On Sat, 20 Apr 2002, Karen Scoggins wrote:

> 1)  Why did you choose the paleo plan?

It seemed to make sense.

> 2)  How long have you been on a paleo diet?

Five years.

> 3)  Which plan do you most closely follow and which book can't you live
> without?

I think I've tried all variations.  I don't work from a book
anymore.

> 4)  What have been your results - health improvements, weight loss, etc.

My single most dramatic result has been the remission of chronic
gum disease that had cost me several teeth.  As for weight loss,
I initially lost a lot of weight on the Zone, before going paleo.
The Zone is a reduced-calorie diet.  On paleo, I maintained that
weight loss for a while, but gradually the weight began to creep
back, until I had regained most of it.  My overall health has
been good, both before and after paleo.  I did experience some
arrhythmia while on very low or zero carb paleo experiments.  Hay
fever seems to be diminished in severity.

> 5)  Did you have any addictions when you started that were hard to kick; if
> so, how did you do it  (cold turkey or slow withdrawal)???

Not really.  I missed beer, but that's about it.

> 6)  Are there any "paleo foods" which you exclude from the diet because they
> don't work for you?

Yes, tomatoes.  They seem to trigger psoriasis, if I eat them in
significant amounts.  They are arguably not paleo anyway.

> 7)  Are there any "non-paleo foods" which you seem to be able to handle in
> small quantities while still maintaining your health improvements, etc.?

Yes, sweet potatoes.  In fact, though both Cordain and Audette classify
these as non-paleo, there is no justification for this
classification.  Sweet potatoes are edible raw, and tubers of
this sort have been available to humans for a very long time.  I
don't eat these in quantity, but I do have them occasionally.

> 8)  What is a typical paleo day for you?  (I'm particularly interested in
> what you all have for breakfast as I don't like eggs)

Morning: left-over meat and a hunk of watermelon.  Lunch: diced
chicken breast and salad greens.  Dinner: a roast of some sort,
and maybe some blueberries, or that sweet potato, with a cup of
green tea.

> 9)  Do you take any vitamins, supplements?

Varies.  Generally, I take some cod liver oil fortified with
EPA/DHA.

> 10)  What about exercise?

Strength training 2 or 3 times a week; walking and occasional
jogging.

Todd Moody
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