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I will start with mine. I don't use plastics. You will always see me drinking out of a mason jar (and people ask me if that's moonshine, pond water or science experiment). I also don't use Teflon pans. I use stainless steel pans. I also don't use a microwave oven.

EDIT: I have become less hygienic since adapting Paleo. I am an ex-germaphobe. But now I love playing with dirt when I garden! I love looking at small tiny animals in my garden, such as snails, earthworms, ants....etc.

What are your Paleo practices?

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Why a mason jar instead of a glass bottle? – Glither May 25 at 5:25
I haven't found a big enough glass bottle! – coffeesnob May 25 at 9:27
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Waking with the sun! – latergator May 25 at 11:26
I am working on waking with the sun as well. It's kind of hard when the sun rises at 6AM where I live. – coffeesnob May 25 at 13:28

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I like this question. I try to walk everywhere and make a point to avoid elevators/escalators (stairs!) I wear my baby throughout the day, no stroller, no lugging around in an infant car seat. I breastfeed. I try to avoid plastics as well and used to do the mason water jar deal but it was confiscated on so many occasions (disneyland, haha) that I elected to buy an aluminum bottle instead. I'm usually barefoot. I lift heavy things. I stay out during the day and try to keep artificial light to a minimum (sleep is usually segmented). No microwave either.

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I know! There is so much hate for mason jars in the world even in disneyland. Aluminum bottles make my water taste funny... – coffeesnob May 25 at 10:09
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Here's a portable, glass water bottle-- it's 22oz and has an exterior silicone sleeve to make it grippy (it's also dishwasher safe): amzn.to/Hsetwz – LiveFabuLESS May 25 at 11:35
Awesome! Thanks, LiveFabuLESS! – coffeesnob May 25 at 13:12
If you want to try aluminum, find one with a (BPA-free) lining to avoid that metallic taste. I really like my SIGG bottles; I like that I can drop them without consequence. – raney May 25 at 14:55
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Actually I really love my mason jars. It makes feel like such a paleo hipster hahaha – coffeesnob May 25 at 15:20
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I play computer games all night. And work at a desk on a computer all day. PAAALEEEOO

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looool, paleo gamers represent – CS May 25 at 16:15
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I make my own toothpaste and no longer use commercial lotions, only coconut oil and lanolin.

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please share how to make your own toothpaste! – coffeesnob May 25 at 9:28
where do you get lanolin? – coffeesnob May 25 at 10:04
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I have used both of these: amazon.com/… and amazon.com/Now-Foods-Lanolin-Pure-Ounce/dp/… The toothpaste recipe I use is here: everydaypaleo.com/2011/09/27/… My teeth and mouth have never felt cleaner. I will never willingly go back to store-bought toothpaste! – MathGirl72 May 25 at 11:10
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yay! I am so excited now! I am going to have more uses for my mason jars to store my toothpaste and lotion! haha – coffeesnob May 25 at 13:12
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A lot of these existed pre-paleo, but it all seems to jive quite nicely:

  • I buy handmade, natural, local laundry detergent and soap.
  • I often clean with just hot water, no soaps or chemicals. This goes for floors, dishes that aren't too bad, bathroom surfaces, etc.
  • I'm barefoot as often as possible.
  • No microwave, no television.
  • We've switched to coconut oil for lube.
  • No car; I walk four - five miles most days. Sometimes closer to ten.
  • I spontaneously climb trees. At times in rather public places, eliciting some very disturbed looks.
  • I don't use sunscreen or lotions (except immediately post-tattoo; has anyone tried coconut oil in that scenario? I was too afraid of messing it up!)
  • I do pull ups on pretty much anything of the correct height. Regular stops include a couple different bus stop shelters, tree branches, and whatever else I can get my hands on.
  • We have backyard chickens. Currently doing some research on getting a pair of dwarf goats as well.

I have a ton of house plants too, which definitely feels natural. Something about the lush greenness is rejuvenating, like a mini dose of forest bathing.

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Hahah you are the tree climber I saw at the park the other day! – coffeesnob May 25 at 10:10
hey, raney! You live in Colorado, the healthiest state! Do you think where you live is more paleo-friendly than other states like..... OHIO? – coffeesnob May 25 at 15:28
This is the only place I've lived since adopting the paleo mindset, so I can't compare on that per se, but generally speaking there is more attention to healthy, local food here than most places I've lived. Granted, 29% obesity or whatever it is, is still a LOT of people. I think that there are things that are conducive to the lifestyle (plenty of open space parks, hiking trails, health food stores, farmers markets, restaurants with low carb menus, etc), but largely life is as natural as you make it. – raney May 25 at 16:51
I would say that the amount of effort one has to put in to live a high quality, more natural life, is lesser in an environment such as this. OR, CA and WA have that same feel. I certainly feel more that I'm flowing with things rather than fighting against them, in regards to my local community. – raney May 25 at 16:52
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I've started easing my way into cold showers, trying to keep my bedroom cool at night by leaving a window open, trying to go to bed early enough so I wake up naturally without an alarm, walk barefoot on grass and sand, and I'm using bi carb soda and aromatherapy oils for cleaning.

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Excellent question.

I try to lay in the grass at least once a day when weather permits.

I take my shoes off when I play with my kids outside.

I sleep on my back with the window open.

I try to wake up slowly. No rushing out the door, no cramming food down, no extreme exursion.

I grow several small gardens.

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Sleeping on one's back is a small change, but it sure does make a big difference - both in getting to sleep, and in how I feel upon waking. Good one! Did you pick that up from the MDA article? I like his idea of elongating the spine after laying down. – raney May 25 at 14:50
No I actually got it from DurianRider - that anti-paleo vegan-nazi that is famous for eating like 40 bananas a day or something. You can find good information from very odd sources sometimes. – Adam Adkins May 25 at 15:11
Oh I also sleep on my back on the floor! – coffeesnob May 25 at 15:22
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I make my own sauerkraut and kvass. I'm brewing some t'ej right now (still bubbling). I'm a little afraid to try kombucha.

I wear zero-drop shoes most of the time (haven't given all my high heels away, though).

I sleep in as close to complete darkness as possible, and am careful about when I expose myself to blue light.

I am working on cold adaptation. Shiver walks work better for me than cold baths at this point--easier to do on the spur of the moment (don't have to wait for the tub to fill).

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I made my first kimchi this week as well! I should start working on cold adaptation! – coffeesnob May 25 at 15:23
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Pre-paleo logic? I was a vegan/on the toilet 24/7

Post-paleo logic? I eat more meat now in one week, than I used to eat in a whole month when I was omni (pre-vegan)... and I don't spend 100 hours on the toilet ... #winning

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I make my own laundry detergent, toothpaste, household cleaners, and deodorant.

I use coconut oil for all my moisturizing needs. No sunscreen, and barefoot all the time.

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Wow. That's impressive! Would you share the recipes for detergent, household cleaners and deodorant? – coffeesnob May 25 at 20:13
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Deoderant>> squidoo.com/homemade-deodorant-recipes Laundry Detergent>> thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm Household Cleaners>> eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm – Kimber May 26 at 14:17
Thank you! This is so awesome! – coffeesnob May 26 at 16:48

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