30 Day Paleo Challenge Results

Here I am 30 Days later like Morgan Fuckin Spurlock. 30 Days all Paleo all the time. It has been an adventure...er...not really, but it was pretty fun. I really started with high hopes and stars in my eyes. I was childishly optimistic and really hoping for the magic changes promised in all my reading. Then about a day ago as I was thinking about writing this, I wanted to call bullshit on the whole thing. But I can't do that because the results are there. So lets see 'em.


First I just want to say that I did keep a journal of every day, well almost everyday of this challenge but I went back and read it and I really can't put all that on this post. I got bored reading it and boring readers isn't really a good game plan for a guy that likes to write. So this is the abridged version with some highlights and notes. But there are pictures and that makes it way more fun. If you want to judge my pictures...I'm cool with that.


For any change or challenge I have taken on, the beginning is always the easiest while enthusiasm is high. Its later that things get tough. Like a week ago when I really wanted a fucking Blizzard.



So here we are Day 00-

"Day 00-  1/17/2015

I just finished the book today. I think I got the point but I think I will skip all the expensive blood tests he suggests. I had some pizza today and will most likely get some more junk food in my system tomorrow too. 30 Days without a cheat day will be hard, I have to say my goodbyes. Even though I am not sold just yet, I have to say I am kind of excited to see what happens. I am hopeful it really does what is promised in the book. I guess the only thing there is to do at this point is get started and stick with it.

I just went grocery shopping. Mother of pearl. Money was spent. Basically I had to clear the cupboards and I didn’t realize how much I was eating that was not allowed or riddled with gluten. I had a lot of things that are not with this program and what I perceived to be healthy. I did realize that it is a lot easier to shop when not buying any kind of bread or processed food. You don’t have the read the label on a cucumber. I dig that. But it was basically like starting over. I just spent about $200 on food. Granted that was a heavy load of meat (That’s what she said) and will probably last me most of the 30 Days. I don’t expect the following trips to be quite that bad. But we will see.

Tomorrow I will take my before photos and measurements."

The Day Before- 1/18/2015

Healthy breakfast just because that was easiest to prepare. Some coffee with sugar though. I’ll have to learn to forgo the sweetener and cut back on the coffee definitely. A lot of research shows that coffee causes huge hormonal issues especially with Cortisol and that is a weight loss show stopper.  But as long as you moderate your BLACK coffee intake it seems to be fine. First challenge I am dreading really. Healthy lunch again because it was easiest to prepare. I will probably bid junk food a farewell with some What-A-Burger later though. The war starts tomorrow, I should get the best of my freedom to sin while I can. Honestly that is not the norm for me over the past year, but fuck it, I am doing right now because I can. I also want to start where most people would be starting from. I think that is more fare than going from healthy to healthier.

Day 1- Weigh In

Weight- 226.8 ( My goal was to lose 25 pounds) 

Waist - 46 Inches

Hips- 41 Inches

 

So taking progress pictures is awkward but I promised I would so here they are. This at least gives you an idea of where I started. Party On...

This first week went pretty smooth with no slips and I was extra careful with everything I ate. I will point out that DAY 1 was a day that my friends and I had planned on going out to eat a super feast. I point this out because people always put off starting something because of "plans". You can still start something if you want it more than you want to stick to your "plans". I hated watching them eat cake and Baudouin Balls in front of me though. Bastards. 

So Day 7 Measurements-

223lbs – 3.8lbs down from last week

Waist- 45 inches – 1 inch lost

Hips-  40.5 inches-  half an inch lost

 

So starting out and losing nearly 4 pounds and an inch off my waist the first week was awesome. The first week, I also didn't get a lot of workouts in. Partly because I was really busy with work and partly because I let being busy be an excuse. So without working out, those are pretty good results. I attribute all of that to preparation. I made all of my meals in advance and they were ready to go. At work they kept ordering in fast food and I was oh so tempted, but I held out and it was worth it. Life keeps going even when you have your own agenda and people rarely give a shit about what you are trying to do. If you are thinking of doing this, or anything like it, be prepared for that. Also, it took a couple days before that happened due to my junk food binge before starting. Lastly, I really hadn't seen any other "benefits" of my new eating habits. Sleep didn't really improve and everything else seemed about the same. But, one week is way to early to start seeing all those results right?

Day 15 Measurements

Weight 220.6  Lost 2.4 pounds

Waist – 43.5 down 1.5 inches

Hips – 40.5 Same as last week

 

My first cheat happened on Day 12. I didn't take a picture of it because well as my journal entry below will explain...I really didn't give a fuck. 

