Open the Door, Get on the Floor, Everyone Eat Like a Dinosaur?

Alright.  Here it is. Time to buckle down and get serious.  I had thrown out another set of short-term goals a few posts ago, and I've met half of them already.  This means, I'm either not setting the bar high enough for myself, or I'm straight up awesome.  OK, it's true, I'm straight up awesome.  Anyway,  there are two residual short-term goals remaining from the last set.  One is to run an 8-minute mile, and the other is to complete a 30-Day Paleo challenge.  Although I don't want to overload myself with short-term goals, because my focus is already split in so many different directions,  I will add just one more for good measure.  DOUBLE UNDERS, I'm comin' to getcha!  So, what does this mean for the near future?  My guess is misery.  Just kidding.  Sorta.

To be honest, the goal that I'm most scared of tackling is the Paleo challenge.  With the holidays coming up, it's almost now or never to get it out of the way without guaranteed personal failure.  While I don't necessarily intend on having a pants-unbuttoned-Thanksgiving, I would like to enjoy a reasonably-sized piece of pumpkin pie without feeling guilt, or fear that the Paleo gods will reign their hellish fury down upon me.

Over the last 5 months, after reading The Paleo Solution, stalking message boards, and asking tons of stupid nutritional questions to those who seem to be successfully engaging in a Paleo-type lifestyle I've been able to make some major dietary changes.  While I've dabbled here and there (see Paris), bread has been kicked to the curb along with his best friend pasta.  I've been hanging around with his pals rice and corn, but not as much. Despite my tendency to gag, I've incorporated chicken and eggs into my diet and I've rekindled my relationship with red meat and bacon (OK, that wasn't tough). 

I'm hoping that with the effort I've put in so far, an attempt to eat "as clean as I can" for 30 days should not make me excruciatingly unhappy.  I know that in the end, it will probably be the best thing I ever do for my body, but it also may be the hardest test of self-discipline I've ever attempted/endured.

Now, there are several authors who have written great books on Paleolithic diets, and while they are all super smart, they all disagree on certain things when it comes down to exactly what is or isn't "Paleo."  There are also a bunch of folks on the "Paleo" message boards who are quick to call someone on the carpet when they see Paleo violations based on their personal set of Paleo laws or beliefs.  I honestly don't have the time or scientific knowledge to research who is wrong and who is right, and for the most part, I don't care.  Like religion, these people are all telling a similar story, with a great message but some different characters, and I have to take what I can from each, and move forward with what works for me. With that being said, I technically can't call what I'm about to embark on a "30-Day Paleo Challenge."  There are certain widely-accepted Paleo rules that I will knowingly not be abiding by (see below), and I'm OK with that, because in my mind, going in 85% - 95% for 30 days will be better than attempting to go in at 100% and failing on Day 1.  I will be doing the "Jill Special - A 30 Day Adventure in Clean(er) Eating."

Here's how it will go...

I will:

• Start this upcoming Monday, October 17 (mark your calendars).  This will ensure I can get in one last hurrah with an apple-spiced donut at the farm with my nieces on Sunday.  Go ahead and judge me!
• Track my starting weight and measurements on Day 1 and Day 30 and share any progress made
• Track my food consumption daily and make my food journal available to anyone who would like to see it
• Not stress too much about the amount of calories I'm consuming or my daily macro nutrient split
• Allow myself the following items which are banned or questionable during my 30 Day to ensure I don't kill myself or anyone else:  caffeine, fruit, limited feta and/or blue cheese, seeds, wine, and very dark chocolate for emergencies only
• Openly document any failures

I welcome your tips, tricks, advice, and heckling. Wish me luck!