Hi there - giving this a shot again

Tara4boys

Popping in to say hello.


Long story... I've always been at upper end of normal weight or slightly "overweight". I had 4 kids in under 5 years but successfully lost the weight with counting calories (~1400) and exercise (running). However, in 2008/9 I got injured (hip injury) and had surgery. My day to day hip pain is almost entirely eliminated but always returns if I run. On top of that, I am Hypothyroid and recently insulin resistant. Counting calories just doesn't seem to be working for me. I'm hungry, don't feel satisfied, have low blood sugar episodes, etc. I've also had a lot of joint pain.

In January of 2013, I heard about Primal and began reading. I was sold on the health aspect of it (with weight loss as an awesome side effect) and did a whole month. I lost over 10# in one month - I had never in my almost 40 years lost 10+ pounds in a month. It was fairly easy. I was SHOCKED that I was not hungry. I felt good.

But then... life happened. One negative about Primal/Paleo is that it does take more thought/planning than SAD. When the wheels fell off at home (sick kids, hubby out of town, car troubles, busted water pipes, all that sort of fun stuff), I threw my hands up and ordered a pizza just to get dinner on the table. And thus began the slippery slope.

I have continued to gain weight - rapidly. I am closing in on 200# - I'm a pizza party away from shopping in the plus size shop. I've had a few false starts. I've spent TOO MUCH TIME "in my head" debating back and forth whether to do Primal again or try counting calories again. I do love carbs - bread, cookies, pizza, potatoes. My hubby has had some health problems this year which was kind of wake-up call to me that health is more important than pants size - and like I said I've had quite a few joint problems. I'm too young to be needing cortisone shots. Alzheimer's runs in my family (2 grandmothers + my mother) - the emerging evidence of Alzheimer's as "Type 3 diabetes" was a strong kick in the pants. So I have decided that Primal is the way to go.

I had my first bulletproof coffee yesterday. Liked it. Last week, I did an "ease in week" where I tried to eat Primal 2 out of 3 meals. One day I was feeling so good, happy, full of energy, there were a bunch of kids at my house so I ordered pizza and ate some. It was delicious but afterward I felt like I had had a lobotomy!!! I HAD to go lie down.

Strategies to make things work better this time:
(1) Once I make a weekly menu/shopping list, SAVE it to reuse later. Meal planning is a necessary pain. No sense in re-inventing the wheel week after week. If we are honest, most of us (no matter what WOE) eat the same 15 or so recipes.
(2) Have "emergency meals" on hand for "when life happens". I know Atkins frozen dinners aren't perfect - but its better than Papa John's.
(3) Don't dote on thoughts like "I will never have cake again." That's silly. There will be times when I have cake. It just won't be every day or week. In reality, if I were counting calories or WW points, I wouldn't be able to have cake daily or weekly either.

MikeFlyMike

Id add go through your pantry and throw out or donate the primal food items. Just don't have them in the house at all. It's ok, no one really needs any of that to survive. Matter of fact quite the opposite.

GrokRockStar

I struggled with giving up certain foods, including cake, but there always seemed to be a Paleo version to most of the SAD foods. When I eat strict Paleo, then deviate, my body pays for it, and 100% of the time I usually end up regretting it. I’ve had so many re-starts it’s too numerous to count, nobody’s perfect. Looks like you have some realistic strategies, which should help keep you focused.

carrieann8

For emergencies, I have three strategies:
1. Frozen Soups - I make soup ahead and put it in the freezer. Right now I have 3 containers of frozen soup that can be warmed up quicker than Domino's can get here.
2. Hot Plates - One pound of meat, 4 servings of veg, seasoning, fat of choice for cooking = Dinner in 30 minutes. If you need it quicker, you can cook the meat and chop the veggies ahead.
3. Breakfast - Making scrambled eggs and bacon is quicker than making dinner.

MikeFlyMike

mmmm bacon - you just made me salivate

kikih64

Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan. I would agree that atkins is better than pizza to a certain extent, but like another poster said bacon and eggs is pretty quick. Also, take advantage of leftovers. Freeze anything that you can, then you have a stockpile of emergency meals (or just lunches for work!).

I've been doing this for almost a year now - yes, I've had pizz, cake, bread, beer and other "non-approved" foods. That decision is completely in my control and I make it knowing how I will feel after. I don't call it slipping or cheating or any of those other similar words. It's just life and balance. Don't beat yourself up when it happens, just get back to making the best choices that you can.

