Once upon a time I was really into trying different styles of eating. I enjoyed switching things up and experimenting, but after the girls arrived, I largely stuck with just focusing on eating real foods. This works really well for me in general for a couple of reasons. First, I do not have any real intolerances or food allergies (though going gluten-free did seem to benefit me when trying to get pregnant) and secondly, I don’t like feeling restricted with eating.
Over the months (years?), I’ve transitioned naturally to a more unprocessed way of eating. I definitely can feel a physical difference (largely bloating and lower energy) when I regularly eat breads/pastas/processed carbs. After indulging plenty over the holidays and my overall lack of exercise (soon to the rectified), I’ve been feeling a little blah and frumpy. It turns out that David is feeling the same (though I don’t believe he used the word frumpy 
).
Because of this, we’ve decided (ok, we actually have been planning this for about a month now) to try eating in a Paleo style for 10 days. Now, to answer a few questions I’ve made up myself…
Why Paleo? I tend to eat rather paleo-esque naturally, so it’s not big swing in the opposite direction for me. I like that the Paleo diet focuses on real foods like vegetables, meats, fish, nuts and seeds, fruits, etc.
Why 10 Days? Because I’m too weak to commit to the Whole30? Haha, but truly, yes, I wanted something longer than a week and the only stretch of time David and I could find that worked was this coming Monday. We chose 10 days because our challenge will end on his birthday and we figured we may want to celebrate with an adult beverage. Clearly we aren’t hardcore about this, but with good reason. We already eat fairly healthy, so this is more of a reset than a total system overhaul.
What guidelines will you follow? So when researching Paleo, I found several discrepancies. For some, all potatoes are ok, while others say only sweet potatoes. Some allow a little bit of dairy, while others forbid it. I decided to just set our own guidelines so we will be avoiding: dairy, grains, anything processed, legumes and alcohol. We will be eating potatoes because when planning out the meals I honestly couldn’t fathom how we’d fill our stomachs enough without the help of potatoes.
What are you hoping to gain from this? I’m not sure. I’m excited to try out a few different recipes and use it as a meal planning challenge (it’s a weird sickness I have, my love for meal planning). I am really interested to see what David thinks. Being that he’s on the road so much and in general eats more bread/processed foods and such than I do, I think he might really feel a difference. Plus, it’s just fun to do something together and I’m thrilled that he is game to play along.
What do you think will be the hardest part? No wine? I’m serious. Secondly, the convenience. Next week is a little crazy. I have a TV segment, speaking engagement and a luncheon/meeting. I’m going to make sure I stock up on plenty of grab-n-go options. And thirdly, the cost. I’m curious to see how much more we spend. Or maybe not? We’ll see!
Will the girls be participating? Nope. Hailey eats very much like I do, so I’m sure she will eat our paleo meals, but she’ll have no idea that anything is different.
The plan is to start on Monday morning. I’ve split the 10 days into two separate grocery trips and have already planned out the meals and written the grocery lists. If you want to play along, I’ll be posting all the meals and the grocery lists tomorrow, getting ready for a Monday start! And if it’s not your thing, maybe you’ll still like seeing some of the meals lined up- they look delicious and I’m excited to try some new recipes.
Have you ever changed your style of eating and noticed a distinct difference in the way you feel?
What foods work well for you and vice versa?
Katie says
I’m honestly jealous. I hope to someday have a husband who’s down for trying it, but I completely understand dreading missing wine. I don’t drink much during the week (if at all) but I like a glass or two on friday/saturday nights. Can’t wait to see how it goes for you!
Melissa says
I’m excited to follow this. My husband and I completed a whole30 in October, then enjoyed the holidays, and now I’m working on a Whole7. I try to eat unprocessed food when possible but cost and convenience are factors for our family. Looking forward to seeing new ideas to try and any Sunday food prep ideas you have. Good luck!
alex says
Doing anything Gluten Free brings anxiety, my doctors thought I had Celiac Disease – I had to go through my whole pregnancy without gluten (and craving Nilla Wafers!) Then they said after I had my kid that I did not have Celiac Disease. Hearing Gluten Free brings me anxiety lol.
I wish you the best! I think you’ll enjoy the journey!!
alex says
btw – i got pregnant the first month on a gluten free diet!
Michelle G. says
I’m interested to see what you think of it.
