Pictures for weight-loss story, requested by ireport producer Daphne Sashin.
via Get Fit Bookmark http://ift.tt/19ZVEPz
via Tumblr http://stacylen213.tumblr.com/post/71811395409
Pictures for weight-loss story, requested by ireport producer Daphne Sashin.
Brittany Blankenship shares the story of how she changed her lifestyle and improved her life.
Improve your strength, muscle growth, endurance, health and style with expert fitness and lifestyle tips from mensfitness.com, ,
Kabuto Tassled Cuff Bracelet by Anthropologie
Find out which celebs have the most dramatic weight loss stories at SHEFinds.com.
By Mark Sisson
This is just a quick reminder that today is the final day of the special offer period for the newly released book Death by Food Pyramid by Denise Minger.
If you’ve been meaning to pick up a copy, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet, this is your last chance to grab a copy and get the free gifts, including: a collection of gift certificates and coupons from popular Primal/Paleo retailers, a personal invite to a private Live Webcast Q&A Session on January 8 with author Denise Minger, your name entered for a chance to win Primal prizes worth $1800 in total.
You can learn all the details here.
Many thanks to everyone that has already purchased a copy. I hope you’re finding it as eye-opening and riveting as I did.
If you already have the book in hand, Denise, myself, and our entire team would be incredibly grateful if you would publish a review of the book on Amazon.com. Thank you in advance for your support. Grok on!
Source: Marks Daily Apple
The post Final 24 Hours of Death By Food Pyramid Special Offer appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Former WWE Diva Jillian Hall noted on Twitter that she’s looking to get her own talk show. She tweeted: “Ok…. It’s new year resolution time!! I want to.
The perfect candidate for weight loss – Tony Posnanski discards that title after years of healthy weight loss through eating well and working out.
6 secrets to naturally healthy and shiny hair www.cocosewell.com
Source: pin1
The post 6 secrets to natural appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
What do you get when you combine an ancient Chinese math problem, Bamboo, Zen Koan, and the Pythagorean Theorem? Enlightenment, baby! Given that Samurai Strength is a fork (in hacker terms) of Rinzai Zen, I’m quite fond of the practice of Kouan (Koan) study. However, it is something that can be so easily misused, and […]
The post Mu Math: The Chinese Bamboo Problem appeared first on THE IRON SAMURAI.
Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Audrey lost 47 pounds and she says that not drinking her calories and cleaning up her eating was key.
Traci Braxton Dishes On Her Extraordinary Weight Loss. Traci Braxton managed to lose 64 pounds through diet and exercise.
Download Episode Here
Link to Chris’s book website: http://ift.tt/15fuU8h
Link to the book bundles: http://ift.tt/1bPt7Ix
36 amazing uses for baking soda! So good to know! http://ift.tt/18Cmpeh
Source: pin1
The post 36 amazing uses for appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
The Paleo Rebel Within
Source: pin1
The post The Paleo Rebel With appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
According to both Statista and Statistic Brain, the single most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. It also violates two of the top rules for creating effective resolutions. For starters, “losing weight” isn’t very specific.
Jennifer Hudson has been receiving major backlash from the media and her fans about her recent dramatic weight loss after photos surfaced. Although she’s.
This is my final review for the Fat Loss Factor diet plan. I’ve lost about 15 pounds in 10 days following Fat Loss Factor diet. Water Fasting Weight Loss.
I saw my sister-in-law yesterday. She moved to Texas last year so I don t see her often now. She came for the family Christmas. She told me that she has been following my blog and that she decided to follow my diet.
Iran
A weight loss plateau is a very common occurrence to individuals who are on the road to weight loss or are involved in high endurance training.
Christina Aguilera reportedly credits her recent weight loss to Reiki — we explain what that is and how it works.
In a move that could affect millions of current and former smokers, a highly influential, independent panel of medical experts is recommending yearly screening for healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 80 at high risk for lung cancer.
Zucchini-Brie Breakfast Casseroles. Yum! More breakfast recipes: http://ift.tt/19XDPkf
For one 12-year-old girl in Texas weight loss surgery looks like the only step that can save her life, but her insurance company refuses to pay for it.
Reality star talks about her recent weight loss with Roland Martin on NewsOne Now.
