30 Day Primal Challenge: Mid-October edition

I haven't written in a while...sometimes other things creep up and I forget how long it's been.  I'll be posting shortly with some lessons I learned during the 30 day Primal Challenge I attempted in September.

Meantime, my wife thought it would be interesting to provide an update on her results.  This a pretty compelling story...if only I could be so good at adhering to the program...

I'm back.  A couple of folks have asked in person how the new nutrition plan is going, so I thought an electronic update was in order.

It is now Day 40 of eating Paleo for me and I can say wholeheartedly I don't want to give it up! I feel better now than I have in a very long time and have cleared hurdles that, quite frankly, I've never been able to do before (even during periods of running 30 miles/week). Keep in mind that I have not focused on a lot of exercise over the past month (maybe yoga or strength training 2-3x/week) and I have never restricted my overall calories.  If I was hungry, I ate (and ate!), and if I wasn't, I didn't.

Below is my re-cap of major and minor observations after removing cereal grains, dairy and legumes from my diet for the last 40 days:

1. 8.5 pounds lost
2. Back pain is gone
3. Puffiness around eyes is gone
4. Belly pudge is gone
5. Beginning to see the start of a six-pack in abs (huh?)
6. Skin is more clear
7. Sinuses are more clear 
8. Sugar cravings are gone

Most interesting is that back in May of 2011, I was at my current weight. The difference now is that benefits #2-8 above were not present back in May. I cannot account for the positive changes now other than the change in my nutrition.  It is startling.

There has been one negative observation I have experienced—a somewhat increased incidence of sinus headaches (it has become a weekly thing).  After researching this, I theorize that this is caused by my sinuses clearing out over the last month due to the absence of dairy (I have always been lactose intolerant anyway).  I am hopeful the headaches will make an exit shortly.  Although it is so nice to be able to breathe clearly again - I kind of forgot how that feels!

Headaches aside, for now I am sticking with this way of eating.  The benefits are too great for me.  I am planning a trip to the doctor next month for a check up and bloodwork.  Should be an interesting comparison to last year's statistics.

Meantime, I am going to enjoy my first Halloween where I don't feel compelled to sneak a few of the kids' candies!