Paleo Guide r2 1 PDF
Paleo Guide r2 1 PDF
COM   i
                                       COPYRIGHT  2016 by NerdFitness.com
DISCLAIMER
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                             iii
                                                               and it will help you lose weight, build muscle, and get in
A BEGINNERS GUIDE TO                                           the best shape of your life.
THE PALEO DIET
                                                               I know, that sounds like an ad for some really shady
My name is Steve Kamb, I run NerdFitness.com, I hate           supplement or diet book that youd see on TV at 4 am.
counting calories.                                             Its not, it works. Its helped many people achieve jaw-
                                                               dropping transformations, including my friend Saint
I dont like keeping track of how much Ive eaten or           (whose story you can read here).
obsessing over how many grams of a particular nutrient
Ive had. Not only do I hate counting calories, but I know     Im talking about the Paleo Diet.
that calories are really only half of the battle, as theyre
not all created equal400 calories of Doritos do NOT           The Paleo Diet is an effort to eat like we used to back in
affect your body in the same way as 400 calories of high-      the day... WAY back in the day. If a caveman couldnt eat
quality vegetables and protein.                                it, neither can you.
Fortunately, if you can expand your horizons and remove        Cue the Baltimora!
certain types of food from your diet, you can stop
worrying about counting calories FOREVER (sorry, the
Countah ah ah). Id love to suggest a particular type of
eating that doesnt require counting a single calorie. Oh,
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                         1
                                                                 thousands of years ago, before Nike, Capn Crunch, and
SO, HOW DOES THE PALEO                                           Healthy Choice meals, our ancient ancestors thrived as
DIET WORK?                                                       hunter-gatherers. Although its been a really long time,
                                                                 our genetics havent changed that much since then.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                            2
99.5 yards are how long Homo-Sapiens spent as hunter-        biologically designed to eat, allowing us to tap into our
gatherers. As they became REALLY good at hunting             genetic potential and start living healthier immediately.
and gathering our bodies adapted to that lifestyle over
thousands of years. That last half-yard represents our
species after the agricultural revolution, where our diet
has shifted (but our genetics havent).
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                      3
                                                           definitive guide to grains article: grains cause kind of
WTF IS THE PALEO DIET?                                     a funky response in our system. Grains are composed of
                                                           carbohydrates, and those carbs are turned into glucose
                                                           (a type of sugar) in our system to be used for energy
                                                           and various other tasks to help our body functionany
                                                           glucose that isnt used as energy is stored as fat.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                     4
                                                            Unfortunately, those lowfat meals that are loaded
   from consuming gluten: dermatitis, joint pain, re-       with sugarprocessed foods are whats making you fat.
   productive problems, acid reflux, and more.
                                                            So, no grains, no sugar, no processed foods. Many studies
   Lectins are natural toxins exist within grains to        have shown that an incredible number of diseases and
   defend against consumption! Yup. Grains have             lifestyle issues can be reversed with these three simple
   evolved to keep themselves from being eaten by           changes. Take a look at this Time Magazine article on
   us. These lectins are not a fan of our gastrointes-      cancer patients who switched to a zero-sugar diet and
   tinal tract, prevent the tract from repairing itself     saw positive results.
   from normal wear and tear. This can cause all kinds
   of damage.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                     5
                                                                  take stored fat and burn THAT for energy in a process
BUT WHERE'S MY ENERGY?                                            called ketogenesis.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                           6
                                                                  The other great thing about vegetables is that it is
SO ALL CARBS ARE BAD?                                             incredibly difficult to eat too many of them. Theyre
                                                                  incredibly nutrient dense and calorie light  six servings
                                                                  of broccoli (and who would eat 6 servings at once?) has
                                                                  180 calories and only 36 grams of carbs. A single serving
                                                                  of pasta (and NOBODY eats just one, tiny serving of pasta)
                                                                  has 200 calories and 42 grams of carbs.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                            7
                                                                As with grains, our bodies just werent designed for
WHAT ABOUT DAIRY?                                               massive dairy consumption, especially as we get older.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                         8
SO NO GRAINS, NO DAIRY:                                            Fruits: Have natural sugar, and can be higher in
WHAT DO I GET EAT ON                                               calories, so limit if youre trying to lose weight.
