
Real Talk, Whole Life
Welcome to Real Talk, Whole Life—part candid phone call with your nerdy best friends, part myth-busting, and entirely unfiltered. Wellness without the woo. Womanhood without the guilt. Wisdom from the fine folks who survived dial-up and low-fat lies.Host Stacy Toth brings honest, heartfelt conversations about what it means to live fully—in your body, your brain, and your messy, magical life. From midlife mayhem and mental health to Botox alternatives and book recs, we’re covering it all—with a side of sarcasm and a whole lot of heart.No shame. No pseudoscience. Just the kind of conversations you actually want to hear when you call a friend—especially if “wellness” has never quite felt like it was made for you.Rooted in womanhood, open to anyone who’s ever been side-eyed in a yoga studio. Come for the hot takes, stay for the healing.Real Talk, Whole Life is hosted by Stacy Toth, bestselling diet culture author turned anti-diet health at any size educator. Her goal is to create a safe space for all to explore their own version of wellness without the elitist self-focused woo woo. Previously The Whole View and The Paleo View, this evolution of the podcast is a reflection of the growth we all go through exploring being middle aged. Expect a wide variety of guests on an even greater variety of topics, but always inclusive ways for non-toxic living (mental and physical).
Latest episodes

Mar 11, 2016 • 57min
Episode 186, Staying Paleo when Sick
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (1:18)
Spring has sprung in both Stacy's and Sarah's towns - their fear for what this may mean for an unexpected late snowfall
Stacy is finally back among the walking and actually ate a meal since falling dead to the stomach flu on Sunday
How Sarah is managing her severe lung infection at this point
Sarah's reflection on the moments in life when she has listened to her body, and the times when she has ignored it
Sarah's thoughts on blending diet and lifestyle with western medicine practices
How difficult it can sometimes be to listen to your own body
The topic for this week's show is centered around the topic of staying Paleo when sick and how to recover
Science with Sarah (22:35)
Sarah is often asked about how to mitigate the effects of taking antibiotics, so would like to discuss how to recover from treating an illness
Antibiotics are an issue because they are not specific, they kill a wide range of bacteria
One of the first bacteria that antibiotics encounter is the bacteria that is living in our digestive tracks, which is why gastrointestinal issues are a common side effect of taking antibiotics
All that the gut bacteria is responsible for in maintaining our overall health and wellness
When we kill all our gut bacteria we can experience diarrhea, bloating, gas, stomachaches, nausea, and changes in taste preferences
Studies show that being on antibiotics once creates an irreversible loss of biodiversity in the gut micro biome - however, more studies should be done to test this over a greater stretch of time to look at this point further
While taking antibiotics you want to take high doses of probiotics, and you want to stagger the probiotics as far away from your antibiotics as you can
There is not a general consensus on serving size recommendations, but the 'more the better' mentality is perfectly safe
The probiotics are not replacing what the antibiotics are killing, the incoming probiotics are coming into the system to keep the good gut bacteria jobs still going
After the course of antibiotics, you want to focus on recovering the micro biome and on rebuilding the bacteria diversity by feeding a diversity of fiber to your gut micro biome in a moderate fat environment - and you do this to tolerance
You also want to practice patience with the process, know that it takes a lot of time to reestablish that gut micro biome diversity
Questions & Answers (35:28)
Cat - in need of some ideas on how to continue with an autoimmune protocol diet when sick
Look at AIP friendly baked recipes like plantain muffins, baked apples, etc.
Try getting broth in
If you eat something like a Ritz cracker, your body not only has to fight the illness, but the additional inflammation of the food you are introducing when your body is already going haywire
Smoothies with collagen peptides would be very beneficial
Giving ourselves permission to take medication that will help us feel better
Tammy - recommendations on how to treat a cold needed
When Stacy opts to take medicine to treat a cold - it is after neti potting and lots of sleep just aren't working
Stacy was careful to check her cold treatment ingredients and chose a Tylenol version because of her autoimmune condition
Sarah's thoughts on zpacks and other commonly recommended cold treatments
Sarah takes medicine for colds when her ability to sleep is being compromised
Again, don't look at having to take medication as a failure or a setback, but also be sure to not let medication stop you from continuing the pursuit of health through diet and lifestyle
Thanks everyone for tuning in!
