I Wish I Could Shout It from the Rooftops!
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,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
I seriously cannot thank you enough for putting the information about the Primal Blueprint on your website, Mark’s Daily Apple. You have changed my life! I am a different person than I was months ago.
My story started shortly after my sixth week post-partum appointment after the birth of my daughter in June 2011. I weighed 165 lbs. My doctor was pleased to see that I lost about 20 lbs of my pregnancy weight. I, on the other hand, was in shock. Now, this was my second baby in the past two years but I had never weighed that much when not pregnant. I discussed it with my husband and he thought that it was a good time for himself to lose some weight as well. However, since I was breastfeeding, I was terrified to start any kind of diet.
In July 2011, my husband started telling me about this “Primal Blueprint Diet.” I really wasn’t that interested and all I could think was “What, No Pasta?! I can’t do that!” Slowly, he worked me down and I decided that I could try anything for 3 weeks. Of course, I would monitor my daughter’s growth progress to ensure that she was getting enough milk. Shortly after deciding that we give it a try, hurricane Irene blew through (early August 2011) and we lost power for several days. We ended up eating everything that we had in the house. It was then that we decided that we would not replace what was not on the diet. We were going to give this a shot.
Now, originally, I was doing this to support my husband, I really didn’t expect that it would change me. Oh, was I wrong! You convinced one of the biggest critics on low carb diets, an Italian who loves her pasta. About a week into the diet, after the low carb flu had passed, I felt absolutely amazing. I had more energy, my thoughts were clear, my emotions were stable, and I was happy. I was even sleeping better! My milk supply never dwindled because of the diet. My digestion was simple, no heartburn, no stomach aches, no indigestion, everything was running like clockwork. I wasn’t craving sweets, fast food, junk food, and even pasta. I didn’t want pasta!
As for some background, as a child, I was diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia. I was told that I had to eat every 2 hrs to maintain blood sugar levels. I would force myself to eat when not hungry (often packaged foods) and wake up sick, so sick, every morning. I would be incredibly nauseated and have severe cramps in my legs; every morning was a battle. Then, when my blood sugar would drop because I did not eat, I would get very sick with cold sweats, nausea, confused thoughts, sharp temper, etc. This problem… is now gone. I haven’t had a single incident while on the diet. My life is completely different.
I think this is what surprised me the most; that it not only had a physical effect on me but also an emotional and cognitive one. When I started noticing these changes, I knew that this was the right lifestyle for me and it became a journey. I will never go back to the way I ate in the “old days.”
For those who need to see the numbers, I am 5’ 4” and in early August 2011 I was approximately 165 lbs and wearing a pant size 12. Today, I weighed myself for the first time in 30 days, I weighed 118 lbs and now wear a size 4. My weight leveled out about 2 months ago. I have been working on maintaining a healthy weight and eating fresh organic food. I cook every meal at home and on the few occasions when my husband and I do go out to eat, we are the biggest food critics! We can now tell when something has been pre-packaged or covered in salt! This year, I have a huge vegetable garden and I look forward to working it daily and eating the food that I grow; nothing more fresh. Chickens may be next on my list!
When I bump into people who I haven’t seen in awhile, they are shocked at the difference. They ask me what I am doing and I direct them to your website. I have convinced several people to try it and when they find out that they love it, they share the word; so it’s spreading.
Thank you for changing my life and changing the life of my husband, my children, my best friend, and other family members, friends… and everyone who they touch. It’s spreading because it works and it’s fabulous! I wish I could shout it from the rooftops!
Grab a Copy of The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation and Start Getting Primal Today!
Posted By: Mark Sisson
I had reactive hypoglycemia before PB too! Also have two kids. Thanks for sharing. I’m still on my journey.
Your story is an inspiration. I’m encouraged by your success. You look amazing!!
Never get tired of these stories. Thanks and congratulations Jessica. You look great.
Thanks for the story Mark!
Great story and you look wonderful!
But Hurricane Irene came through South Florida in 2005.
Oops… my mistake… it was Jeanne….
….and you DO look wonderful.
you look super-foxy and so healthy!
Lol thanks!!
Im so confused i have been doing paleo for 3 weeks i dont know what im doing wrong. I want to lose 40 pds in 2 months and i read the web site and love the food but ,do i need to cut out all of my treats made with almond flour and coconut flour. i love the cakes and bread and dark chocolate i mak,e and i eat one or 2 every day. is that what is holding my weight lost back. I need something sweet and i love fruit but thats not helping? Please help
Jessica I’m super proud of you. You look amazing and are obviously feeling amazing also.
