Download a transcript of this episode
Topics
1. [3:22] Paleo & Insect Attraction
2. [9:00] Always Hungry
3. [13:57] Osteoporosis
4. [24:27] Children & Gluten Intolerance
5. [32:37] Fibromyalgia & CrossFit
6. [50:49] Bodyweight Set Point
Questions
Paleo & Insect Attraction
Justin Says: Hi Robb & Greg!
Before going paleo, I was a bug magnet everytime I went outside during the summer. This year after going paleo, I regularly go hiking with my non-paleo friends, and while they complain about the bugs and are swatting constantly, I have gone without bug spray and not really been bothered. After trying some low carb paleo for the last month or so (and entering ketosis), I have been practically immune to the critters, and it got me wondering.
Google didn’t lead to much, but it did lead to this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20727149 which showed that a handful of compounds produced by the body (including some ketones) could be more effective than DEET as a natural mosquito repellent. The problem is, I don’t know squat about biochemistry so I can’t tell whether this kind of thing could really be attributed to paleo. Is there anything to my experience, or is it pseudoscience? Thanks, guys!
Always Hungry
Matt Says: Robb and Greg, I’m an ardent listener of the podcast and really enjoy and appreciate all the information you give out for free. I follow pretty strict Paleo + dairy after reintroducing it with no issues and usually directly post work out, and CrossFit 4-5 times a week – otherwise I’m working a typical office job – but I find that no matter how much I eat I rarely feel full. Have I just got my quantities wrong? When I look at it on a plate it looks like I’m eating about the right amount. Before I went paleo and was eating for mass/energy to play rugby I had the same problems of not being full despite 4-5 large meals that included a fair amount of carbs from grains, potatoes etc.
A typical days food will look something like this:
Breakfast:
3 eggs cooked in grass-fed ghee
1 large banana
Handful of nuts
Fish oil
Lunch:
Large salad (Leaves, tomatoes, peppers etc)
about 5-7oz meat/fish
2-3 tablespoons EVOO
Apple
Dinner:
Large piece of meat/fish cooked in ghee
Veg (e.g. brocolli, cauliflower, carrots etc) with butter
Occassional squash/sweet potato (approx 3x per week)
Nuts
During the day I’ll snack on nuts (about 200g+ per day), fruit, raw veg etc, and whenever I work out I drink 25 fluid oz of full-fat, unhomogenised milk (about 6% fat) immediately afterwards. If I’m at home I’ll also be eating spoonfuls of extra-thick cream straight out of the tub just to try and fill the gap!
I’m 23 years old, 6’2″, 85kg and about 8-9% body fat, my question is a) am I simply not eating enough? and b) what can I do to not feel so hungry between meals – there’s only so many nuts one man can face eating in a day!
Thanks in advance and keep up the good work.
Osteoporosis
Jennifer Says: Robb, I am a 51 year old female who has recently begun the Paleo journey. I am 5’1″ and on May 20th had a starting weight of 141 lbs and a number of health concerns. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my early 40’s with an overalll dexa scan of -3. It was a suprise to me and the medical staff as well at such a young age. Early treatment began with calcium supplements and oral meds (fosamax, then boniva, etc) which made me so sick with severe stomach pain that I had to be taken off the meds immediately. For the next 2 years I took daily injections in my stomach of a medication called forteo (restricted to 2 years of use). My dexa scans were increasingly better, but over the last few years began to decline somewhat. Next treatment (and current treatment as well) is an annual infusion of RECLAST.
Additionally, I have suffered from migraine headaches since childhood and over the past year or so have undergone weeks of physical therapy for chronic joint pain, back pain and swelling of my hands and feet and oddly enough some neuropathy as well. Most recenly I’ve been tested for a number of autoimmune diseases to include MS, Lupus, RA and Lyme Disease (due to horrible skin rash on my left shin, joint pain and fatigue. After 3 months on steroids and 4 weeks on antibiotics the rash finally subsided. P.S. None of the testing revealed anything definative.
Today is July 19, 2011 and I am happy to report that my current weight is 126 lbs and I feel better than I have in years. No swelling or joint pain and no migraines since about week 2 of going Paleo.
