Day 1 Paleo

Well here we go!   I am new to the world of blogging, this is my first time ever attempting to blog.  So why did I decide to start a blog?

Well I decided to start a blog to hold myself accountable.  I know crazy right when probably no one will ever read it, but I hit publish and it is out there.  So in a way it really doesn't matter if anyone ever reads it or not.

My name is Amanda, and I am 43 years old....soon to be 44.  I have 100 plus pound that I need to lose and I need to make some drastic lifestyle changes in order to do it.  You have heard my story 100's of times.  My story is no different than anyone else's who has a lot of weight to lose other than it is my story.

I could sit here and tell you all the reasons that I have extra fat on me.  I could point to all the stressors in my life and say that is why I am the way I am.  I have been that person, hell I still am that person but I am trying hard as hell to not be that person.  One of my sayings that I have been trying hard to take to heart is OWN IT!  Whatever it is in your life OWN IT!  Don't shift the blame, the credit, the kudos, or the guilt.  So this is me doing that.

I am fat, I am out of shape, I breathe heavy walking up stairs and there are a thousand other things I could list "wrong" with me.  There are also a thousand things I could list that are "right" about me!   I am no one thing nor does one thing define me.

Right now I am looking at drastically changing my lifestyle.  Yes, I am going from fast food, and food that is horrifically unhealthy for me to a lifestyle of clean eating.  Some say I am crazy for the drastic measures I am taking.  But I say I have passed the buck too many times and I need drastic.

I have eaten what I wanted as much as I wanted for far too long.  I have eaten food that I know is unhealthy for me on so many levels and I have given every reason why I needed that food.  addicted, stressed, tired, depressed, pissed, celebrating...you named it and I have given it at one or another point in time.  I have allowed the words of those around me to lull me into thinking I was right, or deserved it for whatever the reason.

The bottom line the buck stops with me.  I am 100 + pounds over weight because of all of these choices.  I am unhealthy because of all of these choices.  I am out of shape because I chose to not work out, to sit on the sofa instead.  Am I bad person because of these choices?  NO!

So here I am day 1 of Paleo....

I have plan to ease myself into a healthy lifestyle and it starts with clean eating and exercising.  This plan isn't written in stone, it isn't hard and un-flexible, it isn't rigid.  It is an organic plan and living plan that shifts and changes throughout the process.

So how do I know what is and isn't considered Paleo?  Well I am going by several different sources but I think this one chart does a nice job of summing it all up.

My Paleo Plan:

My plan for the first week, change two meals of my day, Lunch and Dinner to be Paleo meals. Breakfast Monday - Friday remain my normal breakfast.  Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday convert to Paleo meals.

The second week I will convert breakfast to Paleo meals on Tuesday, Thursday.

The third week I will convert breakfast to Paleo meals on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

By the fourth week all meals will be converted to Paleo meals.

One time a week, one square of dark chocolate
One time a month, one meal will be non-Paleo meal.