I have been eating a predominantly Paleo diet for about 18 months. I use the term “Paleo” as shorthand for an ancestral whole food lifestyle. “Purists” would argue that I am a deviant, since I consume quality dairy, some white rice, and a few other ingredients that weren’t on my Paleolithic ancestor’s grocery shelf.
As I have adopted this way of eating, I have replaced all the modern food-like substances with real food. I am not one of those guys who likes to play mind games with food.
Cauliflower Rice IS NOT rice. Spaghetti Squash IS NOT pasta. Avocado Chocolate Pudding IS NOT chocolate pudding. I hate cauliflower. I love spaghetti squash, but I do not call it a pasta substitute, I call it a freaking vegetable. I cook it, I smother it with butter, salt and pepper and I eat it. When I crush an avocado I call it guacamole, not dessert.
The longer I eat this way, the more comfortable I become with the food options that are available to me. However, I have found myself gravitating towards my old behavior, but with different foods. For example, back in the day, I stopped at the bakery every day for a croissant and a huge chocolate muffin. Today, I go to the gym and workout, then I go to my office and I eat a banana with Almond Butter.
So what’s the problem? I have become increasingly obsessed with Almond Butter. If you search the DW archives, you will note the growing obsession over the past year. But what has brought this to my attention? Two key metrics, the bathroom scale, and the grocery budget.
Over the past 6-8 weeks I seem to have put back seven pounds on my frame that had been gone for over 18 months. At first I attributed it to my increased strength training with my barbells. Hey Bro, I’m packing on some muscle! Well, maybe not.
I stopped by the farm today to pick up my weekly Almond Butter fix, 2 pounds and $20 later I walked out with my weekly stash. Yes, I am eating two pounds a week, all by myself. That is 5320 calories a week, 760 calories per day! Twenty-five percent of my daily caloric intake is from ground nuts! Do I really think this is good for me? Nope!
I permitted Almond Butter to become my new Comfort Food. I am not going to kick myself and do any Mea Culpa’s. No, I am simply taking note and changing my behavior. It’s simply a mid-course correction.
My current Personal Paleo Challenge is to limit myself to two tablespoons of Almond Butter per day, to be served on my Post-WOD banana slices. And no more eating out of the container with a spoon! By the end of the week, I’ll be back on course.
Leave a Reply