Paleo- One Month.

I meant to post this on the first of February.

I've now been on the diet for one month- with no cheat days. The biggest difference I'm noticing is my mood. I'm becoming low a lot less. I'm also never bloated or overfull because as well as eating less heavy carbs- I'm watching portion size.

Now all I really need to sort is working out more.

Day zero.

Yesterday was diet day one- but truly- it was day zero. Going to work this morning was always going to be the first challenge: going into the garage to get a newspaper, surrounded by all those energy drinks and other unhealthy delicious stuff. I got some olives instead.

It feels a bit weird at first substituting lettuce leaves for bread- but it works. I don't get the heavy bloated feeling, just feel pleasantly full afterward. 

I also took my day one photo. I'm not going to post it here and now- I want something to compare it to. I am quite self-conscious of my body (as weird as that might seem coming from a 6ft 2" beardy fella). I imagine that'll get better with the progression of things, but I'm still unlikely to be one of those guys who loses the top in the summer days. 

The next big challenge for me will be the food shop. Over the next few weeks I'll be trying out some Paleo recipes- I'll post one on here too, so that you guys can try it if you so desire!

The Final Mac'n'Cheese.

Because I'm going on this diet, I'm having a few foods over the next few days that I won't be able to have anymore!

The one thing I was certain I had to have was macaroni cheese. It's one of my favourite dishes and I'll miss it a lot. I want to share my recipe so other people can enjoy it.

Disclaimer: This is NOT good for you- it is serious comfort food. It is massively heavy, cheesy and indulgent. Great for a treat, or if you really want to impress.

Scott's Final Macaroni Cheese.

Ingredients:-

2oz extra mature cheddar

2oz Red Leicester 

2oz Parmigiano Regganio (Parmesan)

250ml Double cream

250ml milk

2oz butter

1oz plain flour

1tsp ground black pepper

1tsp sea salt.

250g macaroni

Approx 3tbsp breadcrumbs

150g smoked bacon lardons- or slice some of your own to 1cm width

Directions:-

Melt butter in saucepan. Using a whisk, gradually add the flour to make a roux. Whisk constantly. It should thicken, bubble and pale, but not become solid. If it does, you've added too much flour.

Gradually whisk in the cream and milk. Add salt and pepper and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Add the cheese, a little bit at a time, and whisk in until completely melted. Set this to one side.

Fry bacon pieces in a pan with a little butter or oil until well crisped. Set aside on kitchen roll to soak excess grease.

Cook your macaroni as per packaging instructions. Combine with your cheesy sauce, and stir in bacon lardons. Spoon into a small lasagne dish or pie dish, and top with breadcumbs and a little extra cheddar if desired.

Bake at 200°C for 30 mins, or until the topping is golden and bubbling. Set aside for ten mins before serving!

Enjoy!

Christmas by Numbers

Gifts

Cards received: 4

Cards recycled: 4

Presents received: 5

Presents given: 3

Presents deferred until January sales: 6

Presents disliked and reactions concealed: 0

Food

Courses eaten: 2

Chipolatas eaten: 7

Alcoholic Beverages Consumed: 4

Mince pies scoffed: 0

Cakes ingested: 3

Chocolates eaten: toofuckinmany.

Foods eaten that I won't be able to have when I start Paleo: 8

Interaction and People

"Merry Christmas!" Heard: innumerable.

People hugged: 1

Hands shaken: 6

Christmas Hats seen: 2

Festive jumpers spotted: 1

Crackers Pulled: 1

Awful jokes:

"Humbug" uttered by myself: 1

Media

Films watched: 1

TV watched (hrs): 7

Religion mentioned: 1

Jesus seen: Nope.

Santa mentioned: 3

Santa Seen: once.

Snowfall: 0cm

Snow Mentioned: 2

Primal Urges.

I often make New Years resolutions. I very rarely stick to them. I want to get fitter. I'm hardly obese, but I could stand to be a bit happier in my own skin. 

This year however, will be different. Because starting on January first, I'm going Paleo.

"Dude, what in the name of the wee man does that mean?" I hear you ask; it's quite simple really. I'm going to go on what's called a Palaeolithic or Primal diet. Also known as the "caveman diet", the core idea is; if the cavemen couldn't have it, then neither can I. I won't be going 100% strict with it- and I will still be eating some of the "grey area foods" like bacon and cheese. However, some of the main things I definitely cannot eat are:

•| Potatoes (Though I can have sweet potatoes)

•| Bread

•| Pasta

•| Pastry

•| Legumes

•| Sugar

•| Processed stuff

•| Artificial stuff.

There are other things here and there that I won't be allowed, and I have downloaded an app that answers the question "Is it Paleo?" with a simple yes or no, and links to reasons. I'm still allowed chocolate, but only dark chocolate over 70% in cacao content, and another "grey area" allows for whole (blue top) milk in moderation. Alcohol wise- it's red wine only for the foreseeable.

Bread and pasta I think will be among the things I will miss the most- but looking for and trying alternatives will be interesting and fun. Anything containing corn syrup and such is out- so I will probably have to make my own ketchup and barbecue sauce if I can't find a nice organic one- that'll be fun too! Removing all of the items from the house I can't have will make it all much easier, as will shopping with my app in hand.

This, along with my cycling and exercise- will hopefully make a big difference in me over the coming months! I'll share good recipes I come across incase people want to try them. 

I can see me hating myself for this, but it's for my own good!