I started to get T2 diabetes under control. I do have a lot of weight to lose, but it is happily a side-effect of eating better.

I didn't start paleo to lose weight. I started it for health reasons.

I'd always been pretty healthy before, but I wanted a more holistic, long-term view of health. I used to count calories, and I was becoming obsessed with it. I knew in the back of my mind that surely, SURELY counting, measuring, weighing and scrutinizing everything I ate or drank wasn't sustainable, nourishing or healthy. But I didn't have a framework in which to work before.

Paleo gave me the structure - backed by logic, research and the support of thousands of blogs and websites across the world - to develop a healthy eating and living framework. I'm never hungry, I eat delicious food, and I don't feel guilty when I 'slip' and have a biscuit or a glass of wine every now and then. I just know I need to steer myself back in the right direction. Yes, I miss chocolate and cupcakes and pizza and especially pasta. But I don't miss the guilt, regret, bloating or cost associated with eating processed crap any more.

I'm happy I shop at markets to give my money to farmers directly. I'm happy that when I have kids and particularly daughters, (hopefully) they're not going to have messed up attitudes to their bodies or weight, or pressures to look skinny instead of to be healthy. I'm happy I'm not going to develop adult on-set diabetes like relatives on both sides of my family. I'm happy that I'm the one responsible for how I feel about myself.

All of those reasons are why I started eating and living paleo, am why I'm going to continuing to do so in the future.

I didn't really start to lose weight. I was looking for optimal health. I had already lose about 20kg before finding paleo, i have about 2kg to lose still, but I don't think I will ever lose it. i love food too much to restrict enough to get a six pack (And I stress eat).

Its more about eating as healthy as possible for me.

I started paleo as a means of bulking up. I figured that a lot of the prescribed foods were very calorie dense (loads of meat and fat on everything). I ended up getting Down to about 6 percent body fat and can comfortably stay there. I never did bulk up, but all other aspects of my life greatly improved, and have only got better as a got stricter. Turns out I was very gluten intolerant. Now if only I could figure out a way to gain some weight while eating this way!

I started it to solve digestion and acne problems. It solved digestion problems but not the acne (although maybe it hasn't been enough time from what I've read).

I do think it's becoming the new fad weight loss diet as well. A coworkers personal trainer has him on it to lose weight, not as a lifestyle, and I see it popping up on magazine covers as the 'lose X lbs in a month' diet.

I went paleo after being gluten free for 2 years.

I've have had stomach and gut issues for about 9 years. After being on vacation for a week and not eating my normal rice and quinoa things, I noticed my stomach felt better and I had way less gas. I went to my ND upon my return and she asked if I knew anything about the Paleo diet. I said nope, I guess I'm learning about it this week...

Nothing to do with weight loss, just wanting to find the next step towards feel better.

Add me to the list. Already found weight loss from low-carb, no sugar. I read Paleo books first and was won over on other benefits so I put it in to action and tweaked my diet to Paleoish lower carb after 3-months generic low carb.

Snoring stopped, head aches stopped, mysterious cough stopped, mental fog lifted. Plus some more weight was un expectedly lost!

I got started because of my girlfriend. I honestly thought I was in pretty good health before, but once we started Paleo my (MINIMUM) twice-weekly migraines went away, sleep improved, I become generally less irritable... Lots o' good. Oh, and she has lost a lot of weight.

I was going to a nutrionist who suggested I give up gluten because of my stomach issues. I gave that up and things improved and I stumbled onto Paleo/Primal during a web search. Started slowly cutting out grains and processed gluten free items....I started feeling amazing. My stomach has finally calmed down after years of distress. I was at a good weight when I started but I got leaner, less bloating.I have been gluten free for 4 years, Paleo/Primal 80-90% for the last 3 years. (the other 10-20% I still eat greek yogurt and occasionally have tacos on a corn tortilla)

I started Paleo because I have severe eczema. Weight had nothing to do with it – if anything, I’m a tad underweight.

I started paleo for health reasons. I have suffered from all kinds of health problems thanks to years of vegetarianism and bad genes so I thought I would give it a try. Plus all the strongest guys in the gym were on paleo. I only found out while on the paleo sites that people were losing weight with it.

I haven't lost weight, in fact quite the opposite! But I would never go back to eating lentils and spelt bread again! I'm not 'cured' yet but my digestive issues and daily headaches are much better!

