An end, or a new beginning

I originally started out to give Paleo a chance. Not as part of a greater challenge or to lose weight, just to see howI would feel if I put just a little bit better food in my body for a month. Here we are, day 31 and the results are incredible. Not only do I have more energy throughout the day, but I have lost 12-15 pounds and have not been starving myself. It took a little while to get used to not eating bread (and pasta) and I can tell you that my craving for icecream has still not been broken but overall the effects are superior to my old lifestyle and nothing like a diet. While I do plan to keep these eating habits, there will undoubtedly be some slip-ups. Fortunately in my 30 days, there was only one minor infraction to the diet, and I plan on keeping any cheats to just that, minor. As Easter sunday approaches, there is already a plan for pies and homemade icecream. While both of these will be made with super natural ingredients, I am sure the pies will be the worst of the two choices. I will try to stay away from them, and I don't think that will be much of a problem, but I have no intention of avoiding the icecream. I will just try to avoid the chocolate or caramel sauce, whipped cream, or sprinkles and stick to just one small bowl to enjoy instead of three or four to inhale. If I had any regrets, it would be not taking pictures from before, during, and now. I may have some video from workouts, but I will never be able to see the physical changes others have and I that would be most helpful. To all others who have considered eating like a caveman. I say go with it, stick to it, and you will feel better for it.

Failure?

Bloomin' Onion and a Junior Candy Sundae crossed my path today. The portions were small and the work load before and after was heavy so the net effect was little but I still did not make it 30 days. Response: Who cares? I have come from 212 down to 196, my energy level is at it's best in years. Sometimes you just have to say f' it.

In low places

It has been a while since I was below the 200 mark, and at the time I was most recently in that realm it was due to a semi-crash diet where I was trying to make a certain goal each week. This time, however, I have reached that mark and maintained it for a couple of days. Energy level seems to rollercoaster a bit when I am actually dropping LB's, but the paleo diet sure helps level it back out when I consume the normal daily amount of calories without putting any pounds back on. As I have said in the past, water has been my friend, but at the same time it sure is a pest. When I am consuming my 100 ounces per day I have to go the bathroom about every 45 minutes. This is ok most of the time, but sometimes it does become a problem. There are a lot of meeting and events that last 1 or 2 hours and thst measn multiple restroom breaks and more interuption. Oh well, a small price to pay I suppose. Currently at about 199, although I weighed this morning at 197. Still on the hunt for 185 (maybe 175). Getting easier dealing with the slow gains (or losses actually) knowing that my strength, stamins, and overall energy level is still high and steadily improving. I cannot say enough good things about this lifestyle. Paleo may just be the way for me.

Paleo Day 19

It has been 19 days, and I can actually say with a lot of confidence that I will be able to go 30, and in fact I plan to keep the strict paleo up for 6 weeks before making a decision as to what steps to take next.
With initial bodyweight dropping 7 or 8 pounds in the first week I was left feeling wrecked and weak. I thought this was heading in the same direction as other "crash diets" I have tried. After week 2 I started to get back most of my strength, but the cravings for shitty food were still almost more than I could take. I thought that if I just broke down and ate a bag of M&M's I would feel better and thus, be more productive and be able to work harder. Fortunately I did not break down.
By week 3 I had learned how to get the food I needed, ie the calories, the fat, the protein, and the carbs and I continue to develop a knowledge of when and in what quantities to take these foods so that I can be at peak energy most all day, not gearing towards specific time frames. My workouot recovery time are getting shorter and my cravings are nearly gone.
Fortunately I love steak, fish, chicken, eggs, and vegetables because for the most part my diet is still pretty boring, but the combinations of those foods with fruit mixed in, and the most important condiment in my life: Salsa.
The only regret I have right now, is not taking more pictures along the way to gauge progress. I also did not do any kind of fat analysis beforehand so I wont really know the scientific gains, but I can say for sure the mental and physical gains are only starting to show.
I am currently losing about 1 pound every 4-5 days, this is really by desing because I dont want to be dropping so fast that I am too weak or at a lack of blood sugar to do normal activities, working out, family time, ect.
Sleeping. In the first couple of weeks I spent a lot of time sleeping. Going to bed early and getting up late. Partly because I knew if I was sleeping, I couldn't be eating, or craving anything to eat, but partly due to lack of energy at night, especially after workout nights. Now, only 3 weeks into it, I am going to bed later and getting up earlier and more refreshed than ever before.
Water is a god send. Water has become my new best friend. With the only drawback being I have to get during the middle of the night to take a piss, I have learned that my previous consumption was way too low. It not only helps me feel full when I don't otherwise, it provides the necessary hydration that I probably wasn't gettting prior before and during workouts.

Paleo Day 11

The weight has plateaued. Is that good? Is it what I should expect? Is it the next challenge in front of me? I am obviously getting enough calories now, holding on strong to the core of the diet which is not eating dairy, bread, or legumes. I have had meals of pork and even small amounts of rice or other non-paleo foods, but right now I crave something bad. Something very bad.

