paleo what!?!

Who's your friend that loves to try crazy fad diets...yep...that would be me :)

New diet challenge...the Paleo diet! In other words, for the next 30 days, I will only be eating things that were around 10,000 years ago. (Yes, I can eat bison...this little guy better watch out ;)

After a bit of preparation, some suggestions, and googling (is that a verb now?) I have a Paleo shopping list and a weeks worth of lunches.

This diet is interesting in that it wants you to completely strip certain elements from your diet...elements like grains, dairy, and legumes that are possibly having a negative effect on your body and energy levels without us even knowing! For 30 days, I will be cutting out all of the "inflammatory, insulin-spiking, calorie-dense, nutritionally sparse food groups" to let my body "heal, recover and reset from whatever effects those foods may be provoking."

Reasons why this may be a good idea for me...? Why not?!? During the week/month of my 29th birthday I realized a few things:

1) I tend to eat healthy but am always willing to make exceptions with reasoning such as "you only live once" or "well...it is Wednesday :)" or "we don't have birthday breakfast at school everyday" or "it would be rude to not eat this wonderful spread of Portillo's."

2) I am the happiest that I have been in a long, long time...possibly ever. I'm in love with an incredible man, one who makes me want to be a better person yet also embrace all of the wonderful things about me that already exist. Not his fault but sometimes I would prefer to hang out with him drinking beer or red wine while watching football, 30 Rock, and/or Glee than head to the gym.

3) I love working out and really want to be able to call myself a runner. Lately with this ever growing happy belly (a.k.a. spare tire) it's much harder to run/workout and feel confident seeing that I am lugging around extra lbs.

This is not a punishment rather an exercise to prove to my body that it is worthwhile and that I would like to keep it happy and healthy for as long as I can...not to mention to feel comfortable and confident in my own skin :)

Exhibit A: Check out the two girls...one who looks like she may or may not be in an adventure outing ad (not me).  Then check out the girl with the cookie in her mouth (me).  Hmmmmm...

Exhibit B: Awesome bike ride. Beautiful view. Tight clothes that show off an interesting and ever growing belly bulge. Not a baby...well, kind of...a food baby.

Looking forward to showing off some Paleo sized results!!!  Stay tuned...better yet...follow the blog!