18-year-old here! Not sure if I have a better idea of what I'm doing than you do, but I'm in pretty much the same situation (but I'm doing paleo to recover from some debilitating conditions that kept me out of school for 4 years, so not very athletic yet, haha). But yeah, it gets a little hard. Is your family at least supportive of your efforts, despite not eating the same way?

16-finally have got my whole family on paleo with the exception of my dad and his beer (ugh):)

Yeah I'm 18. We're probably all so hot.

19 and in my sophomore year in college. life is really hard when surrounded by people that don't understand why you don't eat their fast food or drink corn/rice-based beers. I still smoke and drink on the weekends but find myself to be 95% primal compliant during the week.

I'm 19 (closing in on 20) and a sophomore in college! I started last May, and let me tell you it has been HARD complying. When all my friends want to go out and binge drink and get pizza at 2 AM or go eat "normal food" its hard to contain myself...especially on days like today when weve had severe storms and we all want to be snuggly and binge on ice cream. Good for you though for starting to get your health together!!! its very important. if you have any questions feel free to ask!!!!

I'm 22 but went gluten-free in college. I also had to cut back on other things in college, too. So while not Paleo until right after graduation, I was moving closer to it for a few years, starting around 18.

My family isn't Paleo, but my Ma is gluten-free, which helped. In dorms, I ate a lot of salads, and deli meats and other quick grabs like that. Corn tortillas, while not Paleo, were a good staple for me when needed.

Now, I live in New York on my own and will be moving out west with my paleo mate. In both cases paleo is getting a bit easier.

17 here, High school senior. I'm the only one in my family and frankly it has been difficult as hell.

17, high school senior girlie here. I've been paleo for the last year or so. I usually cheat with ice cream PWO. And I'll have white rice covered in butter and steak juices (it's a neutral carb, and I'm young enough to get away with it for now, and it's cheap). My family isn't paleo at all, but at least we all love steak and quality butter. I do a lot of cooking on the weekends and I help in the shopping. It's not that bad. You're going to be doing this when you're on your own anyway.

I'll be entering college soon, and my school is offering all these fancy meal plans, but I'm not worried. I'm in fricken southern Louisiana! Strawberries and oysters, here I come!

yup. I'm the only one in my family. working on convicing my mom and my smartass sister thinks the whole thing is BS. I don't eat 100% "paleo" as I have gluten free grains and am thinking of experimenting with fermented soy products. I'm just on paleo for my acne though (so far not working ugh) and honestly probably not going to do it in college, or at least until I move out of the dorms and off the meal plan.

I'm 18. Starting college this fall. I've only been on it for a couple days but man, this is hard!! I love my ice cream and bread hahah

17 here. I'm the only Paleo that I know of offline. My friends know I have certain "dietary requirements", which can get kind of awkward if I speak about it as a choice rather than a legitimate allergy or intolerance. I'm really lucky that my mum will buy me what I want to eat, though I haven't requested anything grass-fed or organic because I think that that's a bit too much to ask for when I'm not paying for the food. I lift at least twice a week. Eating out is frustrating, though I can usually rely on a steak. I haven't actually talked to my family about what it is that I'm doing specifically, though I did send a link to MDA to my dad. I'm pretty sure he's ignored it, though. I make all of my own meals, including school lunches, but lately it's just been easier to not eat during school because it takes a while to organise. Sometimes my mum does get annoyed because she buys tons of meat and vegetables and I don't eat regularly, only when I'm hungry, so some of it goes to waste. My Paleo-ness actually stemmed from a bout of anorexia. I'm much healthier than I was before and have a better relationship with food.

At the moment I'm enjoying my current situation because I know that next year when I'm off at university it will be up to me to shop and budget and clean up after myself. And pay for a gym membership! I'm pretty hopeful for a local Crossfit, though I've heard that they're quite expensive. I'd love to keep in touch with you all, to share experiences and everything! Is everyone here in the US? I'm in Australia.

Hi there! I am 16 and paleo. Love it and feel amazing. I have a blog too if you need ideas or want to chat: spintas.weebly.com. I have slowly transitioned my family to paleo and they love it too. But I understand your frustration. My mother, doesn't agree with my eating habits :(.

