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)

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