17Jan

Eat like a Caveman

Posted by Tarable | Category: Real Food | Comments

This is my challenge for the next six weeks.

Starting tomorrow, my diet can be summed up in this one line: meats, vegetables, nuts & seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar.

You read that correctly. No dairy, no potatoes, no grains and, gulp, no beer. (You know that I really like beer, yes?)

Fortunately, my personal chef husband will be joining me on this Paleo adventure. Is it coincidence that I leave for my honeymoon one week after this challenge ends? Perhaps. But since I’ve been working hard at CrossFit for the past six weeks, I felt it was time to bring in the nutritional component of my Belize Buff-up plan.

And I mentioned the bikini right?

We prepared yesterday by boxing up the food that we wouldn’t be eating during the challenge.

paleoprep

Then, we went to the store to stock up on what we would be eating. Interestingly, it costs A LOT FREAKING more to eat real foods that don’t come in boxes. After the trip to Whole Paycheck Foods, my cupboard now looks like this…

mycupboard

Additionally, we’re supposed to limit alcohol to 4 drinks per week and there are NO cheat days. And since my coach reads this blog (Hi Nicole!), if I get pissy and want to talk shit, well, she’ll know and will probably add a few sets of the dreaded burpees into my workouts.

Going into this, we were warned of cravings, mood swings and frustration. If you have any reason to interact with me in the next six weeks, please do so tenderly. (Or just get back to me in March…)

I think I’m ready. But deep down, I’m really nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before and the fear is what’s pushing me. Without challenge, there is no growth. And without sugar…well, we’ll see what that does to me.

So here we go, starting tomorrow -for better or worse, for Belize, for my health – I am cavewoman. Hear me roar!

cavewoman3

Or at least hear me whine about how much I want ice cream.

  • Cleaning out the carbs - its just like Passover!

  • Except that instead of seven days like Passover,I'm doing this for six weeks.

    Leave it to my Jewish friends to point out how much my suffering is like their faith. ;)

  • yes, well when you marry one you end up with those types of sufferingness in your life. Is that a word?

  • Maybe I need to print out that photo of you & put it on my fridge. Good luck to you, Sista. You were rockin' it last night - and I didn't hear any sugar withdrawal murmurings.

  • So far, I've had only one major sugar withdrawal...and it wasn't pretty. I'm hoping the worst is behind me, but then again, I still have five weeks left.

    Thanks for the kind words. I can still drink wine, so we're on.

  • For 2009 I did a pretty good job of limiting wheat (bread, pasta, cookies, cake, pizza, etc.), dairy, and beer just because I feel better when I abstain. Then came the holiday season and I threw caution to the wind. I am now carrying around 5 extra pounds and have had a wicked cold for 4 weeks that I can't seem to shake. Still, it is touch getting back on the wheel of eating well and cutting out those addicting foods. And, yep, they are addicting.

    Kudos for you and Adam for taking the pantry by the horns and getting that gook out of your system. All the better that it will make you even more bikini ready than you already are!

  • Thanks for the support Nancy. As you know, I'm NOT counting down towards my honeymoon. But since I leave for Belize approximately six days after I'm done with this challenge, I am counting down towards the end of the challenge.

    See how tricky I am?

  • I'm so proud of you!!!! And not only am I proud of you, I am happy not to be around you during your withdrawal phases. The thought of getting a handshake from you right now terrifies me.

    When I come back, I will not bring cupcakes to the office. Maybe some nice nuts.

    But seriously, way to kick the year off right.

  • Elaine, I welcome your nice nuts. (How could I resist that?)

    Thanks for the encouragement....are you home yet?

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  • I can probably round up some nice melons for you too.

    Back on Feb. 16th. Very excited to be home. I really miss my closet. And
    you, of course.

  • Guest

    Nice - you can totally do it. Every time you eat a vegetable, just think, "mmmm candy".

  • I like the mental hack, Kate. And every time I eat an egg (which will be frequently), I'll just think "mmmm ice cream".

  • Roar cavewoman roar...Suuugar!

    (If you totally convert, I am happy to take your cabro packed pantry items)

  • Thanks for your kind offer. Unfortunately, as the person directly across from me in the office, chances are you'll be the recipient of some cavewoman spittle as I roar away at work.

    You're welcome.

  • I did the South Beach Diet a few years ago, and that is two weeks of what you're doing. Your body stops craving the "bad" stuff, and it's really ok. I got tired of the lack of variety, but that was about it. It made a really quick difference in the waistline and that made it so worthwhile! Best of luck to you, and no whining around the office!

  • Umm...Shelly...if I don't whine around the office, where am I supposed to whine? How about if I promise not to whine if you promise not to bring in anything delicious that you bake?

    Or, at least, don't bring it in and taunt me with it?

    I know how much you love taunting me.

  • I admire your strength. Looking forward to watching you progress thru this journey. However, I will have to quit following you and will lose all respect for you if you end up being "that girl" who starts saying she >"likes it, never felt better, has no cravings and guess what!? I've been SO inpired, I'm gonna run a half-marathon!!"<

  • I don't know about the liking it or not having any cravings part. We, as Americans, are pretty addicted to sugar & carbs, and like kicking any addiction, there will be definitely be difficult times. Will it be as difficult as quitting heroin? I hope not...because I've seen Trainspotting and those are some nasty withdrawals.

    But, may I point out that I already run half-marathons? So if I decide to run another, don't hate me. ;)

  • I actually started a 30-day Paleo kick the other day as well. After a few days of not feeling super awesome (headaches of unusually long duration, etc.), I actually feel noticeably better now. My diet wasn't bad before, but I was definitely eating way too much flour & cheese. And while I'll likely add those things back in after the 30 days, it'll definitely be in smaller doses.

    If you're ready to get your Super Nerd on, head over to Robb Wolf's homepage (robbwolf.com) and download his Paleolithic Solution podcasts. If you'll excuse me I'm now going to go swallow 10 fish oil caps and roll around on a foam log...

    Good luck!

  • Nice job Dave, although the "headaches of unusually long duration" do not sound fun. At least I still have coffee and wine to bide the time...and a husband joining me in the crazy.

    Should be interesting...

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