My question and concern is about my continued osteoporosis treatment and your opinion about RECLAST or if you feel my bones can actually heal and become strong as a result of the paleo way. My last RECLAST infusion was in December 2010 and I started paleo in May 2011. Supplements inclde Carlson’s Fish Oil and I have ordered Natural Calm and will begin taking that on a regular basis. Do you have any recommendations for the treatment of osteoporosis?
Your advise is valued and much appreciated.
Children & Gluten Intolerance
Michael Says: Hi Robb and Greg, hello from England!
I’ve been paleo for about 18 months, totally get it and am grateful for your work. I’m slowly but surely convincing my wife that this is how we should both be eating. We are expecting our first child in October 2011 and are starting to discuss how we will feed him or her (after breastfeeding).
Whilst my wife agrees that our child will likely be better off eating meat and vegetables, she is concerned that cutting grains out completely will cause problems. Given that our child is unlikely to avoid grains for its whole life, we would not want it to experience a potentially dangerous over-reaction when he or she shares pizza with friends years from now.
What do you think? Could excluding grains lead to intolerance? Could it be a good idea to include some grains in a child’s diet, to build up resistance?
Many thanks
Fibromyalgia & CrossFit
Brissia Says: First I want to thank Robb, though it might sound like I am exaggerating; I want to thank him for giving me my life back!
Long story short, (or as short as I can make it without putting you and Andy asleep) I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at age 19 (2001) but Doctors suspect Ive been suffering symptoms as early as 14. In a time pre Cymbalta, Lyrica, and all those other wonderful cocktail crap drugs, I was told there aside form stuffing myself with pills there was little I could do. This sent me into a depression downward spiral, I became a hermit, lost friendships, severed family ties and alienated myself from anyone who ‘didnt understand’ I was a 19 yr old trapped in the body of a crippled bitter 90 yr old.
Fast forward to 2011 almost a decade later and I find the Paleo Solution, I am 3 months in and I have never felt better….I am more energetic, bouncy and happy than I ever was at 19! (and everyone around me has noticed) I finally feel like myself, the inside matches the outside at last.
I Have tried re-introducing certain items into the diet (legumes, tubers) but found it that as soon as I do the joint pain comes back, weak but its there… I then found podcast 48 (love love love the podcasts BTW) and Heard you talk about Fibro, and seems to me that for Fibro peeps its better off to stay Paleo 100%?
so FINALLY the Crossfit question…. how to start? (Ive been doing some small stuff at home like air squats, burpees etc) but I want to join my local Crossfit Center. What should I tell the trainers? I just dont want to set myself back by taking up on exercises my body might flare up on..suggestions? ideas?
other info)
age 28
5’3
highest weight 163 YUCK!
lowest weight 110 (from starving)
current weight on Paleo: a slender and firm 123lbs 😀
and again Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Xoxoxoox 😉
Bodyweight Set Point
Turridu Says: Hey Robb and Greg,
I would like to hear your thoughts regarding a weight “set point”.
I’m male, 44, 5’8″, 207lbs, and have been paleo for about two years. I’m dealing with some cortisol issues and adrenal fatigue, and have been having an impossible time losing weight. That said, I don’t ever seem to go above 207. Even after falling off the wagon (ie a week in Paris), the weight doesn’t seem to budge either way.
Someone was trying to explain to me that this is just the weight my body wants to be at, and that’s that. Please tell me that’s not true. How do I tell my body that it really wants to be 180 lbs?
I eat VERY clean, around 2000 cals/day, and have been very low carb, but am trying to up my carb intake to around 100-150 gms/day. I get two strength training sessions in a week, and the other 5 days try to walk for an hour, do yoga, or some such low-stress exercise.
Thanks!
ok, thanks for building on the guilt trip I went on yesterday. Listening to you talk about raising healthy children grain free, made me feel like shit. I have an adult son with terrible intensinal problems, and an adult daughter with a weight and inflammation problem (some digestive problems there). They can both see and have commented on the huge difference in me after 6 months strict paleo. (I still do heavy cream and full fat yogurt, but NO GRAINS AT ALL). I keep telling them to just TRY if for a month and see how they look, feel and perform, maybe one day they will listen.
I know there is no way to go back, but if I was raising children now… hell would freeze over before I would expose my child to things that I know made me and my family SICK.
