I decided to switch to a paleolithic diet over a month ago, which includes meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds and a little fruit. It excludes processed foods, grains, legumes, sugar and sometimes dairy. I am doing this for health reasons and to find a diet compatible with my body that is also easy to execute.
Since then I have increased my meat consumption dramatically, but I continued to drink a few mochas and eat a small amount of sugared candy and the occasional ice cream, which is an improvement over my almost daily ice cream consumption of two years ago. I am a huge fan of sugar, and I suspect I’m lactose intolerant.
You see, I’ve been doing well on the ice cream front until a friend introduced me a few weeks ago to a stand that still dipped their cones in chocolate! What horrible timing!!! So as a reward for transitioning to the paleo diet, I’ve had a couple cones, but no more than one per week. Wait, was it two? Some people do donuts; I do ice cream. With chocolate shell.
Anyway, last Monday I decided to buckle down and be good, so I kicked off the diet Sunday with a mint chocolate chip cone dipped in chocolate. You know how it is. “I’ll start my diet Monday. Since I won’t be able to have any ice cream on the diet, I”ll have it now.”
I lasted until Friday eating meat and vegetables and a small amount of fruit, when on my way home from picking up cat food I stopped by a little craft store in the country where I bought some honey. (I haven’t bought honey for years, but I had come across a recipe on a blog that called for it.)
The owner was scooping up ice cream for another customer, and I just had to look. He had mint ice cream! My favorite. I asked for a taste test, which is just dumb. Then I ordered some, but I ordered it in a bowl, not a cone. I was avoiding the grains. This was my downfall.
That night I gorged on fruit. Saturday I found myself eating four Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and a large bag of sunflower seeds, a tradition. And, horror of horrors! I had a Diet Coke, too! I have, like, three per year. So you just know I’m going through some changes here.
Yesterday I walked to Starbucks and had my only decaf mocha for the week, which is pretty amazing. (By the way, once I cut back on the mochas my dizzy spells [benign positional vertigo] stopped.) Then I started craving sugar again and ate an entire bag of Riesen chocolates. I try not to deprive myself of what I want, what with being an accomplished addict, so once my mind starts in on an idea, my feet tend to follow.
I’ve Gained Weight (No Shit?)
I think my main problem is that I wait too late in the day to eat, and then my body wants energy NOW. I also think I can get away with just a little bit of sugar. As an alcoholic, I should know better. There’s no such thing as “a little bit of sugar” for me. I also think I’ve been eating too much fat.
When I started incorporating paleo principles into my diet I dropped down to 156. This morning I weighed 160. Some of the negative changes I’ve noticed on (my half-hearted version of) this diet are:
- Return of menopausal hot flashes (first few weeks); not so bad now
- Increased body heat
- Lumpy breasts and sore nipples
- I feel like my deodorant salt doesn’t work as well as it used to
- Slower bladder evacuation requiring more effort
- Bowel movements that need no toilet paper (lack of sticky grains)
Now, I’ve noticed many of these same things in the past when I was really stressed and heavily into ice cream. So I think it’s just too much fat. I’ve been consuming a lot of pork, and so far it’s all been factory-farmed. This week I’m putting a deposit on a pasture-raised pig.
I’ve yet to experience the “through the roof” energy I’ve read about, but on my return from Starbucks yesterday I did 15 pushups (on my knees). I’m normally good for only 10.
I also am happy to report that I once again have fingernails. My fingernails have been weak and brittle for as long as I remember, but this past year they’ve been really bad. They typically peel at the edges or tear at the cuticle right where they separate from the finger. Now I’m having to file them down, they’re getting so long. They’re still weak and bend easily, but last Wednesday I pulled weeds at a farm for an hour and a half, and my fingernails survived intact. I think this is from the increased protein consumption, and I’m hoping it has an equally salubrious affect on my hair, which is also very brittle and damaged. These past two years struggling to keep my business afloat and losing everything was very stressful on my body.
So, it’s Monday again. You know what that means. Try, try again.
No wait. “Do. Or do not do. There is no try.”
Any paleos out there have ideas on my body changes or what helped you stick to the diet?
