Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Does your personality have two sides - the Paleo You and the NonPaleo You?

Is NonPaleo You - the one you perhaps last experienced after a couple of weeks on refined sugars, industrial oils, etc. - anxious, mood swingy, morose, despondent, irritable, etc.?

Is the Paleo You - the one where you're at least a few weeks/months into clean eating - even-keeled, chipper, cheerful, patient, and optimistic?

Or not? Is there no change, or is it even the other way around?

And is the transition between each personality (NonPaleo You to Paleo You, Paleo You to NonPaleo You) a rough one or a smooth one?

Have you said goodbye to NonPaleo You for good - or does NonPaleo You still crop up a few times a year (or more? less?)?

flag	asked Apr 27 2011 at 13:05 familygrokumentarian 12.4k●4●25●87

Carl_Stawicki · Answer 1 · 2011-04-27 13:26:17Z UTC

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The non-paleo-me pokes it's head out once in a while, only to have it "Whac-A-Moled" back by the paleo-me.

answered Apr 27 2011 at 13:26

Carl_Stawicki
13.3k●1●6●32

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I wish that I was in a state where a brief but intense round of Whack-a-Mole worked! (And incidentally sounds fun...) For me to get back to Paleo Me (over sugar withdrawal, etc.) practically requires a Civil War era military campaign. – familygrokumentarian Apr 27 2011 at 13:35

Haha, I'm sometimes like that too. – Danielle Apr 29 2011 at 12:07

MF · Answer 2 · 2011-04-27 13:37:05Z UTC

Short Answer: Yes. When I splurge and have a few tacos and some beers, or go for dessert after a fine dining experience it takes a day to get back to normal. I'm tired, cranky, feel like ass, etc. I like to think that the occasional splurge keeps me on track by reminding me how crappy I feel.

Joey · Answer 3 · 2011-04-27 23:00:33Z UTC

I feel like both being strictly Paleo,as I can't afford to cheat due to health reasons. So,Paleo is sometimes a real struggle to me resulting in depression,lethargy,anxiety,crankiness,feeling of deprivation. I sometimes get so bored of having to eat Paleo,lack of energy to once again come up with something that looks,feels and tastes like a meal etc.

Sometimes I just wish I could eat a sandwich or a piece of cake again or enjoy an occasional icecream at a terrace in the sun,like the rest of my family&friends and the world. (And I don't mean Coconut milk substitutes..but the real deal!).

g. · Answer 4 · 2011-04-28 03:14:35Z UTC

Yep. Totally. Grainy, sugary eating = Mr Hyde, for me.

I am of the thinking that those with increased intestinal permeability (leaky-guts!) have the hardest time with mood-related symptoms. There is a direct gut-to-brain connection. E.g. many celiacs have mood problems, as well as neurological symptoms, even nerve damage.

Quitting gluten literally (and quite unexpectedly), changed my brain.. THANK GODS. No joke.

Eventually i figured out that for me, not only grainy things, but also yeasty things summon my evil, sad twin. After I quit beer, I drank hard-cider a few times as a delicious replacement; it took me a while to figure out why I felt so terrible/anxious/dark/moody/foggy for days afterward. (Non-yeasty adult beverages do not have this effect.)

Does Paleo You / NonPaleo You feel like Jekyll and Hyde?

4 Answers