I totally understand when questions like this “spin you out”. It spins me out every time I go to the grocery store, every time I see that blasted Pop-Tart commercial. I keep saying if eating Pop-Tarts makes your head abnormally large like the cartoon kids in that commercial, why in the hell would you feed your kids Pop-Tarts????? Food for Fun? Give me a break.
Maryann
Yea, this is not easy stuff.
What’s going on with the people who do tolerate gluten grains? My understanding is that gliadin binds to a gut enzyme (tissue Transglutaminase?), which prevents the enzyme from doing its job, as well as creating an auto-immune response by creating an unfamiliar compound. That doesn’t seem to leave a mechanism for some people to tolerate it. Are they not actually doing fine, just think they are? Do they produce enough of the gut enzyme destroyed to outrace the problem? Are their immune systems better and just destroy or ignore the new complex without issues?
No…it’s interesting. folks with the worst gluten intolerance tend to be RESISTANT to gut pathogens. this is an immune response. It makes sense from this perspective.
Like Maryann, I was thumbs up with Robb’s reply to raising kids Paleo. One of my children is autistic, and I realize now that gluten intolerance (in me during pregnancy, and in him once I introduced solids) may be part of the picture.
I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old, who are both completely Paleo (although the 7 year old does eat non-Paleo foods when he’s over at friend’s on his own). I’m a single mom, and all this meal preparation is quite hard. I could take the easy route and feed them store-bought prepared stuff half the time (like I used to do…) but now that I know better, I just can’t do that.
And now that they are used to eating this way, they don’t miss noodles, bread, crackers at all.
Mary, good for you. You made this bio-chemist/geek both proud and inspired.
Mary, Any tips you’d like to pass on for getting our five and six y.o. boys to go paleo? The older one is a VERY picky eater. He stonewalls anything that isn’t pasta or chicken tenders, with emphasis on the pasta. We have tried all manner of reasoning, incentives, hear to heart talks, enticement–heck I’d try voodoo if I thought it would give us a chance.
Our two girls (10 and 9) are easy peezy, but my 6 y.o. really give us a run.
The 6 y.o. has blood sugar and energy issues too so it’s a very worrisome area for us. Would love any ideas.
The one thing we can get him to drink is protein shakes so we try and sneak everything we can into those things to make up for the missing bits in his diet.
Hey Robb/Gregg,
Training question here. I have had some nagging pain in my right knee. It’s not terrible, certainly manageable, and it doesn’t seem to manifest itself under load, moreso just in every day use.
An x-ray of my lower body shows that my right leg is about 2.5 cm longer than my left. This is a structural difference, not just a functional one. I know that asymmetries are a symptom of nutritional deficiencies during development, so it’s not surprising to me that I have this one given that I ate a boatload of pasta growing up, and as a result got systemic scleroderma and had a heart transplant when I was 21.
Anyway, I’m 25 now, have a good paleo-ish gig going, and am training and eating to try to bulk a little. I imagine that I probably can’t do much in the way of growing my left leg to match the right, but I was wondering if there was something I should be doing to compensate for this imbalance, particularly when I’m doing squats/deadlift/sprints. Have you ever run into this before?
Thanks,
Geoff
Most f-bombs in a podcast! Yesss.
I was…inspired.
Your genius shines when you are inspired. Great episode.
Yeah, that was sweet. The “C” word is always good for an f-bomb or two.
Wait, did I say sweet? I meant to say “elite”
You should have show notes, AND the F-Bomb counter attached to this podcast!
I agree most entertaining (= most f-bombs) podcast in a while. Greg, only pick questions to spin Robb out from now on!
Yes! Gregg pronounced “whilst” as Rx’d!
Could you provide some more information/references/links, etc. about the studies about reducing the chance of type I diabetes by avoiding grains & dairy for kids under 5? My family has a very strong genetic tendency toward getting diabetes at puberty. I have two first cousins (from separate families) who were hit with Type I at age 12. I think some second cousins have it, too. I have a two year old son who I’m trying to be as paleo as possible. A bit of a talking point would be fantastic.
As a working mom and business owner, and as someone who attempts to make it to my crossfit gym 2-3 times per week, let alone find time to grocery shop and pick up my CSA basket, pack my son’s daycare lunches and cook at home, I find the reality of keeping my child 100% grain free difficult. Unlike Robb or Sarah Fragoso, my career is not centered around heath/fitness/paleo, so making this a “sell” to the other people in my son’s life can be difficult at best, especially when nobody else is paleo (husband, stepdaughters, and my mother-in-law who lives with us).
