The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Ancestral Health Movement: My Journey to Wellness

I'm often asked what the Ancestral Health Movement is, so let me explain it in simple terms. It's a movement centered around health and wellness that looks to the practices and habits of our ancestors for guidance.

My Own Journey

My own journey into this realm started many years ago when I was first exposed to the works of Drs. Price and Pottenger. I discovered them through books and documentaries, but it wasn't until later that I really delved into their research as I began my own journey to better health and wellness.

During this time, I was also introduced to the Atkins Diet and similar protocols such as the “Protein Power” program by Drs. Eades, as well as Robb Wolff's podcast and others. I decided to try the Atkins approach to see if it would help me in my weight loss journey, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was able to drop nearly 50 pounds in just a few months.

The Realization

However, as I continued down this path, I started to realize that there were aspects of the Atkins Diet that just didn't sit well with me. I was replacing my bad food habits with commercialized and unnatural substitutes, which only created a new vice and a dependency on these chemical-laden products.

This realization hit me hard during a layover in Louisville, KY, when I stumbled upon a copy of “The Primal Blueprint” at a local bookstore. This book, and others like it, taught me the importance of breaking away from commercial foods and embracing a more natural and sustainable approach to health and wellness.

A New Perspective

This new perspective aligned with my previous interests in alternative health practices such as chiropractic and acupuncture, as well as my experiences with network marketing companies that advocated for avoiding the processed foods found in the center aisles of grocery stores. This is why I eventually decided to break away from Primal Health Coaching (which is based on Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint) and instead, pursue my own path.

The Primal Health Coach Institute

At the time, I was inspired by my success in losing weight and thought that becoming a Primal Blueprint Expert would give me a deeper understanding of this movement and potentially help me transition away from being a truck driver. I invested in the program, which was called the Primal Health Coach Institute and its certification as a “Primal Health Coach”. However, I soon found that the program had shifted away from the original concept of the “The Primal Blueprint” and was becoming too commercialized for my liking.

A Game Changer

It was around this time that I came across John Durant's “The Paleo Manifesto”. This book was a game changer for me, as it depicted the negative impact of artificial life on captive primates, including depression, fatigue, autoimmune diseases, and a lack of interest in sexual reproduction. This resonated with me, as it reinforced the idea that a natural and sustainable approach to health and wellness is vital for our overall well-being.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my journey into the Ancestral Health Movement has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. While I've discovered the benefits of breaking away from commercial foods and embracing a more natural approach, I've also encountered challenges along the way. However, I've learned that it's important to find what works best for you and to not be afraid to break away from the conventional and commercialized approaches to health and wellness.