Paleo cheats! We are human and I personally don’t feel like there is anything wrong with eating non-Paleo sometimes, it keeps me sane! Plus I feel sick after, so it keeps me honest the rest of the time. PLEASE keep the yummy recipes coming! My family will thank you.
That’s what we call HATERS! They are so busy being mad at the world, they sit online all day and try to share their misery! Don’t let them bug you or give them the time of day!
Love your recipes! Thanks for sharing.
Well…..yeah!
Claire, http://www.dancesintherain.com
(Paleo, Paleo, Wherefore Art Thou, My Paleo?)
Just want to chime in to say I love your Blog! I love that you post things that WILL work for paleo living, but I also love that you readily admit you enjoy other foods from time to time. Overall, i feel 100% better when I’m eating Paleo, but sometimes my taste buds win the battle and I veer off track.
Well said Julie! Having enjoyed one of you crock pot recipes this morning for breakfast….Kepp doing exacty what you are doing and let us know when your cookbook is back up for pre-order!
“Justice can not exist in a world of absolutes.”- Star Trek AKA: People need to not rely on you to implement extreme measures in to their life. Your blog is my favorite. You’re awesome.
Thank you so much for saying this! I have just started Paleo and find it very difficult to follow 100% of the time. I never thought I could give up cereal for breakfast, but I did, and I feel so much better! I still find it extremely difficult to avoid cookies – my biggest vice – and had a few this weekend. But you give me hope that I won’t keel over and die, I’ll be fine, I’ve just got to try my hardest. Thank you!