Before you go on the Paleo Diet, it would be wise to do some research and make sure you have a good idea about what the diet entails. If you don’t have a clear understanding of what is allowed and what is prohibited, it probably won’t work for you. Read up about the diet and ask those who’ve tried it about their experiences. Apart from this, here are four more tips on how to get started on the Paleo Diet.
Get rid of the bad stuff.
It may be difficult to comprehend a life without bread, butter, pasta, milk, and sodas, but you have to remember that we lived for 99% of our history without these food items. Before you begin, raid your pantry and cupboards of all processed foods. Toss the chips, cookies, brownie and cake mixes, juice concentrates, and chocolates. It will take a few weeks for your body to adjust to your new diet so it would be a good idea to rid your house of temptations that could get you started on eating poorly again. Instead, write down a weekly meal plan and a grocery list. Stick to your list when you go shopping for food and only put Paleo-friendly food items in your fridge and pantry.
Start with small changes.
If you’re the type to go cold turkey, do that. But if you don’t want to risk shocking your system, do a gradual transition. Before you start the diet, consider doing a detox treatment. Some people have found that going on a week-long juice fast or a daily lemon juice cleanse every morning before they begin helped them make the shift into Paleo.
You can also begin by removing one processed food from your diet every day and replacing it with a wholesome food that is in line with the Paleo Diet. If, for example, you normally start your day with a cup of coffee, start by replacing it with tea. Replace your obligatory cup of rice per meal with steamed vegetables. If you have a sweet tooth and have to have something sweet every day, learn how to make “turtles”, a raw food snack made with dates, bananas, and pecans.
Try the 80% method
For those who might find going on the Paleo Diet full-time a bit overwhelming, the 80% method might do the trick. It goes like this: do Paleo during weekdays and allow yourself to eat whatever you want on the weekends. This may not work for everybody, but it could help those who need a little more time before saying goodbye to their weekend bagels-and-lox or Friday-night spaghetti-and-meatballs habit.
Prepare for the slump
For the first two to three weeks, you will feel poorly as your body gets used to not running on sugars and starches. Those who’ve tried the Paleo Diet report feeling weak, tired, and sluggish during this transition period. Fight the urge to reach for something carbo- or sugar-loaded and trust that you will start to feel better and more energized after the initial detox period.