The guiding principle

of the Paleo diet is that we should eat the food early humans would have eaten—meat, fish, vegetables and fruit—and abstain from dairy, cereal products and processed food. Not only does this concept seem logical, there’s also a significant amount of scientific evidence to support it. The diet recommends eating plenty of cold-water fish, lean meat, eggs, nuts and fresh seasonal vegetables, all of which provide minerals and nutrients that are vital to healthy bodily function. It also asks you to cut out packaged and processed food, sweeteners, sodium and preservatives—now who says that’s not sensible? Everyone I know who has cut out the bad foods and upped the good has seen a significant improvement in their physical appearance. However, while I fully believe in the power of this diet, I actually only follow it strictly during the week. At weekends, I focus more on catching up with friends and indulging in non-paleo treats such as ice cream and pasta. Making sacrifices for your health is important, but the most important thing is to ensure a balanced and positive lifestyle. You don’t want people to stop calling because they assume you wouldn’t be up for a drink or sampling a new restaurant.

Jamie is the co-founder of Crossfit 852