One must prepare adequately in order to accomplish any goal. Today, I prepare for my 30 day challenge! Steps:
1. Clean out the kitchen
First, I took out all my beloved gluten free cookies and crackers and donated them to a food pantry. Sad times. I will miss you, Lucy's maple cookies!
Next, I took all other snacks that Geoff will eat too and hid them from myself on a very high shelf, which Geoff's 6'2"frame can reach easily, but I cannot :-)
Normally, I would have had to do something with my typical ice cream and yogurt stashes, but since we have been on vacation, there were no perishables to dispose of.
2. Restock with Paleo Options
I stocked the pantry with a few Paleo-friendly flours, including almond, coconut, and tapioca. I filled the fruit and veggie drawers with plenty of colorful options, cooked a few chicken breasts, and boiled a few eggs. I also grabbed a few cans of tuna, a few packages of local beef jerky, a pound of frozen shrimp, a couple avocados, and a half pound of Boars Head turkey breast. Lastly, I headed to a little market in Pittsfield that sells Julian's Paleo bread, made with coconut flour! (You can also order this stuff online too---it is pretty amazing, even for non-Paleo, gluten free folks!)
We typically like to get our dinner meat on the day of at a small market down the street, so my "stocking of the fridge" should take care of breakfast, lunch, and snacks!
3. Plan out the week
Lunch and dinner should be pretty easy (piece of meat, couple cups of veggies, piece or two of fruit), but my typical breakfast of gluten free oatmeal with nuts and raisins or greek yogurt with almonds is going to need an overhaul. Since my cholesterol is rather high, I am hesitant to make whole eggs an every day thing, so I think lean meats, fruit salads, egg white omelets, and maybe even lean meat will be on the menu. This will be a huge shift for me and will require some creativity in creating portable options!
4. Make a list of potential trouble spots
I can foresee a number of difficult situations I will have to face over the next month:
a. Any time I pass an ice cream store/stand/truck. I have an ice cream problem.
b. Going out to eat at certain restaurants: sushi could be challenging, as could places that serve margaritas, as they are pretty irresistable.
c. bars. I guess I'll order water with lemon and observe the chaos!
d. celebrations where dessert is served. I have learned to "just say no" to gluten containing desserts, but it's going to be a real test on my self control when gluten free cakes, muffins or scones are around.
e. Any time I drive by Esselon Cafe...that place seems to lure me in every time with a siren song of Fitness Muffins and vanilla lattes.
5. Make a list of results I'm hoping for/looking for
Because I'm not looking to lose weight or change body composition (I have been down that self-depreciating, thankless road before, and have finally found my happy and healthy spot---not going there again!), it is a little more difficult to measure success. But, these few outcomes, although less quantitative, will give me an idea of whether or not Paleo living works for me:
a. fewer breakouts
b. better recovery from workouts (less soreness, more energy)
c. energy levels during the day and in the evening (without the "assistance" of an afternoon coffee)
d. sports performance (this is a tough one, as Ive really just started Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance, but we will see what happens!)
I think all my friends and family will be supportive of my adventure, and if I can enlist others to keep me accountable, keep planning ahead, and get right back on the horse if I fall off in a moment of weakness, I think the next month can be a successful experiment!
