Application

I'm not a scientist. I read about science from my forays into diet, fitness, and animal husbandry. I also have farm experience. In short, science could have really helped me out. I may have stuck with my original science major in college. I ended up in History.

I just never could get the theory down. There was nothing in science class that helped me to understand much past photosynthesis. (I haven't spelled that one in a long time.) Chemistry was particularly hard for me. Physics was easier. Biology floats somewhere in the middle. I have a hard time understanding science that I can't see. Physics was all about using what we observed - probably why I did rather well.

For my entire life, as far back as I care to remember, application has been the hardest thing for me to do. I have a lot of knowledge stored in my brain. The humanities were the best place for me to excel; however, I am able to handle learning anything. When it comes to applying knowledge, I always have struggled, even with simple expectations: taking out the trash, folding the laundry. I knew how to do it, and I knew it had to be done... but doing it.

That's the problem with my Paleo/Primal adventures, attempts, and efforts. I have all the knowledge I need to have a successful Paleo/Primal/WholeFoods/Ancestral lifestyle. It's just doing it that makes it so hard!

I love to work out. The satisfaction of being able to squat 100 lbs was so cool. That was me before the Marine Corps. Now, nearly three years, several chronic inflammation-based injuries, and two weight-control stints later, I can squat 65 lbs. My overhead press is now at 40 lbs. I only love to work out when I'm the one working me out, instead of a crazy sergeant or staff NCO. My most recent achievement was trying and succeeding at 18-in box jumps. I'm not as fast as I am doing 12-in jumps, but I can jump for 18 in. I know what I like to do, and I know what works. So do it, right?

I'm only committed to one "Slay-N-Play" Day a week at the gym. I'm not a huge fan of spending hours at the gym, but I really like my Slay-N-Play workout. It's heavy on leg work, but hits the upper body too. I don't just do free weights, though that is my focus. I do some kettlebells, I squat, I press, I row, I deadlift, and I even bench press. If I'm not too dead, I throw some plank work in too. There's a reason I only do this one time a week. First, I work four twelve-hour shifts every week, and my hours start at 3 AM. I'm typically exhausted at the end of a day sitting at my desk. It's hard to find time to get to the gym those days. That means I have three days off every week, and I hit the gym pretty hard one of those days. I can find time one day to kill myself on the weights. I am going to add another committed day to the week, but I haven't come up with anything as catchy as "Slay-N-Play" yet.

I had a mentor tell me that once you identify your sticking point, you have to act on it. For me, I've discovered it's application. I have the worst application record probably ever.

So here's the point of this ramble: Why is it so hard to apply the principles of Paleo, etc. to my life? I hope I'm not the only one. Given some time to think, here's what I've come up with:

• Sugar addiction, and sugar is in everything.
• Convenience of food.
• Failure to plan accurately for needed food.
• Failing to take the time to eat.
• Mass cooking days!
• Preconceived notions of exercise and time.

It's hard to make changes, even when you've learned the science behind the changes you need to make.