Common Energy-Sucking Paleo Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

You’ve ditched refined and processed foods, transitioning from a standard diet to Paleo. You’re expecting more energy, improved health, weight loss and greater mental clarity because so many who’ve made the change have experienced such greatness. But you’re still lethargic and the weight has not dropped. What’s going on?

If you’re part of the group that has not experienced some of the great benefits of going Paleo, then you may be making a few of these common mistakes.

Not Getting Enough Nutrients

It has become increasingly popular to have bulletproof coffee or routinely do intermittent fasting for both health gains and weight loss while following a Paleo diet. While you may be getting plenty of medium chain fatty acids and feeling full and energized all morning, one important key is to be sure you are making your other meals of the day very nutrient dense with plenty of colorful vegetables and healthy protein. Having a bulletproof coffee in the morning is sure to keep you feeling full and if you get particularly keto-adapted you may be able to put off meals for a number of hours without even feeling hungry. While this level of keto-adaptation can be beneficial, be sure that you aren’t putting undue burden on your system by neglecting key nutrients and minerals founds in whole foods.

Why skip breakfast when you can try one of these delicious Paleo recipes?

Eating Meal Replacements Instead of “Real Food”

Following a Paleo diet routinely can take a bit of planning and preparation if you are on the go. Sometimes, it can be easy to reach for ‘convenience’ foods like a protein shake with grass fed whey or collagen protein or a “Paleo-approved” meal replacement bar. Certainly these foods can come in handy or even be a necessity if you are traveling, busy at work, or stuck without access to food. However, making meal replacements a routine part of your diet strategy can leave you feeling off. Part of the paleo diet that makes this way of eating so successful for many people is the focus on eating whole, real, unprocessed foods that are nutrient dense and satisfying. By skipping over meals with a simple meal replacement you may be missing out on key nutrients and vitamins in your diet, as well as not sending proper hormonal cues to your brain and body that you have eating a meal. Not to mention, if you are routinely using ‘meal replacements’ you are missing out on the simple pleasure of eating and enjoying a healthy meal.

Stop stressing over dinner; sign up for Paleo Meal Plans 

Not Drinking Enough Water

If you are following a low-carbohydrate Paleo diet, drinking water is essential to keeping things moving. Shifting towards ketosis and fat burningon a low-carb diet causes a great deal of diuresis or water loss in the body. Losing this “water weight” is how many people often see dramatic number changes on the scale during the first few weeks of a low-carb diet. However, this shifting water balance can put a strain on organs and critical body functions.  Not having enough water on a low-carb diet can leave you feeling foggy, tired and sluggish, as well as constipated. Unsure if you are drinking enough water? A simple rule of thumb is to make sure your urine is pale yellow during each trip to the rest room. Dark yellow urine or having only a small amount of urine during each trip to the bathroom is a sign that something else is going on that could be worrisome.

Not Eating Enough Carbohydrates For Your Energy Level

Following a low carbohydrate paleo diet can be extremely helpful for jumpstarting weight loss. However, if you are very active, engaging in heavy exercise or dealing with other medical issues low-carb living may not be optimal for you and may contribute to undue fatigue or sluggishness. It is not uncommon when initially adopting a Paleo diet to not realize how drastically your carbohydrate intake has been slashed when you stop eating grains, legumes and processed foods. Not having enough carbohydrates can leave you cranky, fatigued, or possibly even underperforming during long workouts. Paleo mainstay Chris Kesser has a great article on this topic where he discussed how you might be “accidentally low carb” without even knowing it. Monitoring your daily carbohydrate intake via a food diary may be necessary for a few days to get a true idea of what you are consuming and how you may need to alter it if you are feeling fatigued or worn out on a Paleo diet.

Sign up for our meal plan so you’ll never have to ask “what’s for dinner?“

—
Photo credit: Tired Man Sitting on Bed via photopin (license)