What is the Paleo question?
I didn’t know the Paleo question when I started this journey with my wife, Sylvie. Here is what I did know: I felt slow and sluggish. I got winded easily. My joints hurt. The vision in my right eye was getting worse. I was on a hunger and blood sugar roller coaster – I went from too full to starving every few hours. It was tough to lose weight. My ideal weight in my mind was continuing to rise….185….195….I’ll be happy under 200….205 isn’t that bad….everyone aspires to be at the weight they were when they got married, right? 205 is great! I feel fine…
I was lying to myself. I was NOT feeling fine.
I think the Paleo question is WHY? Why am I sluggish? Why do my joints hurt? Why is my vision getting worse? Why did I feel awful after eating and then starving a few hours later?
The standard answers to these questions are easy: You’re getting older. You’re overweight.
Standard “solutions” to these answers didn’t work for me: Reduce portion size. Exercise. Been there, done that. I’d lose weight and gain it right back again.
I wanted off the roller coaster.
When I came home after 7 months of being in Abu Dhabi without my wife and children, I weighed 235 pounds. My wife and I knew that something had to change.
That is when we stumbled upon paleo. Sylvie started right away, but I was skeptical. She handed me a copy of The Paleo Solution and a few pages in I decided to give it a try.
That was a year and a half ago. I am now 170 pounds. The vision in my right is fine. My joints don’t hurt. I have energy again. I feel light on my feet. The best part? I am never hungry. I eat as much as I want and I don’t think about calories. I can’t gain weight!
I got off the roller coaster and life is good. I see a field and I know I can sprint to the other side with my kids and actually beat them there. I have a 14 year old, so that’s not easy!
The great thing about the paleo answer is that is has us questioning everything. The bottom line is that only we have our best interests at heart. If we want to succeed in health, in finance, in life, we have to find the right answers for us.
The best way to start is to ask the right questions.
Thanks Robb, for your book, your work and both your podcasts.
Great story, thank you so much for sharing,very inspiring.
As I was reading your story, I realized that could be me. I feel horrible and hurt everywhere. I’m 64 yrs old, 5’11” and weigh 240 lbs. I know Paleo eating would help me – I have tried it. But as with any “diet” or lifestyle change I can’t follow through. Within days I stop. I dislike most of what I have to eat…including meats and veggies. I hate cooking – I’m not even fond of eating. I’m retired and have lots of activities I like to do and am busy all the time. We travel 6 mo out of the year. My husband has quirky eating habits that I have not been able to change in 20 years…We both have to change. I’m sure he won’t cooperate so we are both problems. I know what I have to do…how can I make myself do it?
Great job Eric! It is wonderful to see a family go Paleo! Thanks for sharing!