This kind of thing happens to me, too. Technically, it has always happened, but I didn't connect the dots until I went Primal.

For me, it was an inflammation reaction. I had actually figured out that it was inflammation after years of dealing with chronic headaches. I could max out on Tylenol for three days straight and not touch the headache, but Ibuprofen or Tylenol paired with something else (barbituate, codeine, etc) would work. They were bad, too. Just before I went Primal, I was taking 800mg Ibuprofen nearly every day to keep from having a headache all day, every day.

Once I went Primal, I found that my triggers were generally grains and anything heavy in starch and/or sugar. So yeah, donuts are pretty much a surefire trigger for me.

I don't really know the scientific details beyond that, other than perhaps it's some kind of intolerance. To my knowledge, there isn't much known on this front, other than that a ketogenic diet has shown promise for migraine sufferers (the going theory is that the ketones provide a neuroprotective effect, decreasing the frequency and severity of attacks).

For birthdays, we have found an amazing local bakery that does gluten free cakes. Our favorite is a cake where the layers are made of meringue, and the filling is either chocolate mousse (dairy free, egg-based version) or whipped cream and fresh fruit.

So, it's high in sugar (yeah), but definitely a treat that even the celiacs in our family can enjoy for such a special occasion as a birthday. And the way I've figured out how my body works with carbs, I can do a really high carb day (like under 200g of carbs), just so long as I don't do two of those in a row, or more than twice a week. And we only have five birthdays a year in our family, so that's not too often for such a rich treat.

I haven't tried any of the paleo birthday cake/cupcake recipes I've seen online, partly because so many of them call for almond flour in the mix, and I have nut-free family members.

a week or so into paleo and I was throwing an adult sized tantrum because I wanted something from my favorite restaurant, a gyro salad to be exact. When we called the place they told us they put flour in the meat. I hadn't really eaten all day and I had a headache so I said screw it and my had my husband get the salad. Within 20 minutes of eating I feel like absolute *kitten*. Within an hour I was so bloated I looked 9 months pregnant and I couldn't fall asleep for awhile. I woke up feelings sick, my head hurt, my fingers and toes were swollen and I just was blah.
I would often wake up like this previously and assumed it was just salt or something.

Yeah... talk about motivating. I've done gluten free in that past just never grain free. I'm on like 2 week or so now I have no clue honestly and I feel amazing.

MrsBailey149 wrote: »

As I continued my day yesterday...feeling tired, bloated, and with a headache, I certainly can say that I felt that way often prior to doing paleo.

You were probably at least somewhat insulin resistant before... feeling like crap after eating something that's loaded with sugar is actually a really good sign.