Eat Like A Caveman. Look Like A Stonecoldfox

Hi everyone.  I hope that you all had a lovely President's Day weekend. Over the holiday, I had a great time in Sonoma and picked up a new hobby (more on that in another post). I have been getting a lot of questions about the Paleo Diet lately, and thought that I would use today to tell you all about my experience thus far. I am not saying I am an expert or any other weirdness...I am just sharing my point of view.

 I started eating Paleo on January 12, 2013 and honestly, I don't think that I will ever eat any differently.  Of course I cheat sometimes, but I save up to cheat one day a week and it will be for something I am really craving.  I think a good rule of thumb is 80/20...80% strict to the diet 20% put whateverthehell you want to in that gullet of yours.  

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I am sure that some of you are thinking that this is all a little drastic for me, but if you have been around here for more than 5 minutes, you will know that is just the kind of person I am. I don't just change one thing, I change multiple things and I do them all pretty grandiosely.  Anyways, after 31 years of stomach issues and misdiagnoses, this diet happens to be the only thing to have ever worked for me.  I haven't had one stomach ache since I started this (except for when I got turnt all the way up on Super Bowl) and I have a ridiculous amount of energy.  I honestly was very concerned about my low energy level since I turned 30, but now I realize that it was simply the crap I was shoving into my body.  The marked increase in energy gets me up and out of bed every morning and actually excited about my morning workouts.  

Besides my energy levels being near ADHD levels, one of the biggest things I have noticed that I look a lot more lean and have a lot less swelling in my belly and face.  Though I have lost 7 lbs, I am not trying to get skinny minnie.  Rather, I am just trying to be fit and look good naked feel good.  I'm actually not really trying to lose much weight, and if it takes me forever to lose it, or if I don't even lose it at all, I am ok with that too.  Paleo isn't a fad diet for people to drop a ton of weight... Some people actually gain weight while doing it.  You just have to note that it changes your body composition because you are feeding yourself the foods that your body was designed to eat.  I will be honest and tell you that for the first two days I was starving and could have eaten a field of kale (did that) and a side of beef (did that too).  Days three through six, I ran a low grade fever, but knew that it was my body detoxing itself.  I have noticed now that on the days I cheat and allow myself gluten and dairy, I will have stomach pain and a fever to accompany it.  

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This isn't on the plan, but I have replaced one meal a day (breakfast) with a green juice or any kind of fresh pressed juice.  I find that this has helped curb my coffee intake and honestly makes me feel effervescent in the morning and helps me get the energy I need for my day.  

I also have made some provisions and apparently they are ok and on plan, and are as follows:  You all know I enjoy my cocktail time, and I couldn't really stick to a plan that was anti that since I am a very social person and live in a very Happy Hourcentric city...Anyways, wine, vodka, and tequila are all ok on Paleo.  This doesn't mean go get white girl wasted every night, but at least you know that if you have a bad day, you can drink a bunch of coconut margaritas if you need to. 

So, that is the background on what has been going on with my body.  I will be posting recipes that I am trying and like, and progress photos.  If you are interested, you can also check out my Paleo Pinterest board, which is full of info, workouts, and interesting foods you can eat. Feel free to ask me any questions or share your experiences with me...I'd love to hear it.  And if you have about an hour on your hands, this is a really great watch.

Hunter. Gatherer. Wine and Tequila Drinker.

Angie