I have this app called “Timehop” on my phone which I find extremely entertaining. It tells me what has happened in my social media life on this exact day in the past year that have been recorded. Today this post came up from two years ago. 
I can’t believe it has been two years since I started my journey down the Paleo road. It made me really reflect on what I have learned in the process. I decided in honor of this two year mark I would do a post on what I’ve learned, where I am currently at, and what I foresee in the future as far as my eating is concerned.
What have I learned from eating Paleo?
- I have learned that eating cleaner is better. I was meticulously counting calories, eating foods that had more words in them that i could’t pronounce in them than ones that I could, and feeling hungry all the time. I was all about the non-fat, sugar-free way of life, and it wasn’t doing me any good. I have since changed my philosophy to a much “cleaner” way of life. I eat whole foods, healthy fats, and I focus on what I should be eating rather that what I shouldn’t.
- I have learned to eat more intuitively. I pay more attention to my hunger cues. I eat foods that keep me full which helps me to do this.
- I learned that I have more self-control that I knew was in me. It takes discipline to change eating patterns, and I was able to do so. In cutting out grains, I found that I cut out a lot of the “extras” that allow for excess caloric intake for a lot of people.
- I have learned that this way of life may not work for everyone, but it has worked for me. Because I have been able to find foods that are satisfying to me, I have been able to adapt my way of eating in such a way that I hardly even have to think about it. It is just the norm for me.
- I have also learned that I don’t have to do hours and hours of cardio to see results. I decreased my cardio a great deal, focusing more on interval training, circuits, and resistance training. I have decreased body fat, lost weight, and achieved some goals I’ve been working toward for quite some time.
- I have also learned that I feel better when I am not eating grains. I feel more condensed, less bloated.
- I have learned that marathon training and paleo aren’t exactly a match. I added in carbohydrates when necessary for my long runs, so I was able to have the energy I needed to run.
- Oh, and I still miss peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on fresh Grandma Sycamore wheat bread and cereal. Both favorites. I’m normal after all. 😉
Where am I now?
- I really have stayed very close to the paleo lifestyle for the most part these past two years. However, I would say that I am probably about 90/10, and I’m happy there.
- I am not one who likes a ton of meat, so I have to do my own version of Paleo. I’m still grain free with the exception of popcorn. It is my absolute favorite snack, and so I have kept that one.
- My other exceptions are an occasional Diet Dr. Pepper and frozen yogurt. These are the two things that keep me sane. I don’t eat much sugar, and a Diet Dr. Pepper every now and then helps me to kick the sweets habit. I still drink about 100 oz of water per day. You don’t have to agree with me on that one, but I’m just being honest.
- I think I will continue to eat the way that I have been eating. Like I mentioned before, it works for me. Not everyone will feel the same way. I always tell my clients the best eating plan for them is the one that they will stick to, AND still see results. I know my limits. I know my triggers. This helps me to keep myself in check. I enjoy fruits and vegetables a LOT, and so this is possible for me. I know it may not be the answer for everyone.
Where do I foresee myself in the future?
- From today looking forward, i will continue on the way that I have been eating. It makes me feel good. I’m sure that things may change when I am married and have a family. However, there are things that I know will stay the same. I will still be eating really healthy because it is just who I am. That won’t change. I have managed to be with friends, visit relatives, eat at others houses, and enjoy life eating the way that I am. I think that I will be able to continue to do so!