I started paleo for my mental issues. I was too anxious around ppl. Its impossible to be like this nyc so. I had to give it a try. N boy has it worked. Ima different person. Ofcourse losing a bunch of weight was an awesome bonus.

I started paleo to prepare for pregnancy.

Health reasons, digestive issues, and an interest in long term health as well. The health benefits seem huge.

But also I was drawn to it because I have understood for years that humans have genetic primal programming that remains mostly unchanged (from studying psych and other general thought inquiries).

It seems to me that there are aspects to a paleo lifestyle, that are more than about the things we eat - though thats far more important than people realise. (And not just physical activity either).

The way we group, interact, the way our brains respond to light, to human touch, the way we remember things - its all geared to a way of life we no longer keep.

Whether its barefoot shoes, trying to cultivate a closer community or "tribe", or using softer lighting in the evening, the whole line of thought that is:

"is this the way we are meant to be, by our natures, by our history, by our genes?"

is a potent way to re-intergrate human needs back into a modern time that has forgotten its needs, deitary or otherwise.

Applying this line of thought to my food, is new for me. Paleo though, has long stuck a chord. And i have long thought about the other aspects, and it has reminded me that there are great benefits to re-evaluating modern behaviours, and asking that question, and trying to live more naturally in a modern age.

It seems like there are two major camps here. Those who are trying to lose weight and those who are into extreme fitness (judging by all the avitars of bare-chested guys). I never had a weight problem or had a major health problem. I guess I fall into a third camp--just want to be healthier. But I didn't realize that I was gluten intolerant until I stopped gluten and all sorts of things started to improve: Hip pain went away, mysterious rash disappeared, no more constipation, no bloating.

My personal trainer got me started on this diet. I had never been a soda drinker or a highly processed food snacker so the transition wasn't very difficult. While I still have a few problems to solve (major one being sleep) I think I'm now the healthiest that I have ever been.

Like Tyler, but mine was for a boy :)

I was raised and had eaten not too far off of Paleo/Primal my whole life so it wasn't a huge transition, was lucky and only had to make a few changes, but the benefits were, and still are, amazing.

Was able to stop taking medication for my rosacea - haven't had a breakout in over a year (yay!), started taking fish oil - no more crepitus in the knees (yay!), et al.

Adopting the lifestyle combined with my weight lifting and CrossFit I don't think I've ever been healthier, which is a huge statement as I've always looked and felt healthy but wowzers.. these are overdrive levels (thrilling!)

Unfortunately the one thing that has not improved is my terrible sense of humor :)

I started it because of health, but I was overweight so the weight loss was a benefit (OK--let me clarify: I started it because of health, which included wanting to achieve the best health for me and my family, wanting to dodge the "we need our knees replaced at 58" bullet that seems to keep hitting members of my family, to stop chronic stomach problems, and yes, to lose weight, because at 5'6 and 185 lbs, my weight was a health issue. So, yes, weight loss was in there, but not in a vanity, "I want to look better" sort of way, but more in an "I want to run with my kids" way).

My husband definitely started it for health: he's 5'6 and 130 on his fat days. But, he wrestles with GI issues, adult-onset asthma, and chronic sinusitis. Not that we're always on the wagon, but he definitely feels it if he gives into the little devil on his shoulder saying "IPA! Chocolate Stout! Summer Pils!"

I started paleo as a means of bulking up. I figured that a lot of the prescribed foods were very calorie dense (loads of meat and fat on everything). I ended up getting Down to about 6 percent body fat and can comfortably stay there. I never did bulk up, but all other aspects of my life greatly improved, and have only got better as a got stricter. Turns out I was very gluten intolerant. Now if only I could figure out a way to gain some weight while eating this way!

I "returned" to paleo to alleviate my lethargy, IBS, and sinus issues. About 8-9 years ago (2002) I went Paleo to lose weight (and I did - about 100lbs) but then started eating more and more like a strongman competitor because 5000 calories a day on Paleo was costing me about $50/day in food (with my newfound Paleo health I had taken up the sport of strongman). Also my son was born in 2004, which made my costs even more difficult. It started with dairy, then non-gluten grains, and eventually I was eating gluten grains, oats, tons of potatoes, and tons of chicken.

