Paris 2003
I had been fairly healthy my entire life, but had always carried a few extra pounds. When I turned 24, that changed. All of a sudden, I started experiencing allergies. Major weight gain. Depression. Acne. Itchy scalp. Boils. Missed periods and debilitating pain when they did come. Joint pain. IBS. These were all new things to me.
I saw dozens of doctors – German ones, Canadian ones, American and Dutch. Some told me I was suffering from allergies. Others made me keep a food journal and count calories. Some gave me acne medication. I was poked, prodded and bled. The one conclusion that all of the doctors shared was that I was overreacting, hysterical and wasting their time. According to them, I was just fat and lazy – and probably a hypochondriac.
I was miserable. I tried everything to lose weight, but I was just so tired all of the time. I diagnosed myself with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Metabolic Syndrome, endometriosis and depression, which the doctors then confirmed. They put me on Prozac, which made me gain more weight. At my heaviest, I was around 235 lbs. I am a 5′9″ female. 235 lbs is not a healthy weight. When I asked the doctors HOW to lose weight, I was told, “We don’t know. Just lose it. Then symptoms will go away.” So, Google it was.
After months of trying to find information on PCOS online, I discovered a random comment on someone’s journal that said that some women with PCOS had had success losing weight with a low carb diet. That was the only help I could find. I dropped carbs that first day. I went zero carb overnight and felt amazing. I got my energy back. Exercising became fun again. I shed 40 pounds in two months and kept it off. I stabilized at 185. I realized that my previous diet had consisted of nothing but simple, refined carbs. Thinking I needed lots of carbs for energy (thank you, USDA!) I had thought nothing of eating an entire plate of white rice for dinner, with nothing else.
Things got better – but only slightly. I started eating carbs and grains again – in moderation. When I found I could maintain my weight and pretty much eat whatever I wanted, I let it slide.
Germany 2005
I practically killed myself to get down to 175 for my wedding in April 2005. I had to go to the gym and work out 5 days a week, hard and watch everything I put in my mouth. I was still eating grains and everything was going soooo slowly. The minute I said, “I Do,” I gained 5 pounds. By the time we got back home from Las Vegas, I was back at 185 lbs and didn’t know why.
From 2005 to 2009, my hormonal issues were wiggin’ out of control. That was 4 years of hair falling out, suicidal lows, no sex drive, mysterious hives, rashes and boils. Tons of doctors and no solutions – the only help they would give me were useless tests and pharmaceuticals. I had my thyroid checked over 10 times. Each time it was fine. Google and I were on close terms, and according to it, my hormones were way out of whack (or I had some sort of cancer. Nothing like WebMD for scaring the crap out of yourself!) Because I didn’t know any better, I didn’t realize the part that insulin was playing, and instead, concentrated on getting my estrogen/testosterone levels right. Which didn’t work. Once again, the doctors had failed me.
190 lbs, July 2008
The whole time, I was freaking out for a baby. We had to resort to IVF to get pregnant, since the endometriosis had ravaged my fallopian tubes. I had a miserable, sugar-soaked, bed-ridden pregnancy and identical twin boys in January of 2009. My kids were born two months early, but I had somehow managed to gain 80 pounds during the short pregnancy. By May of that year, I was still 235 pounds and PISSED OFF because I had been told (and believed) that breastfeeding burns calories and that the weight would “just melt right off!”
My brother, who I am super proud of and who is one of my greatest influences and motivators, sent me Mark Sisson’s book, The Primal Blueprint in May of ’09. It literally changed my life. It made so much sense to me that we should be eating the way we had evolved to. I looked up the Primal/Paleo lifestyle and found a community of people who had been suffering from a lot of the same maladies as I had been but who now seemed to be completely CURED. Where did I sign up?
250 lbs. March 2009
I immediately cut out all grains and sugar, but I still didn’t have it right. I had been eating so much sugar before that cutting it out completely was unbearable to me. It was my only vice so it seemed so justifiable. Instead of Sweet Tarts and donuts, though, I ate fruit. A lot of it. And tons of nuts, too, since they are allowed on the Primal diet. I didn’t stop eating dairy, either. But cutting out grains and white sugar was having an effect. I lost 20 pounds pretty quick.
I started tweaking my diet. Way less fruit – mainly berries and the occasional apple. Whipping cream instead of half and half. Limiting nuts to once a week. More fat, fewer carbs. My palate changed. Biting into a kiwi gave me the same satisfaction that Sweet Tarts used to. Salads came alive and cooking became fun again. The Primal Blueprint allows for “cheats” if you stick to the lifestyle 80% of the time. So, I allowed myself treats from time to time but I planned them and enjoyed the hell out of them. I didn’t suddenly pack on 10 pounds if I ate something bad, because I stopped at that one thing. Instead of “falling off of the wagon,” I listened to my body and occasionally gave into cravings when they came. It became easier and easier to say “no.”
May 2009, 235 lbs.
During this time, I noticed that most of my hormonal issues were disappearing. My periods became super regular. I barely noticed them, to be honest, which was NOT the norm for me. My skin cleared up, I didn’t need to use moisturizer anymore, I was freakin’ HAPPY all the time, and I was losing weight. It was slow, about a pound a week but it was coming off. And I wasn’t really trying all that hard! The Primal Blueprint mentions that nutrition is 80% of the battle. I especially liked Mark Sisson’s take on fitness – you don’t actually have to do as much as the industry would have you believe. I also learned that most people are working out incorrectly. Hours of “chronic cardio” on the treadmill is actually having the opposite of the desired effect – people are overtraining, injuring themselves and making themselves hungry as hell. (It’s a lot easier to justify a donut when you’ve worked out hard, right?!) I didn’t have to work out hard to see results. I now do CrossFit once or twice a week, yoga once (maybe), sprints now and then and the occasional walk around the neighborhood with the kids. I guess when I stop to consider it, I probably do do more exercise than the average person – I tend to do a proper deadlift when I lift each one of my 30 lb boys and will sometimes drop down and do a couple burpees for no reason at all. I blame that on all the extra energy I now have.
I’ve just passed my two year anniversary with the Primal lifestyle. I’ve been so enamored with this way of life that I have completely changed the way I live. I’ve done tons of research, reading and studying. I had never really thought too much about the environment, but some of the stuff I uncovered – about pesticides, chemicals, hormones and antibiotics being used in the food industry – has made me change a lot of the ways I do things and I feel like I’m doing my part for the environment now. I compost with worms for the free fertilizer, I’m growing a lot of my own vegetables and I even got a few chickens for my backyard. I get 4 organic, free-range eggs a day and I don’t have to worry about them being loaded with antibiotic residue. I eat grass-fed beef.
October 2010, 155 lbs.
