Robb Wolf’s Paleo Solution

An absolutely integral part of fitness is diet. We get questions from students about nutrition, and since Krav Maga is a “Self-Defense, Fighting, and Fitness” system, I suppose it’s appropriate to address here. Know, however, that if it were up to me I’d add nutrition to politics and religion as topics to avoid discussing at parties!

Let me begin with disclaimers. Krav Maga Worldwide does not endorse a particular diet or nutrition plan, and—as with most every post—I am offering this solely as my own opinion. Next, though I think doctors and nutritionists who push the USDA Recommended Daily Intake and most pharmaceuticals are completely out to lunch [pun mostly intended], I am neither an MD nor an RD. What follows are my own opinions based on what I’ve learned and experimented with. Finally, even though I’m one of the Paleo Solution podcast’s six listeners (you’ll have to tune in to get the inside joke), I have been offered no incentive to write this.

I came to learn of the Paleo lifestyle about 18 months ago and have been very happy with the changes it has made in my overall health. If you want to improve how you “look, feel, and perform”, I can recommend no better way of doing so. Outside of Professor Loren Cordain, perhaps the world’s leading expert on Paleolithic diets, the two people at the forefront of bringing this lifestyle to the masses are Mark Sisson and Robb Wolf. Mark’s excellent book The Primal Blueprint was released last year. Robb has now codified what he has taught to clients, seminar attendees, and podcast listeners into a new book, The Paleo Solution – The Original Human Diet.

Robb is a former powerlifter, kickboxer… and research biochemist. He was CrossFit’s subject matter expert (SME) for their nutrition certifications. He co-owns NorCal Strength & Conditioning. In general, Robb is a bad-ass with buckets of knowledge and experience. (Before I start rambling and lose your attention, I’ll let Robb speak for himself. Click here to see a brief author’s video on Amazon, and click here to view the Paleo Solution Podcast.)

The Paleo diet (a liver shot for anyone who says “caveman diet”) is, at its root, a focus on food quality. It very closely resembles the CrossFit recommendation: “eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar”. By eating the whole foods that were available at the time of our Paleolithic ancestors, the diet boils down to two basic intents:

• Control insulin and increase insulin sensitivity
• Minimize systemic inflammation through balancing essential fatty acid ratios and avoiding gut irritants

By taking steps to do these things, we improve our biomarkers for health (the under-the-hood stuff like cholesterol and blood sugar) and our body composition (less fat, more muscle). Because most modern ills stem from inflammation and the Paleo diet is naturally anti-inflammatory, many diseases and health conditions can be prevented, treated, or even reversed. This is all while eating delicious food and not counting calories. Of added interest to us, Robb’s recommendations also come as an athlete and a coach. This diet will enhance performance, not hamper your efforts.

Throughout the book, Robb uses anecdotes, personal experiences, and hard science to relate and prove his assertions. This, combined with the fact that he’s not hawking an extensive catalog of supplements and energy bars, saves Robb from being yet another diet-peddling charlatan. Then there’s the simple logic of it: who can legitimately argue against eating more nutrient-dense whole foods and less processed crap? It might not be up your alley to read diet books for entertainment, but Robb is a hilarious and irreverent contrarian, and his personality comes out in the text.

This Paleo thing isn’t a way station between “regular” eating, it’s a permanent lifestyle change. For many people, this change is admittedly difficult, and Robb offers some tips on getting compliance in a step-wise fashion if necessary. While Robb’s ultimate goal is to maximize people’s health and longevity, one might say that his immediate goal with the book is to get people—especially the naysayers—to try the lifestyle for 30 days. If, after one month, you honestly don’t look, feel, and perform better, what was lost?

If you’re at all interested in this, I encourage you to get the book and do your own research. There are scores of new blogs created everyday, but here are some initial resources:

Robb Wolf FAQ
Mark’s Daily Apple
Whole Nine