I said I wasn’t going to go Paleo, then I kind of did. I suppose I was a hypocrite. Or human. Or maybe you shouldn’t believe anything I say. Except for this post….this post is true.
I didn’t start trying Paleo meals until after learning the ins and outs.. I read a TON – multiple books and more blogs and websites than you could imagine. I read stuff by real doctors and nutritionists along with testimonials from every day people that saw great health improvements. I talked about Robb Wolf like we were BFFs and I listened to Balanced Bites podcasts like they were going out of style.
So I decided to try it. It made sense. It seemed like a way to eat real food and have sustainable energy, not to mention start burning fat for fuel and compliment my Crossfit workouts.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stick to it for more than a few days.
They say if you wan’t something bad enough, you’ll find a way.
Well I guess I didn’t want it bad enough. I want most of all to be healthy and feel great. Do I want a six pack and Tina’s arms? Of course. But apparently not enough to stick with Paleo.
I understand the principles, the science, and the benefits. I do. Part of me wishes I could eat Paleo because it works so well for so many people! The results are both internal and external, with both better digestion and better abs.
But for me it was just causing stress. I missed my favorite foods and I felt restricted. When I can’t have something, I want it 10 times more. Unhappiness isn’t healthy for anyone.
And I know there are TONS of awesome Paleo substitutes for my favorites. I still make lots of Paleo recipes (my Pinterest board is full!) because they taste delicious! But really, as a former vegetarian, my love for hummus, oatmeal, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and beans can’t be replaced. I started to feel guilty whenever I had one of those foods, which is crazy because they aren’t even unhealthy foods!*
The minute I think black beans and peanut butter are bad, I know something’s wrong.
(*I know that Paleo advocates will say “YES THEY ARE!” and I have studied and understand that reasoning. However I don’t have any noticeable digestive or internal issues with those foods, they make me feel good, and I believe they can be part of a balanced diet for me.)
So Paleo wasn’t for me. At least right now. Things change. I used to not eat meat and now I do, so maybe one day I’ll give Paleo a shot again.
These days I’m loving on some oatmeal breakfasts, hummus snacks, and Greek yogurt treats.
Bioindividuality(R) people. It’s about finding what works for YOU.
I get it. I have never been paleo, but I used to do low carb (South Beach/Adkin’s) for a while, then went vegetarian, and am now, for the most part, vegan. I’ve read lots of books too and feel that plant-based vegan is the way for me to go… but we all read different things and hold fast to a certain way, and I’m learning to just say “Okay.” It really is all about balance and longterm health.
Exactly – and long term health can be found in a variety of ways!
I tried Paleo too, a few months ago and this post totally explains my feeling. I love oatmeal, all kinds of beans, and dairy products. I just felt like I was cheating myself out of “healthy” food that I really enjoyed. Plus with a family and a husband who just wasn’t having it, it was way to hard to cook for everyone. Thanks for totally summing up my feelings!
SO hard when you have other people involved!
I think listening to yourself is the important part. I did crossfit for a whole (before I got pregnant) and was already vegan and obviously paleo’s and vegans’s don’t get along haha but I still was able to enjoy crossfit and do plan to incorporate it again once I start getting back in routine, but I know paleo would never work for me!!
haha yes being a vegan paleo would be pretttty impossible!
Amen, girl! My last boyfriend was paleo and I tried so, so hard, but it just wasn’t happening. I’m glad I did it, because I think there’s a way of incorporating the fundamental lessons into a more balanced diet (eat more protein, no added sugars). But I’m glad you’re doing what’s best for you
Thanks Dee!! And yes – great lessons to be learned!
I could never do the paleo thing. I love my oatmeal too much!
me too! I can’t imagine giving up oatmeal! It’s too convenient, healthy, & delicious!
I try to eat 1 paleo meal a day but of course sometimes I don’t! I miss chobani too much! haha!
I don’t think you should feel like you have to hid things – there’s nothing wrong with trying out different dietary approaches. We are all on a journey to figure out the best way to eat for ourselves so no judgement here if you try something and it doesn’t work!
Thanks Erin!
I haven’t tried Paleo YET. Like you, I have done the research. I know that what holds me back is a similar thought: I just don’t think it is for me. I don’t think I COULD maintain it, and be happy doing so! Thanks for sharing YOUR insight. xoxo
Your welcome Kacie! Let me know if you give it shot. I found it super tough!
I toyed with the idea of trying paleo, too (dang tempting trends!) but decided against it because it is so limiting and, like you said, I don’t believe beans, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, etc are bad. I have no digestive issues and eating clean, real food works for me.
