Paleo schmaleo

It has been alomst two months since I started to change my diet in line with the Paleo principles.

 

I have noticed this:

 

Positives -

• The elimination of grains and legumes from my diet was so easy. I have not missed them and I do not crave them. 
• I never feel hungry if I have eaten enough vegetables, protein, fat, fruit and nuts/seeds. 
• I lost 5kgs in the first 2 weeks. I have increased my exercise, but only just so I can't comment on what difference more exercise would make to all of the above. 
• I noticed immediately that I have far fewer headaches - from one or two a week requiring Nurofen, to none at all.
• I almost never fart anymore! Excluding the days when I have a non-Paleo meal (once a week at most) of course.
• I have no breast tenderness and no cramps - at all - when I've had my period.

 Negatives -

• My skin is papery and dry and no matter what I try, olive oil, Bio-oil or moisturiser, the next day it's back to being noticeably papery and dry.
• I have developed an odd dry spot on my leg that will not go away.
• My scalp is really dry.
• In the first weeks my lips were so dry I had to apply lip balm every half an hour.
• I am constantly thirsty despite having always been a "drinker of water".
• Let's not mention my bad breath - embarassing. Pass the Smints.

7 weeks later -

• My period has gone haywire. The first was barely a day and half long (from 3-4 days) and the second the same + a week late.
• My period is due at the end of the week and my breasts are so sensitve that it hurts when I bump them.
• Last week I had my first headache since starting the diet.
• Dry skin and thirst are ongoing.
• I have lost no more weight, and indeed have gained 1kg.

During the first few weeks I Googled a few symptoms that were ailing me, and they included sore knee joints, dry skin, scalp and lips, the menstrual issues, and one other which I cannot recall off the top of my head. What I found completely annoying was that if the website/blog/forum was hosted by a Paleo fanatic, the answer to my questions was always going to be: "It can't possibly be Paleo-related." It must be the weather, or you're not eating properly, or you're exercising too much or not enough or you're old, or you need to use more moisturer, here's a brilliant product to use and so on and so. I don't want to apply coconut oil to my skin to make it less dry! I want my skin to be naturally less dry!As it was in the past, pre-Paleo! I have become suspicious, and I've started questioning why Paleo supporters will not acknowledge the short-comings of this diet.

Conclusion: it's helped in the first few weeks, but with the onset of new and unwanted symptoms I am considering introducing grains and legumes back into my diet. I am sensible and I acknowledge the benefits as stated above, so I will re-introduce one type at a time and see what effect is has before going the whole grain-fed hog.

Now, I still need to lose weight, so Weight Watchers?

This is not a diet blog

However, this is quite nifty. I found it on Pinterest. Pre Caveman on the left, post Caveman on the right.

As for the gym, that's not quite going to plan. I had forgotten until the Direct Debit came off my aching bank account yesterday. Oooops.

A final note: Paleo breakfasts are hard work.

Caveman me up

The last time I penned, I had joined the gym. That did not last long. However, this new year begins with these words: I joined the gym! My quest for fairness extends to diet as well, it seems. One year I eat well and exercise regularly, and the next year I do not. Except for the last 5 years when I just have not. So much for fairness. But this time I mean it! I present to you proof of my ability to adjust my lifestyle at will: GI Jane. I lost 3 and 1/2 stone eating this way (that's about 22kgs for us Metrics) - and I managed to not stuff Chinese take-away (et al) into my face for 3 years.

Then I met My Loved One. After that I skipped down the high-in-bad-fat man-sized portions of lovingly cooked meals and lovingly purchased take-aways and lots and lots of wine path and am now back to that which I vowed would never happen again: my clothes simply do not fit me. 

Enter Paleo, otherwise known as the caveman diet. I'm going to give it a go, that's all I'm prepared to say for now. Watch my ticker and we'll see if I'm a big mouth.