Mainly, I eat real, whole foods and I eat less than I did before. I’m at 150 lbs as we speak. I’m 5′9″ so I’m at my goal weight for the first time ever. I weigh less and am smaller than I was in high school! In order to lose the dreaded “last 10 pounds,” I incorporated intermittent fasting. Since my insulin and blood sugar are working properly now, going a whole day without food actually leaves me feeling fantastic and energized. I couldn’t have imagined missing even a single meal in my old life! In fact, since my blood sugar was so out of whack, missing a meal meant bouts of hypoglycemia, where I felt like shit and was a total bitch to everyone around me. That’s gone. I take 6000 units of Vitamin D a day and I’m sure that is helping towards my overall health. My depression, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis and everything else is just… gone.
Update:
I’m studying to become a Certified Personal Trainer so that I can officially start helping others, but the conventional wisdom bullshit I’ve been forced to learn is making me crazy. It’s going slow. However, my passion for nutrition and the Primal lifestyle has flourished. Mark Sisson, the Primal Blueprint and Mark’s Daily Apple have changed my life and I would like to pay it forward. I’ve been volunteering with the Ancestral Health Foundation, creating a cookbook and appearing on CBS News. I’ve recently appeared in Mark Sisson’s latest book The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation and will be a presenter at PrimalCon2012.
In September of 2011, I cut out dairy to see what would happen. What happened was I lost another 7 pounds, effortlessly. I’m now at 143, a weight I’d never thought I’d see.
Tara
You make me very, very proud. Nicely written; you a journalism major or sumpin?
If your goal is to weigh less than me ( a worthy objective) then Mark is not helping you there, because the Blueprint has allowed me to lose 25 lbs as well. However, you are within striking distance!
You will always be my pride & joy.
Love
Dad
Hey there! I had a question about going “primal” and I figured maybe you could help me! I recently started the Primal Blueprint lifestyle and have been going strong for a little over a week now. But I’m feeling very sluggish halfway through the day and maybe a little less positive as I usually am. Is this something that usually happens within the first couple of weeks of living primally? Your help you be very much appreciated! I love to read about your success also, its very inspiring!
~Rebecca
Hi Rebecca!
If it’s only been a week or so, your body might be still adjusting to the reduction in carbs. Your brain is used to having a quick, easy energy source, and now it has to work harder. Your body needs to “rediscover” how to convert the protein you’re eating into glucose, and the transition time usually takes about 2-3 weeks. That is totally normal. Feeling “less positive” and being low energy could be a result of lower blood sugar. Try eating some fruit and more carbs in the form of veggies and greens and make sure you’re eating enough protein and fat for lunch. If that doesn’t work, look at other factors: Are you exercising? And if so, at what time of day? Varying exercise times could also help. Try drinking water with a pinch of salt and tsp or so of lemon juice in it for electrolytes – that always gives me energy – plus I take a B Vitamin supplement which helps. Getting out in the sunshine almost always helps. Go for a brisk walk. Also, I find that right before my period, I have lowered energy and mood no matter what I do. When that happens, all I can do is have a hot cup of tea and sit down and give myself a break. Usually, the first week of going Primal is fairly exciting and people have more energy, but then hit a dip around week 3. However, everyone is different, and it all depends on you and how you were eating and living before you went Primal. Good luck!!!!! Mark Sisson did a post on overcoming the afternoon slump here that might help you further: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/afternoon-slump/
WOW – I just love your blog and the fact that you’re willing to share such personal info in order to help others. Awesome, Tara!!
I am so excited to read all about your research and success! Finally, after all of these years, you’ve found the answer. I am starting to finally figure out that things aren’t right for me, and I need to figure out once and for all what the causes and cures are for myself. I am hoping I will find some answers with your help! Thank you for helping others with your knowledge and wisdom.
Hi Fellow Primal,
I cam across your blog from someone else’s link and find your story so encouraging. Keep up the good work!
Victor in Vancouver, Canada
Thank you so much Victor! It’s nice to hear from a fellow Canuck.
Stumbled across your site. Very much enjoyed reading about your journey!
A fellow Primal Blueprint enthusiast!
Philip
Love your story, and so glad it has a happy ending! Hope you don’t mind me adding you to my blogroll…
What an amazing story and very inspirational. So happy you did this for yourself and are sharing how it worked with others. God bless you.
Wow, it was wonderful to find your blog! I am at the beginning of my journey…I have PCOS, I am overweight, tired, depressed, can’t lose weight, etc.
I will continue to follow your blog for inspiration!
Thanks!
Oh, I’m so glad you found me Wendy!! Please let me know if I can help in any way. I remember so clearly how badly I felt. It CAN be different!! Good luck.
i just found your blog through paleohacks, and i feel like i could have written this myself! our stories are so similar, except i also have multiple sclerosis. eating paleo has allowed me to exercise for the first time in years, and my MS and PCOS are in total and complete remission. im off all my meds and regained the feeling in my hands and feet. one of the lesions in my brain is actually gone now. healed itself. i feel better than i did when i was 20. ive lost 17 pounds in four months- it much slower for me than for other people, and at 5’8″, as you know, it can take a while before people start to see it. but, im moving in the right direction and feel like my body is finding homeostasis for the first time ever. incredible. so happy to have found your blog, and look forward to following your journey! thanks for writing this all down!
Thank you so much! I’m going to share your response with a friend of mine who has MS. SHe’s in a great deal of pain. I’ve mentioned Paleo to her before, but maybe this will help her to see that it can really help!!! So glad that you’re doing well and have relief from the MS and the PCOS. One is hard enough to handle, but both must have been a total bitch. Good for you.
you know, if she wants to contact me to talk more about MS and paleo, i would be more than happy to talk to her. beingDOTamandaATgmailDOTcom
THanks Amanda I’ve passed it on to her. It’s up to her now…
Wow! I was going to write that I feel like this could be me, and my name’s Amanda too! lol! I don’t have MS, however. I’m so glad that paleo has helped you heal! I’m just beginning my journey. I haven’t been able to ‘stick’ to eating paleo for more then a few days. My sugar cravings are really getting to me
It’s hard at the beginning, every time you eat sugar you “reset” the clock. Go hardcore for 30 days. You’ll never go back. I don’t have MS either, thank god, but if I did I would definitely be on this diet.
I’m another gal with PCOS, overweight and I exercise all the time and no results. My doctor told me about a month ago I have to drop 10lbs before he sees me again after 2 months. Knowing I had just told him no matter what I try I cannot drop the pounds. *Ugh* Bloodwork galore revealing pre-diabetes, insulin issues. All the typical PCOS stuff. I also had help to conceive for our 3 year old triplets(born at 30 weeks) and as a bonus 12 month old. I stumbled upon the Primal lifestyle on someone’s comment about a vegan celebrity on facebook about 3 weeks ago. The more I read about this type of lifestyle the more hope I have for myself and getting myself into better shape, for myself and my family. I have been eating Primal for about a week and have dropped 7lbs. Just goes to show you what kind of crap I have been eating. I borrowed The Primal Blueprint from my local library. I’m going back and forth whether Primal or Paleo might work better for me. I was very interested to read your story and I look forward to following your blog. I feel like I have someone to look towards trying to get through this weight loss and hopefully being my happy go lucky person I use to be. The 7lbs loss is a gigantic motivator. I just have to make sure I’m eating the right way and not just bacon every morning! Seeing you describe your old mood swings and frustrations is where I am at now. I’m excited there is hope!! Thank you for your honesty about what you went through.
