'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.

October Interview: Mark Sisson - Part I

Mark Sisson joins us today.  Mark is a recognized expert in the field of sports nutrition, fat loss, and a primal lifestyle.  You can read Mark's daily advice over at Mark's Daily Apple (MDA). 

Mark, tell us about your background in athletics?

My father’s past as a top track and field athlete was hugely formative for me, especially in my early years. I was always testing my athletic limits: climbing, running, leaping, and getting hurt in various interesting ways. I’d always been active as a kid growing up in New England, but I was too scrawny to play basketball or football, so I opted for cross-country running in school. I seemed to have a knack for it, eventually moving on to marathons – which I ran competitively for years, even making the Olympic trials one year. Injuries forced me to reconsider my plans. I figured maybe it was all the running, so I moved onto triathlons to “spread the damage around.” Maybe the running wouldn’t be so bad if I could swim and bike for most of the race, you know? I placed fourth in one of the first Hawaii Ironman competitions, but the health issues didn’t get much better. Around 1988, I officially retired from competition.

When did you start helping others with their health and fitness?