Those of us outside of the Paleo Bubble deal with this reality all the time. I’m finding it turns into a tradeoff of how much cortisol I’m willing to create for myself vs. turning a blind eye to the cookie that my mother sneaks to my son.
Here are some good links to look through
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=fasano+type+1+diabetes+gluten
I’m not aware of anyone has commenting on this, but I think posts with pictures of the gato in them, are deeply healing.
HA! i’ll step up my game.
why don’t those of you start up a new empire with gyms all over the world doing it right? you could call it Xfit, or Crossfit NOT!
Trina-
We just might do that.
Robb Wolf and james fitzgerald for president!!
Please do! I have an XFit license plate that I now wish could be associated with class and intelligence. Or maybe I could get a new one that reads as, “ExFit” lol
lol
Thanks as always for the Podcasts Robb. Your willingness to share this information is greatly appreciated.
Always love a good CF discussion, especially as you got in on the ground floor in 2002 or 2003 and really saw it evolve, plus all the behind the scenes stuff. Any thoughts on the ridiculousness of the CF games? (Dudes nearly drowning, throwing softballs, using exercise bikes etc etc?)
I’m doing a write-up on the games, but overall i liked it.
My boyfriend and I have fully embraced the Paleo diet. He wanted to lose a little weight and I have had terrible neck pain and have tried everything including surgery. Also my cholesteral and blood pressure have been rising every year.( I am 61) I have eaten the dreaded “healthy diet” (whole grains, vegies, fruit, lean chicken and fish and dairy) and have always maintained a normal weight. I am 5’4″ and weigh between 118 and 122 and work out 5 days a week. About 3 months ago we started the Paleo. We buy all grass fed meats, no dairy no grains, grow the majority of our vegetables, fish oil, coconut everything!-are truly following it. I have upped my exercise to include more of the interval type training. Was a runner for years but got plantar faciitus several years ago so had to start just walking. Then about 3 years ago the plantar faciitus went away to be replaced by neck pain. Argh. At any rate, I saw my Dr. yesterday-blood pressure was 175 over 100!! My choleseral hasn’t come back yet but all the other blood work (all you suggested) was perfect. I am not a good sleeper but am really trying and we do drink red wine (helps my pain and I LOVE it). How can I get this under control? BTW we never add salt and are extremely careful in what we buy to read every label for sodium content.
Overtraining Syndrome.
http://www.ysiuk.com/index.php?page=overtraining
http://www.mikereinold.com/2011/08/understanding-and-managing-fatigue.html
5 Days a week of high intensity workouts + a low calories diet and probably very low carb will do this to you.
You will probably need to take at least 2 months off from working out and just start doing evening walks. Nothing intense, keep the heart rate low.
You have gotten your body stuck in fight/flight mode and your blood pressure is elevated all the time because of this.
Paleo because of the quality of food will delay Overtraining IMHO, but it can’t prevent it. You will need to elevulate your training, diet, calories, and macros IMHO.
Epic Rant Robb!! Loving It (said in the Sheen voice)
Yes, I have to say, it was one of my favorite podcasts for a while. I like it when Robb gets “inspired”.
I wanted to add my two cents for Brissia, who asked about getting started with Crossfit. About a year ago, I asked a similar question and Robb and Andy answered it on the podcast. My concern was whether Crossfit was actually scalable for someone my age (46). The answer they gave was similar (with less rant): check out the gym trainers, see if they have an on-ramp, see if they do private coaching, and give it a try.
So I did give it a try. They only had three sessions of “on ramp”, which really was not enough. But the private coaching is way too expensive, so I did group classes for awhile. It was a lot of fun compared to a conventional gym (my favorite was when we had to flip a tractor tire!), and I made some great progress, but I’ve stopped going because I don’t like not having control over what I will be doing on any given day.
Also, I hurt my back deadlifting during a WOD (luckily, not seriously–I was smart enough to drop out of the WOD that day, although the trainer just suggested that I skip the rest of the deadlifts). It’s obvious to me that being able to follow a program adapted to my needs is much safer given my age. I’m glad I went though, because I really like the lifts. Now I have a better idea of what to do with myself at my regular gym (although I’m afraid to go really heavy without a trainer there–plus after being in a Crossfit gym, I hate the atmosphere in a conventional gym!).