Reaching your goals: The less you do, the more you do. 5 Tips to make slow, lasting changes in 2014
Source: pin1
The post Reaching your goals: appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Reality star talks about her recent weight loss with Roland Martin on NewsOne Now.
Healthy one-dish dinner recipes! See them all here: http://ift.tt/19XaHcU
Slow cooker stuffed peppers. So simple! More easy healthy recipes: http://ift.tt/19XaIxr
Does your finishing touch add more than a pretty shade of color? A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that 32 common brands of lipstick and lip gloss feature potentially dangerous levels of toxic metals, including lead, aluminum, cadmium, and chromium. While most lip color remains on your kisser, small amounts do make their way into your body—researchers found women ingested anywhere from 24 milligrams to 87 milligrams of the com- pounds each day, depending on how often they reapplied their makeup.
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito says you can lose a pound a day with his new diet book, but fast weight loss comes with scary side effects.
Celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito says you can lose a pound a day with his new diet book, but fast weight loss comes with scary side effects.
The holiday season can be filled with many challenges that can affect our ability to manage our weight properly. Read more about Holiday Weight Loss Tips.
Pink and cream flat weave cotton rug featuring a large heart design by LULU DK.
{Tallow: A Long-Lost Fat} How to Render Tallow in the Slow Cooker
Source: pin1
The post {Tallow: A Long-Lost appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
By Amy Kubal
The cookies are stale, the parties and gatherings are over, the holidays have come and gone for another year and the damage has been done. But it’s okay, because January 1st is fast approaching and that means it’s time to get serious. You know what I’m talking about – it’s 30-day challenge time. Time to cut the crap and do this clean eating thing, like, majorly hardcore. Thirty days of no grains, no dairy, no soy, no added sugar, no legumes, no alcohol and what many would call – NO FUN. But you’re ready for this, after all the holiday feasting, 30 days of nothing but meat and veggies doesn’t sound so bad and you’re ready to retire the elastic waistband until next year, right?
Starting the year off ‘fresh’ is definitely not a bad idea, especially if you went a little overboard during the past month (or three…). Unfortunately, many of us have come to rely on these 30-day resets to clean-up what we do every day that’s not one of the 30. It becomes a cycle; 30 good days followed by what might be termed as a food face-plant that continues up until the next 30-day clean-out. The infamous day 31 strikes again. It’s the same old situation. I’ve heard and witnessed it over and over again. These “Whole 30′s”, “Whole Life/Paleo Challenges” and Sugar Detoxes are a great way to jump start things IF you need jumpstarting. Where they fall short though, is in preparing you for life after day 30. See, this eating well thing isn’t something that just happens in 30 day time slots or during a challenge at the gym and not being ready for what’s to come when the structure goes – well, let’s just say chocolate, ice cream, French fries and chips taste pretty damn good – especially when you haven’t had them for 30 days…
So how do you avoid this sudden direction change, I mean really what can you do? Well, I’ve got a couple thoughts. The first being, if this isn’t your first 30-day rodeo and you and have a pretty good idea about the foods that are and aren’t an issue for you – then is it really necessary to do this – AGAIN? They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing you’ve always done expecting to get a different result, and well, you’re in the same spot you were last time you jumped into one of these deals. Bang your head against the wall much? Maybe a saner, longer lasting lifestyle approach would be a better idea. Instead of 30 days of hardcore living followed by complete food debauchery, just cut the daily treats and/or gorge fests that have been all too regular lately. Watch your portions and make healthy choices most of the time. I know; CRAZY, right?
I get it though, everyone at the gym is all fired up and dammit you want a piece of the action. Or maybe you’ve never done this total clean out before and want to establish a baseline. Well then, by all means jump in with both feet, BUT (you knew that one was coming) go in with a plan for coming out. There’s a great program for getting people started in the gym called “On Ramp”. What we need in this case is a 30-day challenge “Off Ramp”. Gym challenge putter-on-ers PAY ATTENTION! I know your intentions are good and you’re trying to get everyone healthy and eating well – but you gotta prep them for day 31! Without a plan for ‘what’s next’, there’s a whole lot of people out there that spend days 10-30 planning their first move on day 31 and that first move often includes a trip to Krispy Kreme… (Yes, I’m looking at you.).
