Tag Archives: Paleo

Throwing away the scale.

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Yesterday morning, I stepped on the scale, giddy at the thought of what the numbers would show. But they didn’t show what I wanted. They showed a gain, after a week and a half of diligent Paleo eating. Since I stopped eating Diet to Go I’ve gained a few pounds too – amazing what a shift in my nutrition does to my body. I was frustrated. How can three numbers have such an impact on my mood and attitude?

This weight loss journey sometimes feels like the biggest, longest challenge I’ve ever worked towards. I get so angry when the numbers don’t move favorably, because doesn’t the scale see the hour of boxing class, how I left class drenched in my own sweat? Doesn’t the scale see how I skipped my friend’s amazing looking tres leches cake to have a banana with almond butter? Doesn’t the scale see me dancing my butt off in zumba class, or climbing the treadmill like a mountain, pressing the incline button more and more, until I’m towering above the treadmills around me, climbing, climbing, climbing towards a healthier me? Doesn’t the scale see how every time in the past four years I’ve ordered my turkey burger with a side of salad, skipped the french fries, dressing on the side?

The scale doesn’t see these things.

Image borrowed from thechildhealthblog.com

So yesterday, when I talked to a professional athlete and body builder at an event, I was surprised when he told me to throw out my scale. I’ve heard this sentiment before from people in the know – the hydrostatic body composition owner, a triathalon expert, a kinesiologist. But it’s hard to disconnect my goals from my weight, that ominous number that reminds me how I’m at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, depression, you name it. The problem is, that number on the scale has a huge influence on the decisions I make afterwards – like saying, “Screw Paleo, I’m eating gluten-free pizza and popcorn for dinner.” Because when I’ve been working hard and seeing what I feel are no results, why even bother? Why keep going?

But I know I can’t give up. I know I need to keep going. And even if the scale doesn’t move, I’ll get there, one day, to the better, stronger, healthier, slimmer me.

Does your weight have an influence on your attitude towards eating, fitness and your mood in general?

Alyssa and the Caveman Diet

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paleolyssa

Happy Friday! You all know I’m a descendant of the Vikings, but today, lets go back even further into my family’s history….back to the Paleolithic era. Here’s my great-great-great-great-great grandmother, Alyssicus Afarensis. See how lean and strong her body was? Sure, she needs her roots done and a little bit of exfoliation, but Alyssicus had a bangin’ body- because she gathered berries and nuts for her meals, and feasted on lean mastodon meat with sabertooth bacon. Alyssicus didn’t have Santito’s tortilla chips or delicious Diet to Go, anything she ate, she foraged or caught. No doubt, her sinewy muscles were earned by climbing trees and scaling mountains, not from flailing like a flabby chicken in Zumba. She was sometimes hungry, but when she ate, she ate the right things because she had no choice- fruits, nuts, meat and vegetables. She didn’t have gluten, she didn’t have popcorn, and she didn’t even have fire. (Fire is on it’s way, but Alyssicus Afarensis was an Australopithecus Afarensis, more commonly known as Lucy, or the first bi-pedal human. Note: Anthropology buffs will argue that the photo above is more of a homo-erectus – for the sake of creativity just pretend we’re Australopithicus. PS: Did you guys know I have a BA Minor in Anthropology?! You do now!)

Image borrowed from Abiezzi.com. I’m trying to be the one before the red cup guy!!!

Today, 21st century digital Alyssa has decided to go back to her roots- waaaay back. You may have heard of the Paleo Diet- and today, I’m on my fifth day of eating only veggies, meat, fruit and some nuts. I’m down 2.6 pounds, likely water weight I gained once I went off diet to go, but I feel good- strong, satisfied and not falling victim to my usual 3 pm crunchy cravings. The real importance of a paleo diet is to not eat processed food- so no dairy, no junk food, no gluten, no bread, no diet Pepsi. While the first three days the siren song of diet coke was getting to me, I’m happy to report that I’m not craving the ghastly brown liquid anymore.

For those of you who are skeptical, don’t worry, I’m only trying Paleo for 30 days, as an experiment of sorts. I’m all about research and trying something once, and after all, I’ve always had the feeling I was born in the wrong era. Perhaps Paleolithic is the right one for me?!