Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Today I took some time to write in my journal about how great I feel lately, and I know it's a direct correlation in regards to now eating Paleo. When my addict mind starts to stray back to those foods I thought I could never give up, I'm going to come back here and re-read this.

I hope you all can give me some of your positives too, all in one easy to find thread. Okay, so here's what I got:

Weight loss - approximately 12 lbs. And lots of inches - I'm down two belt loops on my belt.
Sleep - I am ready to sleep around 8 p.m. every night and I usually sleep until 5:40 a.m. That is at least 8 hours of sleep per night. It feels wonderful. And I notice that my body really wants and needs that sleep. I feel ready to crash at 8 o'clock every night. It's almost like my body wants me to hit the pillow. I am usually awake before the alarm.
Mood - My mood and attitude have improved dramatically. I am happier, more content with life, and don't focus on the negative as much. In fact, everything seems sunny and cheerful. I do not think about food all day. Previously I constantly was planning my next meal. It was really obsessive.
Skin - My skin has cleared up tremendously. Not as many breakouts on my face and the little white bumps I used to get on my arms and legs have cleared up as well. Additionally, my skin is much softer and has a nice feel to it. My sporadic eczema has cleared up completely.
Appetite - My appetite has decreased significantly. I was able to begin trying intermittent fasting and not be too hungry while doing it. I haven't seen a huge drop in weight after IF so far, however it has felt good that I can be in control of my eating and go for awhile without food if I need or "want" to.
Sex - My sex drive has increased from basically none to a lot. I have been wanting it more and additionally orgasms are all that much intense - which makes me want it more.
Digestion - I have been steadily taking psyllium seed fiber supplements daily - and have stopped today. I don't know if it's the fiber supplements or the diet (I will find out soon), but I have went from a bowel movement every 3-5 days to 1 or 2 every single day. That is amazing to me. Also, I hardly have to wipe after going. It's like my bowels completely empty themselves out, which has never happened to me before. I also do not have much gas or bloating (which I was having constantly before). I have noticed a decrease in bad smell when I do have gas and pass a bowel movement. There is hardly any smell at all!
Calorie / Point Counting - I stopped logging my foods completely. I hate logging my foods, it's such a pain in the ass. I have been listening to my body for the most part and only eating when I really feel hungry. It's a well welcomed change to counting WW points or calories. That is for the birds.
Energy - My energy has been through the roof lately. Last week while walking the dog I had the urge to run, so I did! I later told my husband I felt like Forrest Gump. It was exhilarating. It made me miss that feeling I used to get when I'd workout in years past. Almost a "high".

I wouldn't trade any of this for a piece of pizza or a drink of soda. It feels too damn good.

So, do you have any of the above, or are you experiencing any other "side effects" to living the Paleo lifestyle?

flag	asked May 2 2012 at 22:59 Bobbie 471●1●10

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Great response, I'd say, for one month in, Bobbie! Good work! – Albert May 3 2012 at 2:32

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Yay! nice list. Bobbie, how long have you been paleo? I'm curious because I think I was much more acutely aware of the benefits about 1-2 months into paleo. – PaleoVenus May 3 2012 at 14:23

PaleoVenus, 33 days and counting of strict Paleo... :) – Bobbie May 3 2012 at 23:31

Thanks Albert! :) – Bobbie May 3 2012 at 23:31

Jae · Answer 1 · 2012-05-03 00:00:46Z UTC

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I would also add that:

My skin deals with the sun better - seem to be tanning for the first time in my life! And also I'm holding onto the tan for longer.
Since taking high vitamin butter and cod liver oil (Green Pastures), I could be imagining it - but my teeth don't get as much build up and feel 'cleaner'.
As a woman, my periods are less painful, not as heavy and more regular.

answered May 3 2012 at 0:00

Jae
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My dysmenorrhea is gone as well! I used to wake up and immediately know I was on my period because a) I was way more tired than usual; b) Everything on my body hurt; c) My head would just pound and pound. This would last all day, the pain and the fatigue taking away any possible productivity. I missed classes for my period! Seriously?? Now I feel way more energetic all the time, with a more marked [proportional] increase during that time of the month. It's just swell! – bethileptic May 3 2012 at 0:33

psychopompous · Answer 2 · 2012-05-03 00:10:45Z UTC

Mine are pretty similar to yours:

I've lost almost 30 pounds, almost entirely from diet change. I hardly exercise at all. I admit it—I'm lazy.

I have also lost all my seasonal allergies. Spring & fall used to bring itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose, but I haven't had these in a while.

I'm much less prone to getting sick, and when I do get sick (which was only once this winter—a minor head cold), the symptoms abate after only a day or two. Compare that to last winter when I had the flu three times!

I stay full from meals much longer and I can go longer without eating, and intermittent fasting is a breeze. I don't feel bloated or gassy or like I'm going to explode after eating. And I never ever count calories.

TruthinessInc · Answer 3 · 2012-05-03 00:18:51Z UTC

My biggest side effect is people stare at me, and by people, I mean Women.

After losing a good amount of weight and leaning out my body I notice more women looking at me, I check my fly, it is not down, I’ve tried breath mints but how can they smell my breath from across the room!

Women smile more at me like they know something I don’t…what do they know! It’s driving me crazy…

Something else that happens is women will give me these business cards with phone numbers on the back, but the number on the back doesn’t match the number on the front…it’s some kind of scam they’re running…

That’s all I would add to the side effects list for now! Though I hate to add a negative since Paleo has really changed my life, now if I could just meet a nice girl. Truth

Stephanie · Answer 4 · 2012-05-03 01:25:34Z UTC

This is weird, but my body seems to have better temperature control. I used to be cold all the time, but now I seem to maintain my temp better. I don't know if it's Paleo related, but I have to assume it is, since that's the only thing I've really changed in my life in the last year. I don't need a jacket as much, and I also don't sweat as readily in the heat because I'm not as hot... I live in Minnesota, by the way. We definitely have some extreme weather up here :)

Ebice · Answer 5 · 2012-05-03 11:55:56Z UTC

Allergy: Went from sneezing all day to almost nothing. Maybe having to blow my nose once shortly after waking up.

Stable energy levels all day.

Learning to cook.

Far fewer colds, and I kick them much quicker. One cold in the past year, and I shut down for 1 day. Coworkers who had the same cold were ill for 2 weeks or more.

Second looks from women.

Can you add to this list of amazing “side effects” of the Paleo diet?

5 Answers