I had been struggling for a long time with a lot of different symptoms and then was diagnosed with PCOS. (We can talk about that later.) The doctor wanted to put me on diabetic medication and hormones. I really didn't like the idea of being on medication for the rest of my life and just covering up the symptoms while not really dealing with the root of the problem. So I started researching....and researching...
Research led me to the Paleo diet. Exciting...It seemed like this had really worked for a lot of people in my situation. Could this be the answer I was looking for? Intimidating...what if I couldn't do it? Overwhelming...there was so much information and so many variations. Paralyzing...where do I even start...which variation of Paleo should I follow...what if it doesn't work? I talked to a friend about it and she told me to check out "Whole 30." (I love you Lauren!!) 30 days? That seemed doable. So I started in January of 2012. I tried to put all the "what if it doesn't work/what if I'm not doing it right?" thoughts out of my mind and just took one day at a time...one meal at a time...one snack at a time. Food was my medicine! 30 days later...all my PCOS symptoms had pretty much gone away and I felt great! IT CHANGED MY LIFE!! I didn't look back and continued eating Paleo moving forward.
Fast forward to June 2012. One of the biggest changes you may notice is the 35 pounds I have lost. (I had previously lost about 20 pounds before starting Paleo...and I had to fight hard for each one!) But some of the many changes you may not notice at first glance are the elimination of headaches, heartburn, stomach pain, gasteroparesis symptoms, many PCOS symptoms, food sensitivities, seasonal allergies, acne, restless nights, fatigue and depression that I had been struggling with for so long. More than everything I have "lost" eating Paleo, what I have gained is the real story! I have gained peace from my health symptoms that seemed to consume my every day life. I have gained a peace of mind when it comes to eating...my life is not consumed with calories and guilt. Food isn't the enemy anymore! I have gained the joy in living my life again. You don't realize how bad you feel until you start to feel good again.
This is my lifestyle now. I thought it would be hard to stick with...but it isn't. I eat REAL food...every day! I don't feel deprived. The food I eat gives me the energy and strength I need to live the life I want to live. This is what MY body needs to avoid medication and live my optimum life. Thanks be to God that I found something that works for me!
Many friends and family members have adopted parts or all of the Paleo lifestyle and are also seeing:
- More energy
- Better sleep
- Less body pain
- Less symptoms of Colitis
- Clearer skin
- Weight loss
In a nutshell, what is Paleo?
There are many different variations. This is what I have been doing and it works for me:
- No sugar and no sugar substitutes (I will use honey as a sweetener now. But I didn't for the first few months!)
- No grains
- No soy
- No dairy (I'll now have a little occasionally. But I didn't for the first few months!)
- No legumes
I'll let the experts tell you about what it is and the many areas it might be able to help increase your health. Check out some of these links for more information...
Basic information on the Whole 30 and where to start: (A lot of resources here!)
http://whole9life.com/category/whole-30/
Testimonials: (everything from joint pain to weight loss to diabetes)
http://whole9life.com/2011/06/the-whole30-a-z-real-life-testimonials/
No comments:
Post a Comment