Why Paleo?

I will begin the Paleo Challenge being offered through Crossfit Portland tomorrow, January 3rd, 2011. This six-week commitment involves not only dietary changes but lifestyle choices that lead to better health. Members are paired with an accountability partner with whom they communicate multiple times throughout the week. A complete dietary diary will be monitored by the Challenge's coordinator and suggestions will be made.

As a part of my Paleo journey, I decided to journal my effort because I want accountability for my actions. One way that I hope to be successful will be to share my choices in a public forum. I believe that this is the best time of year to begin such an effort because there are very few fruits that are fresh and in season (and yes I LOVE my sugary fruit!); in addition, there are no holidays with their attached perpetual snack food smorgasbords.

Throughout the course of this six week effort, I hope to learn why the Paleo lifestyle is healthier and I will be posting the "whys" and "how comes" as I think of them or as they are asked of me. These will be important questions for me to answer early on as people will wonder about and question the decisions I will be making. I also plan on proving to myself that I can make Paleo food choices in any situation: eating out, skiing, long endurance events, holiday meals, backpacking, and the odd hours that I work.

Finally I will be blogging various issues that have cropped up for me over the course of my life that I believe can and will be addressed by the Paleo diet.

Even if there is not a single person who reads this, I will have accomplished something by documenting and questioning all dietary choices that I make over the next six weeks. I hope this challenge leads me on a path to better health for the rest of my life!