These days it seems as if everyone is jumping on the gluten-free train. Walk down any grocery aisle in America and you won’t get more than two feet before your eyes are bombarded with an excess of gluten-free packaging. Everything from frozen waffles to protein bars dangle before us the glittering allure of a gluten-free world.
Gluten-free is not grain-free, however. To illustrate the point, remember in the ’90s when America was in the grips of a fat-free frenzy, stuffing SnackWell cookies down our throats at an unprecedented rate? The overindulgence (ten cookies in a sitting instead of two) actually prompted something called “The SnackWell Effect,” which is a term for how people go overboard when they think they’re being given a free pass. We thought not having fat in our food was the answer, yet that was the decade when the American waistline seriously swelled up.
These days, we find ourselves in a similar situation with gluten. People read “gluten-free” and think they’re home free. It’s the SnackWell Effect all over again. Just because a food is labeled “gluten-free” doesn’t make it nutritious. More importantly, it also doesn’t automatically make that food Paleo-approved.
So what is Paleo and what are the guidelines? Below is a quick overview of the theories behind the most questioned “no grains/no beans” rules of Paleo, as well as rationale and guidelines on other foods often questioned on the Paleo diet. This is not a comprehensive list or scientific study. It’s a general overview to get you started. As you enter the world of Paleo, I recommend a deeper dive into the science behind why certain foods are encouraged and others banned. Understanding how food works in our bodies is especially helpful for some of the Paleo gray areas such as white rice, potatoes, and green beans. When you understand and pay attention to how your body reacts to these foods, you have the information necessary to decide whether or not to make them a part of your diet.
If you take away nothing else from this book, take this: In order to more easily lose weight—without feeling hungry—you want to become a fat-burning machine.
What’s Wrong with Grains?
Let’s start with the big one, the concept that makes would-be Paleoists cringe: no grains. Cereals, whole-grain toast and bagels, steel-cut oats, quinoa (quinoa!), and all our other favorites are suddenly forbidden. But why?
Grains contain gluten, which is a sticky, water-soluble protein found in cereal grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. But wait—gluten is a protein. Protein is good, right? So what’s the problem?
The problem is that gluten is an inflammatory protein. It causes irritation to the gut lining and can lead to the not-so-pleasant sounding “leaky gut syndrome.” In addition, grains such as wheat, barley, and rye contain antinutrients that prevent your body from absorbing the healthy nutrients you’re feeding it.
In the Paleo world, you’ll frequently hear grains referred to as “toxic.” This is usually a reference to the phytic acid (aka phytate) also found in grains. Phytic acid is one of the antinutrients that prevent the proper digestion of food. Diets high in phytic acid, such as your typical American diet with its emphasis on whole-grain foods, cause mineral deficiencies by blocking the absorption of calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium.
Toxicity aside, when it comes to weight loss, grains are a serious inhibitor given their high carbohydrate content. When carbohydrates enter the body, they are broken down into glucose or sugar in the blood, creating a giant leap in insulin production. This insulin leap not only leads to “crash and burns” (think of the 2 p.m. slump you have at your desk after a big lunch), but your body will store any excess glucose as fat.
If you take away nothing else from this book, take this. In order to more easily lose weight—without feeling hungry—you want to become a fat-burning machine. Fat burning. Most everyone walking around eating the typical “healthy” American diet—even the skinny people—are sugar-burning machines. Burning fat instead of sugar holds numerous advantages, including:
Sustained energy throughout the day
Lack of carb/sugar cravings
The ability to exercise longer and harder
No need to “carbo-load” before a workout
The ability to miss meals without getting cranky, hungry, or crashing
How do you burn fat instead of sugar? You reduce the amount of sugar you put into your body. As sugar and carbs typically go hand in hand, reducing the intake of one typically leads to reducing the intake of the other.
Here’s the deal. The body can only store so much glucose, so it’s not a dependable energy source. Also, when glucose is gone, that’s when you find yourself ravenous. This creates a vicious cycle. Your body sends out cravings for carbs. You eat more carbs than you can store. The extra glucose created from the carbs is stored as fat. When you do exercise, the first thing burned is the small amount of stored glucose. This starts the cycle of hunger and carb cravings all over again.