So how does this “Off-Ramp” thing work? Well, that’s going to depend on where you’re at. For all you first-timers, your situation is going to be more delicate than that of the habitual challenge-cycler. I would suggest that you add foods back one at a time in order to see how your body responds to them. You might find that dairy makes you break out or that bread and pasta (gluten free or not) really mess you up. If you make pizza your first taste of freedom – you won’t know if you’re reacting to the cheese, the crust or both. I know, it’s a total buzzkill, but you’ve come this far – don’t give up the ship now, you’ll be glad you were patient when you figure out what does and doesn’t work for you.
If you’re one of the seasoned pros, (Here’s your sign: the Krispy Kreme staff knows that you disappear in 30 day cycles), you know which foods do and don’t work with your body. So instead of completely jumping ship when the show is over, try a more gradual approach. Maybe you celebrate with a glass of wine or two at dinner and a piece of chocolate for dessert. Just make sure dinner isn’t an entire large pizza and breadsticks. If you really want pizza though, have a couple slices (if you’re okay with dairy and the crust ingredients) instead of the wine and chocolate – save those for another day. The key here is to decide what you really want and based on your goals see where it might fit in your life for the long haul.
Confession time – My name is Amy, and I eat oatmeal every day for breakfast. (Disclaimer: I am by no means advocating this for everyone.) I have found that my digestion, my energy, my level of satisfaction and my mental and emotional health have all improved since I’ve found a happy balance of foods (paleo or otherwise) that my body tolerates. This flexibility isn’t going to look the same for everyone and I am by no means saying that you all need to start eating oatmeal or anything else that might make you less healthy or conflict with your goals. What I am saying is that there is no one PERFECT diet for everyone and if what you’re eating is making your body OR your mind sick, then it’s definitely not the best choice for you.
So if you’re getting ready to leap into your first or next Whole 30, Paleo Challenge, Whole Life Challenge or Sugar Detox make sure you’ve got a solid “Off-Ramp” plan ready. Remember that being healthy isn’t something that you commit to doing for 30 days at a time. You’re in this for life and if you’re not enjoying it what’s the point?
**NEW YEARS SPECIAL** From now until January 5th, 2014 get $5 off Robb’s 30-Day Paleo Transformation Guide. Just use the coupon code NEWYEAR when you checkout and get ready to make 2014 your healthiest year yet and if you’d like some help with the “Off Ramp” let me know. It’s going to be a great year!
Source: RobbWolf
The post Hey! How Do I Get Off This Thing? appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Start this year out on a positive note and follow these seven tips to help you stick to your resolution of losing weight.
Christmas doesn’t have to be hell when you try to lose weight. It really can be the best time of the year.
Sherri Shepherd Drops 20 More Pounds + Shares Weight Loss Tips.
candied blood oranges :: adventures in cooking
chia seed ‘pudding’ // perfect healthy breakfast or snack
Dr. Deborah D. Grison lost 89 pounds after being diagnosed with a serious illness. She went from a size 18/16 to a size 4/6 in a year.
Written by: Dan
I wanted to take a moment to share my story and the transformation I have undergone in the last 5 months. A transformation that is truly changed my life.
Prior to going paleo I had tried just about every fad diet and exercise program known to man. I had tried many of the magic pill fat loss supplements. Problem was, I would see results for a few weeks, plateau then fall off the wagon and gain more weight than I started with. After graduating high school (weighed 215 pounds) I went on to 6 years of college where I received my doctorate in pharmacotherapy and followed that up with a year of residency. Sadly these years did not lend themselves to eating well or getting an appropriate amount of exercise. As with most college students, the temptation to eat bad/fast and drink copious amounts of beer were around every turn and sadly I cracked to the pressure frequently. The freshman 15 came and went quickly and turning into the freshmen 30, then 50, then by the time I knew it I was up about 90 pounds from my high school weight. After college my residency did me no favors either. 70-80 hour weeks once again left me with comfort foods and fast food at the ready. My weight further ballooned and I quickly found myself a whopping 100 pounds more than my high school weight (2011 weight- 320 pounds, BMI 37%). I was addicted to fast food. Lots of fast food. At least 3x a week on average. Looking back at those habits now I don’t know how I haven’t died from the destruction I put my body through. In 2012, I was able to add more exercise in and was able to lose about 20 pounds, but again plateaued at 300 pounds. I was stuck, my triglycerides were over 300 and my HbA1C was creeping into the low 6’s. As a healthcare professional I knew how troubling these numbers really were, but never had the will power to stick with a diet that took out all of the foods that I was addicted too and that were slowly killing me.
