on the heels of the unhealthy living summit and sudden surge in paleo popularity, this post has been a long time coming. first of all, as someone actually qualified to speak about exercise physiology and/or biological function, i want to state this isn’t supposed to be a divisive post. however, after some recent observations in the blogworld, someone has to say it. i’m all for female solidarity but seriously…some of you bitties are crazy. don’t get me wrong, i am thrilled that it is becoming more socially acceptable to eat this way but be sure that you really know what this lifestyle is about before jumping on the bandwagon ^_^
i used to identify as a healthy living blogger but over the years, i’d say the delicate place has evolved into more of a lifestyle forum where i share a range of ideas, or experiences that make life so enjoyable. i’m certainly not the first paleo blogger or the virgin vibram five fingers wearer but i do speak from 3 years experience eating/exercising this way. i was the black sheep at the healthy living summit last year being paleo where my lunch option was a few leaves of lettuce since i don’t eat franken faux meats or grains. why was it so difficult to find real food at lunch? also, i didn’t exercise all weekend since i wanted to explore philly. you can read about my full experience last year here. ironically, it’s also my most read post. now flash forward to this year, where crossfit and paleo have had a resurgence and its new converts are worshiping at the box idol. guess what people, the box doesn’t advocate 2 a day workouts and under eating!
the blog that has bar none reset my thinking about a healthy lifestyle in general has been mark’s daily apple. go over there and just read some of his topics. while i don’t agree with mark on everything (metabolic function–i don’t eat low carb and still have a 6 pack), he’s a smart guy and encourages balance, not over-thinking things, exercise for pleasure or to relieve stress and to go head to head with our 21st century stressors. i hardly read any blogs pertaining to ‘healthy living’ anymore because quite frankly, i don’t understand how one can confuse ‘cheesecake’ or any other bastardization of dessert with oatmeal. i also don’t have time to work out for hours a day let alone more than a couple times weekly.
bottom line: life is short so laugh often, take walks to enjoy the scenery. spend time with those you love instead of holing up in the gym. sleep well & stop worrying so much about making your fat cry and enjoy a scope of plentiful seasonal produce with your proteins.
August 19, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Amen sista. Diets full on franken food and exercise obsession can never be my thing. I consider myself healthy but like my fries done in duck fat and my gin and tonics strong. I say each to his own but can’t agree that many “healthy lifestyles” are so healthy indeed when they stray too far one way. x
August 19, 2012 at 8:17 pm
mmm duck fat and gin. That sounds perfect to me. Or foie gras.
I love Mark. Been reading him since 2008. We met him at a few triathlons in CA. He’s just as fit looking in person.
I love this post, mainly because i never seem to go with the trend and yet I feel so consumed by it. Make sense?
August 19, 2012 at 8:18 pm
whoops meant to say GOOSE foie gras. haha
August 19, 2012 at 8:32 pm
ah jealous you met him! you make perfect sense and this post is hopefully sounding a siren to other women who may feel the same way or think they have to live up to some bizarre ‘ideal’ that is being sprinkled across the blogworld. i’m here to say it is NOT healthy and to beat to your own drum and listen to your heart!
x
August 19, 2012 at 8:30 pm
oh no one will ever rip the dirty martini from my paws! i feel very strongly about my choices and have confidence that while not everyone will agree, i have a clean conscience about the things i post here.
August 19, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Agree with this post
Sometimes it’s just hard to see why someone would just want to torture him/herself by working out excessively, obsessing with what he/she can or cannot eat etc etc. I do strive to eat squeaky clean paleo all the time, but I won’t sweat it if I slip or if I feel like having some fries or pop corn, I’ll just roll with it and move on. 
Btw did you go to AHS12? I wish I could go but this time I had to pass..a bit too pricey for me..hopefully next year they’ll be somewhere closer to West Coast.
