This would normally be the post where I sum up the previous month’s experiment and list my stats along with the pros and cons. However, seeing as the Primal Blueprint was a rather spectacular failure (my fault, not theirs) – I’ve spent the last week or so licking my wounds and pouting – this will be a little bit different. But hey, if I’m going to go down at least I went down in a blaze of glory. Or ignominy. Whatevs.
The Food Plan
I should know better than to mess with my food. After years of living in this body, you’d think I would have learned to trust it over what someone else tells me it needs. I like being vegetarian. And it turns out I have a lot of reasons besides my health for not that much eating meat. I feel good eating some grains. I’m sorry that some people suffer from Celiac’s disease. I totally get that the Primal Blueprint’s low-carb, high-fat plan works really well for a lot of people (Hi Reader Gretchen!!). It didn’t work for me. I felt like crap on it. I seem to need some carbs to help me regulate my mood and perhaps, if I’d been able to stick with it the whole month, my body would have acclimated. But two and a half weeks of being an exhausted, cranky wench was enough for me.
I should also know that any diet that requires strict restriction triggers my disordered eating. (And apparently I’m not alone in that as that was the #1 reason cited by those of you who dropped out as well.) The end result was several weeks of full-on crazy and a promise to my therapist to not do any more Experiments that require huge changes in my eating.
I did learn some really good things though. I think I will continue to incorporate some meat, especially fish, into my diet on a semi-regular basis. I also did better about planning my meals around the vegetables first. And of course I loved the “cleanness” of it all and the whole foods emphasis.
The Exercise
Going back to CrossFit was like the New Kids On the Block Reunion – fun, nostalgic and made me feel like I was 12 again. However, the songs get kinda old and after doing it for a month I’m remembering the little things that bug me (like Joey’s falsetto – aieee!).
Bulking Up. I know, I know, girls can’t bulk out from weight lifting. Here’s the thing: Girls may not bulk up like men seeing as we have so much less testosterone but girls CAN get bulkier than they like to be. I know that for MizFit and some of the rest of you, bigger is always better. And I am not afraid of some muscle but I like my legs to look lean and toned. Not Olympic Barbie. And I gained two (!) inches on my thighs. This is where I need your help – CrossFit works great for my torso and upper body. Couldn’t be happier with my back and waist. But what can I do for the legs? Any ideas to lean them back out? Don’t want to lose strength, just the bulk.
Wrist Pain. I forgot how joint intensive, especially in the wrists, CrossFit is. I’m already crippled that way from all the typing. Owie.
The Results
Disaster on all fronts. Weight gained. Fat gained. Inches gained. Sigh.
Conclusion
I think Family Man said it best: “I think your experiment has been a success. You’ve shown that this doesn’t work for you, and you’ve done it in only two weeks! That’s half the time it ususally takes for you to decide something doesn’t work right? So all you’ve really done is save time. Great job. I’m impressed.”
I want everyone to know that I am not knocking the Primal Blueprint. It works and works well for some people. I’m just not one of them.
Tune in tomorrow for August’s Great Fitness Experiment!
If you are bulking up (and gaining inches), I would point at the food being at fault. Do you know what your maintenance Calories are? If you are gaining muscle, you are also gaining some fat. Instead of changing my exercise, I would try to maintain my strength and do a slight Caloric deficit.
I would also say that doing high reps at a low weight contributes to bulkiness, though it seems like that is much of the crud published for women in magazines as the solution for not getting bulky!
Oof. Well, I’m glad you (and everyone else who had problems) dropped the primal early. I too enjoy my grains and mostly-meat free existence.
As a gal who puts on “bulk” quickly, I can feel your pain about the legs. Mine have always been large and muscular, and I have no idea how to slim them down. Sorry. Maybe someone else can help?
I have to say that Ive learned so much from you and LOVE YOUR HONESTY.
I stopped reading a lot of fitness mags NOT because they made me feel badly about myself but because everything was an ADVERTISEMENT.
