Well, I gained a whopping 6.8 pounds over the course of a little over a month. Gross! It’s time to get back into gear and do better for myself and my family.
I’ve researched all sorts of diets, weight loss methods, nutritional philosophies, and more for several years now. One that keeps following me around in the back of my head is the thought of eating primal or paleo. I have done calorie counting with EXCELLENT success in the past, but that is not a lifestyle. I seriously feel like I just can’t fount forever.
I am very rule-oriented. I just need to set clear, sensible rules for myself so that I can quickly determine if something is healthy or not to eat. I have done similar things with alcohol, smoking, and caffeine. I never even began smoking or drinking because I just told myself I don’t do that. Simple enough! Caffeine was a little more complicated, but when my son was born and couldn’t tolerate it when exposed through my breastmilk, I made “no caffeine” a rule, too!
There is so much information out there swirling around about Paleo or Primal lifestyles, so I decided to focus and use resources from others to get on track right away. Please note that links in this post are my affiliate links.
To get started, I’m going to do The 21 Day Sugar Detox.
I’m starting this on January 10th. I’m hoping to get over the carb and sugar hump. I’ll be the first to admit that I am a hardcore addict and it just feels like the right time to make a change. This plan is safe for breastfeeding and pregnant people, as well since it is NOT a weight loss diet, but a lifestyle shift.
What will I be eliminating? Well, to start, I’ll be taking out grains, legumes, “bad” oils, and sugars. What does that leave to eat? Meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs, seeds, coconut oil, and more…. You know, REAL FOOD. I will likely limit dairy and hopefully eliminate it eventually, but that will take a little longer. One step at a time! I gave up caffeine last year following the birth of my fourth child, and the withdrawal was minimal compared to what I was expecting. I know I can do the same thing with this processed junk!!
I’m going to rely a lot on Pinterest and meal plan sites to help. My favorite meal planning site is Emeals and they have a Paleo plan. What I love most about Emeals is that you can choose your meal plan based on household size, type of diet you want your family to have, and then sometimes based on store as well. I will miss my Aldi meal plans, but I’ll sacrifice some cost and a bit more complicated cooking for optimal health for the family. 🙂
Another resource out there to help with meal planning is The Paleo Recipe Book. I just purchased this one and it comes with 8 weeks of meal plans in addition to all the great recipes in the book. There are lots of other bonuses, too.
Good luck to you! I’ve looked at Paleo before for my husband and I think it would really work for him. Not for me, though. I don’t do well with restrictions. I’m better with a little bit of everything in moderation. I’ll be following your progress.
I’ve been also trying a paleo low carb diet, and the benefits are really worth it even if there are restrictions 🙂 If you want some low carb treats every now and then, try baking with coconut flour, it’s low in carbs and high in protein and fibers! I use if often with to make coconut flour pancakes and bread. Good luck!
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