Although I just started back up blogging consistently, I’m already getting a lot of questions about my switch to Paleo and about the Whole30 I completed. I thought it might be helpful to put together a little question and answer with some of the questions I’ve been asked!
*If you have a question and don’t see it listed, feel free to ask in the comments or shoot me an email. If I get enough new questions, I’ll do a follow-up Q&A!*
1) What exactly is Paleo and how it is different from Whole30?
Paleo is really just a method of eating that focuses on getting back to the “root” of how our ancestors ate in the Stone Age. It places a strong emphasis on animal protein, fruits, vegetables, and nuts; and it eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, processed ingredients, and alcohol. In the end, Paleo is a way of focusing on healthy eating habits and choosing foods that create lasting energy and wellness for our bodies.
Although similar, Whole30 is a program that has you commit to a very strict Paleo diet for the course of 30 days with the help of resources made available to participants. In addition to the Paleo method of eating, Whole30 eliminates more foods such as all sugars and anything “Paleo-fied” such as Paleo pancakes or Paleo bread. Whole30 goes a little deeper than Paleo and really has you focus on your overall lifestyle to create an all-around mental and physical transformation.
2) Was it hard to do a Whole30 and continue it beyond the 30 days?
Honestly, I didn’t find Whole30 to be that difficult! Going into it, I was prepared for it to be REALLY hard, so I may have psyched myself out, but it also meant I was well-prepared. I also really wanted to do it, and that motivation definitely carried me through the 30 days. That said, there were times when I got frustrated with all the addition planning and with not being able to eat some of the foods I considered my favorites, but I really wanted the full experience so I stuck it out. After about day 15, it really started to become second nature for me – I craved Paleo foods, I was loving the changes I noticed in myself, and I was able to reduce prep time just from getting accustomed to that style of eating. Now, it’s just the norm for me!
3) What kind of results have you seen from eating Paleo?
I’d like to believe that I’m a pretty healthy person already – I’ve always been crazy active, eat well, and am in good shape – so I didn’t see results that were as dramatic as others that I’ve heard of. However, the big changes I noticed were having a ton more energy, sleeping better, feeling less bloated, not getting sick once since I’ve started the program, and even clearer/brighter skin. That might not seem like a big deal, but I honestly really felt a big difference and felt so much healthier eating this way that it made Paleo worth it to me. I also started to look at my food a lot differently and focus more on the health, flavor, texture, nutrition, etc. of it which mentally gave me a sense of pride in food and peace of mind about what I’m eating.
4) Why do you think it works so well?
The food that is eaten on Whole30 and with Paleo is dense in nutrients and packed full of the protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. we need to stay healthy, strong, and energetic. They both throw the “garbage” foods out the window and force you to choose real foods. Especially in Whole30, you eliminate all foods that might cause the body any sensitivity such as dairy, grains, sugars, and legumes which is what I believe really helped reduce bloat and give me extra energy. Overall, Paleo really chooses all the right foods to keep you healthy and give you real energy from real foods.
5) What made you want to eat Paleo?
Although I’ve always had a decently healthy diet, I had just felt like I had fallen off the wagon a bit and wasn’t eating as clean as I would have liked. I was eating out more, choosing more processed foods, and just felt sluggish and bloated quite often as a result. I didn’t know if Paleo would work for me, but I figured it would be a kick start back into healthy habits. It turns out that Paleo DOES work for me, and after my Whole30 I wanted to continue it!
6) Is it difficult to still be social and eat this way?
Honestly, yeah it sort of is. I could give you some BS about how you can specifically ask the waiter to have your meal Paleo-fied or how there are some restaurants out there that are Paleo friendly or about how you can just drink water when you go out with friends and ignore the crap they give you about it, BUT the truth is that it’s a challenge! However, if you really are committed to the program and eating this way, you do it for yourself and you stick up for your health when you’re around friends. My friends all know I eat this way so they don’t really care when I have a weird order or don’t drink or whatever.
With that in mind, I will say that sometimes you really don’t have a choice and it’s ok to have a non-Paleo meal. Going out a on a date with a person I’m not very familiar with, I’m not going to weird them out with a 10-minute order where I’m left with a piece of lettuce as my meal. Or if you’re a guest at someone’s home, I would never ask to have a special meal made for me. You pick your battles when it comes to Paleo, and sometimes you just can’t do much about it. Food is social in our culture and is something to be enjoyed, not dreaded, so I don’t overthink it much!
7) Who would you recommend Paleo for?
Everyone! I’d at least recommend everyone give a Whole30 a shot. It’s only 30 of your entire life you’re committing to eating this way, and the potential benefits are astounding. You’ll learn a lot about yourself in the process – mental and physical – and it feels like such an accomplishment once you reach the 30 day mark!
8) What are your favorite Paleo recipes?
Here are a few I’ve tried out, but check out my Paleo and Whole30 Pinterest boards for some other great ideas!
Pumpkin Spice Bread Made With Almond Flour
Any juices in my new juicer!
9) Was it worth it?
100% worth it! I’ve learned a lot about my eating habits and found a style of eating that seems to suite me very well! I think there’s always something to gain from experimenting with different foods and eating styles and finding one that works for YOU. It wasn’t a totally easy adjustment to go to Paleo, but it was worth it in the end.
Well that’s all for now and hopefully that was helpful! If you have any more questions just let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them! 
Hope everyone has a great Saturday!
Heather
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