Introduction

Hi there!  My name is Anne and I'm a cavewoman.  OK, maybe not an actual cavewoman but I try my best to eat like one.  My family and I follow the Paleo Diet, which focuses on eating mainly meat/chicken/fish, eggs, veggies, fruits and fats.  No dairy. No wheat. No rice. No grains.

I've been slowly de-evolving our diet since January when I realized wheat was causing my chronic migraines.  These headaches plagued me for 3 long years, increasing slowly in ferocity and frequency until I had brain-crushing headaches almost every other day.  When I dropped wheat from my diet, there was an almost immediate change in how I felt.  I had more energy, my sleep cycle regulated, and, most importantly, the headaches were completely gone within 3 weeks.  Even better, I lost 25 lbs.

As time progressed, I began to listen to my body and notice how it reacted to certain foods.  I felt better when I ate whole, unprocessed foods like meat, fruit, and vegetables.  Every time I ate rice or other non-wheat grains, my mood and energy levels would dip.  So, I tweaked my diet, dumping processed foods, beans, rice, and grains from my diet and centering more on the foods that helped me feel better.

A few months ago, I stumbled across a blog entry that described the Paleo Diet.  I was amazed to see that my current eating habits closely aligned with the Paleo Ideals.  Who knew???  So, from that point on, I decided to go the final mile and follow the Paleo Diet.  It wasn't much of a stretch and to tell you the truth, it was super easy.  I mean, all the hard work was over - I had already abstained from wheat, grains, and many other items items on the do-not-eat list.

All this work seems to be paying off.  I've lost 40 lbs and around 5.5" around my waist (I know because I just had a friend take in a couple pairs of shorts).  I have enough energy to get through the day - no more 2 PM slumps - and I need less coffee in the morning to get going.  This is a sustainable dietary change for me - something I can follow easily for a lifetime.

I've read a lot of paleo blogs since I discovered the diet.  Some have great tips and ideas for meals but not many of them take into account cost.  I've had too many people ask me, "How can you afford eating like that?  Isn't that expensive?"  I'm here to say no, it's not expensive, as long as you're willing to shop around, eat seasonally, and go with the flow when it comes to food.