As you may have read in my previous blog posts, I have been on the Paleo Diet for Lent this year. I did so because many friends, clients & family members have asked me about it and want to know “Is this a good diet?” and “Should I go on this?” My answers came from a limited knowledge base, and the more I heard about the buzz of the Paleo Diet, the more I wanted to see about it for myself. It has been nearly 40 days (the duration of Lent) and I can honestly say that I have never felt better. It did take a LOT of research, reading, digging, and self-teaching before I realized exactly how this “diet” would work for me. I learned that the Paleo Diet is simply a blueprint or outline of a lifestyle that aims to mimic that of our caveman (and cavewoman) ancestors. Just exactly HOW closely each person follows the blueprint is up for their own deciding. Depending on what a person’s fitness/health goals are, different foods may be included or excluded in their diet. It took me about a week and a half to get my personal blueprint just right. Within 2 weeks I’d shed 5lbs [body fat, NOT muscle] and felt leaner, stronger, faster & tighter than ever before. I was eating nutrient rich foods and felt full even though I was consuming food less often. My experimentation with the Paleo Diet coincided with the start of my triathlon training. I was initially somewhat concerned that without starchy carbohydrates I wouldn’t have enough energy to get through my long workouts. But this was not the case at all. I simply consumed enough lean animal protein, healthy fats, and fruits/veg that I was fueled up enough to do whatever my workout required. Another great thing about the Paleo Diet is that I managed to cut WAY down on my caffeine intake. Instead of 2 cups at home in the morning plus a Starbucks run or two while at work, I have cut down to my 2 cups before I leave the house. If I get a craving to take a field trip to Starbucks, I get myself a decaf tea. I discovered that for me, it was more about the routine of taking a break and going to Starbucks than it was actually about getting some more caffeine in my body. Subsequently, I have been sleeping better. My body is appropriately tired at the end of my long days and I am able to get to bed at a reasonable hour. I am getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night which seems to be exactly what my body needs. On the odd night I get 6-6.5 hours of sleep, I definitely feel it the next day, so I make every effort to avoid this. I also have become very specific about my alcohol intake. I do not normally drink a lot at all, but I decided to narrow my choices to tequila (because it comes from the agave plant) and wine (because it comes from grapes). I have cut out beer (with the exception of my Colorado trip) and all other types of alcohol. I don’t drink with much regularity, especially now during triathlon training, but I opt for the Paleo friendly choices when I do have a drink.
All in all, I am VERY satisfied with the Paleo Diet. I plan on continuing this lifestyle even after Lent is over. For me, it has worked great. I can honestly say that I feel the fittest, strongest, and BEST I have in my life. My skin is clear, my energy is up, my workouts are stellar & I’m ready to take on the challenge of triathlon season!! Now, let me say that the key parts of the above sentence are the words “For me”. I know that the Paleo Diet works for me because I have tried it and have felt the results. That being said, I still stand by the notion that nothing is for everyone. No single workout, diet, approach, plan or lifestyle will work for everybody. It just won’t. While the Paleo Diet has been a tremendous success for me, it has turned out to be just the opposite for others.
My sister, Jessie, has found this out the hard way. With her sister and boyfriend totally immersed in the Paleo Lifestyle, Jessie gladly jumped on board and tried experimental dinners, snacks, and other Paleo recipes. She made the switch from skim milk to almond milk, started eating more nuts and fruits for snack, cut back on cereal and bread & was always up for Paleo pizza as a Friday night treat. What also happened during this time was that Jessie was having stomach issues which grew in severity. She originally thought she ate something at a party that disagreed with her but the symptoms lingered a little too long. She couldn’t figure it out; she was hydrated, eating all the same foods I ate, and took her daily vitamins and probiotic pills. The symptoms continued for a month or so, sometimes getting a bit better but worsening at other times. Finally, Jessie went to the doctor and had a CT scan of her stomach. She was diagnosed with Diverticulosis. Her doctor told her that she must avoid nuts and nut butters [SO much of Paleo Diet has to do with these things] and eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet. Turns out the Paleo Diet was making her sick; she is a perfect example of someone who does NOT do well on this particular diet.
There are many exceptions such as this for any fitness program, diet or workout there is out there. Just because it works for your friends, colleagues, family members or the folks you see on TV, does NOT mean it will work similarly for you. When starting something new- diet, exercise or otherwise- make sure to read, research and educate yourself on it as much as possible. Talk to your doctor about the changes you are considering, especially if you have a medical history that is significant of anything which might be affected. When you DO make significant changes to your workout and/or diet, be aware of how your body reacts. Do you feel ill, run down, bloated, uncomfortable, sluggish, or unfocused? Or do you feel energetic, strong, and healthy? Are you able to sleep? Is your skin clear or blemished? Your body has many ways of telling you whether or not you’re putting the right things into it. Pay close attention. And remember: nothing is for everybody; find the blueprint that is right for YOU!
All in all, I am VERY satisfied with the Paleo Diet. I plan on continuing this lifestyle even after Lent is over. For me, it has worked great. I can honestly say that I feel the fittest, strongest, and BEST I have in my life. My skin is clear, my energy is up, my workouts are stellar & I’m ready to take on the challenge of triathlon season!! Now, let me say that the key parts of the above sentence are the words “For me”. I know that the Paleo Diet works for me because I have tried it and have felt the results. That being said, I still stand by the notion that nothing is for everyone. No single workout, diet, approach, plan or lifestyle will work for everybody. It just won’t. While the Paleo Diet has been a tremendous success for me, it has turned out to be just the opposite for others.
My sister, Jessie, has found this out the hard way. With her sister and boyfriend totally immersed in the Paleo Lifestyle, Jessie gladly jumped on board and tried experimental dinners, snacks, and other Paleo recipes. She made the switch from skim milk to almond milk, started eating more nuts and fruits for snack, cut back on cereal and bread & was always up for Paleo pizza as a Friday night treat. What also happened during this time was that Jessie was having stomach issues which grew in severity. She originally thought she ate something at a party that disagreed with her but the symptoms lingered a little too long. She couldn’t figure it out; she was hydrated, eating all the same foods I ate, and took her daily vitamins and probiotic pills. The symptoms continued for a month or so, sometimes getting a bit better but worsening at other times. Finally, Jessie went to the doctor and had a CT scan of her stomach. She was diagnosed with Diverticulosis. Her doctor told her that she must avoid nuts and nut butters [SO much of Paleo Diet has to do with these things] and eat a high-fiber, low-fat diet. Turns out the Paleo Diet was making her sick; she is a perfect example of someone who does NOT do well on this particular diet.
There are many exceptions such as this for any fitness program, diet or workout there is out there. Just because it works for your friends, colleagues, family members or the folks you see on TV, does NOT mean it will work similarly for you. When starting something new- diet, exercise or otherwise- make sure to read, research and educate yourself on it as much as possible. Talk to your doctor about the changes you are considering, especially if you have a medical history that is significant of anything which might be affected. When you DO make significant changes to your workout and/or diet, be aware of how your body reacts. Do you feel ill, run down, bloated, uncomfortable, sluggish, or unfocused? Or do you feel energetic, strong, and healthy? Are you able to sleep? Is your skin clear or blemished? Your body has many ways of telling you whether or not you’re putting the right things into it. Pay close attention. And remember: nothing is for everybody; find the blueprint that is right for YOU!
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