Day 28 of 30 (sun)

Had toast (first time in a month) and bacon for breakfast. 87kg!!
Had lots of nuts.

Had lots of meat for lunch.

Went to children's birthday and ate some junk.

Had big meatball dinner and some cake. 2 NA beers

Day 27 of 30 (sat)

Had nuts with scrambled eggs for breakfast. 85.5kg

Had a double burger for lunch.

Had meatballs with aubergine for dinner.

Had cake too. Lots of NA beers.

Day 26 of 30

Weight in at 85.8kg. The calorie reducing is having an effect.

Had mixed nuts, a few squares of 70% chocolate and a banana for breakfast. Had plenty of fruit during the day and a soup.

Had more mixed nuts, a chilli con carne (no rice) with fresh guacamole. Had more choco and 3 NA beers.

Feel really full.

Day 25 of 30

Yesterday I came to the conclusion that Paleo was not for me. I'll finish it out for the 30 days though.

I came in at 86.2kg this morning and had 3 x 85cal ( 250 cals) slices of rasher for breakfast.

No cycle today since I have the NCT to do later.

Had an avocado and a manderin and a soup for lunch = 270 + 50 + 300 = 600 calories.

Had some mixed nuts and 2 NA beers when I got home.

This is for my din din, some salmon with veg, roasted in the oven in a tinfoil bag

Had 2 squares of chocolate.

Feel plenty full. Calories wise, I don't think I'm eating too much. I feel full. Am I fooling myself?

Day 24 of 30

Came in at 86kg today, kind of starved a bit yesterday so not too surprise. Bit of a dicky tummy over last number of days. Not good. Feel wreaked.

This day last year I was 92.6kg. This day 2 years ago I was 90kg. This day 3 years ago I was 94kg. So as Charlie Sheen says - "WINNING!"

In October 2007 I was around 86kg-87kg....

Looking back here are the conclusions that I draw for why I put on weight:
1. I am very under pressure with work and what not and effectively end up feeling that everything has to be done ASAP. I take shortcuts with everything including not exercising.
2. I stop exercising. I feel banjaxed. Not sure why but when I feel like that I will come up with every excuse not to exercise.
3. I start eating junk, I feel I'm 'allowed'. I am not exercising so I'm not worried about it. I am also feeling under huge stress and I use it as stress relief.
4. I tend to eat fast and eat large portions. When presented with junk food I eat a lot of it and I eat it very fast.
5. I drink alcohol, this makes me want to eat more and eat junk.

Here are the what works with me losing weight:
1. Doing exercise.
2. Eating no junk food or drinking alcohol.
3. Eating less food, less carbs too.
4. Being tidy, ordered and in control of work.
5. Tracking my weight, feeling that I know where I am with it in terms of the stats.



Had a banana for breakfast after I did my cycle to work.

I'm thinking that some aspects of Paleo work for me but some don't.

When my 30 days are up I'm going to create my own diet that will get me to 79kg and it'll be called Spanj diet - small portions no junk diet. I'll still cut the carbs and I'll focus on eating smaller portions and only when I'm hungry. I'll push with the exercise since that has a good effect and I'll won't drink alcohol. I won't go extreme in any way since this has to morph into a normal way of life once I hit my goal.

Had a chicken salad for lunch. Feel really tired and spaced out.

Had a chicken curry with added lots of veg for dinner. No rice.

Had 2 NA beers, just love those 70 cal per 500ml babies! Pauliner is the biz.

I can see a new Macbook Air at the end of all this:

Day 23 of 30

I came in at 86.8kg today. I was pretty pissed off to see that.

I'm now thinking that I am horsing in too much 'healthy' food. I had a pretty moderate dinner and I did actually do 42km of cycling so you would think I would lose a bit more.

Following Paleo has made me refocus on cooking dinners and not eating bread and potatoes etc. It hasn't had much effect on my weight or my constant sense of tiredness. I'm pleased to say that it has gotten me back in the zone though.

I had a banana for breakfast, followed by a manderin and an orange. Not paleo but I haven't been hungry really today.

Had some fruit, an avocado and a tin of tuna for lunch.

This is what June and July looked like, I started Paleo in July. As you can see June was a total disaster whereas I managed to get it together once I started Paleo in July. It's good not to see weight gain even if there isn't much weight loss:


Dinner was mixed veg with chicken breast in cream with fresh tarragon. Was tasty and was a normal portion only.

Had a full big bar of 70% chocolate and a NA beer.

There had better be movement in the scales tomorrow.

Day 22 of 30

Came in at 86.7kg today. I had really cut back on food last week so I wouldn't think it was Paleo helping here.

Had 3 egg omelette this morning for breakfast. Cycled to work. Delirious with lack of sleep, eyes killing me, back killing me. Drove for hours!

