Before there were packaged goods, processed foods, GMOs and an ongoing debate between organic or not, there was dirt, seeds, water and roaming animals. It may be hard to consider now, but the dawn of man produced hunters and gatherers and humans had to get their own food – not by heading to the supermarket.

There were no sprays to kill insects, no chemicals or genes added or modified. No extra-large tomatoes or vibrant yellow bananas. Food was simple. It was either found, picked or hunted. And although there weren’t doctors or research scientists to confirm the benefits of such eating, it seems that when it comes to dietary habits, eating like our ancestors has some merit.

Diets come and diets go, but one in particular seems to have staying power and for good reasons as well. It’s based on eating similar to that of prehistoric man and it’s being touted as one of the best way to eat. It’s called the Paleo diet.

What is the Paleo diet?
The Paleo diet was created by Loren Cordain, a now-famous author, speaker and professor of health and exercise science at Colorado State University, who specializes in disease and diet. The Paleo diet itself reflects food items and methods of eating similar to our Stone Age ancestors – that’s right, this diet is framed around eating like cavemen. Through scientific research and peer-reviewed studies, Cordain has uncovered many health benefits to eating the Stone Age way.

There are seven premise on which the Paleo diet guidelines are based:

High protein
Low carbohydrates and low glycemic index
High fiber
Moderate to high fat intake – monosaturated and polysaturated fats with omega-3s and 6s

High potassium, low sodium
Net dietary alkaline balances dietary acid – some foods produce acid (meat) and others are alkaline (fruits and vegetables). Eating a balance of both alkaline and acid foods can have positive health effects.

High intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and plant phytochemicals.

Persistent Hunger
When engaging in strict diet programs or intensive weight training, feeling hungry is almost inevitable. Many diets restrict high-calorie foods, pushing participants towards fruits and vegetables, which may not always satisfy energy needs. This natural increase in hunger occurs because your body seeks more energy to support basic functions like movement and cognition.

Balancing Diet and Exercise
Contrary to restrictive advice, maintaining a balanced diet while increasing physical activity can be more sustainable. The equation is simple:

Output > Input = Weight Loss
By keeping your dietary intake consistent but enhancing your physical output, weight loss can still be achieved without severe dietary restrictions. This approach promotes a healthier, more sustainable form of weight loss.

Fatigue and Exhaustion
Excessive exercise can lead to significant fatigue. This is not just a feeling of tiredness but a comprehensive depletion that affects everyday activities. During heavy workouts, muscles undergo stress and require time to repair and recover.

Importance of Recovery
Incorporating rest and recovery, including activities like stretching, can help alleviate muscle pain and accelerate recovery. Stretching helps relax the muscles and can ease the discomfort from soreness after workouts.

Dizziness and Disorientation
Reducing intake of essential nutrients such as sugars and salts, which are often seen in rapid weight loss diets, can lead to feelings of dizziness or light-headedness. This symptom should not be ignored as it indicates that the body’s basic needs are not being met.

Monitoring Nutrient Intake
It’s crucial to ensure that your body receives adequate nutrients to function properly. Persistent dizziness should be a signal to reassess your dietary choices, possibly with professional guidance.

Unusual Physical Symptoms
Severe changes in diet and exercise intensity can lead to alarming symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, and significant hair loss. These signs suggest that the body is under stress or unable to cope with the changes.

Seeking Professional Advice
If such symptoms occur, it’s advisable to consult with health professionals like dieticians and fitness trainers to adjust your diet and exercise plan appropriately.

Conclusion
While the allure of quick weight loss is strong, the potential side effects are a serious concern. It’s important to approach weight loss with a balanced and informed perspective, prioritizing health and sustainability over speed. For those considering rapid weight loss, understanding these side effects is crucial to making informed decisions about your health regimen.

For further reading on balanced diet approaches and the importance of nutrients, reputable sources such as Mayo Clinic and Harvard Health offer extensive information and guidance.

When you are working at home, it is very easy to become distracted and lose focus on your goals. It seems as if one minute you were working diligently and the next thing you know, your work has been interrupted and an unproductive hour has flown past. Never forget that time is money when you are self-employed and you must guard your time more jealously than a miser would guard gold nuggets.

Running a home based business successfully requires great commitment and self-discipline. Only by exercising self-discipline will you be able to maintain the necessary level of focus. It is only human to be tempted by interesting or entertaining distractions (this is especially true when you are engaged in a difficult or boring task) but as a self-employed business owner, you cannot afford to give in to temptation.

There are two ways to deal with temptation: you can either resist it or avoid it. Being able to resist temptation is undoubtedly a worthy character trait but, personally, I don’t see the point of getting involved in that sort of struggle when there is an easier way to achieve the same end.

If you were on a weight loss diet and know that your biggest temptation is cakes, you wouldn’t keep a supply of doughnuts at home and spend time hanging round the local bakery ogling the freshly baked chocolate sponge cakes and fresh cream éclairs. On the contrary, you would stay well away from all things cake-related, and that seems (to me at least) to be eminently sensible.

If you are new to working at home, tackle it as you would a strict weight loss regime. Put away all sources of temptation and limit, as far as you can, external temptations. If there is a day-time TV program you just can’t live without, record it and set a convenient time to watch it as a reward when you have completed your daily to-do list. If you can’t live without a session at the gym or hairdressing salon, don’t try to deprive yourself, build this into your schedule; a change is as good as a rest and martyrs are not generally the most contented people.

Set your hours of work and tell your family that, during those hours, you will be working at home and will not welcome interruption. Make sure your partner and children understand this rule: don’t let them assume that you are available to them just because you are physically at home. Tell them when you will be unavailable and when you will spend time with them. Even the youngest children can be taught to follow a schedule and there is certainly no excuse for older children (or your partner) to disrupt your work.

Tell your friends and family what hours you have set as your business hours and inform them that you will not be able to take phone calls or receive visitors during those times. Make sure you switch the phone over to the answering machine while you are working, so you won’t be tempted to take any calls. If people turn up unannounced while you are working, make sure you tell them (nicely) that you can’t spend much time with them because you have to work, but you would love to set a mutually convenient time to get together.

If you are worried that making visitors feel unwelcome is rude, consider whether it was polite of them to turn up uninvited in the first place, particularly when you had told them that would be inconvenient. True friends will understand your position and, after all, if you had a job outside the home, they wouldn’t expect you to be able to entertain visitors there.

Avoiding temptation is a lot easier than having to resist it. Save yourself the struggle: employ avoidance strategies, and use the energy you will conserve in more positive ways.