So you’re thinking about trying out The Plant Paradox Lectin-Free Diet Program? Well, you’ve made it to the right place! There are 6 steps you should take before you start and I’m going to let you in on what they are. Because I like you, and I wish someone would have told me.
Maybe You’re Trying to Heal Your Gut?
OR at some point, you’ve wondered…
- Why am I eating “healthy” and still not losing weight?
- How can I reduce inflammation in my body?
- What types of food will help my body heal?
- What will prioritizing my gut health do for me?
- How can I improve my diet overall?
I was wondering the same, and The Plant Paradox 6 Week plan answered all of those questions!
I recommend the Plant Paradox to anyone willing to listen!
And I’m going to show you how to start it for yourself!
Read until the end for FREE Printable Plant Paradox Meal Planning Template and Grocery List!
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Let me introduce you to The Plant Paradox, The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain by Dr. Steven Gundry.
In the book, Dr. Gundry talks about how some foods that we think are healthy contain proteins called lectins. Over time, the inflammatory response these lectins create can lead to a multitude of health issues.
Read More: HOW TO FIX YOUR GUT HEALTH AND TAME INFLAMMATION WITH THE PLANT PARADOX DIET!
Disclaimer: I am not a certified health professional. Any information presented here is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified and licensed medical care provider if seeking medical advice. Read my full disclaimer here.
Now, I spent a large part of 2020 exercising and eating “healthier” to lose the post-grad weight that I had gained.
The world slowing down had catapulted me into a journey of “bettering myself”.
Unfortunately, nothing worked for me. I tried different monthly workout plans and even a dietitian-approved food program!
Yet I still lost and gained the same 5 pounds, and physically, I still felt the same.
By December 2020, I came across The Plant Paradox and the cookbook and decided to try it. I wanted to experience what my body would feel like if I only ate foods meant to heal.
I was excited to get started, so in January 2021, I dove right in! But there are a few things that I wish I’d done before I started.
So, I’m sharing them with you to, hopefully, make your journey a little easier.
Here are 6 steps you NEED to take before starting the Plant Paradox Lectin-Free Food Journey!
Disclaimer: While we do discuss wellness, health and nutrition on this website I am not a certified health professional. Any information presented here is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified and licensed medical care provider if seeking medical advice. Learn more here.
1. Start Taste Testing Recipes
Finding delicious essential recipes before starting would have saved so much time and money! Before starting any phase of The Plant Paradox I highly recommend this step.
This journey completely revamps the way that you cook!
Not only are we temporarily taking out lectin-filled foods from our diet, but we’re also changing to flours, oils, and sweeteners that all can react differently depending on the recipe.
Take a few days a couple of weeks before your start date to try out a few different recipes that work for each phase.
Seriously, you’ll be so happy you did!
It will come in handy when you don’t like one of the meals you’ve chosen for the week and need to sub in an easy replacement.
Lectin-Free Mama has a Pantry Restock List that is super helpful when you’re looking for substitutions. Find it HERE!
This step is also a must if you’re following the meal plan in the original book.
See step number 3 for why I don’t recommend following the plan in the book.
2. Commit to a Start Date
Do it! Take the leap! Choose a date and stick with it!
I know giving up ingredients that you use often can be a little intimidating. The key is to embrace and be excited about everything that you can gain!
This journey changed the way that I think about food and has helped my body function better than I thought it would again. All in just 6 weeks!
Something to keep in mind when you do choose your start date is that you’ll have to stick to eating only in-season fruits. So choose the season you start the program wisely!
In the winter there may not be as many options depending on where you live! I started in the winter so the fruits available to me were a little more sparse.
3. Meal Planning and Prepping
Plan out your meals for each week and grocery shop accordingly.
It’s tried and true, and for this food journey, it’s essential!
I took trips to the grocery store every other day before finally creating a solid plan for my meals! Even down to the snacks.
If you’re interested, there is a meal plan you can follow in the original book. Though, I wouldn’t recommend following only that plan.
It’s a great starting point! And you can customize it to your liking.
