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Simple explanations and reasons about why I am Primally Inspired

 Be Primally Inspired when you EAT, MOVE, and LIVE! I chose to leave out the lengthy scientific reasoning behind the Primal nutrition plans and made this as easy to understand as I could. If you would like more detailed explanations of anything or have further questions, please contact me and I would be happy to explain or answer any of your questions the best I can.

 EAT PRIMAL

Being primally inspired when you eat means that you choose to eat foods the way our bodies our genetically designed to eat, prior to any modern day agriculture. Eat foods that can be grown, hunted, gathered and grow your own or support your local producers. Eating this way provides the most nutrient dense foods that are so good for fueling and healing your body. Stay away from foods that are just empty calories that do so much harm to your body like grains containing gluten, sugar, refined and processed foods.

Focus on eating meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and a lot of good fats like olive and coconut oil and avocados.

When you eat this way, you remove all processed food from your diet, including all grains and whole grains, especially grains containing gluten, artificial sweeteners, and starchy foods like beans. There is no need to count calories or count your daily food intakes. Eat the right things, eat when you are hungry and eat until you are full.

The food that has been provided to us from the earth is there to make us healthy and to live the most vibrant lives, so let’s get back to basics and eat real food to fuel our bodies!

 My story to eating Primal is a little different than most. Unlike a lot of others, who have dramatic before and after photos, I do not. My before and after photos from the outside look very much the same. I am a nationally ranked athlete who has always been very fit with muscular definition. While my outside appearances look the same, my inside photos would probably tell a different story and the way I feel before to the way I feel now is drastically different.

 

I am a top nationally ranked womens ATV racer. Racing these machines at a national competive level requires me to be in extremely good shape in all aspects of physical fitness.

 

 I chose to remove grains from my diet as a challenge to myself a few years ago and had such amazing results. I have never gone back to how I used to eat and I want to share my success with others. I ate extremely healthy in the eyes of most Americans. I chose all organic foods, stayed away from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, etc. and consumed about 50% whole grains because I was an athlete and needed my carbs. I thought I was eating great and doing everything the “right way” until my athletic trainer told me about the harmful effects of grains. I thought he was crazy. Whole grains are healthy or at least that’s what is blasted on every other TV commercial and in all the fitness magazines. I would even travel to the Amish wheat farms and buy freshly ground whole grain flour in bulk so I could make “healthy” breads and pizza crusts. My trainer must have lost his rocker. Besides I needed all the grains I could get to fuel my athletic performance, right? I soon learned that I was wrong, wrong, wrong! I am the type of person who needs to research everything myself before I believe and commit to something, so I used the next 6 months to research everything I could get my hands on about nutrition, grains, gluten, etc. There it was, right in front of my face: Grains containing gluten are harmful to our bodies. I felt so lied to by everything I saw on TV, everything I read in fitness and health magazines, and even by my own doctors. After doing all the research, I challenged myself to take gluten and grains out of my diet and see if the research I did was right. I was eating well in every other aspect, so converting to eating Primal was not as difficult for me. I already ate plenty of vegetables, fruit, meat, and seafood and stayed away from artificial sweeteners and highly processed foods. But when I took the gluten, grains, and sugar out of my diet, I was amazed at what happened.

 Ever since I was a child, I always had to eat every 2 hours or my blood sugar would drop drastically. When I didn’t get food, I would become irritable, get a massive headache, and feel like I was going to pass out. I would eat some food and feel better until two hours later when it would happen again. I always thought I was made this way. I never realized that it was a problem and my blood sugar was all over the place, causing all these symptoms and so much other harm to my body. When I cut the grains and gluten out of my diet, my blood sugar stabilized and has been stable since. I can now go a full day without eating and be completely fine. I don’t get headaches, I never feel like I’m going to pass out and I don’t have the blood sugar mood swings anymore! This has been life-changing for me.

Additionally, I had some intermittent GI issues that I never realized were a problem until I removed gluten and haven’t had one single issue since. I also had occasional muscle aches and pains from the years of being an athlete. I just thought that I was getting older and these aches were the price I had to pay from all the years of training and injuring myself. Now guess what? No more aches and pains! This is amazing to me. All the grains containing harmful gluten were causing inflammation in my body. By removing those grains, I removed the inflammation.

Me with my better half, Zach

One of the biggest success stories from my family comes from my husband, Zach. Since I’ve known Zach, he’s had sinus troubles. He would get anywhere from 5-7 sinus infections a year and would constantly be congested. It was becoming a real problem and I felt so bad for him. We didn’t know what to do. The doctors just kept putting him on antibiotics and didn’t give us any other options.