Tara, I came across your story on Mark’s blog. My wife has PCOS and went through a bunch of the same things you did. I’ve gone 100% Paleo and she is very close. Still battling the sugar! My question is about exercise. I noticed that you did Crossfit. I’ve been trying to talk her into doing some, but she is afraid she will grow big muscles because of the increased testosterone that is common with PCOS. I think if her diet is right, it will keep her testosterone in check and she should be fine doing something like Crossfit. What’s your take? Did you have any trouble with too much muscle gain?
Thanks!
Hi Josh! No fears with too much muscle gain and CrossFit. CrossFit makes you strong and lean. Sure, my arms are a lot more ‘cut’ than they used to be, but that is because my body fat % is lower and because I am stronger. I (IMHO) still think I look totally feminine. In fact, NO ONE at my CF box looks like a body builder. THe workouts are designed to incorporate cardio as well, so you get an all-over fat burning, strength building experience. Most CFer’s are smaller and wiry, from what I’ve seen, even the men.
As for the PCOS and testosterone, I found that was a symptom of not having my insulin in check. That was the first step. My estrogen and testosterone were out of whack, but once the insulin was regulated, then all the symptoms associated with E&T went away. You’re right, diet should do that and CF would be awesome.
In one of my next couple posts, I’ll take some pictures of myself and talk more about my fitness regime. I only do CF twice a week. Hope this helps!
Great! Thanks for the input and your story. PCOS is such a tough disorder and there aren’t enough success stories out there. Thanks for posting yours!
Wow! I’m so glad to have found your blog. I’ve had PCOS since my early 30′s . I was one of those girl’s that tried low-fat diets and even went vegan at one point thinking it was healthy. Not for me. I gained and kept on feeling drained and miserable. I’ve recently discovered Primal Blueprint and the transition so far has been hard. I went through some incredible withdrawal symptoms and migraines. However, I’ve lost 5 lbs so far and I’m my skin is starting to clear up.
On another note, my endocrinologist put me on Glumetza which actually caused more weight gain. I’ve gotten myself off of it now. Was wondering if you were put on any meds for your PCOS.
You are certainly an inspiration and motivator for me that I’m on the right path.
Thank you.
I don’t know about officially helping others…but I am always impressed by people taking control over their lives. I too am a student of the primal lifestyle and am experiencing great results 53 lbs down stable mood and energy. Thanks for further inspiration.
I am glad to see this post. I have had many of the same issues you have and eating primally has helped me to feel great. I have stalled with my weight loss and I am working on that but am still glad to be feeling way better.
Glad to hear it! Do you know why you have stalled on your weight loss? For me, I started to sabotage myself with about 15 pounds to go. Fortunately, my metabolism was kick-ass enough to carry me through as long as I more or less stuck to the 80/20 principle. The fear of actually having a perfect body was quite overwhelming, although I didn’t realize that until recently.
I need to lose 20 pounds. I am cutting out dairy and I am trying to be more diligent with my exercising. I have been eating this way for about 7 months now. I have only lost like 10 pounds, but I have gained my health back. Now that I am feeling better I can now focus more on weight loss.
I had to say a “hi” to a fellow Talena. One of my dearest friends from High School and College…and life, shares your name! I think you’re the only other one I’ve ever heard of. So….”HI!”
Hi, sorry, my name is Tara. I’ve never met a Talena, either!!
Hello,
I have PCOS, as well. Your story is very familiar to me, as it is with many of other other PCOSers who have commented here.
I have gone on and off the low carb diet for the last year. I am somewhere between Atkins and Primal. That means, I buy organic and grass fed, humanely treated animals, fruits and veggies, but I also have the occassional Atkins bar, vodka with soda, etc.
My question is do I need to move toward a more extreme approach to see weight loss? For the past two weeks I have worked out five days per week. The first week I lost 6 lbs. This past week I lost nothing, inches around my waste have decreased but I am wondering whether if in order to see results will I need to give up my two-three cocktails per week or the occassional Atkins treats?
Hi, first off, please visit http://www.marksdailyapple.com and read what Mark Sisson says about exercising. You shouldn’t have to exercise more than a few times a week to see results if you’ve got your food right. Too much exercise can actually be detrimental and cause more inflammation. That, and you just can’t keep it up. If you find a program you enjoy and which is easy to accomplish, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
Second, if you lose 6 pounds in one week, it will be mostly water weight. It’s not surprising you didn’t lose anything the second week. If you body shed that much weight in one go, it will need “time off” to recuperate from the shock. The cocktails and Atkins treats you are consuming will directly affect your blood sugar and insulin levels and will hinder weight loss, as well as recovery from PCOS. They will also make cravings worse and harder to say no to, which can develop into a vicious circle if you’re not careful.
In order to effectively get rid of PCOS and lose weight, you will have to stabilize your insulin levels. In order to do that, you will probably have to take a more extreme approach for a while. If you’ve been eating low carb for a year and are not almost at your goal, then I would suggest changing something drastically. I had to eat 100% Primal for at least 6 months before I could start “cheating.” There were MONTHS that went by where I didn’t lose a pound. Then, 10 would come off seemingly all at once. You just have to stick with it and you will recover your health!!! Good luck.
[...] My Journey [...]
You made such a great progress, congrats!
[...] of the blog post, or some kind of fate interfering to save me from myself, because Tara over at Primal Girl in a Modern World has probably, quite by accident, saved me (and my boyfriend) from an unhealthy, short [...]
Tara,
Your story is such a wonderful example of what this simple lifestyle change can really do. I stumbled upon your blog today (I’ve been Primal for about 5 weeks) and immediately sent the link to my mom, who is almost 50 years old and about 20 pounds overweight (she was very thin until about 10 years ago – she overeats emotionally). She also suffers really bad PMS and mood swings. She has already been trying to go Primal for about a week now, but her trouble (like many people’s) is night-time snacking. She does great all day and then just has to sit down with a bowl of cereal or a bag of M&Ms. Did you struggle with that same temptation? Do you have any words of wisdom for my mom? I’d really appreciate it. Thank you so much for sharing your journey; it is so selfless of you!
