Recap of Pre-Paleo week

My introduction week of Paleo wasn't as difficult as I had projected it to be, however I was also a little more lenient with the intake.  For instance, I allowed myself heavy cream in my coffee rather a dairy substitute- coconut or almond milk.  The Paleo books I am ready say to cut out all dairy for the initial 30-day cleanse, and after that you can bring it back into your diet accordingly.  By accordingly, I mean how that particular product makes you feel after you have purged it from your system.  The transition from dairy to coconut or almond milk isn't difficult for me, since, up until a month ago, I was drinking it in my coffee and cereal.  However, I will admit that the first time I tried coconut milk, I was not on board, but now I love it!  I stopped drinking it a month ago to see if it was aiding my skin breakouts, but with its end came no results in either direction. Another food category the Paleo diet eliminates is grains, about which I was hesitant kick out because they are everywhere, in everything and taste delicious in most forms. okay, more on that later, right now is just about getting started on Paleo. Aside from those two food groups, dair and grain, the Paleo lifestyle doesn't really cut out much else. Paleo guru's encourage you to eat organic fruits and vegitables, grass-fed meet, free-range chicken and eggs and wild fish (not farmed). However, most acknowledge that such a diet is not affordable for everyone and recommend purchasing the leanest meats non-organic and the fattier meats organic-grass-fed.  This is because most of the toxins found in the meat will be stored in the fat cells and if you eat this meat you ultimately consume those toxins. Some day, when I own my own house, I will buy part of a cow from a local farmer to store in a giant freezer, but as it is now I do not have enough room in my 2-bedroom apartment and I am not carrying one up three flights of stairs.

Before starting the diet/life change, I feared I would feel less satisfied and more frustrated by not getting to snack on my normal food. Silly me! By eating more meat; full fat dairy (not even a lot of it); avocados and a bountiful amount of vegies in my breakfast eggs and lunch salads; and fruits and nuts for snacks throughout the day, I was barely hungry for dinner.  I actually felt fuller longer, cravings subsided and didn't feel bloated after or between meals. I felt all around better; more consistent energy, happiness, focus and determination ruled my day.  What a change that makes when you have to work for 8 or more hours a day!

Since Justin is not quite on board with my diet, yet ;), we still have a bunch way-non-Paleo foods in our fridge and cupboards. Which made the week a bit more difficult in times of ravenous hunger. I would LOVE to delve into his homemade strawberry ice cream, but I know that at this point in time it will only set me back. I have a purpose for this new food plan and I really don't want to set myself back, so my solution was to cut up all my vegetables, boil some eggs and stock on fruits over the weekend, so that I was well prepared for any meal or snack. It is now Tuesday as I write this and how thankful I am for doing that! It makes meals so much  less daunting of a task and makes grabbing for healthy snacks more convenient. By the way, this is not a revolutionary concept for me, it's just not something I ever did.

Though the goal of this food plan is not to lose weight, I am tracking my weight and how I feel. I will note, however, that I did lose a few pounds over the week, just by eliminating grains. My goal with this is to clear up my skin and I am really hoping it works; I am so over dealing with acne and I don't want to just be put on medication again.  I am unsure how the change in diet the last week has affected my skin; it doesn't look any better, but I am hoping that it may just be getting worse before it gets better. I have been taking pictures of my skin each morning in order to see the potential change, which better be coming soon!

So, today (Sunday) was my last day on Pre-Paleo and will now begin my 30-day challenge on the Paleo diet. I had my last piece of homemade pie and angel food cake with local strawberries and whipped cream. I made both items from scratch for the first time ever, so I had to taste my creation. They were delicious and I am so happy I those treats.  No more dairy unless its coconut or almond milk, no more legumes, no more sneaky bites of ice cream or chocolate, no more crackers or pasta. 

I have cut all my vegetables, precooked some chicken for my breakfast and lunches. So, I will just have to decide which meats I want for each dinner, find a tasty recipe, cook it and enjoy!