Michelle Norris - Paleo FX CEO discusses the SAD diet and how eating Ancestrally can heal!

In episode 7 of Amplified Wellness I am joined by the CEO of the worlds largest Paleo conference PALEO FX. Michelle Norris discusses the SAD diet and how it is fueling modern disease and how eating in line with our ancestral past can help regain optimal health.

Paleo Fx is an event that occurs annually in Austin Texas and attracts the the very best thought leaders in Paleo, Keto, Ancestral health and functional medicine

Enjoy the episode

Best health & regards

Chris Barnes

Transcript

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Chris 0:17

Hey Chris Barnes here and welcome to amplified wellness. Today I'm joined by my very special guest all the way from Austin, Texas. She is the CEO of Paleo Fx, the world's largest Paleo and ancestral health gathering. Michele Norris, thank you so much for being on amplified wellness.

Michelle Norris 0:35

Thank you so much for having me, Chris. I'm excited to be here.

Chris 0:39

That's, that's awesome. Michelle. I was recently listening to a fitfluential radio podcast and you're a guest on there and you were talking about this sad diet and it really resonated with me. It's not a term that I hadn't really heard too often over here in Australia. It sounded pretty grim. Not a great diet, but, I'm sure a lot of us, in this country and over there in the states that are following this sad type of diet. Can you get started and just tell us a bit more about what the sad diet is?

Michelle Norris 1:13

Yes, so a sad diet, standard American diet, I think that can actually work obviously for Australia's.

Chris 1:19

Yeah,

Michelle Norris 1:21

absolutely. You all might be a little bit more healthy than we are, but, , standard American diet is highly processed, lots of sugar, lots of additives, lots of grain, refined carbohydrates, and , really just a very unhealthy diet and it's not, , what we were involved and meant to eat. , so obviously whole, unprocessed foods are the types of foods that we really want to be eating for optimal health. And so, yeah, standard American Diet. Sad.

Chris 1:54

Oh, we can claim that , like you said, standard Australian diet I think we're not far behind America with some of those health conditions and I guess, , what you're doing, which is an amazing job with Paleo Fx is Educating people on that ancestral health , Paleo and Keto and functional medicine, which is amazing. , not, not a lot of Australians when I chat to them know about Paleo Fx and I guess a part of this podcast is a great opportunity to, Open Up their ears, to the world of Paleo and Keto. It's a very thrown around term these days. A lot of people are using Paleo Keto, but I, I think there's still a lot of grey area in between their understanding. So, both you & your husband Keith, had some health concerns I believe, you were probably following a sad diet maybe at some degree. Is that correct?

