The lowdown

Just in case the Paleo term is a new one to you- it refers to a way of eating that emulates that of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Essentially, I am cutting out ALL grains, legumes and dairy. Not really that radical for me, as I have often been on high protein plans, or some gluten-free thingy. The theory is that these agricultural advancements are wreaking havoc on those with auto-immune conditions (and people with many other conditions- like syndrome X, etc...). I don't care to have a debate about agriculture (or anything else, I don't like debating, honestly!) I have been dealing with Lupus for the majority of my life and will gladly try anything that seems to show promise, whether the evidence is anecdotal, scientific or both. In this case, it seems to be both. There is a lot of very interesting information out there about it!

so far, so good

Maybe its a placebo effect, maybe just part of the usual ebb and flow of my condition (who knows) but I do think I am feeling improved. I had more energy today than I had last weekend. Of course, not bouncing off the walls energetic, but I spent the day running errands, tidying up, laundering and cleaning and I didn't need too many breaks. Last weekend, I could barely get myself off the bed. I feel less like my limbs are wet dishrags and I am having less joint pain.

I am also just really enjoying what I am eating. As I already mentioned, I am not on a "strict" paleo plan just yet. So, there is a lot of variety. In fact, I feel like I am eating a lot of food, I am eating until I am full and loving what I am eating. Before this, I was usually always hungry and trying not to eat. What I am doing requires prep, but once I have enough of the right foods around me and a plan for dinner in place, it actually seems less work than my former laissez-faire approach to meals.

Yesterday, for breakfast I had leftover salmon, with spinach, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, an egg, etc... sauteed. It was delicious and filling. (Not something I would crave, but very satisfying once I am eating it.) Lunch was leftover pork and some leftover broccoli soup. Dinner was broiled rockfish and yellow squash (grilled with olive oil.) I was satisfied and full throughout the day. We went to a concert last night (a very rare occurrence, since having kids) and I had a glass of wine and a martini. That was quite decadent, and not very paleo I know, but it sure was fun.

Today for breakfast I had an amazing smoothie. I made it with frozen raspberries (organic, of course), coconut milk, spinach and a banana. It was really delicious and I couldn't even finish it all. For lunch, I bought some ready-made food from whole foods because I was out running errands. I had rosemary chicken, sauteed acorn squash, green beans and cabbage. For dinner, I grilled chicken breasts (pounded and marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary and garlic.) I also made Loren Cordain's mashed Cauliflower/Squash recipe, because I liked it so much the other day. Today, it kind of reminded me a bit of baby food though. I think I blended a little too much. It was still really good though (I kind of always liked baby food!) I also roasted a variety of beets and had a dessert of blackberries with cashews, almonds and brazil nuts.

I am getting so much fruit and vegetable nourishment in my diet now and it feels really good. I always did, but its really been bumped way up. I am never hungry and I am eating a lot. I am enjoying this way of eating a lot. I also feel like I am wasting WAY less food. I use all of the leftover for breakfast. Leftovers got thrown out a lot before. Also, other family members are eating this food that I am making for me and it is getting a lot more fruit and vegetables into their bodies.

So far, so good! (maybe I'll be able to get back into regular exercise at this rate.)

You are what you eat?

I started my paleo trial on Monday. Today is Thursday. I have also been reading more and more blogs and books. I guess, so far, what I am doing is not "strict, auto-immune paleo." I have eaten eggs, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, nuts... I have even had a glass of wine. I am not sure that I am totally ready for strict, auto-immune paleo just yet. I should be, considering I have been feeling so crappy, but I guess I am hopeful that my relaxed paleo attempt will be sufficient.

On Monday, I had two eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, half an avocado and a banana for breakfast. I am sure I snacked on apples and walnuts. I can't even remember now what I had for lunch. For dinner I had ahi sashimi, Loren Cordain's Broccoli soup and broiled sweet potatoes.

On Tuesday, I had two more eggs, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and avocado for breakfast. For lunch I had a yummy salad (from a restaurant) with flank steak and squash blossoms. For dinner, I broiled salmon coated with sesame seeds (and some olive oil). I made roast beets and yams to go with it. I also made a yummy salad with spinach, blackberries, nasturtians and walnuts. It was one of the best salads I've tasted. (I used a little balsamic and olive oil as dressing.) I had a glass of red wine before bed.

On Wednesday, I had leftover salmon and a banana for breakfast. I was really busy all day and had forgotten to pack a lunch, so I didn't eat til dinner. (That is pretty crazy for me. I am usually hungry every two hours. Skipping a meal is unheard of.) For dinner, I made marinated flank steak and mashed cauliflower and squash (both from Loren Cordain's book). They were delicious. I was hungry later and snacked on some cold shrimp, some nuts and an apple.

