I grew up in a house full of consumer goods, that is,
until my mother became a certified crossfit trainer and turned our house into a
paleo wonderland. She became a crossfit addict after I convinced her to take a
few classes with me at the boathouse where my team rowed in the afternoons. For
as long as I’ve been alive she’s been considered the queen of hobbies. Littered
around our house are jewelry-making kits, a bass guitar, expensive photography
equipment, and, at one point, a Vespa scooter. I thought her fascination with
the crossfit craze would die down, just like all the others had. But as we kept
attending classes, her dedication would grow. Soon, she was searching for
buildings to start her own gym and getting her certification. And the changes
didn’t stop there.
The fridge quickly became devoid of sodas and other
processed foods while water and carrots filled their spaces. Everything was
replaced. Now my family, which consists of my mom, dad, younger sister, and me,
had never been inclined to eat particularly poorly. For example, we ate wheat bread, if any, and
cooked meals from scratch at home most night. Yet, we weren’t strangers to the
odd dessert or chip. As my mother began to eliminate crave-worthy foods, I
began to hunger for them even more. I soon craved the taste of chocolate and
ice cream, things I had never really salivated for before. My sister had an
especially hard time and used to sneak off to Starbucks to indulge in the odd
sugary treat before retreating home to feast on water.
I eventually learned, after the cravings for junk food
subsided, that my body felt better and cleaner when I was taking care of it. Alas,
all things come to an end. I turned 19 and went off to college, where processed
food is readily available with the swipe of a prepaid card and I often feel
obligated to indulge in a fourth meal. This blog is about my efforts to get
back my roots. I’m going to try to become paleo on a college campus.
I think it’ll be harder than I could
ever possibly believe. Right now I just imagine a lot of trips to the salad bar
and establishing a love of sliced turkey. But, it’s easy to think that way. What
my mind doesn’t account for is the pressure to eat whatever my group of friends
is eating, the ease of just ordering a sandwich, or even just the availability
of anything I want. Since leaving home I have strayed so far from the fundamentals
of the paleo diet that it will be a challenge to restrain myself and stick with
my goal.
The paleo diet consists of mainly
fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meats. There are a few other allowances as well,
for example eggs and fish. As an athlete, I need a lot of protein. This protein
can be found in meats and eggs. In the dining hall this is particularly
difficult because meat often comes as an addition to pastas and salads rather
than stand on its own. I cannot eat candy, grain, dairy, or drink anything
besides water or tea. Originally, the paleo diet did not seem very limiting,
but after surveying the options provided by the school’s main eating area, I
can tell I will have a very hard time sticking to this challenge.
Besides just restricting myself to
the paleo diet, I want to accomplish a few other things as well. First off, I simply
want to become healthier. I want to be able to cut out the high fat, crave-inducing,
salty and sweet concoctions that are slowly killing me. I also want to maximize
my body’s potential as an athlete. Hopefully, the paleo diet will allow my body
to function at its highest ability and I’ll feel better during and after
workouts, meaning I’ll be less tired, more full, and stronger. I think if I can
stick to my project, these goals will be part of the result.
For my project I will stay on the
paleo diet for the next few weeks. My audience will know I’m not cheating
because I will report my meals and struggles on this blog. I’m going to stick
with it and not make any allowances. For food I will eat at my college’s dining
hall, which is referred to as Benson. Most college students have to rely
strictly on school provided options, so I will try to do so as well most of the
time. By having this blog, I believe I will stay on my paleo path for longer, and
I will hopefully develop a different lifestyle overall, which will include
healthier eating as well as increased athletic performance.
To measure my success I will report energy levels,
cravings, and overall mood. The most successful I can be with this diet would
be to feel more energized before and after practice, be full for longer, and maintain
an improved mood throughout the day. The energy levels will be the most
important indicator. If I lose significant amounts of energy, than I believe the
paleo diet will be unsustainable long term as well as detrimental to me as an
athlete. From my findings over the course of the project, I will determine whether
the paleo lifestyle is reasonable to remain on for the remainder of the school
year and summer, or if I need to go back to my previous lifestyle.
This challenge won’t be easy. Temptations
wait around every corner, and it’s only this blog, and my own desire, that will
keep me on track. I want to succeed. Five weeks, all paleo. No one promised me
an easy time, and who knows what the result of this will be, but I’m willing to
try. Here’s to a new beginning.
