The first thing you should know about
The first thing you should know about
Strauss Mann’ Paleo diet is that it isn’t
Strauss Mann’ Paleo diet is that it isn’t
exactly Paleo.
exactly Paleo.
When I found out, I was popping
When I found out, I was popping
open three boxes of tupperware and
open three boxes of tupperware and
unwrapping a large bowl. It was Day 30,
unwrapping a large bowl. It was Day 30,
and I had just finished my month-long
and I had just finished my month-long
self-initiated challenge of trying out the
self-initiated challenge of trying out the
famed diet.
famed diet.
Earlier in the week, I met up with the
Earlier in the week, I met up with the
sophomore goaltender for our weekly
sophomore goaltender for our weekly
check-in on my progress and, feeling bold,
check-in on my progress and, feeling bold,
I asked if he would be down for each of us
I asked if he would be down for each of us
to cook up something Paleo and swap — a
to cook up something Paleo and swap — a
celebration for the end of my trial.
celebration for the end of my trial.
He was happy to.
He was happy to.
Three days later, I presented my
Three days later, I presented my
masterpiece: A box of sliced chicken thighs,
masterpiece: A box of sliced chicken thighs,
roasted sweet potatoes, roasted brussel
roasted sweet potatoes, roasted brussel
sprouts and a bowl of fried rice.
sprouts and a bowl of fried rice.
I started reading off the ingredients I
I started reading off the ingredients I
used. Everything was tossed in olive oil and
used. Everything was tossed in olive oil and
roasted except some chicken, which was
roasted except some chicken, which was
coated with almond flour. As I went down
coated with almond flour. As I went down
the list, I realized the whole exchange
the list, I realized the whole exchange
flopped.
flopped.
For one, he forgot to bring food. Maybe I
For one, he forgot to bring food. Maybe I
didn’t think this through.
didn’t think this through.
Second of all, he couldn’t eat a bite
Second of all, he couldn’t eat a bite
of anything I cooked that day. Yeah, I
of anything I cooked that day. Yeah, I
definitely didn’t think this through.
definitely didn’t think this through.
“You can’t just throw me in the deep
“You can’t just throw me in the deep
end, say ‘Eat my food,’ ” Strauss explained.
end, say ‘Eat my food,’ ” Strauss explained.
“There’s details here!”
“There’s details here!”
While his diet is closest to paleo, there’s
While his diet is closest to paleo, there’s
a lot of small changes in between that make
a lot of small changes in between that make
it his own. No olive oil for cooking. No nuts.
it his own. No olive oil for cooking. No nuts.
No plastic tupperware. He’s the master
No plastic tupperware. He’s the master
of his own diet. That’s the first thing you
of his own diet. That’s the first thing you
should know about his diet, and at the end
should know about his diet, and at the end
of my 30 days, it was the last thing I found
of my 30 days, it was the last thing I found
out.
out.
Huh, I
Huh, I
guess I just did it
guess I just did it
wrong.
wrong.
***
***
In Greenwich,
In Greenwich,
Conn., there’s only one
Conn., there’s only one
Buffalo Wild Wings. Two,
Buffalo Wild Wings. Two,
depending on where you draw
depending on where you draw
the city lines. Some days, before his
the city lines. Some days, before his
junior year in high school, Strauss would
junior year in high school, Strauss would
walk in and order boneless wings.
walk in and order boneless wings.
Other times, he’d go elsewhere and get
Other times, he’d go elsewhere and get
pizza and pasta. Sundays, he would make
pizza and pasta. Sundays, he would make
Bagel Bites. Mornings, he’d have a bacon,
Bagel Bites. Mornings, he’d have a bacon,
egg and cheese sandwich. Before his diet,
egg and cheese sandwich. Before his diet,
Strauss was like any other teenager.
Strauss was like any other teenager.
But until that point, his role as a hockey
But until that point, his role as a hockey
player on his high school team was barely
player on his high school team was barely
a role at all. He was the third-string
a role at all. He was the third-string
goaltender and appeared in zero games.
goaltender and appeared in zero games.
Something had to change.
Something had to change.
In past years, he tried different types
In past years, he tried different types
of diets.
of diets.
He tried cutting out meat, and he even
He tried cutting out meat, and he even
attempted to eat less. While he lost a lot of
attempted to eat less. While he lost a lot of
weight, he lost a lot of muscle, too.
weight, he lost a lot of muscle, too.
