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Paleo? Um, No-leo.

As a lifelong athlete, I’m always looking for ways to naturally improve my performance.  The yin to that yang is that I love food.  I love to eat, especially foods with fat and sugar and bacon sprinkles.

(you’d think I was kidding on that last one, but not so much)

Recently, I participated in a foam-rolling class at a gym specifically for CrossFit folks.  Ever seen a CrossFit instructor?   They have amazing bodies, yo.  It’s a thang of beauty to see such commitment and dedication to health.

They also love to talk about what everyone is eating and of course, the Paleo craze.

As a runner, people are always asking me what I eat and how I keep fit through nutrition.  As a more seasoned runner ~couchGRANNYcough~ and as a runner who is tall (genetics) and lean (hard work), most folks assume that I’ve found the secret to good health and nutrition.  Truth be told, I have.  But, it’s not Paleo.  Not even close.

I shudder to think of what I’d have to give up if I went all in for any restrictive diet.

THE SECRET:

Here’s my fitness philosophy: I run/lift weights/bike to make it easier to move through my life. I want to be able to garden and climb and move stuff.  I want to chase Sweet E and not get winded.  I want to assert my body and not pay for days with muscle soreness.

There is no food restriction.  There is just lots of moving (running, walking, biking, lifting) and lots of eating the foods I love.  Period.  That’s it.

THE SECRET EXPANDED: PART ONE

Even though I eat what I want, about 85% of what I eat fuels my body.  The rest of that 15% is stuff any 12-year-old boy would love.

THE SECRET EXPANDED: PART TWO

What is fuel?

Fuel is animal protein, veggies, fruit, legumes, nuts, dairy and yes, carbs.  Runners need carbs.  But, the good stuff.  Whole wheat breads, whole wheat pastas, and whole wheat Twinkies.  (one of those things is totally made-up)  I also drink water all day long.  Occasionally, I’ll have some juice, maybe some sweet tea at a BBQ, and a rare soda.

That’s the bulk of my diet.

Oh, coffee.  I have about 4-cups of coffee every morning. I consider it my one vice with no plans of giving it up.  Please don’t touch my coffee…

coffee

 

THE SECRET EXPANDED: PART THREE

What’s the other 15-ish%?

Candy, cake (so much cake), cookies, McDonald french fries, In ‘n’ Out Double Double Animal Style burgers, Sangria, beer (let’s just go with teh alkeehols instead of me listing every fav drink I drank, or we’ll be here for a while), anything fried, chili-cheese dogs, Slutty Brownies, ice cream, Frito Pie, anything chocolate…you get the idea. Junk food. Lovely, delicious, grease-soaked, sugary, coma-producing junk food.

I used to think I’d outgrow my love for all things carnival fare, but as it happens, not so much.

See why I run?!

You might be wondering if I’m BSing you; I swear I’m not.  When I bake all those amazing things you see here, I send out word that there are goodies to be had.  That way, Husband and I get our fix, others get theirs, and we are all happy campers.

I am convinced that the secrets to good health are #1) Good genes.  You can’t help the cards you’re dealt.  #2) Working with your cards.

If you’re diabetic, you’re gonna have to get creative with your nutrition choices and cheats.  If you have heart disease, the same.  The key is finding that which gives you joy and including it moderately in your life instead of ODing on it.

Yes, I indulge in iffy food choices, but I’m mindful of everything I eat.

THE SECRET: THE FINALE

Mindfulness.

Yep.  There’s my not so secret secret, and why I won’t be bandwagoning with the Paleo folks. Sometimes the biggest secrets aren’t secrets at all, but just good old-fashioned common sense.

Go forth and use it in good health.

Or, if you’d like (cause I know I would), we can discuss my No-leo approach in more detail over a nice slice of cake.  I might even share my coffee with you…

 

 

 

 

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How To Inexpensively and Easily Customize Your Coffee Blend

Wednesday 15th of July 2015

[…] OMT loves her coffee almost as much as she enjoys talking about herself in third person. […]

Bohemian Babushka (@BBabushka)

Monday 23rd of September 2013

You have been pinned, tweety, feibu and if BB has her way canonized. ♥♥♥ this post. Here from the Grand Social & enjoying your posts immensely. BB2U

Mrs. Tucker

Monday 23rd of September 2013

Canonized?! FINALLY! Lol! I do love an enthusiastic lover of my site. Thank you for the fun comments, BB!

Carol Covin

Saturday 21st of September 2013

I think you've just explained your success - not just the exercise, but the balance in eating - good stuff and 15% bad stuff. So, you don't feel like you're being deprived, you give yourself permission in small places to have everything you want.

Mrs. Tucker

Saturday 21st of September 2013

EAT ALL THE THINGS! Yep...lol! (in the seconds before seeing this comment, i told husband: Dairy Queen's offer of buy a Blizzard, get one for .99 ends today or tomorrow. Let's go get one!)

Becca

Friday 20th of September 2013

Love your image. I feel the same about coffee. And like you I also had that same body people asked about, wanting to know my secret (which were the same as yours) until recently. Diagnosed with hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis left me with some extra weight I wasn't use to. Paleo isn't just a craze for people losing weight though. I went on the Paleo diet (after much consideration) and it's really helped with my RA. I love carbs and cheese but my body lets me know the next morning when I've had too much. So I can't say anything bad about the diet itself. Now some of the Paleo fanatics out there... that's a different story. But you're on the right track Paleo or not, eating a balance diet and exercising allows you to have those extras. Do what works for your body!

Mrs. Tucker

Friday 20th of September 2013

I certainly would never knock what works for others, and I was mostly speaking tongue-in-cheek about the more fanatical side o'thangs, but all that being said, certainly it has helped lots of folks. I've witnessed it myself in friends.

Hate that you've suffered, but so happy you've found a way of life that works for you.

Charity

Friday 20th of September 2013

You just made my day! All those Paleo sites can make you feel like you're gonna kill your family with the next batch of homemade whole wheat bread that comes out of the oven. I needed this. A balanced approach is the one I take and I love that someone else is shooting it from her rooftop!

Mrs. Tucker

Friday 20th of September 2013

HA! Happy to help spread the cake, um, moderation love! This method has served me my entire life and I have enjoyed great health.

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