Michelle Norris 2:55

Oh, I absolutely was. So before I became Paleo, I'm, I'm a chef and so my specialty is a chef of Italian, so I made my own pizza and pasta dough. So obviously lots of refined carbohydrates. We didn't eat a lot of junk food so we weren't eating a whole lot of processed food. But when you're eating that much refined carbohydrates and your putting that much grain into your body and you can't help but have some inflammation & some issues going on. So whenever I actually decided to go Paleo, I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia , IBS, which is irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, cfs. I had been diagnosed with early onset rheumatoid arthritis, which, as it turns out that that was a misdiagnosis. I do not have rheumatoid arthritis because everything went away as soon as three weeks after. going Paleo. So all of that was gone. Keith actually had an issue with high blood pressure, a genetic high blood pressure and actually it corrected itself after he went Paleo and he's never had high blood pressure since. So it's been a really great, um, for us both health wise, Keith is extremely healthy. He's always been really in tune with his diet, with this working out clearly. Um, anybody that knows him, knows how he is about all of that stuff. So for him to have a high blood pressure was really concerning to him because nothing changed. he changed like, salt, all of the things that they tell you to do the coffee, which everybody that knows Keith also knows , Keith is a huge coffee drinker, actually he has coffee with his coffee and He has a lot of coffee with his coffee. And so he just really could not get that under control no matter what he seemed to do and until He actually changed and went into a Paleo Diet because, it was all the refined carbohydrates. , you know, the pizza, pasta dough, all of that stuff. Even though I'm making all of that by hand and we almost all of our dinners at home, very rarely ate out. , very rarely had any kind of junk food or any kind of fast food at all. We would have the occasional, sub sandwiches or whatever we, we were big jersey Mike fans, huge Jersey fans. And so, um, just having changing and moving that out of his diet because he was, his diet's was, super dialed in, always has been just changing that really was able to affect and help him get his blood pressure under control. That's incredible. And for yourself to see those changes within three weeks is astounding. Yes, it was crazy. And then this is your thing. So when you are on a standard American diet, even if it's a standard Australian Diet, if your on that diet particularly as women, you YoYo a lot in your weight. So in my closet I had anything from a size six to a size 12, because I would yo yo and go back and forth. And what was interesting is, um, over a six week period I had was my size was going back down and I was getting into, actually I got into a size four for awhile. That's not actually, I don't think that's healthy for me. I don't look good at a size four and I think that's not a good weight for me health wise. But I wasn't really, I wasn't really paying attention at that point. I was just eating a paleo diet and really, no added sugars, no, refined carbohydrates and I was just really dialed into, a little bit of fruit, some nuts and seeds of vegetables and meat. And so, um, what was interesting, our son plays or did play, he's grown now., select baseball back at the during that time. And we were out of season when I started the Paleo Diet and I had probably been Paleo for about six weeks. We had not seen any of the, team members or any of the parents or anything for about 12 weeks. And so, when we came to the very first game of the season when we came in, everybody was like, oh my God, you look amazing. You've lost so much weight, looks so healthy. You look so you know, so vibrant and what are you doing? And that was it. I was only doing Paleo. I wasn't trying to lose weight. It just happened naturally because I was eating foods that were, my body was meant to eat and my body was capable of processing and actually taking the nutrients that it needed and getting rid of the stuff that it didn't. And it was just an, I became very fat adopted at that point.

Chris 7:53

That's amazing. My wife and I, we work in the fitness, health and fitness industry. We own a gym and we see the struggles that members have just trying to get their body composition in line just with training and training. So for all of the listeners that are trying to get some change with body composition, potentially a Paleo lifestyle eating regimen might be the best place to start. With, the transition for Keith and yourself. So obviously your specialty in Italian cuisine, which is carbs, carbs, carbs was there some hiccups along the way? , some speed bumps to moving. Some of those high carb preferences out of your diet.

Michelle Norris 8:35

When I first went Paleo, no, there was no, I didn't divert from it at all. what was interesting because I felt so good. I stopped, I stopped being, I was literally, before I went, Paleo was literally in pain every single time I ate. And so, then I also, the brain fog went away because, and then I started not having, I also had a lower back pain that I actually really didn't recognize until it went away. So I have that. And then I had a lot of joint pain. My knees really swelled and had I had some real serious issues. So for me, gluten actually showed up in my joints and everything. So I felt so good. There was no way I was gonna go. But what was, for me, the, the situation that happened for me was I was in a state of denial and I was very angry that I had to cut these foods that I love from my diet in order to be healthy. I was really mad at the time. And so, and I had this whole thought processes about at some point I'm going to be able to figure out how to put these things back into my diet. That was where like, why couldn't it be able to figure this out? And I'm going to, you know, defy every person out there and I'll be able to figure out how to put it back in my diet. Well, what was, so I was not happy about it. I was pretty angry. I came into Paleo kind of kicking and screaming, but the day that we went to that that baseball game and all the parents were, were talking about how good I looked and how, how I lost so much weight and I had not tried, I had gone through periods of time where I was trying desperately to lose weight and could not lose weight and was, you know, starving myself doing all the shit you're not supposed to do. I was doing all that so that, that was like the light bulb moment for me. That was when I realized at that moment this is information that could actually really help people and could actually make losing weight and actually getting healthy a lot simpler process and a lot easier. And then at that point I really didn't, did not, I just really don't have a taste for it very much anymore. So if I went Italian now, I love cauliflower crust pizza, love it. I love, I actually prefer like zoodles, , with any of my pasta. I prefer that actually. I prefer the taste and I actually prefer it to having actual roll pasta. Now I enjoy, um, copellos occasionally copellos makes a really good pasta. The substance, you know, a kind of a substitute that's made more out of flour and all of that stuff, but not enough. No, no gluten, obviously. But, um, and so I can enjoy that from time to time, but I still, I still don't feel great on it. Like I do. And I do zoodles because you still are putting some refined flours and even though they're, they are grain free and all of that, and they're, they're actually good for you. For me, they just don't work as well because that's still a carb. That doesn't work well. Well for me, so I don't recover as well, but every once in a while I'll enjoy it. And I'll savour it and I'll be okay. And, um, you know, just move on. But, um,

Chris 11:58

zoodles zoodles are they a Zucchini noodles? Yes. Yes. I figured so. Yeah. They're fantastic. Yeah. Well, I use them as a substitute in our spaghetti. They go for the Aussie listeners. Zoodles a Zucchini noodles.

