Craig - those same and similar symptoms is what got me
started on paleo!  I was tested and came up allergic to
about 98% of Creation.  Try keeping a food diary that notes
what you ate when and what symptoms you eventually notice if
any.  That way you may eventually find the culprits.  Wheat
and milk are two of my biggies.  Check out the forbidden
foods at:
http://www.celiac.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=185&p_catid=12&sid=91hH9H0WOMKQDaE-55102188012.de
Celiac persons cannot eat wheat; this culture makes darned
near everything from wheat.  This list will point you to
some of the hidden grain factors.
I gave up, grudgingly, my glass of milk.  I do desperately
want a cup of coffee in the morning.  I am trying to retrain
myself to drink tea for the caffeine boost.  Meanwhile, when
I do give in, I use whipping cream for lightener.  It is no
contest against the fake creamers and has less "milk" for
the size of the serving used.  And keep trying to quit :)
You will feel so much better!  We still use butter here but
with no carbs like bread and potatoes to put it on, I'm
using lots less.  Clarifies butter (melted with the solids
removed) is even better.

There is no hard and fast rule to paleo eating - each food
plan takes a bit of tweaking and fitting to each
individual.  Eat what works for you.  If it makes you sick,
even days later, don't eat it if you don't want to feel
ill.  Find allowable foods to enjoy and practice enjoying
them - pay attention when you eat and learn to appreciate
what you do have on your plate.  And remember, you are hard
wired to want sugar.  A bit of sugar calls for more, just
like they say alcohol does for alcoholics.  If you get off
and stay off for a while, the craves do eventually moderate
and you will stop dreaming of donuts - or in my case Wendy's
double cheeseburgers :)  I can watch TV again without having
to duck my head during each food commercial LOL

Best of luck in finding your own path!

Craig Smith wrote:
> I'm really struggling with this; I'm now convinced that not only
> am I a carb addict, I'm also allergic to several different
> grains.  The problem is that it's not an immediate reaction, like
> someone's going into anaphylactic shock over strawberries or
> shellfish.  I notice the effects after several days of eating
> grains---like a wheezing in my chest when I'm sleeping, or
> painful edema in my legs.  I almost wish it were more immediate,
> so that my body would effectively prevent me from indulging.
> Instead, I wrestle with the allure of carbs the way an alcoholic
> does; right now it's all I can do to keep from driving a half
> hour to get hot Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
>
> I believe in paleo; I'm just not good about the greater
> strictures that paleo places on me compared with other low-carb
> approaches.  I like my cup of coffee with cream every day (only
> one, but large and very strong), and I like cheese, cream and
> butter.  I think, however, that I will end up on the strict paleo
> path sooner or later.  I don't think I'll survive any other way.
>
> .:. Craig

--
   Elisi Tsayonah, AniWodi, ghigau,
   St Francis River Band of Cherokee
          _,-.    ,-._
         {ooO }  { Ooo}
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          "~~"    "~~"