PaleoFX – He’s a Fucking Rock Star

Posted: April 23, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Illness, Paleo, Wellness | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who you ask?

Dr. Jack Kruse, neurosurgeon extraordinaire. A man reborn from a scalpel-happy, money-making machine to one obsessed with self-experiment and saving your life, minus the knife.

To be honest, his keynote speech was a bit on the warm and fuzzy side for me, and not that exciting. Others seemed captivated, however, and I understand why. Dr. Jack told a little-known tale of how his life changed, dramatically, over a thousand bottles of wine and the idea of saving a starfish. He is a CHANGED man, a super smart, sciency, doctor guy who is hard-focused on saving lives through nutritional and hormonal protocol.

I wasn’t sold. But I was enticed enough to commit to sitting in on his solo session during day 3 of PaleoFX. During day 2 however, I caught Dr. Jack on a mastermind panel or two, which sucked me in and locked me down as a believer. Yes, folks, I have Dr. Jack fever.

Dr. JACK answering questions between sessions during PaleoFX.
(See that super serious girl in the grey sweater? Yeah, that's me.)

I was literally listening to Jack’s TED presentation as I began this blog. A blog which I had been mulling over in my head since I sat in the front row of Jack’s solo presentation. An amazing speaker, partly because of his confidence but also because of the completely amazing shit he has to share with the world. I’m not sure where to go or start from with a post on Jack so I’ll just list a few awesome tidbits and you can obsess over him all you want if you’re intrigued enough to dig a little more.

Tip of the iceberg:

  • Cold Thermogenesis – Jack believes ‘cold‘ cures, recovers, fixes, aids and promotes healing in the body. Wash your face in cold water. Submerge and let it soak. Now open your eyes. Fast forward and you turn your hot tub to a cold tub and soak all winter. It’ll make you younger, stronger, smarter and live forever… or so it seems. Get in touch with your cold side!
  •  Self Experimentation – Without sharing with others, including his wife or children, he takes on some pretty brutal experimentations. For example, injecting himself with MRSA, going under the knife without anesthesia, refusing pain meds, only to cover his body in … you guessed it … ICE … and find relief. He knows if you live it, you mean it. And he means it.
  • Life Changing – The stories he has to share, of clients who are thriving when they would typically have died. Clients who would be living in a wheel chair are now walking and, in fact, feeling better than they did pre-injury. He wants to change lives and he does. Dr. Jack is a bit radical and I like it. His recovery protocols are unlike any hospital is prepared for.
  • Eye For Fashion – From an oversized overcoat during his is keynote and leather blazer on day 2 all the way to his blinged-out T on day 3 and full-black for TED, you gotta love how Jack Kruse isn’t afraid of anything. He’s got a flair for the fashion and although I may not agree with it, I respect and enjoy his daring metro half. He’s a fucking rock star.

Thank you Mrs. Paleo for the photo of Dr. Jack about to light a stick of dynamite.

“The Standard American Diet, the diet our government, the USDA tells us to eat. That’s the stuff that gets you fat.  I eat that diet for 2 months and gain 25 pounds. Exactly opposite of the Paleolithic Diet.”

 

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No Ladies Allowed

Posted: April 22, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: CrossFit | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From the time we’re born, female humans are prompted to be sweet, delicate, polite, dainty, helpful, soft and pretty. I’ve spent 30 some-odd years first rebelling against, than attempting my best to adhere to, this very definition of being a lady. I always cross my legs, and when not, my knees are tucked gently together. Napkin upon my lap, elbows are never on the table. Although forever-clumsy, I try my best to be graceful even if that means while falling. *Sigh* There’s a lot of pressure on chicks, man.

Enter CrossFit: That sly little devil of a fitness community where ladies are left at the door. Otherwise you’ll find it mighty uncomfortable as your coach prods you to use your ass and not your thighs to get your self below parallel and back without a bounce at the bottom, chest straight up over knees, as fast as you can and with perfect form. Knees out. Keep trying. GO! Shit… what?