Hey! I'm 19 and about to start sophomore year in college. I just started paleo about a month ago. I've been away from home all summer, pretty much on my own. I've been buying all my own food and cooking for myself, which has been really fun and also made it much easier to stick with clean eating. I'm about to go home to Mississippi, and to my very southern family. I told them about it when I made the switch, and they weren't too thrilled. They don't really get it, and they think I'm just being weird. It's gonna be tough to stay on track when I get home, being surrounded by everything I love (chicken pot pie, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, etc.) but hopefully I'll be able to stick it out. Anyway, I definitely understand where you're coming from. Just keep at it and your parents will get used it it eventually! Good luck and all that.

16 here.. just a tip for anyone who wants to track carb/fat/protein, calorie, and vitamin/mineral intake. Buy a scale and use chronometer.com It's amazing :]

Yep 16 year old gal from Australia :) Pretty hard to do when all your mates are filling up on maccas, doritos and pizza. But it's so worth it! Ever since I cut grains, most fruits and starchy carbs I've been feeling 100% better than I used to feel before. My energy is stable, my mental clarity has improved (although not yet optimum which is the main reason I went paleo, apart from a previous Eating disorder that I wanted to beat). I can honestly say this has been one of the best lifestyle decisions I've made the past year or so, apart from beginning a regular strength training program and some cardio to complement it.AlL I can say is, keep it up! It's worth all the extra effort. It also helps if you have your family's support but if you don't you always have us!

Btw Fern whereabouts in Australia are you from?

It is difficult only if you make it difficult. I'm 19 and have been on the Paleo lifestyle for about a year. I used to be overweight and loved my junk food. The sudden transition shocked my family. There never goes a day by without them making some remark. I take it as a joke and laugh along. Nonetheless they have been really supportive and make healthy choices with their food too.

From my experience with the paleo diet is stop trying to explain yourself to people who no matter what are going to perceive the paleo diet as harmful. Keep your mouth shut and do what you do since you know you are on the right path. If someone wants more details? Sure why not but otherwise it's best to keep your ways to yourself and stand by it.

Haters Gonna Hate!

im 14 and semi-paleo. i eat a few whole grains sometimes, but i eat a TON of fruits and veggies!!

I just turned 20 and I'm a girl from Germany :) I have IBS/Crohn's for a long time so Paleo ist a great option. Didn't help alot with my guts but let alone the feeling that you are eating perfectly healthy is enough to me :) Fuck grains!

Hello,

I am 19 and in the same boat, I am a very athletic as well, and I am trying to get my family on board but its not working! I would love to talk about tips/ advice ! where are you from?

I totally feel you! I'm 18 and started this journey when I was 16 and a half after I found out I have food allergies, and a sibling got me hooked. I live with my parents who I had to umm.... ahem force bread and other junk out of the house. After many occurring fights, their plates are looking better and better by the day! I do take packed lunches to school. I believe this diet is a mind-set. After that, it becomes easy. I sit with my friends who eat pizza and chips everyday, and I just tell myself it's poison and that I'm also eating some tasty food that is good for my body. It's so fun to have paleo be your friend if you're an athlete. At meets, bring packed fruits and veggies. Drink coconut water for electrolytes and potassium. Just enjoy what you're doing and how it makes you feel. Don't let others' inability to try or understand stop you from pursuing this amazing thing you're doing for yourself!

I'm a month from 17 and have been doing strict Paleo since August of 2012. My parents buy the food thankfully, and my sister, a vegan, works at a organic food store thankfully where she gets a massive discount on locally grown, organic, grass-fed, and healthy foods, along as being able to bring home whatever she likes from the compost bin where a surprising amount of great produce gets put.

I'm very athletic. I'm in a weightlifting class at my highschool, varsity swimmer, varsity baseball player, and go to the local golds gym. I workout, in some form, six days a week.

As a teen, I find myself never being full haha. I'm constantly eating, but because of what I'm eating, I don't gain weight and don't feel bad eating it. I make all of my food myself. My mother and non-vegan sister don't mind it much. My dad gives me grief for it at times and I'm working to get him to converge as his weightloss has hit a wall. My friends all make jokes about it but I think its fun so I don't mind haha. When eating out, I eat regular food because I rarely ever eat out.