My Healthy Lifestyle Was Killing Me
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!
Amidst all of the holiday parties near the end of 2010, my BMI tipped from normal to overweight. Concerned that at age 52 my luck might be close to running out in evading the type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease that run in my family, I decided that it was time to lose weight. I’ve never had a major weight issue, but 20+ years of treatment for endometriosis, the onset of menopause, and 20+ years of living the suburban, increasingly sedentary life with an obese spouse had finally caught up with me. I set a realistic goal of losing 20 lbs by April of 2011.
I’ve never believed in “diets” since I have seen what happens in the overwhelming majority of cases – follow the “diet,” lose weight, back to the same-old-same-old, pack on more pounds than before. So I decided to be sensible and follow conventional wisdom. By instituting sustainable changes to my diet (counting calories, adding more healthy whole grains, less fat, less junk food) and a manageable exercise routine (worked up to chronic cardio!), I met my goal. By mid-April 2011 I was down 23 lbs and 2 sizes. Woo hoo! I should have been ecstatic, but I knew I had a problem.
I’d lost the weight, but I was feeling weaker and had experienced a couple of really scary incidents of severe diarrhea which lead to incapacitating dehydration compounded with hypothermia. I had to be rushed to the emergency room twice over a two-month period. After numerous tests and consultations between my GP and the ER doctors, the diagnosis both times was stomach virus. Great. They were clueless.
The second incident had been worse than the first. By the time the paramedics arrived (quicker than the first time) my veins had already started collapsing and I was non-responsive. I didn’t feel too confident about surviving a third bout. I learned to become aware of the initial signs of dehydration and was able to manage it by drinking ridiculous amounts of water (12 – 16 glasses a day!) supplemented with Gatorade. There had to be a better way. Of increasing concern to me was that over the next three months I dropped another 10 lbs without trying, and started developing sagging skin – a sure sign of muscle loss. Being small-framed and with a family history of osteoporosis, this was not good.
Somehow I stumbled upon MDA. As I started reading, a lot started making sense. The exercise portion was a lot like what I did as a kid. Having grown up in NYC with no car in the family, my feet were a basic mode of transportation. Sprints were how my friends and I got to elementary school (had to wait for mom to catch up to cross the street), lifting heavy things was how we got groceries home and up the stairs, and let’s not forget going up and down stairs (2 or 3 steps at a time weighted down with books in Jr. and Sr. high school) in the train stations, as well as regularly climbing 2-5 flights of stairs to reach family members’ and friends’ apartments (elevators were not an option).
After reading The Primal Blueprint (the only “diet” book I had EVER purchased), I came to the realization that my “healthy” lifestyle was going to kill me, literally! I must admit that even in spite of that, I had a lot of trepidation about going without the grains and legumes and increasing my fat intake. I had no problem dropping processed foods because my dad didn’t consider anything out of a can or pre-frozen to be “food,” and my mom made the distinction between real food and party (i.e. junk) food. For over 50 years I had eaten oatmeal or cream of wheat as part of my healthy breakfast almost every day. Breakfast without grains just did not seem like it would fill me up. Being of Caribbean ancestry, rice and beans had also been lifelong staples. However, on July 23, 2011, I decided to give this Primal thing a try for a week. One week later I was down another 3 lbs, but, in spite of my husband’s concerns about my “anorexia” – no worries – I was also down one full size! Using one of the online body fat calculators, I estimated that my body fat had gone down about 3%, which correlates well with the 3 lb weight loss. Over the next few weeks I took a few forays back into the world of SAD foods, because who the heck was this Mark Sisson guy to deprive me of my old comfort foods. I quickly discovered that what Mark had to say didn’t matter because my body was saying the same things loudly and clearly.
