"Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo? - PaleoHacks.com

"Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T19:09:12Z

What are some things that you previously viewed as "normal" that you now identify as diet problems, nutritional deficiencies, gluten rage, etc?

For example:

People who get stomach cramps after they eat. I previously considered this a "normal" thing that happened after you ate, but now I notice it happen to people after they eat bad or gluten filled meals (pizza, pasta, etc)
I went to see some local bands play the other day, and some of them were particularly angry/depressing. Previously I may have liked or related to this type of music, but instead I thought "that guy must eat a lot of bread. I feel bad for him."
Getting sick annually. I hear a lot of people say "yeah I have a really great immune system, I only get sick once or twice a year!" Previously I might have considered this to be a "normal", or even "healthy" immune system but I haven't even had a cold since starting Paleo. I'm starting to realize that everyone's immune system sucks.
Naps. Unless I have dramatically underslept, I don't feel tired during the day or ever have any desire to take a nap. I have noticed that many of the people I know take naps daily. Naps used to be "normal" to me, and now I view them as "there must be something wrong with this person if they need to take a nap" Related to naps, being tired after a meal is something that I also do not experience anymore and find it strange when other people just want to lay down and die after they eat.

What else??

Answer by Me for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T19:20:09Z

Constant gas, bloating, and loud digestion! I have only felt like this once since switching to paleo (and it was from over-eating fruit). Now I realize the constant digestive issues were from gluten intolerance, probably leaky gut, and overall poor gut flora.

Answer by BaconHealsChic for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T19:22:03Z

I would say "waking up angry and pissed off" was normal for me...or waking up with a lot of agitation and stress. Even among all my experimenting to see what to eat within the paleo template my moods remain improved. I also don't get into a state of worry much about anything and can take it in stride. This translates over into being a better wife, parent, daughter, friend and in my career too.

Answer by e.istre91 for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T19:48:23Z

Hey don't knock the nap! Our ancestors would of welcomed the opportunity to take a nap I'm sure. We are creatures of necessity and laziness!

But in serious response to your question, I think one of things that I have to remind myself about is that other people are slaves to their hunger. I listen to people get hungry and act like they are going to die, and they get grouchy, and they hate the world, and everything sucks if they don't get food right that moment. I enjoy my hunger now. Its like a quiet beckoning that its time to eat, but it also says "But if you can't right now, its cool, I've got some tasty stored fat to snack upon."

Answer by Aaron for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T20:11:48Z

Headaches and heartburn. I used to keep Tums and Excedrin in my desk drawer at work at all times - completely unnecessary now. These are not normal!

Answer by DFH for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T20:22:07Z

"that guy must eat a lot of bread. I feel bad for him."

Ha! I do that too.

I miss sinusitus, swollen kankles, fatigue, my 4X shirts, stomach aches, and being able to swing open a heavy door just by throwing my shoulder into it!

Answer by Invisible Caveman for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T21:39:33Z

FOOD COMA. I very easily notice when people are in a "gluten-fog" now. That sleepy, achy, fall-asleep-sitting-up thing that keeps them moving slow for hours after they eat a big gluten-laden meal. I remember it all too well, and it's now very obvious in several people close to me (along with their wheat bellies).

THE MOODY BLUES. I also have a friend who I used to discuss similar experiences of anxiety with, usually manifesting as a tight feeling in my chest or gut along with the inability to concentrate when dealing with a lot of stress. Loss of productivity, depression, and withdrawn behavior often accompanied this. Well, the anxiety is long gone from me now, but trying to tell my friend about it on more than one occasion just led to a blank stare. I guess he's in too much of a gluten-fog to process what I'm saying.

Answer by Jesse for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T21:53:40Z

It took me a while to realize, but I don't yawn anymore, and it seems odd when someone else does.

Answer by Nance for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T21:59:10Z

A bunch of my "normals" disappeared in my first month off junk. No more GERD medicine, no more Advil Migraine, the bags under my eyes disappeared and I went from buying at least 1 box of facial tissues per week to 1 in the past 6 months.

I used to lie in bed for a while in the morning because I felt so bad; now I have no excuse and my dogs know it because they used to leave me alone and now they start bouncing around as soon as I open my eyes.