Zach took a little longer with getting on the Primal nutrition bandwagon. He ate great when he was at home because I was cooking the food and buying the groceries. But when he would go out with his buddies a couple times a month, they’d order pizza and beers and he would eat it. His congestion was getting a little better, but after the pizza and beer nights we would both notice that it was a lot worse. Finally he became fed up with of all the sinus troubles, saw the difference after eating pizza and beer, and decided to go strictly Primal to see if it would work. It took a good 4-6 months, but his congestion is gone and he has not had a single sinus infection in the past 2 years that he removed gluten. It was gluten all this time that was causing his sinus infections and congestion! Interestingly enough, Zach and I have not had one single cold or flu since we committed to giving up grains and eating Primal. By eating Primal, we give our bodies the proper nutrition to heal and fight infections and we stay away from the foods that actually cause inflammation and disease.

MOVE PRIMAL

Jungle gyms make the best gyms! I love using not so ordinary equipment when working out.

Being primally inspired when you move means that you don’t need a fancy gym or expensive membership to get great results. Variety, having fun, and getting proper rest are the keys to success!

My primally inspired fitness routines require minimal equipment and don’t take a lot of time. I lift heavy and engage in quick, bursts of intense exercise just 2 to 3 times a week. The other days, I slow down, rest, and enjoy life like going on a hike with my dog, doing a gentle yoga session out on the piers overlooking the water, going on a nice, easy bike ride or kayaking with some friends or even playing a game of kickball with my nieces and nephews.

Yoga and gentle stretching are among my favorite things to do during my rest and recovery days.

It’s all about variety, challenging your muscles and body, and allowing plenty of time for rest and recovery.

Slow down and enjoy the beauty all around you!

LIVE PRIMAL

Living primally in a nutshell means living simply. We make this life so much harder than it needs to be. It seems like the more advanced we get in science or technology, the more complicated everything becomes.

Be kind to others and the earth, be grateful for the things you have, ask a lot of questions, never stop learning, savor precious moments, make time for others, enjoy the little things in life, never stop having fun, slow down, laugh a lot, and give thanks always. It’s that simple.

 While I do enjoy modern conveniences, I also realize the host of problems and complications many of these conveniences have given us. I am not a hippie or Amish, but I do try to apply the simple and slower lifestyle to my modern life.

The more simple I can make my life, the happier I am.

 

I truly do not care about wealth or status and I certainly don’t think that anyone who has these things is better or more successful than anyone else. What matters to me and what makes me happy is having fun with the people who mean the most to me and making a difference and inspiring others in this life.

Always primally inspired,

Kelly

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47 comments

  1. Avatar

    Kel,
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! Thank you for sharing. I specifically found it interesting about how you used to eat more frequently and would get headaches and would become irritable. Well, as you probably remember, this was me too! I always wrote it off as having a high metabolism but after dabbling in the Paleo/Primal lifestyle not having to eat nearly as frequent was the biggest thing I noticed besides feeling more energized. It truly is amazing! We really have to be our own advocates because what the USDA, FDA and most other government agencies tell us is mostly motivated by money and revenue and not authentic interest and health concern. Great job on this! I will be sure to share. : )

  2. Avatar

    This is one of those articles I truly enjoy reading. This content kept me engaged from the first line to the last. I agree with a lot of what you said and would like to try it, too.

  3. Avatar

    I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks for the motivation!

  4. Avatar

    I¡¯ve looked through 5 other websites on this and yours is by far the best. Thanks!

  5. Avatar

    I am really glad to have discovered your website. I enjoyed reading this and have loved your recipes. Everything I’ve made so far has been amazing. Keep them coming!

  6. Avatar

    Thanks like your Simple explanations and reasons about why I am Primally Inspired | Primally Inspired

  7. Avatar

    I just want to tell you that I am just all new to weblog and honestly enjoyed this blog. Almost certainly I’m likely to bookmark your website . You really have superb writings. Bless you for sharing with us your webpage.