Today, for breakfast I had the yummiest meal. I had two eggs, with leftover beets, spinach, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms and half an avocado. It was just so delicious and I was so full afterwards. (I usually never feel full.) Mid-morning, I had a snack of cold shrimp, some blueberries and walnuts. For lunch, I had a salad with shrimp, leftover salmon, avocado, red pepper, tomatoes, cucumber. It was OK, not terribly exciting. I was full though. Dinner was a roast sirloin pork (recipe is here: http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Honey,-Garlic-and-Sage-Pork-Sirloin-Roast/18398/) I threw yams, carrots and onions in with the roast during the last 30 minutes and it was a lovely, easy meal. I even took a photo.

So far, I am enjoying the food I am eating and I am not finding it too hard to have enough food with me throughout the day. It does require prep and forethought though. I am less hungry (which is a relief.) I am not sure how much better I am feeling. Though I have not been spending my days lying down. I still would like to lie down, however.

I will keep charting what I am doing and how I am feeling and we'll see how this whole thing goes.

Intro

I was diagnosed with lupus (SLE) when I was 15 years old. I had already been quite sick and visiting doctor after doctor, trying to figure out what was wrong with me, for a long time. I have subsequently been told I have fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's, etc... whatever, my body just doesn't function properly. I have spent most of life trying every "alternative", "conventional", "crazy", "food/fitness related" means of coping with my assorted health problems. Fitness and nutrition have always been a kind of obsession and I have always been convinced that somehow diet is the key to figuring out how to manage my health. I have taken so much time that I wish I had been spending on other pursuits, reading about nutrition, fitness, health, etc...

I have tried vegetarian, vegan, raw food (including a radical foray into raw meat, a la Aajonus Vonderplanitz), juice-fasting, master cleanser, zone, gluten/dairy free, blah, blah, blah, blah... Usually ending up somewhere in the high-protein/low-carb arena, because it seems to be where I function best. During times when I am on a physical upswing (though never feeling particularly energetic or "good") or when I am trying something to see if it helps, I have finished a couple of triathlons, many century rides, an AIDs ride, a pilates certification, a year of daily 5am bikram yoga classes, etc... Exercise, when I can do it, makes me feel better and helps my pain, so I have at times been quite obsessive...

Five years ago, I got pregnant with my first child. After my son was born, he had such horrendous colic that I turned to diet again as a solution and cut out all wheat, dairy, cruciferous vegetables, citrus, soy etc.. I was mostly living on meat, vegetables, fruit, rice, beans and oats. I also drank no alchohol, because I was nursing. I felt OK during this time and thought I had finally found a way to have carbs in my life. My daughter was born two years later. I didn't need to regulate my diet for her and so was just trying to eat "healthy and normal." I was feeling kind of crappy and also not losing about 20 extra pounds of nagging baby weight (and I was not happy about that part.) I went gluten-free, thinking that was the reason I felt OK after having my son. I started to feel even worse (I think it was because I got really creative with all of the other grain/bean options.) Totally fed up with feeling awful, constantly trying "diet (food plan)" after "diet" I even tried to emulate a friend's experiment with being "French Skinny." Unfortunately chocolate croissants, baguettes and brie were definitely not my savior (damn it- why can't it be so!)

Lately, I have just been feeling worse than ever, with nearly weekly sinus infections, regular bronchitis, joint pain everywhere and problems with my left knee if I try to run or bike. I am not doing any exercise, because I am so tired and sore and I seem to get a sinus infection (fever, chills, sore throat, etc)... everytime I exert myself. I am trying to get work done (painting or music) and all I can really accomplish in the day is barely being a taxi-service and cook for my two kids (I wouldn't call it parenting, because I am so tired that I don't have the energy to be the parent I want to be.) This has been escalating for the last two years.

So this last weekend, I was lying on the bed (mid-day) after putting on a movie for my 3-year old (again, not the type of parent I want to be) and I started yet again to research nutrition and lupus. I decided to google "grain-free diet and lupus." I came across a reference to research by Dr. Jean Seignalet and his study of paleo diets in people with automimmune disorders. I read some blogs about lupus and/or paleo diets and was really fascinated by what I read. Quickly, I downloaded Loren Cordain's Paleo Diet to the Kindle app on my phone. I feel like I have been dancing around this answer, slowly circling my way in for my entire life. I am quite convinced this might be just the thing. So, here I am, attempting a "new" (old) way of eating, yet again. Still hopeful that I can gain some control over this condition through what I eat. I am blogging about it because, well, I enjoyed reading other people's blogs and it seems kind of fun. Also, if it does help, I would like to chronicle the progression. Here goes.....