I Cannot Imagine Living Any Other Way
It’s Friday, everyone! And that means another Primal Blueprint Real Life Story from a Mark’s Daily Apple reader. If you have your own success story and would like to share it with me and the Mark’s Daily Apple community please contact me here. I’ll continue to publish these each Friday as long as they keep coming in. Thank you for reading!
Dear Mark,
I just wanted to thank you for your hard work and dedication to your blog.
I discovered Primal living during my recovery from anorexia. I didn’t give it a real shot until 5 months into recovery. I was just too afraid of all of that fat was going to make me fat!
During those 5 months, I gained up to an ideal weight for myself eating 3000-3500 calories a day. Oh, and lots and lots of carbs and lean protein – you know, that bodybuilding stuff. I still had no menstrual cycle and had a night eating problem. I was still depressed, anxious, and was still drooling over food I saw on the Food Network. I was getting really scared because I literally could not stop eating. I didn’t want to gain any more weight. I had decided I nothing to lose, so took a plunge into Primal living.
I obviously didn’t go cold turkey with the carbs. It took about a week to cut my carbs in half and eliminate most grains. (I swear carbs are like crack). I started eating lots of egg and cheese omelets, BEEF, whole avocados, some bacon. I was so excited eating cheeseburgers at my favorite burger place where they have grass-fed beef burgers…YUM. I knew if I didn’t eat enough fat and too much carbs at a meal, my cravings returned. I quickly learned this and became very consistent with my Primal choices.
About a month into the diet change, I noticed some changes. My anxiety after a meal decreased, and I was able to concentrate on school and my son more. I started to feel my sex drive returning, was less hungry, was able to go longer periods without eating.
Then about a week ago, BAM, my period finally returned! I was so, so relieved and felt like I was back to my old self, but a more improved version.
I know this is not a typical success story, but I feel that my mental success is equally as important as my physical success. I am finally looking forward to movies, meeting new people, completing my school work, and playing with my 17 month old. I now eat to live instead of living to eat/binge by myself.
Don’t get me wrong, I am very pleased with my appearance. And I am glad that I don’t have to spend mindless hours running on the treadmill – how depressing! I have fallen in love with resistance training and have gained lots of strength.
Although I am sure there is no proof, I believe that the lack of saturated fats and too many carbs completely messed up my mental health. (It wasn’t until I turned vegan that my anorexia really peaked). I see so many people devote years to their eating disorder and sometimes even never recover. I feel very fortunate that I got out of that hell in a relatively short amount of time and am healthy again.
I found what lifestyle works for me and simply cannot imagine living any other way. I am so grateful that I discovered Primal living and happy that I am living life again!
Thanks, Mark!
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
What a great success story! Congratulations on your improved health, both physical and mental!
One of my favorite stories so far on MDA. You look incredibly healthy and happy in those last two pictures. Thanks for sharing your story!
The second picture I was still vegan and at a pretty unhealthy weight. It’s probably hard to tell cause I had a major fruit binge before that picture was taken! lol. But thank you for your kind words.
You look amazing and healthy. Its fantastic how far you have come
a true testament to yourself!!!
Congrats, Great job!
One of the most inspiring primal/paleo stories I’ve read. You look outstanding and your transformation (MENTAL and physical) is just unreal. Really shows how food has such a huge impact on how we look and feel – although every time I say that now, I can’t believe there was a time in my life when I thought otherwise. Your son is lucky to have you back, and I’m glad you have your life back. Keep doing what you’re doing! I have no doubt that this post will save lives.
You look great! Stories like these make my day
Wow……thank you so much for sharing your story, I’ve been struggling to go “primal” for awhile now despite knowing how important eating real food is. After reading how much it has done for you mentally – its the kick up the bum I needed – Thank you!
Also I just wanted to say, you look amazing now and so much younger, you could pass for the daughter of your old self it that makes sense?!
I have a similar story with Primal living basically turning around my depression and anxiety as well as gaining 20 pounds of pure muscle and huge strength gains.