I think in terms of health benefits paleo/primal is the way to go (over just counting calories). I would suggest doing a Whole30 or something similar, just so you can tune your body into how it feels when when you deviate. I've made a few pretty yummy paleo treats, but I think it's best to wait on that stuff until you've beaten down any cravings you might have.

Good luck to you! This group is awesome - supportive, knowledgeable. Just ask!

Tara4boys

Thanks for those suggestions!!!

Tara4boys

For emergencies, I have three strategies:
1. Frozen Soups - I make soup ahead and put it in the freezer. Right now I have 3 containers of frozen soup that can be warmed up quicker than Domino's can get here.
2. Hot Plates - One pound of meat, 4 servings of veg, seasoning, fat of choice for cooking = Dinner in 30 minutes. If you need it quicker, you can cook the meat and chop the veggies ahead.
3. Breakfast - Making scrambled eggs and bacon is quicker than making dinner.

Oops in post above I meant to quote you. Thank you!

homesweeths

I struggled with giving up certain foods, including cake, but there always seemed to be a Paleo version to most of the SAD foods. When I eat strict Paleo, then deviate, my body pays for it, and 100% of the time I usually end up regretting it. I’ve had so many re-starts it’s too numerous to count, nobody’s perfect. Looks like you have some realistic strategies, which should help keep you focused.

This is so true. I'm motivated not to deviate from Primal (I do use full cream and some butter which I'm too lazy to convert to ghee) because my body is consistent in how it reacts. Re-starts are a part of life. I like (is it Mark Sisson?)'s 80/20 principal. When I used to "diet" and I slipped or cheated or didn't manage 100% it was always devastating and sometimes it would take days to get up enough motivation to try again. Now with 80/20 thinking, if I decide to have a scoop of ice cream on Sunday (a feast day for our family, when we usually have something special for tea, or are visiting with another family), it's just part of that "20" and I didn't blow it, so no need to "blow it really big" before getting back to rational, healthy eating.

This is such a good discussion board, so many good ideas and encouragement.

homesweeths

For emergencies, I have three strategies:
1. Frozen Soups - I make soup ahead and put it in the freezer. Right now I have 3 containers of frozen soup that can be warmed up quicker than Domino's can get here.
2. Hot Plates - One pound of meat, 4 servings of veg, seasoning, fat of choice for cooking = Dinner in 30 minutes. If you need it quicker, you can cook the meat and chop the veggies ahead.
3. Breakfast - Making scrambled eggs and bacon is quicker than making dinner.

Excellent strategies, some of which I've used myself. Like when I make chili, I make a huge pot and freeze most of it in meal-sized portions. I can't eat chili, but it makes a quick meal for my family while I do a quick "hot plate" (just like your #2) for myself.

Thanks for the reminder. Am getting back to this way of thinking after being on vacation and unable to cook for myself for the past month.

homesweeths

In January of 2013, I heard about Primal and began reading. I was sold on the health aspect of it (with weight loss as an awesome side effect) and did a whole month. I lost over 10# in one month - I had never in my almost 40 years lost 10+ pounds in a month. It was fairly easy. I was SHOCKED that I was not hungry. I felt good.

This really resonates with me. It's very similar to my experience. I had significant joint pain -- just getting in and out of a car was excruciating. Forget walking more than a block, or standing more than a minute. The anti-inflammatory the doctor prescribed had a lot of frightening small print about side effects, and his assurance that the stuff would make me feel fine until I needed a knee replacement -- and I'd know when I needed one -- sounded screwy. I researched alternatives and came up with Paleo (Rob Wolff) and then Primal (Mark Sisson), plus supplements (glucosamine, green-lipped mussel, vitamin C). It took two months for me to notice a difference in pain, but the weight started dropping off at once and continued to drop at a slow rate. Nice side effect!

But then... life happened. One negative about Primal/Paleo is that it does take more thought/planning than SAD. When the wheels fell off at home (sick kids, hubby out of town, car troubles, busted water pipes, all that sort of fun stuff), I threw my hands up and ordered a pizza just to get dinner on the table. And thus began the slippery slope.

Life does happen. I found a lot of help in the book "Well Fed" where she talks about a weekly prep she does -- get home from grocery store and brown some ground beef with onions and garlic, chop and/or steam vegetables, that sort of thing, an hour or two of work in the kitchen that lends itself to quickly made meals for the next three days or so. She also has recipes that can be adapted (like lots of ways to make a meal from already-made-up meatballs, for example). If you have one day a week or month where you have a little breathing room to cook ahead, it makes a world of difference when crazy times strike.

