A few days ago, I put one foot on the Paleo Diet bandwagon. I’m doing it to lose some weight. I’m thinking this Paleo way of eating should be relatively easy, since I’m already about 80% there. I love simple, fresh foods and I generally don’t eat processed food. My problem is that I really, really like some of the stuff I’m not supposed to eat.

Like sugar. Not the fake stuff. Not even natural stevia, because I cannot stand the aftertaste. I like pure refined sugar way more than I should. I drink it daily in my coffee and tea, and I love a sweet treat every once in a while. This sugar beast has not served me well. Unfortunately, I also like bread – the artisan kind  – smothered with unsalted butter. I’m also not supposed to eat legumes (really!?!), which is too bad, because I love beans the way Bubba loves shrimp – black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, white beans, kidney beans, lentil beans… I can go on.

The other morning (Day 2), I went to Subway’s and ordered a flatbread breakfast sandwich with egg whites, ham, and lots ‘o veggies. As I sat at my desk and took a bite of this deliciousness, suddenly I remembered I wasn’t supposed to eat this type of bread. “Oh,” I said to myself, “I shouldn’t eat this bread. It’s not Paleo.” Those wise, silent words from my higher-self did not stop me from swallowing that glorious mash-up of high protein. But, then I stopped. Instead of taking another bite, I slid what was left of the loaded egg white disc off of the flatbread and ate it, a la omelet style. I immediately threw away the bread. Mama Paleo would have been so proud!

It kind of went downhill after I ate my very healthy lunch at the food truck – two tacos loaded with meat, veggies, and lettuce, minus the tortillas. Around 2 p.m., I grabbed a handful of popcorn – not Paleo approved. That evening after dinner, I really, really enjoyed two ice cream sandwiches – also not Paleo approved, but they were so freakin’ good!

I was all in on Day 3 (my new Day 1? Do I reset when I fall off of this bandwagon?) I had zero sugar/flour/bread/beans and a nasty cup of coffee, but I was overcome by such an intense migraine towards the end of the work day I couldn’t enjoy this victory.

Day 4 (aka The New Day 2) was better, because I was all about balance. For the most part, none of the forbidden stuff, except for a teaspoon of sugar my in coffee (eh, I think I’ll give up coffee) and a tablespoon of slow-cooked black beans (yum).

Lesson learned: I need to ease into this, because that’s how it works best for me.