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How To Kick Off A Healthy (Paleo) New Year

A new year is the perfect time for a fresh start. Whether you want to finally lose some weight, get fit or get on top of some health issues – there's no time like today – right now – to dive into the Paleo Diet

Where To Start

Have you got any lingering treats left from the festive season? Instead of promising to get stuck into a healthy regime, just as soon as you finish that last box of chocolates, throw it away! Your body will thank you for it.

The best way to start is, well – to actually start! Throw yourself right into it.

Organise

Sit down and plan your menu for the next week, meal by meal, then shop for everything you need. If it's in your fridge or pantry it's easy to prepare some great Paleo meals

Look through paleo websites and paleo cookbooks for inspiration for delicious meal ideas. Experimenting in the kitchen is a great way not to get bored. Paleo is no reason to have a bland, boring diet!

Whenever you cook, make at least double what you need. You can take the rest into work for lung the following day, or freeze for future dinners when you don't have time to cook.

Paleo Diet in Australia and New Zealand – Kick Start Your New Year Health Resolution

New to Paleo?

If you've not yet started a Paleo diet before, depending on how you ate before, you may get “carb flu” as your body adjusts to fewer carbohydrates. You can go cold turkey into Paleo (and remind yourself how much better you're going to feel once you acclimatise) – or you can slowly transition into a paleo diet, gradually reducing grains.

The initial period of following the paleo diet is a great time to read as much as you can about this lifestyle. It's great to understand why it works so well. When changing the way you eat, you're also likely to get a lot of questions from family and friends – so being well read up on Paleo comes in very handy

Unfit?

Instead of launching straight into a hardcore fitness routine, it's often great to start slowly. Walking is one of the best ways to increase your fitness, with the added benefit of fresh air and sunshine.

Weight to lose?

If you have weight to lose, Paleo is a great place to start. Once you reach a plateau – it's time to change things up a little. Some people have great results with techniques like low carb (or even nutritional ketosis) or intermittent fasting. Everyone is different, so it's important to find out what works for you

Where are you right now? Are you new to Paleo, or needing to refocus? What are your health aims for this brand new year? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Paleo Birthday Resolutions

It’s my birthday today, which is the perfect time to evaluate my achievements this past year – and to focus on what I want to achieve in this brand new, unchartered year.

This past year can be summarised by one word for me: Paleo!  I’ve travelled to America twice for PrimalCon and the Ancestral Health Symposium and met so many amazing, lifelong, Paleo friends along the way.  I’ve refined my Paleo nutrition and found what works for me.  My housemate and a few friends have adopted a Paleo lifestyle, which I am thrilled about.  I’ve spent a lot of time this year researching and reading in the Paleosphere – and of course, I started this blog.  My biggest personal achievement this year has been my fitness.  I have never been as fit as I am now and it enhances almost every aspect of my life.  Linked into all of these factors, my sleep has been another huge transformation this past 12 months.  I used to really struggle to fall asleep, sleep very poorly, then struggle to wake up in the morning.  The last few months however, I’ve been tired at bedtime, sleeping soundly and waking up before my alarm almost every morning!

It seems like a timely point to work out what I want to achieve between now and my next Birthday, with the help of some “New Years” resolutions.  So, from tomorrow: –

Resolution #1: I’m going to see the sunrise and sunset every day.

This is going to be quite a challenge, but it seems a really important link, to the body’s natural circadian rhythm.  After all, we should live alongside the natural day; staying up until 4am isn’t good for us.  Here in Sydney Sunrise is between about 5:15am (this month) and 7am in the winter months.  This should be fairly easy.  I’ll get up just before sunrise, so I should see the sunrise on my walk into work.  The time of year will then determine how long I spend in the gym/ swimming pool before I go to work – or perhaps I’ll even start work early?  Sunset will be a lot more of a challenge, as in Sydney it varies from around 4:50pm in June to about 8:10pm in the summer months (I do miss those long summer evenings in the UK!).  I’m not sure how I’ll tackle this one in the winter, but the summer should be quite achievable.