I always went to bed with a lower-back-ache and my Boston Terrier would lie against it; now he doesn't because I am pain free.

I think the biggest "normal" that is now gone is that I couldn't MOVE--couldn't cross my legs, couldn't climb steps easily, etc., but now I get second glances because I walk and move like a young'un.

I'm still a worrier though. That must be hard-wired. :-))

Answer by Hoover for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T22:01:00Z

I used to be a terrible sleeper. I would lay in bed for HOURS and not fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning. I used to think it was just genetics...my mom is a carb queen/bad sleeper too. Everything would wake me up too...everything.

Since I've gone Paleo I sleep like a rock. Nothing can wake me up now. The only time I stay up all night is if Ive worked myself up over something and am thinking about it.

Answer by sage_ for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-07T22:13:03Z

toast with my soft boiled eggs or Kashi Go Lean for breakfast

Answer by Derek for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T01:15:53Z

I didn't notice at first, but I've gone off that wagon a couple times (holidays, or a treat or two on vacation) and the next day or two. I'm WAYYYY less motivated, and infinitely more distracted by everything. I'll tell myself I gotta get X thing done, and I'll have a hell of a time getting off of facebook. Then I want to catch up on some TV show I don't even watch or something, I want to re-arrange my dresser or something.

I also felt depressed for so long that it became normal. I had days I was less depressed, and days I was more depressed. So happy to be over that noise. Off paleo, it comes back, and fairly quickly though. It's very strange noticing it now and knowing I'm depressed, easily distracted and unmotivated.

Answer by Dragonfly for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T01:20:34Z

Bloating! All gone now (especially when I avoid FODMAPS.)

Answer by Paleo4ever for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T01:51:44Z

thinking it was normal to plan my day around the next sugar fix. wow. i can't believe i lived like that.

Answer by AuH2Ogirl for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T16:35:56Z

Gas, hungry grumpies, and hiccups.

Answer by Korion for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T17:15:08Z

Here you go :

Allergies at least once a year
Mood swings (not talkative in the morning, irritability)
Not talking (I used to talk very little, now I have to tell myself to shut up), probably due to autism or related underlying disease
Bad memory
Myodesopsia ("eye floaters")
Brain fogs (still have mini-brain fogs and at the same time I get myodesopsia but it's rare, most of the time when I'm doing a lot of physical effort)
Smelly flatulence (mind you I still fart, only ZC stops it almost 100%, my apologies for being gross)
Being lazy (lack of energy)
Being afraid of the dark or other silly things
Colds
Smelling when not taking a bath and scrubbing my skin well - I almost never wash myself and I don't smell (I asked tons of people already :) )
Lack of upper body muscles. Still the case hahaha but at least I know it's not normal.
Pale skin. I used to be extremely pale, now it's o-kay and I will tan this summer, like crazy. Today was the first day I saw sun this year, and I spent hours outside walking to the store, to school, ...
Tooth sensitivity. I still get this when I eat way too much fruit (kilos in less than an hour).
Not wanting to study. It's still a mystery how I solved this, but I spend my days studying now because I like it :D
Feeling cold when it's cold (only had this one year, but still...). I should have known this was not normal : when I was a kid, I didn't have trousers, only shorts, and everybody used to ask me if I wasn't cold. I stopped that a while ago because that question started to bother me, so now I wear trousers. Wish I could walk around in underwear if it was socially acceptable.

And the most important one, since I only realized it after 20 years :

Constipation! (what? I thought everybody pooped only once every 10 days! Isn't pooping every day a big waste of time?)

Answer by Michael for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T17:28:28Z

Cold resistance improved significantly!

Now office mates ask me for shutting the window.

Why, its fresh air of 10 °C?

(this is certainly the most impressive side affect for me)

Answer by Joni for "Normal" things that are not normal after going Paleo?

2012-03-08T18:01:37Z

for me:

seasonal allergies, almost completely gone!

getting colds: my entire family has a cold and I don't, for the second time this winter!

bloating after a meal, and noisy gut

trouble sleeping: usually I sleep great, but I still don't want to get up in the am. I need to go to bed earlier.

stress, anxiety

laziness: now I feel like I have lots of energy and want to move, and I'm so much stronger.

haven't really lost much weight, though, and I could stand to lose maybe 15-25lbs.