  8. Avatar

    Hi Kelly,
    This was so inspiring! Glad I stumbled upon your site. I’ve been grain free for a year now, and TOTALLY LOVE IT! I started off thinking I was doing the “atkins” diet, but in reality I was really just becoming more “primally inspired”.
    I also keep up a blog if you’d like to check it out! i know I’ll be following along closely!
    http://makewithyourhands.blogspot.com/
    Dems

    • Primally Inspired

      Dems, Thank you so much for your kind words – it means so much to me!! I checked your blog out and subscribed and followed you on pinterest. Awesome stuff you have going on over there 🙂 I have my eye on a few of your recipes – those pumpkin cookies I have to make!!! Take care and I’m so glad you stumbled over here 🙂

  9. Avatar

    Kelly,
    I’m so happy I found your website! Love the recipes and the idea of living primal. You are so inspiring!
    Is there anyway to link the research you read to this website? I’m curious to read it myself 🙂

    • Primally Inspired

      Thanks Kristen 😀

      That’s a great idea. I’m going to do that, but in the meantime, I’ll give you some of my all time favorite resources:

      http://www.marksdailyapple.com – this is by far my favorite website for primal information. It’s a great resource and one I look to often.

      Books I love:
      It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig
      Practical Paleo by Dianne Sanfilippo
      Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis

  10. Avatar

    I love your story! I, too, have always been slim and athletic and I thought I was eating healthy (I followed the FDA food pyramid). But I struggled with fatigue and skin issues. Since going paleo, not only have the fatigue and skin issues gone away, but I have less hunger, better mental clarity, better mood, better skin color/complexion, and like you said, my joints feel better! I am a biologist so I’ve researched paleolithic nutrition A LOT. I’ve been paleo for 3 years now. I will never go back.

    • Primally Inspired

      That is so awesome, Jess. Sounds like we have a lot in common 🙂 I love hearing how nutrition has changed lives. Do most of your fellow biologists feel the same way? I would think they would, but I’m curious to know if they do.

  11. Avatar

    I’m so thankful I was introduced to your site! It’s my goal to change my life for the better and for my family so that we may all be healthier. This is one of many areas I’m working on! This totally makes sense to eat what has always been naturally occurring food. I don’t know that my husband will be able to transition with me but I’m hoping to introduce my children to primal eating. I have eczema (most of my life ) and acne since middle school! Maybe removing grains will help:). Great post and great recipes. Thank you so much for the time you share ad the inspiration!

    • Primally Inspired

      Karena, thank you so much for your kind comment!!
      It took my husband almost a year after I started to get totally on board the primal bandwagon. But now that he’s on it, he’s just as fanatical about it as me, if not even more so (never would have thought that!!). Once he saw all the positive changes in my life, he wanted to be a part of it. So there is hope 🙂

      I don’t have children, but my sister has 4 kids and the oldest one (14) had acne problems and her younger kids had eczema since they were little. They have been eating primal for the past 2 years and the little kids don’t have their eczema anymore! My sister said her one daughter got a flareup a few months ago but that was only because she went to 2 birthday parties in a week and she had cake with wheat in it. Her 14 year olds acne completely went away, too. She said the only time she’ll get acne now is when she’s at school and eats something she knows she shouldn’t with wheat.

      I hope you can share the same success! I wish you the best and if you have any questions, just drop me a line 🙂 And again, thank you so much for your comment!

  12. Avatar

    LOVE THIS!

    Around 6th grade I started have GI issues and I went to several doctors who would all prescribed a million different things, with no change. Through the years it got so bad, that it was hard for me to have a social life (i even was kicked out of High school, cause I missed so many days for being sick, yet had not medical excuse for it) because of this I slipped into a huge depression. Because no one really understood how I was feeling and basically thought I was making it up.

    About 2 years ago I went to see a doctor about a few other medical issues and thanks to his extensive work, he discovered I was Gluten Intolerant. However, recently I started doing extensive research and decided to completely give up grains because in general allergy or no allergy it is SO bad for you. And I have made the vow for my kids not to eat it as well. I still haven’t convinced my husband though.

    • Primally Inspired

      Kelsey, I love hearing that! That is so great that you’ve found a doctor who was forward thinking and willing to look at the role nutrition plays. There are not many doctors out there like that. And I’m so glad that you are now on the road to feeling good and being healthy again 🙂

      I’m hoping that once your husband sees the difference it makes in your life and the kids, he might come around (that’s what it took for mine a whole year later. Now he’s more of a grain police than even me – never saw that one coming! lol)

      I wish you the best and thank you so much for your comment – I LOVE hearing success stories 😀

  13. Avatar

    Kelly,

    I just started going primal/paleo/anti-wheat and it is chnaging my life! the stubborn weight or “babyfat”, as I used to call it, is melting off and I feel better than ever since cutting most dairy and wheat! I stumbled on you blog looking for a good BBQ replacement to use occasionally with all of the meat I am eating. Since then I have read through quite a few of your posts- THANKS for the work your doing! KEEP IT UP!