Outro (56:11)
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Mar 3, 2016 • 38min
Episode 185, ADHD & Life Update from Cole
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (1:18)
Sarah is sick with a pneumonia and working hard to get better
Here to help with the show since Sarah is feeling sick, is Matt and Stacy's oldest son, Cole
For today's show, Cole is on to share an update on his ADHD symptoms and the lifestyle factors he is incorporating to help with his symptoms
The Paleo View episode that last featured Cole with update on ADHD can be found HERE
For more information, check out ADHD Impulse Control: from Frustration to Fantastic blog post HERE
Cole is 10, he is in 5th grade, has ADHD, and loves to play board games
As a recap, Cole incorporates his Paleo lifestyle at school by making his own lunch and bringing Tate's gluten-free cookies when there is a special occasion in class
Since Cole last joined us for a recording of The Paleo View:
They tried incorporating supplements into Cole's diet, which didn't work
And then try tried coffee for awhile, but then Cole found that he needed it less and less
Now Cole is riding his bike to school or walking, which definitely helps with his ADHD symptoms while at school
How Cole's teacher helps Cole develop his learning skills and how that impacts his ADHD
Cole has also joined a sport that he is loving and thriving in - wrestling
What Matt and Stacy saw in Cole once he started wrestling
How Cole is now able to play computer games in limited amounts of time when other elements are in check
Stacy has noticed that Cole responds differently to playing computer games versus console games on the TV
Stacy's reflection on how amazing Cole's progress has been
Sarah's thoughts on how positive and happy Cole sounds
How Stacy feels about seeing her son form strong friendships and finding happiness
The level of lifestyle experimentation that is happening and how impressive Sarah finds that level of tinkering and fine-tuning to be, and how she thinks this will positively impact Cole as an adult
All the 'yay mom' moments that Sarah sends to Stacy
Attachment parenting, and following intuition in the decisions Matt and Stacy are making for their children
How willing Cole has been to work with Matt and Stacy on this level of lifestyle testing
Thanks everyone for tuning in and for the ongoing support and encouragement we have received on this topic since first opening up about Cole and his ADHD
Stacy is so happy to hear how Cole's story has connected with others and is so grateful for the responses Matt, Stacy and Cole have received on this topic
Outro (37:37)
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Feb 25, 2016 • 1h 3min
Episode 184, The Misrepresentation of the Paleo Diet in the Media
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (1:18)
Sarah loves that the format of this podcast allows both her and Stacy to tackle current events as they are unfolding in the media
And just this week there was a frenzy of negativity on the Paleo diet that was first shared in Australian media, and the stories then reached global media channels
So for this week's show Stacy and Sarah want to discuss the current media that is misrepresenting a scientific article and where that all came from, but to also discuss how Paleo tends to be very attacked in the media and how often we typically see critiques of the Paleo diet that completely misrepresent what the Paleo diet even is
Stacy is curious to see what the long-term buzz around this media will be
The first article that Sarah saw was from a British journal titled, "The Paleo diet is dangerous and increases weight-gain, diabetes expert claims"
So this prompted Sarah to look into the science behind this article that supported this claim and she found that there was no link to the original research, however, she found other media articles on the same topic that led her to the original study
Sarah shared the other sensationalized article titles
Sarah was eventually able to dig through all the articles to find the original, and the title was 'A low carbohydrate, high-fat diet increases weight-gain and does not improve glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, or beta cell mass in New Zealand obese mice'
These mice were specifically developed in the last ten years to study diabetes
They are a highly susceptible mouse
How the study was structured and what the researchers analyzed from the results
What the study revealed
The rebuttal to the study that Sarah shared on her site HERE
The conclusions from the researches on their abstract essentially said, "a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet is unlikely to be of benefit for preventing the decline of beta cell function associated with hyperglycemia and type-2 diabetics"
Sarah's takeaway was, 'great - I too don't agree with a ketogenic diet'
However, the press release likened the structure of the diet that was used in the study to Paleo, by specifically calling out celebrities and stating that their recommendations have no basis in scientific literature
Sarah gets worked up about this kind of critique of the Paleo diet because the study in no way represents the merits of a Paleo diet
How shady Stacy found the quote on celebrities to be
"Mass media hype around these diets, particularly driven by celebrity chefs, celebrity weight-loss stories in the tabloid media and reality TV shows are leading to more people trying fad diets backed by little evidence. In people with pre-diabetes or those with diabetes, the low-carb, high-fat diet could be particularly risky. Low-Carbohydrate, high-fat diets are becoming more popular, but there is no scientific evidence that these diets work. In fact, if you put an inactive individual on this type of diet the chances are that person will gain weight." - this was said by the President of the Australian Diabetes Society
Where there is merit in this authors points, and where he exaggerates the details
The diet studied was structured around 81% calories from fat, 13% calories from protein, and 6% calories from carbohydrates
This diet is a ketogenic diet to a T, and you can find more on Sarah's site here on the negative effects of a ketogenic diet
So first point, a ketogenic diet does not equal a Paleo diet
The other problems with the press release and where the details were exaggerated
Nothing in the study looked at the quality aspect of the foods endorsed by a Paleo diet
There are two other episodes that discuss the difference between nutrient quality of a Paleo diet versus the nutrient quality of a ketogenic diet, which you can find HERE and HERE
The ingredients of the diet used in this specific study and the questions surrounding the ingredients that were selected
Why is Paleo so consistently misrepresented in the media?
