About
engrevo is a shortening of “engineered by evolution.”
It’s intended to be pronounced en-jurr-e-voe, but you can say it however you like (en-gree-voe seems to be most popular).
Why engineering and evolution?
I am a Mechanical Engineer, and I possess an extremely passionate interest in what I loosely refer to as “evolutionary” nutrition and fitness.
In addition to my own passions, I think that everything on this planet (except the results of our intentional breeding) has been engineered by evolution.
How did I get here?
My specific story is not very interesting. I developed some bad habits and got out of shape, saw the success my dad was having on what he called a “paleo diet,” tried it myself and had great results. Pretty standard stuff. What has been more unique for me is the ways that my life has changed beyond my pants size. I have always been interested in math and science (large part of why I am an engineer), so I tracked my intake and some fitness parameters for my first 6 weeks in a blog. Though I started the blog simply for the dumping of data, I developed a passion for communicating my thoughts about everything health and fitness.
I have absolutely fallen in love with the science of nutrition and it’s applications. At first, this was sparked by the effectiveness of a low-carb paleo/primal lifestyle for fat loss. In my educational pursuits, every problem had an answer, and it was known to be the right answer. From what I had seen on the covers of health magazines, nutrition and fitness were not so clearly defined. A paleo/primal lifestyle may not be the full correct solution to The Omnivore’s Dilemma (what should I eat?), but it is certainly on the right track. My introduction to this community was the first time I heard an answer that made sense.
What’s my stance?
You’ll get a good idea of my opinions perusing the site (especially the “Intro” section), but I’ll do my best to consolidate my thoughts into an elevator pitch here:
- Eat whole foods, nothing with a complicated ingredients list.
- Ancestral diets offer a great framework for nutrition and fitness laws, but (good) science is the end-all, be-all.
- Make every meal count. (Also, make every rep count in the gym).
Some additional details: I think that carbohydrate restriction is a great fat-loss tool, but is not a necessary condition for health or longevity. I believe food wields a heavy sword, one that we can swing in our favor.
What are my limitations?
I feel that this community has a very strong presence on the internet, and there is an abundance of useful information out there. I would be crazy to think I can offer better content concerning general health and longevity for the majority better than Mark Sisson. Nor can I offer the medical insights of Kurt Harris, the righteous rants of Richard Nikoley, or the ingenious discussion of efficient exercise of Keith Norris.
I do have some skills. I am intrigued by personal experimentation and recording that data which will lead to some interesting stuff here from time to time. Due to my interest, I have my ear to the ground (with deep roots) in the community; I’ll frequently comment on trends apparent in the “paleosphere,” often serving to consolidate information and expert opinion on the subject. Also, I’m always talking about this stuff, and as a result, I come across quite a few questions. When those answers are important or novel in some way, they could become posts.
Oh and as I mentioned above, I’m an engineer, not a doctor. One more time: I am not a doctor.