Congrats and Grok on
Great job ,congrats on your recovery i’m very happy for you that you made it through such a trying time in your life and welcome to the best group of people in the world.
This is probably one of my favorite success stories. I really believe processed carbs are causing a lot of anxiety problems. I notice that I am a lot less anxious/OCD when eating primal.
Soooo, happy for this young woman! I had bulimia an did not get well until I ate healthy fats and lots of protein. Now I know I can point anorexics toward MDA also! I learned about the screwed up brain chemistry from Julia Ross’s “The Diet Cure”, I was so astounded by my mental and physical recovery I researched all I could on nutrition, and found myself here 2 yrs ago. I hope I can get some people I know to read this young woman’s story…she looks so healthy!
I learned about the screwed up brain chemistry of vegans from Julia Ross as well- most of the girls in an eating disorder clinic were indeed former veg*ns. (Whether it was the diet itself that pushed them over the edge or using the lifestyle as a “cover” for avoiding food remained to be seen. Still). But quite possibly, apparently it’s a lack of zinc, tryptophan, and fat from animal sources that starve the brain of essential nutrients and screw up normal thinking patterns.
So, to the original poster: Many times over, I’m so happy for you (and for your baby to have a healthy mom!!)
You said, “Although I am sure there is no proof, I believe that the lack of saturated fats and too many carbs completely messed up my mental health.” You’re in luck- there actually IS proof! Julia Ross’ “The Diet Cure” was already mentioned, but also there was a study during WWII called the “Minnesota Starvation Experiment” in which previously healthy men voluntarily ate a diet consisting of only potatoes, grains, and certain vegetables (to resemble a postwar European diet). No meat. Not only did they become extremely thin and weak, but their mental health declined as well, and some of them even developed symptoms of eating disorders before people even knew what they were(!)- low body image, depression, mood swings, binging/hoarding, etc. (Remember, these were previously healthy MEN!) I wish more people knew about this stuff. The fact that eating this way can contribute to eating disorders is NOT a popular viewpoint within the ED community.
Wasn’t Hitler himself also a vegan? Or at least a vegetarian? How long did he keep to that diet until he got paranoid and surrounded himself with yes-men, until Germany began to lose WWII?
You look fabulous!
How long until your periods were recovered? Mine have been gone since 2007 and now with my body at a normal weight still haven’t returned
I’d love some advice
It took me only 25 months. The only thing I can honestly say is eat more calories and exercise a bit less for a little while. I am not sure of your stats, but it doesn’t really matter. The reason why you loss your period was starvation. Eat a bit more and don’t be afraid of eat non-primal things as you are gaining. As I mentioned, I ate 3000 calories of both primal and non primal food for a short period of time.
oops im sorry i mean 15 months.
How did you transition into the diet from your bulimia? I have been binging with some bouts of purging for a year now. The binging has been horrendous and makes me feel awful. Bloated, lethargic, puffy, fat, etc. I feel I need to give my body a break with a detox before to get out all the accumulated crap I’ve put in it and through it. Any thoughts?
Your happiness really shows! Good for you!
Beautiful story further validating the importance of healthy animal fat and the primal diet. The healthy saturated fat of the primal diet is necessary for maintenance of neuron membrane integrity, preserving the proper flow of nutrients into neurons and waste products out of neurons.
Animal fat from clean sources (wild – clean environment and from chemical-free sustainable farms with free-range grass-fed meats) contributes profoundly to prevention of irritability, depression, Alzheimer’s, premature memory loss and loss of cognitive function.
No CAFO meat or dairy or factory farmed chickens or turkeys. Find out exactly how to source your food from the best chemical-free sustainable farmers in your area by visiting:
http://www.nu-gen.net/securing-best-food-sources/
Wow, congrats. What a difference ‘the paleo way’ makes!
Hi! I never reply to anything, congratz on your accomplishment!
All I can say is “WOW” — “Wonderful Outstanding Wrecovery!”
I’ve never had to deal with what you had to go through, but I can only imagine how difficult it can be. You’re definitely an inspiration to everyone who is in your situation.
