Ending the Paleo Challenge

I decided to finish off the Paleo challenge this weekend for a few reasons:

1. It has been 5 weeks (even though I cheated a little the first week and DID keep drinking wine throughout!)

2. I have seen some dramatic results in both my skin and digestion and would like to figure out the root of the problem rather than continuing to avoid everything

3. School starts this week and I would like to start including more variety in my breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Mainly, I NEED to add back protein pancakes---there will be a post coming up on these soon :-)

4. We went away to a cute little inn in the Berkshires for the past two days and I had the opportunity to have a truly delicious 8 course meal prepared gluten free for me.  I was not about to tell the chef, "Oh, please take out all dairy and grains and added sugar for me too-thanks!"


All in all, this challenge was a great experience.  I re-learned some of the discipline that I lost somewhere along the way the past few years.  My cravings for sugar and refined carbohydrates dramatically decreased (even at "that time of the month").  My skin looks completely different. There are still some dark spots from acne scars, but I have seen no new blemishes for 5 weeks now.  This hasn't happened since I was around fourteen, before having those pesky female hormones.  My stomach also feels incredible.  Sitting at dinner last night, I said to Geoff, "My stomach hasn't hurt for a few weeks! It's crazy!".  He looked at me like I was a little crazy myself, but I really think I got used to being in pain all the time, and have experienced a great deal of relief the past three or four weeks.  Lastly, I got in to a great planning-prepping-eating routine.  There was a fruit and veggie at every meal. There was a protein at every meal.  I made super nutrient dense choices.  I really started practicing all the habits I preach! 

A sample day looks something like this:

Breakfast: spinach, tomatoes and scrambled eggs, 2 cups bing cherries
Lunch: 4 ounces turkey on Julian's Bakery coconut bread (grain free) with lettuce and tomato, carrot sticks and apple, 1 cup coconut milk
Snack: 1/4 cup almond butter spread over a banana
Dinner: sweet potato, salad with arugula, strawberries and pecans, 6 ounces salmon, steamed broccoli
Dessert: glass of wine and 1-2 peaches

I had plenty of food, maintained my body weight, and felt fantastic!

But I honestly cannot see myself eliminating all grains, beans, sugar, and dairy forever.  So, I'd like to see if I can sprinkle some things back in to my diet moderately while still experiencing these great results.  I'm going to try adding in one grain (oats or rice or ancient grain gluten free bread) and one dairy serving per day (yogurt or cheese) and see what happens over the next couple weeks.  It will be interesting to see whether it was really the elimination of foods or the development of new healthy eating patterns and increase in nutrient dense options really made the difference!  Either way, I'm glad I did the challenge, and I look forward to experimenting more over the next few months to find my own optimal nutrition plan!