There are many reasons to give the paleo/ primal way of eating a try. The best reasons would be to see for yourself how you feel after doing so, to notice if anything changes for you physically and mentally, and perhaps to re-examine how you nourish yourself and what is really right for you. We can list off all the individual results we’ve experienced ourselves, as well as the myriad success stories from our clients, but we find that the only way to know if the paleo diet or ancestral-based diet is right for you, is to simply give it a go.
For a successful start, we suggest taking a look at what it is you’d like to see shift. Are you looking to lose weight, clear up your skin, decrease symptoms or reverse autoimmune issues? Are you looking to solve digestive issues like GERD, or perhaps you are diabetic or pre-diabetic and want to see if the paleo way can stabilize and reverse some of your symptoms. Maybe you just want to see what all the fuss is about? Whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish (and there are 100s of reasons you might be interested in switching to an ancestral diet), we simply recommend a few action steps to help you during your experimentation.
- Bee Clear: Define what issues you would like to see diminished or resolved. If you want to see if your general health and vitality increases, then make sure to pick a few markers that could help you decide, such as tracking your heart rate, body mass, or skin clarity.
- Bee Informed: Find out what’s in and what’s out in the paleo diet, and make sure you actually eliminate offensive ingredients while you are trying this experiment. Cheating will affect your results! There are lots of ways non-paleo foods can slip through the cracks, so arm yourself with knowledge from the get-go.
- Bee Honest: If you commit to the paleo diet, then really give it a genuine effort. Many people talk about being 80% perfect with a 20% buffer. However, if your 20% buffer consists of pizza and beer you honestly won’t have a clear representation of how your health is trending. Let the 20% buffer exist for honest mistakes, or when things are genuinely out of your control.
- Bee Consistent: The first few days of going paleo can actually be a bit uncomfortable. Make sure you give yourself time to get past this initial period. Your body will be switching from running on glucose to using fat as a fuel source. If you don’t make it past the “carb flu” stage, then you’ll never really get to examine what it feels like to be submerged in the paleo lifestyle.
- Bee Organized: Track whatever markers you want to see changed. Perhaps keep a journal and make notes about how your health is trending each day. Record barometers like how you feel, your appetite, changes in energy levels, mood changes, or any biomarkers you want to measure, such as blood sugar levels. Also make sure you plan your meals ahead of time, because as we know, being prepared helps to keep us on track.
- Bee Supported: This may be the most important aspect of all. If you are surrounded by people who think what you’re doing is pointless, then you will have a much more difficult time staying the course long enough to track any changes. Especially in the first few days when the transition can be tough. Surround yourself with people who support you.
If you think you are ready to take the plunge and try the paleo diet, we offer a 30 day Paleo Challenge to our readers. The challenge is delivered via our mobile app and is a proven behavior change modification tool. Our program will help you stay informed, clear, consistent, organized, and supported during your paleo trial. Join at any time and gain access to a precise plan that can help eliminate the overwhelm from your first paleo endeavor. The challenge is designed to help you stay organized, but it also delivers daily articles that explain the step-by-step experiences you’re bound to encounter on your journey. Don’t go it alone. We are here to coach you along the way and support you during this self-experiment.
So give it a try. You have nothing to lose except lingering questions about whether paleo/primal is right for you!
