Today’s post is from Robert Louque, from New Orleans. We got in contact from a Facebook group called NOLA Paleo.
My Paleo journey is not anything glamorous and did not involve any serious medical conditions. It was sparked by photographs friends posted on Facebook during Mardi Gras this year. I knew I was gaining weight but those photographs painted a complete picture and I could no longer deny that I had quite the gut.
I first heard about the Paleo Diet one of my law professors at a CLE late last year. At that time, the Paleo lifestyle made a lot of sense but it did not seem realistic for a busy attorney juggling a full time private practice on top of a part time position with the Public Defender’s office in Jefferson Parish. After seeing those Mardi Gras photographs, I started doing a little more research and came across one of Robb Wolf’s post about the 30 day challenge to change to a Paleo lifestyle. That day I packed almost everything in my cabinets in Rubbermaid containers to be donated to family members and I jumped right into a Paleo lifestyle. I have never been one to ease into anything and Paleo was not going to be any different. That was in March and I have not looked back since that time.
With the exception of the occasional consumption of dairy, I follow a pretty strict Paleo lifestyle. Between March and June, I lost 22 pounds and that unsightly stomach I saw in those photographs from Mardi Gras. My energy levels have skyrocketed and I feel better than I have in years. Prior to Paleo, it was not uncommon for me to feel exhausted by the afternoon hour. Being 35 years old, I attributed that tired feeling to the “aging process.” Now I know it may be a gluten and/or soy allergy and my diet was the likely culprit. I feel better now than I did in my 20s and I have maintained my current weight.
Finding the time to cook wholesome meals every day really is not as daunting as it sounds. Many times, I can “cook” dinner in a slow cooker while I am gone for the day and have leftovers for lunches the remainder of the week. Many people also may be concerned about the cost of converting to a Paleo lifestyle. As a former “extreme couponer” I can attest to the fact that I have not seen an increase in my monthly grocery budget. In fact, I spend less on groceries now than I did back then. Just about any excuse can be refuted when it comes to trying Paleo. I recommend just trying it for yourself. I do not think you will be disappointed.
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