I am annoyed for you, too. WHY DO DOCTORS DO THAT!!! Why are they so dismissive when women talk about being tired and gaining weight? HELLO! There are many medical conditions that can cause these symptoms, and women should be heard. Low thyroid function and/or adrenal function causes depression.

I can't tell you how many times I heard this when I had blatantly obvious thyroid symptoms. Turns out, yeah, my thyroid wasn't functioning so hot, and blood test proved it. My adrenals weren't functioning so well either, but not at a low enough level that conventional medicine wouldn't take it seriously.

Robb Wolf talks a lot about adrenal fatigue and thyroid function. I think you'll find it interesting.

In any case, everyone, I didn't do so hot today.

I went to dinner with a friend last night, and that went swimmingly. But I got home late. I suspected I didn't have enough food to take to work, and sure enough, mid-afternoon I was starving. I ended up having a diet soda and a candy bar. In my defense, I actually went to the vending machine looking for nuts, but they were sold out.

This after I worked so hard to break sugar addiction. And I did get a headache.

I feel in control now, and it didn't spark a binge. I think I'll be OK. I am going to look into getting some gluten-free, grain-free soy-free beef jerky for these types of occasions. (Since I have so many food intolerances, other "emergency" food like a protein bar isn't suitable.)

In other areas of complaint, my Achilles pain is back. I've had it forever, and it actually disappeared on the supplements I was taking. One was a mineral supplement and used the last of it. Naturepath had suggested switching to a multivitamin when I was done, and I did. Pain came back mildly, and then I took 5 flights of stairs the other day at work. The pain is back now, but I can't prove if it was the steps, the switch in vitamins or something else.

I've ordered new shoes and the old minerals to see if it makes a difference. It is very frustrating to be sidelined.

Bam,

I was very successful on this diet in 2009 -- was losing a pound a day at one point and was never hungry and didn't count anything. I had a major stress in my life, though, and I went back to eating a very unhealthy diet.

Strictly speaking, paleo does not include dairy. It's also not recommended for people with digestive troubles or autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis or MS. But, some people eat dairy and do fine. Some people recommend if you do include cheese or butter to use from local farms, preferably raw/unpasteurized if available.

I started out to reduce my carbs in the form of processed sugars, breads, etc and found a lot of the recipes were primal based. I listen to the Primal Solution and Health Mind-Fit Body podcasts for advice.

Right now, the only dairy I eat is yoghurt and the occasional cheese (before I did not eat/buy cheese often and that has not changed), eat quinoa occasionally, and increasing my fats. I do eat fruit (mostly berries with my smoothies) and veggies. My main focus is eating 7 servings of fruits and veggies (with a focus on the veggies), healthy fats, and protein. I do not count carbs and in the future, I plan to go restrictive and start experimenting with how my body reacts to different foods in order to find what works for me.

Right now I am constipated. I did a detox a few days ago (with the guidance of my naturopath) and I think that combined with my previous diet and the change in my diet to lower carb, my gut is trying to adapt. I've never been so aware of my bowel movements before. I will be glad when they are back on track because I hate the feeling of having to poo but nothing is coming out.

Since greatly reducing my sugar, one of my favourite treats is walnuts and tart cherries - taste like candy. I am realizing how much I enjoy cooking with olive oil. And, for those of you who eat sweet potatoes (my body responds quite well to them) I enjoy sweet potato hasbrowns - delish.

What I like about this, very few things are limited - sometimes, you just have to get creative with the recipes.

Athena - I know what it is like. I was good for staying away from sugar, but I got distracted with V-Day (and a few days before hand).

I do know some paleo-friendly chocolate recipes (if that is your weakness). I find them better than normal chocolate because they are build on healthy fats, they are satiating.

Good morning! Hello to all the new and all primal/paleo threaders!

This is just a quick fly by to say hi -- already time to jump in the shower for work. I have been beyond tired this week and need to get some sleep in a major way. Have been going to sleep ok but doing that waking up early can't go back to sleep thing... not good.

Have a good day all!