Michelle Norris 12:15

That's awesome. Yeah, the noodles.

Chris 12:21

It's a great name

Michelle Norris 12:25

When you'd make noodles, yellow squashes it. Squoodles I don't know.

Chris 12:29

Potentially potentially I guess. for some of the listeners who have children and I've got a four year old boy and a one and a bit year old girl. Some some of the challenges that we have, we know that we should be reducing the refined carbohydrates and things, but the convenience factor in the behavioural side of things comes into play. Do you have any tips for moving away from those kinds of foodsas a chef? So like crackers and things like that?

Michelle Norris 13:02

So this is the thing. We actually used to own gyms. We actually sold our shares of the gyms just really recently. So we actually, we're dealing with clients on a daily basis and everything. And the thing is, is that for us, whenever we're coaching any clients that are going into the Paleo Diet, if you can do it, if you can do the, you know, just knock it all out, eliminated all, that's obviously the best. But for some people that's really difficult. And so our first thing right off the bat is getting out all the processed sugar because the sugar a piece is the part that is the hardest to overcome. And sometimes that can just do somebody in immediately. So, you know, we hear everybody talk about Carb Flu and it's a real thing., it sounds weird, but what happens is when you first start getting rid of these things from your body, your body starts a detox process. And what happens is you can hit this point where you just feel absolutely miserable. You just feel like you have the flu, which is why we call it carb flu. And so, um, to get, oh you just have to push through that. Cause usually that carb flu lasts anywhere from 24 hours to usually no more than 72 hours, maybe four days at the most. I've, I've don't think I've ever seen anybody wear it lasted more than two, three days tops., but there's extreme cases. But the thing is, is at that point, that means that your body is actually making the transition from being a,, glycogen burning engine to that. It's trying to move over to not burning sugar but now starting to burn some fat. And so if you just keep pushing through that and just to get through the, the fact that it, it's kind of painful, you actually get to the other side and you just feel a lot better. So the first thing we tell people if they honestly think they can't get rid of everything at one time is to do the sugar first and then go to the grains. The next thing is getting rid of all the grains and the gluten super highly inflammatory. And so those are, that's where we would say those are the first things to go. And obviously we want to, just to make sure it, particularly when you have kids, it's really hard if your kids are already in a space where they are getting access sugar or they're getting grains and all of that and taking that away from them, it's kind of hard. So our recommendation for trying to get children on board is actually find a really good substitute, something that's really a good alternative that's healthier. It's not, it's not, we just believe you focus on the good and not the perfect because obviously we want to get to the perfect, we want to get to where we have all the crap out of our diets. But in all honesty, that's never gonna happen. I don't have a perfect diet. I still have to from time to time do things. I decide that I'm going to have something that's got grains in it because I actually want that or enjoy that or what have you. And so I, mindfully make that decision and I mindfully, know how I'm going to end up paying for it. And whether or not it's worth it to me and then I make that decision. And so, um, for children it's really hard for them because if they were in this thing of where they're eating some types of grains or they've, they're getting desserts or they're getting excess sugars and that type of thing is, it, it's better to transition them out with good alternatives. So if you have a child that's, um, really hooked on Coca Cola, for instance, or Dr Pepper or whatever that is, if they're hooked on that switch 'em out to a zevia to a natural soda because that's going to be a better transition for them. And they're not going to feel like they are being deprived so much because it's a much better substitute the process for, there's no artificial colors, flavors, any of that stuff that's in Zevia. I'm a big proponent of that because it's just getting the small wins that make it a difference where you can actually move on to the bigger picture and really get their, them on board with, actually taking part in and choosing and being mindful about their own diet and that they feel better and that they, and they want to feel better because, you know, the last thing kids want is to feel like crap and because they want to go up and play and they want to run and they want to do all of that. And so those are the things that we would say is make the alternative, bring in the alternatives they're there to help you get in that transition time period there. It helps you get them from here to here. And so, those are the things that I would do. There's so many options now. , which we love on. You see it, you're going to see it when you come to Paleo FX this year, which I'm super excited. You're going to see so many really great alternatives on the floor. And this is the great, and we bet every single exhibitor that's coming in, there's no band ingredients that are on our floor. So when your kids are running around on the floor and they can actually take samples and you not have to be worried about what it is they're they're getting and they're going to love all the stuff that's on the floor, they're going to be like, oh my gosh, that's so good. And so, um, then they're going to want that. And, and there it is. It's a healthier alternative. And so, um, that's just my thought process is just go for those healthier alternatives. It's a better choice than what's currently maybe they're currently doing. And that's just an easier way to transition children into a better, healthier eating program.