When you’re a fat-burning machine, your body holds onto its small store of glucose for as long as possible, burning through fat first and only getting to stored glucose if it’s really needed, such as at the end of a high-intensity sprint workout. With your body looking to fat (instead of sugar) for energy, you’ll miss out on those insistent hunger pains, making weight loss easier.
How do you know if you’re burning fat rather than sugar? Your hunger levels are the easiest measurement. People who are fat burners can easily go for hours without feeling hungry. Missed meals are no big deal. Sugar burners, when they miss a meal, will feel the very real pangs of hunger—those stabs in the stomach that let you know it’s time to eat, NOW. Fat burners may think food sounds good, but if they miss a meal those hunger pangs don’t occur.
Another way to measure fat-versus-sugar burning is through your workouts. One of the biggest myths out there is that we need to eat a good meal or snack before we exercise. The truth is, most people aren’t doing anywhere near the level of exercise they’d need to have their glycogen stores replenished by the copious amounts of carbs they’re eating. If you can get up in the morning and work out on an empty stomach, or do a hard workout without carbo-loading or in a fasted state, congrats. You, my friend, are a fat-burning machine.
If you’re not there yet, don’t worry. The good news is you can train your body to become a fat-burning machine, and the Paleo Vegetarian diet does just that.
PSEUDOGRAINS
Vegetarians have a closer relationship to pseudograins than most people, so we often have a harder time giving these up. Amaranth, buckwheat, couscous, and quinoa are staples in our kitchens. And let’s not forget other grains like spelt, triticale, Kamut, farro, and oats. And yes, even though these were pushed on us as being “power foods,” they are all banned from the Paleo diet.
How do pseudograins differ from regular grains? Pseudograins are the seeds of broadleaf plants. Regular grains, by comparison, are the seeds of grasses. While these pseudograins are gluten-free (wait—make that GLUTEN-FREE!), they bring their own problems to the table, including chemical compounds that cause similar digestive and inflammation issues as cereal grains.
In addition, some of these grains (spelt, triticale, Kamut, and farro) still contain gluten. Oats are theoretically gluten-free but are subject to cross-contamination with wheat gluten from processing facilities. Oats also contain similar amounts of phytic acid as found in wheat, which, as we just learned, is a no-no. Bottom line? No grains.
Why No Beans?
If the lack of grains in a Paleo diet elicits the most sobs from carb lovers, beans run a close second, especially among vegetarians who see beans as the Holy Grail of protein.
“Why no beans? Beans aren’t junk food!” exclaimed an indignant vegetarian friend when I explained the basis of the PV diet to him. He looked at me as if I’d just insulted his mother.
You can understand his outrage. It’s easy to look at pizza crust as the enemy, harder to reconcile “lentil soup” as something harmful.
Let’s first go broader in our understanding of “beans” and use the term “legumes.” In the broadest sense, a legume is a bean, pea, lentil, or peanut. (That peanut part will become important when we get to the other Holy Grail of a typical vegetarian diet—peanut butter.) Beans don’t contain gluten, so we’re safe there. They do, however, contain phytates, the same antinutrient found in grains that prevents the absorption of healthy nutrients.
Like grains and pseudograins, beans are inflammatory to our systems. The quickest way to observe this is the gassy effect beans have on people. I used to joke that after 20 years as a vegetarian, I had a stomach of steel. I could eat a bowl of beans, follow it up with some eggs and still not have to excuse myself from the room. However, after following a Paleo diet and now eating only the occasional legume, I can see (bloat) and feel (gassy) the effect they have on my body.
Like grains, beans are also high in carbohydrates, making it a challenge to lose weight when large quantities are consumed. Many vegetarians who favor beans over bread are puzzled as to why the weight sticks around. It’s not just beans themselves, but it’s the quantity we eat. Nuts also contain phytic acid, but most people aren’t subsisting on a meal of almonds, so the few carbs and phytates they get from a handful of almonds aren’t overly impactful. It’s not unusual, however, to have a cup or more of pinto beans as a side dish or black beans as the base for the new vegetarian burrito recipe you just found. Beans deliver a wallop of carbohydrates because we eat them in mass quantity.
