Hello readers! Well the time has come to prepare for my upcoming wedding this November. I will finally be marrying my best friend and two of the sweetest and funniest kids I've ever met. A wedding requires tons of planning, least of which is a weight loss/fitness plan. Every girl wants want to look fabulous on her wedding day and in her dress. I am no different. I will be taking a paleo approach, of course. Paleo nutrition focused on a 90/10 approach and a fitness regimen on the 6/7 approach. You can't train your way out of a bad diet so I'll be posting some great paleo recipes over the next 6 months. I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.
I'm going to start from scratch and go back to basics. For those of you who may have stumbled onto my humble little blog, I'll outline paleo do's and don'ts in this post. What to eat, what not to eat, easy snacks and a approachable plan.
So, you're going Paleo, what do you eat? All this hype about paleo but it seems so complicated. So many rules. Never fear! My list below has been created from several great resources, but most notably, Dr. Loren Cordain and Robb Wolf. I bought their books back in 2011 and found them to be great resources for starting the paleo lifestyle. I highly recommend both for explaining why this works, the health benefits and their expertise on the lifestyle.
First, clean out your fridge, your cupboards, etc. Get rid of all that non paleo stuff.
What to eat:
Lean proteins - grass fed/organic - do your best here for what's in your budget. Just keep it lean!
*Simple Truth has a wide range of affordable lean proteins and organic selections
Beef **
Bison - naturally lean and very tasty
Poultry - Chicken, Turkey
Seafood - get wild caught fresh / frozen - stay away from farmed fish
Game meat
Eggs - get the most organic, humane kind you can
**With ground beef, never opt for fat content over 7% - keep it lean, always
Veggies - you'll want to load up on veggies, but some are off the menu - I'll get to that later.
The greener the better - leafy greens are your friends! This is not an all inclusive list, so be creative in the produce department - except for the ones on the no-go list.
Artichoke
Asparagus
Avocado - this is a fruit but doesn't have the same limit as fruits
Beets
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Cucumber
Endive
Green onions
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Radish
Spinach
Squash
Swiss chard
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Hot peppers - habaneros, jalapenos, and other chilies for spicing up your recipes
Fruits - if you're trying to lose weight (like me!) limit the high sugar fruits
Only buy what's in season - if it's not, it's traveled a LONG way to get to you.
Apples
Bananas
Berries - lots of berries - raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, etc
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Figs
Grapefruit
Honeydew
Kiwi
Lemons/Limes
Mango
Orange
Pineapple
Rhubarb
Watermelon
Nuts, Seeds & Oils - this is going to be a little foreign to some of you but embrace the change!
With nuts - keep it unsalted. And as they are high in fat, limit this to 2-4 ounces a day
Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
Hazelnuts
Macadamia
Pecans
Pistachios
Pumpkin Seeds
Pine Nuts
Sunflower seeds
Walnuts
Avocado oil
Coconut oil
Olive Oil
Ghee - clarified butter
Grass fed butter
And don't forget your spices. Fresh herbs and spices are a must if you're going to enjoy eating.
Dried spices are fine of course, but herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, etc should be as fresh as possible. Salsas are also great to have on hands for salads and proteins.
Dark chocolate is okay too. Look for 85%.
Now, I know you're thinking. Where's the dairy? The grains? Sorry friends, that's where we diverge. These are no-nos on the paleo diet.
What you shouldn't eat or limit to the very rare occasion:
Dairy
Grains
Legumes - beans, peas, soy, peanut butter
Corn
Starch - tubers, potatoes
Quinoa
Oats
Wheat
Condiments - these contain some serious infraction - high sodium, hidden sugars, chemicals
Processed meats
Soft drinks
Sugar
Honey - unless it's raw organic
And of course, alcohol. WHAT! Wait!! I know, I know. What kind of fun is that? Well, like everything, you should choose moderation for the limited foods above and alcohol. The occasional glass of wine, grain free liquor, or beer is fine but if you want results, you need to be committed.
Robb Wolf has an awesome shopping list. It was super helpful for me when I was starting out. Here's the link: Robb Wolf's 4 Week Shopping List
Alright, we're ready to get started! Go shop!
Here's a quick, easy and healthy snack:
Peel and slice 2 cucumbers
Splash w/lime juice
Sprinkle with sea salt
Toss together in a bowl and enjoy this light and refreshing snack!
Exercise is key. I'll be posting workouts along w/recipes. I plan on engaging a 6 day a week exercise program. Cardio, weights and strength training
Have a great paleo day!
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