So, this leads into a QUESTION FOR ROBB: why are you so hesitant to just say flat out that Crossfit is ill-suited for most people? I get that you’re mad because they kicked you out, but they are the big losers. As you said, Paleo is better than Zone hands down, and, for the non-elite (AKA most people) a gym like yours (a non-Crossfit gym with Crossfit-type equipment/atmosphere–no machines/mirrors, lots of space, lots of racks and bars and plates, kettlebells, med balls etc.–and smart programming) is better than a Crossfit gym hands down.
You don’t need to worry about pissing them off anymore (they kicked you out, remember?) so you can just say they suck and suggest that (non-elite) people find a better gym or workout at home. There’s a thread now on the forum asking for gym recommendations. Maybe you could expand that into a find-a-good-gym/trainer feature. I would love to find such a gym in my area. There is a gym called Strengthbox in Toronto which looks really interesting, but I live in Montreal. So far I haven’t found anything except big-box conventional gyms and Crossfit.
Mary-
Well…I guess it’s just because not ALL off them suck….but they sure try.
CAse in point: Your folks who only did 3 “on-ramp” sessions. Now, i’m not saying we have it ALL figured out, but we know that 12 sessions is the bare fracking minimum…but time and again we see new gyms offer abbreviated beginners courses. they are newer than our trainers, not as good…yet offer fewer beginner sessions? The reasoning is always weak and poorly substantiated. the net result is a slow growing gym.
If these folks were given some concrete business guidance it would decease the BS signal…
For the majority of people that come into our gym, I agree, 12 sessions is the bare minimum. You are trying to teach people new movement patterns, it takes time. IMO, it is a minimal investment when compared to the number of weeks PTs require to change movement patterns.
🙂
Im glad I went and asked a lot of questions, they looked at me like I was from out of space, and so I did what Robb and Greg suggested, walked out and told them to give me a call when they can ‘handle’ me
Good girl.
Thanks, I’m more determined than ever now to find a place that will cater my needs (and everyone elses…) the CF movement really effed up in letting you go! I bet you 3 In-n-Outs protein styles I never hear from these people again
Ill keep you posted on my fibro/paleo/CF blog 😉
Thanks Brissia, very kind and DO keep us posted.
Ok, thanks for calling me ‘whispy’ LOL. At least you didnt say 85k @ 6-2 was petite!. The only thing different between myself and Matt is that Im 34. Im 6-2, 187, and I eat pretty much the same amount of food. I do 4-5 eggs plus sweet potatoes in the AM though. Ive been stuck at this weight for a year! I had thought I was getting enough protein and calories because, also unlike Matt, Im never really hungry. I feel satiated after my meals. That being said, however, I will step up to the plate (pun intended) and start consuming more food to see what I can gain. Either that or Im going to go to Mexico and get a supply of pharmaceuticals.
PS, looking forward to meeting you at the AHS!
Robb! One big suggestion: Record HD video of that last paleo seminar from multiple angles. Edit it into a product for sale via DVD or download. Every year or two (as the science advances and you learn more about the format) give it an update. Thus the material is available for those who want it, you get money, and your time is freed up for other projects.
Hey it worked for Dave Ramsey! At least give it some thought.
We are on it!
Robb: great rant on gluten avoidance for children. But it’s understandable some people’s concerns based on how often we are brainwashed into thinking certain foods are healthy when they in fact are not. Just last night on ABC’s Nightline (you can rant next week), they did a piece on gluten free diets and unless you have celiac, how going gluten free is dangerous to your health. What a piece of s&%t. Keep up the great work.
Greg and Robb, here is a business model for the “Crosssfittt before the Black Box Summit” pod cast from behind the curtain. You make the pod cast, and then put it up on eBay to bid the download cost up. Highest bid is the download cost. This way GeeGee and Reback can secretly bid and pay to make the price prohibitive for the masses; you make some cash and get it out there, but not really. I get to hear it for the suggestion. What do you think?
Fracking GENIUS! You get 10% for the idea!