                                                                   Nuts: High in calories, so theyre good for a snack,
THIS DIET?                                                         but dont eat bags and bags of them.
                                                                   Tuber: Sweet potatoes and yams. Higher in calories
Okay, so if we cut out the grains, almost all processed
                                                                   and carbs, so these are good for right after a work-
foods, and dairy, youre left with only things that occur
                                                                   out to replenish your glycogen levels.
naturally:
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                           9
                                                                   and never really feel full), youd have to eat 2-3 Mack
HOW COME I WON'T GET                                               trucks full of broccoli and spinach. Okay, thats clearly an
FAT?                                                               over-exaggeration, but you get the point. A GIANT plate
                                                                   of vegetables and a reasonable portion of meat can keep
                                                                   you full for hours, while eating carb-heavy foods can
                                                                   result in being hungry again soon after.
I like success.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                               10
                                                              and want to start turning your life around today, why not
BUT I CAN'T GIVE UP MY                                        give it a shot for 30 days?
(MUFFIN, PASTA, BAGEL,
                                                              JUST TRY IT: If after 30 days you havent noticed a marked
PIZZA, BREAD)!                                                improvement in your quest for a better life, then go back
                                                              to the donuts. Its important to give yourself a full 30 days
                                                              before passing judgment. Your body has to adjust from
                                                              fueling itself on carbs and sugar to burning your stored
                                                              fat for energy, which can take a few weeks.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                           11
                                                               Now, fruit does have quite a bit of sugar in it, and nuts
HOW MUCH SHOULD I EAT                                          have quite a few caloriesso if you are following the
OF EACH NUTRIENT?                                              Paleo Diet but not losing weight, check your fruit and nut
                                                               consumption and see if you are loading up on those at
                                                               the expense of vegetables and healthy protein.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                            12
                                                                   Why has fat been vilified? Rather than get into the politics
BAAAAACK UP: I THOUGHT                                             of it myself, Ill let Gary Taubes, author of the incredibly
FAT MADE YOU FAT?                                                  thorough and well-researched Good Calories, Bad
                                                                   Calories take over. Heres an article he wrote for the New
                                                                   York Times a decade ago: What if its all Been a Big Fat Lie?
                                                                   Take the 15 minutes to read that article  it could radically
                                                                   redefine your thinking on fat and carbohydrates.
                                                                   So, feel free to eat healthy fats, and stop buying low fat
                                                                   garbage.
                                                            	
 
Pooooooor fat. Its gotten a bad rap over the past number
of decades, so companies have been doing everything
possible to make everything low fat and healthy! (while
adding all sorts of preservatives, chemicals, and sugar).
Yupcut out the fat, increase the carbs.and look where
THAT has gotten us.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                                13
                                                               Dont worry about eating every three hoursour
DO I NEED TO EAT EVERY                                         metabolisms arent that smart.
THREE HOURS?
                                                               Sometimes, its even okay to skip a meal or two, as long
                                                               as you dont go berserk and eat 7 pizzas because youre
                                                               so hungry afterward.
Nope. Eat when youre hungry, dont eat when youre not.            	
 
Going again back to our evolutionary history, we didnt
always have the luxury of going to a vending machine or
drive-through window to pick up food. Sometimes wed
go all day long, or even days at a time, without finding any
food. Luckily, were designed to use our excess fat stores
as energy in these situations.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                           14
                                                              chicken, and grass-fed beef, these products can be a
WHAT ARE THE                                                  bit more expensive in conventional stores due to the
CRITICISMS OF THIS DIET?                                      processes needed to get them there. If you cant afford
                                                              grass-fed beef, do the best you can and just get the
The main criticism that I continue to come across is that     normal kind.
its fear mongering and vilifying grains in the same way
that fats have been vilified.                                 However, farmers markets often have well-priced meats,
                                                              eggs, fruits, and vegetables that are locally grown and
                                                              incredibly healthy. Even if youre spending a little more
If you really want to drive yourself mad, go spend 30         money than before, when you factor in your overall
minutes reading the comments on Tim Ferriss and Robb          health, spending a few extra bucks on healthier food
Wolfs highly entertaining article about the Paleo Diet      now is a wiser investment than thousands later on costly
its a bunch of dietitians yelling back and forth at each     medical expenses.
