Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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After about 2 months Paleo, I've hopped off the wagon. Probably only until I get through my law school finals. And only because I had something really weird happened to me a couple of days ago that I was hoping somebody could give me some insight into. It left me saying "what the hell just happened?"

Starting Thursday morning, I had about 24 hours of ridiculous tiredness, just absolutely walking dead. My head felt weird, my gut was angry, I felt awful. But with a final on Friday morning, I was at the library all day and into the night on Thursday. Woke up early Friday morning (after a good 8 hours of sleep) to look over materials before my exam. I described the way I was feeling to my partner as bad-drunk: like at the end of a rough night when you just feel disoriented and like you need to puke. He looked sheepish and said he'd bought me a little container of ice cream (my usual finals crutch) and then he left for work. I was desperate so I ate the ice cream, took a cold shower, and did 100 push-ups. I swear, INSTANTLY, I felt tip top and skipped off to take my exam.

What the hell was that? I can't believe that I needed more carbs (I eat more fruit than most Paleos). What else could have been replenished by ice cream? And what else could have effected me so quickly? If I was actually sick and how I was feeling was not related to diet, then how did it go away so quickly? I don't think the recovery was all in my head ... just because I haven't had any similar issues with Paleo since I've been on it, and really wasn't expecting ice cream to make me feel better. I was actually worried it would upset my stomach.

Sorry for the long question, but I'd really appreciate any ideas. That was just so weird!

What I'd been eating last week (no different than usual - maybe a little more volume - hey, I'm stressed) Pancakes (eggs, coconut flour, baking soda) with butter and berries; meat, fat, veggies for 2 other meals; apple and almond butter for a snack

flag	asked May 7 2011 at 16:05 Grace 173●1●6

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Ice cream really does fix everything! :) It's my one crutch also. – sherpamelissa May 7 2011 at 16:24

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I love the tags :) – baconbitch May 7 2011 at 16:44

Kamal · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-07 16:19:51Z UTC

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Possible theory:

Mild hypoglycemia coupled with increased stress from exams, along with a lack of motion from being in the library for a couple days.

I wonder what would happen if you upped starchy carbs and took more frequent breaks to do mobility drills, and maybe meditated a little or done something totally relaxing, if that could duplicate the effect you are going for? Instead of ice cream, you could make some paleo ice cream or another paleo-type dessert. Dessert just feels so good, that maybe eating more dessert during this stretch could make your brain happy.

answered May 7 2011 at 16:19

Kamal♦
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	I like the theory ... starchy carbs = sweet potatoes and bananas? mobility drills - like walking around the library? I also stopped exercising for these two weeks (aside from the walk to and fro) to conveniently let a minor injury heal. Do you think the lack of motion could have contributed? How? Thanks! – Grace May 7 2011 at 16:24
	Perfect answer Kamal, you took the words out of my mouth. They do have coconut milk ice cream at a lot of health food stores, but it has a lot of additives. Personally, I like Haagan Daas Five. – sherpamelissa May 7 2011 at 16:26
	Hey Grace, I absolutely feel awful when I skip exercise and it usually doesn't hit me why until I fix it and feel better. I wouldn't do bananas, but sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rice even. But I have a prejudice against bananas. – sherpamelissa May 7 2011 at 16:27
	I second that emotion. Bananas sometimes cause me stomach upset, and upping sweet potatoes might be a safer bet. Baby carrots are good too for munchability. Or even mashed turnips. Mobility drills would be very simple things (not really walking) like hinging your hips and stuff. Mark Sisson has some simple ones here...marksdailyapple.com/joint-mobility-drills – Kamal♦ May 7 2011 at 16:33
	Uh oh, I don't think I've tried Haagan Dazs Five yet. Time to go grocery shopping in the name of experimentation! – Kamal♦ May 7 2011 at 16:34

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The Quilt · Answer 2 · 2011-05-07 18:29:00Z UTC

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The answer is simple......cortisol. Due to pregnenolone steal syndrome. Another area most paleo's don't really know about. Matt Lalonde had his own melt down and filled it with ice cream in episode 67 or 68. Classic.

answered May 7 2011 at 18:29

The Quilt
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Thomas Seay · Answer 3 · 2011-05-07 20:44:02Z UTC

Ray Peat is a big proponent of ice-cream, namely Haagen-Dagz. I don't know, but why question it. I take it that you don't get in such funks very often, so if this worked for you, use it on the rare occasions when you need it. Sounds like ice-cream is going to get you through these exams. Screw anybody who wants to tamper with the solution. Enjoy the ice-cream and good luck!

bittykitty · Answer 4 · 2011-05-07 16:53:14Z UTC

I'd be willing to bet my house on stress.Your body is probably panicking, and wants not only quick energy to deal with the moment,but added calories to put on weight for the future, just in case it the situation doesn't get better.If you are feeling the need for sugar,just try to keep it as natural as possible.Maybe quality figs dipped in unsweetened chocolate..sweet,but with iron and magnesium for energy.Or tea with some butter/cream and honey in it.Ginger is also good to calm the nerves, as is natural licorice and both have a sweet taste.

Don't feel too bad.I recently found out the corn intolerance I developed w/celiac has vanished (thanks to paleo, my gut healed).Have given myself two weeks to enjoy some long forbidden foods(chips, salsa,corn tortillas,M&Ms).As long as the majority of your diet is healthy,you'll be fine.

bluetooth.enabled · Answer 5 · 2011-05-08 16:44:42Z UTC

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Common wisdom around would be - you need to "heal" yourself by eating as much crap food as possible. Go for it.

After you're 10+ lbs. fatter that doesn't work, go look at your thyroid and cortisol levels.

answered May 8 2011 at 16:44

bluetooth.enabled
195●9

wait why will being 10 pounds fatter make me "healed"? No snarkiness, actually curious. none of my clothes would fit ... – Grace May 10 2011 at 19:07

lalabomba · Answer 6 · 2011-05-09 02:58:03Z UTC

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I am going through the same thing! But I am 6 months pregnant and it seems to get worse the closer I get to my due date, which is hell for me because my midwife was so proud that I was following this lifestyle (she even recommends it to her clients!

I blame stress, and feeling anxious about my impending birthdate. just as you are/were probably anxious about your exams. Its ok to falter sometimes, when its all said and done we will get back on track!! :)

answered May 9 2011 at 2:58

lalabomba
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	Don't be too hard on yourself. Being pregnant counts as temporary insanity! The fact that you're doing paleo during pregnancy is wonderful, regardless. During BOTH my pregnancies I was so overcome by nausea all the time that all I wanted was "absorbent" grain based foods. I only WISH I'd done paleo! – lunabelle May 9 2011 at 4:30
	I had severe vomiting till about 15 weeks, and when I did eat I threw it all up so I didn't care what went into my body because it wouldn't stay there long. But once the morning sickness stopped I hopped back onto my paleo lifestyle. – lalabomba May 9 2011 at 17:04

Off the wagon - WTF happened?

6 Answers