In this episode, Stacy and Sarah talk about Paleo Challenges and what separates them. Then they talk about what could happen if you have disordered eating and attempt a challenge and who it would work well for.

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The Paleo View (TPV), Episode 202: Paleo Challenges

• Intro (0:00)
• News and Views (0:56)
  • Please view Sad Cat Diary, because it is hilarious.
  • You should definitely teach your kids to use the internet, but beware the vile cat memes!
  • Join in on the “Send Sarah Cat Memes” Project, though!
  • See Russ talk about Deep Dish here. It’s awesome!
  • We’ll see about any Thirsty Brain.
  • You should definitely watch Drunk History, if you can, though.
• Our Topic: The Paleo Challenges (7:52)
  • Robb Wolf of The Paleo Solution used to do seminars, then endorsed the Hartwigs and Diane Sanfilippo
  • Diane eventually joined with Liz Wolfe
  • Robb’s original idea was “try it for 30 days and see how you feel”
  • Paleo didn’t start with Whole30, but that is an entry point for many people.
  • The two main challenges: Whole 30 and 21 Day Sugar Detox
  • Whole30 (It Starts With Food)
    • Do it for 30 days, do it clean, no slip ups or you have to start over!
    • Stacy’s Whole 30 posts here and here
    • Focuses on no grains, no legumes, no processed foods, no sugars at all
    • You cannot recreate regular foods on your Whole 30, a concept they call SWYPO, which is rooted in food context, not in food ingredients or nutrients
    • With challenges, Stacy was always focused on “what can I get away with” because of her disordered eating
    • See her post on Is Your Paleo Challenge Justifying Disordered Eating for how all challenges can promote disordered eating patterns
  • 21 Day Sugar Detox
    • Various levels of strict sugar restriction
    • On most restrictive level, no sugar of any kind, including limiting high sugar vegetables and excluding all fruit except a single green apple or green tipped banana
    • Stacy did many of these and has lots of recipes and food journals here.
    • Definitely triggered Stacy “trying to get away” with foods with that one apple or banana.
    • Sarah concerned about going too low carb. See her take on potential adverse effects here. See Stefani Ruper on what signs indicate you need to eat more carbs.
    • People often dive into a 21 Day Sugar Detox and then dive into sugar after.
    • It also seems people “wing it” based on rumors about the programs rather than getting the straight information. Diane has carb recommendations for active people in her program, for example.
    • You don’t want to screw up your hormones and break your metabolism on these challenges! See Episode 195 for more infomation!
  • These challenges have been an entry point for Paleo for many people!
    • We hear from many people who go on and off challenges and see Paleo as a yo-yo diet, but that’s not what’s intended!
    • Stacy says if you do more than three challenges in a year, it probably says that you have disordered eating patterns
    • When first going Paleo, it was months before either Stacy or Sarah even tried to make a Paleo treat, which was a key to their success.
  • Stacy and Sarah prefer the Whole Life Challenge
    • It’s a points based system that rewards you for lifestyle factors as well as food choices.
    • You can be honest and take point reductions when you choose not to follow the plan strictly.
    • Lifestyle factors can count for more than just a simple food choice.
    • Factors include: stretching, water, meditation, etc.
    • Stacy has posts here and here on WLC
    • Online system in a group setting. You compete against your own goals.
    • There’s also a fitness test at the beginning and end that will allow you to see your progress.
    • There’s a little bit of a game aspect with the point system that gives you more immediate rewards. Getting that reward activates a sense of satisfaction
  • And of course if you want a different approach to switching, try Real Life Paleo!
• There might be a guest next week! Or not!
• Thank you for listening!
• Outro (47:58)