The only thing about the paleo diet that seems weird to me is the restriction on legumes. I mean, come on, beans are so good for you. And so budget friendly. I don’t think I could ever cut them out.
Katie says
I’m ready for this! We started the Whole30 last Monday so I’m excited to see your meal plan! We are just keeping it simple for dinner but breakfast and lunch seems to be repetitious already. I’m making paleo mayo tonight though so maybe that will add some spice to our life 😉
Katie Harding says
I am so excited to read the follow up! New Year, new work out plan for me, just started with a trainer and next will be a diet 180 so please keep us posted!
Kathleen Ojo @ My Ojos says
How fun! I tried a (slightly modified) Whole30 back in May and noticed such a huge difference in my mind and body that I’ve stuck to a paleo way of eating every since (except for during December, when I totally let myself go and now am in desperate need of a reset). My husband eats relatively healthy and mostly unprocessed foods, but he does love his grains. I’ve gotten around this by meal-planning a month in advance (no, seriously) and then prepping his rice and pasta on the weekend. That way I can make the meat/veggies during the week, which I can eat plain and he can eat over grains.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Good for you! It’s fun to challenge yourself in eating. David and I LOVED the Whole30. We’re planning on doing it again in February. By far the hardest part was no alcohol for us. Otherwise, it wasn’t bad at all.
I noticed someone said they don’t understand no legumes, and that is totally a legit concern. I was so turned off by Whole30/Paleo because of the whole no beans, but really I feel 100% better without beans! They are really hard on my stomach to digest, hence the whole gas reputation. I’ve tried to only eat beans only when I soak them myself, which has only been once, and I realized they weren’t even worth the effort for us.
We had potatoes once on whole30, but we also had tons of sweet potato, butternut squash, acorn squash (all squash!), & carrots were great too. Good luck!
Giselle says
I’ve been eating Paleo for over two years now and love it! The downside for newbies is that there are so many paleofied foods out there and people who consider certain foods to be paleo when they truly are not. For example, the other day I was at the store and picked up a “Paleo” bar. Said bar had way over five ingredient and included protein powder. Definitely not Paleo! The best true Paleo resources for you would be Sarah Fragoso with Everyday Paleo, Jason Sieb and Rob Wolf. Also, Diane San Filippo. Good luck! Oh and yeah, no wine sucks! Which is why I live it 90/10 🙂
Alli says
My husband and I began the “slow carb” diet when my son was around 7 months old and eventually transitioned to the “primal” diet. My son is now 3 and my husband has lost a total of 50 lbs and I’ve lost 30! We do have our occasional cheats and can definitely feel that frump settle in. The best way we’ve been able to come out of the funk is by doing a strict no sugar stint.
You should check out Mark Sisson’s info on the primal diet. There’s a lot of great recipes and substitutions out there.
Good luck and good for you!
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-to-the-primal-eating-plan/#axzz3OFFzvOsO
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I couldn’t really be paleo as a vegetarian but if I was a meat eater, I think I’d give it a try. I hope you feel awesome after the 10 days!! 🙂
Katherine says
I love your blog! I’m a long time reader but have never commented before.
I found this post and the concept behind it to be so frustrating! You seem to be such a good example of a balanced and healthy lifestyle! Why in the world are you going on a diet? And by your own admission you are very thin!
I think encouraging people to eat as many whole, real foods is awesome! So why set restrictions on beans, organic dairy,whole grains or even a little red wine?I know it’s only for ten days and maybe just a fun experiment, but it just seemed a bit “off” to me.
Thanks!
Diane says
I totally agree with this. One of the reasons your blog is different than so many of the other “healthy” (yeah, that’s in quotes) blogs is that you try to keep balance and not get on these bandwagons like everyone else. This seems to be in total antithesis to everything else you say on this blog. There is not much balanced about eliminating entire food groups (which I think you’ve also condemned in other posts).
Brittany Dixon says
Hey Diane and Katherine! Thanks for weighing in and I totally understand (and appreciate) where y’all are coming from. The idea actually originated from David. He was feeling run down and I bet him that if he cut out processed junk for even a week he would feel a difference. He was totally game, so I kind of roped myself into this one.
