Another Way to be Weird

Hi, my name is Molly, and I'm a nonconformist.

Hiiii Mawwwwlly.

Except going to a support group would be what all the other nonconformists were doing, so I'd probably steer clear. But at least I can admit it now. Up until a few years ago, I'd deny anyone who suggested that I might be "nonconformist" because I didn't want to be labelled. Yeah, High School Molly was that girl, alright? And skinny jeans just fit my body better, alright? And Conor Oberst is a master lyricist, alright?

...ahem. Well, this week has been the start of a grand nonconformist experiment disguised as a health conscious life decision - I have started following the "Paleo Diet", which really isn't a diet, per se, so don't freak out. I heard about the diet in a couple different places, did a lot of research, and found it to be a really neat approach to making healthy decisions. My dad has been eating gluten-free for about a year and a half now, which I think gave me a good starting point for making the transition, as the whole premise of the lifestyle is to return to what our bodies are made to eat. This means no wheat or other grains, dairy, legumes, sugar, processed/packaged foods, etc. So basically, anything that normal college kids eat is out. And there it is. The true motivation. The driving force behind this harebrained scheme of mine. And I ain't afraid to admit it. Eating paleo makes me different, and I like that.

But Molly, if you can't eat bread or pasta or cheese or milk or Greek yogurt or granola or peanut butter or tortilla chips or chocolate, what do you eat? I figured my hypothetical reader would ask this question, so I took the liberty of designing this highly scientific food pyramid which suits my paleo lifestyle better than the accepted standard.

 I eat a lot of vegetables. I also eat lean meats, eggs, fruits, and almonds. It's only been four days, so I can't really pinpoint any results or benefits quite yet, except for the fact that I've had to become more creative with what I eat and cook. In and of itself, that's already enough of a positive outcome for me to be glad I gave paleo a whirl. (I've also been in sickness prevention mode, which means at least three cups of tea daily. Plus there are some fantastic teas out there that can handle sweets cravings.)

So, yeah. I don't have any time frame or plans for permanence. I'm thinking at least a week or two of strict paleo, then I'll probably reintroduce some things like popcorn and chocolate and freedom at restaurants. This may or may not have anything to do with paleo, but I've been craving pancakes everyday this week, which I rarely ever think of on a regular basis. Now you know.