Paleo. The end? The end is never the end :)
Hey friends! If you are still reading my notes about Paleo I`m glad. So it`s been 30 days already. Enough to make conclusions and decide whether it was worth it or not. I`m not gonna lie - it was 100% worth every uneaten croissant, every unbought Finn Crisp pack, every forbidden Bounty. And sure it was 100% worth just because I felt differently. This is the thing everyone is looking for - to feel different way, feel the wind of changes. It brings hope, faith and eventually it brings measurable results.
Last week I was eating Paleo except for Easter and one spontaneous dessert in cafe. I ate a little piece of Paska which was absolutely flourless - made of cottage cheese, vanilla, nuts and dried fruits. And it was heavenly delicious, the dessert I ate earlier was also like a cheesecake topped with chocolate. Well, I don`t judge myself for doing this, though I would definitely do it one year ago. But the thing is that eliminating food that doesn`t work for you is a long process. It`s not those 30 days of limitation after which you get back to your beaten track. This has been the first and the most important, the most mindful attempt to listen to my body and give it complete freedom using limitations. Sounds odd? For me having control equals having freedom. I find it very difficult to live without control in both training and nutrition. I know that when I have a plan and I truly believe it`s the best one, I`m practically invincible. I swear, if I found out that it is banana that makes me feel uncomfortable I would give up eating it for good.
Being a runner doesn`t mean you can eat anything because you run a lot. Furthermore it doesn`t mean you have more benefits. Yet it means you`ve got to take it seriously. Learn to listen to your voice within. Not the one that`s telling you to stop or go backwards, eat that "last" chocolate candy. I mean the voice that is so quiet that it is often being neglected.
My voice was telling me that I do have issues with carbs. Mostly with food that has high glycemic index. I didn`t want to take it seriously and search for the solution. I was too addicted to this food to let it go so easily. But once I saw my potential as an athlete does suffer I made a final resolution. I was feeling sick and helpless, lying in my bed when I decided that I need a change. Nope, I don`t blame it on oats, dairy and grains but I`m pretty sure they have contributed a lot.
The first test I was able to pass successfully - was to curb my carb cravings and therefore my appetite.
The second major problem I finally solved was the lack of energy. I really didn`t believe that adding lots of greens, veggies, salads can burst my energy and significantly fix my overall state. State of mind, state of body - all together.
I know that any diet should be taken with a grain of salt just because it`s very personal thing. I suppose Paleo might not work for everyone but as long as it works for me I`m going to use its benefits to get stronger, healthier and happier.
So, what I was eating then:
My staple carbs are potatoes. I love to bake them even in the morning but I noticed that I shouldn`t overboard with them because they still have high glycemic index. The second carb-favorite is of course banana. Frozen and ripe. I usually find the best and the most delicious ones with the label "50% off" because they are all black spotted and supersweet. :) Apples work good for me as well. I prefer Gloster apples - they are sweet enough but I don`t feel these damn glucose spikes after eating them.
I also eat carrots every day. I`d say I eat A LOT of them. I make a healthy salad with cabbage and olive oil. It is now an essential part of my lunch and dinner. Scrambled eggs with fried onion is my fav breakfast. I love to wake up in the morning knowing I`m gonna eat smth yummy because I prefer to eat light food late in the evening so I`m always hungry as I get up.
3-4 times a week I eat lean meat, squids, some fish. I know vegeterians wouldn`t appreciate my choice but for me there`s nothing like a juicy steak. The day after tough workouts my body is so ready to get some protein and this is exaclty what I need.
I used to eat quite a lot of whole-grain bread, bake oat cookies and buy Finn Crisp. I don`t see anything really harmful in eating them once in a while but for me it`s easier to totally eliminate them rather then fight with doubts and devils inside my head :) I started adding more fats in my daily nutrition - avocados, almonds, olive oil, eggs. I`m still learning to mix food, find new healthy options and make my meals more creative. It`s quite challenging for me but I`m ok with it. I have found a perfect base for a salad - baked pears with spinach. Tastes like heaven, I swear! I can add some mushrooms or veal to it.
I stopped drinking coffee 5 times a day simply because coffee leads to dehydration and insomnia. I ocassionally drink coffee at coffee spots and I find it very good alternative - tastes like a dessert when you know you can`t have it any minute you want.
So, my thoughts on Paleo - I continue eating this way completely excluding grains, bread, oats, any kind of pastry, all sweets, ice-cream, dairy (except milk in my coffee), legumes. I`m going to let myself indulge into the sweetness of dark chocolate once in a while, enjoy a cheese cake a couple of times in a month. Nothing can do harm if eaten in moderation. The thing is what you want to get, what results. I want to have the body which is capable of anything. I truly believe I was born to be an athlete and it`s now or never. No way back.
Thank you for reading :) I think Paleo and me make a good couple so it`s only the beginning.
