Paleo for the Rest of Us: 2 Paleo Surprises

Friday, October 15, 2010

2 Paleo Surprises

So, I've been logging my food in on Daily Burn. I switched to that site so I could input on-the-go with my iPhone, only to find that the app is for iPhone 4. Bummer. I've used FitDay off and on for years and certainly would have gone that route had I known the app would be useless to me. That said, the user shared database of Daily Burn is incredible and it really is much, much faster to use, though less detailed than Fit Day unless you upgrade. I don't really want to log every day; I tend to be a little to anal and I worry too much about the numbers. Not really the Paleo mindset. However, I did find a few surprises.

First of all, it's been really tough for me to get in enough protein. I'm aiming for 91-130 grams based on Robb Wolf's recommendation and my ideal (not current) weight. I am eating MUCH more meat than I used to, but I still have to really try hard to make that range on a daily basis. Though it seems "unnatural" I've started adding egg whites to my omelets to help. I think my frugal grocery ways have probably sabotaged my health (and worse, probably that of my darling, auto-immunilogically challenged daughter). I cooked 2 1/2 pound of chicken breasts last night. We had left overs, but in the past I would have stretched that bag of chicken over several meals for a family of five with beans, rice and tortillas. I'm not quite sure how I'll balance the numbers, but I am sure that what I always considered "healthy and frugal" in the past was really unintentional carbohydrate loading in the name of saving money.

Secondly, I've been shocked at how easy it is to stay within the an ideal calorie range when grains, sugars and legumes are out of the picture. That may seem obvious to some. I was surprised. Being as full as I am after meals (though, lately quite hungry between them), I was shocked to see my calorie numbers hover under 1200. Without limiting my food intake at all. 3 squares and snacks when hungry. This is nice.

I'm going to back off of weighing everyday and food journaling for a while and enjoy the ride. Wild Salmon, cole slaw and green salad for dinner. Still loving Paleo.

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Why "For the Rest of Us?"

Because of my philosophical aversion to the evolutionary mindset common among many of those vocal about "Paleo" or "Primal" eating, I hesitated for too long to give up grain because I couldn't understand how it could possibly be bad. And, of course, I like cake! But, at wits end, and scale's peak, I decided it wasn't going to hurt anything to try.

I've gone from a diet based heavily on whole grains and legumes to one based on vegetables and meat, and though I'm still new at this, sometimes you just know that "this is the one." I'm continuing my research. I'd like to understand why this is working for me, but that it is working, is, even after a short time, undeniable.

For those who like lists, here's what I eat now, in order of priority in my diet: vegetables, meat, fruit, nuts, some dairy and nut derived oil. I'm losing weight, feeling great, and really thankful I gave "Paleo" a chance.

So, though I'm not a Cave Girl, or a Cross Fitter, though dairy appears in some of my meals, and I'm not overly-strict about list-keeping, I am "Paleo For the Rest of Us," and I'm happy to be.