After 5 months of having said goodbye to the “healthy” whole grains and legumes, embracing the fats, dropping the chronic cardio, exercising less (but more effectively) and playing more, I lost a total of 6 lbs. Almost a year into my Primal journey, I’ve regained all of the weight that I lost since I went Primal. What has left me and all that have seen my transformation dumbfounded, is that from July 2011 to now I dropped from a size 4 to a size 0 while with a net weight loss of ZERO pounds! Let me summarize that – I dropped 36 lbs and went from a size 8 to a size 4 following conventional wisdom. I’ve dropped a whopping 0 lbs and have gone from a size 4 to a size 0 following the Primal Blueprint.
More importantly, I’ve noticed that a lot of nuisance health issues that I had attributed to aging and/or had for so long that I accepted them as “normal,” are gone. To name just a few, the achy shins and joints, compliments of power walking (I read that it was easier on the joints than jogging, lol!), are no longer achy. I no longer feel like I am going to pass out if I don’t have breakfast within the first 30 minutes after I wake up. I no longer need to constantly pack snacks for my mid-morning and mid-afternoon hunger pangs/shakes. I no longer get in a foul mood when I’m hungry. I don’t drink anywhere near the amounts of water I drank regularly when I was constantly fighting dehydration, nor have I had a need to drink Gatorade. I have more energy than ever (I was anemic from childhood until a couple of years ago). Spicy foods no longer mess up my stomach. That stuffed feeling 10-15 minutes after a meal is gone. My pipes no longer leak.
My Primal journey continues as I try out different things and continue to learn how my body wants me to live. At age 53 I am stronger, leaner, more energetic and feel healthier than ever. Thank you, Mark, for teaching me what a healthy lifestyle really looks like.
Myra
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
I just started the paleo diet recently and am also growing thinner without actually losing much weight. I keep looking in the mirror and thinking, `Woo-hoo, I am so thin!!!`and then I step on the scale and it says I`ve lost nothing. Interesting.
As I’ve told many of my friends, you don’t really want to lose weight. What you really want to lose is fat. Fat loss without muscle loss will not necessarily result in a number change on the scale, but it will change the way your clothes fit. When you need new pants in a smaller size because your old ones are getting too baggy, you’ve succeeded, regardless of what number is displayed on the scale.
I think all of us feel and look younger and healthier after following the primal diet. Great stuff!
Wow I am the back end of the comments today, being in Australia, I am always late. Thank you for your story Myra, I am 50, and have been primal for a year, not huge weight loss (12kg), but huge changes health wise. Thanks for your info about your “exercise”. Too often I hear the phrase “incidental exercise”, which almost denigrates the exertions of getting through a day. I try and be somewhat inefficient in my work to get more squats in, lift more wood, buckets of feed for my animals, and the garden. Girls try not to obsess about the scales as I do, focus on the joy of good health, of the small things that make you smile, and play.
Thanks again Myra,
Cheers
Myra & Heather…have you noticed any hormone altering responses? I have always been thin, looked after myself, ate not much fast food or junk. My problem is never weight loss, but the last 12 months is hormones gone nuts. I am interested if Primal has made a difference. My biggest problem with Primal is being disorganized from shift work and nothing but CW and junk food available at work (hospital too! Scary!) so I have to make sure I always have food to bring. I find this the hardest aspect actually. Going without sugar or grains is pretty easy so long as I have something else available. Not that easy if you have to go buy takeaway of some description! Not so many Primal options out there!
Michelle, because of the treatment for endometriosis, I was medically put through menopause at 35 for several months. When it happened again naturally 10 years later, the symptoms were not as severe and were pretty much over before I went primal. Perhaps other ladies would like to comment on their experiences which would be more typical.
Love your story Myra – you look absolutley fabulous! I am 53 post menopausal and have had very similar health improvements to you since going paleo (mostly) about 8 months ago. I actually really enjoy lifting weight at the gym, so I keep doing it, but it is fab to have a lifestyle that doesn’t insist you find time to exercise, but rather just to keep moving & lifting naturally. You are proof that this is what we need. I love the “my pipes don’t leak” comment too! Cheers – from another late reader in Australia.
PS: Hope your husband soon sees the evidence that is before him and at least gives paleo a try – for his sake and yours.
