During the diet, I mostly baked and grilled meats like chicken, pork, steak, and salmon while adding only peppers, Mrs. Dash, and parsley/cilantro leaves as my seasoning. I'd prepare a big bowl of salad with raw mushrooms and tomatoes thrown in that I could add to my meals throughout the week. I'd fry eggs with olive oil and add them to the salad to add some extra flavor, since I wasn't allowed to use any dressing. Other sides included steamed broccoli and cauliflower or corn on the cob. I'd have one freshly sliced orange every morning, a banana for an afternoon snack, and grapes or apples late at night if I wanted a snack. As for drinks, I didn't have anything but water. Some people recommended tea, but I just don't like tea and couldn't find anything else I would rather drink...so I drank tons of water, lol.
In the first week, I had already noticed that the fat around my face was gone. Mentally and physically, I felt fine. I didn't have any cravings to eat any of the foods I was abstaining from. In fact, I felt like I couldn't eat as much in a single sitting and after my meals, my stomach never felt bloated. I also noticed that I didn't have to 'deuce' as often, and when I did, it wasn't as much. I could really tell how effective the diet was in terms of eating healthy and losing fat. One thing I did notice however is that my body became sore from workouts more easily, but this was probably due to the drastic change in nutrition.
After 5 days, I had lost 7 pounds, but I noticed my waist wasn't trimming as quickly as I hoped. In addition, I didn't continue to lose weight as quickly like that first major decrease and I continued to hover around 183 lbs the next 5 days. While I had lost an inch around my waist, it was becoming apparent that the fat around the stomach requires a lot more time to trim. As stated by my friend Matt, "the belly is the place we retain the most fat" and so it will take the longest to reduce.
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| Day 11: front view (right)- 183 lbs, 35.5" waist |
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| Day 11: side view (right)- 183 lbs, 35.5" waist |
The Palineo diet will consist of a normal diet without as much restriction, which some Paleo insight. For example, it all starts at the grocery store for me. In the past I would buy lots of breads like hot dog and burger buns and also a lot pastas to make things like spaghetti and fettuccine. The Palineo diet will not allow me to make these purchases individually for myself. I will continue to just shop the meats, fruits, and vegetable aisles for my home cooking. Rice will become my main grain if I want to compliment meals.
Palineo will allow me to have salt and sugar. Sugar has never been a problem for me, but it is an additive in many drinks and sauces. My old seasonings will return and there won't be any restriction on that. In additional, I will cook with only olive oil and will no longer be using vegetable oil.
As for drinks, beer is allowed again, and I celebrated my success (and diligence on such a challenging diet) with a couple Bud Lights last night. I am allowed to drink milk again, but will alternate my morning glass of milk with fresh fruit. Sodas will also have a restriction. Instead of soda everyday, I will limit myself to one can every other day.
I should expect to have some of the weight I lost come back, but my hope is that in time, I can continue to lose weight or maintain what I have lost with a renewed perspective on the way I eat. 190 lbs and the way my face had pudged up was just too much, and personally I felt a diet was necessary. I'm proud that I was able to stick with it for 11 days, and I'm ready to move forward toward a healthier and thinner me!
