Paleo Update 1- First Week Survived…
I have officially been Paleo now for a whole week. The results have fascinated me and for those who know me will know I don’t give away high praise without good reason. I would not go as far as to say I have become a lifelong convert and yes, I miss my Friday peanut butter cookie! As stated in my opening Blog I am doing this trial to research into the Paleo diets effects on gut health, athletic performance and physique. First things first, a bit more about what Paleo is for those who are interested (those that aren’t or know then skip two paragraphs ahead by all means!).
What is the Paleo diet? As defined by The Paleo Way, website led by Pete Evans the Paleo Chef (one of the leading Paleo advocates worldwide) the Paleolithic diet is ‘all about balance – taking the best from our ancestors and mixing it with the best of the 21st Century’. The Paleo way also defines this as ‘Our idea of ‘lifestyle’ incorporates three main components: Diet, Exercise and Mindfulness’. An interesting definition for what most consider just a diet, this defines Paleo as a lifestyle to include mindfulness and exercise not just what you eat.
How have I interpreted the diet? I am currently doing my 31-day trial strict to the Paleo ‘rules’ if you like. I have accepted if I make a mistake or a lack of judgement but for everything I can influence I am being strict to it. I have already begun to see a divide in opinions from blogs, restaurants and others of what they believe the Paleo diet can include. The biggest debates being quality of food and the sourcing of it as well as the use of pseudograins or not such as quinoa. I will give my full opinions on these differences of opinion at the end of my month trial.
So… the interesting part. How have I found it? Have I secretly stuffed cookies in at midnight when no one is looking? Has my gut or physique shown early signs of change and how has performance been in training? Current opinion and thoughts going forward.
The first 4-5 days are the hardest but your also fresh into it so there is no desire to give up but saying no to Friday cookies was a task! I would say I’m enjoying being on this diet 80-90% of the time so far, which I feel for a diet that has changed the foods I’m eating fairly drastically, is a high percentage. The challenge of thinking ahead for truly fresh meal prep for work and training has been good fun and yes, I am spending more time in the kitchen but enjoying being so. You really do begin to appreciate and think more on where your food is coming from as well as searching for new herbs and spices for flavour not relying on sugar and additives.
My willpower has been pretty strong and bizarrely after the first week my cravings genuinely have started to go which I didn’t believe possible (I really do like biscuits). Yesterday my friends from the UK arrived and I sat and happily let them eat two packs of Tim Tams without me, struggling way less than when I usually try and say no to treats. The only error I made and honestly admit too was me trying to be good and ordering a cranberry juice not a beer when we went to the pub Sunday and didn’t think until too late of all the sugar and preservatives involved. Weirdly (whether partly mental guilt) within 30 mins of having it I felt awful, clouded in the head and sluggish. Since then I have been even more aware and feel mistakes might happen but being as strict as I can be.
Onto the results side of things. Physique wise I am feeling in myself leaner than I have since arriving in Melbourne nearly 6 months ago, I am back to how I felt before leaving as well as visibly seeing less bloating in the stomach. I don’t normally use scales but for those readings interest I weighed in at the start of the diet at 78.7kg and after just 7 days I weighed in at 76.1kg. That’s 2.6kg down, I always weigh at the same time of day and under same circumstances so it is as accurate as I can make it. I believe a lot of this will be down to the lowering intake of carbohydrates especially starchy ones that retain water. Even so this seems a huge dip for someone who would like to think doesn’t have masses to lose!
Tying this into performance (& energy) I was unsure how I would feel. Those that go Paleo near always say how much energy they have. But… being around mainly non-paleo enthusiasts the debate was without at least post workout carbs how would my recovery as well as energy levels be. They have been amazing. I feel, quicker in the mind and body. I wake up feeling better and without my morning oats as much as I missed them to start with I am now eating less in the mornings and performing better in my 9/10am training sessions. These sessions involve 4 days a week a lift and accessory work and the other 2 days a metcon. My numbers keep improving on my phase I’m on and I feel less lethargic to train in the mornings. Performance in terms of strength will become clearer as I get further into the trial and this is tied to a strength phase I am currently on.
Gut health. I will try and be concise with this part. Wow. Change has been through the roof. I have suffered with IBS since birth and I can honestly say this is the best my stomach has ever felt. From less bloating post meal to less frequent and more consistent time on the toilet! I used to have to reschedule training depending on my stomach and would wake up in pain most days, regularly struggling to sleep if I was bloated or in pain. The only side effect to mention which initially worried me was the partial diarrhoea in the morning which after two days I researched and found was a normal response to the change of diet. Apparently, some peoples last for up to two weeks, mine went after three days even with my stomach. Since then I have been a changed man internally.
Closing this week’s blog and findings with a current opinion of what I will do going forward. I truly believe the Paleo ethos will stay with me after my month trial and I will then debate how strictly I will stick with it. I feel I will go back to a cookie and maybe some Thai food as a treat! We will see how this changes over the weeks. All done for this week, I will post each week’s update moving forward on Mondays, hope this wasn’t too long or boring a read! Any feedback on the topic, style of writing or any critical feedback if appropriate is welcome!
Keep moving, consistency is key and be happy with your choices.
JoeHulinPT.
Follow on Instagram @joehulinpt
https://www.instagram.com/joehulinpt/
&
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JoeHulinPT/