Exactly.

Any proper lady could also offer the advice that your hips are to remain closed, quiet and still. Shhh. A lady does not talk of such things for long. At the Box, your hips are everything. Your central power source. Thrust from the hips, bring them up, throw them out, open, stretch, let’s GO! *Deep breath* It’s intimidating as hell. Liberating, as well. Imagine your self in a squat, a weighted bar across your chest, your HIPS are the way you’re going to get your ass up to then thrust that bar straight over your head. RAH! Lady… who?

A lady would find herself flummoxed by the uncontrolled grunts, yelps, gasps and buckets of sweat pouring out of each woman’s reddened face as they push themself farther than they ever thought possible, just to finish …. a workout? But it’s more than that. It’s a routine affirmation of your ability to be successful outside your comfort zone. The zone where ladies wear sweaty tank tops and weird, flat shoes. Where your hair is a mess, your hands smell like dirt and you perspire like a man. You’re allowed to yell and drop heavy things on purpose in CrossFit, although I’m still trying to get used to the later half, still trying to leave my ‘lady’ at the door.

And yet, the most exhilarating part of being a CrossFit Lady, for me, is that you also get to walk around, pretty dress and pearls in check, knowing you could help move that tub of ice and drinks across the yard during an early afternoon brunch, but you’ll let the man of the house struggle on his own instead. A proper lady would, of course, prefer to keep her dress pressed, her nails pretty and keep the fact that she could lift that bucket over head, sprint around the block, drop into a dozen burpees and place the bucket in its desired spot all to her herself.


Have another “No Ladies Allowed” anecdote to share? Post in comments or join in the discussion on the Pushups and Carrots Facebook page.

Cravings… ugh.

Posted: April 10, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Uncategorized, Wellness | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m going to approach this post in a different way because I just don’t have the time or energy to write all that I would like on this subject. Cheating? Perhaps, but sometimes cheaters win. It’s true and you know it. At least I’m still offering you the information in the links I have supplied below (READ THEM!). I apologize for not elaborating in a more personal tone – NEXT TIME!

Get your sugar from another source.

Why do you crave unhealthy carbs?  Here you go!

  • 5 Reasons Women Crave Carbs – Easy to read, I couldn’t have said it better myself. I will say, however, that Emily Deans, M.D. once noted the sugar/sweets/carbs craving during our menstrual cycle could relate right back to the nature of the beast: breast milk. Our first taste of sugar. Lactose, is a sugar. Carbs turn to sugar. Lack of nutrition craves food, comfort, taste. You see the cycle here? Eat real food as often as you’re hungry and you will fill the nutrition gap. That doesn’t mean you will lose those cravings, of course, but you will learn the difference between hunger and craving.
  • Why Do I Crave Carbs?  – Put down the carbs. Seriously. Fill your body with fat and protein from optimal sources and it won’t ‘need’ these simple carbohydrates, it will eventually stop craving them. Of course, that takes a long time, but it happens. One day you’ll wake up and that birthday cake just doesn’t do it for ya anymore.
  • Eat Carbs Crave Carbs – Evil little rascals.

Remember: THEY MAKE YOU SICK.

Ideas to curb the cravings?

  • 20 Tips – Here’s a handy flip through, which I’d like to add “Brush Your Teeth” to – usually comes in handy for those late night cravings. Drink a glass of water, brush your teeth, GO TO BED.

Bad habits need to be broken. It can take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the habit. Bad habits have immediate payoffs – good habits are established for a reason. All things are possible. REMEMBER: you are in control. The food you put in your mouth doesn’t magically appear inside. I’m not saying it’s easy, I’m saying it’s possible.

Find your motivation. Achieve your goals. Be your best.

Please share your go-to tips for curbing a craving in the comments or on our Facebook page dedicated to Pushups and Carrots. We are a community focused on wellness, become an active participant.