There’s evidence that soaking, sprouting, or fermenting beans helps reduce the amount of phytates they contain. If you’re following a PV diet for health and not weight loss, you may want to experiment and see how your system handles the inclusion of beans in your diet. Although high in carbs, beans do provide an easy source of protein. Just take care to read up on the processes available to break down the phytates before you consume the beans.
Commonly Questioned Foods
There are a number of non-Paleo foods that leave people scratching their heads. Are they allowed or aren’t they? If so, how much? And if they’re not allowed, why the heck not? Below we address some of the most frequently asked questions about common foods.
NUTS
As just mentioned, nuts contain phytic acid, that pesky inhibitor of healthy nutrients. In fact, nuts typically contain more concentrated levels of phytic acid than either grains or legumes. Say whaaaat? So why are nuts allowed while beans aren’t?
In a word, quantity. Nuts are meant to be snacks. Eating ten almonds or cashews a day is a lot different from tucking into a big bowl of black bean tortilla soup.
There are two things to understand about phytic acid. One is that although it’s often demonized, humans can tolerate phytic acid in small amounts, e.g., in a small serving of nuts. The other point is that phytic acid has to come in contact with minerals and nutrients in order to prevent their absorption. So, if you’re snacking on nuts, the best thing to do is to eat them separately from other foods. Have a handful of almonds or a couple of macadamia nuts as a midmorning snack, but don’t eat them with your meals.
SEEDS
Like seeds? You’re in luck. Although edible seeds such as chia, flax, hemp, sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin pose some potential digestive and dietary problems, like nuts, they’re generally eaten in such small quantities that it’s not a big deal. So while you don’t want to make seeds a mainstay of your diet, you can kick back and enjoy some sunflower seeds sprinkled in your salad or pepitas in your next Mexican dish. Olé!
CORN
When I was strictly vegetarian, I used to keep a bag of frozen corn handy just so I could sprinkle kernels into recipes for flavor and health. At least, I thought I was being healthy. Corn has recently become the whipping boy of the health food movement, and with good reason. Corn may technically be a vegetable, and it is gluten-free, but it’s been so genetically modified that there’s just no nutritional value left in it. It’s also high in starch and therefore not good for weight loss. For these and other reasons, it’s also not Paleo. So when someone passes you the corn, just skip it.
GREEN BEANS
Green beans are a legume so they’re forbidden, right? Wrong! Green beans (and snow peas) are an exception to the rule. While technically a legume, they’re very low in phytic acid and lectins, making them an acceptable Paleo choice. Cooking them reduces their phytic acid levels even more. In the role of side dish, few people find they have digestive problems with green beans. If you’re one of these people, avoid them. Otherwise, fresh green beans in-season are chock-full of vitamin C, folate and, magnesium, so enjoy.
PEANUT BUTTER
A decidedly non-PV friend and her three-year-old toddler popped by for a surprise visit. When her son asked for a snack, she was dismayed to learn I didn’t keep Cheerios, Go-Gurt, string cheese, or Goldfish crackers in the house.
“I forget you’re not a mom,” she said, laughing. “Whatever. Just hand me your peanut butter.”
“Umm…” I said.
My friend rolled her eyes and gave a deep sigh. “No peanut butter? Seriously?”
Yeah, seriously. No peanut butter. Peanuts are a legume and contain phytic acid, lectins, and something called aflatoxins, which sounds kind of cute (like the Aflac duck), but which are actually toxins produced by a mold that grows readily on peanuts and is found in most peanut butters as well. Store-brand peanut butters are also filled to the brim with sugars and salts. If choosy moms had a clue, they would not choose Jif, or any other commercial peanut butter on the market. You may as well be feeding yourself and your kids teaspoons of straight sugar with that stuff.
