My 30 days of Paleo sins :)

MikeFlyMike

I just returned from a 30 day vacation. I promised myself I would eat pseudo primal but enjoy my vacation.
I also said I would work out 3x a week in some form (that did NOT happen

So it went something like this - 30 days, planes, trains & automobiles (and boats) - no home cooked food.
Every meal was a restaurant so I had zero control of oils, ingredient quality, meat sourcing etc.
I also wouldn't be able to use a scale for 30 days.

I didn't just start eating pancakes, sandwiches, fast food and pizza - I stuck with ordering a meat with veggies most of the time.
I DID allow myself a "sin per country" - but felt it would be the treat appropriate for where I was going.
Amsterdam - couple beers a day, I was even coaxed into a bit of some local cupcake. Not normally my thing, but again, one sin per country
Brussels - More local beers, chocolate, coffees with much whipped cream.
Paris - Croissants, wine/wine/wine, creme brulle, molten chocolate cake, some very fine cheeses.
London - Ugg - other than Guinness, I coulnd't find a local food I enjoyed worth going off plan - so lots of eggs and bacon.
Dublin - Much Jameson, Guinness, a local flat bread pizza
Cozumel/Playa - Corn tortilla chips to deliver salsa (I didn't eat a ton and double dipped), corn tortillas for tacos and fajitas, tecate.

So, I didn't even come close to 80/20 really given the grain allowance. I really hadn't had a piece of bread since 1/1. I can tell you the Paris croissants were worth it - but in a cool way, ruined me from wanting any crap in america.

We walked a ton, scuba dove a bunch and I did get out and do two running sessions.
I came back probably a push or maybe up one pound.
I do see a difference in the mirror and feel a little more gooey. If I would have placed a bet, I would have guessed 5lbs gained - but it seems it was more some muscle tone loss.

My wife on the other hand, who is 90% grain free but not paleo/primal, cheated MUCH more than me she felt, its vacation and I'm going to enjoy even if it wasn't "country speciality" (which was my rule). She ended up 13 lbs down.
I guess my dessert testing caught up with me.

So as of today, back on logging, back to the gym, and back to 90/10 primal. I also have signed up for two months of crossfit and am pretty sure I'll be addicted knowing my personality.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Being forced to eat restaurant food is not an excuse to gain weight like some will say. 2. people in Europe walk much more than americans because they have all their cool stuff pretty close to each other, have no room for parking and have good trains systems. 3. I could live in a french cafe everyday

caraiselite

i prefer to eat restaurant food. it's really easy to say 'i'll have a grilled steak or grilled plain chicken breast'
and salad. or steamed vegz.

zellagrrl

LOL on the food in London-- maybe Indian food for me (saag paneer sounds incredible right now!).

I can only imagine real croissants would ruin one for life-- the ones from the French bakery where I used to live were so much better than average. If I ever make it to France, I'll have to indulge myself!

We are honeymooning for a couple of days at the end of the month-- my fiancé already contacted the restaurant where we're staying (supposed to be an amazing Pacific NW/French-inspired place) and asked for a gluten free, light on dairy meal, and they were quite agreeable. I'm looking forward to it.

MikeFlyMike

zella - what town are you going to? You don't often hear of pnw / french fusion unless you are in the area. I'd guess Vancouver or Victoria?

zellagrrl

Whidbey Island-- not far at all.

nil8r

I agree with your comment that restaurant food doesn't automatically equate to weight gain. Eating indiscriminately can. 5 years of stressful job, eating out 80% meals at fast food or delivery without care, and not sleeping well, will put on pounds.

After several instances of spending two weeks in Europe or Japan, I've come back losing weight. I thought about some of the why's and I think the contributing factors were 1) portion sizes were often smaller, 2) I walked a lot more, 3) the food ingredients were often more rich (e.g. higher-fat butter instead of margarine) that what I'd have at home, but less artificial (fake sugars, etc.) and thus I was getting full faster.

It really started my initial journey into more mindful eating. As a result, I managed to curb the weight gain, but it wasn't until going to the doctor and being recommended the pale/primal approach after finding out about my wheat intolerance and insulin resistance, that I was really able to start losing weight.

I love your comment about London local food. In that scenario, my cheat would have definitely been Indian food.

beccarockslife

Paris is my downfall, we go a fair bit and I ALWAYS gain there. Too many gorgeous things. It's one place that kills me.

London not so much unless you know some places. I tend to eat on plan though. I live in the UK so it's no different to me.

I agree, choices are choices wherever you are.

overfences

What an awesome trip!! Sounds like it was amazing.

In London I'd go for fish & chips, curry, and scones with clotted cream & marmalade. Of course, that's if I had any calories left after the beer!

And did you seriously resist the Irish breakfast in Dublin? You are a much stronger person than me, sir.

MikeFlyMike

Yes Paris was so awesome. I am now jealous of those in Europe because you can catch a train and go just about anywhere.

The Irish breakfast in Dublin seemed to be exactly the same as the English breakfast...
I do eat plenty of eggs and some bacon, but the bad baked beans just weren't worth eating legumes and sugar for.
Granted we only had a few days in each town - so we may not have chosen the best places.

In Dublin we LOVED a restaurant called Crackbird in temple bar. It was amazing and an accident that we found it.

SweetxCatastrophe

Sounds like an amazing trip! I think I woulda done the same as you and limit my "sins" to what I couldn't get anywhere else. I had a friend growing up whose mother was from Nice, France and made the most buttery, light croissants..nothing else compares. She made wonderful seafood dishes also since Nice is on he coast but man...I'm drooling thinking of he croissants lol.