The level of frustration it gives Sarah to see science so grossly misrepresented in the media
The responses from the Paleo community that discredit the study because it is done in mice, and Sarah notes that this isn't a fair critique of the study
Animal studies are incredibly well validated strategies for understanding human health
It is a bad habit to dismiss evidence that may contrast with our views
Recognize that we don't have all the answers and be open to assimilating new information, even if it contrasts with previous studies
It is responsible of us to look at studies objectively
Sarah notes that it is important to think critically and that there is a way that we as a community can discourage such aggressive attacks by putting our support behind rebuttals, behind those who are being attacked, and commenting on these studies in a measured way
The best response is measured and logical
Definitely engage, but keep it mature and respectful - demonstrate just how much support this Paleo community really has
And when you see media articles like this, try not to take them personally
Stay true to what you know
Don't forget to tell your friends, comment on show notes and social media, and please leave those reviews
Stacy also wants to thank those who came out to the event at the Organic Butcher
Outro (1:02:31)
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Feb 18, 2016 • 39min
Episode 183, Creating Consistency
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
Stacy is back from her Florida vacation feeling rested and well
Matt and Stacy got to visit Universal Studios, visit the Domestic Man's family, meet up with Summer from The Dirty Floor Diaries
Stacy was able to keep up with her handstand challenge while on the road
Consistency with commitments
This week Stacy and Sarah will discuss the importance of consistency and how we navigate consistency even when life presents challenges
Stacy's focus on not worrying over every little thing and how that supports her consistency
The fine line between maintaining a commitment and obsessing about it
Turning a commitment into something negative - an eating disorder is an example of this
Consistent health habits are very important, but if maintaining consistency is creating stress than you are not actually proactively working towards health
How can you be consistent in a sustainable way - how can I realign this plan to make it a lifestyle?
When you hit the wall with life - not just giving up and going off plan, but finding ways to adapt
How Sarah copes with high stress or feelings of fatigue so that she is able to maintain her health habits - it boils down to adapting to daily scenarios as needed
When you have a day and you don't necessarily adapt, but change plans all together - forgive yourself and move forward - form a new plan for the new day
Coming up with non food rewards when you accomplish goals with consistency
How to avoid being plagued by negativity when things don't always go according to plan
Science with Sarah (21:54)
Recent studies have shown that consistency in bedtime and waketwme are really important
A couple of different labs have looked at this in different ways
The more variability that we have in our bedtime and wake-time, and the more mismatch that we have between our schedule and our body's need for consistent bedtimes and wake-times, the worse the health outcomes
How Sarah has focused on consistency in bedtime and the sleep quality improvements she has seen as a result
When she needs flexibility in life she tries to get it from other areas, and keeps sleep as a top priority
Sleep doesn't come easy to Stacy, but how she still works to keep sleep a priority
Knowing your magic number for how many hours of sleep you need
Rejigging life for a focus on sleep to regulate hormones, regain focus, and increase efficiency
Stacy's research on "multitasking too much"
The power of sticking to one task or one top priority
The commitment to whatever your health philosophy/diet may be, it is interesting to recognize how we approach our diet and lifestyle choices is intertwined with how we approach life and how we find balance
A very special happy birthday to Matt!
Thank you everyone for tuning in!
Please don't forget to leave those reviews and to share this podcast with others
Outro (38:59)
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Feb 10, 2016 • 59min
Episode 182, How to "Do it All" In a Healthy Way
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
Stacy is feeling pulled in a million directions
Work is very hectic, she is fighting a cold, and is prepping to leave for a week-long vacation
The whirlwind of a week Sarah has had, and canceling her scheduled plans for a nap instead
Stacy's love for her job
Finding the right path for you
Honoring what is right for you - consistent evaluation and adjustments
Coming up with ways to manage your life and your health that allow you to be successful
Work life balance
Science with Sarah (19:32)
Mindful meditation, incorporating 10 to 15 minutes of mediation a day significantly reduces stress
Mindful mediation is a meditation strategy that helps raise awareness of our bodies, what is happening in our bodies, where we might have discomfort, and makes us aware of our thoughts and emotions - it encourages us to let these things go
There is a variety of ways to practice mindful meditation
Sarah's use of the meditation method 'equal breathing'
What studies have shown on mindful meditation
Functional connectivity was shown to increase with mindful meditation
Studies also found a decrease in inflammation within the body
And research shows is all it takes is 10 to 15 minutes a day
Sarah notes how little you trade in your day to create time for mindful meditation, yet how much you gain
If you are new to meditation, guided meditation may be a great place to start and there are a number of resources to help with that
Questions & Answers (29:21)
Susan - how do you do it all and keep your health intact?
Stacy says she simply doesn't do it all
She learned that perfection is no longer something she strives for
She does the things she enjoys to do, but otherwise delegates to her team or relies on Matt for all that he does to help
She does what is important to her - and has a post on the blog here on her time management techniques
Her number one priority is spending time with the kids, and that is where she invests her time
The activities that help Stacy recharge, essentially her forms of mediation
Sarah has just now settled into a work life balance after years of working to strike a balance
She had to think of focusing on her physical and mental health as part of her job
This mental shift made it easier for her to adjust her priorities without having guilt associated with it
Her efficiency increased with this as well, especially since the incorporation of better sleep and exercise allows her to function better
Sarah also relies on her amazing team, a supportive husband, and kids that keep her laughing and happy
She also schedules out her day and focuses in on one task at a time as opposed to doing too much at once
Part of it is being ok with the give and take, asking for help, making sure to look after her own health so she can be efficient and productive
There is a constant balancing act, and practice to not overcommit
Learning how to fail and to dust yourself off and keep moving forward
Unitasking, and what a big benefit this strategy is for both Stacy and Sarah
The only times Sarah multitasks
June - As a single mom, I am finding it hard to keep up with exercise and cooking Paleo meals - please help!