The summer after his sophomore year
The summer after his sophomore year
in high school, though, Strauss found out
in high school, though, Strauss found out
there was a gym in town where a lot of
there was a gym in town where a lot of
NHL players would work out during the
NHL players would work out during the
off-season.
off-season.
Strauss begged his mom, Sally, to go. But
Strauss begged his mom, Sally, to go. But
she wouldn’t let him.
she wouldn’t let him.
Instead, a friend of his went and
Instead, a friend of his went and
chanced upon a nutritionist who gave him
chanced upon a nutritionist who gave him
an entire dietary meal plan. When Strauss
an entire dietary meal plan. When Strauss
saw it, he simply took it for himself. Hockey
saw it, he simply took it for himself. Hockey
had become a commitment, and he had to
had become a commitment, and he had to
go all in.
go all in.
“Strauss made a decision for himself
“Strauss made a decision for himself
that he really wanted to take hockey as
that he really wanted to take hockey as
far as he could,” Sally said. “And I think
far as he could,” Sally said. “And I think
he started recognizing at that point that
he started recognizing at that point that
wishing wasn’t going to be enough.”
wishing wasn’t going to be enough.”
Strauss cited that summer as a turning
Strauss cited that summer as a turning
point in his career.
point in his career.
But he didn’t start all-in — instead
But he didn’t start all-in — instead
cherry-picking what he liked from the
cherry-picking what he liked from the
base Paleo diet. Over time, he did more
base Paleo diet. Over time, he did more
research and started pinpointing specifics
research and started pinpointing specifics
he thought he could improve. He talked to
he thought he could improve. He talked to
as many people as possible and even met
as many people as possible and even met
with the nutritionist who made the original
with the nutritionist who made the original
meal plan for his friend.
meal plan for his friend.
“It was hard, but he kind of stair-
“It was hard, but he kind of stair-
stepped into it at the beginning,” Sally said.
stepped into it at the beginning,” Sally said.
Because of the gradual start, Sally and
Because of the gradual start, Sally and
others had just labeled it a phase. His
others had just labeled it a phase. His
family was no stranger to unorthodox
family was no stranger to unorthodox
eating habits. One of his three sisters was a
eating habits. One of his three sisters was a
vegetarian; another had food allergies. So
vegetarian; another had food allergies. So
when Strauss declared he was trying out
when Strauss declared he was trying out
this new diet, they all just wondered how
this new diet, they all just wondered how
long it would last.
long it would last.
But it lasted, and the conviction showed.
But it lasted, and the conviction showed.
When Sally went shopping, Strauss asked
When Sally went shopping, Strauss asked
for ingredients aligned with what he could
for ingredients aligned with what he could
eat. And when it wasn’t made for dinner, he
eat. And when it wasn’t made for dinner, he
made it himself.
made it himself.
“It’s something that gives me
“It’s something that gives me
discipline,” Strauss said. “I was the third
discipline,” Strauss said. “I was the third
goalie on my high school team, and then,
goalie on my high school team, and then,
everything started to change. So it’s like,
everything started to change. So it’s like,
you’re not gonna just stop doing it.”
you’re not gonna just stop doing it.”
***
***
The problem for me was never stopping,
The problem for me was never stopping,
it was starting. And honestly, I can’t say my
it was starting. And honestly, I can’t say my
reason for starting the diet was as inspired.
reason for starting the diet was as inspired.
From the start, I knew I wanted to do
From the start, I knew I wanted to do
it for an article — and also so I could get in
it for an article — and also so I could get in
better shape for spring break.
better shape for spring break.
I didn’t have a bottom line. I wasn’t
I didn’t have a bottom line. I wasn’t
trying to improve my hockey skills. I was
trying to improve my hockey skills. I was
just … going to do it.
just … going to do it.
I kept pushing it off until January, and I
I kept pushing it off until January, and I
had run out of excuses. That didn’t stop me
had run out of excuses. That didn’t stop me
from trying, though. Anything to get out
from trying, though. Anything to get out
of doing it.
of doing it.
Give up candy and chips? I ate those
Give up candy and chips? I ate those
every day. Wings and pizza, too? Those two
every day. Wings and pizza, too? Those two
made up my dinner every day.
made up my dinner every day.
And not having a legit reason to do the
And not having a legit reason to do the
diet made it that much harder to flip the
diet made it that much harder to flip the
switch. But tequila helped. Literally. I was
switch. But tequila helped. Literally. I was
at Skeeps on Jan. 7 when the fifth shot
at Skeeps on Jan. 7 when the fifth shot
started to kick in.
started to kick in.
