Today is the one year anniversary of a radical change in how my husband and I eat and view food.

February 20, 2012 is when we left the comfy but unhealthy mainstream world of nutrition and dietetics and ventured into a new way of buying, preparing, consuming, and thinking about food.

We have been researching food and nutrition for about as long as I can remember. Last year we came across a number of books and websites dealing with something called “Paleo” or “Primal” living. We decided, both being scientists, that the changes we were about to adopt made sense and were supported by data. That mainstream nutritional thinking is suspect, and that current diet advice needs a good, solid dose of critical thinking applied to it.

We also decided to control the “experiment” on ourselves by not also engaging in any rigorous plan of deliberate exercise. No running, or weight lifting or any other sort of cardio or muscle-building activity. We wanted to see what changes would be wrought, with diet as the only variable.

So, here we are a year later. Here is what was lost and gained by me:

Lost: 25. 4 lbs

Gained: steady, plentiful energy throughout the day

Lost: heartburn (acid reflux, GERD, whatever you’d like to call it)

Gained: better sleep

Lost: bloating

Gained: glowing skin, stronger nails and hair

So far, the experiment has been a success. Stick with me as I continue on this journey through the prim(al) of my life.