Day 12 Journal Entry- 

"Day 12- 1/30/2015

I am getting caught up here. Friday was a crazy and stupid day. I was getting ready to go work out and blew my nose. Then my nose started to bleed. And bleed and bleed and bleed. It wouldn’t stop and it was a lot of blood. I get nose bleeds from time to time but never this bad. So I had to shove some toilet paper in the snout and drive up to the Urgent Care place in my hood. I walked in with bloody toilet paper hanging out of my nose and they politely asked “What can we help you with today?” I just pointed to my face and she handed me a clipboard. Long story short, they couldn’t get the bleeding to stop by any normal means so they had to install a Rhino Rocket. Basically they take a tampon like balloon thing and shove it up your nose all the way into the back of your brain. This was probably one of the most painful things I have had to experience. I almost fainted. For real. Then they inflate the tampon…almost fainted again. That day I did not work out or eat after breakfast. After my little fainting spell, the doctor insisted I drink a little bottle of Gatorade and eat some Goldfish. Then, I didn’t feel like doing anything. Kim was on her way home from Dallas so I asked her to get me some food. By this time I was in pain, starving, and in a general, I DON’T GIVE A FUCK kind of mood. Being that is it was midnight, she got me taco bell. So that was my first slip up. Honestly, I don’t care. Given the situation, it is what it is. After I ate that, I took a hydrocodone and some melatonin and slept in 45 minute increments throughout the night. It was the worst. My face hurt. I really hope that never happens again because knowing how bad the Rhino Rocket hurts, I don’t think I could do it again and I may just have to bleed out and die."

So there it is, pain will make you do what you have to do. 

Week 2 I really didn't see any of the miracle health benefits promised either. But...ONWARD!

Day 21 Weigh in

Day 21- 2/8/2015

Weight- 218.8 Pounds   -Almost 2 pounds lost. Pretty disappointing for the amount of effort.

Waist- 43                       - I wont complain about a half inch. 

Hips- 40

I forgot to take pictures of the measurements this week...But you didn't miss much.

The third week was pretty mundane. I was in a groove and even when I didn't prepare my meals, I was pretty good about sticking with the program. 

We also found a Paleo food truck check it out Picnik  

Day 30 2/17/2015

Weight- 215.6             Grand Total of poundage dropped- 11.2 pounds

Waist-   41 Inches        Total loss of 5 Fucking Inches!

Hips-     40 Inches        Total loss of 1 inch. I guess my hips don't have a lot of fat or I was measuring wrong. 

So the whole point of this was for me to explore the practicality of this "really easy" way of eating. Like I said, a couple of days ago I was cursing the whole thing because I didn't hit the miracle weight loss goal I was looking for and I certainly didn't feel like my whole life was different because of it.

In "The Paleo Solution" by Robb Wolff, he challenges you to do this diet for 30 days and watch how your life will dramatically improve over time. I know that 30 days isn't long enough to mean a lot but the book promised it as long as I would try. And try I did.

So lets look at the reality of it. I lost 11 solid pounds and it got me over the hump I was at. I was lingering around 225 and 226 for awhile and couldn't seem to shake it. This did the trick. But as I suspected, this wasn't the cure all that its proponents would have you believe. Here's what I saw...

1. I didn't follow his recipe and meal plan perfectly because it was hella expensive to do that and I didn't like some of the things on the menu. But I stuck to the principles. No wheat, grains, refined sugar, oats, dairy or any other enemies of the Paleo Kingdom. I did look up more practical recipes and learn to use my Crock-Pot.

2. Maybe I didn't take in the right amount of nutrients at the right time under the right circumstances while my body was aligned with the sun and I was ovulating. But the idea was supposed to be that this wasn't so hard. I know people that eat like that but I haven't reached that level of dedication to education on the subject. However, as long as I was prepared, it really wasn't that bad. I my cravings were mostly mental and this really did curb how hungry I got and how easily I could satiate that hunger.

3. The biggest excuse people have for not eating healthy is that it is too expensive. And yeah, if you go all hardcore you will end up spending $7 on a dozen eggs. But if you can just shop better than you had been, like don't buy things that are frozen or in boxes, and find some free range chicken eggs on the cheap, you will be fine. There is one Paleo eatery in the whole city of Austin and I would guess outside of Austin they are few and far between, so you will be saving a ton on eating out. Eating out also just puts too much shit in your face that probably need to avoid anyway. I had fajitas more times in the last month than I did all of last year. That shit got old. But go shopping, load up on spices and bulk items. The first time might be expensive, but after that it really isn't bad. Try to follow a books suggestions and you will go broke. The internet will be your best friend beyond all the free porn. I also realized that health food from places like Picnik is a lot of times unnecessarily expensive. So just get used to doing it yourself if you are on a budget.

