Paleo Pup

I have a confession.

Hello, my name is Jennifer, and I’m a food addict.

(Audience: Hi, Jennifer)

My entire life, since about age 7, my weight has gone up and down, up and down, up and down.

Right now, it’s up.

It’s really, really up.

It’s the most up it’s ever been, and for the first time in my life, I’m not obsessing.

For example, I recently traveled to St. Petersburg, Fla., where I vacay-ed at the loveliest hotel – Sirata Beach Resort.

I purchased two bathing suits – both one-pieces – and told myself, “You are not going to let your body insecurities rob you of this vacation.”

So I forced myself beyond all comfort zone territory, to cast away the bathing suit pants and shirt and high turtle neck sweater and replace them with a single towel wrapped around my waist.

You will never see any of these people again in your life, I thought.

I used last week to swim in the ocean, lay on the beach, lounge by the pool and generally avoid most contact with humans.

Humans equals Facebook.

But when I returned to reality, it occurred to me that I really need to do something about my eating lifestyle.

I didn’t need another diet, or fast or Amazon purchase of exercise merchandise.

I needed a change of heart and mind. And I started asking God to guide me and mold me to end this gluttonous way of life.

Because even though my chubbiness and food addiction isn’t the worst possible problem to be fighting, the last thing I want is for my weight to get so out of control that I’m robbed of my health or ease of movement.

By happenstance, Caleb Shaw, a local Realtor in town who recently posed for GC magazine’s October issue Style File, asked if he could guide me through a 30-day Paleo cleanse.

We were chatting about God and family and dreams and passions, when somehow we landed on discipline, exercise and his interest in Paleo.

Paleo is also referred to as the caveman diet, because followers of this eating style eat food from the Earth in their original form.

There is no dairy, alcohol, bread or processed food. There are clean proteins and lots of vegetables and fruits.

He’s been following the Paleo way of life for more than year, he said, and he’s been trying to sway others to join the ranks since then.

So, I agreed to the 30-day Paleo challenge.

And I’m intrigued by the eating style because in the strangest way, it makes me feel like I’m fasting – like I’m eating the foods God intended for me to eat.

But I’m going to need your help and encouragement. I will also need your prayers.

Did I mention I’ll need your prayers?

OK, good. I just wanted to mention that last one again for those in the nosebleed section.

I’ve started a blog on VictoriaAdvocate.com called Paleo Pup, which will launch next week. You can also follow the journey in photos and videos on my website Jenniferpreyss.com.

Caleb said he’s hoping this 30-day challenge is the beginning of a lifelong love affair with Paleo.

But I just want to make it through the month.

And be able to kick this food addiction once and for all.

Here we go, Paleo. Challenge accepted.

Jennifer Preyss is the faith editor for the Victoria Advocate. You can reach her at 361-580-6535, jenniferpreyss.com , or on Twitter @jenniferpreyss.