other citing different studies and sources and then calling
each other wackjobs.                                          Its tough to eat Paleo in todays society! A normal
                                                              breakfast in the US consists of bagels, muffins, toast,
If youre not careful, this type of diet can get expensive.   cereal, or donuts. NONE of those things have any
But as we know, with a little research, we can make           nutritional value, theyre loaded with tons of carbs and
eating healthy incredibly affordable. Admittedly, while I     calories, and are composed of processed grains that can
recommend eating organic fruits and veggies, free range       jack up your stomach. Eating out at restaurants can get
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                       15
tough, and paleo-approved is not something youll          debate from Nerd Fitness, check out this article about the
usually find on a menu. Eating in this manner requires       debunking of the Paleo Diet, and this one on a how to
careful planning and tons of willpower, but it can be done   go Paleo-ish.
if youre dedicated.
                                                             But this is just a meat diet, and eating all meat is bad!
But cavemen had short lifespans! We live way longer         First of all, consider your sources and do your research
nowI agree with you here, but only because you dont       before jumping to the conclusions. Next, this is not an
have to deal with the dangers of living back then. Give      all meat diet or zero carb diet like Atkins. The biggest
those hunter-gatherers access to modern technology           component of the Paleo Diet? Vegetables! Every meal
and medicine and I bet their lifespan would easily surpass   in a true Paleo diet has a moderate amount of healthy
ours.                                                        (properly raised chicken, grass-fed beef, hormone
                                                             free, etc.) meat combined with nutritious veggies or a
Lastly, there are those that claim that all of this were   moderate amount of fruit.
not designed to eat grains stuff is garbagethat plenty
of societies around the world consume grains and arent
fat and unhealthy like us. The China Study is frequently
cited when criticizing the Paleo Diethere are some
essays, reviews, and a debate between the author of the
Paleo Diet and the author of the China Study that might
help you reach a decision. And for more on the Paleo Diet
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                        16
                                                                I could cite sources about how the Paleo Diet has
MEH, I'M STILL NOT                                              changed peoples lives or even saved this Doctors life
CONVINCED                                                       (must watch!), but instead I just ask you to try it and then
                                                                judge for yourself.
The human body is so incredibly complex that I doubt            Take a picture of yourself now, and then another 30 days
well ever have a definitive answer on the best possible        from now.
diet. This one might sound like a fad to you, or its too	
 
restrictive, complicated, etc.                                  I bet youll be surprised.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                            17
                                                                    without grains. In that time we learned to thrive as a
WHAT DOES STEVE THINK                                               species without grains (or else we wouldnt be here).
ABOUT THE PALEO DIET?
                                                                    The other reason Im a fan is because you can eat what
                                                                    you want (provided its paleo), when you want, and eat a
                                                                    lot more than if you were eating processed grains (while
                                                                    still eating a caloric deficit!). Eat a huge breakfast, skip
                                                                    lunch, and a big dinner. Eat a small breakfast, two snacks,
                                                                    and then dinner. Do whatever makes you happy and fits
                                                                    in your schedule. I like this kind of stress-free eating.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                                18
love this diet because I know it WORKS. I know people
that have lost incredible amounts of weight and changed
their lives within a matter of months.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                           19
                                                                     Marks Daily Apple: Easily the most comprehensive
OK, I'M INTRIGUED, WHERE                                             resource on the Internet for the Paleo DietMark writes
CAN I GET MORE INFO?                                                 an article every weekday about everything Paleo, and
                                                                     it usually blows me away. Some of the posts can get
                                                                     overwhelming, so I suggest starting with his Primal
                                                                     Blueprint 101.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                                  20
                                                            Robb Wolf: Another great resource, and a guy Ive
  The Rebel Fitness Guide: Yup, tooting my own horn         already referenced in this article multiple times. Check
  here. Im a fan of the Paleo diet, but i know it can be   out his site for a comprehensive FAQ on all things
  intimidating, so Ive created a diet philosophy that      Paleo, a shopping list PDF (right-click and save), and
  allows you to slowly ease into the Paleo lifestyle. I     plenty of humor.
  still include resources for vegans and vegetarians
  if thats your thing, but I focused on making this           The Paleo Solution: Robbs book seriously had me
  whole diet thing enjoyable and educational.                laughing out loud at certain pointsnot bad for a
                                                               book on diet! It is a little less forgiving than Marks
                                                               book above, but its still a great read.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                      21
                                                                 his site. Pick something on the list, go buy the ingredients,
PALEO RECIPES?                                                   and follow the instructions! So easy even a caveman can
                                                                 do it.