The props that Stacy gives to all who are a single parent who manage a healthy lifestyle for the family alone
Taking advantage of already prepared food is going to be your biggest help
Buying pre-chopped vegetables, the freezer section is going to have the most nutrient dense options
Plan ahead for breakfast and lunch with a big pot of soup or a frittata that you can save and serve
Stacy always takes leftovers or a salad for lunch with canned tuna or salmon
Everyone in the community eats hot dogs some times, they are just buying a different brand than a SAD and not putting it on a bun
Feel good about the progress you are making
Sarah only cooks three to four days a week, and cooks big meals and plans to have leftovers
Crockpot meals can be very helpful, also developing a repertoire of 10-15 minute meals to have on hand and utilize when needed
Perhaps also using a big cook up day on the weekend would be a good option
Part of the transition is finding your new convenience foods
Find way to combine focused time with your kids and other activities - getting them involved in the kitchen, working out outside with your kids, finding a gym with a great kid area
Tammy - what tips do you have for families where both of the parents work outside the home and finding time for everything is a challenge?
Batch cooking and plan ahead
Prioritize and let go of the things you can't accomplish and reschedule the tasks you must
Experiment with new favorites with your kids
Let your kids search for some recipes on Pinterest, Instagram or blogs and help them search for Paleo options
Check out Paleo Parents e-book Paleo to Go and their print book Eat Like a Dinosaur
Stacy apologizes for sounding like a frog on this show - a sign that she was trying to do it all
Hopefully this show was a good reminder to prioritize yourself - don't ever take the advice to just push through the exhaustion
Please don't forget to review the podcast and to share with family and friends
Thanks everyone for listening!
Outro (58:13)
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Feb 4, 2016 • 1h 13min
Episode 181, Common Health Questions
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
Stacy started aerial yoga, see the video here
And loved it so much she bought a system for home, the Aerial Essentials yoga fly kit
All the love Sarah is sending to Stacy from the podcast licensers she met at her book signing events in Texas
How loved Sarah felt during her Texas stops, and especially by those who brought her AIP friendly food to enjoy during her hectic travels
What else Sarah did during her trip
When Sarah returned home, she had a busy Monday morning appearing on a local news station to help with the opening of a new Sprouts location
How Matt and Stacy eliminated their weekly stops to multiple grocery stores
For this week's show, we have a number of questions in the queue that are pretty general, but very common and will make for a great discussion for both those new to Paleo and those who have been following this template for a long time
Science with Sarah (15:57)
An article published in the scientific journal Nature, Diet Induced Extinctions in the Gut Microbiota Compound Over Generations
The study asked the simple question - what happens to the gut micro biome when we go on a low fiber diet?
The standard american diet is a low fiber diet
What happens over the long-term
Are the results reversible
What happens from one generation to the next since we inherit our parents micro biome
The gut micro biome refers to the collection of microbes living in our digestive track
We have as many cells in our gut as we have in our whole body, if not double
We depend on this bacteria that lives in our gut - they help us digest our food, access nutrients from our food, create nutrients from our food, regulate the immune system, regulate our metabolism, they regulate our gut barrier, they regulate our neurotransmitters, they impact every system in our body
Every chronic illness is linked back to something going wrong with the bacteria in the gut
What makes for a healthy gut micro biome is one with a large variety of different types of species that live in our gut
We achieve this by eating a fiber rich diet from veggies, fruit, nut and seeds - and focusing on big portions of non-starchy vegetables with as much variety as possible
Too high of fat can mess with the type of bacteria that grows in our body
What the study did to explore the questions surrounding a low fiber diet
And what the study found when studying a low fiber diet in mice
They then looked at what happened over the course of four generations of high-fiber diets vs. low-fiber diets, and switching on an off between the two
The paper emphasized that if we don't fix the food system, we are not going to be able to recover human health because how linked our health is with this diversity of the gut micro biome
Essentially bacteria extinction is taking place
Not just a SAD is to blame for these changes, low carb and ketogenic diets are also low fiber and they also happen to be high fat
Why emphasis on getting more vegetables is critical
The daily recommended allowance of fiber is 25 g
Aim for 9 to 14 servings of vegetables with a mix of starchy or non
You can use an app like CRON-O-Meter to track your fiber intake
The value that journaling for a couple of days can play in your overall health
Eat more vegetables, look for great sources of probiotics, don't regret the things you have done in the past
Questions & Answers (34:54)
Mary - can you overdo fiber?
Generally the answer is no, but there is a big but to the answer
Bacteria help us breakdown fiber - when we don't have the right types of bacteria to help us breakdown that fiber it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms
We can see these symptoms not only when fiber intake is too high, but when we are trying to increase our fiber intake, or reintroduce fiber after a SIBO approach where we are starving bad bacteria
Slowly increase fiber if you are experiencing trouble, as opposed to automatically focusing on the 25 g a day - monitor GI symptoms, and pull back if you experience uncomfortable side effects
Glenda - what are the best numbers to pay attention to for general health? What questions should I be asking my doctor during my annual physical?