A better alternative is almond butter, preferably fresh-ground, to avoid the added sugars, salts, and oils found in commercial brands. However, I warn you, a little goes a long way. Personally, I can’t keep almond butter in the house. It’s like a crack addiction. I’d sell my mother’s wedding band to score some and, when I get it, I can’t stop at a single serving. Instead, I enter a nut butter frenzy where I spread it on bananas and celery and dark chocolate and brussels sprouts (don’t judge me) and look up only to find the jar I just brought home empty before it ever hits my pantry. My only comfort is that I’m not alone. Overindulgence of nut butters is an issue for many people—and a big inhibitor to weight loss. In fact, every time I start to gain weight I look at my nut butter consumption and realize I’m overindulging. My solution is to treat almond butter the same way I treat dark chocolate. It’s a treat to be enjoyed occasionally without guilt, but not something I should be nibbling on at every meal.
RICE
You know how you’re never supposed to discuss religion or politics? I’m adding the category of “whether or not eating rice is allowed on a Paleo diet” to that list. Life would be simpler if everything was black and white, but that’s rarely the case. There are some strong opinions out there on this issue, and there is no right or wrong, so it will be up to you to decide where you’d like to land.
Let’s start with the hardcore perspective. No rice. Rice is white, rice has little to no nutritional value, and rice is high in carbohydrates. Rice equals bad. Unless…
An alternate camp categorizes white rice as a “safe starch.” While not claiming rice is good for you (i.e., offers health benefits), the rationale is that white rice is basically a gluten-free, empty carbohydrate with no toxins attached to it.
Notice the emphasis on white rice. It comes as a surprise to many people that white rice has more going for it than does brown rice—the beloved carbohydrate of the celebrity and dieting world. In fact, brown rice, while containing more nutrients than white rice, also contains more problematic elements, including what should now be the all-too-familiar phytate protein inhibitor. (Wild rice contains antinutrients as well.) Brown rice can be made healthier, but it involves more prep work (soaking, etc.) than most people are willing to do.
Here’s where I come down on the issue. If you’re seeking to lose weight, avoid it. Otherwise, a little white rice here and there in your diet is still Paleo-safe. As a sushi-fanatic, there’s no way I’m giving up rice 100 percent. And I don’t have to, so long as I’m not eating it with the majority of my meals.
OH BOY, NO SOY!
I know. I know. No soy is a blow. Best to just embrace it. Say bye-bye to soy burgers, soy cheese, soy hot dogs, soy milk, soy crumbles, soy sausage, soy nuggets, soy buffalo wings, and soy protein powder—and the list goes on.
You’re probably sick of hearing the phrase “phytic acid” at this point, but guess what? Soy is really, really, really high in phytates. As a Paleo Vegetarian, you’re already going to be challenged to fit in all your vitamins and minerals, and anything that blocks the absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron needs to be on the “uh-uh, no thanks” list.
The other issue with soy is that the majority of it is genetically modified. Paleo Vegetarianism is about eating whole foods—real foods. While we don’t have to break the bank and eat organic everything (more on this later), we should be cognizant of foods that have been altered so much they barely resemble the food they were originally based on.
Another strike against soy: It lists among the highest pesticide contamination of any crop. Phytoestrogens are another black mark against soy. Phytoestrogens, aka soy isoflavones, have been shown in some studies to promote the growth of tumors. There is also a concern that soy can lower testosterone levels in men. How bad soy is for you and if some soy is better than others remains an ongoing debate. Again, if you have questions and concerns, I encourage you to do a deeper dive into the myriad of reasons soy is banned on the Paleo diet. Know, however, that to follow the PV diet outlined in this book, soy is excluded. The occasional handful of edamame (young soy beans still in the pods) won’t kill you, but for the long haul, avoid all soy products.
OILS
I remember my collection of cooking oils from back in the day when I was a vegetarian. I had them all—canola oil, safflower oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil. Every time I found a recipe that called for a new type of oil, I was delighted.
