Bendigo Paleo

Two years ago, i was miserable, living in pain from grains. After seeing nautropaths and GPs they couldn’t figure out what was wrong we me, i had celiac testing come back negative, gave up nightshades, still no difference, told to eat more grains for fibre, which caused chronic diarrhoea. My anxiety levels were beyond comprehendible, depression had set it, my eczema was so bad on my feet and hands that my skin was literally tearing every day. Some days i could barely walk without pain. I looked like i was pregnant (at least 6mths!) so i’d diet and exercise 5-6 times a week, with my calorie counting watch, not leaving the gym until i had burned 1200 calories, and wondering why i was exhausted! I was malnourished and in that chronic cardio addiction stage. I had put my mental health depletion  down to moving from Melbourne to Bendigo. Never in my wildest dreams did i realise it was the porridge i was having for breakfast, that “healthy” chicken and salad sandwich, finishing the day off with my Father In Laws delicious pasta with crusty bread on the side, going to gym nearly everyday doing a warmup ,at least one class if not two, and cycling to work.  I mean this is all pretty healthy right? WRONG!

I soon got bored doing regular gym classes and talked to a trainer at my gym that suggested cross fit. I remember my first WOD feeling dead afterwards, but a sense of HELL YEAH! Im exhausted in the best possible way. So like a lot of people that do cross fit, the word paleo was thrown my way. I raced home and started “googling” paleo. And thinking shit, this is going to be hard. I kept it to myself for awhile, just pondering this “paleo lifestyle” thinking mmm bacon for breakfast you say hey… Well that sounds delightful! My husband is an Osteopath, so we did some investigation into paleo, not just reading peoples success stories, but actual research done on paleo, reading paper after paper, buying books galore. We started out slowly, with Josh (my hubby) getting more and more involved with this paleo life, before we knew it we were 90% paleo and feeling fantastic! My anxiety had more or less disappeared after a few weeks, eczema was GONE, no longer looking like i was pregnant and people started commenting on how fantastic i looked, the most common thing said was “wow you look so young, and your skin is glowing!” This 33 year lady loves hearing things like that!

Now it wasn’t easy, and still comes hard sometimes. Im an emotional eater, so every now and again i fall of the wagon, and feel atrocious, and slowly but surely, my skin starts to look awful, the mental clarity isn’t there, and i look bloated and look and feel so tired. But i always get back up there and feel fantastic, the goal for 2013 is to feel the best i’ve ever felt. By being at least 90% paleo, and only surrounding myself with people and attitudes that equate to a happy healthy life. And so far we’re winning.

I remember after being paleo for a couple of months, Josh turned to me said “i always thought i was really healthy, but now i realise i was so use to being blogged down with grains  that it felt normal, i was a sick man” that is something that has stuck in my head. Josh is so dedicated to this lifestyle, he’s now incorporating it into is Osteopathy, helping many a patient with diet. We’re such foodies, so we’ve embraced this lifestyle by having fun in the kitchen and inventing delightful meals that aren’t just meat and 3 veg. I’ve always enjoyed baking, so its been fun playing with old favourite recipes, and trolling the internet for like minded people.

So this blog, is i guess, my personal diary, my creations and failures in the kitchen, and my happiness from eating clean.