    Chad
    Phoenix, AZ

  14. Avatar

    Hey, would love to ask ya about food, fitness, digestion, etc. I’m 31, low weight, poor digestion, constipation, anxiety- depression, past issue with orthorexia….lost 🙁
    Need food to be simple and kind without being obsessive…fear I’ve overdosed my overeatng late at night (fruit, yogurt, chocolate alot!, nut butter, etc) …hate to “eliminate ” due to orthorexic past..need ot gain weight + health in a RIGHT wa (age 31), hormones messed up, without being obsessive..just want to be…free 🙁
    No energy or motivation to work out (could barely jog if wanted. Pleas email if you can or want. Thanks!!!

  15. Avatar

    The banana bread was great – I made it with almond flour – good, and then the coconut flour – great! It was served at my Birthday party yesterday with raw cashew cream and only the flour banana bread was left!

  16. Avatar
    Deborah Daugherty

    Hi Kelly,
    I am so glad I ran across your site through googling. I have fibromyalia and I found out from doing research that sugar is the cause. I have been pain free for 1 yr. and 5 months now. I have a 12 yr. old daughter at home and she is learning to bake and loves it. But she has been making dessert with sugar and now that I have found your site, she is making all your desserts. We love your desserts and we have them when we have snacks. Thank you so much for all these recipes. I hope to see more in the near future. Have you ever tried a dessert with fruit juice in place of sugar?

    • Primally Inspired

      Deborah, your comment made my day! It makes me so happy to hear that you have been pain free through diet and nutrition 🙂

      I LOVE that your daughter loves to cook and bake and feel so honored that she is using some of my recipes!! There have been some recipes I’ve tried where I’ve replaced sugar with pineapple juice with really good results. You’ll have to tell your daughter to try it out 🙂 Thank you so much for being here and leaving such an encouraging comment for me!!

  17. Avatar

    Kelly ~ Thank you so much for Primally Inspired! My sister and I went Paleo for all the health reasons and were really feeling great. Except for one thing…..we both live to bake. I searched the internet for Paleo desserts to bake and more often than not ended up wasting expensive ingredients on things we couldn’t eat.
    Then we found you! Every single baked good is absolutely delicious. Now we can be healthy and happy. 🙂

    • Primally Inspired

      Colette, thank you so much for these kind words! It means so much to me and I thank you for brightening up my day! So glad to meet another fellow Paleo-er who loves to bake! Thank you, thank you again!!

  18. Avatar

    Kelly – Thank you so much for the time you take to write this blog. My husband and I just started eating Paleo about 4 months ago and it has changed our lives. Your blog is my favorite for reading and for recipes. It is saved on my iPhone screen for easy access. Everything you post is wonderful!!! PS I also LOVE the liver pills. Can’t believe the difference they make.

    • Primally Inspired

      Rene, thank you so much for that comment! I was having an especially frustrating day yesterday trying to post a new blogpost (ugh, dang computers – I wanted to throw it out the window!!) and your comment makes it all worth it. Totally made my day – thank you for that!!

  19. Avatar

    Kelly, I just discovered your site and am so thankful to find it. How inspiring!! Thank you so much! I just stopped the wheat two weeks ago, cold turkey, out of the blue because my body was having horrible reactions with bloating and I went off wheat to see if it helped. It did!!! I had always had issues with the bloating but this had become titanic. So I am looking into the primal way of eating. I used to eat more this way when I was young. This site and your recipes will be so helpful in encouraging me. God bless you!!!!!

    • Primally Inspired

      Joni, thank you for such a sweet comment – totally made my day!! I wish you the best and I totally hear you on the bloating. I have lived bloat-free (unless I eat something I shouldn’t lol) since I went paleo/primal (going on 5 years) and I can’t believe I used to think that was just normal before!

  20. Avatar

    Just wanted to agree with the others who have left comments to say how great your website is!

    I have been eating clean and training hard since July and have had great results,however, after reading your website i have been inspired to go paleo/primal for the ultimate health benefits.

    Your recipes are great – I just made the raspberry fudge brownies for a treat this evening. WOW – My family and boyfriend although skeptical at first are starting to convert through evidence that its not about being deprived of foods but finding out that healthy foods can taste great! Please keep baking and posting!!