If your kitchen currently resembles what mine used to look like, you’ll need to ditch the highly processed vegetable and seed oils in your cabinet. (I know, grapeseed oil isn’t cheap. Throw it out anyway.) Make sure you toss allvegetable and corn oils, as well as soybean oil and seed oils. When I first went Paleo, I assumed seed oils were okay but have since learned they are exceptionally high in omega-6 fatty acids and best avoided, as alternative oils are available. In fact, there are an abundance of healthy oils that all fit the PV plan. The list of oils includes the Paleo go-to, olive oil, but also nut oils such as almond, walnut, macadamia, and sesame oils, as well as avocado oil, hazelnut oil, and butter or ghee.
You’ll see in many recipes that coconut oil is the darling of the Paleo world. The reasons for this are many. Coconut oil is low in polyunsaturated fat and holds up well under high heat. (Roast some green beans drizzled in coconut oil—you’ll thank me.) The health claims for coconut oil range anywhere from supporting the immune system to boosting metabolism (and promoting weight loss) to helping to reduce sugar cravings and improving the health of your scalp. Magic elixir? Maybe, maybe not. But it is healthy, and the smell and taste is pleasing to a majority of people. Coconut oil is now my go-to. I even spread it on my Paleo toast in place of butter and ghee.
ALCOHOL
For all the hardcore pure Paleoists I’ve come across—and having been a member of CrossFit, I’ve come across quite a few—I have rarely met one who held to the Paleo rule of no alcohol. (Before you get all smug, let me point out that I also have run across a number of hardcore vegetarians in my day who have been more than willing to turn the other cheek when it came to drinking their beer of choice that may or may not have been vegetarian-approved.)
Don’t get me wrong—the Paleo teetotalers are out there. And they have my admiration. My unscientific opinion is that giving up alcohol is probably a good thing for our bodies—the poor food choices that come with imbibing is reason enough.9 But as Prohibition proved, we like our drinks. And the good news is that you can eat PV and still enjoy a reasonable amount of adult beverages. Reasonable being a glass or two occasionally.
Robb Wolf, one of the gurus of the Paleo world, recommends what’s known as the “NorCal Margarita.” This is a drink popular among Paleoists and something you may want to check out. Being Paleo Vegetarian throws a twist into presenting a definitive list of what alcohols are and aren’t PV-friendly. For example, red wine is the go-to alcohol of choice for most Paleoists as it contains the fewest carbs and additives. But some wines contain gelatin or caseins, products some vegetarians prefer to avoid. Beer contains gluten and is, sadly, not Paleo-friendly and also generally not vegetarian-friendly, as animal products are sometimes used in the filtering process. When it comes to PV guidelines on alcohol, I recommend three principles:
1. Do your homework ahead of time. You know what you like to drink, so Google it and figure out if it meets PV guidelines. If it doesn’t, decide whether you’re okay with that.
2. Practice moderation.
3. For weight loss, avoid alcohol. It’s empty calories, and again, it’s amazing how often having even just one social beverage can lead to poor food choices.
Embracing the Paleo Vegetarian Lifestyle: The PV Quiz
Still with us? Impressive. So let’s dig a little deeper. Take this quick quiz to determine why you want to live the Paleo Vegetarian lifestyle and where some of your strengths and challenges lie.
1.I’ve been a practicing vegetarian for:
a. Less than 5 years.
b. 5 to 10 years.
c. Over 10 years.
d. I’m still a vegetarian if I only eat meat sometimes, right?
2.I became interested in the Paleo diet through:
a. The extensive reading I’ve done.
b. Friends.
c. CrossFit.
d. This book is the first time I’ve heard of it.
3.The hardest thing for me about being a vegetarian is:
a. Getting enough protein.
b. Not being able to eat what my friends and family eat.
c. Nothing—it’s not that hard.
d. All the damn cooking that’s involved.
4.The best part for me about being vegetarian is:
a. I feel like I’m staying true to my morals.
b. Eating a lot of vegetables.
c. I like being different from everyone else.
d. I love feeling healthy.
5.I was able to transition to being a vegetarian:
a. In stages.
b. Slowly—I backslid a couple of times.
c. Quickly, all in.
d. I still struggle with remaining 100 percent committed.