Stacy notes that it depends on your doctor - that it may work best for you to know ahead of time what you are looking to gain from your yearly physical and ask for tests relevant to those specific questions
Stacy shared on the numbers that were most important to her to explore, and why those numbers were specific to her health and what she was dealing with
Stacy's general recommendations on numbers is to look into triglycerides, HGL, LDL, and blood sugar
Sarah notes that all of the general tests that your doctor will run are excellent, but she recommends to be educated on the reference numbers
If you think you have a problem with a particular system, that is where requesting more detailed testing is useful, but if you are monitoring how things are going, the usual tests will suffice
Kimberly - are there some general guidelines to Paleo to follow?
The general guidelines that Stacy follows:
She values nutrients and focuses on where she is going to get her nutrients for the day, and she does monitor both calories and macros
She thinks ahead through the day and how to achieve a balance that supports her health goals
She makes sure she is going to get organ meat a couple of times a week, which Stacy gets through EPIC's Liver Bites
She also makes sure that she is getting seafood and broth a few times a week
These guidelines may be a little overwhelming to someone who is fairly new to Paleo - a better way to look at it would be, is this the most healthy thing I can eat or does it simply taste good?
Also consider your core food groups - get in the habit of eating meat and vegetables
Your best approach is to practice moderation with your macro intake - 20/30% protein, 25/40% carbs, 30/55% fat
Going with 1/3, a 1/3, 1/3 and letting things fluctuate a bit here an there from one day to the next will ensure balance
1/4 of your plate should be protein, with maybe 1 starchy vegetable and a couple of non-starchy vegetables
Keep a food journal, be mindful, and make sure your caloric intake isn't through the roof
How Stacy has calculated her macros and how she adjusted them to tackle her specific health goals
How Sarah gets her macros and the value she has found from journaling
How tracking has impacted both Stacy and Sarah's mental and physical health
The next Go to Bed group challenge starts this Sunday (learn more about this program on this podcast episode or visit the site HERE)
Stacy encourages everyone to get in on handstand month
Make sure you are signed up for both Stacy and Sarah's newsletters to not miss all the amazing posts and recipes that are going out!
Thank you everyone for submitting your votes for Paleo Magazine Best of 2015!!
And please don't forget to leave a review for The Paleo View
Thanks everyone!
Outro (1:12:17)
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Jan 28, 2016 • 1h 21min
Episode 180, Eyes on Your Own Plate, Please
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
After 5 days of being stuck at home from Winter Storm Jonas, Stacy thoroughly enjoyed her first trip out and a visit to a coffee shop!
In Stacy's area they got 30+ inches of snow
They had electricity the whole time and had a lot of fun because they were prepared
They also made a lot of recipes for the blog and played a lot of board games
The kids even went out in the hot tub during the thick of the blizzard
Sarah received a little bit of snow and her kids went crazy for what they called "snow day"
The issues the snow is causing in Stacy's area
Stacy's handstand challenge her and Finn are doing together
Sarah prepping for the CrossFit open, and her wall ball challenge
Sarah's excitement for finally being able to talk the CrossFit lingo, and Stacy has inspired her to start a handstand challenge as well
Why Stacy chose a handstand challenge
If you have been following along on Instagram and want more information, tune in to Stacy's Strong Woman Radio's co-host, Vivian's periscope where they share more on these challenges
Stacy is so excited about all the recipes they will be sharing from their stretch of time home during the winter storm
Be sure you are signed up for Sarah's and Stacy's newsletters so that you don't miss these special recipes, events, etc.
If you are in Austin or Houston, reminder that Sarah is in town the weekend this show airs - get all the event details HERE
Science with Sarah (22:44)
It is the season where people who went Paleo as a New Years resolution are starting to feel really good and want to keep going
That three to four week marker with the implementation of a Paleo lifestyle is when the magic starts to happen and you can't imagine ever doing anything else
Stacy and Sarah thought it would be great for this week's episode to focus on how we talk about Paleo - this is perfect for those who are new to the community and new to the excitement that comes with this transformation
When Sarah was new to Paleo and seeing such amazing results she wanted to share the information with others, and she did with every random stranger she would encounter, which turned out to not be an appropriate channel for her enthusiasm, which is why she started a blog
Starting a blog isn't necessarily an appropriate avenue for how to handle that enthusiasm for everyone, so understanding how to talk about your diet and lifestyle with others is a valuable understanding to have
Stacy wants to make it very clear that she is not judging anyone, nor telling others what they should or should not eat - Stacy and Sarah discuss foods that are "Paleo approved" versus foods that are "treats" that are good for mental or social stability
Stacy's feelings towards the question - is that Paleo?
Sarah's thoughts on the 'what did cavemen' do argument
Alcohol while on a Paleo diet
The current consensus within the Paleo community is that occasional to moderate consumption of non-gluten containing alcohol is ok
We have to figure out how to implement Paleo and define the template within modern society and within the context of contemporary science
There are certain 'is it Paleo' questions that have maybe answers to them - there is no yes and no answer to these questions
In Sarah's opinion the 'is it Paleo' question is not the best question to ask, that we should instead make our decisions based on the answer to 'is this health promoting?'
Within this framework there is a lot of room for individual experimentation and figuring out what works for us as individuals
Questions & Answers (35:02)
Pam - how to handle someone who tells me that following a diet free of gluten is lacking in nutrients and will eventually lead to health problems?