4. Be prepared to change the narrative in your mind about food and eating. Eat for fuel, don't eat for fun. Or as my ex used to say when she would beg me to lose weight "You eat to live, not live to eat". You can't start something like this and expect all your dreams to come true in the 30 Days those gimmick artists say it will happen. But I see the benefits of this diet and will probably continue this way of eating. While it was hard for me to get the right amount of calories in for my active lifestyle, I was taking in more naturally nutritious food. I need to get squared away on my meal prep and macro-nutrient planning though. I also won't ever say "Cheat Meal" again because I realized that concept is stupid. I may partake in some indulgence now and again because trying to lose weight is no excuse to stop living.

5. While I didn't feel huge changes in my well being I did see improvements. Enough improvement for me to buy into the gluten-free idea. I was eating well before I tried this but I would still get stuck and I did have my episodes with depression and lethargy despite my efforts. This past month, my episodes were few and far between and when they did happen, they were far more manageable.


So in conclusion, was it worth it? Yeah. Definitely. I entered it expecting a little too much, but after looking at it practically and with a little reason, I can see that it has it's benefits. One benefit is that it is easy to follow. I will say it again, you don't have to read the label on a cucumber to make sure it's healthy.

So here is my before and after picture.

                             226.8 Pounds                                                       215.6 Pounds







If you want a copy of my journal, message me and I will be happy to email it to you.



So there it is. 30 Days of Paleo living from a real guys point of view. Also I took the last picture in my new pants because I am so happy to have gone and bought a nice pair of jeans, and for once not been afraid I would get too fat for them.

When I lose the remaining 15.6 pounds and hit 200, I will post a pretty crazy before and after. I have my before picture from when I was 270, no shirt, it's scary. haha

Thanks for reading. Hit me up if you have questions!

Breaking Up with Your Friends - The lost Self Help Book Chapter

I don't wear fancy shoes because I never know where I may go.
I don't wear fancy clothes because you never what needs to be done.
I don't keep friends for the sake of not being alone because you never know when you have to move on.

Even though the sentiment of "Friends Forever" is very pleasant.

This one comes from a suggestion from a friend and reader. I have touched on this subject in the past but have never dived into it. Mostly because I didn't want to deal with the fallout. Avoiding the fallout is half the reason I have had to break up with friends in the past, but a huge reason I even write this blog, is to help and offer perspective. So here it is.


Like I have said before, I am good at making friends of strangers but just as good at making strangers of friends. Sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. Luckily I have not been stricken with a sentimental heart and this comes easier to me than most people. I am not quick on the draw however and most of the time is a calculated move done because I feel it is for the best of myself or even the other person. So there is always a reason and that reason is stronger than the alternative of powering through years more of whatever toxic or useless behavior I am trying to avoid. Most of the time, its not me...it's you.

This past year has been a banner year for my own personal development and this has happened a little more than it did in the past. In the past a drunken argument was reason enough. The making up would have been harder than it needed to be just to keep another drinking buddy on board. Sometimes in the past I knew I was the toxic person and needed to let that person just get on with their life without me in it. Being self deluded most of the time, I often missed the mark and instead of a clean break, it was dirty and now we have boundaries protected by hard feelings. I am not a fan of that method. I think a clean and respectful parting of ways is fine and should always be the chosen path. However, sometimes people can't or won't understand where you are coming from and hurt feeling are just part of it. The inevitability of bad blood and hurt butts is very real and something you just have to deal with. No one wants to feel like they aren't perfect for you in every way. But if you are tired of the same old shit or trying to better yourself, sometimes you can't keep the same company. Sad but true. You are most likely going to have to put on your adult shoes for this one.

In my experience you have 3 kinds of people that surround you. They are all different in personality and soul but they can fit into 3 categories.

1. Supporters or Fans - These people just want the best for you. They like you for you and take you as you come. They see who you are and your interactions are based on a balanced acknowledgement of mutual interests and goals. These are keepers. They don't bore by constantly vomiting their personal drama and woe during every visit. They know what you are into and try to keep interactions filled with mutual interests and valuable conversations. They are self aware. They take you as you come. They do not judge or offer advice. They simply like being around. These are the people that when I quit drinking, thought it was great, said they would support me however they could, but didn't dwell on and it and we just kept being friends. The always seem to enrich your life and know their boundaries. Most of the time that is because they are good people and have their own life to tend to.