I’m envious of your 6 packs btw
August 20, 2012 at 12:11 am
hey jos! no i did not make it AHS12 this year since work right now is in crunch time. we have a phase III clinical trial ending very soon and my work in the lab is critical as we near this time point. as much as i would have loved to attend, i am dedicated to the work we are doing and to my team
August 19, 2012 at 11:30 pm
I love this post and your blog!!! I’ve been a long time lurking on your site, but this is my first comment
I’ve definitely fallen prey to the craziness, but lately I’m trying to find a good balance between diet, workouts, work, and life.
Out of curiosity, what do your workouts look like lately? Are you still doing a lot of bodyrock type workouts?
August 20, 2012 at 12:14 am
kim, thank you so much for delurking! balance IS attainable and only you can find what works the best for you. that said, my workouts lately have been 3 or 4x. the last month i have done something along this format:
mon: rest
tues: 20 min yoga download podcast
weds: rest
thurs: HIIT such as a zwow or interval set i make up myself that lasts <20min
fri: rest
sat: a walk usually to window shop and enjoy the sunshine or to a coffee shop
sun: 20-30mins cardio either a jog or jump rope intervals. i also work on abs this day within that 20 or 30min time frame
hope that helps!
August 19, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Glad to know I’m not the only one disgusted by some of the HLS weekend recaps.
“Healthy Living” or not, your blog inspires me to live MY life in a healthier, balanced way:)
August 20, 2012 at 12:16 am
thank you emily! balance is crucial to enjoying life’s most precious moments! work smarter not harder & do no ever let anyone tell you otherwise. best of luck to you as you carve out your definition of balance & the rest will follow x
August 21, 2012 at 2:55 pm
I’m boycotting reading any in order to save myself from smashing my computer.
August 20, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Until now I wasn’t really sure what the HLS is/was. Not really sure if I could be a part of something like that because that whole obsessive-exercise, calorie-counting thing I used to do is thankfully history.
I’m glad your blog evolved to what it currently is! Love your writing style and personality. Oh, and I admire your smarts too! Phase III clinical trials? Impressive.
Have a great week Melissa!
August 20, 2012 at 3:37 pm
hahahahaha.. we are on the same page as far as HLS goes. thanks for pointing out the fact that this year they are on the paleo/crossfit train. i remember having to go out and buy food last year due to the measly lunch options. great post, love you lots.
August 21, 2012 at 12:21 am
This is cliche, but my first thought when reading your post was, “You go, girl!” hahahaha
August 21, 2012 at 2:48 am
love you!
well you know Lori and I’s story of learning to love fat again. We did it for us. Not to fit into a diet mold. We tried that road and did not work. Even though to some we might eat somewhat paleo, I have NO desire to ever say I am. I just eat what I feel like. And you know we are all about short workouts, although we are learning to just take a casual walk again and not also push hard everyday. Finding our balance!
I like your approach of lifestyle forum.
August 21, 2012 at 4:02 am
I love you.
Ugh, I can’t even read the HLS recaps. I remember last year you were my saving grace! “unhealthy living summit” hahaa. I don’t want to razz it, but seriously, so much processed food. 25 grams of sugar in Chobani flavored yogurt.
You were the orig Paleo girl. I remember you saying how you were probably the only one last year! I’d be annoyed too a little if I were you.
I have been loving MDA lately. My diet is all about my family/how I feel and finding the best way we can eat. Minimal processed foods. I never want to call what I’m doing Paleo-esk, because it’s not…and especially because it’s a trend right now! Ick. I love my fats, and I love my plants! I just happen to be cutting out grains to help combat the sugar and it’s working .
I also don’t have 3 hours to workout every day. I honestly don’t even read that many blogs anymore. I have a handful of friends who I love reading up on, but I am kind of over the HLB community as a whole. That’s one reason I don’t blog as often…I feel I want to just live my life. If I have stuff to say and time to say it, I love writing and interacting with readers…but for me…doing what some of these 2-3x a day bloggers do …I’d have NO life! And be a little too obsessed with myself hahaha
I still at times could be more relaxed. I totally agree with you. I was most at peace, when I first started my blog, preaching to just live and eat the plants, cut out the factory farmed and packaged stuff and –enjoy your life.
Again, love you. We need to hang out again!