As far as the paleo and kids thing goes, I feel exactly the same way. It’s amazing how screwed up kids can get from being exposed to certain foods, and not getting the right things and being breast fed properly. I did a quick blog post about kids and nutrition a little while back (warning: my blog sucks, haha) http://www.bethesasquatch.com/2011/04/youre-killing-your-kids-and-mary.html
Getting all spun up, I freakin love it. Thoroughly enjoyed the Crossfit question 🙂
Great podcast, glad to know I go to one of the good CF’s. Regarding kids and gluten intolerance, when mine (ages 3 and 1) are exposed they show it with meltdowns and behavior issues, not digestive or physical. I thought the occasional meltdown was normal, but it turns out it was because I was letting them have regular snack at pre school. There were a lot of snow days over the winter where they didn’t eat the school snack (goldfish, pretzels, etc) and they had no meltdowns. It didn’t take much to connect the dots. Even the little snack was having a profound effect on their behavior. Meltdowns are not normal and the terrible 3’s without gluten and sugar are really about mind games and boundary testing, not meltdowns and tantrums or constant defiance. They are occasionally exposed because non paleo people in our lives are so addicted to insulin and gluten they sneak the kids cookies. It’s sick. It’s just like when someone is addicted to pills and they offer them to anyone because they want someone else to do it with them to justify their addiction.
Hi Rob…wanted to “Thank You” for all that you do to help us live healthier! I listen to ALL the pod-casts and love them. Please don’t ever stop doing them. Well, I’m off to listen to Episode 91, have a great weekend!
Christina
Really enjoyed the podcast! I had a general sense of your issues, especially with crossfit hq, but I had not read or heard you address it so specifically before. Thank you. I have visited our local crossfit gyms and asked a bunch of questions but it isn’t the easiest for a person whose background isn’t exercise science to make good evaluations and get past the typical bs. This podcast helped with that some, but come on, can’t you and some of the other people who have some of the same issues create an alternative. It could be incredible. Surely you aren’t busy with other things and have a ton of free time. jk. Count me in as slave labor to help make it happen.
Robb, I really enjoyed your points on the osteoporosis question. My apologies in advance for the wordy comment (some fact some educated opinion). If it’s alright with you I’d like to throw a few logs on that fire in the hopes that if someone comes looking for additional info in the future they’ll come across this reply and do some more reading on their own. Also please where I’m flat our wrong in my understanding, please correct me so I can keep learning. THat’s what’s so great about our community!
Your answer to this question just adds validity to your rant a few episodes back on how quickly so many health professions practitioners forget (or just didn’t bother learning in the first place) their basic pre-req course core content. If we leave out all the biochemistry and molecular cell fizz terminology (so we don’t lose people that aren’t comfortable with the lingo like acid hydrolases and osteoclast/osteoblast regulation etc) and talk about it in terms of basic anatomy fizz then even on the basis of structure and function it would become obvious how inflamation would hurt bone health.
You mentioned how these folks like to think that bone is ‘dead tissue’ when in fact its some of the most highly mitotic tissue in the body since in simple terms blood is basically born there. If we know that there are 4 tissue main tissue types (epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous) and we clarify that most to all tissues not epithelial, not muscle, not nervous, are then essentially connective then we see that bone is more closely related to blood than the other three. If we can measure inflamatory markers and find evidence of compromised gut health in blood then it becomes obvious that bone tissue would be similarly (in magnitude not neccessarily in type) impacted by inflamation and immune response. We already know that first line defenses have been compromised (epithelial lining of the GI tract) so the next wave of ‘defense’ will be stronger and could carry more colateral damage, it stands to logically conclude that the body really does not want the other tissue classes compromised i.e muscle (example heart tissue) and nervous (brian, spinal cord etc), these tissues are exhibiting less turn over so if they die then that’s it (i.e. interphase G0 stem cells, neurons, etc), the body would rather stop the threat at the connective level of organization so damage at that level in an effort to protect more sensitive cells is a better option (i.e bone structural integrity).
Again like you’ve mentioned before folks need to at least have a D+ grade level understanding (heck I’m the first to admit I don’t know nearly as much as I’d like to about this stuff) of this and the info isn’t anything you wouldn’t encounter with a basic google search or even a freshman/soph level college course on the stuff. Defintely licensed professionals would have been tested over this stuff but it boggles the mind how quickly the fundamental and almost universally accepted scientific principles are ignored when it comes to this stuff.