“IT WORKS! IT’S GREAT! YOU’LL LOVE IT!”
I liked that you didnt find that this worked FOR YOU and shared with us why.
I dont think ANYTHING (from the running skirt I love 🙂 to exercise routines) are one-size-fits-all and I know we all come here to see what ‘fit’ CHARLOTTE.
M.
I have to say that it’s refreshing to read your honest take on your experiments. Like Mizfit wrote, so much fitness stuff out there in magazine world is all about the advertisement.
I can’t wait for August’s challenge!
Great re-cap. I think it is was a really good experiment in that you learned not to mess with your food from here on out.
I totally get what you are saying about your legs. Mine are the same way, and regardless of what everyone says about women and bulk, if I lift heavy on the legs, they get bigger than I want them to be. They are naturally muscular. Hopefully someone will chime in with a solution.
Can’t wait for the next experiment.
I think family man is right. Good work.
I have problems with my legs (and hips), too. Anyone’s ideas would be great.
That said, I think it’s just a matter of dropping the extra fat.
Which my body seems loathe to do, even on the Primal, just so you know. But otherwise I’m loving the Primal (I dropped inches other places). I think even Mark would say that everyone’s eventual genetic expression is going to be different!
I think your experiments have so much credibility because you are honest! Quitting early was the only thing that made sense, and I agree with your husband–you found out what you needed to know in half the time, which makes it a success.
Thanks for the results! As with all your experiments. I’ve been able to glean from them and incorporate things that work for me and leave the rest. I learn so much everyday!
Wouldn’t the Ballerina workout lend the long,lean look without the bulk?
August experiment… kettlebells by chance???
I’m glad you were able to cut your conclusion time in half – there is always a silver lining to those clouds! And isn’t it great to know exactly what we can put in our bodies to make us feel our best? I can’t wait to hear what August’s experiment will be!
I’m glad you dropped the Primal thing quickly, but what a bummer that it had a negative impact in those two weeks. I think if you just give yourself some time to regain your balance with food and exercise (I guess that all depends on August’s experiment) you’ll probably return to “your normal” soon.
Put on that cute running skirt and, well, run for slim but strong legs(long slow distance-well, maybe not too long) 🙂
For bulkiness, it’s a combination of things. I’d probably try to drop the weights down a bit and do more reps, as this tends to build muscle and avoid bulk. There’s also eating, as building muscle can just push whatever fat you may have outward, contributing to the bulking impression.
But honestly, everyone’s body is different. Some people bulk easily and that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. I have muscles, but I don’t get definition easily (I jump up and down whenever I get one line of definition), so I don’t look bulky, I just look strong, like maybe there’s some muscle under there.
I don’t think there’s one solution that work for everyone unfortunately. It’s just trial and error and figuring out what works for you.
I find that you have a very healthy outlook on why you stopped this experiment, and why it did not work for you. I am eager to see what the next experiment will be though… Ouh! Can’t wait!
Like they say, different strokes for different folks. What works wonders for one person may not work at all for another.
I’m a bit biased, but I think mat Pilates will work for your legs. If you do it without props, you’ll be using your own body weight and doing a lot of small but intense movements. You could check the library and see if they have any Pilates books there.
As far as DVDs, if anyone’s interested, Jonathan Urla’s “New York Style Pilates” 1,2,and 3 is a great series. (He’s the creator of Yogilates.)
wow- 2 inches in your thighs? i would say it was probably because you messed with your food- not from muscle gain. it takes a while to gain 2 inches of muscle.
http://www.groundedfitness.com
I’m pleased you dropped the regime – partly (selfishly) because I’m relieved I’m not the only gym nut who needs a little carb love in her life. Keep that motor running!
I’ve always, always struggled with having very muscular legs, and the only thing that slims them down is running.
TA x
Thats all you need to know: what works for you and what doesn’t. Good for you for figuring out your limits! And thanks for testing it out for us:)
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