Beginning in March of this year my wife spoke with me about trying a new eating lifestyle she heard about from a friend, it was called paleo. My wife is in incredible shape fitness-wise and is actually training for a marathon, but was looking for a cleaner way of eating to improve our health together. From my previous failures with diets I was skeptical about starting a new one, but I said I think we should give it a try anyway. We started as hardcore as possible, doing the 30 day challenge to cleanse our bodies and our bad eating habits. I saw pretty good weight loss results in the first 30 days. I was feeling better, less aches and pains after working out and for the first time in about 10 years went 30 days without fast food. My wife and I just kept going. I was dropping weight and body fat like crazy. We rewarded ourselves with 1 or 2 cheat meals a month after the first 30 days and began to even question the need for cheat meals at all (we tend to feel terrible after them). The beginning of August marked 5 months with a paleo lifestyle. I am proud to say that I am now down 70 pounds in that 5 month period and only about 10 pounds from my weight in high school. I will say that again, SEVENTY pounds in FIVE months from simply eating paleo. My exercise habits have only seen a few added workouts. I still can’t believe the difference a paleo lifestyle has made in my life. My BMI is now down to 26%. None of my clothes fit any longer (March was XXL, August I am medium to large size). I feel great and am hopeful that my next round of labs will show that a paleo lifestyle truly is the key to health. I still have goals to meet and I know the paleo lifestyle will not only allow me to meet them, but blow them out of the water. At this point in my life I plan on continuing the paleo lifestyle for the rest of my life. I’ve added high intensity strength training and am now working on building my body appropriately now that I am fueling it the right way. I am eager to find ways to help others see the light and conform their eating habits to that of a primal one. The paleo lifestyle has saved my life.
The Stats
Age: 28
High Mark Weight: 320lb (2011)
2012 A1c: 6.2%, Triglycerides: 300, HDL: 28, LDL: 108 EEEK!
Start of Primal Lifestyle Weight: 297lb BMI 35% (Feb 23rd, 2013)
Current Weight: 225lb; BMI 26%(Aug 5th)
Follow up labs: to be drawn soon!
Nanette Lepore’s Amagansett cabin
inviting outdoor living space
In her second guest blog post for Diffuser.fm, Wise Girl lead singer Abby Weitz recalls the time she used a cleanse to lose weight for a planned L.A. TV appearance. It didn’t go so well.
Anyway, it’s hard to avoid ads for weight loss these days. It’s that time of year. Yank Toys ‘R Us on Christmas Day. Haul out Jenny Craig. A couple weeks and the Super Bowl will move us on to Doritos and Bud Weiser.
See Rachael’s 25kg Weight Loss Result using the lose baby weight plans that are safe in breastfeeding and offer a safe and healthy way to lose pregnancy weight and tummy fat |
overgrown
for a beautiful and bountiful 2014| Justina Blakeney
Want to fast-track your upper body into an eye-catching X frame? Whip your shoulders into shape. This workout moves your shoulders through multiple planes using light resistance to target and reinforce one of your most vulnerable joints, giving them strength, agility, and gorgeous cascading cuts no one can miss. IFBB pro Candice Lewis gets her coveted capped delts with these five key moves.
For many, bariatric surgical procedures is the greatest solution. Bariatric surgical procedures takes a affected person to get 100 lbs. a lot more than the.
10 Day Water Fast Weight Loss For Women Over 50. Posted on December 18, 2013 by. weight loss pills for a woman: Using weight loss pills can be an effective and.
New Years resolutions, How far would you go for weight loss? Would you use mesh tongue patch weight loss for 2014? Dr. Chugay can help.
Surgery to remove a brain tumor two years ago has left a 12-year-old Texas girl with a heartbreaking condition that makes her gain…
Writing down what you eat is an easy win If you’ve gained weight over the Christmas season you may be thinking about going on a diet soon. Have you.