Then again all this paleo stuff is mumbo jumbo pseudo scinece like basic chemistry and biology I suppose.
Hi Rob and Greg,
Thanks for another great podcast. I loved Greg’s good cop to Robb’s rant-tastic-ness!
I gotta ask this. The falling out with Crossfit that you guys had raises tons of really important questions, which have been well covered in blog/podcast land.
My question is a bit more personal: I am a former skatepunk/heavy metal ne’r-do-well who got really into fitness, mainly on my own, about 5 years ago. Used to work in graphic design, got neuropathy in elbow from computer… long story short, I am in the process of becoming a trainer.
I began doing Crossfit shortly after making the Paleo jump (I think my only known slip since was some gluten-free chocolate cake. Man, did I pay for that!) early this year. I think much of the philosophy and broadness of Crossfit is great, but I do see how it can torch people if you’re not careful with it. Just got my Level 1 Cert last month, but I really want to augment that with something that is a bit more beginner-friendly. Frankly, much of Crossfit programming would just destroy most of the people who have asked me about training them.
I really want to have a strong and broad base to operate from, but can’t really afford to go back to school (I’m 32 and already owe a king’s ransom for my fancy Masters of Fine Art). Are there any other certs/programs that you guys would recommend for someone like me? I really want to help people get stronger, fitter and have a better life quality w/o making all of the mistakes I had to make along my own winding, annoying-injury-causing path to getting fit.
Thanks a ton. I love your guys work, and I often listen to the podcast while I’m working on painting in my studio. Keep it up!
-e
PS: How do you suggest Paleo to new trainees without freaking them out?
Eric, In my limited experience, there is no cert that will get you a “strong and broad base to operate from.” I think the best thing to do is what Welbourne suggested a few weeks ago and that is train face-to-face with coaches that have been doing it awhile. Read what they read and more so that you have a context in which to understand what they are saying. Listen alot and ask a lot of questions. Here are a few resources to get started in addition to the CF Journal:
http://www.EatMoveImprove.com/
http://talktomejohnnie.com/ and CF Football
http://www.PerformanceMenu.com/
http://www.MobilityWod.com
The NASM book is a really good intro.
The Strength Coach and the Gray Cook podcasts are really good.
Cool, thanks! I realized I may have sounded like a “cert seeker” when I posted this.
I do a ton of reading, and I guess coming from a more academic background, just “learning by doing” is still a bit unfamiliar. I have fantastic coaches who have taught me a lot at CFNYC, and will continue more reading and research, as well as working with and seeking out good coaches.
NASM book is good? Sweet. Will check out. Thanks again!
I want to thank Robb and Greg for answering my question!
I’m doing something a bit different, I have uploaded your answer of podcast #91 and taking it to my local Crossfit Center (which we will call Crickeys Crossfit to protect them) and see what answers I get during my ‘free trial’ one day consultation
Also I want to apologize to Greg for calling him Andy…I’m a little bit behind on the pod-casts and I tend to jump a bit from old ones to new ones depending on the topic. (then again he did butchered my name so I think we are even) ;p
you have inspired me to look further into this bad cross fit mumbo jumbo and Im in the middle of starting up a Fibro-Paleo blog of sorts…Ill keep you posted!
For the lady with osteoporosis: there is definitely a gluten intolerance/autoimmune link to it:
http://www.glutenfreesociety.org/gluten-free-society-blog/autoimmunity-gluten-osteoporosis/
If she hasn’t been tested for TPO/TBG antibodies, she should be, as bone loss, joint pain etc. are all common Hashimoto’s symptoms.
I also wanted to mention K2 and Biosil/orthosilicic acid (a form of silica), strontium and collagen sources like bone broth as adjunct bone building nutrients.
Estrogen/progesterone levels are important too. I know a lot of docs look at estrogen but ignore low progesterone, when progesterone helps the rebuilding phase of bone remodeling.
Hi Robb and Greg,
Love the website, love the podcast. In this podcast, Greg mentioned building lifting blocks. I’m curious about building some myself – do you have any recommendations for an online set of instructions for building lifting blocks? Google has (uncharacteristically) been rather unhelpful on this topic.