One of my stand-bys for years was La Leche League's "Fussy Day Chicken". I'd put a whole chicken (even right from the freezer!) in a crockpot and pour a bottle of Italian salad dressing, or a bottle of BBQ sauce over it and let it cook all day. That and a salad made a great dinner. Now, of course, I make my own salad dressing -- olive oil and cider and/or balsamic vinegar, sometimes add a little Dijon/minced garlic/Italian seasoning, sometimes when I run out, it's just the oil and vinegar. It's not hard to whisk together 2/3 olive oil and 1/3 vinegar and dump it over a frozen chicken in the crockpot...

I have continued to gain weight - rapidly. I am closing in on 200# - I'm a pizza party away from shopping in the plus size shop. I've had a few false starts. I've spent TOO MUCH TIME "in my head" debating back and forth whether to do Primal again or try counting calories again. I do love carbs - bread, cookies, pizza, potatoes. My hubby has had some health problems this year which was kind of wake-up call to me that health is more important than pants size - and like I said I've had quite a few joint problems. I'm too young to be needing cortisone shots. Alzheimer's runs in my family (2 grandmothers + my mother) - the emerging evidence of Alzheimer's as "Type 3 diabetes" was a strong kick in the pants. So I have decided that Primal is the way to go.

I'd add my vote for Primal, but it's your decision. Key words and phrases in your post: "fairly easy", "not hungry", "never [before] lost 10# in a month", "health problems" all point to Primal as a good way to go. I love bread, cookies, pizza, and potatoes too. But the longer I do this, the less they "call" to me. Ah, yes, the smell of potatoes frying can still do a number on me, but too many times I've felt SO good and so I helped myself to whatever potato dish (mashed with cream and butter, or fried, or hash brown casserole, or homemade potato salad), knowing-but-not-really-believing I'd pay a price the next day, and then the next day... let's just say I am learning that feeling good trumps remembered "deliciousness" for me nowadays. Funny thing, when I do choose to eat something non-Primal, I'm usually surprised that it doesn't taste as good as I remember it.

I had my first bulletproof coffee yesterday. Liked it. Last week, I did an "ease in week" where I tried to eat Primal 2 out of 3 meals. One day I was feeling so good, happy, full of energy, there were a bunch of kids at my house so I ordered pizza and ate some. It was delicious but afterward I felt like I had had a lobotomy!!! I HAD to go lie down.

Good lesson. Sounds like your body is responding, and you're noticing the difference. Really helps in the motivation department. Can you make up a few Primal pizza crusts (pre-baked, even) and keep them in the freezer for those days when you fall back on ordering pizza for the family? Adding toppings and popping in the oven takes about as much time as calling for a pizza and waiting for delivery.

Strategies to make things work better this time:
(1) Once I make a weekly menu/shopping list, SAVE it to reuse later. Meal planning is a necessary pain. No sense in re-inventing the wheel week after week. If we are honest, most of us (no matter what WOE) eat the same 15 or so recipes.
(2) Have "emergency meals" on hand for "when life happens". I know Atkins frozen dinners aren't perfect - but its better than Papa John's.
(3) Don't dote on thoughts like "I will never have cake again." That's silly. There will be times when I have cake. It just won't be every day or week. In reality, if I were counting calories or WW points, I wouldn't be able to have cake daily or weekly either.

Excellent strategies. Also check out paleo/primal websites and cookbooks for practical tips. I have gotten a lot out of "Well Fed" and "Well Fed 2", along with "NomNom Paleo" and "Paleo on a Budget". I haven't bought the Well Fed books, but am saving up to buy them. I checked them out of the library and got so much use out of them that I want to support the author's efforts. Although her seasoning choices are a bit different from mine, her basic principles are sound and have really made a difference in how easy it is for me to follow a Primal approach.

Sorry to be responding to your original post last... I sort of read the thread from the bottom up.

p.s. (edited to add) I have on occasion found myself "counting calories" while eating the Primal way, but for a different reason. I'm always so full, so satisfied, so not-hungry, that sometimes I don't eat enough calories. My weight loss stops -- and it's because I'm not eating enough! At times like that, I'll fall back on fat bombs -- made ahead and stored in the freezer -- or add in a daily serving of sweet potato slathered with butter or mashed with coconut oil to bring my daily total from 800 (some days it's hard to get this much) or 1200 to 1500 (my "sweet spot" for weight loss). I still have to keep carbs under about 80g a day, though, or I'll start having cravings or feeling hungry between meals.