August 21, 2012 at 2:53 pm
I’m not paleo and I was pissed off about that lunch! I’m sorry, I like a little turkey or chicken with my meals 90% of the time. Sheesh. OR fish! I think what irritated me the most about it was the fact it wasn’t advertised and therefore seemed shady. Just state what the plan is so if people want to seek alternatives they aren’t scrambling last minute. I’ve also evolved my blog from strictly healthy living to just posting whatever. Some of my most favorite posts have been where I’ve opened up about my annoyances with dating, or sharing the fact I suffer from depressive episodes, and also the traveling and beer. Keep doing what you’re doing, sweets! After that conference, I filtered out a lot of people from my reader and you made the cut because you are real (and also have a fashion sense to die for!). <3
August 22, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I love this post! A healthy lifestyle should be integrated smoothly into your life taking in accounts for your wants and needs and what makes you happy. I honestly don’t really read much healthy living blogs much because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to eat and eating protein balls and oatmeal everyday just does not interest me. I mean there are ways when I will crave for things like that but I would rather just eat out more and pig out how I always do.
For me, as long as I’m eating 80% clean and healthy and exercising lots, I think I’m good to go. Cupcakes, poutine and Vodka.. yes please!
As for paleo, I’ve never tried it. I’ve tried random paleo recipes but I’m not sure if I will ever dive into a new “diet” or change my way of eating yet.
August 23, 2012 at 8:49 am
oh i am so happy to have stumbled across this post on your blog. I have been thinking about mentioning this topic in my blog before but havent been brave enough to seriously adress it, mainly because I try to write about yoga, lifestytle, yummy raw foos and things I love WITHOUT any judgement etc. I like to lead my blog so people can get an idea of the perfect yoga mat and a raw no added sugar cupcake.. life is beautiful and there is so much to díscover, its right there and we just need to take all the oppotunities. to me it also doesnt make sense to put all the energy and effort into a vicious circle of working out, stressing about the grams of carbs you eat in a day, at the same time while taking photos of food and sharing it with the whole world, PLUS waiting for other people to compliment you on your “perfect” lifestyle. If I have discovered one thing in the last couple of years, its that life here to enjoy, to make most of your friendships to make most of the ressources you are given. say nice words to people you love, take deep breaths and enjoy nature, keep your body healthy, eat whole foods, keep it balanced. no black or white. See the bigger picture!
August 23, 2012 at 1:39 pm
YES…love it. It is so funny how the entire HLB world seems to jump around and re-define themselves based on whatever workout is hot/trendy at the moment. “I’m a RUNNER!!! Wait now I am a serious dedicated yogi!!! Wait now I am Paleo and love Crossfit!!!” Not that there’s anything wrong with changing your mind and discovering new things, but there is a big difference between that and just jumping on the latest bandwagon constantly. I also totally agree that a lot of bloggers are masking eating or exercise issues with “healthy living” and it is concerning. I’ve never been to HLS and have no desire to go…even less now having read this post
August 26, 2012 at 2:40 am
love you for keepin it REALZ. thanks for the honest post! I love your idea of beating to your own drum. I stopped eating grains for a while, was semi-primal, had a bunch of food rules….but now I am back to eating whatever I want because I feel happier not having to follow any guidelines. It’s just what’s important for me at this time and works for me…….
And yeah, I think it’s funny to watch the trends come and go like WAVES throughout blogworld. I remember a time when I was the only blogger that consistently ate Greek yogurt! Go figure! ( In fact, without me knowing, a reader of mine even wrote to Chobani months later to explain to them that they should credit me for their growing popularity, as I had started eating it & posting about it when I could find it only in one little Mexican grocery store in a suburb of Chicago! In response to this reader’s email, Chobani then sent me a boxful of yogurt as a thanks, which was a complete shock! Crazy to think how HUGE Chobani is now too!) There are also a lot of blogs I can’t read because I think their ideas of ‘healthy’ are actually completely obsessive in regards to diet and exercise. “Healthy” to me is staying in the present and enjoying my experiences- not having to stress or worry too much about planning food or planning exercise.
So many hugs to you! Hope you’ve had a great weekend!