Latest blog post from the LuRong Challenge: WHAT TO EXPECT PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY Excitement and motivation, coupled with anxiousness and preparation, are normal week one and two Paleo Challenge responses. The best way to start any challenge is to keep a positive attitude, plan appropriately and look forward to reaching those health goals. This is the time to clean out all the junk from your kitchen, stock up on healthy foods and plan ahead to make the transition easy and reduce any unwanted stress or temptations. After the first couple days of the challenge, you will be getting the hang of things and, for the most part, feeling pretty confident. That is until the dreaded food cravings start lurking in. Although it would be easy to revert back to your old ways, keep your eyes fixed on your goals and enjoy all the healthy foods you have bought and prepared. Although food cravings will pop up, it will continue to get easier and easier to turn them down for something that will truly nourish your body. You may also feel a little hungry as you are eating less “filler foods.” These are foods that add fluff to your diet without any real nutrition (i.e. fat-free 100 calorie packs). Be sure you are getting in the right combination of protein and healthy fats to go along with the carbohydrate load that is right for you. Protein and fat will help with feeling full and will help keep your blood sugar steady. Also eat slower and wait 10 to 20 minutes to allow yourself to feel full before you go back for more. If you are still hungry, fill up on veggies first and then go for more protein, carbs or fat as needed. In addition you may feel some fatigue (especially in your workouts), headaches or mental fogginess. This is all normal, as your body detoxes from sugar and processed foods and starts to run on fat as a secondary energy source (rather than just carbs). Midway through the challenge a little self-doubt might creep in. These are the hardest days, but don’t quit! That will be the time to get rid of the “on the wagon, off the wagon mentality” and know that this is a new lifestyle. Think about all of the progress you have made and stay focused on your goals. Keep up with your meal planning (and journaling) and enjoy the feeling of reduced cravings and new-found energy. At weeks five through eight, you are almost there and should be settling into what hopefully becomes a new lifestyle! You are eating well, have increased energy, sleeping like a baby and your workouts are improving. Sit back, reflect on what you have learned and how you have grown, and enjoy the results! About the Author: Jeremy Mullins is an author, nutritionist, and nationwide nutrition speaker with over 12 years of experience specializing in weight loss and teaching others how to eat well. Check out his eBook “Plan Ahead Paleo: An Easy 30-Day Meal Plan for Eating Well” at almost-paleo or facebook/eatwellwv (challenge participants receive 50% off – $9.99 – with coupon code LURONG). Jeremy and his co-author Tiffany Lockhart, MS RD are always asked What should I eat? This is their answer. The eBook includes 30 days of nutritionally analyzed Paleo meal plans, complete with recipes, weekly shopping lists, food prep instructions and more.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:32:28 +0000
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