I also struggled (and continue to) with that. Sitting down in the evening with a snack has become such a comfort and habit for so many people that it’s hard to break. My first piece of advice for your mom is to eat more fat during the day. That way she won’t actually be hungry later on. Then, don’t sit down in the evening – especially in front of the TV!!! Taking up a hobby that requires the use of her hands – sewing, crocheting and gardening are what I do – can be helpful. Not having the offending M&Ms in the house will also help. If I do snack, it’s on Paleo things, because that’s all there is in the house. I can’t just open a box of something and chow down anymore. I have to make myself a treat which takes time and effort. By the time it’s ready, I don’t really want it all that much anymore…
I believe we only have so much will power stored for each day and if we’re constantly having to use it during the day, then our reserves are depleted in the evening. If she absolutely has to have something, get her to eat it during the day. Good luck! Only we can make changes and choices for ourselves, so try not to be too hard on her.
Rock on! Great success story. Blog added to my read list.Keep up the good work!
Geo
[...] told her about Tara’s journey, and how I was inspired by it to look into the Primal lifestyle more, and pointed out how many [...]
Hi Tara, Love the blog and especially your journey. I had no ‘issues’ as such but recognised that my western diet was not right and discovered, in order of discovery – Surg Capt Cleave, Loren Cordain, Mark Sisson and Robb Wolf. Their work helped me to put together my thoughts on Paleo/Primal and that’s what I eat and try to live now. As a result my weight, although never overweight, has stabilised and I must get my bloods done sometime! Keep up the great work.
Paul (UK)
Hi Tara,
I’m 27 years old and for the past 4 years my life has been a nightmare. I had a traumatic event happen to me when i was 23, and I remember being “in shock” for several days after the event. And after that my health went steadily down hill. At first, my hair started to fall out ( 4 yrs now), I went to several doctors, dermatologists, who were utterly useless and just shrugged their shoulders and said it was stress. Then as time went on, I started experiencing horrific scalp pains, weight issues, gastrointestinal issues, back and spinal problems, skin and eczema issues, nonstop lethargy and fatigue and finally hormonal problems and allergies.
Through all of these problems, doctors have been mostly useless and unable to help. They have tested my thyroid and found nothing wrong. In the past year my periods have become irregular and I’ve begun experiencing terrible pelvic pain. Few weeks ago my doctor told me it was endometriosis. And about a month ago I’ve started to experience severe allergies to my pets. I’ve never had allergies before to anything, especially not to my dogs which I’ve had for years.
I’m tired of battling all these illnesses. I feel like I can’t live my life, because I’m constantly sick all the time.
I’ve started the Primal Diet about a week ago, after I accidentally came upon your blog, while searching for beef jerky recipes.
Anyway, I already started to see a difference: my skin is clearer, my hair is less oily and greasy and I can go longer between washes. I have more ENERGY! My sleep is more deep and restful and I actually feel rested even if i don’t get enough sleep. Could it be possible that there is a light at the end of my dark tunnel?
I was wondering how long after you went Primal, that your hair stopped falling out and your hormonal problems resolved themselves? Do you take any other supplements besides Vitamin D? What kind of dairy products do you consume?
I’ve mentioned to my family that I want to change my diet to primal and they’re not very supportive. They don’t think I’ll be able to get all the nutrients I need on this diet.
Thanks for this great blog, Tara!
Tatyana (USA)
Wow, do our stories ever sound alike. I’m so sorry that this is happening to you, but I’m really, really glad that you’re finding the solution after only 4 years. It took me almost 15 years of suffering before I found the Primal lifestyle.
Ah, the testing of the thyroid. I can’t remember how many times I had mine tested. Is this the only test the doctors know? They certainly don’t know anything else, and if you ask a conventional doctor about the Primal diet, they’ll tell you to watch your saturated fat intake. O_o Stick with us, kid, we’ll help you out.
Yes, Tatyana, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Everything you’ve described to me can be fixed. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how long it will take for you, because it’s different for everyone. But you’ve already seen an improvement after one week, and that tells you you’re on the right path. For me, it was about 3-4 months before the mood swings, joint pain, endometriosis and bad acne went away. However, any wheat in my system would cause depression and lethargy, and a combination of sugar and dairy (when I cheated) would cause a bad breakout. The hair loss stopped pretty quickly once I got the inflammation in my body under control, but again, it was about 4 months before I really noticed it growing back. Hang in there.
I take several supplements – Vitamin D, fish oil, zinc, magnesium and a B-Complex (which I probably don’t need). I used to take a probiotic supplement, but have recently started actually eating fermented foods like kimchee instead after talking to Robb Wolf.
When I went Primal, I only ate full-fat organic dairy products, like butter, cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream and whipping cream. I was able to lose lots of weight and resolve most of my hormonal issues while having dairy on a daily basis, however, about 2 years in I realized that occasional flare ups of my HS was tied to having dairy around the time of ovulation. I gave it up and haven’t broken out since.
As for getting all the nutrients you need on this diet, don’t worry – you’ll get MORE nutrients. You can explain to your family that grains affect you badly and that they actually keep you from absorbing nutrients from the other foods you eat. For more information on this, check out http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-grains-are-unhealthy/ I think you’ll find all the ammo you need on that page. As for your family being supportive, hopefully they’ll come around when they see your health improving. Until then, remember that you are doing this for YOURSELF and answer to NO ONE but yourself. You do not need to justify your diet to anyone. However, if they have concerns, send ‘em to me and I’ll sort ‘em out.
Tara,
What an amazing read! You look so awesome, btw. I went primal about 2 months ago and I am never looking back. It has really changed everything for me and my family.
I have 7 kids and am 36. I wish that I would have taken control of my life a long time ago. But it is never too late.
I have converted my 66yo mom who suffered 3 strokes at the beginning of 2010. This is huge and exciting for me!
My younger sister suffers from a lot of the same things that you did. I have done so much research and I am convinced that if she went primal, her severe endometriosis would get better. If only I could convince her.
Anyway, thanks for sharing! It was encouraging for me to read. I just posted about how The Whole 30 changed my life, if you have time.
http://thewholemom.org/the-whole-30/30-life-changing/
Tasha
PS: I am from Vacaville. We moved to ID about 4 years ago and hope to get back to VV ASAP. We miss it!
What a great story. I’m a fitness trainer in Oakland and have been eating pretty Paleo for about 20 years give or take. My diet, through research and practice has just led me to this lifestyle. It’s so great that it’s now becoming mainstream, because so many people think and thought I was nuts!! But this is how I’ve kept my lean body and energy and doctor free lifestyle for years. OK, well, I am headed off to India for hip resurfacing surgery on Sept 29th!
I found you from Robb Wolfes Twitter.
I’d love to stay in touch
You can email me at debkaplan@sbcglobal.net or follow my blog at http://www.yourfitday.com
You are an inspiration to all of my clients and followers who want to lose bodyfat but think it’s way to hard.
Keep up the great work
Your writing is top notch and enjoyable. I hope you find mine as well..
Best of luck on your journey.
DebbyK!