Thanks for all your help!
Best,
Stephen
Hi Robb,
After listening to this podcast, it made me question the CF gym I go to. I know they take some of the wods off the main site. Sometimes they do seem ridiculously long and hard. For some reason that’s what everyone wants. They feel the more grueling the work out the better it must be. I sort of feel like you on this front. How do I go forward? Should I scale the work outs, look to another CF gym, books out there on CF-like workouts??
Thanks!
BTW: Have you written more articles on this topic?
sounds like I need to do an article on this. I’d keep looking, ask questions etc.
Yes please..and keep me posted:)
Hi Rob. This is Jennifer from the osteoporosis post from episode 91. I wanted to give you a quick update. First of all I am down to 118 lbs (from 142 in late May) as a result of the Paleo diet. I also went to my family Dr. last week and he was thrilled with the weight loss. He is fairly convinced that I have celiac although he did not schedule the testing because of the excessive cost. He felt that the results from the diet and my overall improved health speaks for itself! I also wanted to get his take on discontinuing the RECLAST infusion for my osteoporosis. I am scheduled for my next bone density test in October. He did send me for some labs to include vitamin D levels. His office called yesterday and said my vitamin D level is low at 25.53 and recommended that I take 2000 IU per day of Vitamin D and then retest in three months. Can you address the proper level of Vit D and if the addition of 2000 IU is sufficient?
I will keep you ported on my progress and if I get brave enough I’d like to show you before and after pics….I can hardly believe it myself!
Thanks for all you do and for your continued support….I was stoked that my MD is so receptive to my switch to paleo and is willing to work with me on the issue of my osteoporosis treatment.
Honestly, that seems low, but you need to run it by your doc. We have seen folks, especially with suspected GI problems, benefit with 5,000-10,000 IU of D per day. It seems a bit conservative, but again bounce this off him.
Hey Robb,
I just caught up on this episode and your comments about the IR fat grabbed my attention. I’ve always had that “tire” look, never lean, and despite some bouts of longer-term lower calorie diets, I’ve never managed to get my “tire” measurement below 34.50″ or so. Currently I’m right around 15% at 194 lbs and have been following Dr. Connelly’s prescription of at least 200g of protein and less than 200g of carbs per day. Granted at least half of this protein usually comes from dairy (whey/cottage cheese/milk), but since starting it about a week ago, I’ve actually lost weight despite not eating fully “clean” and not working out (new Dad here).
So my question is around fasting to help get rid of this IR fat. Do you think a 24-36 hour fast once a week might help for reasons beyond just the “calorie deficit”? After listening to Dr. Connelly and his obvious hatred of low calorie dieting, I’m kind of afraid of cutting calories and “catch-up fat”, but since a fast is not a long-term low calorie diet and since I’m only training maybe once a week now, maybe I’d be ok.
Just curious to hear your thoughts on how periodic fasting may differ from longer-term low calorie diets when it comes to burning “stubborn” body fat sites like the waist or back for guys.
Thanks,
Mark
I think it’s a solid plan and I’d start at the 16hr level first, then slowly ratchet up.
Thanks for the quick response. I was only thinking of doing 24 or 36 hours because I generally already do 16-hour fasts a couple days a week while at work, just easier schedule-wise. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’ve done a lot of fasting in the past, but I tend to get over my skis by doing it too often. I’ll have to make sure to keep this to just once a week. Thanks again!
I’ll right away clutch your rss as I can’t find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me realize in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Hey Rob – as a long-term distance runner I began to suffer joint pains and gave up running. Then my daughter became very ill with an autoimmune disease. With little or no credible help from the medical fraternity, we began our own research which eventually led us to Paleo eating. She is now so much healthier, but so too are we as a family. My ‘arthritic’ joints were cured within two weeks, a niggling skin problem simply disappeared, our sleep patterns were so good, and I was also able to run again. We wake up refreshed each day and we pack a lot of punches into each day, that is, full-time work and our Paleo website.
Paleo works for us. However, I’d like to point out to those who tend to stick to the bland diet (and there are many!) that you can enjoy an amazingly good diet and still stick to the principles of Paleo.
After a long time of following a low-fat diet (food conglomerate hype that stressed how good it was good for us!!) we have never felt better.