Paleo: The First Days
Hello! I’m Cely from Running off the Reese’s and I am so excited to be guest posting today for Teresa. So here you go, all your first few days on the Paleo Diet.
1. Its pronounced “Pay-Leo” not “Puh-Lay-O”
The Paleo diet comes from the term Paleolithic and is based upon what researchers and scientists believe our ancestors consumed. So what would that be? Vegetables, fruit, low fat meat, eggs, and nuts. That’s it. Eat a lot of veggies, some fruit and nuts (less if you’re trying to lose weight), and meat.
The Paleo diet comes from the term Paleolithic and is based upon what researchers and scientists believe our ancestors consumed. So what would that be? Vegetables, fruit, low fat meat, eggs, and nuts. That’s it. Eat a lot of veggies, some fruit and nuts (less if you’re trying to lose weight), and meat.
2. What can’t you eat?
Nope no Cheetos. You can’t eat everything else and potatoes, peanuts, peanut butter, grains, dairy, fatty meats, processed foods, rice, or alcohol. But I still drink alcohol, but I try not to be a raging alcoholic. If you want to do it right, avoid it, and if you can’t because it helps you keep from killing people, drink sparingly.
3. What will Paleo do for you?
It will probably help you lose weight and it will probably make you feel really good. I started Paleo in an effort to manage inflammation in my body and so far it is working very well. I have also lost about 10 pounds which I’m not complaining about. Read The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf if you want all of the science behind why a Paleo diet makes you feel better.
3. So what the heck do you eat?
I think the key to this diet is finding what meals are easy for you to prepare that you actually like. I like to have hard boiled eggs for breakfast, nuts for a snack, salad with turkey for lunch, apples with almond butter for another snack, and a meat with vegetables for dinner. It took me several weeks to figure out what was fast and cost effective for me to prepare. In the beginning buy things you like and know how to cook then grow from there. I wasted so much money the first few weeks on things I never got around to eating.
4. Now what?
So you have your food and you know what to do and you are ready to begin. So how will it go? I can’t lie; the first week is the hardest. The first few days aren’t really that bad. The diet is new, you will be full because you can eat when you are hungry, you don’t have to count calories, and the food is good. Then day four comes and your first weekend and suddenly you realize all of your habits are wrong. What you have grabbed for years as a snack and what you’ve eaten out is all wrong. And then it gets stressful and you wonder what the point is? It’s hard. It’s hard to skip that candy at the theater, and to pass on the bread at Olive Garden, to say no to beer, and no to appetizers, no to cake, no to cookies, no to everything delicious. You are going to have to have a lot of willpower and a lot of planning. Try to eat before you go to places you may be tempted to snack: showers, movie theaters, bars, and parties. Try to find out where you are going out to eat in advance so you can look up the menu online and not stress about what you will choose when you arrive.
5. Don’t be embarrassed
People will notice you are suddenly eating different, especially if, like me, you are a notorious third helping birthday cake eater at your office. In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t their business, but you can’t just tell your friends, family, and co-workers to go screw themselves. So tell them you are eating differently for health reasons. And really, that is exactly why you should be trying Paleo, because you want to improve how you feel. You don’t need to mention weight or weight loss because you are just opening yourself up to a million unsolicited comments about your size.
6. Keep almonds in your purse
Or pistachios or cashews or whatever you eat. The biggest barrier to eating Paleo is that it isn’t a “grab and go” lifestyle. It’s hard to pop into a gas station or McDonald’s and feed yourself. Keep food on you so you are prepared until you can get to the next meal.
7. Crap is going to happen
You are going to cheat. There will be meals and days where you have no control over what is available or you want to indulge in something. Just do it, it’s not a big deal. Don’t beat yourself up and don’t feel guilty. As long as these instances are only a day or a couple of meals a week you aren’t going to derail yourself (this is in the book). Just don’t let it become a four day habit.
8. What about exercise and carbs?
You will get plenty of carbs and fiber. Really. Nuts have carbohydrates, fruit has carbohydrates, and vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes have carbohydrates. The book warns that your first couple of weeks on Paleo will probably see a decrease in your exercise performance. I have no idea why, but I did feel like junk at first. So don’t start Paleo in the weeks before a major athletic event or race.
9. It gets better with time
I promise. As a girl who loves candy and bread more than air, I can assure you that it will get better. You will get used to it and get into a routine just like you had with your formal eating style. And eventually you will more easily choose Paleo options over the others because you have a carb hangover when you eat a giant plate of pasta and you will spend all night wishing you weren’t so dumb.
10. Keep trying
You are going to have bad days and bad weeks. Life happens. Keep trying and don’t give up. Paleo should be a lifestyle not a quick fix.
Good luck!
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