I will follow the rules.

I am not generally a rule follower – if you put a fence in front of me, I want to jump over it. However, for this challenge we will set forth the rules and I will follow them. So, here’s the food rules. Pretty straightforward in terms of what is considered paleo and what is not. I do believe that you have to decide how paleo ‘works’ for you on an individual basis. (a great post from Everyday Paleo on this topic) For that reason, I think our alcohol rules are pretty lenient – but it’s what is going to work for us and our lifestyle – since my hope is that our post-challenge habits are not that far off from the challenge rules.

Absolutely will be eaten

• Lean meats (grass-fed as much as possible)
  
• Poultry
  
• Fish
  
• Shellfish
  
• Omega-3 eggs
  
• Veggies (non-starchy)
  
• Berries
  
• Nuts - primarily walnuts & macadamias
  
• Oils – olive, coconut and walnut
  

Not a bit, none!

• All dairy
  
• All grains
  
• All legumes
  
• Corn & corn products
  
• Refined sugars
  
• All other oils
  

Thoughtfully consumed

• Fruit – 2 servings per day max
  
• Sweet Potatoes – only on big workout days
  
• Almonds – last resort nut, all nuts limited to 4oz max per day
  
• Honey/Agave – Barely any, couple tablespoons per week (just enough to enjoy a very rare ‘paleo candy bar’)
  
• Nut flours – only walnut; max two nut flour ‘breaded’ meals per week
  

Alcohol

• Vodka – preferably Ciroc (gluten free, distilled from grapes), rocks or with club soda
  
• Tequila – (will be trying Robb Wolf’s NorCal Margarita recipe)
  
• Wine & Ciders – preferably organic and low sugar on the cider
  
• Limit 1 drink per night, no more than 3 nights per week.
  
• Max 1 night a weekend multiple drinks are ok if out for a social drinking occasion.
  
• Remain cognizant of time before bed, allow 2-3 hours between a drink and bed time. If not, have a small, protein-laden snack.
  

Supplements (Ryan’s plan)

• Fish oils – personalized quantity: use Robb Wolf's fish oil calculator
  
• Vitamin D - maybe, will do more research, but something should be done because the sunlight is elusive right now.
  
• CLA - 2000-3000mg/daily
  

I will take the fish oils, and may dabble in some fish oils that include flax and CLA, but overall I am just not as sold on the concept of supplements as Ryan.