When Stacy encounters someone with these beliefs, she reminds herself that these are the kind of people who are not interested in hearing about her lifestyle and to just move on
Is someone asking a question because they are genuinely trying to understand your choices, or is someone simply feeling defensive about their food choices
Food choices are really personal and sometimes people feel defensive about them
Sarah's post on 'Gluten-Free Diets Can Be Healthy for Kids' - this post has great information on nutrients as it relates to a gluten-free diet
When Sarah views an occasion as an opportunity to educate and when she doesn't
If someone is just trolling and you engage them in a conversation that will not go anywhere, you will just create stress for yourself
Karen (46:27) how to handle a spouse who is not in support of your Paleo lifestyle?
Check out these two posts on Paleo Parents:
How to keep your Paleo family out of the poor house
Your Non-Cooperative Spouse (for your husband to read)
What happened with Matt and Stacy since she went Paleo before her husband and kids did
Real Life Paleo and Paleo to Go both have helpful tools to navigate eating out Paleo
Stacy shared details on what she eats when she goes out and how she orders her food to ensure she doesn't get served a food that she doesn't tolerate
Stacy has found that if she asks the waiter for a recommendation based on her limitations, that by far people are helpful and want to make sure she can have a meal she can fully enjoy
How Sarah and her family handled their transition since Sarah started before her husband and kids did as well
Sarah found that it was important to show her husband that food on Paleo was still delicious
Focus on the positives and frame your conversations accordingly - don't focus on what you don't eat
The importance of support in a relationship
Jackie (55:45) why do friends encourage cheating and not take people's personal choices seriously?
Stacy thinks that either a) they are not thinking or b) they feel better if they have someone to indulge with
Stacy has had to ask people (her father and co-workers in particular) are you really encouraging me to do something that does not support my health?
"Please don't tell me that just this bite is ok"
Stacy tries to just be encouraging back at people, and makes it clear that they can still enjoy X even if she is making the choice to not have something
One of Sarah's phrases is "no judgement" because people often feel the need to justify their choices when with her
Sarah feels that it is not her business what someone else chooses to eat
Stacy and Sarah's thoughts on the enablers in your life
Think about what kind of relationships you have in your life and the roles that they play to support your goals, happiness, etc.
Sue (1:07:29) - I find myself judging other's choices, and know that this is a bad habit. How can I fix this?
It is important to keep the mindset of no judgement and to be able to recognize when it is appropriate to share your opinions and beliefs with others
Work on reframing your brain, it will help you pull back on being judgmental
How Stacy handles expressing a concern regarding someone's health and their choices
People will not be motivated to make changes unless they are ready to do so, and the same applies to the readiness and willingness to accept criticism/feedback towards their food choices
You cannot impose your will on someone else
Be a role model through your actions and when someone is ready, than you can be a source of support and information
Thanks all for listening! We will be back again next week with another show!
Outro (1:19:45)
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Jan 21, 2016 • 42min
Episode 179, Check In + A Big Thank You
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
Welcome back to the east coast Sarah!
Sarah adjusting from a busy weekend of travel from book signing events
Stacy was late to tonight's Paleo View recording because the family was in the middle of an epic board game
This week's show will be a check-in episode since Sarah is feeling so jet lagged from her travels
While in Vegas Sarah both visited her publisher Victory Belt, and went hiking in the Red Rocks
What else Sarah did while in Las Vegas
If you missed Sarah's Phoenix and Las Vegas signings, be sure to sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss future events
Sarah will be in Austin and Houston next, get all the details here
Sarah will announce her next book in the next two months, but know that it will be bigger than The Paleo Approach
Sarah's events from this past weekend were amazing - incredible attendees, great discussion, all around wonderful!
And a special congratulations to Alaena on the success of the book release, signings, and THIS!!
Memories from The Paleo View book tour
Sarah and Alaena were the first Paleo authors to ever host an event in Las Vegas
The event attendees meeting at signings and networking on Paleo resources in Las Vegas - cool to watch the connections forming
Thoughts on future book signing event locations
A big thank you to The Paleo View listeners for nominating the podcast in two categories, General Health/Wellness and Science - for Paleo Magazine's Best of 2015
What an honor it is to be nominated in BOTH of those categories and why
Submit your votes here, voting is open through January 31
When you vote you get a discount to subscribe to Paleo Magazine
And a huge thank you for nominating Paleo Parents as 'Best Blog, Family' - such a phenomenal surprise!
The feels towards the comments received from people on this nomination
Taking a step back from the blog in 2015 and focusing on health, specifically Cole's health
Cole possibly coming back on The Paleo View with an update on how he is doing (his original appearance can be heard here)
Sarah received nominations for The Healing Kitchen and Paleo Bites
Check out the pilot here and share with friends and family, leave comments
What else and who else Sarah and Stacy voted for
What falls on Stacy's and Sarah's #paleoyolo list
The treats that Stacy and Sarah's kid select when given the chance to
The candies that people find in Stacy's office and what they prefer
While sugar is a delicious thing, how quickly the palate can adjust if you are at a point where you need to incorporate treats with less sugar - Sarah reminds people how quickly your taste buds turn over
Stacy's favorite treat right now is sugar-less dried mango from Whole Foods
Stacy's love for mangos (Mango Sticky (not) Rice, Mango Strawberry Smoothie, Mango Blueberry Ice Cream Floats, Mango Citrus Jigglers)
Sarah is wrapping up the show to go meditate and go to bed
Stacy is back to working out, and kicking things off with handstand month - super exciting how well Stacy is feeling
Sarah just registered for the CrossFit open
We will be back next week with a great topic!