In late 2010, I went on vacation and while my wife and kid were park hopping (disney) I just wanted to stay in the hotel room and sleep. My guts were wrecked the whole time, I was a total mess. After some soul-searching, I realized the only times in my life where I wasn't so broken from a health standpoint, was when I was on the Paleo diet. I was 380lbs, and although I had officially "retired" from strongman a year earlier, was still eating like one.

So I came back. I am also now of the opinion that in the absence of food addiction, obesity is simply a symptom of a sick body, due to environmental stressors, and endocrinological affects of what we put in/on our bodies. Big surprise, I fixed those issues and the weight loss just came naturally.

Until recently I would always think, "Man, what an intense workout! I'm gonna go eat Taco Bell now!" The main reason for me to do Paleo was to get rid of this ype of thinking I had always had. I, like many other small guys like myself, wanted to lose bodyfat, gain muscle, and get stronger. I was always active and had a great exercise routine but had a crappy diet. A friend of mine always said losing fat and gaining muscle is about 20% exercise and 80% diet. I guess I just didn't want to believe him, until we went to the pool and saw that he was absolutely ripped. I asked him how he got that way, and he told me his exercise routine (same as mine) didn't really change that much, but he stopped eating crappy foods. I heard about this diet after being convinced he was right and here I am on week 3!

I have begun Paleo because of the incredible pain I'm in due to rheumatoid arthritis (I'm 44). Only a couple weeks in now and no changes yet..but I'm trying to stay positive! I'm also underweight, and pretty much any kind of exercise leaves me in pain for days so I don't feel I fit the norm here. Sometimes I read some of the comments on these boards and think 'wow, I wish I just wanted to shift some weight, or just wanted a super-mega buff bod!' Yeah, I'm a bit bitter like that. ;)

I DID start Paleo to lose weight. Obesity is just one of the many health issues that people see improve or disappear on a Paleo diet. For me, and for probably many people here, I was not looking for a "fad diet", but a permanent solution to being overweight. I found that, and cannot imagine going back to my old way of eating.

It's a combination for me. When I first heard about it it was in a weightloss context. I need to lose some weight, but I thought: Ha there's no way I can cut out all those things JUST to lose weight. Then I found out about all the other health aspects, and since I sufer from chronic migraines, IBS, hayfever, fatigue and just random pains all over my body, I figured it would be worth a shot. I'm on day 11 now and it's going great so far :)

I approached it as a means to desperately fix the lady problems I was having (yeah, down there). Doctors had suggested a diet of bland bread and oatmeal and blah and blah and I knew that didn't sound right, so I started to research PH Levels and such, eventually came across paleo and it has cured it.

I started to get healthy, but the primary precipitator of that decision was my blood pressure, which was becoming too high at 26 and a healthy weight.

Unfortunately, paleo/primal has not helped with blood pressure as much as I would like, and I am still on supplements (CoQ-10, garlic) to keep it normal. It has helped with some other things though, like heartburn.

Two reasons. The first has to do with my overall health. I was finding that I was having progressivly more difficult health problems to deal with. I started to feel like I was taking pills for everything. I had an Aciphex every morning or a Omeprizol. One week into Paleo and I am not taking it every day anymore. Now the second reason is pretty strange...I love to cook. I really wanted to expand my horizons and after my friend told me what he could do with veggies, I decided I really needed to give it a go.

Now I also have been loosing weight like crazy, which was a minor reason for me. Overall health was really the primary. I don't care how much I weigh, as long as I can be healthy and do the things I want to do.

I started doing paleo for health, and deliciousness.

I was after health and longevity... I surely am pleased with my improved appearance,

and my partner has great things to say about how I look in only an apron. 8^)

I came because of a shoulder injury, to reduce inflammation....but lots of other good things happened (intestinal happiness, dry skin reduced, stress level reduced, no more hayfever/congestion). Now I realize that when I cheat too much (several pieces of birthday cake, for example), my shoulder hurts again! But if I keep my cheats small (one beer), it feels fine.

I figured weight loss was probably out of the picture for me. I thought I was permanently broken. All I wanted was to get a handle on my ravenous hunger which I got from long distance, long trail hiking. The hunger was insatiable. What a bonus that I lost 25lbs, got a handle on my hunger and feel 1000 times healthier.