Suga, Suga,...

So as I started Paleoing my eating habits a few weeks ago and overall it wasn't too bad. Like I said I had done a lot of research on it and felt prepared. I decided the best strategy would be to phase out foods one at a time over several weeks so I didn't freak out too much. I had a plan of attack that to me made sense, based on what I had been already used to eating and not eating.

Phase 1: Dairy

Easy enough. I haven't had milk in years, and have never been a big fan of dairy. Except for a really nice cheese...

Phase 2: Grains, Beans, Legumes, Soy

Again not a huge deal, the most I had was oatmeal, and occasionally quinoa or cous-cous. Hummus however, was another story.

Phase 3: Sugar

No more desserts. Okay. But then came the time to cut down on fruits. Lord Almighty, I didn't realize what a fruitaholic I am. I became so accustomed to noshing on fruit throughout the day, all day, it wasn't until now that I really realized how much I was eating. Fruit with breakfast, during the day as a snack, and then after dinner and late into the night. We're talking about 5-6 servings a day! Madness! And dried fruit, oh my goodness that was my ultimate weakness. I seriously could finish a whole pack of figs or dates. I'm starting to think it was my "healthy eating" that has kept me from losing weight all this time. Anyway as I started phasing fruit out I noticed that during the day it wasn't too bad, as I would have a few berries in the morning, but holy bananas, after dinner that sweet craving killed me! It was like a needed sugar in my mouth after dinner or I wouldn't be able to function. I even reintroduced dairy back into my diet to help with sweet cravings. Let me tell you though, a glass of milk is genuinely sweet. And not in a gross, sugary way. It really hits the spot late at night. If I really need a snack now, I'll have a few spoons of full-fat greek yogurt with cinnamon sprinkled on top. I know this is not ideal, but it works, and eventually I'll be able to phase this out as well as my body adjusts to not eating sugar.

About the whole not eating sugar thing. This illustrates perfectly what our bodies do with processed carbohydrates and sugar. Basically the body was designed to gorge itself on sugar anytime it was available (in the form of fruit or raw honey) because it was a scarcity. Sugar is in turn stored as fat. Not to mention, the processed sugar found in most foods has been shown to mess with sleep patterns, mood swings, and digestive habits in general. I highly recommend reading Sarah Wilson's journey of quitting sugar for a detailed explanation of what sugar does, it's effects and tons and tons of advice and ideas to cut out sugar.

Fruit, of course is still a healthy food and should be consumed in the place of regular desserts. But sugar is sugar and for weight loss, it is best to cut down on fruit as much as possible, and stick to berries instead. Most paleo sources recommend eating about 4-5 servings of fruit a week.


images : pinterest

Post-Workout Protein?

Women and men obviously have different goals when working out. I have always seen my dad, cousin and guy friends devoutly drinking protein post-workout in order to replenish their muscles and fuel up. The thought of drinking protein shakes was off-putting at first because I feared gaining any muscle mass and looking too "toned".

However, from a biological stand point, it is actually very difficult for women to bulk up to the point of looking really muscular. In order for that to happen there has to be an addition of extra supplements. After working out your muscles have tiny tears and breaks in them and need amino acids to repair and replenish the muscles for growth and recovery. As muscles grow they become leaner and more dense, this is the key to prime physical health. The best way to do this is through a source of complete protein that contains essential amino-acids. Of course, most have heard of the difference between complete and non-complete proteins. Our bodies require complete proteins as we do not produce essential amino acids.

I personally drink whey protein, which is a byproduct of dairy. It contains lactose (the good kind of sugar) and in isolate form, meaning it is easily digested by the body. Also I add l-glutamine to my shakes as this helps with protein synthesis, cell hydration and is overall great for intestinal health.

Protein shakes weren't around in cavemen days so no, they are not paleo. And whey is a dairy product so it's not vegan. But regardless, I feel it's important to feed the muscles post-workout so I consider this an integral part of my day. I don't know why, but after an intense work out I always crave something sweet and fruity and a protein shake is a really good way to wind down and relax. Plus cooking some chicken while I am soaked in sweat and exhausted is the last thing I want to do!

images : Pinterest, GNC

My Experiment with Primal Eating

So after some research, and dipping my toes in a few times, I have incorporated a paleo diet into my life. Before I was trying to maintain more of a raw, vegan diet when my friend introduced me to the idea. I looked at some websites, Mark's Daily Apple and Fast Paleo to name a few and after reading just about everything I could on carbohydrates, sugars, and primal eating I decided to give it a whirl.

The science behind it makes sense: eat what our ancestors...like ancestors, ancestors did. Cut out anything processed, almost all dairy, carbohydrates, grains, and sugars. These foods were not part of man's diet, as they were hunter-gatherers. And humans are addicted to carbohydrates. And sugar. And anything that comes in a box or bag! Cutting out these things from my diet not only made sense in a health-conscious way but also in a lose weight kind of way. And let me tell you, this approach is working for me better than any other diet change I've tried to make in the past. Realizing that a food is bad nutritionally makes it an immediate turn-off to me. Food should be an investment, it should provide something for your body other than a few moments of pleasure!

So I will be giving some paleo updates now and then and letting you guys know how it's going!

images : paleosecrets