After reading Robb Wolfs book The Paleo Solution, I was convinced it was the right path to good health.

So, 30 days ago I commited to the Paleo Diet – avoiding dairy, grains, processed foods, sugars, beans, starches and alcohol. Eating lean meats, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, seafood and healthy fats.

I’ve managed about 80% consistency. I’ve taken a couple of days off and have had the odd slippage here or there – but for the most part I’ve stuck to the script.

It wasn’t crazy hard to do. It definately requires some preparation (I planned my weekly meals out at the beginning of the week and did a big food shop) and conscious decision making around snacking and eating out – but for the most part it’s suprising how the shift to eating Paleo doesn’t feel like a major shift.

My breakfast tended to be either scrambled eggs / bacon / tomatoes or fruit and nuts.

My lunch was normally left over dinner from the day before or fruit and nuts.

My dinner was usually things like meat & vegetable stir frys, home made burgers & sweet potatoes wedges, big salads, steak & vegetables etc.

When eating out I would just lean towards meat type dishes without the starches and order an extra side of vegetables to fill out the meal.

In short – I really, really like Paleo.

As I said in my previous post, I’ve tried many things in the past – but this is the first approach that actually feels like a lifestyle and has long term good health at the heart of it – rather than just short term weight loss.

So what results did I notice? Well two main things:

1. Weight Loss

Even though weight loss was far from the primary reason to go Paleo, I did in fact lose weight. Previously I was maintaining my weight consistently at 13 stone, 7lbs (189lbs) using a 5/2 diet (well actually 4/3) and doing approx. one crossfit session a week and running on average fifteen miles a week.

Over the last twenty-five days my weight has dropped to 13 stone, 1 lb (182lbs) – a loss of 6lbs. Whats interesting is because of some lower back / calf injuries, I’ve only been able to manage one low intensity gym session a week – so the weight loss would have likely been more if my exercise had of remained at it’s higher, previous level.

For me that’s awesome, because I really feel like maintaing a weight of 12 stone, 7 lbs (175lbs) is about right for me and it’s a good sign that it shouldn’t be terribly hard to get there.

Whether the weight loss came from calorie reduction (Paleo meals do tend to be calorie light – although I should note I wasn’t intentionally trying to eat less calories and it didn’t feel like I was) or the subtraction of the ‘avoid’ foods I don’t know. But the facts are the facts, my weight dropped nicely and with less exercise.

2. Feeling Awesome

Aswell as weight loss, I simply feel much better avoiding starches (potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, cereals etc.) and processed foods.

Previously I would finish a meal and really feel quite awful – sleepy, bloated etc. I now find myself no longer feeling bloated or sleepy after meals – yet feeling full. In general I just felt leaner and less bloated most of the time.

What was also noticeable was about 15 days in I made a decision to take an entire day off Paleo due to a social event. I ate bread and some processed foods and felt like absolutely crap later in the day and for a couple of days afterwards.

So I lost weight and felt awesome which is obviously… well… awesome. And I haven’t even mentioned short and long term health benefits (the key driver behind me starting Paleo). Obviously this wasn’t going to come through in the form of tangible results in a twenty-five day period, however Robb Wolf lays out the health benefits incredibly well in his book The Paleo Soltuion and I’m concvinced it’s a much healthier way of living.

It goes without saying I will be continuing to eat a Paleo Diet from here on and will be working to improve upon my 80% consistency.

If you want to know a bit more about Paleo and how to get started yourself, check out the What is the Paleo Diet section on Robb’s site.

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