Chris 18:57

That's absolutely fantastic advice, and touching on Paleo Fx. So it is literally only a month and a bit away. Um, my wife and I's pending account white, bringing, bringing their family across to Austin, Texas for our very first time. , this event is so exciting. I, I look at the lineup and it's the best of the best of the thought leaders in Paleo, Keto ancestral health functional medicine look the likes of Dr Mercola, Chris Kresser, Dave Asprey from bulletproof, to name a few Robb wolf. Mark's decision. Do you just get blown away at each event? Like working with these, these guests? It's unbelievable.

Michelle Norris 19:41

Yeah. I sometimes have to pinch myself that this is when I get to do for a living and then I get to, um, bring together, like you said, the best of the best in the world in what they do and, and the fact that they are changing millions, not just thousands but millions of people's lives, every single year. And that, um, we get to be a small part of what they do and being able to bring them in is, a real honour. And, we feel very blessed that we are, we've been able to, to be able to continue to keep doing this. And this will be our eighth year and we're super excited about it. So it isn't an it, it's a stellar lineup. I mean like it's all line up that you can't see anywhere else. So we're excited

Chris 20:30

and I believe that, , there's, there's opportunities to network and speak with these guests, presenters also, which is just unparalleled with any other kind of conference you go to. So that's, that's amazing. So any Australians that have time and the ability to get across, I'd highly recommend, uh, but I'm, I'm definitely going to do a follow up from my experience at Paleo Fx. So hopefully for years to come more and more a Aussies will make the trip across there and hopefully more and more conversations will start in Australia around these highly important topics as well.

Michelle Norris 21:07

Well, it's also, there's also talk, I've heard through the grapevine that we've talked about coming to Australia, so we want to do in the next couple of years is to be able to come to Australia. We're trying to really dial in what we do so that we can take it out on the road. It's, , it's quite the beast to, to put that on in the region here in our backyard. And, but taking it, across the pond is going to be quite a feat. So we want to make sure that when we do it, it's right and it's at the caliber and level that we want to be able to present. But yeah, well I know that Australia is one of the places that will be coming.

Chris 21:50

Paleo Fx down under. Yeah. That's pretty cool.

Michelle Norris 21:54

Sounds good to Me.

Chris 21:57

Michele Norris. Thank you so much. I look forward to getting across here and meeting you in person next month in Texas. And um, yeah, if, if people would like to find out more about halo effects, is it, uh, just to the website, Paleofx.com?

Michelle Norris 22:12

Yes. our Facebook page is, Paleo FX and you can follow us on all social media at Paleo FX and all kinds of stuff going on. This is Paleo awareness month. For those of you that might marches to Paleo awareness month, something that we claimed it a couple of years ago. And so, um, we have a huge giveaway coming up, and so we'll make sure that you get all the links and everything, Chris, so that you can get that out to your followers and you could actually win tickets to paleofx

Chris 22:47

Fabulous. Fabulous. Well, like I said, absolute pleasure. Look forward to seeing you and meeting you next month. and thank you so much. I know you've had a busy day.

Michelle Norris 22:56

Yeah. Thank you so much. I, I'm honoured to have on. Thanks.

Chris 23:00

Thanks, Michelle. Bye. If you love this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the amplified wellness podcast and stay up to date with all the latest episodes.