                                                          	
 
                                                                 Nerd Fitness: Start with a Nerd Fitness approved basic
                                                                 Paleo meal or move on to something more fun like Paleo
So youre ready to eat Paleo, but you dont know how
                                                                 spaghetti.
to cook anything, huh? Have no fear, the Internet is a
wonderful place.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                              22
                                                              For some people this helps them stay on track, when for
EASING INTO IT                                                others it can be derailing. That will be up to you.
Maybe youre ready to try out this Paleo lifestyle, but you
                                                              Get rid of the temptationif youre gonna go at this thing
cant commit fullythere are certain foods you refuse to
                                                              with a full head of steam, remove all the junk food from
give up, or you cant afford to buy grass-fed beef at the
                                                              your house. Its going to take a few weeks for your body
moment. Thats okay! If you can even make a few small
                                                              to adjust to burning fat instead of glucose, and you might
changes here and there (cut out liquid calories, switch
                                                              want to eat poorly here and there. If theres no food in
out your rice for steamed vegetables, cut back on bread,
                                                              your house to tempt you, it will be much easier to stay
etc) youll start to see some changes. Remember, 20%
                                                              on target.
healthier is better than 0% healthieras you get more
comfortable with the changes you can increase that
percentage.                                                       Remember, in the Nerd Fitness
                                                                  Academy, weve created a step by step
One method (the one I like) is the 80% methodeat really          way to slowly ease into the Paleo Diet,
well during the week (all paleo), and then give yourself
                                                                        using baby steps that make the transition not
a day on the weekend to eat whatever you wantpizza,
                                                                        only easier, but seem like youre not making any
ice cream, cheeseburgers, bagels, etc. Get it out of your
                                                                        changes at all.
system on that one day, and then get back on track the
next day.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                        23
WHAT ARE YOUR                                                    Remember, one of the major Rules of the Rebellion is to
EXPERIENCES OR                                                   question everything!
THOUGHTS?
Your turn.
Have you tried the Paleo Diet? What was your experience
like? Have a criticism of the diet that I didnt cover before?
Do you have another paleo recipe resource? Join the
discussion on NerdFitness.com!
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                        24
ABOUT NERD FITNESS AND                                           If youre interested in joining us, the best ways to
STEVE KAMB                                                       stay connected are listed below:
                  My name is Steve and I started                 Sign up for free updates: Two articles a week plus
                  NerdFitness.com back in 2009. Since            exclusive content just for subscribers.
                  then, it has evolved from a boy and his
                  blog into a community of THOUSANDS            Join us on the Nerd Fitness Message Boards 
                  of desk jockeys, nerds, and Average Joes       40,000+ Rebels and growing daily.
                  all over the world working together to
level up their lives.                                            Be a fan of Nerd Fitness on Facebook: Even my
                                                                 mom is a fan, so you KNOW its cool.
Wed love for you to join our Rebellion. Heres what we
stand for.                                                       Follow me on Twitter: I dish out daily doses of rebel
                                                                 wisdom along with links to ridiculous things I find.
I hope to see you around the community. Now go eat
something healthy and pick up something heavy!
                                                             Photo Sources:
                                                             Cavemen elephant hunt, darth vader vendor, lego bread and carbs,
For the REBELLION!!!                                         milk truck lego, caveman with wheel, lego muffin, storm trooper
-Steve Kamb, NerdFitness.com                                 tomato, chef and lego pig, lego clock, lego man with pasta, lego
                                                             caveman forging for food, lego explorer, lego cook.
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM                                                                                                             25
WWW.NERDFITNESS.COM   26