Had some mixed raw nuts after my cycle, some 74% dark chocolate and an apple.

I have to keep thinking, macbook air!!

Had prawn stir fry, 2 NA beers, a yog, some berries and yog and some 74% choco.

Saw this story about a 35 year old lost almost 300 lbs over 3 years by setting goals and gradually improving his lifestyle. He now runs 6-7 miles a day and cooks fresh food for his family.

Day 21 of 30

Had 3 sausages for breakfast. Also had yoghurt with jam and honey.

Had 1/2 a scone that I had to eat.

Had fish and onion rings.

Had berries and yoghurt.

Had a NA beer.

Day 20 of 30

I was in Galway.

Had a chicken salad for breakfast/lunch. Then had soup.

For dinner I had a beef salad and then black sole with veg.

Lots of NA beers, no alcohol or dessert.

Day 19 of 30

Came in at 86.2kg today.



Hyper stressful yesterday and today. Did a dragons den pitch on a new company financials after learning what an income statement was last night. Had to memorise loads of numbers for yearly sales, net income, profit % and revenue. Truely horrible and scary. Up till 1am last night, and up at 6:30am today. Got through it thank fully. Got to go through one meeting with today and then I'm destressing.

I had a caeser salad (sans croutons) for lunch and a small thai chicken soup. I also indulged in a diet coke.

Headed to Galway and went had 3 sausages before heading out the door.

When I arrived they gave me potatoes with chorizo and a slice of cake. All of which I reluctantly ate ;-)

I had non-alcoholic beers.

Day 18 of 30

Had a (paleo) chicken salad and an apple and a pear for my lunch. They were out of soup :(

Had a bunch of raw almonds (maybe too many) and some steak with cherry tomotoes and courgette. Had a yoghurt for dessert.

Feel a bit shitty and constrained.

Penny had a lovely apple slice with her tea.

I came in at 86.9kg today. I was pretty hungry yesterday and spaced so that means I was under in calories. I know this isn't sustainable though.

Had to get to work very early, under a lot of pressure.

Had no eggs at home so went to garage and got 3 sausages and 1 egg thingy. Sausages were grand by egg was not great.

Day 17 of 30

Had a tin of salmon mixed with olive oil and an avocado.

Then I had a tuna steak.

I had an NA beer even though i shouldn't have.

Then I had a cup of tea and a yoghurt.

Pretty perfect day again.

Wake at 5am this morning due to baby. Not getting the quality sleep I crave.

I weighed in at 86.4kg again today. Nice to be less than 87.5kg but nothing dramatic.

I had 3 sausages and 3 rasher today, grilled. Were lovely.

Had Soup and one apple for lunch.

It's now 4pm and I'm dizzy as fuck and can't hardly concentrate. Can't remember what is for dinner. Got to make my own dinner. Might get some curry.

Had a superb idea today, I want the new macbook air but I also need a big concrete incentive to lose weight. I emailed Penny to tell her I'm transferring €1K to her account and I'll will allow her to release it when I reach 80kg. That might be never but I will wait until I do that.

Day 16 of 30

Another perfect day, had pork loin with cream onions mushrooms and brocolli for dinner. I had a greek yoghurt for dinner. Had no chocolate or NA beer. Very tired all the time.

Had a pumpkin and red pepper soup. I had 2 apples. All for lunch.

At 4pm I had a tin of mackril.

I haven't had any bread, potatoes, pastry (anything wheat or grains), no lattes and hardly any milk since the start of doing Paleo.

I'm a bit tired and dizzy and want to go home but have a bit more work to do.

Moderate day yesterday and of course it shows on the scales: 86.4kg.

Had 2 egg omelette today and cod liver oil for breakfast. Heading off on my bike now, feel tired from interrupted nights sleep.

Day 15 of 30

Cycled home and then made dinner, baked salmon with cherry tomatoes served with leafy herb salad.

For dessert I had berries with yoghurt.

No chocolate. No NA alcohol. No star breakfast crap.

100% perfect today.

Wanted to go for a run but couldn't face it.

Had soup (pumpkin and red pepper) and an apple and a banana for lunch.

Had a snack of a ortiz mini tin of tuna as a 4:30pm snack. Was starving....

Had 2 egg omelette for breakfast and had my cod liver oil.

I cycled to work.

Plan for monday (taking it one day at a time again)

Morning - eggs for breakfast, have cod liver oil

(bring tin of fish)

Lunch - soup, tin of fish

Dinner - Salmon with salad, then tea with nothing else. Don't try to fool yourself!!!

Run for 15 minutes - fucking do it regardless

No cheese, no NA alcohol, no chocolate - cop on - this is about losing weight

Updated ground rules for the rest of the 30 days

I'm 1/2 way through and I'm still pudgy as fuck. This isn't working at all and I'm sure it's due to me porking out instead of being sensible.

