Can someone become celiac if they didn’t start out that way? I’ve no idea. Whatever the case, before my slow carb experiment I wasn’t too good with wheat. So I avoided it in my daily diet, but honestly didn’t stress about having the occasional bite of cake or whatever…
Now? Well, I’ll spare you the technicolour details, but suffice it to say that even the smallest amount now seems to really throw my system out of whack, and boy does it have ways of letting me know it’s not happy with me!
Ditto alcohol. Previously something I could enjoy in moderation. Now, one glass of cava on our Valentine’s Day anniversary and I spent the next 48 hours feeling like I’d been poisoned. Fun times.
So… er… yeah. Thanks for that, Mr Ferriss.
At this point, I think it’s only fair to mention that Angus was on exactly the same diet, has had none of the side effects, and is continuing to happily and effortlessly lose weight with it. The bastard. Seriously, though, I worry in my personal antipathy I’ve failed to make clear that - if you can tolerate the foods – it can and does work, albeit not quite as rapidly or dramatically as promised!
Meanwhile, back at the Primal ranch…
When I first switched on to Primal, I was eating fairly standard bodybuilder fare: lots of lean meat, green veg, egg whites, fruit, low fat yoghurt and a bit of brown rice or oats. I was in pretty good shape, although increasingly aware each gym session felt like I was depleting reserves that weren’t building back up fast enough. For a week or two after switching, I found myself needing an afternoon nap, but that was about it for side effects, and the benefits soon shone through.
My point? Well, I’m guessing the dreaded “Primal ‘flu” I see folk mention largely comes down to what condition your system’s in to begin with, and how hooked your body is on carbs for fuel. Because this time? Hoo boy did I have a rough first week! Absolutely felt like death. Good thing I knew what was waiting for me on the other side, or I’d have probably thrown in the towel.
I didn’t want to slow down the process, but anyone new to this way of eating and struggling in those first few weeks? At a guess, you could probably minimise the sugar withdrawal symptoms by using Primal-friendly food like sweet potato and fruit to give your body the sugar it’s demanding, and tapering off more gradually. Also, eggs are your friend. I don’t know what it is they do, but one or two a day are magic for curbing cravings!
Me, I spent a week doing precious little apart from whining like a child and generally feeling sorry for myself! Three weeks on, and I’m only just starting to accept quite how serious the damage was, and how much longer it’s going to take to repair. That’ll teach me not to listen to my body in the first place!
Interesting. As we are sharing TMI. , Due to various reasons I probably ate more wheat in the last 72 hours then I have eaten in the last 8 weeks. My toilet trips have been horrible. I have never been intolerant to gluten and I have been eating it in the last 8 weeks but probably 90% less than what I use to have. I wonder if our bodies just got deconditioned to dealing with it?
I have never, ever, ever entertained the idea of giving up booze. For anyone.
Eggs are little ovals of wonder.
I hope your body feels like your own again soon.