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, Joanne, I’m happy to find you again. I’ve thought of you numerous times these last couple of years, wondering how you’re doing. Remember me? Bookstore in Seattle? I was an ass, and we lost touch. My last two years have been very similar to yours, BK and all. Glad to hear you’ve survived. I’m doing well, working for the Big River, of all things!
Love your blog and I’ll be back.
~Sharon
It is REALLY nice to hear from you. I was always saddened that we parted ways. Sorry to hear about the store and the BK, but the store was such a huge drain on you. Just as my business was on me. So glad to get rid of it. And I can’t believe you’re working for the Big River. There’s irony for ya!
Well, glad you’re back. And I apologize for my part of our parting. And I still owe you. Haven’t forgotten. Just haven’t been able.
Okay, I must admit that I have forgotten. I don’t recall you owing me anything. Hmmm. Seriously, nothing comes to mind. But, that’s what two tumultous years will do to a person! I’m spending way too much time on here today, but your blog is amazing. I have a kind of lame attempt at a blog, too, nothing like yours, but you might enjoy it: http://www.ducksinseattle.com, if you have the time.
Thanks for still caring,
Sharon
Hi,
I followed your link from your comment at Dr. Eade’s Protein Power.
Your symptoms sound like low thyroid function (which can also be due to inadequate T4 to T3 conversion, even if T4 production is adequate) , estrogen dominance (either too much estrogen production, too little progesterone production, or otherwise out of balance), and possibly also low cortisol production (often occurs in tandem with low thyroid function). Typical Western perimenopausal stuff pushed to the back burner with sugar (no matter what the source) and caffeine.
Have you looked into progesterone cream for the perimenopause symptoms and the breast soreness?
There’s a lot more I can say about my experience with all this perimenopause, hypothyroidism stuff, etc., plus low carbing for 5+ years, paleo with dairy for about 2 years, etc. but I’ll take a look around your blog first.
Cheers!
Sharon, your blog is great. Those ducks are SO cute!!! I love ducklings. I had some when I was a kid. I’d fill up the bathtub and watch them speed swimming underwater, flapping their wings and spraying the whole bathroom with water. All my ducks ended up at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park (except for the couple that raccoons got to).
The money was the registration fee for my eBay seminar. I know you told me to keep it, but I never wanted to. I was just never able to pay it back. So it’s still on the ledger.
Against the grain, thanks for commenting. I was perimenopausal two years ago and had quite a few symptoms, especially when I was eating just fruit for a short while. However, eating raw food only led to my breasts being completely pain-free. It seems high fat leads to congestion for me.
The hotflashes and such subsided after I increased my iron (I was anemic after a month of bleeding) and my vitamin D (level was 13). I’ve had pretty smooth sailing until this recent diet change.
I seem to be through menopause. I was having a lot of hot flashes the first few weeks of a partial paleo diet, which included sugar but no caffeine. But recently, in giving up decaf mochas, I’ve been indulging in a few cups of coffee a week. I had given up caffeine in February. Perhaps that is contributing to the breast soreness. I’ll have to keep modifying my diet and reducing the variables.
I read recently that those who consume Celtic sea salt are in danger of iodine deficiency, so I recently started supplementing to see the effects. This past week doing without sugar (six days) have been hot flash free, which has been pleasant.
Do you think supplementing with iodine might help? I’m really not a fan of hormone manipulation and would rather deal with my issues nutritionally and emotionally if possible.
I tried the link to your blog and nothing’s coming up. I’m getting an error message. Then I searched Google and the link there didn’t work either. Is your blog down?
OMG, Joanne, I had completely forgotten. Please, can you forget about it, too? So inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. If you ever do find yourself with the funds, buy something for yourself that you have been really wanting, or simply pay it forward.
Glad you like the ducks. I am so in love with my ducks. I was a little apprehensive that I had some kind of romantic memory of when I had ducks as a teenager, and that when I actually got them I’d discover that I really didn’t like them, but, fortunately, quite the contrary. The only thing I’m worried about now is that they might not all be girls, and then I’ll need to decide what to do. Another few weeks, and I’ll know for sure. I try to not to worry meanwhile and simply enjoy them.