Hi Hilary M – just wondering where you are in Oz – just reading your response to Myra – isn’t she amazing? I ‘m very new to this – similar age to you and workout in gym and looking for a bit of support closer to home – I ‘m in northern NSW. Can I perhaps PM you? Cheers aussiepossum (leila)
Hi Aussiepossum (Leila). I am in the burbs of Melbourne, so not near you at all. However we are in the same hemisphere! I would like to have a cyber support buddy, though. At least we are in the same time zone most of the year! How can we do this? Hilary
Thanks Myra for your story. I’ve been trying to convert fully over to the Primal Life Style and struggling. These Friday stories are what keep me going. And I realize we are all unique. So I am going to stop obsessing. I will have my oatmeal in the morning, but I have cut out all other grains and 99% of procesed sugar from my diet. I’ve cut back on dairy significantly. I’m making point of eating whole foods and loving eating red meat. I turn 50 in 13 days, and all I want is to feel healthy and be able to MOVE!!!
Zoe, oatmeal was my morning staple for 50 years. I didn’t think bacon & eggs would do the trick, but the first time I tried it I wasn’t hungry for the next 7 hours! Give it a try. If time to cook in the morning is an issue for you, check out the free recipes on this website for other options/ideas. You can do it!
Thanks, Myra. I love eggs,but I’m allergic to them. I’ll check out the recipes. Ironically, oat meal was a recent fool love: I’ve only been eating it about five years. But I have to say that since I have significantly cut back on the sugar and carbs, I’m not enjoying things like cookies! Woohoo!!
“oat meal was a recent fool love”
What a perfect typo! Oatmeal is, indeed, a “fool”-ish food to eat, please read here:
http://blog.trackyourplaque.com/2010/03/oatmeal-good-or-bad.html
Myra – I want to be like you when I grow up. Actually, I want to be like you now. Awesome, awesome story!
Awesome. Have been waiting for “someone like Me”. Not that the others haven’t been inspiring. It just helps to see one of us mature ladies rocking a bikini after 50 and looking like you haven’t had plastic surgery to do it. Thanks for sharing. I needed this today.
No plastic surgery for me! I’m terrified of pain and other unintended side effects. By the way, I also don’t Botox, rarely use sunscreen unless I’m in the tropics, and don’t spend a wad on cosmetics.
Awesome Post! Myra, you look fantastic- and it really shines through your story that you feel fantastic, too. Good for you! I hope your stubborn spouse eventually gets on board: mine took forever (two years!) but has finally admitted he’s much happier since giving up grains. Baby steps.
Thanks! I hope so too.
At the risk of bringing down the celebrating (but super-way to go Myra!); my husband had *only just* decided to go kinda-sorta primal, too — stopped the sodas and breads (and doughnuts)… He wasn’t overweight, but had had occasional angina, which he was successfully treating with some OTC stuff and fish oil. (No, could never get him to a doc — or even to take a blood test…) and he had a heat-stroked-related heart attack and died at 60.
He LOOKED the picture of health, but it wasn’t real. And because he was reluctant to give up his food-pleasures, because despite agreeing with all the primal / paleo / low carb books and blog posts I’d read to him (for my own education, but he enjoyed hearing it-all), I lost the anchor of my life…
I know you can’t force a horse to drink… but (who was it who said?) you can ride the hell out of him till he’s too thirsty not to? {sigh}
Holy crap — you’re FIFTY-THREE?? You look about thirty. Congrats on the success and good health. You look AMAZING!
Great story! I am curious to see if you would be so kind as to write down a typical day’s food/menu? Thanks!!!
Joel, see page 1 of the comments about 2/3 of the way down.
Great story and you look phenomenal. Grok on!!!
Great account of your experiences. I am 50 and dealt with ibs/diarrhea for years. Lately I’ve been marvelling about how the same size 0 pants fit me now at 118the lbs (5’4″) as when i was 107 lbs , at my ibs “lowpoint”. I exercised all along but now have so much more muscle. 11 lbs heavier but waist is the same.