I also hate restriction. I believe you can have everything in moderation. What really sent me over the edge? No wine. HA. Never going to happen.
HA. There was NEVER no wine for me. But man no greek yogurt!? No peanuts!? No beans? I was dying!
Im a mindful eater who actually tends to be close to paleo—but not quite.
it is SO ALLL about finding what works for us individually.
entirely.
You couldn’t have written this post at any better of a time for me! My New Years resolution this year was to commit to a month of paleo eating. There had been so much hype on cross fit and paleo living in the health industry recently that my nosey little self just had to give it a try. I’m constantly testing out new ways of eating just to see how my body reacts and changes just because I’m nerdy like that! Hahaha. I must admit a month of paleo was challenging, and I had my occasional cheat of a quest bar or some whey protein. But with the my month of paleo coming to an end I definitely have a similar opinion as to the whole experience as you do. Although I intend to keep some of the aspects of paleo post-January, my love of greek yogurt, cheese, oatmeal seem too great to ignore & there’s no reason to since they’re such healthy foods! Great posts, I love it:)
Wow – impressed that you did so well for a whole month!! but good you can realize you love those non-paleo foods too, like me!
Good for you for realizing it. Honestly, I don’t think paleo is a great “diet” to follow anyways. It is restricting. Carbs are SO important for athletes. I tell anyone who will listen that it’s healthier to just stick to a balanced diet including those “bad” breads and pastas. I think it’s smart of you to just follow a normal plan, even if it seems like you’re just unable to stick to it. It’s because your body NEEDS those foods.
I will stand up for Paleo and say it is NOT no-carb. There are tons of paleo carbs and they encourage you to eat as many as their body/activity requires. BUT agreed on doing what your body needs!:)
Good for you for doing what’s best for YOU!
I haven’t tried Paleo and I don’t plan on it because I love grains, dairy and beans way too much! Also as someone studying to become an RD, I see absolutely nothing wrong with those foods.
I definitely couldn’t do paleo either! I just started Crossfit about 2 months ago and everyone at my box eats mainly paleo.. besides me. I’m a vegetarian (though I eat fish) so it would be pretty much impossible and I would miss all my favorite foods! I am much more of a sweet tooth than savory that would definitely not fly with paleo! Do you think you’ll ever get back into Crossfit?
peanut butter should be in everyone’s diets! it’s just too dang good!
Amen!! I just absolutely cannot restrict myself – it makes me want it that much more and over compensate that much more – even with healthy foods. Too much of anything is never a good thing!
I could NEVER do Paleo – but I think that comes from my conception of already having a bunch of diet limitations from Crohn’s. I wouldn’t want to eliminate any foods or food groups that my stomach can actually digest. But I do respect people that do. I think it’s an interesting way of life, just not for me.
Also a vegan here, and I believe it is the healthiest diet and there are a lot of studies, books, testimonials out there to back that up, even if the paleo people would scoff. What I mean to say is you have to find what works best for you and really the only “wrong” diet is one fueled by Mickey D.
I can totally relate to your experience with Paleo. I really wanted to read the book Practical Paleo, so I checked it out from the library. And I was intrigued at all the body issues that eating paleo could help. But when I “tried” it (quotation marks necessary because I never quite gave up all the “bad” foods), it was so hard for me! I practically eat oats and beans and dairy every single day. I did enjoy learning about it though.
Love how truthful you are. I’m the same way with being vegan, meaning that it is what works for me, but I know that it doesn’t work for everyone. I hate when people label foods as good or bad. I know what’s good for me because when I eat it, my body will tell me! Live by that motto, and if you’re really listening to your body, it’s hard to go wrong. Keep up the good work!
I firmly believe that if a person feels healthy and happy, all is well. I thought about the Paleo thing (for approximately 3 seconds) before deciding that denying myself my favorite plain Greek yogurt, whole grains, and beans just wasn’t healthy!
Plus, Paleo is stupid expensive. All that dang meat!
after reading “it starts with food” I was intrigued by the whole Paleo way of eating but new it wasn’t something for me. I have struggled with an eating disorder in the past and following something that was so restrictive did not seem like a good idea to me. Plus I like carbs
I started crossfit about 9 months ago and was a vegetarian. I honestly thought I would never eat meat again, however, all of the heavy lifting made me crave more protein and esp. meat. I mainly eat turkey, chicken, fish but I have seen so many strength gains since eating meat. I hate to admit it, because I loved being vegetarian but it is really hard to be a competitive crossfitter without eating meat. I also cut back on my beans and grains but I still eat a plain greek yogurt everyday. Everyone is so different but eating 80% paleo works for me and I don’t think it’s restrictive at all. I have a sweet potato (or two!) everyday. However, I do eat at least 1800-2000 calories everyday which is key for me in order to have tons of energy.
