Hello PALEOFOODIES, (cc Drs Balzer, Cordain).

This is my first post to the list.  I tend to be long-winded: my
apologies. (However! I have noted that there is less wind (flatulence)
on the paleo diet compared to a low fat/high glycaemic load (high
grain) approach  :-)

My main purpose in sending this post is to encourage those (incl
myself)who have had less than spectacular success on the PaleoDiet,
which I have been on for all of 3 weeks ('Cordain version'). (Yes,
early days...)

The more spectacular success stories tend to get more air-time. The
ordinary/average/not-so-spectacular receives less attention. This
happens in my own field ( I am a vet): (veterinary) medical and
pathology texts tend to describe the spectacular rather than the
more usual/average clinical findings, lesions etc.

For personal and professional reasons, I have had a long interest in
nutrition. This year I have been reading a lot on paleo nutrition
(after reading little in this area since the landmark paper by Eaton
et al (1985). I have read most if not all of Prof. Loren Cordain's
papers (fascinating stuff!), the excellent intro to Paleo by fellow
Aussie Dr Balzer,and 'Protein Power' (Eades), 'Neanderthin' (Audette),
and most recently, The PaleoDiet (Cordain). All good stuff! .. with
Cordain's writings - IMO - being particularly good/comprehensive.

My story in some ways is similar to that of many. I am 50 years old
and overweight. (185 cm/ 6'1" tall, ~ 104 kg; waist ~ 107 cm, Body
Mass Index (BMI) ~ 30). I have been active all my life (runner/jogger,
with a marathon in 1987 (lean, 78 kg) and 1991 (overweight, 91 kg),
and a half marathon in 2002 (overweight, 103 kg) with two of my sons
(one lean, ultra-fit, the other overweight). Running and undiagnosed
coeliac disease (you might say some of my 'running' was 'unplanned'
(diarrhoeic episodes)) kept me lean 'till 1989 (age 36). Most of my
adult life, I have followed the low fat/high carb/cereal line,
beginning with Pritikin (the high cereal load in which probably
triggered clinical coeliac disease (CD) (IMO) -an aweful 10 years of
my life).

From 1979 to 1989 I went to various general medical practitioners
(GPs) and one specialist regarding my chronic ill-health/gut problems.
They all 'looked at' my large intestine rather than my small intestine
-where the lesions of CD are. None of them diagnosed CD. At last the
specialist settled on a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, and
hinted part of the problem was emotional/stress-related.  Let me say
at this point that medicos are now more aware of CD, that most of them
are VERY good, and they are, after all, human like the rest of us.

In 1989 I was so tired I found it hard to get through a day's work. At
the time I was working in a lab, and falling asleep at the microscope
(Histopathology can be hard work, but I was also dog-tied). I went to
a GP (not my current GP) who got haematology done which revealed I had
iron-deficiency anaemia. This explained the tiredness. To my
disappointment, the GP suggested iron supplementation, without
investigating the cause of the deficiency. I knew causes of iron
deficiency included blood loss (eg gastrointestinal bleeding,
menstruation (not in my case)), dietary deficiency, or malabsorption
(intestinal dysfunction). After much homework, the penny dropped! I
had coeliac disease! I went to another GP (my current GP -Eric -good
bloke/doctor), who thankfully was not of the 'old school' and likely
to be threatened by a 'horse doctor' suggesting a diagnosis. Eric
arranged various tests, and coeliac disease was confirmed.

Within a week on a gluten free diet, my gut was happy/serene. In the
next month I felt fabulous! -and my normal 10 km run took 5 minutes
less with the same effort -and - I no longer had to take toilet paper
with me on the run. However, over the next 6 months, with intestinal
function restored, and on a gluten-free low fat/high carb diet, I put
on 15 kgs in 6 months (I tend to overeat at night after coming home
from work). Gradually my weight crept up to around 104 kg, despite
running (increasingly slowly!) ~ 5 kms most days and being on a low
fat diet.