Breaking Up is (Not) Hard to Do: 5 Tips to Dump Your Sweet Tooth for GOOD! | www.mixwellness.com
Source: pin1
The post Breaking Up is (Not) appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Why your grandparents didn’t have food allergies | Butternutrition.com
Source: pin1
The post Why your grandparent appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Salted Chocolate Dipped Mandarine Slices
Source: pin1
The post Salted Chocolate Dip appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.
Weight loss and New Year’s Resolutions. You couldn’t have one without the other. … is the best weight loss program? Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, even Dr. Oz will all offer you a solution, but which one should you choose?
This proud mom gained weight after suffering the loss of her fiancé. She wanted to get healthy to to make sure that her children didn’t lose both parents.
Erica Rose Levine
Artodyssey: Julie Robertson
Isabelle Bryer
Kajal Desai, co-founder of Doonya’s curriculum, visited the KCAL9 studios Friday to show viewers how her Bollywood dance workout can help shed those unwanted pounds!
If you have been working out rigorously to lose weight and have not gotten good results, then it is time to examine your sleeping habits. Here are five reasons why sleep is important for weight loss.
This flavorful dinner is ready in just 20 minutes! More healthy dinner recipes: http://ift.tt/1dLwNxI
New Year’s resolutions are always painfully predictable. Lose weight. Quit smoking. Learn French. Stop making snarky remarks behind your mother-in-law’s back.
Ikuko Takeuch
Special to the Journal (State Point) If your scale is your worst enemy, it may be time to adopt a workable weight management strategy. A New Year is the.
This Shrimp and Greens with Pasta is yummy and nutritious! More healthy dinners: http://ift.tt/19trS5n
We all need a little extra energy sometimes—whether it’s a quick pick- me-up to get going in the morning or something to help banish that dragging feeling on your way to the gym. these supplements are proven to help buoy you up without a subsequent crash. When you need energy most, these boosters allow you to control exactly how much and what kind of lift you really get. follow label directions, starting with the lowest recommended dosages, and increase as needed.
She lost 60 pounds after dealing with years of tremendous loss and sleep apnea. Find out how she improved her health and losing the pounds.
Nutrisystem Weight Loss Program is now yours to Try for FREE, plus 40% off. Perfect for the NEW Years! With over 40 years of weight loss loss scie.
Chana lost 62 pounds and is now 153 pounds! Find out how she did it.
I’m a huge fan of smoothies! My family has one every single morning for breakfast and it’s packed with vitamins and nutrients-and they are delicious e.
Catherine Nolin
Surgery to remove a brain tumor two years ago has left a 12-year-old Texas girl with a heartbreaking condition that makes her gain massive amounts of weight — even though her body thinks it’s starving.
An Australian personal trainer was fed up with misleading “Before and After” pictures used to sell fitness programs and diet pills.
Make your 2014 new year’s resolutions by learning these 5 steps you can take for weight loss success.
There are many natural weight loss supplements for women which could benefit a balanced diet and exercise program.
New Year’s resolutions are always painfully predictable. Lose weight. Quit smoking. Learn French. Stop making snarky remarks behind your mother-in-law’s ba.
Try this delicious ViShape weight loss chocolate banana shake recipe using 2 scoops ViShape Shake Mix, 1 packet Banana Energy Charge Health Flavor and 1 packet Chocolate Cardia Care Health Flavor.
They were beautiful on the inside all along…and so are you, you fat bastard.
It’s almost 2014. And with all the knowledge that’s out there now about exercise, there’s really no excuse for not achieving your fitness goals. You can’t argue that you don’t know what to do because there are hundreds of coaches offering thousands of different programs (pick one!). People love to say they don’t have time to work out, but there are dozens of routines that can be completed in minutes.
Poh Ling Yeow
By Guest
It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!
Dear Mark and the Paleo community,
This post has been a long time coming. What motivated me to share this story now is all of the current criticism of the Paleo diet in the mainstream media and from certain scientists. I read through some of their findings and felt the wave of fury and frustration crash down on me. It made me think once again, “Am I doing it all wrong?” But upon reflection I realized this (following a modified Paleo diet) is the only way there is for me. If I chose to take those findings and bloggers at their word I would thus begin my journey back down a tunnel of sickness and most likely a very short life.