    Thanks again,

  21. Avatar

    Kelly,
    Great ABOUT ME write up. I really enjoyed your story. I ran across your website by accident about a month ago while looking for something else and came across it again today, lol, and in my experience that means to pay attention to it not to pass it by and ignore it. I am sure the reason will surely present itself to me when I need to know why, until then I am excited to read and enjoy the information you are providing. As a restaurant owner, I am always looking to learn how we can provide education and choices to our guest through our BBQ joint, Hempen Hill BBQ, and know Paleo is on the rise looking to be for great reasons. Thank you for what you do each day and the info you report!
    Cheers to learning something new each day!
    Kathy

  22. Avatar

    Hi Kelley,

    I came across your blog and when I read your info about how your body was responding to grains I was really shocked. My body has always responded to food this way as well and I have never heard anyone else state it. I assumed, the same as you, that it was born this way but it is really annoying to be a slave to food as I am. I have been on a journey for some years to eat healthier and try to find out what I need to do to have more energy. I was wondering if you would mind sending me some of the resources you have read to guide you towards this way of eating? I have recently read a little about the Paleo diet but had not considered the need to cut out all grains until I read what you wrote. I do believe cutting out gluten is a must! I have Celiacs in my family and there are also some thyroid disorders. So much of what you wrote is exactly my story that it is shocking! I would appreciate so much any guidance.

    Thank you so much!!

    Melinda

    • Primally Inspired

      Hi Melinda! Thank you so much for your message 🙂 I’m so happy you read this and know all too well being a slave to food. I have cut out grains for a little over 5 years now and WOW, what a difference!!! My blood sugar is so stable and I can easily go 4-6+ hours without eating and feel completely fine. It’s so awesome!! I’m so excited for you to discover this and try it out because I really think it will help you a lot. But, anyway, to answer your question, my all-time favorite books are Practical Paleo by Diane SanFilippo (http://amzn.to/1p1nCjJ). And It Starts With Food (http://amzn.to/1kj6CFZ). Those are my 2 favorite resources and what have helped me the most to learn the whys and hows. Keep me posted! If you are on Facebook, we have a pretty active and big Primally Inspired community over there that makes it easier to keep in touch (www.facebook.com/primallyinspired) xo, Kelly

      • Avatar

        Thank you so much! I will read these books. There is so much info out there it helps to have a starting point. 🙂 I am on facebook and will look up the community next time I´m on. Also, thank you for the info on ticks. I have twin 2 year old girls and I am freaked out about ticks. Every time I take them out there is one on them! Ugh!!!! It is hard to believe some little bug like that could ruin their lives if they get bit. So….will try the oil you suggest and hopefully they stay far away!!!! 🙂 Melinda

  23. Avatar
    Heather Ridenour

    Hi Kelly,
    My husband had a tick removed from his leg on Friday…got it on Thursday mountain biking in the hills of Santa Barbara.

    I was looking for tick repellent information and ran across your website with really encouraging information. Today, Sunday, he has developed the bullseye and the tick looked just like the black legged one that has been found to carry Lymes. Oh, no. We’re praying.

    Can you tell me what you did to recover and a little more about your journey. We have an NT that we see and she treats lots of people with Lymes, but I would really value your input, as well.

    Thank you!
    Heather Ridenour…i joined your blog yesterday!

    • Primally Inspired

      Hi Heather! Oh no!! I am so thankful you seemed to have caught it early and have a good NT that you can work with. We are away this weekend and I’m not supposed to be on the computer, but I HAD to write you really quickly to tell you something important that I was advised to do right away: get the homeopathic remedy Ledum 30C or 1M immediately! I was advised to take it 3 times a day for 3 days in a row as soon as possible after the bite. I will write more when I get back, but I was told that is the most important thing to do right now. And make an appointment with your NT!!

  24. Avatar

    Hi Kelly,
    I stumbled across your site on Pinterest while looking for gluten free information. I saw the picture of you with your dog and the stream and immediately knew where you were. I live in Fairhill, MD right down the road from the park…we also just got back from camping near York, PA for spring break. Anyway, I just thought that was so ironic that I came across that one picture out of all the millions on pinterest lol! Great sight you have here, keep up the good work 🙂

    Sincerely, Heather

    • Kelly from Primally Inspired

      So awesome, Heather!! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and tell me that! I grew up in Cecil County, MD and visit often (my brother lives in Fair Hill right behind the park – probably very close to you! I love that area!) 🙂

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