Came here from your comment on Mike Eades blog. The other variable here is that it seems like at the current time you are both high fat and high sugar. After reading Gary Taubes’ Good Calories, Bad Calories where he repeatedly shows that what is blamed on fat turns out to be caused by sugar, I wouldn’t draw conclusions until I was high fat, no or low sugar. Strongly recommend Taubes’ book if you haven’t read it. Its a review of the science, not a diet book.
Thanks, Sharon. When I get some money
not if 
I’ll pay it forward.
Walter, thank you for your comments. I’ve had Taubes’s book on my wish list for a few weeks and have been waiting for funds to buy it. I just finished “Know Your Fats” by Enig, and I also want to read Colpo’s book.
I’m thinking it’s the fat because I didn’t have any refined sugar from Monday to Friday, just some vegetables and a little fruit. It was during that time that my breasts began getting sore and that I noticed the change in bladder evacuation. Is it possible that my body is just taking some time converting over to fat as fuel?
I haven’t had any sugar today. I’ll try harder to do without though I’m having some serious cravings. But I think tomorrow I’m going to have to start in on the watermelon in the fridge.
From what I understand, there is a transition period where your body which is used to manufacturing the enzimes to deal with carbs has to now manufacture many more enzimes to deal with fat. People are often tired and have some brain fade during this two week transition and then report higher energy levels and mental sharpness than they previously had.
I read Good Carbs, Bad Carbs by checking it out of the library. The review of the science and the politics masquerading as science is quite eye opening. If you have a library nearby, it would be worth checking it out instead of waiting.
P.S. According to Art De Vany, on his subscription blog, a hit of sugar affects gene expression for for two weeks. Even if you “behave” most of the time something like ice cream will have a dramatic impact even if its only occasionally. According to De Vany, its the extreme events that shape us.
Advice I’ve found to work is when craving carbs, have protein instead. If you really need the carbs your body can convert the protein to carbs.
Walter, re library: Our library doesn’t have GCBC and my two interlibrary loans are already taken.
Bad news about the sugar. I guess this is a diet that one REALLY has to conform to. I had some watermelon today for a total of 52g of sugar so far. I had 2 pork chops fried in bacon grease. Then I had a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I’ve walked about 2 miles. I think I’ll have some asparagus with mayonnaise now.
It’s distressing to hear that one ice cream or one hot mocha can set me back for two weeks. Weighing my watermelon (850g) and knowing the sugar content (52g) was enlightening.
Thanks so much for your input, Walter.
Go to this link to see Taubes speak at the Dartmouth medical school
http://www.dhslides.org/mgr/mgr060509f/f.htm
Hit the pause button once you are there to start the video.
The Soft Science of Dietary Fat. from National Association of Science Writers : http://www.nasw.org/awards/2001/01Taubesarticle1.htm
The Times site has his article “What If Its All Been A Big Fat Lie?”
52 grams of carbs in a watermelon is radically different than the ice cream you were originally talking about.
Mike Eades has said that low carb diets done half-assed still help.
Don’t despair. Wish you the best of luck. Hope the video and the two Taubes articles help. Strongly recommend both Protein Power and Protein Power Life Plan as well, but assume you might have read them.
Thanks for the links, Walter. I had seen the Taubes video. I’m looking forward to reading his book. I’m reading Protein Power now. I’ll have to get Life Plan. Yesterday I picked up Nourishing Traditions at a farm along with a pasture-raised chicken (my first), four dozen eggs, and some pasture-raised sausage links.
I’m on the downward trend with the weight again, and my bladder seems to be getting better.
This was very interesting to me, as I’ve had a lot of similar things going on. Thanks for some enlightening and entertaining blogs!
Speaking of debts, I feel that I owe a big one to you for an insight I’d never seen before: it’s not enough just to know what an herb or drug or other substance does, you want to/need to know HOW it’s doing that (e.g., what’s the mechanism affected.) Has already saved me from some probable large errors. Thank you so very much for that!
Best of luck to you,
Susan
Susan, you are very welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
Joanne – Love your fire and your very strong vision. I wish you and I were closer geographically. I really owe you a lot on many different levels. Keep your lantern burning bright for all to see. XOXO Frances
Thanks a lot, Frances.