I am so glad you posted this. I could NEVER in a million years do paleo. I see nothing wrong with greek yogurt, nuts, oatmeal… those are my staples! I teach a lot of cardio intensive ZUMBA and I NEEEED carbs. They also do not affect my digestive system so I figured there is absolutely no need for me to cut them out. Same with dairy. Glad you are doing what works for YOU.
Perfectly said! We all have different bodies and different exercise/food interests and just need to find the right balance for us! Great post and I’m glad that you are sharing this message!
LOVE this post. When food trends like Paleo become more popular and you start reading about it everywhere, it makes it so easy to slip into the mindset that that is how you should be eating too. It’s hard sometimes to remember to eat the way we want to and that works best for OUR body. I don’t do well with putting restrictions on what I can eat, so I don’t think I could do it! I’m happy with my oatmeal and peanut butter, thank you very much!
I’m not into lots of dietary restrictions, so paleo won’t ever be 100% for me. I think that there are some great things about it, and incorporating paleo meals into your diet is a great way to balance everything. There are too many great and healthy things outside of paleo that I want to eat as well.
Same thing happened to me! I am glad I tried it, I now eat meat and rarely eat bread (not on purpose, but because I realized I don’t NEED it). but in the end, I love greek yogurt, I want the option to eat bread and pasta, and even though I felt slightly better eating only paleo, it just wasn’t worth it to me to stress out over my food choices (also really hard with a non-paleo bf)
I did a 42 day challenge with my crossfit box last year, because there was a competitive aspect to it (if you stayed about 85% paleo you got most of your money back, the winner of it won some $) I was pretty good at staying ontop of it, even while traveling. It made me feel good, but overall it wasn’t sustainable for me. I’m an everything in moderation type of person, and as a runner it’s hard for me not to go the easy route in getting carbs. Feeling guilty for eating anything not paleo, or celebrating a “cheat” meal was brand new to me and I felt silly for feeling that way.
I can relate to this post! I had heard of the Paleo diet before participating in CrossFit, but did not fully understand all of the benefits. I learned pretty quickly that in order to not get incredibly nauseous during a workout, it was a good idea for me to not eat bread, pasta, milk, or beans. I missed those things at first but now enjoy them as treats. Everyone is different and it’s important to meet our own needs. Not some contrived idea of what anyone else thinks you need. Good for you for making the best decision for you!
I felt the same way as you did!! I love my carbs, and hate restricting any food group, plus I found out I was intolerant to eggs and dairy anyways so it makes sense now;) I guess all diets work different for everyone! I know some people who absolutely love paleo.
I have always been VERY influenced by “new” eating lifestyles I would find. Paleo, Vegan, Raw, I tried them all. Researched them all over and over only to try them, feel mentally trapped and “fail.” No more labels on me. I’ve learned my lesson.
I think I might be the only Paleo advocate around these parts!
I’ve just today finished my 30 day challenge and I feel really good. It was TOUGH at first, but once I adjusted, it’s gotten a lot easier. To be honest, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the one BIG thing vegans & paleo folks have in common is an emphasis on AVOIDING refined foods. Paleo has pushed me to making most of my food from scratch. No weird ingredients, not even from foods which I formerly thought were “safe” (I now see they were loaded with additives.) To me, that is the #1 thing I’ve taken away from this experience. I don’t care if you’re vegan, paleo, or somewhere in between – if you eat out of a box most days and take in lots of processed stuff, that just isn’t healthy.
all of those are better than the SAD. that’s for sure
I am finishing up my WHOLE30 today and I have loved every second of eating REAL food, and not one bit of processed junk. I am going forward feeling great and with new resolve to stay eating this way.
But you have to do what’s good for YOU.
I just wish people didn’t feel compelled to label themselves at all.
Amen! Bioindividuality!
Well said! Food is not at all about restriction but is to be enjoyed. Enjoyment is part of a healthy lifestyle.
i did paleo for a little bit too – what got me was the beans/pb thing too! how can naturally occurring beans be a bad thing? so i’m in your boat. i think trying paleo helped me eat cleaner and kind of, cleanse and i came away with a renewed passion for eating whole foods. but i definitely want to eat beans and pb. so i do!
Totally agree! I think it’s awesome that some people can follow paleo., but I can’t. Yogurt, peanut butter and oatmeal are things that I just can’t give up!