Until after Day 30 of this task:

1. No alcohol, and no non-alcoholic beer either. No fizzy diet drinks.
2. No chocolate at all. I'm decking chocolate back.
3. No gratuitious use of fatty food like cheese, butter or cream.
4. No sausages or breakfast roll shite from spar.
5. No massive portions of food as if I need to kick start weight-loss through ketosis.
6. Run daily, even if it is for 15 minutes. This is just to make sure I'm back into running.
7. In bed by 10pm daily.

If things don't work out with the above, I have to say that I've done my best.

Day 14 of 30

Was 87.6kg today. So same as I was when I started. Definitely doing some very wrong!!!

Ran with Sam today, almost killed me.

Had yoghurt and 3 sausages for breakfast.

Have had no bread, no lattes, no cereal, no potatoes or pasta or rice. Feeling tired all the time.

Went to a children's birthday today (Flynn's) and ate 2 burgers (sans pain) and 1 sausage.

For dinner I had quiche (didn't eat the casing) and salad. The I had NA beers (2) and valrhona choco 70%.

Did a shop for some nice things.

Day13 of 30

In at 87kg today.

Had to do a full day at work today.

Had 2 sausages and 2 White pudding and bar of choc for breakfast. Also had a yoghurt.

Lunch was chicken curry with salad - no rice.

Dinner was lovely meatball and roasted aubergine. We had a cream Mille feuille for dessert.

Had some wine.

Day 12 of 30

Was under crazy pressure at work all week and today especially.

I ate only fruit during the day and had no break. Let frazzled at 17:30.

Had a curry and Indian starters with NA beer and White wine. Then had caramel slice with tea. I also had Camembert.

Feel pudgy.

Came in at 87.1kg this morning. FFS.

Had a 3 egg scrambled eggs this morning. Am devoid of energy and would like to go back to sleep. Can't face having to do work, wreaked.

Day 11 of 30

Had an apple and two mandarins.

I had a couple of glasses of red wine.

I had tuna steak and broccoli for dinner - fucked it all up and it was horrible.

Feel wreaked and no energy.

No cycle today.

No carbs really.

Had some Camembert and a yoghurt.

Had a 3 egg omelette for brekkie.

Went to Avoca and grabbed a 1/2 price beef curry (no rice) for lunch (was also a double portion...). Really full now and totally happy.

Came in at 86.9kg

Day 10 of 30

Had 1 burger 2 sausages and 2 white pudding and 1 rasher for lunch. I had a bar of dark chocolate aswell.

For dinner I had burgers sausages and ratatouille. Had a yoghurt with chopped nuts and dark chocolate and come Camembert.

Had a few glasses of red wine.

I have not had bread or cereal or a latte since I started.

Came in at 86.6kg and 25.1% bf. Not too hungry so just cycling to work.

Day 9 of 30

For lunch I had a tin of tuna.

For dinner I had salmon with parsnip chips.

Had a bit of camembert and some 75% chocolate

Finally went for some breakfast at 10:30am. I had two sausages, one (dirty) burger. Also had some yoghurt covered brazil nuts. Brown sauce is PALEO right?

Came in at 86.8kg today but 25.1% body fat. Not having breakfast since I'm not hungry.

Day 8 of 30

Had some yoghurt with blueberries and chopped hazelnuts. Then had 85% chocolate.

Don't feel so full now. Think I did overdo it.

Had a big bowl of bolognaise for dinner. Home cooked.

Ate not much today. I think I've just been eating a large quantity of food to ensure I was getting protein and fat into me. I should really have just been eating when I was hungry.

Today I ate 2 apples and 2 manderin oranges. At 17:30 I ate a tin of mackril in tomato.

Came in at 87.5kg today. This is total disaster. Very pissed off.

Day 7 of 30

Had rack of lamb with the rest of the sweet potato gratin. Hand a cream enhanced yoghurt and some 70% chocolate for dessert.

Went to the park with everyone, had chocolate and biscuits.

Made a soup with the stock from the ham hock and some veg. Was a bit too salty but tasty.

Another day if Paleo, excitedly i weighed myself - 87.4kg bp25%. Ah for the love of God.

Felt like abandoning there and then. I did say 30 days though.

Had some blue cheese with 3 scrambled eggs.

Went for a run with Sam 9km

Day 6 of 30

The dinner was magical!

Want a dessert but lost...Just had some 70% chocolate

Inspired by all the hard work Gav and Jojo are putting into their cooking I decided to try out something new today. I had bought the ham hock without knowing what to do with it and got a few tips on-line.