Your fortitude and resolve are a wonderful message to those gals (and guys, too) you need help and who sometimes think there’s no end to the misery.
I am in tears – you look beautiful, but more important your story says you are happy and that gives to all of us – including your baby. You have given me the courage to truly embrace what I know is good for me, no matter the vegan pressure around me. THANK YOU!
If being vegan is so great, why do those around you need to pressure you to participate?
I can attest to primal eating helping mental health. I’ve suffered from depression and apathy which got worse after quitting nicotine cold turkey (anxiety and the blahs even though my body felt better). I ‘pampered’ myself with any comfort food I wanted but continued to loose weight from under eating due not really caring. Weight loss leveled and I was always in a bad mood and nervous, tired, drained, etc. My mind felt like mush. Since cutting grains and moving in a primal direction my thoughts are positive, I WANT to move (had sushi tonight, walked to the store, bought a smoothie blender, walked back and made a blackberry and coconut water smoothie), and I catch myself smiling and feeling energetic and engaging. It really helps. Congratulations!
“I know this is not a typical success story, but I feel that my mental success is equally as important as my physical success.”
Not typical in the sense that most success stories are about losing immense amounts of weight, but still not that far from the rest in that Primal living really is about making peace with food and with yourself. You are like much of the Primal community in that you have regained control of your life and are at peace (or at least as much at peace as any of us can be in this hectic world.)
Congrats–your story brought tears to my eyes. You look beautiful. Way to go on Grok on!
What am amazing story and transformation. You look fantastic. Thank you for sharing your story – the mental is one of the biggest parts! Awesome job overcoming your fears and going for it. What an awesome pay off for your efforts.
What a great post! I can say that you are so right about this subject. I had a different issue with health but you are so right about your post.
Thank you for sharing
Awesome! So inspiring and thank you for bringing the topic of mental health into a success story. I have seen tremendous changes in my mental health and have experienced freedom from depression and anxiety with Primal/Paleo eating as my foundation. Thank you for sharing your amazing and inspiring story.
You’re really beautiful now. : )
30+ years ago, I was on the roller coaster of bulimia and anorexia. It was a horrible way to live. After three years, I decided I didn’t hate myself enough to kill myself to be thin, but I never developed a healthy relationship with food or my body. Last year, I discovered the Primal Blueprint and I felt, for the first time, that beating my body into submission and ignoring the existence of my body as much as I could wasn’t the only way to keep from getting “fat”. This past year has been my best ever. With a little blip caused by a paleo challenge (food logging and rigidity skirted far too closely to the edge of obsessive), I have maintained a healthy and positive attitude. I just want you to know that this way of life will serve you well, even when you’re not a sweet young thing! Congratulations on coming so far…sharing your story (with pictures!) was so brave!
Your baby is beautiful and so are you.! Best wishes for you and your family
Great story. Good for you. Well done.
And man, look at all the comments about shit carbs/low fat and anxiety/depression problems. Crazy.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for sharing your story! I have battled anorexia since I was a teenager and seeing your before and after pictures made me cry. Your after picture is beautiful, you look happy and full of life! Before, I was so focused on just being THIN…whatever it took. And, boy, does it mess with your head when you’re not eating and almost faint and a boyfriend tells you how hot you look. (Yikes!)
I think the real wakeup call was when I passed out at work one day because I hadn’t eaten. I was sick of feeling so fatigued, getting ill all the time, and having no emotional balance. Once I shifted my focus from “being thin” to “being healthy (meaning as close to whole foods as possible, eating regularly, exercising regularly but with a spirit of gentleness, not punishment)”, I was amazed at the difference. I gained about 15 pounds, and am now at a healthy weight for my height. Not only that, but I have energy and rarely get sick! I am only about a week into eating primal, but I already love it! My digestion (sry…tmi??) Is worlds better and I feel even more energetic and I don’t feel like I constantly need to “graze” to feel full.
Huge congrats on gaining back your health, and thank you again for your inspiring story!
Wow, this is scarily similar to my own story. You are amazing ^_^