I’ve been asked if I’m still eating Paleo now that I have started running. Some people are concerned that I may not be getting the right nutrients or enough calories to support the increase in calorie burn through running. Well, the easy, simple, and true answer is yes: I’m still Paleo.
There is no hard part.
I eat the same way I always have. Well, maybe I eat a little bit more, but in terms of ingredients, it’s exactly the same. For example, for breakfast, I ate an extra slice of bacon. After my run this morning, I just felt like I needed that extra slice, and now a couple of hours after breakfast, I can honestly say that I feel better than I would have without that extra slice.
For lunch today, I’ll have the exact same size portion I have been eating for the past 13 months, and for dinner, I’ll do the same with perhaps a muffin for dessert. Otherwise, my diet is the same as before. The only real difference is I add a tiny bit here and there to round out my nutrition to stave off any hunger. I’m working to increase my calorie deficit as well as getting fit, so eating a lot more would defeat a big part of the reason I’m running.
I don’t eat a lot of carbs. I have greens and some vegetable with my meat at every lunch and dinner, but I’m not loading up on them. I haven’t felt lacking in energy with the exception of one run, and that was in the heat after work when I was tired. Otherwise, on my morning runs, I feel energized and ready. I will even say I feel good. Today’s run was exceptionally good.
So, in my experience, adding exercise to Paleo is sort of a natural progression and doesn’t require any real additional food or planning other than maybe to add a fruit or some extra serving of something maybe twice a day to offset the increase caloric load on the intake.
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