Now is the time, I told myself, as beer
Now is the time, I told myself, as beer
and
and
other
other
gluten-
gluten-
infested
infested
drinks spilled
drinks spilled
all around me.
all around me.
Tequila is technically
Tequila is technically
Paleo, so I was off on
Paleo, so I was off on
the right foot. But I took my
the right foot. But I took my
declaration seriously. I’m a man of
declaration seriously. I’m a man of
my word.
my word.
I went in to media availability the next
I went in to media availability the next
day and asked Strauss for tips. I wanted to
day and asked Strauss for tips. I wanted to
do the diet right.
do the diet right.
“You can’t just be eating like carrots for
“You can’t just be eating like carrots for
lunch or something,” Strauss said. “That’s
lunch or something,” Strauss said. “That’s
just not enough for your body. I have to eat
just not enough for your body. I have to eat
like a ton of food.”
like a ton of food.”
I had, indeed, only eaten a bag of carrots
I had, indeed, only eaten a bag of carrots
— not for lunch prior to talking to him, but
— not for lunch prior to talking to him, but
for the entire day. I hadn’t gone grocery
for the entire day. I hadn’t gone grocery
shopping for the week yet, nor did I have
shopping for the week yet, nor did I have
the time.
the time.
So for the first 72 hours of my trial, I had
So for the first 72 hours of my trial, I had
three eggs, a bag of carrots and two bags of
three eggs, a bag of carrots and two bags of
Clementines.
Clementines.
And to be honest, I was miserable. I
And to be honest, I was miserable. I
was gassed doing the simplest things, tired
was gassed doing the simplest things, tired
all the time. My sight was a little blurry, I
all the time. My sight was a little blurry, I
constantly felt like passing out and it was
constantly felt like passing out and it was
hard to think straight. So nothing changed,
hard to think straight. So nothing changed,
really.
really.
But I stuck through it. Tough times
But I stuck through it. Tough times
make tough people or something like that,
make tough people or something like that,
right? It didn’t help that I had to travel to
right? It didn’t help that I had to travel to
South Bend on Day 4 and 5 to cover the
South Bend on Day 4 and 5 to cover the
hockey games. I packed an extra bag of
hockey games. I packed an extra bag of
carrots.
carrots.
Luckily, my fellow writers noticed my
Luckily, my fellow writers noticed my
famined state and brought me to a Paleo-
famined state and brought me to a Paleo-
friendly brunch place. I ordered everything
friendly brunch place. I ordered everything
that I could eat.
that I could eat.
“How do you cook your bacon?” I asked
“How do you cook your bacon?” I asked
just to make sure it was Paleo-approved.
just to make sure it was Paleo-approved.
It was the final question from the long list
It was the final question from the long list
of things I had to check off every time I
of things I had to check off every time I
ate out. She already noted they use sea salt
ate out. She already noted they use sea salt
and that the sweet potato fries were baked
and that the sweet potato fries were baked
instead of fried.
instead of fried.
“Not too crispy,” the waitress replied.
“Not too crispy,” the waitress replied.
Perfect.
Perfect.
The start was by far the hardest part,
The start was by far the hardest part,
and the adjustment period my body
and the adjustment period my body
underwent — Days 1 through 5 — made
underwent — Days 1 through 5 — made
me question my existence. But I started to
me question my existence. But I started to
actually feel change, effects that Sally listed
actually feel change, effects that Sally listed
off that Strauss felt too, like waking up
off that Strauss felt too, like waking up
every morning with a clearer head.
every morning with a clearer head.
Maybe it was worth it after all.
Maybe it was worth it after all.
***
***
Strauss continued the diet throughout
Strauss continued the diet throughout
high school. It became easier with
high school. It became easier with
experience.
experience.
He realized he couldn’t just turn the
He realized he couldn’t just turn the
diet on and off as he had the previous
diet on and off as he had the previous
ones, because it would be too hard to start
ones, because it would be too hard to start
again. No more spending Saturday nights
again. No more spending Saturday nights
snacking
snacking
on
on
chips. No more eating any refined carbs of
chips. No more eating any refined carbs of
any sort. No cheating for anything. But it
any sort. No cheating for anything. But it
wasn’t difficult — he grew to really like the
wasn’t difficult — he grew to really like the
Paleo palate.
Paleo palate.