Wow, thanks Debby! I can’t wait to read your blog. I’m in San Francisco every week, and we have meetups (NorCal Paleo meetup group on http://www.meetup.com) in Oakland occasionally – perhaps you can join us! With all the experience you have (none of us have been doing Paleo for anywhere close to as long as you) I’m sure you could be of great help and inspiration to us. It’s hard to think of myself as an “inspiration” since I am only doing what I need to do in order to live the best life I can, but thank you so much. I’ll tell you, though, buying new clothes is getting super frustrating.
I’ve had to learn to sew properly in order to keep taking things in. I’ll make sure to comment on your blog and keep in touch!
OH! I forgot to check boxes below!! Must do..
Hello. I discovered Mark Sisson a few months ago, but have had terrible trouble giving up sugar. I often refer to your blog to help me stay on track. I have a similar story to yours, actually. Although in 2009, I accidentally reached my goal weight of 125 lbs. After nine months, I suddenly gained 20 lbs, and couldn’t figure out why. I’ve been struggling ever since. Thank you for writing this blog. It’s helping me to stay on the wagon.
Wonderful, inspiring story! You look so much younger in you recent pictures! Congratulations!!I have a specific question for you: I saw in a comment you made on paleohacks that your hidradenitis suppurativa (the boils you mention above) has completely cleared since going primal/paleo. I have HS, and while it is better now after 13 months primal and 65 lbs lost, it’s not gone entirely. I’m wondering: do you feel like any one thing in particular helped yours go away? Did you ever end up cutting out dairy? Do you drink alcohol? I’ve been alcohol and dairy free for one week now, hoping to try a minimum 30 day cut out to see if it helps. But if you have any other advice for me, I’d love to hear it. Thanks
Hi! I had the same situation as you: my HS got waaay better, but I would still have about one outbreak a month for no reason. I thought it was tied to my period. Then coincidently, I decided to give up Splenda. My HS disappeared completely. I didn’t have a single outbreak for months. One day, I ate something from a package that didn’t have any of the normal triggers for me and I woke up the next day with a boil. I took another look at the package and saw the ingredient: maltodextrin, the same ingredient that is in Splenda packets. I didn’t touch anything with maltodextrin in it for 2 months and then tried again. (Strangely, this boil went away within 2 days. I have a theory that the boils ‘feed’ on the offending ingredient, for me it’s sugar and maltodextrin, and will clear up faster when it’s removed. But that just might be me.) Sure enough, the next day I had a boil. So I now refuse to touch anything with maltodextrin in it and so far it’s served me well. My scars have even faded to the point where no one can see them but me (I use coconut oil all over my body–it’s a freakin miracle substance–plus go tanning once a week for 10 minutes)
I’m still dairy-free for the most part, but have tried introducing it from time to time and have not had any kind of reaction at all – unless it’s milk chocolate. Then I get a nice big zit on my face. O_o I don’t drink alcohol on a daily basis but when I do, I stick to red wine and tequila and haven’t had a problem. I had a boil appear once after I had a Mojito. One single drink. I went back to the restaurant the next day and found out that it was made from a mix that had…you guessed it…Splenda AND maltodextrin in it.
Now, this is my story. Chances are, it’s not yours exactly, I’m sad to say. I talked to Loren Cordain about HS and he said that it’s an auto-immune response, which makes a lot of sense. Here’s my advice: go on the auto-immune version of the Paleo diet. I’m pretty sure you can find it on http://www.robbwolf.com – if not, let me know and I’ll send it to you. Do that for 60 days and see if the HS goes away. If it does, you can do some experimenting on yourself to find out what the offending foods are for you. Good luck and hang in there, HS is not lifelong like your doctor probably told you, it can be cured with changes in diet. I would take a picture of my butt for you as proof, but I guess you’ll have to take my word for it for now.
Hi Tara,
your story is very inspiring to me. I am 30 and have struggled with endometriosis since I was 16 abd PCOS since I was 24. We have had similar experiences with doctors and rollercoaster weight highs and lows, although I did find a great doc in LA, finally, although she is expensive. My goal is to try to become 100 percent paleo and stop all non-natural treatments. I also want to lose 30 more lbs. I moved from LA to Minneapolis for my fiance’s job two years ago and it’s much more difficult here. It’s like they get the facts about health etc a decade later. Still so many people that actually think “lowfat” packaged food is healthier. Anyway, I have been struggling lately. It’s tough to stick to the paleo diet when organic, grassfed etc isn’t constantly available and nothing grows in this state for like 7 months out of the year. Do you know of any paleo communities or resources in Minnesota? Any other thoughts or suggestions for me? Thanks so much for sharing your story. It’s inspiring to see more women show that there was more wrong with us than just being too fat and that that was a symptom, not a cause.
I put a call out to my contacts but no one answered, so I guess there aren’t many Paleo resources in Minnesota. You’re very lucky that the Internet exists! If you are able to get your hands on whole foods, know which ones to avoid and which ones are safe and rely on the support of us Interweb geeks, you will be fine.
Perhaps you could employ the assistance of a girlfriend or two to help you with day to day accountability. If you adopt the auto-immune version of the Paleo diet, you will see dramatic results very quickly. (check out http://www.robbwolf.com to find it, if you can’t then write me and I’ll fill you in.) Good luck, you are going to do great! BTW, yes, I drink alcohol at social events but I stick to red wine and the occasional NorCal Paleo Margarita. I eat chocolate almost every day but it’s 85% cocoa, which takes some getting used to.
ps- just curious, do you drink any alcohol at all or eat raw chocolate?
Amazing story – thank you for sharing! I sent your about page to a few of my friends and family who are starting to take notice of the changes since my husband and I discovered MDA and primal living in May. I want to educate people and share with the world how amazing you can feel and look living a paleo/primal lifestyle. But I have not struggled with problems like you have so it’s hard for me to show or tell people how much difference it can make in their life. All they see is that I’ve lost some weight and they think it’s a gimmick or another “diet.” We try so hard to explain that it’s not a one-size fits all, take this blue pill, stand on your head, eat two meals a day, count your calories way of living or eating. My husband has struggled with his weight (an extra 20 lbs or so) off and on for years so he has a little more “story” to tell. I hope that after we’ve met our personal goals and after living primally for a year or more that I can write something similiarly inspiring for my blog readers but right now I feel like we are still learning, still changing, so my blog just shows snippets of that. BTW, since going primal I’m smaller than I was in high school, wearing size 6 for the first time in my life, and I’m still in shock and awe over that. Virtual high five for finding the bodies that were hiding inside us all this time! LOL Thank you for being part of the movement to change the world and for sharing your experiences with others. I’ve added your blog to my google reader and I look forward to reading more! Cheers.
Virtual high five right back at you! (BTW, I suck at real life high fives, I can’t seem to hit the mark EVER LOL) I understand about being at the beginning of your journey, when I went to the AHS I realized how much I didn’t know and how much I still had to learn. What I’ve found is what works for me might not work for you, we are all so different! Good luck to you and your husband, I know you’ll rock this out!
