Caveman Eats
Conquer the Paleo diet and give your metabolism a big jolt to start the New Year off with a bang.
The basics: This diet involves cutting out processed foods, sugar and most carbs. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I had some tough times but I definitely saw major improvements in my energy levels and an overall reduction of bloating. It really eliminates the grab and go snacking that we’re used to. The upside of cutting out those foods is that you no longer have to count calories. For me, that’s the worst part of dieting. Sitting there and keeping a journal of what you eat like a timesheet makes me depressed, but tell me instead that I may eat as much as I like and I’m game for that!
Week one “The wean off”
I always start my first week by making foods on diet that are also the most comforting. I absolutely do not like to omit things cold turkey. I think it creates anxiety because you’re constantly day dreaming about all the food you’re missing out on. I also stuck to easier recipes that I had always eaten and happened to be Paleo. So for breakfast I kept it relatively simple by doing frittatas and chicken sausage, for lunch I prepared this ground turkey sweet potato chili recipe, and for dinner I made a stir fry with cauliflower rice. These dishes allowed me trick my brain into thinking I was getting traditional meals at an endless supply.
Week two “Crawling”
This is when I would suggest allowing yourself to get more comfortable with using substitutions. Usually for me, on week two I’m dreaming about bread or baked goods. I started to do my research and I found Simple Mills. On the Paleo diet you are allowed to consume almond, coconut and cassava flours instead of traditional wheat flours. I started incorporating Simple Mills muffins into my diet as a snack option that allowed me to seamlessly kill the cravings that were starting to kick in. I made a different flavor each week and consumed two muffins a day, which was still under 200 calories and minimal carbohydrates. I also found a lot of success in recipes from the Paleo Plan website. I made Zucchini Fritters which were a great tasty snack for weekend munching. Super simple to make and versatile.
Week three “Walking”
At this point, your brain is getting more adjusted to a life without traditional carbs and you’re looking to expand your palate. This is when I started to really spend more time in specialty grocery stores reading labels! Don’t worry. You will not have to do this. I have prepared a list of categories and brands to help keep you sane. It was week three that I started missing more snack foods and the muffins just weren’t doing it. I don’t believe in fully omitting things because it just creates this little ball of crazy in you that grows more and more each day. Then, whenever you go out with friends or go out for drinks you’re so much closer to falling off the ledge. I discovered another great brand called Siete Foods. This brand has an touching back story and their products are delicious. I was starting to feel triumphant over this diet now that I had integrated tortilla chips and guacamole back into my diet without the guilt.
Week four “The Stride”
At this point of the diet you should be comfortable in picking food options that are Paleo friendly. This is when I started eating out again, but I still stuck to the Paleo principles. If a dish came with a carb I would just substitute for an additional portion of vegetables. I do have to admit that I am very fortunate to live in New York where most restaurants are health conscious. If I was eating on the go I made sure to constantly keep Kind Bars, Rx Bars and fruit bars handy so that my “hangriness” wouldn’t get the best of me. I have also recently started incorporating collagen protein packets into my water and coffee. This allows me get an extra hit of protein in my beverages without any work. I purchased these at Whole Foods but you can even find them at Home Goods, sometimes for a cheaper price.
“Finale”
All in all, I think this is a great diet to re energize your metabolism and give you a kick of energy for the new year. Dieting can be overwhelming and tedious but I found though the Paleo diet I was still able to live a relatively normal social life. I was able to eat as much as I wanted without ever feeling guilty and my energy levels drastically increased. Also, if you’re wondering, I did lose about nine pounds doing this diet for just a month with moderate exercise. For me, moderate exercise consist of 45 minutes of cardio 4 times a week and weight lifting once a week. I know it’s a pretty drastic change in terms of diet, but maybe start making one Paleo meal a day for a week and then progress until you eat only Paleo. I just honestly believe it is a healthier approach overall to eating.