“I think he finally realized that he kind
“I think he finally realized that he kind
of needed to be more focused about (the
of needed to be more focused about (the
diet) if he was really going to do it,” Sally
diet) if he was really going to do it,” Sally
said. “It’s funny. It’s just kind of got to the
said. “It’s funny. It’s just kind of got to the
point where it became what he liked to eat.”
point where it became what he liked to eat.”
There were still sacrifices, though.
There were still sacrifices, though.
Immediately after he chose to forgo
Immediately after he chose to forgo
processed food, gluten and dairy, he was
processed food, gluten and dairy, he was
tested that first summer. His birthday was
tested that first summer. His birthday was
in August, and his mom was adamant he
in August, and his mom was adamant he
have a cake.
have a cake.
“It’s his birthday,” Sally said. “I feel like,
“It’s his birthday,” Sally said. “I feel like,
I’m a mom, I want to be able to celebrate his
I’m a mom, I want to be able to celebrate his
birthday. It’s just our tradition in our world
birthday. It’s just our tradition in our world
to have a cake and candles. So it feels like
to have a cake and candles. So it feels like
the birthday’s a miss if you don’t have that.”
the birthday’s a miss if you don’t have that.”
But he was unwavering with his diet,
But he was unwavering with his diet,
even though he had only started a few
even though he had only started a few
months prior.
months prior.
So they compromised. She would make
So they compromised. She would make
a gluten-free, dairy-free cake, using only
a gluten-free, dairy-free cake, using only
a dash of processed sugar. And he would
a dash of processed sugar. And he would
consider eating it.
consider eating it.
“Just had like nothing in it, basically,”
“Just had like nothing in it, basically,”
Sally said. “And I thought it was pretty
Sally said. “And I thought it was pretty
disgusting, but I don’t think he really even
disgusting, but I don’t think he really even
felt like it was worth the quote on quote,
felt like it was worth the quote on quote,
‘cheat.’ ”
‘cheat.’ ”
There was a long list of other things he
There was a long list of other things he
chose not to conform to.
chose not to conform to.
Eating and doing things with friends,
Eating and doing things with friends,
for one, was a big challenge for him. His
for one, was a big challenge for him. His
friends were at the age where they started
friends were at the age where they started
drinking, and he just couldn’t join. When
drinking, and he just couldn’t join. When
they went for pizza, he couldn’t have any.
they went for pizza, he couldn’t have any.
But back then, his high school friends
But back then, his high school friends
already knew him.
already knew him.
The only thing that changed about him
The only thing that changed about him
to them was the things he ate. He was still
to them was the things he ate. He was still
the same old Strauss. It was still awkward
the same old Strauss. It was still awkward
at times, but after a bit of time, they got
at times, but after a bit of time, they got
used to it and accepted it.
used to it and accepted it.
It was a different story when he
It was a different story when he
graduated high school and headed to
graduated high school and headed to
juniors hockey in Fargo, N.D.
juniors hockey in Fargo, N.D.
“He was thrusted into a team situation
“He was thrusted into a team situation
where nobody knew him beforehand at
where nobody knew him beforehand at
all,” Sally said. “And it was like, ‘Who is
all,” Sally said. “And it was like, ‘Who is
this? Who is this guy? What is he doing?
this? Who is this guy? What is he doing?
Why does he have all this stinky food on
Why does he have all this stinky food on
the bus? And why is he not getting off when
the bus? And why is he not getting off when
we stop and grabbing a pizza with us’ ”
we stop and grabbing a pizza with us’ ”
He didn’t really know anyone —
He didn’t really know anyone —
teammates or billet family. Fargo was
teammates or billet family. Fargo was
a reality check from the bubble he had
a reality check from the bubble he had
previously lived in. His billet family wasn’t
previously lived in. His billet family wasn’t
prepared to cook around his diet, so he did
prepared to cook around his diet, so he did
all this shopping and all his cooking. His
all this shopping and all his cooking. His
teammates learned about his diet before
teammates learned about his diet before
they learned who he really was, so he
they learned who he really was, so he
learned the extent of his commitment.
learned the extent of his commitment.
“He’s figured out a way to kind of take a
“He’s figured out a way to kind of take a
deep breath and wait for everybody to start
deep breath and wait for everybody to start
accepting that this is just who he is and get
accepting that this is just who he is and get
to know him past (his diet),” Sally said.
to know him past (his diet),” Sally said.
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Sports
8 — Wednesday, February 12, 2020
michigandaily.com
Photos courtesy of the Mann Family
Design by Jack Silberman
TIEN LE
Daily Sports Writer
I’m
someone tha
t
puts these
routines over
wha
t people
think of me