Resolution #2: I’m going to get rid of five things every day.

One Primal area I really struggle with is minimalism!  I have a lot of “stuff”.  My friend Lars over at Primal Minimalist has recently started a new daily habit of de-cluttering his house by five things every day.  I could honest do this every day for the next year – and probably still have quite a lot left by my next birthday.  So this is what I’m going to do!

Resolution #3: I’m only going to eat local food.

I think I’m probably fairly compliant on this one already, when I eat at home.  When I eat out however (which is all too frequently), I often have no idea where the food is sourced from.  I need to know this.  I think it’s really important to eat local food (and ideally, organic).  This should also mean I am only eating seasonally, which is also important.  I can hopefully achieve this by bringing in my lunch to work, and eating out less.  When I do eat out, I’ll be very careful to select somewhere that uses local food – and I won’t be afraid to ask!  One area that might not be possible is coconut oil; I’ll investigate further, but may need to make an exception here.

Resolution #4: I’m going to up the ante on my chin-up & fitness mission.

By my next birthday I want to be able to do ten unassisted pull-ups and be working towards hand-stand push-ups!  I also want to be considerably fitter and stronger than I am today.  As I have never been as fit and strong as I am today, this is all very exciting new territory.

Are you still sticking to your New Years or birthday resolutions?  Which new Paleo habits would you like to adopt?  What do you think of my resolutions?

Paleo Diet Birthday Resolutions

Reflecting on a Year of Paleo Progress

As I look forward to another Paleo-filled year, I’ve realised that the power of consistent, conscious habits cannot be overstated. These resolutions aren't just short-term goals—they’re foundational lifestyle shifts that can build lasting wellness. So many of the benefits I’ve experienced—improved sleep, fitness, energy, and mindset—have been cumulative, reinforcing one another over time.

Resolution #5: Prioritise Sleep and Recovery

While my sleep has already improved dramatically, I want to go one step further and truly optimise my evening routine. That means limiting screen exposure after dark, having a consistent bedtime (even on weekends!), and winding down with stretching or meditation. Good quality sleep helps regulate hormones, improves recovery from workouts, and supports immune health—all key tenets of the Paleo lifestyle.

Resolution #6: Cultivate Daily Stillness

The past year has been full of activity—travel, social events, and fitness achievements. But one area I’d like to develop further is stillness. Whether it’s through daily journaling, time in nature, or a quiet walk without distractions, I want to find moments every day where I can pause, breathe, and centre myself. Stillness is a deeply ancestral practice, and a vital counterbalance to modern busyness.

Resolution #7: Learn a New Traditional Skill

Modern life makes it easy to rely on convenience—but as part of my Paleo journey, I want to reconnect with traditional skills. This could mean learning to ferment vegetables, make my own jerky, or even try traditional forms of movement like crawling or climbing. Not only are these practices practical, but they also build self-sufficiency and a greater appreciation for ancestral knowledge.

Resolution #8: Engage with the Paleo Community More

One of the best things about going Paleo has been the incredible community. Whether online or in person, I’d love to be more active in supporting and sharing with fellow Paleo enthusiasts. That might mean attending more local meetups, commenting more on blogs and podcasts I enjoy, or even hosting a Paleo potluck dinner. This lifestyle is easier, more fun, and more sustainable when shared.

Staying Accountable and Inspired

To stay on track with all of these goals, I’m going to start keeping a simple log. It doesn’t need to be fancy—just a few notes each evening about what I did well, where I could improve, and what I learned. Tracking progress is a great way to stay focused and spot patterns—especially when juggling multiple resolutions.

Celebrating More than Just a Birthday

This birthday feels less like a milestone and more like a springboard. I’m grateful for the health, energy, and clarity I’ve gained, and I’m excited for what the next twelve months might bring. From sunrises to slow living, and chin-ups to coconut oil, I’m committed to living intentionally and continuing to evolve on my Paleo path.

I’d love to hear from you—what new habits or challenges are you taking on this year? Are you inspired to revisit your own resolutions?