Thank you all for listening and please don't forget to vote for Paleo Magazine Best Of here
Outro (41:43)
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Jan 14, 2016 • 1h 19min
Episode 178, Missing the Point
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
Stacy's back treatment was extremely successful and she is more mobile than she has been since summer
It was an inflammation issue
After a third treatment all discomfort should be gone
Stacy is still waiting to return to lifting, and will likely instead start yoga to work on mobility and strengthening her body
And then possibly incorporate personal training once a week to ease into things
Sarah has been doing personal training since her kids went back to school and is seeing so many benefits from having someone who can both pace her and help her get strong, while not taking away from her health
Not reaching burnout and having consistency with her training has been phenomenal and paying off
Unfortunately after Stacy's back felt better, she got hit with food poisoning and an infection
Sarah killing the PR's at the gym lately
How Sarah's diet and lifestyle factors have allowed for these PR's to happen
And she has been doing all these things to manage her health so that she can write her next book
How phenomenal Sarah is feeling right now both mentally and physically, and how grateful she feels for reaching this point
Making the smart choice over the fun choice
This week's show topic comes from a place of wanting everyone to be healthy, and wanting the best for everybody
A reminder, Paleo is a personal approach diet and lifestyle that needs to be self-customized to meet your needs
The kind of recipes that are readily availability to those new to Paleo, due to the popularity of these recreations that would have initially fallen in the 20% bracket when Paleo was still a fairly new diet
The pressures of being a recipe developer in the Paleo community
There are better approaches and not so health approaches to Paleo recipes, and we are getting quite the variety in the movement these days
Throughout Stacy's years following a Paleo approach, she has made many choices where she has went with the fun option, as opposed to the one that has supported her health, and she learned quite a bit from these moments and how they impact her goals
Making choices to feel your best as opposed to hoping on the snowball
In light of the new year and new goals, this week's show will allow us all to take a step back and remember what the point of Paleo is
How do we identify if a food is Paleo or not?
How the 'what did hunter-gathers eat?' argument mucks up the water for the discussion on what is the healthiest approach to life now
Evaluating whether or not a food is a health promoting food and why this is the ideal guiding point in our discussion
While this approach still has gray areas to it, you can better understand how food will effect the body
Stacy's point on the need for rules and guiding points, and how confusing it can be when these aren't present
Sarah's explanation for Paleo as a template that requires self experimentation to see what works best for you, which includes defining balance and sustainability that works for you
What makes your body thrive, versus what does your body tolerate
Finding that place in the middle where you can feel content with your choices
Paleo is not something you do to achieve a short-term goal, Paleo choices are about long-term health to have a high quality life for as long as you can
How Sarah and Stacy Define Paleo (32:24)
Sarah likes to emphasize that there is no macronutrient prescription within Paleo
Its a whole foods diet, not a high fat or low carb diet
Paleo hones in on the most essential building blocks that our cells need, the raw materials that are needed for all the chemical reactions in every cell
The word Paleo isn't used in Sarah's household - they instead think of their lifestyle as nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory, and one that promotes optimal gut health and hormone regulation
Both a limitation and growth factor for this movement is the label, while it makes this approach searchable, it carries a stigma
Stacy's mention of the new show 'My Diet is Better Than Yours'
The Ingredients (41:11)
Why Matt and Stacy structured Real Life Paleo around the transitional foods
Getting to the healing, nutrient-dense foods in phase 3
The recreation foods (ice cream, brownies, cookies, etc.) are so much more popular that the superfoods are not what we see on social media
Old school Paleo baked good ingredients will never be a nutrient competitor for meat and vegetables
Baked goods containing these ingredients are very energy dense for the amount of nutrients in them
There are so many people that come to Paleo to lose weight or find health, so promoting this idea of "clean, healthy Paleo treats" can be misleading and gets away from the point
These foods are great for transitioning away from conventional foods or for special occasions and celebrations, but should not be mistaken for a routine food to include
Using these foods as crutches as opposed to occasional treats
Sarah doesn't feel that we need to give up treats or indulgent foods, but we each need to individually look at what is the right balance of treat foods verses health promoting foods
People want a definition for moderation, but there isn't a one size fits all - that is part of the beauty of the Paleo lifestyle, that we move away from living by numbers and tracking
When you choose foods within a Paleo framework, most people will naturally end up in a healthful caloric range for their bodies
Changing your palette to not crave these "healthful treats" is key to managing cravings and finding a healthy balance with indulgences and treats
It is missing the point to consistently have foods that are void of nutrients and do not promote health
It is difficult for Stacy to get in the nutrients she needs to consume within the caloric range that is appropriate for her if she is eating really energy dense foods that are either nut based or cassava flour based, or even adding bananas to things
Both Stacy and Sarah use these nutrient dense ingredients, but they each have to make themselves aware of where the balance falls for them, their health, and their goals