Jessica is my cousin and I have been learning about this off and on from her for a while and my husband and I are going Primal as a result of what we have learned and seen.
That is wonderful! Go for it!
@Jeremy: If you don’t agree with this lifestyle, take your Twinkies and go somewhere else.
What a great story! Congrats.
Jessica: Good job!
I’m just wondering, for anybody, how does the primal diet compare financially to your old way of eating? I’m unemployed at the moment, and last month had to go to the food bank … you get what they give in that case. I’ll probably just have to ease slowly into this.
For me, it is actually cheaper than how we used to eat but we used to buy things like Lean Cuisines, packaged lunch foods, soda, etc. But, it did take some time to learn some tricks and I also garden.
My biggest suggestion is to shop locally and to eat in season. Go find the closest Farmer’s Market and check it out. You can find great deals online for bulk almonds, walnuts, etc. I buy in large quantities when on sale and it lasts us a long time. Trust me, while it does take some learning, you can do this diet on a budget.
Wow! Congrats on your transformation. Your story really resonates with me as I am in the middle of a very similar story! I am a few months behind you (my baby was born at the end of August) but hope to have a success story of my own soon enough. The primal lifestyle is the first plan that has allowed me to lose significant amounts of weight while still nursing without losing supply. Thanks for the continued inspiration!
Congratulations, Jessica. You look fabulous!!
@Jeremy: Are you frustrated and overweight? Because from reading your posts, you sound like a bitter angry fat guy (or girl) who’s clearly unhappy with your life. If you don’t like what you’re reading, why are you wasting your life writing a bunch of comments on a blog with principles you clearly don’t believe in?
Jessica,
Congratulations! you look absolutely amazing! I was wondering what was your work out routine? Would you mind sharing it with us?
I think you look amazing girl!!! I can’t lose any weight till after my sister renewal wedding, but right after that I am sooo doing this diet. Way to go!!!
Hi, I was wondering if you noticed any differences in your baby’s behavior as a result of breast feeding on a primal diet?
I think Jeremy is a troll….or a bum? No offense.
hi i am a nursing mother . I was wondering how long it took you to lose the weight while nursing?
Great job! Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions over email? Thanks!
Thanks for sharing; you look fantastic!
Congratulations on succeeding. Any lifestyle change is difficult so be very proud of your accomplishments.
Jeremy,
Can you provide a link that can back-up your claim?
What exactly is “time consuming” about preparing foods with no cereals?
Re: Jeremy,
“[...] or this ungodly diet could be a placebo.”
This tells me you do not understand the meaning of the term “placebo.”
Re: Jeremy,
Any flesh to “squeeze”? Yeah, keep it classy, J.
Re: Jeremy,
“Chris, manure is unsanitary[...]”
Chicken poop is NOT manure, J. The correct term is guano.
Where does the “quackery” reside in growing your own food, J? People have been doing this for thousands of years, so I don’t understand your beef. We’re talking about FOOD, not crystals or pyramids.
@Old Mexican- don’t feed the trolls
I was tempted as well, but he is just baiting us. not that Mark discourages healthy debate, but none of this guy’s insults contain even a pretense of substantiation, and I’m sure Mark would be justified in banning him and deleting all his comments.
Also, he keeps misusing the word “Luddite,” which is obnoxious.
@Old Mexican- don’t feed the trolls
I was tempted as well, but he is just baiting us. not that Mark discourages healthy debate, but none of this guy’s insults contain even a pretense of substantiation, and I’m sure Mark would be justified in banning him and deleting all his comments.
Ah double post, sorry.
You must be the king of free time to continually post on a website whose content you utterly disagree with.
Get a life, friend.
They sure are deprived Jeremy, because if you didn’t know we don’t’ let our kids out of the house. No sunshine, no vitamin D. It’s awesome. Oh and please preach it, because milk is the only source of calcium. Yep…
Jeremy, she has her own garden. She is already saving money on produce. I gotta say, your comments have been most entertaining!
Jeremy,
What is wrong with you? Have you been eating a lot of sugar lately?
Just wondering, because when I binge on sugar and grains, I get all foggy-minded, hyper-emotional, and say things I wouldn’t normally say. And I’m pretty mean, too.
Seems like that might be what’s going on with you. Try some high quality protein and vitamin-rich veggies. That’ll help.
Erin
You’re a big bully. Go away. Pick on someone your own size.
Jeremy I want to see what you look like. Show us a picture.