Super job with lovely results! I just turned 54 and have had great results so far, but slowing down. Heavy lifting, ala yesterday’s post, is my next step. I hope they make 50 lb kettle bells.
You look like a beautiful woman, a size zero here in the UK is a 6 ft anorexic. Your height an frame makes you look normal. (and beautifully toned) Not at all what I was expecting as I scrolled down the page to read what you had written. I am 5ft 8 and a size 14, just 5 pounds to go to ‘normal’ BMI. I love this way of eating, it makes me healthy and that is more important to me than anything. I am nealy 50 and feel that as long as I feel great and I watch what I eat and keep fit, then size (0 or 14) are just a number. I think that you look fantastic, but everyone may not end up looking as good you. We are all different heights, different muscle tone, different in every way. Great Friday read and interesting. Thanks Mark
Congratulations on your success – you are an inspiration for me to continue living primally.
Wow wow and wow! You look hot mama! I’m about your age 56, and loved your story. Since going Primal my arthritus is completely gone. I’m more fit than I think I’ve been in years.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your journey. Best wishes.
What a wonderful testimony, Myra.
You look hot and healthy.
You are a great role model for all of us.
Thx so much for writing.
Fantastic, and really inspirational. I have only be eating primal for about 2 months and have to say I have been disappointed with the lack of weight loss, but maybe I should forget the scales. Feeling so much better though! thanks Myra for sharing your experiences.
I know it takes a while to change mentality after a lifetime of brainwashing, but you don’t necessarily want to lose a lot of weight (I don’t know where you’re starting from). You want to lose FAT. Depending on your starting point, that may or may not translate into weight loss. I have a primal friend that gained about 15 lbs, is a smaller size and looks phenomenal. She’s big on crossfit, so her weight gain has been muscle. Build your muscles, melt your fat and don’t worry so much about your weight. More importantly, measure how you feel.
Wow, Myra. You look absolutely fabulous and are glowing! Congratulations on feeling your best!
Grok on, mama!
I think Myra made a typo in her story. She says she is 53 but the photos make me think she is actually 35!!! Way to go, Myra. Very inspiring!
No typo. I wore bikinis that covered more of my belly when I was 35.
Awesome story Myra, and great attitude! Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations, very inpiring story, you look terrific!
Have you been able to inspire your “obese” husband as you mentionned? You have inspired us all. THANK YOU.
One gram of protein per pound of body weight.
Stephen D. Phinney Low Carb Living youtube
He is on a ketogenic diet of less than 50g of carbs a day. The Inuits, who have the healthiest cardio system on on the planet when living in the northern wastes. They eat no carbs.
These is primal extreme. Know before you go there.
myra, great, great, great story!! congrats on wrapping ur brain around this thing called primal! i am turning 45 in a matter of days, i wanna look and feel like u when i get to 53!!! thank u SO MUCH for ur inspiring story! love fridays on MDA!!!
Hey Shelly! Just wanted to say Happy Birthday from another MDA fan who turns 45 in a matter of days (the 15th). I , too, am really jazzed by Myra’s story. I definitely want to look and feel as fantastic as she does when I’m 53 (and before then, and after then)!
You look GREAT! Congrats!!!!
I’m a bit of a lurker, but I felt compelled to comment on the fact that Myra eschews jogging because its easier on the joints. Bones need impact. It keeps them dense and strong. With a family history of osteoporosis I would investigate the studies conducted on jogging and bone health, and then pick up jogging using minimalist footwear (Vibram 5 Fingers, Merrill Trail Gloves, etc).
Jogging falls into the category of chronic cardio which has been found to be detrimental to health. See Mark’s post http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/#axzz23L8PdN4o
I agree with what you say about bones needing impact. That’s where walking and lifting heavy things come in. I do plenty of both.
Great story I must say and congratulations to you on achieving such an arduous task. I hope so same thing happens for me because I am lying on my bed eating,eating and eating.
Great story! Thanks for sharing. As someone who is also in their early 50′s it is great to hear your tale.