An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

What does that have to do with me?  After years of weird symptoms and thinking that I was an insane hypochondriac, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.    It went undetected for 6 or 7 years because my thyroid levels were mostly normal.  It wasn't until I gained a bit of weight and really fought to figure out what was going on with my body that I had a doctor not only look at thyroid levels like t3 or t4 but also my thyroid peroxidase antibodies.  Normal is 0.  My count was over 1000.  It turns out that these little guys are attacking my thyroid and body.  It's no picnic and for some reason since I found out about it I've gained back a bit of the weight I spent so long keeping off.  It was just too hard. I was having so much trouble losing weight (sometimes I don't but other months it's impossible).  And I have to work twice as hard to be healthy, it just didn't seem fair and I ate a lot to comfort myself.  A lot of things this past year have caused me to put on about 25 pounds, but now i'm trying to take control.

I've heard incredible things from other people with hashis about the paleo diet helping with not only weight loss but symptoms!  That's so great and I hope that after some time I am able to experience the same thing!  So this is day one.  This is the first day of hopefully a good chapter in my life!  Wish me luck!  If you stumble across this blog and happen to be someone else going through the same issues be sure to add me or send me a line! :)