What has paleo done for you?
artistryrose
Posts: 84 Member
Hi everyone! Katrina here. Hope everyone is making progress on their journey today. I started Paleo at the end of April, just after my birthday and decided to really finally make a change. After several days of research, I found that Paleo was realistic and made sense to me. Shortly after the decision I raided and vacated everything in my cabinets, pantry, and refrigerator of all items that are shamed by cavemen. The first few weeks were tough. Very tired feeling, high cravings for garbage foods, etc. Once I got past the boohooing I started to lose 1.5-2lbs per week. I felt stronger, healthier, alive, and awake!
I have always had bad cramping and bloating in my lower intestines, the docs never came around to finding what the cause was. And I never really figured it out either. When I made the Paleo switch everything felt better. No more cramping, no more bloating. It was like I never knew I could feel what normal actually felt like!
So needless to say, my boyfriend and I went on a need vacation getaway in September. We splurged, drank, ate like kings... not cavemen. When i got home I wasn't feeling as good as I had. And unfortunately our habits have continued to stray away from the caveman lifestyle. So here I am, feeling the "old" normal way and struggling to get back to the basics... or Paleo way.
I lost roughly 14 lbs in about 4 months, and put some back on. I fear the re-start will bring on the tired, craving, difficult chapter, but then lead in to that really awesome feeling! Or feeling the "good" normal again. We're down to the last bits of garbage food and will begin the official gathering and hunting process. (Or picking the best produce and telling the Butcher to get me some lean cuts!)
Anyone out there who relapsed and came back full force? I would love to hear everyone's first time paleo/primal switch, successes, failures, get back up once you crash and burned stories.
What did paleo do for you? What didn't it do? Did you lose weight? Did you do it because you just wanted to carry a club?
I hope everyone has an awesome day and makes it count!
I have always had bad cramping and bloating in my lower intestines, the docs never came around to finding what the cause was. And I never really figured it out either. When I made the Paleo switch everything felt better. No more cramping, no more bloating. It was like I never knew I could feel what normal actually felt like!
So needless to say, my boyfriend and I went on a need vacation getaway in September. We splurged, drank, ate like kings... not cavemen. When i got home I wasn't feeling as good as I had. And unfortunately our habits have continued to stray away from the caveman lifestyle. So here I am, feeling the "old" normal way and struggling to get back to the basics... or Paleo way.
I lost roughly 14 lbs in about 4 months, and put some back on. I fear the re-start will bring on the tired, craving, difficult chapter, but then lead in to that really awesome feeling! Or feeling the "good" normal again. We're down to the last bits of garbage food and will begin the official gathering and hunting process. (Or picking the best produce and telling the Butcher to get me some lean cuts!)
Anyone out there who relapsed and came back full force? I would love to hear everyone's first time paleo/primal switch, successes, failures, get back up once you crash and burned stories.
What did paleo do for you? What didn't it do? Did you lose weight? Did you do it because you just wanted to carry a club?
I hope everyone has an awesome day and makes it count!
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I have been Paleo, with many lapses and stumbles, for about 5 years I think. I came to it because of GI issues, Celiac and increasing intolerance to grains of any kind. I DO fall off the wagon, and each time when I get back on, I have a greater sense of peace that this is where I need to be and the other garbage is just that...garbage! I find it easier each time, and more like coming out of a fog than withdrawal now. If you do find yourself with a lot of withdrawal symptoms, maybe you need a bit more Paleo carbs to transition. I feel fine doing it abruptly, but some people need to ease in.0
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The food has done everything for me! Cured all my illnesses; ALL, even lifelong chronic illnesses. I won't bore everyone with the details (many here have heard it all before) but my specific health improvements are in "Success Stories" at the top of the page.
This is the easiest and most sustainable lifestyle for me.0 -
I am working on getting back on track myself right now. I tried cold turkey a few times and kept failing so decided to give baby-steps a try. So far so good, fingers crossed. I picked what I thought would be the second hardest thing to give up, gluten, and started with that. Then I gave up non-gluten grains, much easier. This is week three and I gave up sugar starting on Monday. Today is the first hard day I have had. I woke with a headache but I took some ibuprofen and ate some sweet potato for breakfast and I am good. That is what is working for me so far.