BUT The meals are a little outdated, and a lot of them can be kind of bland! Especially the Phase 1 Recipes!
Read More: How To Conquer The Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox!
The Plant Paradox Cookbook and The Plant Paradox Family Cookbook have a wide range of recipes that you may want to sprinkle in here and there.
The good news is, if you’re still looking for a meal plan from Dr. Gundry himself, The Plant Paradox Quick and Easy has a 30-day version of the Plant Paradox with a meal plan included.
However, I do still recommend creating your own meal plans.
The phase 1 detox is optional but if you decide to try it, start with a plan for the 3-days plus your “out” meal.
Next, I recommend planning your meals on Saturday to allow time to grocery shop. Then Sunday, you have time to pull out your ingredients and meal prep!
I used a list like the one below, and it never let me down!
Receive a FREE printable of the Plant Paradox Meal Planner! Just Enter Your Email Below.
And if you need recipes to fill it I’m creating lists of recipes I recommend. Find them and more on Benable!
4. Create an “Out” Plan
Now, not every diet/meal program is for us, and that’s okay!
Or you may even decide to do the 3-day detox, and after the first few meals, discover that it’s not for you and you want to skip to phase 2.
Creating an “out” meal plan is the best advice I can give because if the detox is too overwhelming, it will help you move to phase 2 without breaking the diet.
And if one day you do decide to quit, you will have a set plan to avoid potentially over-eating the foods that you may be feeling deprived of, like refined sugar!
Since the 3-day detox was optional, I knew from the beginning that it might be pretty tough. So I made sure my “out” meal was a sweet one because I knew that’s what I would be craving.
I chose the chocolate chip pancakes from The Plant Paradox Cookbook, which is an amazing phase 2 recipe!
And after finishing the 3-day detox, the morning after, the sweetness from the pancakes did not disappoint!
Read More: Sugar Substitutes You Need To Try If You Want To Heal Your Gut and Reduce Inflammation!
5. Get the Cookbook
Truthfully, The Plant Paradox Cookbook was the first book I owned before taking on this food journey! (And it’s probably the only one you need.)
I found it for sale at the thrift store and knew that I wanted to give it a try. The recipes looked like they had flavor and substance. Plus the book had a plan!
The Original The Plant Paradox book has a meal plan to follow if you’re not too picky about what you want to eat or aren’t feeling like creating your own plan.
Or try out my newest find The Plant Paradox Quick and Easy! In this book, Dr. Gundry has a 30-day meal plan compared to the original 6+ weeks and also provides tips to save time as well as extra recipes.
If you like a lot of recipe options (like me) I recommend getting all three! Then use your meal planner to plan what to eat each day.
(ProTip! You can buy the books used on Amazon and save a few bucks if you’re thrifty.)
6. Load Up on Snacks
Whether you’re a big “snacker” or not, the Plant Paradox lectin-free food journey will seriously increase your metabolism, leaving you a little hungrier between meals.
Especially in Phase 1!
That’s why snacks will be your best pick-me-up throughout this journey! Take a trip to your local grocery stores just for snacks that are lectin-free and thank me later.
It’s worth the time it takes to browse and scan the ingredients. Just make sure you give yourself enough time in the store.
Another way to have snacks ready to go for the week is to make them ahead of time.
This suggestion probably isn’t the most desirable option considering it calls for even more kitchen time but it never hurts to have options!
My favorite go-to snack was Siete Chips and guacamole because it was as easy as throwing ingredients in a food processor.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In the end, here are the main points to remember.
- Try Out Recipes BEFORE Starting
- Commit to a Start Date
- Meal Plan/Prep
- Create an “Out” Plan
- Get the Cookbook
- Buy Plenty of Snacks
Following these six steps will dramatically increase your chances of completing the Plant Paradox! Which will help you live your life with a freshly restored gut and a new outlook on life.
Leave a comment down below if you plan on using these steps or have had a Plant Paradox Experience already!
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[…] I changed my diet and felt great! But I quickly realized that it was going to take more work to really succeed. […]