It has now been over five years since Sherry and I transitioned from Whole30 to the Paleo Diet for the first time. We’ve done a number of Whole30’s from time to time (and we are currently in the process of doing one), but we owe our success and longevity in staying healthy to the Paleo Diet.

When we first started with Paleo, there were many who told us it was too restrictive or that it wouldn’t be sustainable long-term. There were those who told us we would grow tired of the lack of variety in the food we eat, and those who said that we would find ourselves malnourished because we didn’t have a “Balanced diet.” Even my primary care physician was doubtful and cautioned me against any dangerous “Restriction diets.”

For all the naysayers, there were few who believed in our long-term success. My close friends were supportive and hopeful, but realistic (just like Sherry and I; we hoped for the best but were a little skeptical that we would succeed as well as we did) while I had family members who flat-out doubted what we were doing would have any success, and when we did start losing weight, wondered if the weight loss wasn’t due to illness or some other source.

Throughout the process, I had many physicals, blood tests, stress tests, and other medical examinations that unanimously came to the same conclusion: my health was greatly improved since adopting the Paleo lifestyle. In the very first blood test while still on my first Whole30, my blood sugar went back into the normal range which was the greatest improvement early-on as I was diagnosed as a Type-2 Diabetic and was taking Metformin (which I had stopped taking when I started my Whole30). My cholesterol levels also were normal, and one of the first obesity-related issues I had, fatty liver disease, was considered to be no longer detectable within 6 months of adopting the Paleo Lifestyle. What were some of the other health improvements?

• Improved vision (which had been affected by the Diabetes)
• Improved gums (also affected adversely by Diabetes)
• Improved circulation in lower extremities (Caused by Diabetes)
• Reduction in nerve “tingling” in extremities (Diabetes related)

A funny aside is that during my first annual physical upon re-entering the military, while reviewing my blood test results, I commented to the physician that it was amazing that my blood sugar was so low considering I was diabetic when I was morbidly obese. He actually got mad at me and said, “Nobody stops being diabetic! You were never diabetic. It’s impossible!” I said a lot of, “Yes, Sir’s” and left his office smiling.

After two years, my primary care physician, the same doctor who cautioned me against restrictive diets, after my stress test, admitted to me that I was the impetus for his reevaluating Whole30 and the Paleo Diet. He said he had begun recommending them to patients, and that my results were not as unexpected or rare as he first thought. That made me happy; I was helping change people’s perspectives about the Paleo Diet.

Throughout my health and fitness journey, I’ve had the pleasure to meet a lot of people whose lives have been changed by Whole30 and Paleo. From friends, family, and others who have all learned from our experience to the many people online who have emailed me, messaged me, or even caught up with me in-person, it’s become clear to me that the Paleo Lifestyle is not only sustainable, but when followed with sensible portion sizes and some exercise, is an excellent diet that has allowed not only Sherry and me, but countless others regain control of their health.

Five years. That’s a long time, but on the Paleo Diet, it doesn’t feel like it. For us, it feels normal. In the past five years, the popularity of Paleo has grown immensely, and it’s easy to find Paleo alternatives to many food items in nearly any mainstream food store which makes it easy for us to enjoy a wide variety of foods which keeps our diet varied and exciting (not to mention delicious!). I never feel like I’m missing out on anything, and more often than not, the fresh and whole ingredients of our meals has actually improved the flavors and we often comment on the restaurant quality meals we have (even when camping!).

If you’re thinking about making a change in your diet, I urge you to do the research. Whole30 and Paleo have worked for my wife and me (and millions of others), but everyone is different. My diabetes has disappeared, but that might not be the case for everyone. I wasn’t Type-2 Diabetic for long, and there’s a good chance that since it was so new, my body was able to recover and heal more quickly than someone who’s been Diabetic for years. But even if you don’t reverse your diabetes, one thing I am certain of is that your health will improve in many ways. I have yet to meet someone whose health hadn’t improved in some way on Paleo.

“But what about what you had to give up?” This is always the first and most common question I reveive after telling people about Whole30 and Paleo. It seems people get hung up the most on having to sacrifice certain foods. I get it. Foods are one of the foundations upon which human culture rests. When discussing a culture, one of the first images we have is of the foods that culture eats. When you have to give up certain foods to adopt the Paleo lifestyle, many people balk or outright refuse to consider it because of these strong bonds, ties, and memories or emotions that are tied to certain foods. I had the very same ties, memories, and emotions tied to certain foods, and while that will never change, I have been able to successfully transition with giving up very little of the foods I love. The only exception so far has been croissants. There is no way to make a Paleo croissant. But literally every other food, from spaghetti to pizza to fish and chips are all possible on Paleo.

I’ve written at length about the different mind hacks, tips, and yes, even tricks I’ve used to succeed in my new healthy lifestyle. This blog, over the past five years, has been not only a sounding board for my journey, but I’ve tried to give as much insight into my thought processes, my motivations, and what kept me going. If you are just seeing this blog for the first time, I suggest using the search feature to find answers to specific questions or topics. Some people have read in chronological order, starting back in 2015, to follow along as I progressed from over 312 lbs to 170 lbs (and back up to a much stronger 185 lbs through running and weightlifting). I have talked about not only my successes, but also the difficulties and even failures along the way. Through it all, I’ve kept my head up, trusted in the process and the plan, and so far, I’ve persevered.

What does the future hold for me? Hopefully, more of the same. I intend to continue in the Paleo lifestyle, I will continue to exercise through weightlifting and running for as long as my body allows, and I will continue to advocate for, help with, and guide people on their own healthy journeys. I thank you all, whether this is your first PaleoMarine article, or those who have been along for the ride for the past five+ years. I look forward to many more years of posting here, and of helping people who want to get healthy, stay healthy, and live longer.

For the podcast version of this post, visit my Patreon page for more information.