As I mentioned in my recent recipe post, I've now been on the Paleo diet for 1 week!
If you don't know what the paleo diet consists of, it's basically a no wheat and dairy diet, and the idea behind it is that you wouldn't eat something that you couldn't hunt for yourself, as though you were a caveman. So yes, that means no Mr Kipling cakes, because they unfortunately don't grow in the wild. Which is such a shame, because they're on offer for £1 in so many shops at the moment...if you're a wheat eater please go gorge on Mr Kipling cake for me, and buy one for me for my cheat day!
In my first post about going paleo I did say how this wasn't intended to be a quick fix, and I was looking for a long term diet plan, and I think I'm starting to establish something I could manage that isn't entirely paleo. I've been opting for a 'mostly' paleo diet, meaning here and there, dairy or wheat are involved. This has meant I've still eaten certain gravies or marinades that use wheat, but on the dairy side of things, I've turned down cheese, coffee's midway through my 9 and a half hour shifts and have managed surprisingly well without all the things that were once very ingrained in my diet...however, it has only been a week!
I have managed to lose 3lbs on the diet already and I think cutting out gluten has definitely contributed to that, and as well as that some pretty intense HIIT workouts from YouTube by Fitness Blender. If you want to get your sweat on I'd definitely recommend these workouts, you don't stop moving and you can really feel it the day after...even a few days after! Weight isn't a factor I'm focusing on as much, instead I've been measuring myself, and I've lost half an inch off my hips, half off my thighs and an inch off of my stomach, which I think is down to no more bloating, and this it definitely something!
I've been finding alternatives to things I love, and making pancakes and muffins, all low in sugar and free of wheat and dairy. Dinners have always been delicious, and I think the important thing with this kind of diet is to be creative. I can imagine so many people giving up quickly on this diet, due to the fact it restricts a lot of the things we're used to cooking, but have a browse on the web, especially through pinterest and blogs, because you can find some true gems that you'll be surprised are free from so much!
My main challenge with this has actually been cutting down my sugar intake. Daily I was finding my sugar intake was far too high, snacking mostly on fruit, which I already knew was high in sugar, but after snacking on lots of it, I didn't realise how high! But it's a learning curve! I hope to keep this up, as I said, as a lifestyle, once I go back to uni, which will be where I'll find it most challenging. I allow myself a cheat day, or two, but ensure I stay on track. Uni will also mean I'll be back at the gym in a few weeks time, which makes me a very happy bunny!
So one week down, I'd give the paleo diet a thumbs up. Check back to hear from on my first month, and in the meantime, keep an eye out for Paleo recipes!
MissIsGoode
6 comments
Sounds like you're doing really well! I've debated doing a Paleo diet but Im not sure yet. I've previously quit sugar and found I feel so much better without it, but it's REALLY hard to stick to it because i LOVE sugary food. But I've decided to do Sugar Free September and once again quit sugar for a month. It's tough but I want to stick to it and hopefully feel better and possibly loose some weight as well. I'd love to see some paleo recipes or what to eat ideas?
ReplyDeleteEmma x
Writing Essays With Wine
Thank you! I love sugary food too :( sugary sweets are what does it for me! I ate a huge pack of bonbons last week when I fancied a treat, didn't regret it (I never regret something tasty!) but my lord the sugar content haha! Good luck with it! Are you still eating fruit and such, or are you trying to avoid sugar completely? Sugary drinks are definitely the thing to watch, especially with uni, I never realised how much sugar was in the mixers I use! Yeah I'll be posting some up asap, so keep an eye out! :)
DeleteIssy x
Sugar is in like everything so it's really hard to stay away. At the moment Im still eating fruit, but cutting back on cereals, yoghurt and obviously things like chocolate cake and sweets. Then after a couple of weeks I'll cut back even more and be really strict on the sugar and see how I go and if i see any results. All drinks are terrible! Especially bottled things, I just buy water! Mixers is really bad, for pre drinks I like to use squash as a mixer (sounds weird I know) just make a glass of squash and add your vodka, really cheap and a lot healthier and tastes good haha!
DeleteEmma x
Writing Essays With Wine
Ah that's all the things I've cut back on (except half a bag of bonbons I gorged on last night for no good reason - shhh). After I finished the bonbons I sort of had to question my life haha, I've decided that I definitely need something like you're doing! I like joining in with these challenges, feels like I've got someone to tell me to stick to it! Yeah I always buy water, never fizzy drinks, but yeah it's just pre drinks when I do! My friend always does that, so I think it's going to be the way to go - like you say cheap, healthier and still tastes good (depending on how much vodka you put in haha!).
DeleteIssy x
Totally got inspired by the comment above, I want to do a sugar free September! But this diet does sound interesting I just know I couldn't stick to it, mostly because food confuses me and I don't really know whats in what... Or I would do what you are doing and do it 'mostly' paleo. I think it's just all around much better for you when you watch what you eat, or if you write it down you have a better look of what actually goes in to your body. Stick with it because you're obviously getting results! I may give it a go myself when I get to uni. xxx
ReplyDeleteYou should do it! I think I've definitely found it easier having a wheat free mum, dairy and wheat free sister and a vegan aunt. So I've got a lot of knowledge already about alternatives, and I do believe once you know what you can and can't eat with this diet, it's a breeze, and that's definitely why I've settled into it so well! Yeah I use MyFitnessPal everyday to keep track of what I'm eating, definitely helps me to know where I'm going wrong in my diet! Good luck if you do either! :) xxx
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