I’ve decided to rename this series to “A Carb-Lover’s Painful, Kicking and Screaming Transition to the Primal Diet.”
That first week was hard, everyone!
I’m a Monday person. I’ve got a husband, two kids, two dogs, and a full time job, so by Friday I’m not always sure which end is up. But on Monday, I’ve had the weekend to rest, regroup and get organized.
So it was no surprise to me that the first Monday going primal was a breeze. I got up early to make breakfast. I ate my lunch that I had carefully packed the night before. Dinner was in the slow cooker before I left for work. Monday was awesome.
Tuesday was good, too. Still organized, still on plan. Starting to miss my carbs a little bit. Wednesday was a struggle, but still ok. On Thursday, I licked the frosting off a cupcake in desperation.
Things went down hill from there, true. But things were still much better than they were before I started trying to improve my eating habits. On Monday, I’d say I was 95% primal. By Sunday, it was more like 50/50. I will be improving on that this week.
Here’s what week one taught me:
Eating Primal Takes Planning.
Before, I’d grab a banana to eat with a hot tea (double double) from Tim Horton’s on my way to work. Lunch would be some kind of take out, because I never got around to packing one for myself.
Dinner would be something quick and carb-y, and let’s not forget to mention the late night buttery popcorn. None of it took much effort and none of it was very nutritious.
Primal means planning and preparing and washing and chopping. This all takes time, but as I learn new recipes and get into a pattern of favorite meals and snacks, I expect it will get easier. I thought I had anticipated this, but by Friday I was standing in front of the fridge with no clue what to make myself for lunch.
The fix: This week I planned every meal before I went grocery shopping. I know exactly what I’m having for lunch and dinner through Saturday. Not very spontaneous, but much safer.
Primal Does Not Mean Permission to Eat Anything I Want
I was hungry Thursday night. Hungry. And so I ate two big jalapeno cheddar brats from our local meat market (with a huge side of broccoli). Was it a primal meal? Sure. It also probably cost me 1,000 calories and was loaded with fat.
I reminded myself later (as I downed two Tums) that the goal here is tolose weight.
The fix: See above, more planning. I’ve also started using My Fitness Pal to keep track of my carbs, fat, protein and, above all, calories.
I still believe that weight loss is a matter of calories in vs. calories out.
Changing Your Diet is an Adjustment.
I felt great this week … except when I didn’t.
Sometimes I was tired, sometimes I was grumpy, sometimes I was hot and sometimes I couldn’t get warm. Sometimes I was restless and sometimes I felt like crying. And there were things going on in my intestines that I don’t want to talk about.
It will take some time to fill the hole that sugar has left in my day, my quick pick-me-up friend. And it will take time for my body to learn to digest high-fiber, nutritious foods rather than the simple carbs I’ve been consuming.
The fix: Time, I think. Though I think the worst of this is over. Thank goodness for that.
And now, the hard numbers: 3.5 pounds lost, 46.5 to go.