6.I think sugar is:
a. Delicious.
b. Like most things, fine in moderation.
c. Evil.
d. Wait. Where are you going with this?
7.On average, each night I get:
a. 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
b. 4 to 6 hours of sleep.
c. Less than 4 hours of sleep.
d. Huh? What? Sorry, I was sleeping.
8.I’m willing to spend time each day cooking and preparing food.
a. No, but instead I spend time once a week prepping food for the week.
b. Yes, unless there’s something really good on TV or I’m tired or it’s a Tuesday and then no.
c. Yes.
d. No.
9.The opinions of family and friends about my diet and what I eat:
a. Are important to me.
b. Matter to me, but I don’t believe them to be as educated as me about diet and health.
c. Don’t matter to me.
d. I wish everyone would just mind their own business.
10.I am a stress eater.
a. No.
b. Yes.
c. I would be if I allowed myself, but I have self-control.
d. Why else do people eat?
11.I’m interested in changing my diet to Paleo Vegetarian:
a. To lose weight.
b. For my overall health.
c. I love a challenge.
d. A lot of my friends eat Paleo.
12.When it comes to willpower and diets I would say:
a. My willpower comes and goes, depending on how my day is going.
b. I try not to get too stressed or obsessed if I eat something not on my diet.
c. I am a rock. Give me a plan and I’ll follow it.
d. I struggle with not eating the things I want.
13.I think most diets:
a. Would work, if people would follow them.
b. Are unnecessary. People should just learn to eat better.
c. Offer a way to mix things up so people don’t get bored.
d. Are hard to follow because there’s not enough food allowed.
14.The most important thing to me is:
a. Finding an eating plan that works for me and that I can follow for life.
b. Being healthy.
c. Feeling like I have control over my diet and cravings.
d. Being thin.
15.I want to add the Paleo aspect to my current diet because:
a. I keep hearing about how great everyone feels on a Paleo diet and I want to try it.
b. The reasons for not eating grains, beans, and dairy make sense to me.
c. People say it can’t be done.
d. It’s a quick fix to lose weight.
16.I plan on eating PV:
a. Slowly at first, maybe building into it by excluding grains for a month, then pseudograins, then beans, etc.
b. As a test at first. I’ll decide whether or not to continue after I see how I feel and what my results are.
c. As a challenge, just to see if I can do it.
d. For the rest of my life.
17.The hardest thing for me to give up on a Paleo Vegetarian diet will be:
a. Pasta in all it’s many, lovely, enticing forms.
b. Bread for sure.
c. My morning oatmeal.
d. Everything. This is going to suck.
18.I have a history of starting and stopping diets.
a. I don’t diet so much as I modify my eating based on new information I learn.
b. False.
c. Most diets I’ve done have worked for me. I just get bored so I intentionally switch it up.
d. True.
19.I believe the Paleo Vegetarian diet will work for me because:
a. I understand the principles behind why certain foods are prohibited. It makes sense to me.
b. I’m not sure it will.
c. I’m willing to put in the work.
d. I’m desperate.
20.I think the biggest mistake people make with their diet is:
a. Not spending enough time researching to see if the diet makes sense.
b. Expecting too much, too soon.
c. Not having enough willpower to see it through.
d. Cheating.
21.Most of the popular diets on the market:
a. Have elements in them that make sense but don’t work in my current vegetarian (or other) lifestyle.
b. Are unrealistic.
c. Would work if people would follow the plan.
d. Are only there to sell books and make money.
22.I would describe my exercise routine as:
a. Simple and consistent.
b. Eclectic. I’m always mixing it up and trying new things.
c. It’s on, dawg. I bet I can do more push-ups than you.
d. Yeah, about that. I’m planning on starting my exercise routine any day now…
23.If people mock or laugh at my way of eating, I will:
a. Address their concerns but do my homework so I have answers to their questions.
b. Roll my eyes and make a note to avoid talking about food and diet with them in the future.
c. Ignore them and let them wallow in their Cheetos-eating misery.
d. Challenge them to a cholesterol test.
24.Which of these diets have you tried? Select all that apply.
Weight Watchers
Jenny Craig
Richard Simmons (Hey now—showing our age!)