Give Paleo a few more months and it won’t be mentioned. That’s the way it goes with these ‘fad” diets.
Have you ever read/watched “Guns, Germs, and Steel”? The author talks about how civilizations that were able to grow enough grains to feed everyone had a huge advantage. Not spending all day trying to feed yourself enables people to specialize in different kinds of work (building shelters, crafting weapons, etc.). Kind of a cool theory, IMO. I’m always skeptical of diets that eliminate too many foods. I like the Michael Pollan school of thought: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
I say, eat what makes you feel good! Nobody’s perfect and I feel that the best diet is a truly balanced diet that gives you a healthy body AND mind.
As an RD practicing plant based nutrition, paleo doesn’t sit well with me. There is just SO much research as evidence that a plant based diet is the healthiest. You cannot ignore it. My nutrition philosophy is 90-95% vegan, the other 5-10% is for life. Parties, holidays, dinners out- times when you don’t have control over what’s in everything. People with diabetes, heart disease, cancer- 100% vegan initially to reverse disease and restore optimal health. But one thing I support 100% behind paleo is the elimination of processed foods- eat REAL food and also that they do eliminate wheat. Americans eat way too much processed wheat and gluten. Heather has written a few really great posts from a RDs perspective. http://www.sideofsneakers.com/2013/01/30/paleo-benefits/
So glad you’re enjoying oats and beans again
Take care friend.
I could never do it, so props to you for even trying to begin with. After struggling with some of my other food/body issues over the years I decided the best thing for me was to eat what I want when I wanted it, being as healthy as possible, but not punishing myself or freaking out when I wanted an extra beer, cookie, or spoonful of peanut butter. I also stopped reading up on the “new” diets and lifestyles out there because I found that it would only make me question my choices and fall back into old habits of excessive calorie counting/restriction/panic attacks. The only real “dietary” change I have made since then is juicing, I include at least one green juice a day in my diet and I’ve seen such a significant change…less dependency on coffee, more energy, clearer skin etc and I think my body gets all the rest it needs just from finally listening to it. I’m really happy you recognized that the diet wasn’t for you….for some people I’m sure it works fabulously, but definitely not for everyone especially if its making you miss some of your favorite GOOD FOR YOU foods.
Man I need a juicer.
You do! Best investment I’ve ever made.
I’ve read a ton about a ton of different diets (and by diet I mean way of eating, not restriction for weight loss), and what I’ve learned is that what works for Paul doesn’t necessarily work for Peter. One person will rave about their vegan diet (and they look/feel great!), while another raves about their paleo diet (also looking/feeling great!), so it’s just what works for you.
And, might I add, Tina eats more peanut butter than anyone ever and still has Tina’s arms!
Hahah so true!!!
i feel the same way. while i understand the paleo diet and why it works for some people, i know that it wouldn’t work for me. while it sometimes makes me feel like a healthy living outcast, i LIKE whole grains…and dairy…and beans. and like you said, they don’t cause me any digestive issues and i firmly believe they can be part of a balanced diet…so i’m going to keep eating them because that’s what is right for me. kudos to you for doing what’s right for you!
Thanks for posting this!! It’s nice to know I don’t have to feel guilty for switching up my diet so often. It’s all about finding the right balance, and yes those foods you mention are too good!!!
All i can say, at least you tried.
I am the only dude here i think, but i think paleo may be harder for the ladies.
The guys i counsel all pretty much latch on to it and love it.
the ladies… they love the sugar!
haha yes!! looove the sugar. paleo taught me i should cut back though!
It does have addictive qualities, thats for sure.
By the way, Perfect Health Diet may be better for you guys.
So, Clare, what did you learn that you will take away from paleo. God I hate that term. I call it eating real food.
I learned to watch the sugar in my diet, how carbs vs proteins vs fats are processed/used, lots of info on managing blood sugar levels, etc.
thats awesome!
I have no interest in ever going paleo. Way to restrictive for me! Anything that cuts out foods that are not only healthy but that make me feel good and that I enjoy is just not good. Plus just as there is a lot of research in favor of paleo…there is just as much if not more that find s cutting out all food groups it does very unhealthy!
I’m so glad you posted this! I haven’t tried crossfit, but I have tried paleo. I just can’t do it either!
Loved this post! I tried the vegetarian paleo diet and it was awful…i actually started my binging and restricting cycle again because of it. now I’m getting back on track again. i think just intuitive vegetarian, gluten free eating is best for me!
