why Paleo?

I’ve struggled with my weight on and off for the majority of my life. I’ve seen big dips and gains in my weight as I jumped from crash diet to crash diet and then when I felt incredibly deprived I would eat unhealthy until I gained back the weight I had lost from crash dieting.

A few months back when I started working out it wasn’t because I needed to lose weight. Sure we all want to lose those stubborn ten pounds but I understand I’m not fat or obese. I did know I wanted to show BK a healthier way and I knew I wanted to find something I could stick to as well. A real lifestyle change.

There were a few things going on with my body that I didn’t like; strange headaches, a “hazy” feeling, lack of concentration and fatigue. I did a little research and figured out that these symptoms were likely the result of my diet Coke dependence coupled with the processed foods that I was taking in on a daily basis. It’s true, you don’t have to be obese or overweight to be unhealthy.

The health benefits are numerous including stable blood sugar, balanced energy and better skin. People have even reported seeing a reduction in allergies and being able to stop taking anti-inflammatory medications. I’ll tell you that I saw an improvement in my skin and energy within the first two weeks of Paleo.

Most people are completely turned off by Paleo when they hear the “no bread, no sugar, no pasta” part. I would call those the big three in terms of reasons that people give for not wanting anything to do with this lifestyle. Honestly, in the beginning I thought, how will I make it without cupcakes and cookies and diet Coke. 

At the end of the first week I saw huge changes; a flatter stomach and around 5 pounds of weight loss. I knew that soon enough those twice weekly visits with the trainer would show up a little more on my body and the thought of going back to my previous diet choices didn’t even appeal to me.

It’s certainly a work in progress. I’m a few days in to my 30 day challenge and feeling better than ever. There are definitely days when I want to eat bad or stop for a Pumpkin Spice latte at Starbucks. And usually I polish off a liter of water and then decide if I still want that cupcake, the answer is always no. Water plays a huge role in this lifestyle, I try to drink around a gallon each day to help me stay full.

I wanted to give you a list of my favorite sources for Paleo, look around you might decide you want to give it a try as well.
Primal Plate 
Nom Nom Paleo 
Civilized Caveman 
The Paleo Mom
PaleOMG

And did you think I could make it through fall without pumpkin muffins? Not a chance! I’ll be trying out a Paleo version this week and be sure to update the blog on the outcome.