'The Primal Blueprint': Review and Random Thoughts

Last week, I posted a two-part interview with fitness expert and author Mark Sisson.  Mark's most recent endeavor is his book The Primal Blueprint. It details his ideas and opinions regarding a primal lifestyle & the importance of controlling insulin levels as a base for effortless weight loss and fitness utopia.  Within that context, it's obvious that our ancestral friend, the caveman, ate much differently than we do today.  His diet consisted mostly of plants, animals, veggies & fruits. 

Yesterday I was interviewed by Roy Wallack for an article he is writing for Muscle & Fitness magazine; it's due to come out in January or February.  The article's focus is the primal lifestyle and the momentum that is developing in mainstream America, in large part, due to Mark's book.  Believe it or disregard it; love it or hate it; the primal way of thinking and the battle against conventional wisdom is stirring the pot in the world of health & fitness, fat loss, and overall well-being.

The Primal Blueprint is billed as a mere diet book, but it’s so much more than that. As mentioned above, “primal” refers to our ancestral past, all those hundreds of thousands of years we humans spent hunting, gathering, and living in harmony with nature. Sisson contends that those were our formative years – evolutionarily speaking – and that in order to achieve optimum health and vitality, we should eat, drink, exercise, sleep, and relax in accordance with our history. That means eating lots of animals and vegetables, running really fast, lifting heavy things, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding stress as much as possible. It also means avoiding the foods – like grains (yes, even whole grains), refined sugar, vegetable oil, and other processed products – that early humans never ate. They never ate it, and we’ve never truly adapted to it.

You could say that we've adapted to new 'foods', chemical laden experiments sold as food, and new food processing methods, but clearly the evidence shows that we've not only not adapted, but that we are not made to eat food discovered in a lab.  Skyrocketing obesity rates (across all age groups); type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various cancers are continuing to increase. And to top it all off, we are being kept alive with more chemicals sold in the form of pills and medicine.  So I'll ask you, are we thriving – or just surviving?

So what can you expect from The Primal Blueprint?  Here's a snippet to wet your primal appetite: "My intention in this book is to show you the immense personal power you have to control your heath and fitnes destiny and to give you the tools to reprogram your genes, reshape your physique, and enjoy a long, healthy, energetic, and productive life.  The Primal Blueprint principles are wonderfully simple, practical, and inexpensive, and they require minimal, if any, sacrifice or deprivation.  Unlike many of the gimmicky diet and exericse books that have graced the best-seller shelves in recent decades, the Primal Bluprint is intuitive and easy to follow -- not for 14 days or 30 days or eight weeks but for the rest of your life." 

You wll meet Grok, the ancestor you never knew and Ken Korg, the guy next door.  You'll also get 'The 10 Primal Blueprint Laws' - laws that clearly provide a map of Mark's philosophy to effortless weight loss and the develpment of a fitness god body.  You'll find clear and concise explanations about the role of insulin and how to manipulate its role properly.  Exercise is an important ally in living a healthy and disease-free life and Mark details his thoughts about lifting heavy things, sprinting, and chronic cardio.  Any fitness book is obligated, but often doesnt' mention powerful health tools like omega-3s.  No need to fret here, because Mark has that covered as well.  Other topics covered include, but are not limited to: pharmaceuticals, supplements, legumes, nuts and berries, and the 80/20 rule.  He'll finish by offering you a challenge: "What are you waiting for?  Let's get Primal!"

Mark's prescription of real food and real fitness was exactly what I needed some 80 lbs ago and I'm guessing it's exactly what may need as well.  You can read about my primal journey and I challenge you to start the journey today.