Going paleo: so easy a (cave)woman could do it

I don't "do" diets.  As somone who has been thin her entire life (please, stop throwing rocks) I have relatively little experience with trying out diets, per se.  I've never followed Atkins, South Beach or the grapefruit diet. 

I did start paying some attention to nutrition after having a cholecystectomy (gallbladder surgery) performed 13 years ago.  Despite what the GI doc said, you cannot just go back to eating whatever you want when you no longer have an organ that regulates the flow of bile into your digestive tract.  I found myself making trips to the health food store before the influx of Whole Foods made it even trendy to do so.

That said, I've waffled back and forth with regard to my eating habits in the last 10 years or so. I've spent time eating pesco-vegetarian, either because I initially could not digest meats very well post-surgery or I was trying to reconcile my strongly-leaning Buddhist beliefs.  I have a high metabolism, am mildly hypoglycemic and need to maintain sufficient protein balance throughout the day.  Unfortunately, the primary vegetarian-based protein sources, which include most legumes and soy products, cause havoc with my system.  If I don't get a sufficient mix of protein and carbs, I'm liable to either become Evil Grumpy Mama or spontaneously pass out on you.  (Take your pick.)

About 6 weeks ago, my husband and I started going to Pinnacle Fitness Bootcamp  in Decatur together.  He's used to high-intensity sports; I tend to lean towards yoga and walking. However, I'd injured my upper back earlier this year and my usual treatment plan of chiropractic, massage therapy and Reiki weren't resolving the issue. I went to physical therapy and they basically told me I needed to build more strength or I would keep injuring myself. Off to bootcamp I went.

When I looked at the jumpstart diet that David Nash, our instructor, suggested, I balked.  There didn't seem to be enough food to keep a gerbil satisfied. And most importantly, Lack of Carbs. Let's backtrack a minute. I grew up in New York City. Bagels and pizza form the basis of the NYC food pyramid.  We worship at the altar of White Bread Goodness. 

Here's the kicker - for nearly the past year, my digestion has been wonkier than usual. An acquaintance started tweeting that she was following the Paleo diet and I thought, "What the hell is that?!" I read up on it and saw that silly rule again: no grain products. The rest of it seemed reasonable enough - meat, fruit and most veggies, and even some dairy in moderation, depending on how hardcore you were. 

Suddenly, a conversation with my primary care doc I had some months ago came to mind.  She recommended I follow a month-long elimination diet, removing foods such as dairy, grains with gluten and soy in order to see if they were at the root of my digestive symptoms.  I already knew that I have a mild intolerance to dairy. Aside from tofu, I don't like most soy-based products and eat very little.  That leaves me with...grains.  Noooooooooo! I mean, c'mon. Even in "America the Beautiful," we sing the praises of "amber waves of grain."  I always loved that line!

  I suggested the Paleo diet to my husband, who agreed to try it out.  We're not hardcore, but we follow it pretty closely. For nearly two weeks now I have pretty much eliminated grains from my diet, an astonishing feat.  We did have quinoa pasta one night that was also made with corn, but it was gluten-free.  I was in ecstacy. If it looks, feels and tastes like a grain product....

The first week I didn't see an immediate difference. At first I was ravenous, was still trying to figure out the right combination of foods to keep my blood sugar balanced and my system moving.  But after about a week, something kicked in. I'm no longer as hungry, am actually eating less and my energy levels are good. I used to see Paleo people tweet, "I just ate some fruit, twigs and berries and feel awesome!" and wonder if they popped a handful of crack too. Now, I can eat coconut milk or goat's milk yogurt with chopped walnuts and a bowl of fruit and feel full.  I'm eating more fruits and vegetables than I ate when I was a pesco-vegetarian! I like bacon as much as the next person, but unlike some Paleos, I don't feel like my fruit salad needs to be garnished with it.  In any case, I'm hoping the trend continues.

My digestion is steadily improving and yesterday was the first day in months, if not a year, where I didn't have any symptoms at all.  I'm sure I'll occasionally indulge in some pizza or black beans and rice, knowing I may pay dearly for that indulgence.  It's still a bit daunting to walk through the grocery store and avoid half the aisles because they contain food products I'm no longer eating.  If a random person walks past me with a muffin, I just might be tempted to snatch it out of their hands. But if the Paleo diet is actually what's making me feel better physically (digestion-wise and energy-wise) I'm going to stick with it as closely as I can.

Now, please remind me that I've said all of this when I visit my parents in NYC in July. Upon entrance to their house, they will begin to express their love for me in the way they know best: with bagels, Entenmann's coffee cake, black and white cookies (my favorite!) and my mom's mac and cheese. 

You may need to send in reinforcements.