Tag Archives: PrimalCon

May Day Reflections and PrimalCon

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May Day. A day to herald the coming of Spring with song and dance, a day for children with flowers in their hair to skip around beribboned maypoles, a time to crown May Day queens.

A day for blog posts, apparently. And phone calls, texts, emails, dings from Twitter, pings and pongs from Facebook, returns to Amazon and endless hours in Starbucks.

I’m trying to recapture the feeling I had at PrimalCon a couple weeks ago, sitting in the sweet-smelling grass, basking in the sunshine, surrounded by bare feet with the wind whipping through my hair and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. I’ve written a review of PrimalCon down below. I’m feeling the pull of Harbin Hot Springs, the need to disconnect and get back to nature. To start my cold thermogenesis therapy in their cold pools, to say ‘to hell with the cold, I’m getting in the hot pool and soaking for a while,’ to have non-food related conversations with vegans, to play guitar under a tree. And yes, to put flowers in my hair and dance naked under the stars. I’m a hippy pagan at heart. My heart yearns for these things.

I’ve been trying to figure out what direction to take with my life and this whole Primal/Paleo thing. I know I need to do something within this community but until now, I haven’t been too sure what that something is. I have wicked fantastic ideas that unfortunately require a staff (or at least a partner) to bring to light. This is what I’ve decided to do:

  • I will still maintain this blog, but I’m taking a little break. I’m only answering comments once a week and will only post every so often.
  • I am offering one-on-one biohacking consultations. (Try and sue me, North Carolina, I’m pretty sure ANYONE can call themselves a biohacker. I’m not a nutritionist, nor a registered dietician, nor do I pretend to be. I am a pretty wicked biohacker, though.) I don’t pretend to know everything, but I have tons of contacts that know more than me and I’m not afraid to use them. I know how to use Google like a pro. I also know that individual help is what most people need when starting their Paleo journeys. This lifestyle is NOT one-size-fits-all. I’ll be putting up a consultation page on this blog soon, if you’re interested please let me know!
  • I’m writing a book. I am going to go offline for a bit and get this damn thing written. I’m dedicating a good chunk of each day to writing. I’ll be turning off my phone and even my internet connection during this time. I’m going to go to Harbin to write some of it so I’ll be even further out of touch.
  • I’m considering new partnerships with people in the Paleosphere. I’d love to do something and if you are looking for a partner or a new project, let’s team up. At the moment, I’ll only commit to something I know I have time for, a short-term project for example.

I’m continuing to biohack myself during this journey. I fear I may have something called fructose malabsorption. It would certainly explain a lot. If you have been Paleo or Primal for a while, but are still experiencing skin issues or depression, check out the link from Peggy the Primal Parent. It will blow your mind. It’s a REAL thing! Dr. Emily Deans blogs about it here, too. I’ll let you know how I fare, but let’s just say I won’t be treating myself with honey straight out of the jar anymore. :(

So on, to PrimalCon:

PrimalCon was amazing. Here’s my review in 70 words or less:

AHS was academic. I learned a lot about evolutionary biology. I came home spouting off about IGF1. PaleoFX was academic and practical. I made tons of friends and learned a lot about the lifestyle. I came home spouting off about the benefits of Kombucha. PrimalCon…was amazing. I learned about myself. My limits, my body, my mind. I came home, sore and sunburnt, and was completely silent.

And that’s saying something.

PrimalCon and Preparing for a Road Trip When You’re Paleo

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I’m getting ready to leave for PrimalCon in a few hours and I am super excited. Not only will I be talking to others about how I transformed myself, I’m planning on concentrating on how I have dealt with the litany of doctors I have seen over the years – to date, I have seen about 50 doctors from four different countries for the various ailments I used to suffer from. I continue to visit the doctor occasionally, if only to test their knowledge and spread the word about things like “gliaden” and natural, nutritional interventions as opposed to pharmaceuticals – the go-to of every conventional doctor I’ve ever seen. Perhaps you get to choose the doctor you go to, but as part of the socialized, industrial machine that is military medicine, I don’t. I get to see a new one every time I go to the office. So, I do what I can to be a shit disturber. It’s just what I do.