The funny thing is that I do eat largely “paleo” regularly (you can check out my instagram for more of my everyday meals) but don’t believe in labeling it because I certainly eat pizza (almost every Friday…), feta cheese on salads, enjoy wine and am not afraid to eat any food group that I might be craving, like an OMG hamburger BUN ;). So this isn’t actually much of a change for me, except to keep it completely “clean” for 10 days. I feel the time frame is manageable and am really excited to do this with David and see what kind of difference he feels.
I’m 95% certain that after the 10 days I will return to my previous habits of whole, unprocessed foods most of the time, but without any definitive guidelines. However, I guess I won’t know for sure until afterwards!
I do appreciate your constructive critical feedback and hope I’ve at least been able to explain the thought process behind the idea. Thank you for reading!
jennifer says
I agree with Diane and Kather’s sentiment, both ask a reader of your blog, and as a dietitian, where I freuqently have to dispel myths and misconceptions about food and diets, largely stemming from the media. I certainly respect wanting to eliminate processed foods and reduce sugar. Just to add a little food for thought, read this article about a recent study from Harvard on the benefits of whole, unprocessed grains like whole oats and quinoa: http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/01/06/live-longer-eat-more-whole-grains?cmpid=foodinc-fb.
Sarah (SHU) says
I have a feeling you will love it! Except the no wine part. Down w that!!!
Brynn says
I noticed a huge difference when I started eating unprocessed and again when I started intuitive eating. Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Lyndsey says
I’m so excited to read this! I’m on day 26 (omg!!) of my first Whole30. My crazy self though i should prove to myself that food didn’t own me and didn’t cheat once over the Holidays. I miss wine more than you’ll know. Anyways, good luck! I feel so amazing and feel free to follow my journey on Instagram @kindredstrength
I’m also doing this because in the next few months we are hoping to get pregnant so really hoping that cutting out the junk will make me extra fertile.
Kelli H says
Congrats on almost finishing your Whole30!
Jerrica says
This is awesome!!! Maybe sharing your grocery list/meal planning ahead of time could become a thing. I love it when you give insight into your meals and I frequently use them afterwards!!
erin says
A few years ago I did the Whole30 and followed it 100%. I felt great during that time and had a ton of energy. It really did change how I though about food and what is and isn’t food. It has also made me thing more about nutrient density and which foods really do provide the most nutrients. I am excited to see how your experience goes!
For recipes I highly recommend Well Fed. Her Paleo Pad Thai is AMAZING! She currently has a magazine version available at every Whole Foods.
Danica @ It's Progression says
I definitely feel best when I’m eating very little to now dairy and very few breads/processed grains and carbs. Whole grains are my choice, and I tend to really limit dairy. Other than that, just focusing on real foods and getting a variety of things in my diet is my focus. I’ve found that I can’t put major restrictions on foods though or it just ends up causing me more stress. I think Paleo is probably the very best “diet” out there though. I hope the 10 days go well for you two!
Maria says
I mostly read my blogs by phone these days, hence the lack of commenting, but I am trying to bookmark and return to them to comment when I have a few free minutes 🙂
As you may recall, I did Paleo and Whole30 a few years ago. I will say that my body felt great, but my mind was all bent out of shape. It really made me anxious around food and social settings involving food. I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back, I was a mess! That being said, yes, you will feel incredible, physically, on this whole food diet!
I think the best “diet” for me is just watching portion sizes and stop eating when I’m full (IE). I also try to eat with the 80/20 mindset. I feel just as great doing that than I did when I was eating Paleo and the best part, I don’t obsess about food or worry about whether or not I can stick to a diet, because I’m not on one 🙂
I do throw in a few Whole30 meals here and there, so I am looking forward to seeing your plans!
Maria says
We’re cutting back on added sugars anD refined flours in our diet for the month of January: ie no bread, pasta, rice, and sugar in our coffees. We’re not strict about it but I’ve already noticed a difference! I feel less bloated on days I don’t eat them and on days I do, my mouth feels so dry!
Jessica @myhealthypassion says
I love doing “reset” diets. I like the idea of paleo and as a wellness coach, I will often suggest it. However, I can understand the legumes? And wine…Ohhhh that is a hard one to give up lol!!!! Can’t wait to see you lists and recipes!!!
Colleen says
I’m on day 8 of the Whole 30 and am pretty much loving it so far. I feel great, but I do miss wine terribly! I am eating while potatoes occasionally as well, thankfully. Good luck, even doing 10 days will feel amazing… I totally feel defrumpified!!!
