So.. Off and on for a while, I have been eating on a paleo diet. To be honest, it has felt quite amazing. (I tried to eat spaghetti today and felt so sick). It’s cleaner eating and while I can still eat the things I love, I’m putting better ingredients into my body. However, I still find myself cheating and indulging in things I shouldn’t.

Therefore, I have decided for the sake of experiment and both this and my next Odyssey article, I shall be on an entirely paleo diet for one week. I will be relaying to all of you my findings and how it has affected me personally.

Paleo is basically not eating processed foods, starches, sugars, etc. It’s very clean and there are great recipes to accomplish this diet. To be clear, when I say “diet” I don’t mean that I’m about to starve myself, NO, I’m going to eat more than normal actually but I will be eating in a healthier way. Paleo is cutting out all that gross stuff that you can’t pronounce and isn’t good for you. Some people have noted that this is alike to a cave mans diet because you are eating what cave men ate in their time and what was available. They hunted, gathered, and everything was fresh! They also exercised. Taking down meat or gathering veggies/berries takes work!

BE WARNED: It’s sometimes difficult and expensive.

You are supposed to have organic products including meats. You need to have high protein intake! And desserts are sometimes very hard to make taste good. Luckily I found websites, Instagram feeds, and cookbooks to help me through this. I am a snacker, so my biggest issue is finding healthy items to eat between meals. There are many places to find suggestions as to what you should carry in your kitchen/pantry and it allows you to see the changes in ingredients that you are putting into your food and body.

If you want to be full-time paleo then I suggest gutting your kitchen and pantry. Get rid of temptation and only allow paleo-friendly items as your choices. This immediately makes your life easier. If you have clutter and distraction, being paleo is a distinct pain.

As for this week, I’m not sure what I’m going to eat yet but I will be keeping a record of every item I eat, the recipe, and obviously pictures of the food! Something to look forward to (for you) and look back on for me. I already see lots of meat in the future as well as washing dishes… good thing I don’t mind that.

A healthy life starts with what you put into your body. Then, it’s how much sleep you get. You also have to be aware of the interactions you let happen in your life. Finally, the exercise you engage in (mental and physical). It’s up to you to institute a mindset that allows you to heal and better your life, body, and attitude.

I have found that while this lifestyle has proven to be challenging, it’s about self-control and want for a better, healthier body. If you are serious about paleo and wish to engage in it full time, prep meals on Sundays for your entire week. I swear you will thank me for this. Then, when you are hungry, you just grab a meal and you are done. This is an issue I have encountered and something I plan to change in my own weekly meal planning.

Luckily I have a buddy who will be accompanying me on this journey and I was excited to learn that I can indulge in a bunch of fall foods/items as there are plenty of paleo recipes to try! I look forward to sharing my progress and lifestyle choice with you all next week! This is a crazy adventure but I’m sure the pay off will be worth it!