I’m going to take the time at PrimalCon to relax. I’m bringing my guitar and plan to enjoy the company of my wonderful Primal family, eat everything in sight and eventually let the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach soothe me to sleep. This will be the only vacation I get all year and I’m going to make the most of it.

I was going to say that I’ll be tweeting and blogging from PrimalCon but I won’t. I’m not going to make that promise. Besides the issue of having an internet connection in the first place, I want to concentrate on the event itself and on having fun, playing and connecting with Primal tribe members. Even if I do have an internet connection, I think I’m going to unplug for a few days.

In the meantime, it’s tough planning for a trip. I know that there will be lots of food when I get there, but I have a 9 hour journey each way. In my SAD days, I could stop at a roadside diner or go through a drive-thru, but that is no longer an option. Being Primal or Paleo can be daunting when you’re faced with time away from home, but there are solutions. Here are some things you can do:

    • Bring some lemon or lime juice. If you stop at a restaurant, you can always find salt. Grab some of the little packets to take with you if you can find them. Then, you can make a refreshing sports drink (recipe here) that will keep you hydrated. I find this especially helpful if you’re going to be flying.
    • Make up individual bags of nuts and dried fruit – one for each day you’ll be away. I went to Trader Joe’s and bought cashews, macadamias, almonds, dried blueberries, cranberries and cherries – all my favorites. Throw in some organic dark chocolate and you’ll have a nutritious meal (and a treat!) on hand for when there aren’t any other options. If you have a vacuum sealer, it will keep them ultra-fresh but I do caution you that trying to open one of those packages while you are driving is very, very dangerous.
    • You can also dry some of your own fruit if you own a dehydrator. Organic Kiwi sliced very thin with the skin still on and dried is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.
    • If you have the time, make some beef jerky. If you don’t, there are amazing Paleo options available on the Internet if you plan a little in advance. The only two I have tried personally are Steve’s Original Paleo Kits and Tanka Bars. I prefer the Tanka Bars and here’s why:

     

      The Paleo Kits consist of nuts, fruit and grass-fed meat. They’re delicious, but the nuts and fruit are a little slimy. They taste great (especially when you’re ravenous!) but it changes the texture of the nuts and everything is sticky. I think it’s from the combination of the fat and the fruit. To be fair, I haven’t tried Steve’s grass-fed beef jerky on it’s own, but I’m sure it’s delicious and not sticky at all. You can’t eat the Paleo Kits while holding on to the wrapper, like you can with Tanka Bars. Reaching into the Paleo Kit package results in terribly sticky hands. Tanka Bars are made from buffalo meat and dried cranberries. They’re tender and sweet. I received a sample from Tanka a few weeks ago and I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised. They’re a little sticky, too, but you can hold on to the wrapper so your hands stay clean. I’m used to having to tear at beef jerky with my teeth but I could easily bite into the Tanka Bars. My kids loved them too. Both Steve’s Originals and Tanka Bars have quality, Paleo products and both are companies that you can feel good about supporting. I have banners for both companies on the side of the page; feel free to see what they offer. I’m sure you’ll find they have products that can help you with both convenience and nutrition while you’re away from home.

     

  • Bring a jar of coconut oil. If all else fails, a spoonful or two will tide you over until your next meal. Coconut oil is also great to rinse out your mouth if you don’t have a toothbrush handy. A few people I’ve talked to use it instead of mouthwash and toothpaste. It’s antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and tastes great. You can add it to coffee (best with a blender though), put it on veggies at a restaurant instead of the hydrogenated imitation “butter” most places offer these days or use it as a natural, moisturizing sun screen for your skin. Be careful opening the jar if you’re in a warm environment, though. Look to see if it’s melted first.
  • For veggies, there are great kale chips available at most supermarkets. As long as you’re eating them with some beef jerky, you don’t have to worry about the fact that they’re “vegan.” ;) I make my own. My dehydrator is probably the most useful appliance I own these days.
  • Intermittent Fasting. Always an option and sometimes the best choice.