Laura says
I think I might follow along for the 10 days! I attempted a whole30 last year and only managed to stick with it for about 10 days, but I definitely felt amazing for those 10 days. We’ve been about 80/20 paleo for awhile, it’s the push to 100% that I find difficult and I think it would make a big difference for me. I feel like my diet has been slipping a lot lately though and I’m 17 weeks pregnant so now is definitely the time I need to be eating a lot of nutritious foods! Plus I can’t have alcohol anyway so paleo should be easy right now :).
It’s definitely expensive, but since you already eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods I don’t think you will end up spending all that much more. I think going from a highly processed or vegetarian diet to paleo would be a bigger jump expense-wise. We currently spend close to $1000/month for food just for the two of us, although my husband is military and probably eats enough for 3, so there’s that :). Good luck, looking forward to seeing your meals!
sara says
$1000, was that a typo???????!!!!
Rachel says
Have I ever changed my diet and noticed a difference? GIRL. I was a vegetarian for 6 years, and switched to paleo in November of 2013. I have since lost 30 pounds, lost the bags under my eyes, lost the ridiculous amount of water retention that I would have every.single.day., my cholesterol went down, my already good blood sugar went down, my energy went up, my skin is no longer sandpaper dry, migraines are down to a bare minimum, and my digestion has vastly improved. So, the short answer is yes 🙂
For real though. I try to follow 80/20 to allow for cheats here and there, which makes it much more attainable for the long term, but I’m a convert. And, I also eat potatoes 😉
Vanessa says
I look forward to hearing about your experience – I was recently diagnosed with an allergy to yeast ( I was getting migraines and bad stomach aches, boo), and although I was never interested in a Paleo Diet, it is actually most in line with what I need to avoid. I do still think some whole grains are healthy (and from what I read so do you), but I am always willing to try some new recipes and different foods! Now if only I could get my hubby on board ……..
Kristen@Change of Pace says
We are on day 8 of our whole30. Really it is the convenience that is so hard. Each meal takes awhile to cook. It’s so easy to make oatmeal in the morning or toast. Now my breakfast consists of eggs, veggies, and sautéed sweet potato. It’s just time consuming and sooooo many dishes. As soon as I feel like I’ve caught up it’s time to eat again. It’s tricky but SO worth it!
Matt says
I did a whole30 last year and it was eye opening. I don’t run very well on a paleo diet, so I’m back on grains and dairy!
Eli Bush says
This is interesting. I’m excited to follow on your 10 days paleo diet. You are encouraging many to do the same for the best. Good luck! 🙂
Jennifer says
I’m so excited about this! I’m on day 9 of my second round of Whole30! Much easier the 2nd time. For me doing the Whole30 was life changing. I’ve dropped over 40lbs and my periods are normal again…I’m not sure if cutting back on nursing and changing my eating made this happen or what, but before I got pregnant in 2012 I hadn’t had a period in 11 mos! And overall just feeling better!!! Before, I ate whatever, healthy some days, binge eat other days. Always “starting” over next week to eat healthy! I was so tired of doing that! I did my first round last May and haven’t looked back! I love eating clean! I did however not follow the reintroduction protocol like I should have and went on a crazy binge on day 31. Not a good idea. Not doing that this time…I will follow the reintroduction phase like the program suggests! I’m looking forward to your meals and seeing how the 10 days of Paleo work out for ya’ll! My husband needs to get on board….he eats way too much fast food and takeout during the day…at home he eats what I cook…which right now is Whole30! This time around I’ve made some really good recipes! I love following your blog!! Thanks!!!
Linda says
I think I’m going to follow along with you. I’ve done it for a 14 day period before and felt great and am ready for a re-set myself. Thanks for always taking the time to clearly list your meal plans and shopping lists. It makes it so easy for the rest of us. Can’t wait to follow along with your journey.
Allison says
I love that you decided on 10 days! We tried the Whole30 and made it about 10 days then we had an event and both crashed and burned. I really loved finding new recipes and trying them out. We had mostly good- a few not so good but over all it was nice to try something different. Good luck 🙂
Chantal says
I’m a big Paleo believer! I’ve slacked over the years, but I notice when I have too many grains or dairy. We eat semi-Paleo now. All potatoes are cool, a small amount of dairy here and there, and sometimes beans, but rarely.
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