My first week of strict Paleo has overall been a huge success. I did not experience any of the fatigue or cravings that I expected, I don't feel hungry, and in fact I am having trouble consuming all the vegetables and protein I am expected to. THAT is a good place to be in! In addition, my energy levels while working out have been just as good as when I used pure sugar for fuel.
In addition to following the Paleo diet strictly for six weeks, I intend to delve into the intricacies of the Paleo world and answer some of the questions that arise about the Paleo world.
So let's get right to the point....what in the world is the Paleo diet? In a nutshell (no pun intended), the Paleo diet mimics the food our ancestors would have consumed in the Paleolithic Era. Prior to animal husbandry and agriculture, this would have been vegetables, meats, seafood, and fruits and nuts when in season. It would NOT have been cereal grains, dairy, sugar, processed foods, or legumes.
I have been exposed to the Paleo diet for several years through various sources but am by no means an expert. Therefore, I intend to read what I call the "Paleo Gospels" by Loren Cordain and Robb Wolf to gain an understanding of the exact science behind the principles of Paleo eating. More on that later.....
One of the first things I noticed this week was that my selection of foods had been narrowed down considerably. The result? A feeling of monotony. For this to be successful, I have to have variety and the ability to change it up a bit, especially at dinnertime! So each week I plan on trying one new breakfast recipe, one new lunch recipe, and one new dinner recipe. My dear hubby took on the task of picking up all the groceries for the new dishes this week: Acorn Squash Hash, Chunky Squash Soup, and Taco Salad.
The second thing I noticed this week is that eating strictly Paleo requires a lot of planning and forethought. I can't swing by Starbucks and grab and croissant and a soy latte--I need to have defrosted my grass-fed, grass-finished ground beef for a quick breakfast stir-fry. I need to have tons of vegetables ready to throw in with the meat. And I need to have snack or emergency foods on standby for post-workout or for unexpected social events. This all requires forethought that I never before took the effort to produce. As a part of the planning process, I need to take a little time each day to keep up with the food preparation: boiling a dozen eggs one day, whipping up a batch of Paleo hot cereal another, food processing all my vegetables for the week on another day, etc.
All reporting aside, here are some photos from this week:
Timesaving toy for preparing all those veggies:
Eventually resulting in a large bowl of this:
Roasting a turkey to have meat on hand:
Salt, pepper, and sage for a savory skin rub:
Dinner one night: pan-fried mahi mahi (seasoned only with salt and pepper), mashed cauliflower, and braised kale.
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