One and a half years ago my body felt and looked very different then what it does today. I was 21 years old and my body and mind started to turn on me. My last semester of college was on the horizon and I was set to graduate from the University of Arizona in December. In order to graduate early I enrolled in summer classes to complete needed credits. So the summer of 2011 consisted of summer school, training for my first marathon and boxing 1 or 2 hours per day. Seriously, some days I would wake up at 4am (the only time you can run during an Arizona summer) and run 13 miles and then go to class in the afternoon and go to boxing classes for a couple hours in the evening. To top it all off I had seen “Forks over Knives” multiple times and read excerpts from The China Study and had been a vegan/vegetarian for nearly 2 years. I didn’t eat a lot of junk though (or so I thought). A lot of rice and beans, granola with rice milk, oatmeal with mounds of peanut butter, and tons of salads and fruit. I shopped at co-ops and tried to buy local and organic when my budget would allow. This was my summer, a summer to tackle school and also train to run that first of many many marathons.
The first change I began to notice while I was saturated in this nonstop cycle of mental and physical motion was my weight began to plummet. I am 5 feet 9 inches tall (female) and I stayed around 140 most of the time. That summer I dropped down to 115/120. I noticed all of my clothes and belts did not fit anymore, everything just draped over my withering frame. Of course I thought, “Great! I’m going to be so thin and fit for my marathon!” I was finally developing that emaciated runner physique I had always wanted! As the summer ended and a full school course load began I started to increase my mileage and add some interval training into the mix. It-was-insane. I would wake up most days and lead an interval run with the running club, go to class all day and box in the evenings. I will also still eating a heavy-grain low-fat diet. Is it any surprise my body began to crumble?
Within the first month of school this is what I began to feel everyday: headaches, brain fog, joint pain everywhere, exhaustion, no menstruation (this had been going on for 1.5 years), shooting pains down my legs, hair loss, my toe and fingernails stopped growing, eyes were always bloodshot, depression, constant night sweats, major chest pain, constant pain in the back of my neck, major collarbone and hip pain while running, receding gums with shooting pain along my jaw line, low back pain so terrible I could not sit up straight, I could only sleep 2 hours a night due to discomfort, major pain in my face, my fingers began to look very bony and sickly and the list goes on, but those were the main offenders. I had no idea what was going on, I was terrified. After many calls home that ended with my parents being as confused as I was I set up appointments at Campus Health to evaluate why I was no longer menstruating and also see if I could get some answers about everything else I was feeling at the time.
I had loads of blood work done to test for reasons why I no longer menstruated. According to the doctor, everything they tested was within normal range and in order to begin menstruating again I should stretch daily and meditate to try to calm down; once I adopt those habits my cycle will return. At the same time I was seeing another doctor who told me my neck and facial pain were due to a sinus infection and also from bending my neck over textbooks while studying. I was promptly put on a round of antibiotics and told to adjust how I sat while studying. I took all of their instructions to heart and figured I would be good to go in a week or so. I wish. The antibiotics made me sick, so I went back and he put me on a different type. My poor poor gut flora. I was also offered a prescription for a very strong pain reliever to ease my constant headaches. I was told, “It’s normal for some people to have constant headaches, soon they go away, I can prescribe you something in the meantime to make you more comfortable.” That was the breaking point, I was furious. It had been 4 months (August to November) that I had been feeling this way and this was their solution? I spent so much time and money in campus health that semester. I would say 8 visits total, which is a lot for me. I was 21 and felt like an 85 year old with arthritis and crippling depression preparing my last words.
I stopped the running then and defaulted to the half marathon. I only boxed 3 times a week and focused more on resting. These changes, however, did not ease any of the pain. The last thing I thought I had to focus on was diet so it didn’t even cross my mind to change that. I was a brown rice and beans eating vegan who had all the answers about nutrition, right?
As December came I had spent almost 5 months in more physical and mental pain than I had experienced in all my other months of living combined. I was ready to accept this as the new normal and leave this earth young. On my graduation day I didn’t care at all that I had finished college. I wanted to be flown to the best researchers in the country so they could solve all my problems and make me who I used to be. Instead I walked across the stage with a pounding headache; my graduation robes draped over my boney frame, faked a smile in a few pictures and flew back to Colorado for the holidays with my family.