When I was eating carbs and counting calories (think "Weight Watchers exchanges"), I was always hungry and never satisfied.

homesweeths

p.p.s. My body has healed enough that I can get away with a piece of birthday cake, or a piece of pizza (garlic sauce, no tomatoes), say once a month or so, and not feel any effect! Carbs used to make me feel sleepy (that's a sign of pre-diabetes, I think?), but now that I'm adapted to fat-burning they don't seem to spike/crash my blood sugar they way they used to. Still, it's a slippery slope, and I would recommend sticking with Primal and making those exceptions on a very rare basis. I do not want my body to forget how to burn fat instead of carbs, and have to go through the whole fat-burning adaptation or carb flu again.

Even Mark Sisson admits to the occasional dish of ice cream. Just not on a regular, frequent basis.

Tara4boys

Homesweeths... First, thank you for your comments.

Questions...
(1) what do you use at your "fat bombs". I found myself in that same position last night, I had not eaten enough.
(2) what primal pizza crust recipe do you use that freezes? I've made the cauliflower crust recipe and the cream cheese-based recipe but haven't tried freezing either.

homesweeths

Homesweeths... First, thank you for your comments.

Questions...
(1) what do you use at your "fat bombs". I found myself in that same position last night, I had not eaten enough.
(2) what primal pizza crust recipe do you use that freezes? I've made the cauliflower crust recipe and the cream cheese-based recipe but haven't tried freezing either.

Some months ago I found a fat bomb recipe very similar to this one:

fat bomb in a jiffy:

Just melt 1 TB coconut oil and 1 TB butter, add a bit of cocoa powder and some sweetener and pour it into a silicone muffin cup, then pop it in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to solidify. Tastes like candy, with no damage to your fat fast. I usually do a dozen at a time and keep them on hand for times of weakness.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/nutritional-ketosis-high-fat-low-carb/821497-awesome-fat-bombs-recipe-collection.html

Edit:
Mine is a little different from this in that I don't melt the coconut oil and butter, I just let them soften at room temperature and then beat them together with the cocoa powder with my mixer as if I'm making frosting. Then I shape them into balls and roll them in a little more cocoa powder. The more chocolate the better, that's what I always say. Refrigerate or freeze in airtight bag or container. They can easily pick up "off" flavors from other foods, but a ziplock bag or airtight container will head off that problem.

I'm weird in that I love super-dark chocolate so that often I don't add any sweetness to these. I have Stevia powder in my cabinet but haven't used it in months. If I do need to sweeten something, I usually use as little raw honey as I can get away with. [Hah! I just remembered -- when I wanted to sweeten fat bombs a few months ago I would use a little coconut sugar as it's not supposed to affect blood sugar levels. I haven't made any fat bombs in a couple of months so I'm a little rusty...]

I keep raw honey on hand as it is a part of my go-to virus killer: mix 1 TBS raw honey with 1 TBS raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass, fill glass with cold water, stir, and quaff. Seems to knock out viruses quickly. I also use raw honey in my homemade coleslaw sauce: Equal parts homemade paleo mayo and raw cider vinegar, plus a tiny bit of raw honey (doesn't take much) and salt and pepper to taste.

But you were asking for fat bomb recipes, and I'm rambling badly today. Put it down to being as distractable as our new puppy.

As for the pizza recipe... It's been some months since I made pizza at home -- once I realized I had to ditch the tomato sauce it took a lot of the joy out of it. I really don't remember which recipe I used for make-ahead crust. It might have been the cream cheese one, or it might have been almond meal/coconut flour based. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the cauliflower crust -- while I remember using that one, I always used it right away, never tried to freeze it.

Though I did have pizza once on our vacation, it was definitely not paleo/primal. The creamy garlic sauce (instead of tomato-based sauce) went well with the veggies on the pizza, though -- I might try making pizza again at home (paleo/primal crust, of course!) if I can find a good creamy garlic sauce recipe.

p.s. Just in case it's not clear, I had to ditch all tomato products as part of the auto-immune protocol. Nightshades give me three days of serious joint pain after consuming. That means potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and spices made from nightshades -- chili powder, paprika -- are off my list. I can "cheat" just a little with the spices (as in occasionally having taco-seasoned meat when at a friend's house) and have minor pain, but have learned my lesson with the veggies in the nightshade family. No matter how good it smells or looks, it's not worth the incapacitating pain.