2. Bad Influences/Enablers/Assholes- At some point, you became friends with this n'er-do-well through some kind of mischievous or epic night out and found them to be fun in a dirty, criminal kind of way. You probably thought they were funny and liked how blunt they were and you could always turn to them when you needed validation for a bad idea. Hell they might even help enhance it. Too many times have you woken up hungover or regretful because of this so called friend and sometimes you even ask yourself why you are still hanging out with them. Most of the time they become like a parasite and always seem to find you and ruin your good time or good vibe. You try to avoid them but can't seem to do it. They think because you have romped with them in the past that when you don't hang out you are being judgmental and an asshole and they don't mind guilty you into another hedonistic night on the town. You fucking know better but you keep them around and then they infect the whole social circle causing problems everywhere you turn. You should have ditched them a long fucking time ago and if you are searching to improve, you have to. No questions, nothing halfway, these people have got to go.

3. Accomplices- Disguised as a supporter, they are really a NUMBER 2 underneath. You end up having lots of regretful experiences with them, but for some reason you make excuses because you believe their intentions were better. They are nice, they just have problems. Right? If you turn to them in a time of weakness, they don't even have the decency of being blatant like the Bad Influence, they will steer you in the wrong direction all the while convincing why its not that bad. You can't judge them because most of the time they not self aware and are idiots. You have to sniff them out and then cut the cord. They never will. These people will bitch and moan when you don't let them suck the life out of you. These are also the people that believe friends should be friends for friends sake. They have no intention of being really supportive, they don't necessarily want to harm you but they will just suck the life out of you. They are the people that somewhere, a couple hours in to social outing with them, you get the urge to run home or drive your car off a bridge. Beware the accomplice! These people don't want you to change or grow or anything that will mess with environment.

Next, you have to have the uncomfortable and awful conversation with yourself of who has to go. This is up to you. You can do a pros and cons list so you feel like you gave them a fair shake but most of the time, you already know. If you stopped right now, at least 1 name would pop in your head immediately. Why haven't you done this yet? Why are they still hanging around? Can you take another evening of their face and words getting all over you? Is there some reason you have to endure it? If the bus drops below 55 mph will it explode? Probably not. Either you start this process or prepare to spend years sitting with a group of people and feeling completely alone. You will just end up mad at yourself and disappointed that you didn't get shit done because you were trying to be NICE or "a good friend". At the end of the day, none of these people are going to travel the world with you, they don't care if you fat and unhealthy, they don't care if you lose your job, or never get the job you really want. It doesn't hurt them if you don't achieve what you want to achieve. They have their friend and will accept you in whatever condition you come. Most of the time they need you to be a mess so they won't feel so bad about being a mess. Write those 3 categories down and start making a list under each one. Then do something about it.

Prepare to be lonely. Progress comes with a cost and despite all the inspirational Facebook quotes your read and repost, it isn't just HARD WORK. It is loneliness. The funny thing is the loneliness is really just the time you didn't have before to work on the shit you want to do. You just haven't filled that time up yet. When you are trying to accomplish something, you social life takes at hit. Sitting around drinking beers with your friends doesn't accomplish anything. Even though the movie idea you came up with after 15 jagerbombs did seem really doable! The loneliness passes and the reward of no regret due to bad decisions quickly reveals itself. You need to learn to be alone anyway. Don't be so codependent. You accomplishments can validate you. You don't need other people to do that.

Learn to say no. Learn to say to other people and to yourself.

"But, but, but, Next weekend is Captain Dipshits birthday, and I know probably shouldn't go but I have been planning to and everyone will be there and you can't miss  birthdays! Right?!"

Wrong. You have to accept that life is going to keep on keeping on long after you are not a part of it. People are still going to party, and laugh, and have adventures without you. They are also going to wake up broke, hungover, and sad more often that not. The difference is that eventually you won't notice because you will be getting on with real life and working toward your goals. It gets easier and kind of fun. At first just think of excuses, whatever, ease into it. But eventually just get used to saying, "You know I don't do that shit anymore."

The fact is, that occasionally you will give in and partake in the douchebaggery and that will be all it takes to remind you why you don't do it anymore and those instances will become few and far between. Also, this generally gives people the idea that you are on a different path and they will get the point, and just leave you alone. You will always be welcome, you just won't get invited. Problem solved.