Thanks for replying! I’m finding lots of online resources and did find a crossfit gym here, maybe they will know of more. I’m on day 5 and have lost 5 lbs. Still eating carbs, just from one serving of fruit a day and good low glycemic veggies. Seeing immediate progress always helps stick to something, but what truly helps the most is finding that there is an online community that actually gets what I’ve been learning about BigAg and BigPharm for years. My endocrinologist, who is awesome and I was lucky to find, actually had to stop accepting insurance because she’s not allowed to since she now treats with herbal and natural remedies combined with essentially putting people on varying versions of paleo. Insurance companies are in on it too. They make more money if we keep eating shit, getting sick then taking drugs that really don’t fix anything. Just curious, do you only drink red wine because it has more nutritional value? Isn’t the sugar content about equal on the two? I’ve heard mixed stories. Most say only red, some say tequila is OK too.
For those of you may be skeptical about this approach to eating, which is understandable being that it goes against pretty much everything any nutritionist, doctor or traditional trainer has ever said, I suggest checking out the documentary entitled “Fat Head”. Being a trainer myself, I do not suggest doing what the creator of this documentary does in the film because of other possible health implications that may arise from doing so, but it at least goes to show you how fat is NOT necessarily the enemy. I have personally undergone a diet change to follow what this documentary suggests (fats from healthier sources, however, and limited red meats) and my findings were very similar to what Tara has described here. Higher energy levels, less cravings, and my blood pressure dropped tremendously. It was healthy before, roughly 110s/60s, but when I adopted the changes proposed in the film, they went down to 90s/50s. Low enough to actually raise concern on my end and I made a few inquiries to medical personal within my family who told me as long as I was not feeling any adverse side effects, such as being light headed, it was totally fine. Weight loss was also definitely present, however it was not a grand amount do to me already being at a healthy weight and weight loss was not my goal. I simply did it to see how I would feel. In short, I felt damn good.
In summary, this documentary “Fat Head” is very good in my opinion in how it addresses diet. It’s logical, to the point, and the creator does his homework using science to back up his findings to the point of where it almost becomes like a bibliography at the end of an essay about how the human body metabolizes food. Admittedly this makes the film a bit boring at times, however it shows that this guy is not playing around and really did his research. The narrator (also the creator) is a bit obnoxious at times when he is attempting to be funny, but bare with it because the information he provides is golden.
This documentary can be found on Netflix and also on the film’s webpage on IMDb.com. Below is a link to watch it on said website LEGALLY, so fear not:
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi230135833/
And congrats to you Tara on your accomplishments.
Sincerely,
An ex-trainer at 24 Hour Fitness who watched you work your butt off!
Thanks so much for the link. You’re right, Fathead is a great documentary. I was lucky enough to meet and interview Tom Naughton (the creater and star) at the recent Ancestral Health Symposium in Los Angeles. Through the making of Fathead, Tom discovered the Paleo lifestyle and is now on board 100%. He and his wife are currently writing a Paleo cookbook for parents and children. If you check out Tom’s presentation from the AHS, you’ll find some great information on how to read and decipher current medical studies. Part of the problem with current medical thinking comes from the media. Their interpretation of medical and scientific studies is usually wrong, slanted to fit whatever view they want to push and funded by industry. Unfortunately, these biased and incorrect views are perpetuated by doctors, nutritionists and personal trainers. I am in the middle of getting my NASM Certification, and the misinformation found in the textbook borders on criminal. If I were to prescribe the diet they say is essential, my clients would all be obese and sick. It takes people like us, starting at the grass roots level, to be an example for others, showing them that the Paleo diet – based in evolutionary biology – works.
I’m glad you’re feeling better. Why haven’t you posted your name? I would love to know who you are. Also, congratulations on not working for 24-Hour Fitness anymore. Their globo-gym mentality about chronic cardio is making people sicker and is certainly not getting any results.
PS The only time I worked my butt off was probably when you saw me. I only work out 1-2 times a week, and often take 2-3 weeks off in between. It will be nice when more people realize that what you put into your mouth constitutes 80% of the battle – exercise, sleep, stress and other factors make up the other 20%. Check out this post for more info. I’m so tired of people whining to me about how they can’t lose weight even though they’re “working out like crazy.”
Awesome stuff in that link! Very solid info there, I wish more people knew that they don’t necessary have to fight their own bodies in order to reach their goals.
Ah yes, good ol’ NASM. Excellent choice to learn all about how the body mechanics work and sample exercises/workouts. They get even better in the second and third books! When it comes to how they address diet, I must say out of a handful of other training books I have skimmed through I really felt that NASM makes a solid effort in not choosing sides to any particular approach, but gives the hard facts in how the given macro and micro nutrients work within the body. Even when they cover the concepts of “carbo loading” (something you and I would never consider doing to the extreme of what many athletes do), I felt that they were very straight forward in giving the facts of how it works, the negative side effects people experienced from doing it and how “carbo loading” concepts have changed in order to limit these side effects. In no way did they suggest or not suggest doing so, they simply gave the information.
Even skimming through the section dedicated solely to the role of carbs, I felt that they gave for the most part just the facts. That does not mean they do not encourage some gross carb consumption (example: After a workout they say one should ingest 1.5g of carb/kg of body weight. For me that equals 122g of carbs after a workout. Are you kidding me???). But I have found that once I read it cover to cover and really dug down into what the roles of the other source of energy from a macro nutrient (fat) is I could see some discrepancy in what they were saying. Also after doing some outside research I found that with those portions of the book, I disagreed with.
I personally disagree with NASM’s suggestions on the amount of carbs to ingest, but I cannot say it does not work for how they suggest it be used in the role of weight loss. I will say, however, that they are no doubt making it more complicated then need be. The easiest goal way is to take it back to our ROOTS. It’s simple. It’s effective. It’s the way our bodies are meant to work. That doesn’t mean you can’t use different scientifically altered diets to loose weight, but good luck keeping that weight off. You know why? Because you are fighting your bodies natural urges. The eating habits in which Tara is encouraging is easier then any diet out there because you are eating the way your body was designed. Can you fight your body with science and get to where you want to be? Sure. Is it miserable and hard to maintain? You better believe it.
Overall the issue that I felt was that NASM seemed to encouraging eating a certain way based on our current lifestyles, not necessarily changing our lifestyles. That, ladies in gentlemen, is the real problem. NASM definitely states this in the book, but by no means is it hard pressed, which I find most unfortunate. This should be the goal folks. You should not be making your workouts and or weight loss revolve around your lifestyle, you need to CHANGE your lifestyle.
Tara is a great example of this. You may wonder how someone who maybe workouts out 3 times a week is in the wonderful shape she currently maintains. In short, her approach was/is very simple (correct me if I’m wrong in any of my assumptions):
1) Her caloric intake decreased through eating
2) Her lifestyle changed from her physical activity being ONLY when she was at the gym to an all day, everyday thing, thus her caloric expenditure increased.