At this point I had accepted what I felt like and just tried to be as normal as possible. I started doing yoga and went skiing with my family and helped cook breakfast and dinner, I assumed this was just my fate. I thought that relaxing and changing my exercise routines would do the trick but my body still felt like it had been drenched in lighter fluid and set aflame.
The moment of change occurred at Christmas Eve mass. I was sitting between my Mom and Dad and the shooting pains in my legs were so strong I couldn’t move. I burst into tears and went running out of the church. My mom followed me out and comforted me in the best way she could. It was impossible for me to explain exactly what I was feeling, that it wasn’t just depression, it was very much a physical reaction too. One week later I was out shopping; while mulling over a tortilla purchase this thought popped into my head, “What if I’m gluten intolerant?” I went with it and bought corn instead of flour tortillas. That day I began to keep a journal of what I ate and how I felt afterward. Through the record keeping I also found that if I ate dairy during the day I would wake up drenched in sweat during the night. So I cut that too. For a while it was just dairy and gluten that I eliminated, and my gosh – I started to come back to life! Two nights after being gluten/dairy free I slept a full 8 hours and 1 week later my cycle returned. I was shocked, I started reading gluten free blogs and stories and felt this sense of power I had not had for a while.
Though so many things began to get better, I still had lingering issues, my headaches still came daily and I was still really underweight. So I decided to keep my food log going to see if I could find any other connections. It was the corn tortillas 2 months into this new diet that did me in. I had some for dinner and they seemed to rip through my digestive track and the next morning my face was broken out with pimples and I had lost 2 pants sizes in one night. It seemed like my whole body has been emptied.
After that I cut out corn and slowly began to realize the only things I could stomach and not react to were meat and vegetables (he vegetables had to be cooked). My vegetarian/vegan habits went out the window and I just ate meat and veggies. As I was explaining this whole experience to a relative they said, “oh! You’re on the Paleo diet!” I was amazed that such a diet existed. With that I began to follow blogs about Paleo and GAPS and have broadened my palate and knowledge by learning from so many who have found the true freedom that comes with this way of eating and living. I am more sensitive than most people who follow a Paleo model and too many nuts, sweet potatoes, nightshades and citrus will cause noticeable inflammation so I typically avoid those. Coffee had to go as well as I have similar reactions to it as when I eat gluten.
What has changed since incorporating this new lifestyle? I have gained 20 pounds! I am back to my normal weight. I no longer run, I walk a lot, do yoga, drop and do 20 pushups and flip large car tires at the nearby park. I sleep like a baby now. I can go for 10 solid hours without moving a muscle; it’s amazing to experience this wild shift. I also have a head of thick hair now and have to keep nail clippers nearby because of how quickly they grow. My moods are more balanced and most importantly I have a normal cycle. My headaches are few and far between. When they happen I can usually pinpoint the food or stressful situation that triggered it.
What has also been a huge help in understanding what I have gone and am still going through is meeting people with shared experience. I am doing a year of service as a volunteer in Portland, Oregon (and anyone who says Paleo is too expensive can talk to me because I manage on a very limited living allowance). The Paleo movement here is strong and I have been to meetups at the Cultured Caveman foodcart, a class on the Paleo diet taught by Jason Seib, author of The Paleo Coach, lectures by Joel Salatin of Polyface farms and Dr. Shannon Weeks, and a Paleo tour of a local grocery store. I have talked to so many people who have found healing and new internal and external strength from the Paleo diet and lifestyle. I’ve learned what works for one person in the Paleo framework does not work for another, but the shared experience of wellness and vitality is something to be continually celebrated and honored. I’m going to keep living my “Paleo Fantasy” because I want to feel well and I want to help others who have been given band aids to their health their whole life. I may have majored in English but nutrition, wellness, and healing are my passion. Thank you to Mark and many other Paleo and GAPS bloggers who have made this journey so much easier!
In peace and healing,
Caroline K.
Source: Marks Daily Apple
The post The “Paleo Fantasy” That Saved My Life appeared first on The Fat Loss Factor Program 2.0.