I have to say this is probably the biggest confusion among the people I know. Why would you choose to be so different? Why would you put your kids through this?
To be honest, had I not had my own very trusted physician request me to read the Primal Blueprint for health reasons (I became obese very quickly), I probably would have never changed. The journey that got me to this point was long. It started about 10 years ago when I was pregnant for the first time and I lost a baby. I also continued to carry a baby until he was 35 weeks. At five months I began to have an awful immune response that led me to going to the doctor daily. I lived in a small town and my doctor told me that I was just naive and did not know what to expect out of pregnancy. When I went in on my birthday I took my mother-in-law (mother of nine children) with me. When the doctor put the Doppler to may stomach within three beats I exclaimed that his heart rate had slowed, and the doctor said that it was a little slow but he didn't know what to tell me, so I left and went to a specialist. I was admitted at 34 weeks my size five frame now carrying a size 28 body. I was in the hospital for a week, and then they decided to transfer me to a larger facility. I was moved and within 30 minutes of arrival my son was born. After a very traumatic 30 days in the NICU we had to let him go. At 19, I now had closed on a house in the NICU that ended up to have so many problems that had we been allowed time so we could get back home and do a walk through we never would have bought it. Now, we were paying for a house we could barely use, mourning two losses of children in a year, and out every friend we had because no one could be around us without being scared to talk. I was so tragically depressed I could not bear to get off of the couch. Needless to say, the weight did not leave and at that point I really did not care.
Then, I got pregnant and was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder. My healthy daughter was born a week shy of my son's birthday and my life began to came back together. I lost 40 pound in two months by running nonstop on the treadmill and counting calories right down to the gum I chewed. I began to become extremely fatigued and would actually fall asleep while running. As I lost the weight, boom I was pregnant again. Apparently, since I suffer from PCOS when I lose weight my fertility increases.
I was pregnant every other year for an additional three pregnancies, each time I began to lose I was pregnant and every pregnancy was high risk with it's own crazy problems. Between each pregnancy I tried different variations of low-carb diets and antiinflammatory diets. Finally, after the birth of Boo, and continuing to put on weight I decided it was about more than the weight, it was about the health. To me, a vegan diet (after research) seemed right for me. I was working out and losing weight and eating vegan foods. I was happy, until the extra energy got during the first two weeks of the vegan diet fell out from under me and I was extremely fatigued.
When I went to my doctor and mentioned my issues with weight and being vegan he was very concerned. I was very vitamin B deficient despite injections and anemic despite my extremely high intake of spinach. He suggested I read The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson and The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. I read these two books within two weeks, but I emptied my entire pantry out that day.
In reading The Primal Blueprint, I felt that the only reasonable thing to do was to place the entire family on the diet. Ultimately, I could not imagine failing to properly care for my family if I have the knowledge and understanding of how to do so.
In just seven weeks on the diet I have dropped 40 pounds, gone from obese to overweight (I don't feel a need to attack the Wii anymore), managed to work less, workout very little, and spend a great deal more quality time with my family and friends. When I say going Primal is a lifestyle, I mean it encompasses every part of my life and has made me happier! My children Sis (7), Beau (5), Buddy (3), and Boo (1) have all adjusted fully after about two weeks and now eat all of their vegetables gladly!
As far as overall health benefits we have seen in the short two months we have been primal, this is what my husband and I have witnessed throughout the different members of our family:
Resolved:
- Eczema
- Attention issues
- Weight (my son who was severely underweight is now gaining, and I am losing!)
- Acne
- Attitude
- Fatigue
- Gastric problems
Although this move has been a wonderful experience for my family, I will touch later on the social challenges we face and issues within extended family. I will give ideas on manipulating outings and social gatherings as well as dealing with people who just do not understand and do not want to.
So, if you want to know why we will continue to be primal you can look below; it is the best and most motivating reason anyway!
The Primal Mom
Love your story. I can't wait to read more. Oh and the kids are so adorable!
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