We’re on day 10 of this program! If you’ve made it this far and you’re doing the work, give yourself a high five for me! It takes a lot of courage, commitment, and discipline to do what you’re doing, even if you’ve found yourself straying from the diet here and there this week. So great work :)

The bad news is that despite all that hard work, you might not be feeling so hot right now..

ARE YOU DETOXING?

You may not be feeling the amazing effects of the diet that I’ve been promising you, and that so many others before you have felt. In fact, you might feel worse than you did before! Naturally you’re asking, “Is this really worth it?”

Well, in short, yes. And you’re not alone.

Almost everyone who is on the Paleo or Primal diet or some similar plan has been right where you are. Let me explain what’s going on.

This way of eating is pretty different than a normal American diet, so there are a lot of changes you’ll be making. These changes will NOT go unnoticed by your body.

What I mean is, you may experience some (or a lot of) detoxification symptoms, including intense cravings, headaches and fatigue.

Why? You probably took out a lot of toxins from your diet in the form of gluten and lectins in grains and legumes, preservatives and other additives, refined flours and sweeteners, and pasteurized dairy (which is more toxic to some than others).

Since you’ve probably been eating these things your whole life, and these things have some very addictive, drug-like components, your body is going through some serious withdrawal. But it’s also finally getting a chance to clean out some built up toxins.

This purging is exactly what causes the symptoms you may be experiencing right now – the toxins are in your circulation being dealt with, instead of being suppressed. 

It’s like when you do a good deep cleaning of your house – you turn it upside down before it looks immaculate. In the first 3 days to 3 weeks of going Paleo, you may (or may not) experience the following:

 

SYMPTOMS OF DETOXING

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Irritability
  • Mood swings
  • Nausea
  • Intense cravings
  • Sinus drainage
  • Diarrhea/Constipation
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Brain fog
  • Increased urination
  • Increased appetite
  • Increased thirst

When I first went Paleo, I had to pee about 25 times a day and I felt like I was walking through oatmeal for the first 3 weeks. Walking up a flight of stairs was a big accomplishment. I was so tired and groggy – all I wanted to do was sleep. But then on the 21st day everything finally cleared and I felt fantastic.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST? 

A lot of people only experience symptoms for a few days to a week, and there’s really no way of predicting how long your detoxification period will last…

If you are a coffee or other caffeinated beverage drinker and you’re giving that up, you should almost undoubtedly expect some symptoms. Caffeine is an addictive substance, as you know, and your nervous and endocrine systems will need some time to re-boot. Maybe warn your significant other that you might not be the sweetest, most docile partner for a few days…

So during those difficult moments when you’re wondering whether or not this diet is in fact hurting you – not helping – remember that after the storm of detoxification subsides, you may very well experience:

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL 

  • More energy
  • Emotional Balance
  • Clarity of mind
  • Fat loss/Muscle gain
  • Strength gains
  • Fewer aches and pains
  • Less sinus congestion
  • Fewer seasonal allergy symptoms
  • Digestive ease
  • Clearer skin
  • Fewer colds

And that is why you’ve chosen to do this!  Stay strong – it WILL be worth it!                                          

HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER

Unfortunately, there’s not a TON you can do about this period of detoxification. It’s just kind of what needs to happen for your body to start over and feel better. There are some things you can do to mitigate the symptoms, though.

1. Drink Tons of Water

I was serious when I said in a previous post that those 2 liters of water would be helpful every day. Try to keep that as your minimum goal, and it’ll help you flush everything out and stay hydrated, which always makes everything better.

2. Eat Enough Food

If you’re not eating enough calories, you’re going to feel tired, groggy, anxious, and maybe nauseous. You might be losing weight at a rapid clip, but it may be at a cost of your livelihood. Be honest with yourself about how much food your body needs and start experimenting with adding a few hundred more calories in every day. I know you want this process of fat loss to go quickly, but starving yourself – even a little bit – isn’t sustainable, and you’re liable to have backlash and start overeating soon. Be kind to yourself and give your body what it needs in this delicate detox time. 

3. Eat Enough Carbs

It’s easy to go super low carb when you start this way of eating, whether it’s on purpose or on accident. But too few carbs can backfire in the same way too few calories can – you’ll likely end up having really bad sugar cravings soon. In any case, eating too few carbs will make you tired, groggy, grumpy, and crave sugar like crazy.

So before you go doing something you’ll regret, make some Paleo sweet treats (just search “Paleo dessert recipe” and you’ll get about 4 gazillion results), and allow yourself this time of transition to eat them. It’s ok – I really encourage you to do this. I mean – no need to go overboard – but it’ll make the transition easier and make this a sustainable way of eating for you. Of course, eat plenty of veggies (try for a pound a day), sweet potatoes included, and fruits, too. Those should be the bulk of your carbs every day.

 

That’s it for today! 

I’ll talk to you soon. In the meantime, do your best to stay true to this program and to yourself, and know that you deserve to feel and look your absolute best.

Yours,

Neely 

neelyquinn.com

 

P.S.

Don’t forget about your downloads! They’ll really help you understand this diet more thoroughly, as well as make it easier and more do-able for you.

—>>>DOWNLOADS<<<—

——> Food Guide for Fat Loss (PDF)

——> What Is Paleo? (PDF)

——> Meal Planning and Recipes Guide (PDF)