I wanted to describe to you what it's like living with Paleo. In a previous post called "Effects of My Weight Gain", I listed the negative effects of my 60-pound weight gain. My list including everything from bad PMS symptoms to depression to weird pockets of fat EVERYWHERE. Those were just the "surface" effects. The underlying effects were much more serious.
I had been passing out every day in the afternoon due to unstable blood sugar. My weight was fluctuating every week - up 3 pounds, down 5 pounds, up 2 pounds, down 2 pounds. My body was out of the contract with the rest of my being. I didn't understand what my body was going through. I knew that peri-menopause has something to do with it, but all of the weird happenings were just too strange to me.
I actually stumbled onto Paleo after following a low sugar, low carb elimination diet. My rule was: If ANY food bothered my stomach, I got rid of it. After researching Paleo, the next day, I followed the routine described in the Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson. I read Chapter #4: Primal Blueprint Law #1: Eat Plants and Animals, which outlined the basics of a Paleo diet. At this point, I was willing to try anything. I must say although there is no magic pill to this story, my symptoms and misery dissipated by 50% the very next day. No joke!
I had already read so many accounts of people on various diets (not Paleo) that had some miraculous weight losses or just tremendous miracles in their bodies. Although, I would not describe my experience that way, I can testify that my misery dissipated by 50% the very next day. I could feel my body healing itself. I cried the next morning because I had been so miserable with the fainting spells, stomach bloat, and weight gain. By the way, I did not faint the next day. As a matter of fact, I have never fainted since...it's been 1 year on Paleo as of March 2014. By the end of the week, I felt better...it was working.
I'm not one to brag or boast about anything. But, as I tell my friends and family, Paleo saved me. I just don't know how far I could have gone with the symptoms I had. After a few months of being stabilized under Paleo, I went and did a full physical and a colonscopy. All doctors told me nothing was wrong. All of my numbers were far within normal range. My blood sugar which had hovered around the border was now a bit lower, not far but a bit lower than the previous 3-month blood test that I had been taking.
By the time I got to my OBGYN, she told me that I had lost 10 pounds. You know, I was so wrapped up in how I was feeling and getting out of my misery that I hadn't once weighed myself. The 10 pounds came off immediately and the same weight has stayed ever since. This is fine for now because it meant that my body was becoming more stable. I'll take it!
So, here is my list of effects from Paleo, a year later:
1. little to no stomach aches
2. minimal bloating in the stomach
3. no fainting spells
4. deeper sleep
5. regular bowel movements (I mean down to the hour!)
6. steady body weight (although, I want to start working on losing more this year)
7. nail and hair growth (more protein, I guess)
8. brighter mood (there are more good days than bad ones)
9. clear focus and attention (I suffered a lot from "brain fog" in the mornings)
10. more energy
11. no appetite (I went from 6 meals and passing out to 3 meals)
12. no bad breath in the mornings (my hubbie likes this)
13. no restless legs
My body is slowly on the mend and I do occasionally revert back to eating some carbs and junk food. I suffer greatly for it though. As soon as I swallow the offensive food, my stomach bloats and I feel awful. The bloating persists until I cannot breath. I've gone to the emergency room twice on it. I really thought I would die right there. Doctors have told me that it is food sensitivities. Food sensitivities to entire food groups? I don't know but this is a harsh reality of having a sensitive digestive system these days. I'm actually grateful for it because I need the reminder everyday.
I have pushed it once or twice...rebelled and just ate the carbs, diary and fried food from the old days. I have also cursed the same foods as I would sit with my head sunk into the sink while on the toilet trying to shit or throw up, which ever came first. Not an episode I recommend to anyone. When I want to eat the way I used to, I try to think about those times in the bathroom. Pure hell on earth...
My bottom line is that Paleo has saved me...I don't know why but it just has. I will testify about it to anyone who wants help. When people ask me what I eat, I simply say: meat, veggies, nuts and seeds. They say what about sugar? I say "as little as possible". They say what about carbs? I saw "I try not to". I don't want anyone feeling weird around me or rearranging their dinner party around me but it's just something that I have to do. I know that my life depends on it now.
Disclaimer:
I am not a Paleo spokeswoman. The above is my own story with my ailments and how Paleo brought a little peace into my life. I am not advocating this approach for you. If you decide to try it, I would personally start with the Sisson book I mention to get an understanding of the philosophy behind the system. If you look at the book, its reviews and information and then decide to buy it, I will get a few pennies in my Amazon affiliate account. I will not get rich as I'm not trying to. More importantly, I will have helped someone out there like me.
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