Paleo Day 7

This has been a real tough one. I went out and bought the Paleo book for athletes even though I have already owned and read it in the past and past it on down the line. On Saturday I was struggling. I have not wavered or backed down, but the fight is getting tougher. I found myself eating sugar free cough drops on Saturday night just to stop the craving for a bowl of icecream and a Cadbury caramel egg. I made it, but did cavemen have cough drops, I dont think so, they may have had some type of menthol which was all I was trying for, but the point is I succomed to the pressure. Day 7 is not much better, but as of now I have not developed any scratches in my throat.

It is hard to look at food the same way. Here, it has only been 4 days and I already look at the crap the kids eat and think "how can I feed that to them while I am eating something so pure, so raw, so natural?". Easy answer, cost. And they are kids. They love vegetables for the most part which is more than I could say for myself at their age, but they are not much into eating steak, especially at breakfast when their eggos and pop-tarts have become a staple in their lives. Good for me, bad for them. Tonight was a struggle. The oldest earned an icecream treat, and even though it was sugar free, it was full of the fake sugars. Maltodextrin and sucralose were #2 and #3 on the ingredients list. But, to even get them I had to spend several minutes peering into the icecream referigerator. It was almost more than I could take. Twice, I seriously found my self staring, possibly drooling over some Americone Dream. I wisely left the store with bags of fish, chicken, and steak in my hands while Jacob had his bag full of icecream treats in his. Finished the night by eating a cucumber, not satisfied, and then some grapes, not doing it either. For now I will pray. And tomorrow I will get up and start day 5. It will get easier.

Paleo, Day 4

While suffering from some lack of energy due to the lack of calories throughout the day I have still maintained a strict adherence to my new paleolithic eating habits. Watching a basketball game on television with friends can lead to pizza, cheese dip, bags of chips, or other carb-loaded killers, but last night was different. With an appetizer of grilled halibut, and a meal of salad with lots of veggies and salmon for the main course the night was not only a dietary success, but also one of the best meals I have had this week. While contemplating how I was going to start adding additional calories and necessary carbohydrates to my diet, the only choices are; more fruit or more vegetables. I will fall back to fruit when necessary, but for now, I will be taking a thorough look around the local grocery store for vegetable options as of yet, unexplored or others long forgotten.

Better Get Creative

Here we are, only the 3rd day of following the Paleo eating habits and I am already getting stuck in a rut.  I have, by my own laziness, limited myself to basically no breakfast, lots of nuts, chicken or turkey for lunch, fruit during the day, and chicken or turkey at night.  Pretty exciting.  I may need to start counting calories because I feel like I may be depriving myself which is not the goal.  I really cannot tell if I am hungry or simply craving some sweet, deathly carbs.  So far, so good.  Had turkey burgers and turkey breast nuggets last night for dinner.  Some brocoli and zucchini on the side.  All the turkey and zucchini was grilled.  Glad I can get back outside to do that.  I might make it through the summer and fall as long as I can keep grilling.  Steaks, burgers, and other lean meats, including fish.  All on the grill, I could eat the for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Paleo, Day 2

With day 1 behind me, and the only stumbling blocks being very minor, I am feeling pretty good about day 2.

In day 1, I had a drizzle of light ranch dressing on my salad because there was no salsa or other dressing, I had a diet coke, and today I will try to avoid that, I also had a couple of california rolls.  I am sure cavemen would have had sushi too if it was available.

Overall I was probably a little light on calories, my back was extremely sore during workout, but that was due to the workouots I had been doing in the days leading up to it.  Feeling good, ready for day 2.

Note:  I woke up late today, so breakfast consisted of 1 chicken breast and 1/8c of mixed nuts.  My lunch will also be chicken, so I need to find a solution for dinner or I am likely to start growing feathers.

So easy

A caveman can do it.  Question is, can I?

Fluctuating between 208 and 212, losing weight and then gaining it right back due to my love affair with shitty food.  I have decided to go 30 days eating Paleo foods.

Why:  I am trying to jump start my metabolism after being sedentary for the last 2 months this winter, I am also trying to cleanse my body, and regain some natural energy.

What I will eat:  Meat (Chicken, Steak, Fish), Vegetables, Fruit, and nuts (No peanuts).  I will try to post some of the meals that I have and I will continue to look for new ideas.  I think it will be tough at first, but after a week or 2 it should not be that bad.

What I won't eat:  Sugar, and other sugar type products including HFCS, breads, and pastas.  I will also be avoiding dairy, no milk, yogurt, or cottage cheese.

The long-term plan:  Eat a more balanced "zaleo" type diet and limit intake on sugary foods, breads, and pastas.  I also hope to cut out most caffeine, even cutting out "sugar free" pops and energy drinks.