3) The above 2 are great for weight loss (only a part of what truly being healthy is) but what about the rest of what it takes to be healthy? Without going into exhaustive detail on what one should eating, in summary she ate the RIGHT things.
I understand that this lifestyle approach for some can be difficult because of responsibilities they have, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make changes. I don’t care how busy your life is, there is room to change things in order to change your lifestyle. It more often then not comes down to the individual not giving it their all. Yes, it can be one hell of a humbling experience, but it’s something anyone who has reached their goals had to go through. I was humbled. I’m sure Tara was at well. And I’m happy I was forced to make that self check to see who I really was.
On a closing note to my long winded contribution (apologizes), keep in mind folks that weight loss is NOT your goal. A healthy lifestyle IS. Weight loss will come from that lifestyle change, but it is only a portion of the benefits you will receive.
Oh and it’s Phill, Tara! Amin’s buddy that you trained you with for a while!
You’re a serious babe! A doll! A fox! Hubba Hubba!! Meeeooowww!!!
Oh Tara, what a joy to find you! it started earlier today as I was looking at Dr Mercola’s website page on Paleo. There you are, exercising hard, looking sleek, stylish and beautiful…and shocking me that they mentioned you once weighed 100 more! First of all, you look like you’ve always been little. Jealous! Second, thank you for sharing your time and energy to help us all learn from you. My dear bf and I are considering Paleo. Me, for weight loss, him, for acid reflux issues. I too am 5’9″ (and a half) was 272 at my highest and am just now hovering around 235. So similar to where you were. I’m exercising, I do cardio, but am adding in weight training too, so I’m not afraid to move. Just glancing at Paleo, I know I can do this. I did Atkins for a whole year! I hope with the combination of moving and eating right I might be looking more like you now within a year or so. Thank you again for sharing your story. I’m already a big fan and will read lots more!
Elaine
My favorite piece of advice is: Take it one day at a time. Those days will add up and before you know it, a year will have passed. If you don’t start today, you probably won’t tomorrow and a year from now, you’ll still be where you started. However, if you DO start today, a year from now you’ll be slimmer and happier than you’ve ever been and it will feel like you did nothing at all to get there. Good luck, you can totally do this!
Wonderful advice! My bf and I have decided to start tomorrow. We’ve been easing into eating Primally for the past week, and are committing to a 30 day trial. My every suspicion is that we’ll go much much longer. I’m really needing to bust a 2 month plateau, kick some freaking meds to the curb and soon dump some of my fat girl clothes! I sure appreciate the kind words. Here’s to a great kickstart!
You’re blog offers me a glimmer of hope. I am on a six-month count down to a decision to have weight loss surgery- a last ditch attempt to lose this weight. I just finished reading the Primal Blueprint and the 21 day transformation….this HAS TO WORK…… I’ll try to keep my story short (LOL):
I have three children – all by c-section (’04, ’06, ’07). I was at 172 before becoming pregnant in ’03 and very active (jogging and pilates). I stayed active with each pregnancy and with each birth as the YMCA welcomed me and my growing family each day as I worked out. In March ’08 a friend convinced me to run a marathon(LLS) – I thought, “Yes! I should lose weight doing this!” I got a trainer at the gym, ate low calorie-low carb meals and put every painful mile in! (My husband threw out my scales – said I was obsessive!) I ran that marathon in Oct. ’08 and in Dec. ’08 my eyes swelled up, I went to the doctor where I was weighed…and I had GAINED 30 lbs since the start of the marathon training! Needless to say since that weigh in I have seen numerous doctors and endocrinologists and have had blood tests after blood tests – all showing that I was the healthiest fat girl you’d ever meet! The doctors tried to give me pills and injections for issues I DIDN’T have! My family doctor convinced me to go on Zoloft for a year – the only thing I was depressed about was my weight! I love to work out – so I’ve done P90X and Insanity – that’s pretty tough on a 280 lbs body! I stopped working out like that this summer because my body can’t handle it anymore. Now, my weight is inching up – and I can’t seem to get it to stop. I’m so desperate that I’m actually thinking about letting a doctor take out half my stomach!
I cry everyday about this …my first and last thoughts everyday are about my weight. I have lost every ounce of self esteem I used to have. Not being able to lose weight for the past fours (since the birth of my third child) has caused me to put my life on hold. I feel like that I can’t succeed in anything else if I can’t even succeed in losing this weight! AAAAHHHH!!!
Jeezz..sorry for the rant. Again, you are an inspiration and I will coming to your blog everyday, especially for this 21-day primal transformation. Thanks for sharing your journey!
I used to be depressed and on anti-depressants as well. I realized this past year it was the WHEAT that was causing my depression. Plus the sugar. Read Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis before you do anything drastic. Or better yet, read that AND go primal.
about 4-5 years ago it was like all of a sudden i gained 100 lbs. weight has always been a sort of issue but i wasnt really overweight.. mostly around 150. Ive tried different diets and exercise programs the last few years- NOTHING! I started following the guidelines in Gary Taubes book around November and lost 12 lbs right away..and another 3 or so VERY SLOWLY. Getting annoyed i ordered the primal blueprint challenge and cookbooks and im working on doing the grass fed meat/eggs and no processed items since i have already cut out milk/grains etc.. I got a little caught up in atkins snacks during that slow 3 pound loss so im hoping that may be the slow weight loss culprit and i can look forward to some awesome loss like you! I really hope this works..i dont know what else to do. i am desperate to feel sexy again!
Good for you! 12 pounds is a big accomplishment. I had periods of MONTHS where I didn’t lose a single pound, but my body was adjusting and learning how to burn fat instead of sugar. Hang in there. The Atkins snacks definitely could have had an impact. Get that crap out of your pantry!!!! Learn how to make your own beef jerky and kale chips instead and you will have the tastiest snacks on hand whenever you need them. ^.^
Hi Tara,
Thanks for the post. Came here through reading Patrick’s diary at MDA Forums.
Never had the issues you had, but I am sure I have a awesome body under all this fat and celulite. Just want to discover it and be the healthiest I can be
BTW, I used to suck trying to high five people. Then I read somewhere if you keep looking at the person’s elbow you can’t miss… and it works!
Regards from Munich, Germany!
Yet, somehow, I look at their elbow and miss their hand. Sigh. No hope for me. I will stick to fist bumping. ^.~
Thank you for this candid and honest post. My height and weight is about identical. I have struggled with weight all of my life, 185 was my absolute low and I honestly think some days that any lower is not physically possible. I’m at the starting line (again) and your story as well as others really do inspire me. I rarely see women that are of my stature say “hey I weighed well over 200lbs.”
I thought 185 was as low as I could go, too. I needed to remove nightshades and all wheat for my body to think again. It took almost 3 years of experimenting with my diet to get to where I am now. Once you’re on the right path, your body will adjust. Thank you for your honesty, too.
Hi! I came across your blog as I was starting to research the Paleo lifestyle. I have 4 small kids, with a set of twins thrown in, so was looking for inspiration to bring the whole family into Paleo. Thanks for your story!
