Has It Really Been a Year!?

From my Mom's Garden

I just realized that September 14th marked one year of Paleo living...crazy!!! And, interestingly enough, I celebrated it where it all began...my Mom's house! We enjoyed fresh veggies from her garden, freshly-laid eggs from her neighbor's hens, and the most incredible four-day hike (with my Mom and some of her sixth-grade girl friends) in the Trinity Alps. Here are a few pictures from my trip:

Me, Terri, Mom, and Holly

Morris Meadows (10 Miles In/Camping: Night 1)

Breakfast: Rehydrated Eggs w/Yams (Day 2)

 10 Mile Day Hike (Day 2)

Emerald Lake

Making/Rehydrating Lunch (Day 2)

Lunch: Rehydrated Yams, Kale, and Tomatillo Salsa (Mom and I dehydrated this) w/Wild Salmon

Camping Spot (Night 3)

You know you would've done the same... ;)

Last Day (7 Mile Hike Out)

Four days. Three nights. 34 miles. 40lb pack. And, I can't wait to do it again!

So, back to the food...after a year of eating Paleo, I'm still going strong and continue to tweak my eating so that I feel and look my best. And, speaking of learning and tweaking, Scott had Robb Wolf's new book, "The Paleo Solution" waiting for me when I got home and so far I'm loving it! His writing-style is witty, easy to read, informative, and to the point. Now, I just need more time so that I can finish it. 

A few thoughts, as I look back on my year of eating and experimenting:

Grains

As I've mentioned before, one of the the most difficult changes for me was giving up grains, beans, and legumes; with exception to my occasional run-ins with beer, I don't really think twice about them. Now that I have eliminated grains from my diet, I am able to clearly identify the negative impact that they have on my overall well-being; when I eat even a small amount of grains, I almost immediately experience the following:

1. Bloating and discomfort
2. Congestion and inflammation (usually accompanied by sniffles)
3. Skin irritation (generally the skin on my hands and face will feel sensitive...like it's been windburned)

Since going grain-free, I have only used my inhaler (for asthma) once (during a really humid day, during an intense workout) and have not had any major skin issues. I used to suffer from eczema (primarily on my hands), especially during high school and my strict vegetarian days. 

Dairy

As far as dairy is concerned, I occasionally eat raw cheeses, goat and sheeps' milks cheeses, and very rarely I have gelato. I have found that I LOVE goat's milk butter, so I use that to cook my eggs each morning. So, other than my goat's milk butter, I rarely consume dairy anymore.

Sugar and Processed Foods
I have never been a really big eater of sugar or processed foods (thank goodness!), so it wasn't too difficult to give them up. I grew up eating a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and real foods. My mom cooked for us and packed us healthy lunches...I was always that kid with the reusable lunch sack and crap-loads of tupperware...I appreciate it now. Breakfasts were generally breakfast burritos, with eggs and cheese, or something similar, so I never really had a huge desire to eat donuts, pancakes, or other sweet breakfast foods.

With all of this being said, I graduated from high school, moved out on my own, and went a little food-crazy. I ate a ton of boxed rice products, ate a lot of pasta and jarred sauce, and as a result gained some poundage and squishiness. Oh processed foods...

When I decide I want to add a little sweetness to my tea/coffee or am experimenting with a more paleo-friendly dessert option, I use local, raw honey or pure maple syrup, both in small amounts. I'm also looking forward to experimenting with coconut syrup and sugar.

Fruit and Nuts

For the first few months, I relied pretty heavily on fruits and nuts in the form of Lara bars, dried fruit and nut combinations, and almond flour-based baked goods. I quickly discovered that my body did not approve; my stomach and sides became a little more squishy than desired and my skin a little less smooth and more blotchy than normal. I began to focus on limiting my fruit and nut (almonds specifically) intake and experienced almost immediate results. Not to say that you should eliminate fruits and nuts from your diet, but rather pay attention to your body and limit their consumption.

The thing I've noticed most about this lifestyle is that when I'm eating really clean, my workout recovery is faster and I just feel better. My skin looks better, my digestion is better, I sleep better, I have more energy, I don't get weird skin irritations, I don't have asthma attacks, I haven't experienced seasonal allergies...I think I'll stick with it.