The Biggest Loser diet
Slow Carb
The Mayo Clinic Diet
South Beach
Atkins
Body for Life
Cabbage Soup Diet
Nutrisystem
Slim-Fast
Sonoma
Wheat Belly
The Zone
Dr. Oz
Dr. Phil
Dr. Andrew Weil
Eat Right for Your Body Type
Raw Food Diet
Cookie Diet (Seriously, people?)
Best Life Diet
Kind Diet
Other
How did you do? Count the number of “a,” “b,” “c,” and “d” responses to see how well suited you are to enter the land of PV.
MOSTLY A’s: THE PLANNER
You’ll read the research and buy the book, but you’ll make up your own mind about whether or not this diet—or any diet—is right for you. If you decide yes, chances are strong you’ll make some modifications to make sure the diet meets your needs and allows you the best chance of success.
STRENGTHS: Your greatest asset is that you know your own strengths and weaknesses and plan for them accordingly. You’re rarely surprised or caught off guard.
CHALLENGES: Sometimes you can be slow to enter or embrace a new world. Eating PV involves what is usually a radical diet change for most people. You can try to plan and ease into it—for example, giving up wheat one week, oats the next, etc.—but don’t expect to see the benefits and results if you’re not willing to take a chance and go all in.
MOSTLY B’s: THE REALIST
Eyes wide open, this isn’t your first rodeo. You better than most understand that changing up your diet is less about drawing a harsh line in the sand and more often about being accepting of the back and forths that come with making any major change or commitment.
STRENGTHS: Grounded, good use of common sense, realistic. With your positive outlook and willingness to not expect perfection 100 percent of the time, you above most have a strong chance of succeeding with the PV diet.
CHALLENGES: Realism can change into cynicism. Also be aware that too much acceptance of “falling off the wagon” can quickly lead to hopping on and off the wagon so much that you end up in circles, going nowhere.
MOSTLY C’s: THE COMPETITOR
Like a challenge, do you? You may be deciding to eat PV because you’ve done the research and are convinced by the science that a diet based on vegetables, smart fat, and high protein makes sense…or someone may have double-dog dared you and now you’re in it to win it.
STRENGTHS: An iron will, thriving on challenges, quick to adjust, you enjoy pushing yourself to the limit.
CHALLENGES: Once you’re done, you’re done. This may translate into your achieving PV perfection for a month and then dropping the whole thing and walking away, looking for the next challenge. Or you may decide from your timed self-experiment that it’s something you want to continue, which means you’ll need to find a new challenge to distract yourself.
MOSTLY D’s: THE DREAMER
Careful there, tiger. While you can’t be faulted for your enthusiastic embrace of whatever you put your mind to, there’s a danger that you may become disillusioned if and when things don’t go exactly according to plan. Cut yourself some slack and allow that just because you’re all in Monday at 8 a.m., that doesn’t mean you’re going to feel the same way Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. when you’re starving and there’s nothing prepared and that pizza delivery is only a phone call away.
STRENGTHS: Enthusiasm, optimism, willingness to jump in and do the work.
CHALLENGES: Enthusiasm quickly turns into discouragement once a challenge or roadblock appears. Beware your tendency toward instant gratification rather than being committed to the long haul and the big picture.
ABOUT THOSE DIETS LISTED IN THE LAST QUESTION…
How many did you check off? There’s no right or wrong answer to this (or any of these questions). I just wanted to give you a visual reminder of how many diets you’ve likely tried out and hopefully remind you that a true diet isn’t a “diet” at all.
I really loathe the phrase “healthy eating plan for life” because it’s so overused. But eating PV really is about eating whole, healthy foods in abundance. I won’t lie. It’s not a quick or easy fix. Giving up all the sugar and carbs we’ve spent decades training our bodies to crave isn’t easy. But look where those sugar and carbs have gotten us: bigger and slower with more diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease than ever before.
It’s time to take a step back from the “diets” of the world and truly think about what we’re putting into our bodies and what results we hope to get from it. That’s all.
9Or, wait—is that just me?