Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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So I've been really interested in the Paleo diet for a few years and want to try a 30 day challenge to see if I can do it. The thing is, I always see Paleo paired with Crossfit, and I understand that they go hand in hand, but I guess what I want to know is whether it's silly to do a Paleo diet without Crossfit? I do work out, get a fair amount of exercise so it's not as though I sit on the couch all day long and plan to just incorporate some pork rinds, but I'd like to hear if there are people out there who do Paleo without Crossfit, and why did you decide to do Paleo?

Ultimately I'd like to get into Crossfit, but as of now I don't see it happening.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts!

flag	asked Jan 4 2012 at 18:43 Laina 2,952●3●12

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You should look into Movnat. It is not governed by rules like cross fit, but is completely scaleable and adaptable. It plays on our natural and evolutionary movements with a focus on movement competency. Great for anyone and can be practiced in almost any environment. – josh Jan 4 2012 at 20:40

JoeBranca at paleoplusone.com · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-04 18:56:33Z UTC

by no means is Crossfit necessarily paired with the paleo diet!

Having said that, i shy away from looking at or explaining paleo as merely different food choices. it IS lifestyle centered and you need to re think not just what goes in the mouth but how you interact with your environment. We are looking for clues from the past and competent research to better understand how we were designed to function in our environments, diet being one element. Activity changes should emphatically not be merely optional; the extreme culture of convenience we assume today should be phased out within reason and circumstances. Smart diet changes will give you the energy and motivation to fix everything else.

Crossfit is not for me, and I suspect a lot of people here. But it works great for others (as long as its done in a reasonable and scaled fashion I would think). I am content to go other avenues to interact with my environment and actualize more of my body's potentials. I don't like to call it an "active lifestyle" because that assumes what is common is normal and what I or others here do is novel or extreme. It's not. It's how we were designed to function so that we thrive into the later years as much as we can.

Aaron · Answer 2 · 2012-01-04 18:49:34Z UTC

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I've never done a day of Crossfit - been eating Paleo a couple years now. There is no mandatory exercise regime - just do something other than sit around (ideally something outdoors).

answered Jan 4 2012 at 18:49

Aaron
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Kasra · Answer 3 · 2012-01-04 18:50:58Z UTC

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These are two completely isolated things.

Core paleo dogma is actually probably anti-Crossfit and favors less stressful exercise like walking.

answered Jan 4 2012 at 18:50

Kasra
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Thumper · Answer 4 · 2012-01-04 18:48:40Z UTC

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The two really have nothing to do with each other - sure many paleo's crossfit and many crossfitters eat paleo, but you do not have to do one to do the other.

So take the plunge, do the 30 day challenge - you will not be sorry!

answered Jan 4 2012 at 18:48

Thumper
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jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com · Answer 5 · 2012-01-04 18:56:21Z UTC

Umm.. you don't need CrossFit. You can adopt Paleo without any sort of exercise if you so choose, but obviously the best way to go is with some sort of physical activity. Ride a bike, go for long walks, chase after a dog or a kid, dance, skip around.

The overall goal, well to me, is to eat healthy, live healthy, make everything I do - and to make each day, the best. Yes I do CrossFit but I started Paleo before joining my box, cycling around 100+ miles a week.

I pinky swear that you don't have to go high intensity or move heavy weights to eat Paleo-style or to start your Whole30. Have fun! Seriously :)

Nate · Answer 6 · 2012-01-04 20:27:43Z UTC

I'm not anti Crossfit by any means, but I will never do it. I'd rather be outside (rain, snow, shine - doesn't matter) than in some stinky 'box' doing burpees. With that said, I think it's MUCH, MUCH more important that you worry about doing the 30 day challenge first. If you can be true to the challenge, it WILL change your life! Let the other pieces fall in to place once you have your diet sorted.

I have been unable to exercise for the past six months due to a bad back. It's killing me not being able to go ski or bike or hike or climb or surf or...... God I miss it. BUT, I made a commitment to eating strict Paleo over a year ago and have stuck to my guns (before being 'Paleo', I still ate pretty damn close to Paleo without knowing it). In the six months I've been laid up, I have only put on 5 lbs, and that's probably because I've been eating a bit too many coconut and almond flour pancakes recently..... Or it's just my body normalizing to its current situation since my weight does fluctuate by a pound or two here and there anyway.

What I'm trying to illustrate is that diet should be your first concern (unless you drink a gallon of vodka per day or have other vices that need to be nixed!). At least in my case, diet trumps exercise. I spent 15 years eating a Standard American Diet while being a religious weight lifter along with doing a number of other activities. I looked good, but I was unhealthy as hell, felt like shit, and battled a few severe health-related issues. Those have all but disappeared since going Paleo.

Since you're just beginning, don't read too much in to the nitty-gritty on this site. Some people go a bit nuts with the diet and analyzing every little aspect of it. Keep it Simple! Out of all the gurus out there, I really like Kurt Harris's approach and follow it the closest. http://www.archevore.com/get-started/

Good Luck!

conciliator · Answer 7 · 2012-01-04 18:49:47Z UTC

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They don't go hand in hand.

answered Jan 4 2012 at 18:49

conciliator
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BaconHealsChic · Answer 8 · 2012-01-04 19:07:42Z UTC

So I'm not adverse to crossfit and I know there are many benefits but I'm emotionally/historically tied to traditional weight lifting. For me...unless they have a great beginner's program in their gym it's not the thing I would choose to do.

Shari Bambino · Answer 9 · 2012-01-04 19:13:29Z UTC

I don't see the two as completely separate or mutually exclusive hence the question which I can imagine is on the mind of many new to paleo. Many crossfiters eat paleo and many paleos cross fit. They are heavily linked in origin, development, practice and perception. But I agree with the point others are making in that there is no requirement that a crossfiter eat paleo or a paleo eater do crossfit.

Paleo without Crossfit?

9 Answers