I decided to give it a bit of a fry up and then slow cook it in some bulmers cider with a few cloves, whole black peppercorns, fresh rosemary and thyme. I understand that the result will be a bit messy but I just toss the veg material and the fat so I can reclaim the meat and the stock. We'll see.

En forme after going to Kennedy's and finding out that they actually have started to give a crap about their cooking for a change - I'm making a sweetpotato gratin using scallions, garlic, chedder, fresh thyme and a bit of parmesan on top.

The whole thing is a PALEO wonder and it should be dynamite!

Weighed in at 74kg today. Unhappy with that cos you do hear stories of losing a pound a day. Anyways bought tuna steaks, salmon, fresh mackel, lamb, beef, pork and a ham hock today.

I cooked up 4 mackrel and had those for breakfast. Felt a bit nausous ever since - not a breakfast i am used to.



Went to St Annes park for the morning and got gluten free organic bratwerst and lamb burgers. Also bought hand made butter.

Going to have bbq for lunch and ham hock for dinner. Having rack of lamb tomorrow. Have been taking photos but hard to use them through iOS.

Feeling a bit yeuk from the protein overload. Still finding my feet. There wasn't really anything i could eat in the market this morning. Feels like a sacrifice without a gain for the moment.

Had a bbq at lunchtime with the sausages burgers and rasher. Was ok, not as good as I thought it would be. It was all ORGANIC and all...

Day 5 of 30

Had bacon sausage eggs and pudding for breakfast.

Had a sweetpotato spinich leek and cheese gratin for lunch.

Had chilli con carne with cheese and no rice for dinner. Having a glass of red wine and a NA beer and a magnum mini.

Day 4 of 30

Went to avoca for terreine and salads. Had some 70% dark choc afterwards. Bit tired, up since 6am.

Weighed in at 86.7kg surprised that there is no dramatic weight loss, not to worry. About to have my dream breakfast albeit sans toast.

Off to Jimmy's wedding in a wee while, hope to stay PALEO for the rest of the day.

Day 3 of 30

Had chicken and veg skewers. Had a couple of bottles of beers too. And a magnum mini.

Had some smoked salmon for a snack before i left for home.

Felt a bit staving there so just had an apple and drinking some water.

Had soup and quiche for lunch.

Had a two egg omelette with some parmasan cheese this morning. I didn't sleep early enough last night. I clocked in at 86.8kg today so I possibly ate too much yesterday. I know I really went all out!

Day 2 of 30

Had a NA beer when i got in from french to destress. It made my stomach very gurgly, not good.

Got home and had plenty of energy for the cycle.

Had a tin of sardines before dinner.

Made chicken wrapped in bacon, with carrots and parsnips in a butter, lardon, lemon juice and fresh herb with maple syrup sauce.

Had a bit of cramp in my stomach again.

Bit of a dicky tummy - uggghhh...

Just had an apple

Just had lunch there. Was a bit restricted in my choices but had cully and sully tomato soup with 4 slices of smell denny ham. Had another bar of 70% chocolate which goes down very well with a second coffee of the day.

Gav passed me on this link for 30 day challengers: http://www.paleochallenge.potomaccrossfit.com/?p=62

Also the lowest I have been in 2011 is 82.4kg based on the starvation diet that I couldn't keep up.

For breakfast (last 10:20am) I'm having 2 pieces of white pudding, 3 slices of bacon (with the fat), and 2 sausages.

It's kind of the only thing I could find but it is pure PALEO.

I am also having a coffee with a 45g bar of 70% chocolate.

I feel like this is absolutely insane. I've just eaten a breakfast that I would normally only eat when I was crazy hung-over. It's scary to say the least.

Removing the guilt - yeah, it was tasty and I'm well happy and full. The sausages were a bit fatty but hey...

I'm getting the same pains in my stomach that I got yesterday. Like cramps etc.

Weighed in at 86.3kg today vs 87.4kg yesterday. Now i've got to make sure i eat the right stuff today.

Day 1 of 30 days

Going to bed and pretty hungry. Will have some water. I think I'm too used to restricted calorie diet. Had some tesco finest dark chcolaate and feel better. Had some more rumblings in my gut. Will have to eat a bit more tomorrow.

That was day 1 of 30 done. A great start.

I cobbled together some ratatouille with lardons and creme fraiche. Added in grated cheese for extra fat. Was amazing. Having my first caffeine drink of the day, nice cup of tea.

Just saw an interesting site: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/

Feeling a bit hungry and slightly dizzy. Had a few pains in my stomach at after lunch.

Just had lamb curry no rice for lunch - loving it

Had a 3 egg and cheese omelette for breakfast then cycled to work. Very very tasty! Am 87.4kg

Day 0

Just reading about paleo. Have high hopes for next 30 days. Low carb high fat and protein sounds crazy. We will see. I am 88kg.