So I have been following this Paleo diet for 5 full days and everything seemed to be going great until today…Day 5.  I had a very strong craving for sugar and it took all of my will power not to eat some candy or go get a soda from the vending machine in the staff lounge at work.  Yesterday, I easily turned down cake, but today I wanted something sweet so badly, I almost caved.  I am happy to report that I didn’t!  I tried to occupy my mind with other things, texted my husband to see how his day was going, took care of some emails and other work related items and eventually it was time to go home, eat a sensible snack and head off to my CrossFit gym for a grueling workout.  I have 25 more days to get through this and I am hoping that the sugar cravings subside soon.  I am determined to stick with it for my 30 day personal challenge.

After much thought and consideration, I have decided to try the Paleo diet for 30 days. I am very interested in finding out if this diet will help me shed some body fat without losing too much lean muscle. I don’t really need to lose any weight, but I am now 50 years old and feeling soft and flabby. I want that lean and toned look. I exercise 3-4 days per week at my local CrossFit gym and have been active for most of my life, but still not able to keep my body fat percentage down at my desired level. So after reading about others who have tried this approach, I am giving it a go. My goal is to lose about 5% body fat.
For those not familiar with this nutritional plan, Paleo requires you to eat mostly organic whole foods such as grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts and healthy fats and oils. It excludes dairy foods, grains, legumes, vegetable oils, refined and processed foods. Proponents of this style of eating say that it reduces inflammation, regulates the immune system, supports hormone regulation and healthy digestion. Many people following this plan also have been able to lose unwanted body fat and with the addition of strength training, build and/or maintain lean body mass.
Since I have been eating a fairly healthy diet for quite a while, I don’t think it will be too difficult to modify my diet for the next 30 days. I will need to sacrifice a few things that I do enjoy having such as artificial sweeteners, cheese, bread, and legumes. You cannot have peanuts or peanut butter on this plan. Luckily, I am only committing to 30 days for now just to see what my results will be. I have taken my body measurements and will take them again after the 30 days and hopefully see some positive results.

Paleo Dinner Day 1   Kobe beef patty, broccoli, orange slices