I chose paleo because it seemed to make the most sense for long term changes. Every other diet I have ever tried always failed in the long run because it was impossible to keep doing it forever. Paleo though is just eating real food. No special potions powders, or meal replacement frankenfood. Just real food.0 -
I am in my 4th week of eating Paleo which was recommended by a nutritionist/dietician that I made an appointment with because of struggling being 30 pounds overweight. I have yet to lose weight, but do notice I feel better since making the switch. I am going to keep at it beacuse it is a healthier lifestyle and there is great support on MFP.
Good luck!0 -
Have you started an exercise routine? Sometimes adding weight-training will make all the difference.0
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Rosey, I have not yet started an exercise routine. As crazy as it sounds, I try to get in little tidbits of exercise throughout the day such as when I am cooking dinner, I will do a hundred jumping jacks. Or when I get up from my desk at work, I will go to the ladies room just to lean against the wall and do a few standing push ups or squeats (I'm a nut, I know...LOL). While watching a show at night, I will jog in place for a few minutes. I do have a membership to pilates, but I keep booking the nightly reservation and then cancelling because the class time schedule is too restrictive and I can't make it. Any suggestions?0
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Because my work roster changes so often I too find it difficult to get to exercise classes on a regular basis. Try the internet and see if you can come up with an hour long exercise routine which suits you. It is better than nothing and will help keep you motivated until you can find something better that suits you.0
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Rosey, I have not yet started an exercise routine. As crazy as it sounds, I try to get in little tidbits of exercise throughout the day such as when I am cooking dinner, I will do a hundred jumping jacks. Or when I get up from my desk at work, I will go to the ladies room just to lean against the wall and do a few standing push ups or squeats (I'm a nut, I know...LOL). While watching a show at night, I will jog in place for a few minutes. I do have a membership to pilates, but I keep booking the nightly reservation and then cancelling because the class time schedule is too restrictive and I can't make it. Any suggestions?
That is all movement. No officially recognized exercise routine is necessary. I love bodyweight exercises, periodic squats, lifting heavy things around the house (sometimes it's my seven year old), hauling mail/groceries home on my sled, and best of all, playing with dogs and my child.
The best activities are those that are the most fun and easiest to do anywhere, and imo, that include the family.
I have a very Primal attitude toward exercise. Mark Sisson has it about right.
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I think that is the best things to do, just MOVE! But I have also been learning that HIIT is really great too and have just not set my mind to it yet for a number of reasons. The recent one being I have been feeling sick for about 2 weeks with one thing and then the other. What I learned is that you can get in your mind 4 exercises (one example is squats, pushups, crunches, lunges) and do them as hard as you can 12 reps each. Rest when you have to and continue on through the circuit for 20 minutes, then take a leisurely walk. This is supposed to set you up for weight loss, without taxing your system too much.Rosey, I have not yet started an exercise routine. As crazy as it sounds, I try to get in little tidbits of exercise throughout the day such as when I am cooking dinner, I will do a hundred jumping jacks. Or when I get up from my desk at work, I will go to the ladies room just to lean against the wall and do a few standing push ups or squeats (I'm a nut, I know...LOL). While watching a show at night, I will jog in place for a few minutes. I do have a membership to pilates, but I keep booking the nightly reservation and then cancelling because the class time schedule is too restrictive and I can't make it. Any suggestions?
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I have a gym membership that is getting less and less use (sad to say, because I do enjoy weight-training). However, I am enjoying the sleep until not tired, and am not forcing myself out of bed at 4;30 to make my 5 am lifting routine.
So, that said, I walk - 40-50 minutes, 5 days a week. And I go to a water aerobics class on Tuesday nights (friend teaches it, and holds me accountable). Since my walks are to the train, and to/from work - I tend to go at a pretty quick clip (for me) - since I'm always late and rushing... and, I'm noticing that I've improved a lot from these walks - not winded, able to hold a conversation - and just plain enjoying them. So, I would completely recommend - just move, enjoy that you can move, and keep doing it.
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Yup, that is why I do the little things throughout the day. I know it helps. I also added an app to my phone. It is called 'Move your app' (it's free). You can set it for all 7 days or just week days (which is how I have it set). It is a reminder for people who sit all day to get up and move around. So every 50 minutes from 9am-5pm at work, an alram on my phone goes off and reads 'move your app'. It encourages me to get up and walk a bit for a minute or two. Even if it is just to go get a fresh water or walk a little, it gets me out of my cubicle and off my tush.0
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I am really active at work, lots of lifting and walking. I am also sticking to my mini HIIT sessions which last for about 20 mins (often a bit less) but I really don't want to push it too hard as my body is tired and sore at the end of the day.0
