MEET THE OLD ERICA
Choices in the Standard American Diet (aptly, SAD) got me up to 206 lbs. and very unhealthy - with diagnoses of thyroid disease and high cholesterol by age 24 (2003). Placed on a Statin and a popular "Synth" thyroid med, I set out to work hard and exercise. This work garnered weight and energy fluctuations, but ultimately I lost some weight, weighing in at around 150 lbs at age 28. HOWEVER I unhappily kept the health diagnoses of High Cholesterol, Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease.
At 30 1/2, I was at 145lbs when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (LADA) and began low-carbing and researching my heart out. It didn't seem right to me that a body would attack itself and begin killing organs as is the case with Autoimmune disorders such as mine. Really, what would make a body want to destroy itself? And where would this end?, I wondered, Which one of my organs will my immune system decide to attack next???
So with continued low-carbing and ill advice from doctors to keep with a "low fat" diet, I'd lost too much weight (down to 119lbs)by the age of 32. I was too thin and my periods had stopped. 7 months went by with me wondering where my menstrual cycle had gone. The 1st 3 months I'd dismissed as just bodily changes. The next 2 months went by with a traditional doctor telling me that I was fine and since I had lost weight, everything was good - if I wasn't planning to have a baby, all was fine... but this didn't seem right to me, so I researched. The only bright area here, was that I was doing well enough with dietary and exercise changes that I was taken off diabetes meds.
I continued my research and found Mark's Daily Apple online and learned there what my doctor didn't have a clue about; high fat grain-free eating. From here, I became my own doctor.
At 33 I now eat ONLY clean, real, organic whole foods: Pastured meats from a local organic farm - animals who ate what they were MEANT to eat and wander as they were meant to wander. I consume largely local organic vegetables, a little raw milk cheese, and many fermented foods.
I also move my body in the ways I believe it was intended to move.
Finally I was able to reach a healthy weight and all of my normal female functions returned! At 5'6" and 140lbs, this weight and lifestyle really have been effortless to maintain. (Really... do I need to point out that BACON tastes *WAY* better than rice??? haha)
THE BEST PART OF ALL: I was supposed to still be on at least 3 meds and insulin-dependent by two years ago, but I'M OFF MEDICATIONS FOR ALL 3 OF MY (SUPPOSEDLY LIFE-LONG) "DISEASES".
The second best: I *understand* the cause of all of those health issues because I researched my ass off - I feel as though I owe my wellness to Mark Sisson's primal breadth of research and humorous musings as well as the depth of Loren Cordain's paleo "Cereal Grain Sword" research paper, not to mention the multitude of other researchers that these guys have researched and cited in their work.
I'm finally happy, energetic, and feeling great these days. I've switched from a high-stress job to a personally fulfilling job in a local Organic Market; it doesn't necessarily fit in with my college degree and it doesn't really pay the bills (haha) but it DOES afford me the chance to 'pay forward' all of the things I've learned since going "Primal".
My next challenge is to move somewhere near the mountains as my boyfriend and I continue to improve our adventurousness! Pacific Northwest, we hope to be with you soon! *crosses fingers (and Vibram-ed toes)* :D
At 30 1/2, I was at 145lbs when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (LADA) and began low-carbing and researching my heart out. It didn't seem right to me that a body would attack itself and begin killing organs as is the case with Autoimmune disorders such as mine. Really, what would make a body want to destroy itself? And where would this end?, I wondered, Which one of my organs will my immune system decide to attack next???
So with continued low-carbing and ill advice from doctors to keep with a "low fat" diet, I'd lost too much weight (down to 119lbs)by the age of 32. I was too thin and my periods had stopped. 7 months went by with me wondering where my menstrual cycle had gone. The 1st 3 months I'd dismissed as just bodily changes. The next 2 months went by with a traditional doctor telling me that I was fine and since I had lost weight, everything was good - if I wasn't planning to have a baby, all was fine... but this didn't seem right to me, so I researched. The only bright area here, was that I was doing well enough with dietary and exercise changes that I was taken off diabetes meds.
I continued my research and found Mark's Daily Apple online and learned there what my doctor didn't have a clue about; high fat grain-free eating. From here, I became my own doctor.
At 33 I now eat ONLY clean, real, organic whole foods: Pastured meats from a local organic farm - animals who ate what they were MEANT to eat and wander as they were meant to wander. I consume largely local organic vegetables, a little raw milk cheese, and many fermented foods.
I also move my body in the ways I believe it was intended to move.
Finally I was able to reach a healthy weight and all of my normal female functions returned! At 5'6" and 140lbs, this weight and lifestyle really have been effortless to maintain. (Really... do I need to point out that BACON tastes *WAY* better than rice??? haha)
THE BEST PART OF ALL: I was supposed to still be on at least 3 meds and insulin-dependent by two years ago, but I'M OFF MEDICATIONS FOR ALL 3 OF MY (SUPPOSEDLY LIFE-LONG) "DISEASES".
The second best: I *understand* the cause of all of those health issues because I researched my ass off - I feel as though I owe my wellness to Mark Sisson's primal breadth of research and humorous musings as well as the depth of Loren Cordain's paleo "Cereal Grain Sword" research paper, not to mention the multitude of other researchers that these guys have researched and cited in their work.
I'm finally happy, energetic, and feeling great these days. I've switched from a high-stress job to a personally fulfilling job in a local Organic Market; it doesn't necessarily fit in with my college degree and it doesn't really pay the bills (haha) but it DOES afford me the chance to 'pay forward' all of the things I've learned since going "Primal".
My next challenge is to move somewhere near the mountains as my boyfriend and I continue to improve our adventurousness! Pacific Northwest, we hope to be with you soon! *crosses fingers (and Vibram-ed toes)* :D
MEET ERICA TODAY
What was the biggest challenge to adopting a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet?
Learning the options to the standard foods I'd grown up with such as coconut and almond flour instead of regular flour.
What advice (if any) would you give to someone interested in trying a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet? Were there any obstacles that you overcame that could help future dieters?
You HAVE to rid yourself of the "low-fat" mindset. It is based on flawed research. Most people HAVE to stop thinking that their Medical Doctor definitely knows what is best. He or she does not have to live in your body and he or she is often given perks to prescribe certain meds. Only YOU know how you feel. Take time to really know your body,experiment to learn what makes you feel best, and PLEASE know that you will not get any different results if you keep doing the same thing. RESEARCH for yourself and try something new - it really might work!
Learning the options to the standard foods I'd grown up with such as coconut and almond flour instead of regular flour.
What advice (if any) would you give to someone interested in trying a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet? Were there any obstacles that you overcame that could help future dieters?
You HAVE to rid yourself of the "low-fat" mindset. It is based on flawed research. Most people HAVE to stop thinking that their Medical Doctor definitely knows what is best. He or she does not have to live in your body and he or she is often given perks to prescribe certain meds. Only YOU know how you feel. Take time to really know your body,experiment to learn what makes you feel best, and PLEASE know that you will not get any different results if you keep doing the same thing. RESEARCH for yourself and try something new - it really might work!
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Tried a paleo or low carb diet? Join Today and contribute to a better understanding of this way of eating!
Tried a paleo or low carb diet? Join Today and contribute to a better understanding of this way of eating!
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