System Reboot: Autoimmune Paleo Protocol

As I mentioned last week, I’m ready to get out of my own way and get back to progressing towards the healthiest me I can be by age 40.  I even shared plans for exercise!  My goal is to lose another 40 pounds while increasing strength and endurance.

I started slow last week.  I replaced the soft foods pudding diet from my tonsillectomy with whole foods.  Clean meats, veggies, yogurt, nuts, and a little fruit.  I even had a few “healthy” grains (quinoa, brown rice, gluten free whole grain crackers) hoping for some surge in energy.  I hoped to feel better but instead, I remained puffy, bloated, rashy, itchy and still had lots of joint pain.  My hands, knees, and hips feel downright arthritic.  I faced what I knew was coming, a return to strict paleo eating.

That said, even on a paleo eating plan, I’ve never felt quite as fantastic as so many others claim to feel eating that way.  Sure, I feel better but not Tony the Tiger GRRRRRRRREAT!!!!!   Some people, especially those of us with autoimmune diseases (I’m Celiac) have to dig a little deeper and push a little harder.  Food sensitivities tend to run in packs.  If you are Celiac, you might also be sensitive to dairy, nuts, nightshades, legumes, etc.   Until you avoid them for a bit (and subsequently re-introduce them), you never know for sure.

So, here’s the deal, Lucille.  I’m rebooting my system.  I’m taking the paleo diet right down to bare bones.  I’m doing what Robb Wolf calls the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol.  Sounds scary doesn’t it?  I’m going to start with thirty days but in all honesty, I want to commit to it fully until my physical on September 5th.  I want to see what differences I can tell and see if I get that KAPOW! KABLAM! energy that I desperately seek.  Then, I will add back in one food at a time and see if I react positively or negatively to it.

Here’s what I’m eating:  Clean meats, most vegetables, fruit, organic coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, water and coffee.  I think there is a debate on whether one should drink coffee on the autoimmune protocol but you can pry it from my cold, dead hand.

Here’s what I’m NOT eating:  Dairy, eggs, legumes, nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, salsa), nuts, seeds, alcohol, grains, sugar, or any other sweeteners both plant derived or artificial.  I’m also avoiding processed coconut milk because it has added guar gum (a legume derivative).

As you can tell, I’m cutting out a lot.  This is NOT necessarily a lifestyle plan for me.  I plan to re-introduce most of these things slowly and see how I react but I need to clean the slate first and see how I feel on as low of an allergen diet as possible.

I started eating this way on Saturday and other than missing eggs for breakfast, it hasn’t been that bad.  I’ve dropped three pounds in two days and the itchy rash on my chest is almost gone.  I would say my joint pain is a bit relieved but nothing major yet.  Still very early in the game.

I know it’s going to be hard.  I know it’s going to feel restrictive.  I know it’s going to be a pain in the butt in social situations.  The thing is, I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.  It’s time to saddle up and make the hard choices.

GIDDY UP!