There are lots of options available to the Paleo traveller, if you do a little planning and preparation ahead of time. Most of us have to do that on a daily basis anyway, so traveling isn’t really a big deal when you think about it.

What do YOU like to bring on trips with you? Any tips or advice for the Paleo traveller?

Primalgirl Reveals: Where I’ve Been

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It’s been a while. Don’t worry, I haven’t fallen off the Paleo bandwagon, I’m still way on board. I’ve just been busy. Super busy. I have three jobs, not including Primal/Paleo blogger/advice giver and time is precious.

What I’ve Been Doing:

1. I opened up my own business making custom retro aprons and dresses. I have an ETSY store, but at the moment have been so overwhelmed with orders from home that I haven’t posted items yet. I’ll do that soon and I will be posting a link here – after all, if you’re spending a lot of time in the kitchen making delicious Paleo meals, you need to look cute. Show off that cute new body. ^.~ (If you want to order something personally, email me.

2. I’m on the speaker support team for PaleoFX in Austin, Texas in March. I’ve been assigned to the speaker support team and assigned to one of the biggest names on the roster, so I am honored and super excited. PaleoFX is March 14-17. The PaleoFX team is offering free tickets for coaches and trainers so check out their website for the referral program or to get tickets for yourself. This is a great, practical conference for people interested in LIVING a Paleo lifestyle. I’ll have lots of time to relax and enjoy the conference so I’ll be posting a great deal about what I learn.

3. I’m presenting at Mark Sisson’s PrimalCon in Malibu in April. I’m a little nervous about this one, as I simply see myself as a regular person who reads a lot of books written by other people and experiments on herself. I don’t know why I get to stand up there with the experts and the rock stars, but I’ll take it. ;)

4. I’m doing tons of modeling and making a lot of my own outfits. Super satisfying but damn, it takes a lot of time and preparation. I did get noticed by Sharon Osborne the other night at a taping of America’s Got Talent, though. She actually came over to me to tell me that she “just loved my outfit.” Gush! That made the 2 weeks of frustration, pricked hands and endless ironing all worth it. I wished I had had time to tell her that I made it myself and I would totally make her one, too but she was whisked off by Howard Stern, who frankly resembles Tom Baker circa 1974 these days. I am going to knit him a Doctor Who scarf, I swear to God.

5. I have three-year old twins. If I thought I was overwhelmed before, I was mistaken. Potty training is insane. Cooking every single meal for a family of four from scratch is super time consuming too. Please believe me when I tell you I understand when you cave and go through the drivethru. I understand. But I just can’t bring myself to do it.

What I Have Planned:

1. A follow-up video post to my Paleo Beauty Secrets post. I’ve had such an overwhelming response to this post I would like to take you all on a week-long journey in the life of my hair, ha ha. Seriously, I’ll edit it down. ^.^ (Some people want to know if I’m “real” – this will be your chance to confirm/deny my transformation. Note: While you’re reading that, make sure to check out how lank and flat my hair was before I went Primal.)

2. An honest post about Hidradenitis Suppurativa. I’ve cured mine but don’t often talk about it because it’s so embarrassing. However, it’s time to pull this one out of the closet. Not only am I cured without any sort of medication whatsoever, but I have found the specific trigger food group that causes flareups in me. If you suffer from HS, you will want to read this post. If you’re not sure what HS is, read this information from the Mayo Clinic. I bet you know at least 5 people with this condition – but they won’t tell you about it. I will. They say there is no cure. There is.

3. A post about PCOS. Mine is gone. I don’t take ANY medication. Peggy the Primal Parent also has some great info on PCOS, I’ll be linking to her. I no longer have any symptoms of PCOS and believe me, I had them ALL.

4. I have some great new recipes, including chicken nuggets and fishsticks, that, while they may not be strictly Paleo, definitely can be fit into a Primal lifestyle. I have also been asked for lists of foods that I eat, so I’m going to take you through a week of my diet.

5. Guest posts. Many of you are on a Primal/Paleo journey as well and I’d love to hear from you. If you would like to do a guest post, please email me!