More importantly, the black/white polka dot dress in your pictures is amazing! I love the sense of style you seem to have started flaunting as you got healthier!
Thank you so much! That dress was actually the first one I made myself. I’ve since gone on to make quite a few pieces for my wardrobe and have opened up my own business making custom retro aprons and dresses. It’s not easy with kids underfoot and I couldn’t imagine having two more on my hands! Good luck to you, if anything the Paleo diet should result in fewer meltdowns/tantrums/behavior issues from your kids, making your life easier regarding discipline, while you spend all that extra stress free time in the kitchen. ^.^
Hi there…..what an amazing story…..I have been struggling with life in general for probably ten years, the past seven have been horrendous. Seven years ago I went through a divorce and was only 25 at the time young and just alone I mossied on with life, all the while I was slowly going down hill. Depression was something thats almost taken me quite few times now…I have tried all sorts of anti-depressants, yoga meditation self help books and quite recently started seeing a good doctor. However the last two years I have moved from one side of the world to the other, of which was to study yoga I met a lovely wee fella and quite quickly fell pregnant we now have a wonderful son. Which brings me to where I am now it’s been the toughest 2 years of my life…very very painful. With no regrets I’m so happy to say I found the paleo diet and well in one month I feel like a new soul. My energy levels have gone through the roof, my beautiful wee son has all my attention now and not a zombie for a mother. My confidence, so many things have just clicked. I always knew there was another path for me! Sometimes in the dark days you feel so alone…if only there were more people like you to educate us with your wealth of knowledge, love your blogs and writing so inspiring, it’s amazing to feel happy again cheers x
Your story is very inspiring and relatable. I have struggled with severe depression, skin issues (eczema etc.), hair loss, and weight loss for 15 years myself. I have only managed to lose weight by restricting calories below 1500 and doing intense cardio for aprrox. an hour a day. I stumbled onto Marks Daily Apple in November 2011 and have been reading every Paleo/Primal book and or blog since then. I’ve put 99% of the principles into practice, but still struggle with eliminating sugar entirely. I have been Crossfitting 3 times a week since January(and only do low intensity cardio outside of that) and I’ve had huge improvements in strength and overall feeling of well being; however I’ve lost only 5 lbs. I am curious if you stayed in general calorie range to accomplish your physical transformation or if you simply consumed as much protein and fat as you desired (of the paleo variety of course)? Thank you for your advice!
At first, I didn’t worry about portions or calories (I still don’t) as long as I was eating Paleo foods. Then, when my weight loss plateaued, I started looking at intermittent fasting. I have a story coming up about this at http://www.primalgirl.com, subscribe and you’ll get an update when it comes out! I’m so glad you’re feeling better, hang in there, the weight loss will come. PS I did the whole 1500 calories a day + 6 days a week in the gym pre-Paleo, it was frackin’ miserable and didn’t work. So glad I never have to do that again!
You are my inspiration, Tara! I first found you because I have the 21 day Total Body Transformation book by Mark Sisson and your story just blew me away. I say, “That’s ME!” I have PCOS and all the problems you have described. My hubby and I have only been going primal for roughly 3 weeks and I have lost 6 pounds and have gone down 1 pants size. For me, the weight coming off is something I never thought would happen, but the PCOS symptoms, boils, cramps, acne, emotional liability issues are slowly getting better. I know it is a life-long journey, not an overnight fix. Thank you for being you, sharing your story and inspiring a whole bunch of people.
I’m so glad this is working for you. This is why I do what I do.
Just so you know, new posts are appearing on http://www.primalgirl.com all the time! I don’t update this blog anymore.
Tara~
I cannot thank you enough for your story! I am currently 24, 5’9″, and at my heaviest ever–235 lbs. My story is so similar to yours, and the changes that you have made are my inspiration!
I was a very active athlete for many years, and remained fit, but never thin. I was always at the upper end of the appropriate weight range. In just the last year, I have gained an extrodinary amount of weight, even though based on my lifestyle, I should have maybe gained 10 lbs.
When I stopped eating gluten this past November, I did feel better, but my weight didn’t budge. Going without gluten has completely erased the joint aches and pains that used to make it near impossible for me to get out of bed at least! Currently, I still struggle with some acne (it was awful when I was a teenager), an itchy scalp (which I thought nothing of until reading this), and slight depression due to my weight and concurrent physical inabilities. I have rarely gotten my period at all in the last year (super light spotting once or twice, maybe 2 periods), and I can tell that my hormones are way out of wack.
I am finishing graduate school and hopefully getting engaged in the near future, so I want to start a new chapter of my life, but I desperately need help. I was wondering whether or not you would be willing to sell me some recipes and coaching advice. I would love to hear more in depth about what worked for you, what you struggled with, and how you overcame it. As I said, I will purchase this from you if you’d like, but I feel as though I could really benefit from your help. It is too much of a coincidence that I found a story so identical to my current life.
If you would be at all interested, please contact me further. I really appreciate you sharing what you have on this web page. Tonight is the first time I’ve felt hopeful about losing this weight and getting healthier!
~Hilary
Hi Hilary! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, but this blog has actually moved to http://www.primalgirl.com I would love to work with you. YOu’re right, our stories do sound very similar, I think that is because there are so many people out there suffering from the same metabolic derangement – but our numbers and symptoms are very much the same. I have your email address from the comment, I will shoot you off a quick email to make contact incase you don’t get this comment.
I am very interested in starting my journey with primal eating. I have always struggled with the counting calories or carbs.
I now know the importance in the carbs and what I should keep my daily limit to, but I have noticed my calories are approx 1,000 a day.
My question is if I eat little calories and carbs, will I still be able to lose weight, or do I need to be sure to get in 1,200 – 1,500 calories a day and carbs are only 50-100g a day.
Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated
The Primal lifestyle is not about counting calories or carbs, nor is it a “diet.” To get started, check out http://www.marksdailyapple.com. The first step is cutting out grains and sugar.
I read your story and it spoke to me! I dont even know you, we h ave never met and i am SO frekain proud of you! you took inititive and went after this lifestyle with such gumption! all i can say is im right behind ya! today is my day one! thank you so much for your story! Its my motivation!
Thank you so much! it’s one day at a time for me too. I wish you all the best. I’ve got updates and more current information at the following link:
This blog has moved to http://www.primalgirl.com – please visit us there!
Your whole story is wonderful, but the part that I relate to is the depression. I’m still in the early stages of going Primal, and have been trying to research the affects of food on our moods. I struggle with Depression, Anxiety and Bulimia. The Primal lifestyle gives me hope though, as does your story. So, thank you
Check on fructose malabsorption. I believe that my depression and it’s connection to wheat is actually fructose malabsorption, not gliaden as I previously thought. Some great posts out there, it’s worth a try!
This blog has moved to http://www.primalgirl.com – please visit us there!