The Adventures of this Southern Girl : Going Paleo

I never thought I’d ever consider a lifestyle change as big as Paleo. To be honest, when I started this post I was only three days into my 30 day challenge.

About 14 months ago I started noticing some strange symptoms which have just continued to worsen. I’ve been to doctor after doctor and have had test after test but the doctors can’t seem to find an explanation. About a month ago the neurologist said “you might just have to accept that we won’t find a cause and learn to deal with it.”

After that I started reading about different diets and it seems the Paleo diet might just be what I need. Bestie decided to make the change with me and together (OK, him more than me) we've researched how to make this work.

So here’s the play by play of my highs and lows, struggles and victories!

Day 1 : Eggs and sausage for breakfast, 10 mint chocolate cookies for lunch …

Day 1 : Eggs and sausage for breakfast, a kebab for dinner …

Day 1 : No cheats!! Bestie saved the day with a tasty rice-less green curry for dinner. Finally moving on to Day 2!

Day 2 : Am I really this hungry or is it the fact I can’t eat that bread and dipping sauce that’s making me think I am? Eating Paleo approved snacks all day isn’t really cheating, right?

Day 4 : My body is starting to adjust and our meals are getting quite exciting. Dinner last night was a fabulous Asian Beef and Broccoli stir fry and it was amazing! Bestie has been getting up early to make us breakfast and we sit at the table and eat meals together now. The 30 Day challenge encourages you to build a relationship with the food you eat. (This is the best relationship I’ve ever had!)

Day 6 : I went to Bodean’s (the closest thing to Southern BBQ here in London) and came out still on day six. Small victory for me!

Day 7 : My body has started the “detox” stage and it’s not pretty. On the bright side, I’ve never felt so “clean”.

Day 8 : A late night out turned into a stop by the kebab shop. I made it out without breaking my challenge! I might have ordered the most insane combo of items they’ve ever seen, but I stayed true to the course.

Day 9 : The food dreams have started in full force. The book says this could happen. I’ve dreamed of cheating the last three nights and cheating on things I didn’t even know I wanted. I’ve dreamed of pretzels and cauliflower pizza (and that’s only because cheese isn’t allowed in the first 30 days).

Day 10 : I hate healthy food. I’m so over it! Just somebody give me a damn pizza!

Day 11 : Red and I stopped at a Mexican restaurant on the way home from softball and there was literally nothing on the menu I could eat. I had a little chat with the waiter and he had a little chat with the chef who kindly came up with a new dish just for me. As he picked on me for my ridiculous lifestyle he joked “so what can you eat?” Yes, yes – I am THAT girl.

Day 12 : I had to bake cookies and muffins for a work function and I didn’t even lick the bowl. Another small victory! Now, if I can make it through tomorrow without eating the rest of the tasty goods.

Day 13 : I DID IT! All day and not a single sweet. Bestie is out of town on a business trip too so really I could cheat and he’d never even know it – but the guilt would eat me alive, right?

Day 15 : Bestie and I went out for a couple drinks after work and this happened …

“You CHEATED?! I was sat at home being good; not even licking my fingers while you were off on your business trip CHEATING?”
*Disclaimer : I didn't mean to sound like an awkward couple - it was just about the food!

“It was just one fried chicken sandwich! It means now you get a cheat day too”

“That’s not even the way it works and you know it!”

Day 16 : I ate an entire package of bacon in less than 24 hours and lost a pound. Hells yeah.

Day 17 : Bestie and I board the train from Kings Cross to Cambridge for a little day trip and I’ve official; they only eat pasta in this city!

Day 20 : I AM SO SICK OF VEG! How am I only on day 20? Lifestyle change my butt!

Day 23 : I cheated. I hadn’t planned on it but we went to Red Dogs (another legit BBQ spot) and my bread less burger was so disappointed I had to fill up on a brownie too … (oops). I was allowed one cheat day ... right?

Day 24 : I’ve felt the best I’ve felt in weeks! No dizzy spells today, so maybe it’s actually brownies that I need. Now that’s some food for thought (pun definitely intended).

Day 25 : Food is prepped for the rest of the week, going to get this thing back on track for the next five days!

Day 26 : I ate a burrito. ‘nuff said.

Day 1 …

OK, so maybe the whole Paleo diet isn’t for me, but there are definitely elements of it that make me feel better about my health and my body. Do I think my lifestyle will truly allow for a complete Paleo transformation? Probably not right now. However, I can make myself healthier and this experience has done just that. I have learned to eat and like spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms, tomatoes (OK they still have to be diced), cabbage, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potato and much more! While this challenge might be over, my own lifestyle change is just beginning. I’m excited about the new more healthier me!

In case you’re wondering what I’ve been eating over the last month, enjoy some pictures of the meals we’re most proud below.