I am 15 days in, and I have "cheated" a couple times on this 30 day Paleo challenge. Ok, 9 times. Some were not on purpose, and some definitely were (eg chocolate chips HAD to be mixed in my paleo chocolate chip cookies, and my ketchup today was certainly a moment to intentional weakness!)
I have stuck to the total elimination of grains, but the following slip ups have happened in my first 15 days:
 |
| Guilty as charged |
1. 1 shot of tequila (it is Paleo, but not strict enough for the challenge diet)
2. 1 glass of champagne (same, see above)
3. 1 cider (same, see above)
4. honey in my tea one day (again, can also be considered Paleo, but not for the challenge)
5. salad dressing (Caesar) that definitely had traces of cheese in it
6. "Enjoy life" chocolate chips(dairy free and grain free, but plenty of sugar. worth every bite)
7. Soy lecithin (used as a preservative in some turkey jerky I ate. Noticed after the fact)
8. Added sugar in a trail mix (the mix contained dried cranberries, which have sugar added)9. 2 Tbsp. Ketchup
Ok, I feel better. I just had to get it off my chest.
As I write this, I realize how tough it is to create a "perfect" elimination diet. With gluten, it was necessary for me to do that a few years ago. But Paleo is so much more restrictive that unless you are really making all your own stuff and are good at saying "no" to champagne at a celebration (which I certainly am not!), it is pretty difficult to get the jist!
I was quite irrationally pissed at myself today for a small blip. I would put 2 Tablespoons of ketchup on every bite of scrambled eggs I ate in college (yeah, pretty gross-I ate about a bottle a week), so I have actually come quite a long way. In the past two weeks, I have significantly reduced sugar, grains, and dairy from the diet, that's for sure! I've noticed slightly better muscle definition (especially in my arms and back), have no new breakouts on my face (just a couple little remaining blemishes that were there a couple weeks ago), have a lot less sugar cravings,feel satisfied after meals and am more aware of when I am getting full.
Taking out some of the added sugary desserts has been really good for me. I had a situation last week where I was dying for ice cream. I was able to talk myself off the ledge with the help of my wonderful husband, who convinced me I was tired and stressed and not hungry for ice cream. It is amazing, even as a health coach and a nutrition professor, how unaware I was that my cravings for added sugar were driving most of my food choices, especially at night. Going through this process has also been a great reminder of why I go through a very gradual process with my clients in changing habits at the pace of 1-2 per week or per month, as this is a much more achievable endeavor than this complete diet overhaul I have embarked on!
However, for my own little experiment, when it comes down to it, I have not been 100% compliant with my elimination diet. Therefore, I cannot really conclude whether or not the pure paleo lifestyle is the cure for my mild acne and whether or not it improves my recovery time after exercise. I think now that I have gotten the hang of it, it is worth extending my challenge through another 30 days and really going for that 100% compliance armed with a few more tools in my toolbox.
Steps I have taken to be 100% prepared:
1. Car snacks-buffalo jerkey, unsalted nuts and raisins with no added sugar stored in my glove box.
2. Emergency baked goods: ordered some Paleo bread, wraps, and pizza dough from Julian's bakery---pretty awesome!, as well as some Paleo cookies and scones from White Lion Bakery. I haven't tried them yet, but will be sure to write a review once I do!
Here goes! New end date=September 8th (The day of my 1st cross country race and a big UMass crew reunion: if that isn't perfect timing for a celebration drink, I don't know what is!)
I was quite irrationally pissed at myself today for a small blip. I would put 2 Tablespoons of ketchup on every bite of scrambled eggs I ate in college (yeah, pretty gross-I ate about a bottle a week), so I have actually come quite a long way. In the past two weeks, I have significantly reduced sugar, grains, and dairy from the diet, that's for sure! I've noticed slightly better muscle definition (especially in my arms and back), have no new breakouts on my face (just a couple little remaining blemishes that were there a couple weeks ago), have a lot less sugar cravings,feel satisfied after meals and am more aware of when I am getting full.
Taking out some of the added sugary desserts has been really good for me. I had a situation last week where I was dying for ice cream. I was able to talk myself off the ledge with the help of my wonderful husband, who convinced me I was tired and stressed and not hungry for ice cream. It is amazing, even as a health coach and a nutrition professor, how unaware I was that my cravings for added sugar were driving most of my food choices, especially at night. Going through this process has also been a great reminder of why I go through a very gradual process with my clients in changing habits at the pace of 1-2 per week or per month, as this is a much more achievable endeavor than this complete diet overhaul I have embarked on!
However, for my own little experiment, when it comes down to it, I have not been 100% compliant with my elimination diet. Therefore, I cannot really conclude whether or not the pure paleo lifestyle is the cure for my mild acne and whether or not it improves my recovery time after exercise. I think now that I have gotten the hang of it, it is worth extending my challenge through another 30 days and really going for that 100% compliance armed with a few more tools in my toolbox.
Steps I have taken to be 100% prepared:
1. Car snacks-buffalo jerkey, unsalted nuts and raisins with no added sugar stored in my glove box.
2. Emergency baked goods: ordered some Paleo bread, wraps, and pizza dough from Julian's bakery---pretty awesome!, as well as some Paleo cookies and scones from White Lion Bakery. I haven't tried them yet, but will be sure to write a review once I do!
Here goes! New end date=September 8th (The day of my 1st cross country race and a big UMass crew reunion: if that isn't perfect timing for a celebration drink, I don't know what is!)
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