Last year I turned 50 and various 'niggles' started. In September 2003
I developed pain in my right heel. (So, I read Dr Ben Balzer's story
(page 62 - The Paleo Diet -Cordain) -and remarkable experience with
heel pain - with interest). I went to GPs and physiotherapists: plantar
fasciitis was diagnosed, and orthotics were fitted (assuming
over-pronation/biomechanics was the main problem). The orthotics
helped little if at all, and I am convinced the main problem in my
case at least is being overweight, and having poor heel cord
flexibility. I was 'pleased' to read that 'over-use rather than anatomy
is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis" (Young et al 2001.
Treatment of plantar fasciitis. American Family Physician.
www.aafp.orf/afp ).  I suspect that 'paleo eating is likely to help
prevent or ameliorate chronic inflammatory/collagen degeneration
disorders such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and plantar
fasciitis)

In January I stopped running (heel pain), and also developed tennis
elbow (hard labour in the backyard while on 2 weeks holidays), and
neck problems, and 'RSI' in my arms/hands (too much time at computers).

I would like to say that just 3 weeks on 'Paleo' has banished all
these 'niggles'. It hasn't. The heel pain has subsided a little, but
this could be because I have reduced my 40-60 minutes daily walk
(substitute for running) to ~ 20 min walk at lunch time. My RSI and
tennis elbow has improved a little probably due to physiotherapy and
greater care on my part.

So, unlike Dr Balzer, I did not have a startling restoration of foot
function. You might say I have been less 'compliant' then Ben Balzer.
As mentioned, my wife and I have been 'paleo' since early May. We were
already eating lots of fruit and veggies. We cut out the starchy ones,
and, instead of low-fat yoghurt with fruit for breakfast, we included
protein (lean turkey breast in my case, mixed nuts in my wife's case).
('Great time to increase red meat intake, with drought conditions in
Australia forcing prices up. However, I see kangaroo steaks 9~ $13/kg)
in Coles Supermarket are ~ $4/kg less than other meat ...and the fat
content is even lower than that of turkey breasts!). We eat more fish
(and I also take two fish oil capsules a day - to improve my 'omega 6
to omega 3' ratio). I banished the last lot of cereals in my diet:
rice and corn, as well as beans. I still have skim milk in my coffee
(2-3 cups a day, + 2 cups green tea (sans milk). I continued my 2
teaspoons of raw sugar in my coffee (very naughty, replaced last week
by 2 'Equals' (artif. sweetener), which I will banish today. Also, I
will 'fess up' and say I have had 3 McDonald's Thickshakes this month
(and maybe 50 g chocolate over 3 weeks (My wife has had more, but she
remains lean). My nut intake has been somewhat less than the 4 oz/110
g /day that Loren Cordain suggest for those needing to lose weight.
Overall, my compliance has been failry good - IMO - if not perfect.

However, I have not had spectacular weight loss. I am convinced I am
'blessed with a 'thrift gene'. In three weeks, my weight has dropped
by just 1.0-1.5 (partly less gut fill??), my stomach feels
smaller/lighter,may trousers a little looser, but my waist has gone
down only by ~ 1 cm. (fat loss + less gut fill?)

So, my success so far has not been sensational: I don't think I will
ever be written up as a 'success story'. However, I need to patient.
Even if I don't lose a lot of weight, I still think 'paleo' is the
best bet for my health, especially having an autoimmune disease (CD).
. I do believe (from my limited experience) that protein is more
satisfying ( but I still probably overeat). My wife's bowel function
has improved somewhat on 3 weeks of Paleo and her stomach is a bit
flatter (she was already petite/lean). As noted earlier, I produce
much less flatus on Paleo (good for the environment, and friends and
colleagues :-).

To reiterate, I need to be patient, and I need to improve some things.
I also need to lose ~ 20 kgs and get below 86 kg (BMI=25) -or lower -
if I am to enjoy competitive running again. I should also get my
waist size somewhat below the magical 100 cm. It may happen...but in
my case at least, it may not happen quickly.

I short, I hope this encourages at least some.  The average/usual progress
on Paelo may be more 'slow and steady' than some of the success
stories would suggest.?

Kind regards

SteveL - Australia