Love this post. I am Paleo and I don’t think it’s for everyone – I think you have to do what your body wants/needs. Personally, I have to be gluten-free (medically) and I have found that I’m extremely affected by grains, legumes, sugar, and some dairy so for me, Paleo was a no-brainer. I also could care less about the evolutionary argument for Paleo, I don’t agree with on many levels and for me, it’s more about just eating REAL food – Paleo is just a convenient label to explain your dietary restrictions to others. I also think it can be a slippery slope for anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder or any sort of disordered mindset around food.
I tried a vegetarian/vegan diet for months and it made me extremely sick – I’m highly insulin resistant by genetics so the high carb price tag of “high protein” vegetarian foods (like beans, soy, etc) were quite toxic to my body. Also, I think Paleo gets a bad rap as being “ALL MEAT ALL THE TIME” when I think it is definitely PLANT focused first and foremost. I know being paleo, I’ve eaten more plants than EVER before because as an athlete, I need the carbs and I just really love the green stuff!
Interesting!! It’s good to know what your body needs (and probably great k have so many “accidental” options now that paleo is populAr!)
I love this post! Every body is different, so everybody needs different things. I never in my life thought I could be a vegetarian, but now I’ve been one for over a year and love it. If it doesn’t work for me in the future then I will re-evaluate then. I can’t imagine being a vegan or paleo now but things change and you never know what the future will bring. I’m just trying to be open and adapt as I need to.
Can I use your vitamix until you get married?!
I tried paleo for a bit and still eat 1 or 2 paleo meals a day, but I need my hummus, Greek yogurt, lentils, quinoa and PB!!!
This balance works best for me! Definitely too restrictive, especially for someone with an ED past (for me, anyways).
Bioindividuality rocks!! I dipped into raw, vegan, low-carb, high-protein and whatnot … and realized that my body isn’t happy with those lifestyles for various reasons. I do better on a diet low in gluten (not having to cut it out completely though), high in fat, with protein&fat in every meal (bloodsugar balance) and with lots of complex carbs (and simple carbs if I combine them). Little raw food and not vegan because I simply feel better the other way. But I am glad I tried a few nutritional variations!
It’s hard to get people to accept, though, that they should try out different things to see how they feel best (and not fear the effects of, let’s say, a diet higher in fat). Not looking at the calorie content of meals but play with the macronutrients and see what they need, how much and when.
Agree- getting people to experiment and see how they feel is tough!
I appreciate this post so much! I was considering Paleo, was making a board on Pinterest, and then I thought, what the heck am I doing? I can’t eat like this! I think my body does best on a low animal protein diet so I knew it wasn’t practical. It is confusing because it seems like there are so many opinions on what is the “right” or “best” way to eat, but in the end, it really only matters what works best for you and your body!
Couldn’t have said it better Clare!! I also hate feeling restricted, and since I eat a mostly healthy diet whenever I try to cut something out it makes me feel this horrible anxiety…not a good feeling. Great post!
I have just been a week on Paleo way of eating, and I can honestly say that I have noticed a change in sleep, in digestion, less headaches and my energy level. I have Fibromyalgia and accompanying side issues that go along with Fibromyalgia. I will stick with it as much as possible but no where did I read that you couldn’t have any food. It’s just like snacking, once in awhile won’t kill you. Never tell yourself that you can’t have anything; that is when the cravings will start. Far too much processed crap out there…..congrats to those that found what irks fr them.
I really like this post because I also enjoy lots of paleo recipes, but find that the paleo lifestyle just isn’t for me.
I think this is fantastic!
My Greasy-Used-Car-Salesman pitch has always been: Try it for 30 days, see how you look, feel and perform. Reintroduce grains, legumes dairy.
Re-assess.
Is the process worth it? Is the ROI “there” for you? If not, then you have mapped that experience and can check it off the list.
Awesome to see others who have found the courage to really listen to what is right for them on an individual level! Love it and just yesterday posted on my blog about my issues with Paleo and diets in general.
http://www.realfoodrenegade.com/just-eat-the-fking-pastry-goodbye-paleo-hello-food/
Just the idea of disallowing certain things made me eat 20lbs. of them in one sitting! Hey…I never overate before; as a matter of fact, I never even thought about food. This Paleo thing is making me gain weight – gimme my yogurt and pile of fruit back – screw the insulin spike! I lost a ton of weight, I didn’t even know I needed to lose, eating loads of fruit (LOADS), veggies, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc…..and I find with Paleo, I try to minimize them. Way to listen to a book and forum discussions, as opposed to my tried and true experience. It doesn’t work for me, either and legumes give me mad energy – so there