At 11:18 +1000 5/8/1999, Larelle wrote:

>1.  Why did you originally chose vegetarianism?

Mainly for the perceived health benefits. I was associating with
vegetarians at the time, and that was influential too.


>2.  What sort of vegetarian diets have you tried and what were the results?

I ate no meat or fish. Lots of dairy, lots of grain, lots of beans.
Minimal amount of eggs and soy. Lots of take-away and restaurant meals.


>3.  What health problems did you have at the end of your vegetarian
>experience?

I had put on about 25 unwanted pounds. I am also quite intolerant of gluten
now (chronic indigestion), even though I used to eat half a loaf of bread a
day as a child, with no problems that I can remember. A general feeling of
lethargy and lack of motivation. Brain fog.


>4.  How did you find out about the Paleo diet?

I was researching candidiasis and followed the paleodiet link on Don's
candida page.


>5.  How long have you been Paleo?

I'm not strictly paleo. Last October I reduced intake of non-paleo foods,
but didn't reintroduce meat into my diet until March. I still eat rice and
drink coffee and alcohol, and I'm contemplating reintroducing dairy (if I
can find a source of raw milk).

After overcoming the psychological barrier of reintroducing meat into my
diet, I have decided I don't want to avoid any foods for purely ideological
reasons. If I am craving a potato, I want to be able to eat a potato,
without feeling guilty because it's not paleo.

I am starting to experiment with raw foods, as I see eating raw meat as
another ideological barrier to be overcome. I'm finding that as difficult
as switching from being vegetarian.


>6.  What health improvements have you experienced on Paleo?

I've lost a lot of weight (30 lbs at least), going from moderately
overweight to slightly underweight. My brain fog is clearing slowly (I
notice it's worse the day after eating rice or drinking coffee). The
chronic indigestion is gone now, unless I accidentally eat gluten.


>7.  What further health improvements do you wish to make?

I'm generally pretty healthy. I want to avoid the family tendency to stroke
and heart disease.

I want to raise the brain fog and overcome the fatigue properly, but I seem
to be addicted to carbs. I can sit and eat a HUGE meal of 1+ lbs of fish or
beef, a huge garden salad and a heaped plate of lightly steamed vegetables,
and still have a craving for a banana or apricots or peaches right afterwards.

I'm eating lots of berries now -- yum!!!

 ...Richard.