MEET THE OLD MARY
I moved to Hawaii in 2002 with my husband for grad school. I slowly gained weight until I was at my peak- 175 (that's the highest I ever weighed myself, I may have weighed more at some point). I got engaged in 2005 and in 2006, my friend and I shared a New Year's Resolution to get healthy. First we started walking during our lunch breaks, then later that year we joined a paddling team and started to go running. She convinced me to start counting calories, so I kept a food journal and began to research what "healthy" food was. I began moving towards whole wheat everything and diet sodas. Luckily I never bought totally into the low-fat craze. I've always believed that eating "real" food would be the best way to lose weight and stay healthy. I just didn't know what the right foods were. I lost lots of weight and by the wedding in 2007 I was at 130 pounds. I started to gain it all back soon after. I fluctuated as I counted calories, then stopped, then counted calories, and on and on.
In 2010 a friend in New York, who was into Crossfit started a Whole30 challenge with some other friends and I made a last minute decision to join her on New Year's Day, 2010. I was at 155 at that point. I stayed strict, lost 25 pounds and then had to deal with the "do I stay strict paleo or can I have some of the other foods back" stage. I've varied with my strictness over the last year and a half, but I notice that when I eat grains or dairy I have immediate bloating and I start to feel lethargic after a few days. It is a challenge for me to stay away from alcohol and that is the toughest part for me, however, every cell in my body tells me that I am healthier, much healthier now than I was when I was counting calories. I am stronger, I have more energy and I stopped taking Prozac, which I had to start taking in 2009. There is no going back for me, even if I don't always stay on the strict path. I will always return to eating this way.
In 2010 a friend in New York, who was into Crossfit started a Whole30 challenge with some other friends and I made a last minute decision to join her on New Year's Day, 2010. I was at 155 at that point. I stayed strict, lost 25 pounds and then had to deal with the "do I stay strict paleo or can I have some of the other foods back" stage. I've varied with my strictness over the last year and a half, but I notice that when I eat grains or dairy I have immediate bloating and I start to feel lethargic after a few days. It is a challenge for me to stay away from alcohol and that is the toughest part for me, however, every cell in my body tells me that I am healthier, much healthier now than I was when I was counting calories. I am stronger, I have more energy and I stopped taking Prozac, which I had to start taking in 2009. There is no going back for me, even if I don't always stay on the strict path. I will always return to eating this way.
MEET MARY TODAY
What was the biggest challenge to adopting a carbohydrate-restricted or paleo diet?
The comfort foods I grew up with had to be replaced. Bread with everything. Creamer in my coffee. Pasta. Rice. I had to be creative in how I replaced the food "vehicles" as I call them. They are not nutritious, but they hold your food and make it easier to get your meats, veggies and sauces into your piehole.
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?
The first week is super tough, and then for me there is always bad dreams 2 weeks in to going strict after veering off the path. Dreams of downing donuts and pie and other crap that I haven't eaten in years and then feeling super guilty about it, knowing you'll have to tell all of your friends.
The comfort foods I grew up with had to be replaced. Bread with everything. Creamer in my coffee. Pasta. Rice. I had to be creative in how I replaced the food "vehicles" as I call them. They are not nutritious, but they hold your food and make it easier to get your meats, veggies and sauces into your piehole.
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?
The first week is super tough, and then for me there is always bad dreams 2 weeks in to going strict after veering off the path. Dreams of downing donuts and pie and other crap that I haven't eaten in years and then feeling super guilty about it, knowing you'll have to tell all of your friends.
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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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