Good morning!

Yesterday was a day where I took care of myself. Sleep, slow movement, mostly primal eating.

Rissa Would you post your chocolate treats in the Primal/Paleo Recipes thread? I'd love to see them. About the constipation -- have your tried increasing how much you walk? Coconut oil? Magnesium citrate (natural calm is one brand that tastes ok)?

Natalia Hope today you're feeling more than a smidge better.

Athena You and others speak so highly of the info from Robb Wolf. I have to figure out which web/blog habit will be replaced by him.

The other day I had a chocolate craving and started eating some regular sweet chocolate, after having two pieces I got angry with myself because I was heading towards that slippery slope on no return, so instead I had a tablespoon of powdered cocoa mixed in with coconut milk OMG it was heavenly !! Completely got rid of the craving...

I don't do cheese at all anymore and am really not missing it ...
Suprisingly because I do like cheese...

Claire -- also wanted to add that I now take Magnesium Citrate and Melatonin before bed and I have been sleeeeeping like a baby ... So happy about that...

Are there any Paleo friendly salad dressings? I love salad and can pile on all the veggies but I can't eat them raw. Cooked veggies are no problem for me but for lunch I just don't have the time and would prefer a salad...

Svelt – I have increased my workouts and natural oils (flax and coconut oil). I am now on digestive enzymes and acidophilus . I have recently seen discussions on magnesium and constipation, so I am going to look into that.
Has Robb Wolf stopped blogging /podcasting or something?
I will post my recipes on that thread (I like them)

What type of workouts does everyone do? Intense workouts and slow movements?

Hey there sleep challenged sisters......I've also been taking melatonin and liking it! I also take GABA.....I read a few places that it helps you get a deeper sleep. I'm not sure if it's working but the two together really work for me. I'm going to finish the bottle of GABA and just use the melatonin when I can't fall asleep.....but I too have been sleep well knock on wood!

RAM.....I think olive oil and vinegar or any type of vinagrette that you make should be primal/paleo........ I too love my salads and make different salad dressings all the time......Here are 3 from Mark's Daily Apple's free readers recipes cook book......

Thai-Inspired Dressing
▪ juice and zest of 2 limes
▪ 1/2 cup olive oil
▪ 2 teaspoons fish sauce
▪ 1 teaspoon soy or tamari sauce
▪ 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
▪ 2 teaspoons ginger juice* (or grated ginger root)

Basil Apple Vinaigrette
▪ 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
▪ 2 tablespoon apple cider
▪ 1 shallot, minced
▪ 2 cloves garlic, minced
▪ 1 teaspoon mustard
▪ pinch salt
▪ pinch black pepper
▪ 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Raspberry Vinaigrette
▪ 1/4–1/2 cup Raspberry vinegar
▪ 1/2 cup Olive oil
▪ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
▪ 1 tsp minced garlic
▪ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▪ 1/2 teaspoon pepper

I just drizzle olive or flax oil on my salads with salt, pepper and cayenne....My breakfast lately is a couple of handfuls of grated broccoli salad with one egg, flax or olive oil, salt and pepper and cayenne... I have such strange taste

Hi, Risssa! Welcome!

I had a stellar diet day today. Had dinner with my parents last night and she made a paleo recipe I sent her -- pork stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in bacon. It was amazing. I had a leftover piece for breakfast, and I never got hungry. I realized I hadn't eaten lunch at like 2:30, but still wasn't hungry, so I figured I'd just have a snack when I got hungry but never did. Weird. Cool. Weird.

Work has been super stressful for several weeks, not because of the actual work, but because of the egos involved. Feels like no matter what i do, someone is mad at me because they have very different ideas of what they want.

Robb Wolf is still podcasting/blogging; I wish I had known about him sooner.

I feel like the further down this rabbit hole I go, the more I discover everything we're told is wrong.

My comment was more about how much time I spend on the computer reading about a couple of key interests, health being one of them. I have a regular "route" that takes up a fair amount of time already. So it's more like who do I have to bump in my current line up to make room for RW! oops