The Modern Cavegirl?

I've been doing some reading on eating plans lately. Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint really struck a chord with me. The idea that our culture suffers ailments due not only to inactivity, but also our consumption of overly processed foods that seem to so often accompany our "go go go" lifestyle, really makes a lot of sense. People seem to have had phenomenal success with this lifestyle, whether their goal was weight loss, or just optimizing their health.

I have a "go go go" lifestyle, and it's nothing I can change at this point in my life. Nor can most people probably. So... here goes my attempt to make paleo/primal work for me in my own way. The modern cavegirl.

I don't have hours to prep meals each day, so I need things that are quick and still healthy. Monday through Friday will be healthy days. I'm fortunate, I have a nice healthy salad bar at work (employer-subsidized too), which makes it easy to make a good meal if I can't bring one from home. I will aim to be good on the weekends as well, but I won't beat myself up too badly if I have a meal that's not the ideal either. So eat healthy the majority of the time, but still allow a (little) splurge every so often, because food is life and love and meant to be enjoyed! As I uncover good recipes, I promise to share.

The other part of the cavegirl lifestyle is the exercise. I don't exactly live like a cavegirl- I work at a desk job and spend too much time during the day (and a lot of nights after the kiddos are in bed) sitting in front of the computer, when my counterpart would be out gathering berries and food for her family. I don't think I could talk my boss into a treadmill at my desk (ha!), and don't foresee the workload lightening up anytime soon, which means making fitness a priority in my day. I will rule my mornings and get my workout done for the day- it is a great feeling to have it done and really charges me up to face the day ahead. My current workout favorite is Turbo Fire- starting week 3 tomorrow.

Last but not least- sleep. Cavegirls were able to sleep and wake with the sun and nap when they felt so inclined. Not going to happen for this modern cavegirl. This is probably the biggest challenge for me right now. Work, kiddos and demands of life in general often keep me up late and up again early. I will aim for at least 7 hours of sleep a night and refuse to sleep less than 6 if at all possible. With the last project at work, I found myself up til 1 or 2am nightly, and back up at 6am. After six weeks of that, my body rewarded me with a nasty cold for the next month. Lesson learned body, lesson learned. I will stick with my at least 6 hour goal. A well rested modern cavegirl is a happy one.

And on that note- time for bed. Here's to good health!