Stacy hopes that people are mindful of what their goals are and what the point of this all is
Ingredients that are a treat, but don't send Sarah "running for the hills"
Cassava flour
Tapioca flour
Arrowroot starch
Any ground nut and/or seed meal
Ground root or starch
Coconut flour
Rice flour (falls on Stacy's list, but not Sarah's)
Honey
Maple syrup
Cane sugar
Tapioca syrup
Date sugar
Black strap molasses
The reintroduction foods that you play with to test how you respond to their incorporation into your lifestyle
High quality dairy
Rice
Potatoes
Alcohol
The scientifically supported, not Paleo items
Any non-nutritive sweetener
Emulsifiers (you can find more information on these ingredients on Sarah's site here)
Guar gum
Carrageenan
Xanthan gum
Lecithin
Psyllium husk
Looking at an ingredient and thinking about what it is replacing and whether or not it is doing us any good
Why We Wanted to Talk about this Topic (1:11:51)
Awareness of food choices is so phonemically important in order to be able to understand how food interacts with our bodies
This is the time of year where so many new people come to Paleo to achieve their health goals, but when people come to Paleo and don't feel good because they are overdoing it on these questionable ingredients, we are missing the opportunity to help these people
Being intentional with your food choices
If we want the Paleo movement to continue to grow, we want to help people find health, and so we need to improve the awareness about where these lines are
That doesn't mean never crossing these lines, but instead understanding how these ingredients work for you
We are not hoping to throw anyone under the bus or to guilt anyone out of their favorite treats, but to instead encourage awareness and intention with food choices so that we can continue to make this a movement about achieving health
Sarah is going to be in Phoenix the Saturday after this show airs and in Las Vegas on Sunday, get the details here on those events, and check out the information on additional signings at the end of the month in Houston and Austin as well
Thanks everyone for listening!
Outro (1:17:54)
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Jan 7, 2016 • 53min
Episode 177, Go to Bed
Intro (0:00)
News and Views (0:56)
How Sarah and family spent the start of the new year - with loads of relaxation and spending time together at home
Stacy and family's goal to welcome 2016 with nothing but pajama days
Both Stacy and Sarah, and their families, are ready to get back into the routine
An update from Stacy on her back - still very much in the diagnostic phase, didn't get an MRI, had x-rays done, which showed that there is a lot of inflammation in the joints, so Stacy is doing some treatment to help with that particular issue
At this point Stacy is focusing on rest and sleep to help with recovery
Stacy is also utilizing a low-inflamatory diet to help support her body's healing
The road to Sarah's first autoimmune disease diagnosis and the flag that joint pain raised
Stacy's approach in taking her recovery day by day, and the confirmation she received on her healing that has happened from her transition to Paleo that was seen in her her x-rays
Sarah's new program, Go to Bed (24:24)
Which is a sleep rehab program and an epic e-book
The book was inspired from the book tour and receiving the common question of - I am seeing improvements, but am not healing like I should be, what am I doing wrong?
Sarah's response to this question is always, how is your sleep?
Sarah wrote about the role that sleep plays on the immune system in The Paleo Approach, but wanted to delve into the topic even more to share on the profound impacts it has to other systems within the body
After reading up more on sleep and sharing many more blog posts on the role that sleep plays in overall health, it became clear that this was a topic that would make for a great book and to tackle all that sleep impacts in far more detail
Sarah created Go to Bed as an e-book so that she could update the content (and distribute updates to those who already purchased it) as the science around sleep and health continue to evolve
Sleep quickly falls off our radar when he become overly focused on the role that diet and exercise play, which are important pieces, but sleep is still a critical component to healthy living
Sarah wanted to create a resource that put sleep back on our to-do list and distill all the science into action items
There is a 14-day sleep challenge built into the program, which is essentially a process on implementing 14 small changes over the course of those days
The program will ease you into the best bang for your buck approach to improving your sleep, and you will see tremendous improvement in your sleep over those 14 days, giving you a taste of what adequate sleep feels like, motivating you to continue to work on making those habits stick
The program is not designed to be a hard thing that you follow and then stop once you complete it - it is instead designed to ease you into lifelong habits that will improve your sleep quality and quantity
The first challenge just started, but the group challenges will start the first Sunday of every month, except in January there will be two groups - with the second group starting on Sunday, January 17
All it takes to join the group is to buy the program, sign up for the email series if you would like them, and then go to the Facebook and Instagram pages to collect group support and inspiration
How quickly the research on sleep is evolving and the insights it is providing
Sarah feels like this is an exciting time to stay in the know on what the scientific community is discovering in regards to sleep
How sleep makes you more resilient to stress, and when you are stressed how difficult it is to get sleep - this e-book has tools for managing both stress and sleep since those things are interlinked
Stacy's goals in the new year as it pertains to healthy sleep habits
Find more information on the book Go to Bed HERE, and also review the full table of contents
There is a special launch discount available right now, simply use the code 'INEEDSLEEP' to get 30% off
The program will never go on sale again after the sale expires in about a week
Thank you for tuning in everyone!
We will be back next week!
Outro (52:12)
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