PaleoFX – Robb Wolf

Posted: April 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Paleo, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disclaimer: I’ve had this post written for a while but was hesitant to post it due to the level of frivolity found within. I mean I AM a little obsessed with the guy, at least in a dude-changed-my-way-of-thinking-calls-for-a-little-love kind of way. He’s smart and humble and interested in one thing: education. Back to my point; here is the post he published tonight, why he rocks and the reason I relate to him so strongly:

“How Do I convince Someone to Try”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m up to, what I’m trying to accomplish. And I think it boils down to this: I want people to know they have another option. You don’t need sulfonyurea drugs to “treat” your diabetes.  You don’t need to HAVE diabetes! Not many people are aware of this. I am, and I feel morally obligated to get that message out to as many people as I possibly can. Nicki’s mom died from complications surrounding her Rheumatoid arthritis. THREE MONTHS before Nicki met me. How many testimonials do we have on the blog from people putting RA into remission? A dozen? I know in the blogoshpere there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of examples…and it’s just not happening fast enough because wonderful, good people will die needlessly because I’ve failed to get this idea “out there” faster.”

And here is what I originally wrote about Robb and my experience in Austin, but had yet to publish – why the hell not?

Robb just relaunched his site http://www.RobbWolf.com with a new format.

ROBB WOLF.

A number of years ago, when I was first introduced to the concept of paleo eating, a friend told me to read RobbWolf.com. That address was the starting point from which I began a journey focused on something that had everything to do with the quality of life I was interested in obtaining, and more importantly, sharing that info with others. 

Long story short: Robb changed my life by being a seemingly laid back guy with just enough sciency know-how to get his point across in a firm and direct fashion. (DIG.) The message made sense and he makes connections with folks, not because he necessarily likes you, but he cares about an individual’s quality of life and if he truly thinks you’re listening he’ll teach you things that will help you. After listening to his podcasts and reading his work, I was delighted to see him in action on a Discovery Channel’s Curiousity mini-series called ‘I, Caveman‘ where they referred to him as a “writer” and not a “bio chemist”. (Okay, you got me, I was more than delighted, I was HYPE!) Robb was super casual, helpful and he killed an elk with an atlatl. I mean, seriously. My harmless obsession has only remained strong as Robb continues to delivery constant, varied and life-saving information. I’m such a geek, in fact, my husband got me a personalized-signed copy of his book last Christmas. Best gift ever.

After witnessing the Ancestral Health Symposium from a far last fall, I decided if there were another gathering of Paleo-minds I was going to be there. Much to my delight, PaleoFX was created and I immediately tweeted Robb, asking if he’d be presenting. His answer: YES. I purchased my ticket, booked my flight and tried to contain my nutrition-geekery for the next 3 months until I was on the plane to Austin.

Imagine my excitement when I saw him in person at the keynote event. (I’m giddy just thinking about it.) He felt very familiar, just standing there in front of me. So, two vodka and limes later, I was ready to creep on him and ask for a photo. My Austin roommate was kind enough to snap a pic with my phone (THANKS CORI!).

Robb Wolf and I - YAY!

I then insisted on a photo of him and one of our new ‘Paleo’ friends, Ben LaMonte of Inside the Box Athletics. He looks like Robb, right? Come on, maybe a brother or cousin? At least when they weren’t standing next to each other, Ben resembled Robb… and in a room where Robb was to be appearing… can you imagine the whispers?

 and

You see what they’re doing there? What a nice guy! Confident and informed and willing to save your life. Have I mentioned he’s expecting his first child? I can’t wait to see how this plays out. Good luck to he and his wife. His daughter or son is in good hands.

Of course there were dozens of other intriguing and informed presenters at this event. I wasn’t there just to see Robb Wolf. I definitely would have stalked him more if that were the case. Glad I got it out of my system on the first night.

 
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