For the next 30+ days, I will be eating meat, vegetables, healthy fats, fruits and nuts. I will not be eating processed food, sugar, dairy, grains or legumes, and I won’t be consuming any alcohol.

I’ve done a few Whole30 challenges before, but this time I’m looking for something a little different. I lost touch with my Paleo choices last year and I would like to reconnect with what it means to feel healthy, vibrant, and in tune with my whole self.

If you’re doing a Whole30 or other challenge, if you are living/exploring the Paleo lifestyle, or if you are simply looking for some tasty recipes to add to your repertoire, be sure to leave a comment to let me know you’re out there! I am so glad you stopped by!

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Day 5 is done!

Quote of the Day: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Oh my gosh! My day was another crazy one with barely a breath between jobs and meetings today. If you don’t know, I have a few different part-time jobs. One as a trainer at a gym and another as a program coordinator for an economic development organization. There are a couple more as well and I’m currently co-chair for a non-profit that has its main fundraising event in February. So I’m one busy lady!

I don’t necessarily recommend going as long as I did between meals, but I am grateful for how my body works when I’m eating like this. I have a lot of experience eating Paleo and my body converts fairly quickly from wanting sugars and carbs for energy to being able to use fat. I remember that it took a couple weeks for that to kick in when I did my first Whole30, but now within a few days, I feel more regulated. My blood sugar doesn’t crash and I don’t get irritable or crazy if some time goes between meals.

Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely hungry, but not crazy. For me, there is definitely a difference. I ate some chili at two, but didn’t go overboard because I knew dinner would be early. It was a work night at the gym so I always eat really early.

I don’t know how all of you feel with Paleo, but let me know if you notice a shift in how much time can pass between meals without feeling so famished that you are out of control.

None of that necessarily relates to the quote for today, and it’s one worth thinking about. Sometimes we need to stretch our expectations of ourselves in order to live life more fully. My theme for the year is EMBRACE in every sense. Right now, I am embracing change and transformation and delicious, healthy eating! How about you?

Day 5 – The Details

4:30am – Black coffee

6:15am – 2 eggs, zucchini & slaw, 1/2 tsp. coconut oil, 1/4 avocado, sauerkraut, 1 clementine

2:00pm – 1 1/2 c. chili

5:00pm – Bacon truffle burger with a fried egg (there are no words…), Salad, 1/3 c. sweet potato (which might have been dipped in truffle sauce…)

Food: Thank goodness for Paleo and manageable hunger. Not a normal distribution of eating, but I’m doing fine.

Mood: Super high energy – either from the craziness of my days this week or from feeling good about my eating. Either way, my mood is great! And no headache today.

Sleep: 7 hrs. I woke up 2 minutes before the alarm and remembered my dream pretty vividly. That doesn’t happen often to me so I’m assuming it has something to do with my eating.

Activity: Yoga / Back workout / Sprints, Squat Jumps, 2 x 3min. planks (super proud of that – I had no idea I could plank for 3 minutes.)

Focus – Drink tea or water: A little tougher to stay hydrated because I was all over the place today, but I made up for it when I could. And I feel balanced so I’m not worried.