The assholes will still try to peer pressure you or guilt you. In my opinion it is best just to tell them that you think what they do is stupid and you don't want to do it anymore. You have to firm and clear. Or ease into it with making excuses.

The Accomplices are the worst ones. They will call to see if you are alright and you will have to have the "Are you mad at me?" conversation. Then you will say no, I am just doing some other things and they will try to bargain with you and tell you that you can do those things and still hang out with them. Don't fall for that shit. That will just make you backslide into the way shit used to be.

At first everyone will ask you WHY? After they see rewards, they will ask you HOW?

You have to identify these people yourself and then do something about it. This is your life and as much as we like to believe that our friends and family are essential to our existence they are not. And if someone is affecting you negatively, you need to cut them loose. If you fail, or are unhappy, it is not their problem. That is on you.

I don't make excuses for myself and I will damned if I am going to make excuses for other people.

You can be nice and be strong. Luckily I don't put a lot of effort into being nice. It tends to be more clear and effective that way.

Don't say goodbye. A favorite thing I do at parties and social gatherings that I want to escape is just leave. I call it "Ghosting". I don't make a deal of it, I don't say bye. I don't shake hands and give hugs. It's not necessary and no one really cares. Most of the time in the process of doing that, people beg you to stay and then get offended when you don't. Same thing with lifestyle changes. Just get up and leave and let the world keep turning. Don't make a big deal out of it by trying to explain yourself to everyone. You don't owe them that. Maybe you do with girlfriends, boyfriends, and roommates. Shit could get weird if you just disappear them.

Make it a point to be unresponsive. I know most people live with their phone attached to their hands. Sometimes I do the same thing. And when you get a message your first instinct is to respond immediately. Needy much? You have to start treating almost everyone like the creepy guy/gal you drunkenly gave your number to at the bar. Think it through. Wait a few minutes or just ignore it.

Don't get sucked in. Sometimes a friend will invite you to have a coffee or lunch or something and that usually turns into a time they need to try and suck you back in by inviting you to the next BBQ and they have you face to face and will guilt the shit out of you. If you start missing people, invite them to do something with you that is a part of your new life. I like inviting people to workout with me. It shows I want to be see them, and I do! But it also lets them know where my priorities are and how they can have access to me. The line is drawn between the old life and the new. They are welcome aboard but you have new priorities and they have to respect those.

For me, I have lots of reasons I identify to time for moving on. Bad influences or just people that really do not offer me anything anymore, or people that I don't have anything in common with anymore. Lots of people grow up and have babies, get married, and have a mortgage. A lot of times those people also become unbelievably boring. All they talk about is the mundane tasks they carry out day to day or the secret problems they are having with their new Leave it to Beaver life. This offers me nothing and I have nothing to say back to them. It is almost painful to sit through. I break up with these people.

I usually temporarily break up with people that begin a new romantic relationship. It is extremely hard to carry on a conversation with someone that has their head up someones ass. The chemicals in their brain tell them that they are truly in love and this will last forever and everything is perfect. The sad part of their soul is elated to think they don't have to be alone anymore. But all of the blood that used to be in the interesting part of their brain is now in their genitals. This offers me nothing and I have nothing to say back to them.

Occasionally after the new car smell has worn off, we can regroup and see what happens. Usually at this point they are sad and bitter and all they talk about is the once magical lover, but now its all about how much they hate them. Negativity plus being extremely boring equals break up.

Sometimes the new love leads into the growing up and that equals break up.

Drugs equal break up.

I have a lot of break up reasons. Most of them hover around these things:

Are they interesting?
What do they do to enrich my life?
Are they negative?
Do they support me?
Are they toxic?

Last, just focus on what you are doing. We get some obsessed with other people and what other people think and the nonsense that surrounds our social lives that we will literally never get anything accomplished because we are trying to superficially keep everyone happy and impressed with small little insignificant crap,

Make new friends. You will be surprised at how easy this is. Once you dawn your new identity, you will start making friends with the same priorities and similar goals to you. They won't know the old you and won't have any expectations except the new ones you set. They will quickly become a support system and people that give you so much. You will not longer be alone but you will still be on track. Things will start happening for you even faster. Give it a shot.

If you read this and your feelings got hurt. Stop for a minute and have an honest discussion with yourself about why you feel that way.

If you read this and it helped, great, now do something about it or stop complaining. If you are going to keep living the way live, just lean into it and shut up. If you are not, then Godspeed to you! I am always here to talk. Or if I am toxic, cut me off. I promise I will understand.