Primal Blueprint?

sjhmommy

Hey, all- I've been using myfitnesspal for awhile, but have never posted. My best friend knows someone who has been on the Primal Blueprint since January and has had health problems disappear for the entire family and weight loss. I bought the book and am about to start it, but I was wondering if anyone on here has any experience on it? I'd appreciate any feedback or know-how anyone has to share. Also, before I look at a complete change in the way I eat, does anyone know of any drawbacks to this diet? I appreciate you guys!

DrBorkBork

I follow PB/Paleo. Love it! Check out our support thread for this lifestyle:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/267812-palelo-support-group

my diary is public so feel free to check it out for ideas

Zeromilediet

Ditto here with following similar eating ... Diary is open and welcome to friend me.

LiciaHarry

Been doing PB since January, not as active as I should be but I've almost rid myself of every problem I had prior to that (like Type 2 diabetes). Feeling fantastic!! I've been on MFP for almost 2 months now.

It's pretty easy once you get started and get past the grain and sugar cravings. After that, it's smooth sailing.

AmyNVegas

I have been Primal for almost 2 years now I found it when I was researching wheat free diets because I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy just before that and I found the Paleo Diet in Gluten Free for Dummies. I started Primal Blueprint in August of 2009 and I have lost 81 pounds and I have gained back a lot of energy and mobility I had lost due to inflammation in my joints. Getting all the grain out of my body has helped me tremendously. I still eat potatoes and corn tortillas and a little rice occasionally about once or twice a week sometimes but most of my meals are veggies and meats with some dairy and a few fruits thrown in. I had hit a wall at 350 pounds for several years and kept losing and regaining the same 30-40 pounds but couldn't get under 350 I am at 299-300 and haven't been this small since the 4th grade. There are no draw backs to the plan sure some will say there are because they believe you have to have whole grain to live but obviously you don't I'm alive and well and I have great blood work and I have more energy than I have ever had as an adult. I think some people's bodies are still wired the old way and mine is definitely that way.

sjhmommy

Thanks so much for all of the feedback. I have vacation coming on Saturday (be back Thursday), and I don't think I'm going to try it until I get back. From what I've read it definitely flies in the face of everything the media is telling the world right now, but the more I think about it, when has the media ever gotten it right? Thanks everyone!

sjhmommy

Also, my own mother who has type 2 diabetes has always said, oh I can't have thisk, I can't have that, because it has too much sugar. But she's usually referring to fruits, and I always thought, but that's a natural sugar. Why would God create something we can't eat? Anywhoo- if this works for me, I can't wait to get her started on it.

BR1986FB

Have dropped 42 lbs, 7 jean sizes and 13% bodyfat since going Primal/Paleo in January. LOVE IT !!!

knewbill72

Thanks so much for all of the feedback. I have vacation coming on Saturday (be back Thursday), and I don't think I'm going to try it until I get back. From what I've read it definitely flies in the face of everything the media is telling the world right now, but the more I think about it, when has the media ever gotten it right? Thanks everyone!

Your statement could never be further from the truth. Many people are NOT educated on Paleo/Primal lifestyles and clam to be. The most important thing you can do is your OWN research and be prepared to stand strong on what you believe to be true and not what some just tells you. Here is a mother load of info I pass onto those seeking more information on Paleo. Enjoy!

Hi there! I want to share with you those links regarding Paleo and Primal lifestyle.



So here you go!

Read this first: Introduction to the Paleolithic Diet.

http://www.earth360.com/diet_paleodiet_balzer.html



The Paleolithic Diet Explained: Ancient Answers to Modern Problems (A PaleolithicDiet Infographic)

http://infographic.paleolithicdiet.com/



Paleolithic lifestyle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleolithic_lifestyle



The Paleolithic/Paleo/Caveman/Primal Diet Defined

http://paleodiet.com/definition.htm



Getting Started: A Brief Guide to Paleo / Primal Living

http://paynowlivelater.blogspot.com/2009/08/getting-started-brief-guide-to-paleo.html

(Be sure to watch those nutshell videos!)



Paleo eating:

http://whatsinwhatyoueat.org/paleo-diet/



Handy PDF guide to Food Quality and how to choose what’s best.

http://www.balancedbites.com/PDFs/BalancedBites_FoodQuality.pdf



There's a free e-book done by Doug Robb;

A Paleo Diet for the 21st Century

http://www.healthhabits.ca/stuff-i-like/a-paleo-diet-for-the-21st-century/



Paleo vs Primal vs Atkins: What's the difference?

Maybe you will say oh this is like Atkins diet so what's the difference between those two?

http://huntgatherlove.com/content/paleo-vs-primal-vs-atkins

http://paleohacks.com/questions/4034/whats-the-difference-between-atkins-and-the-paleo-diet#axzz1Hg1MTT54



And here's the article on grass-fed beef for dining in and eating out in Tucson, AZ! (For my friends living in Tucson!)

Grass-fed beef for dining in, eating out:

http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/dining/article_6b0d86b2-0547-5274-8533-efc2bd406ea9.html



This link has the direct link to local farms that you can get grass-fed products;

Eat Wild: http://www.eatwild.com/



Priorities for Eating Paleo on a Budget

http://balancedbites.com/2010/10/priorities-for-eating-paleo-on-a-budget.html



Paleo Poor: Your guide to the grocery store

http://whole9life.com/2011/01/paleo-poor-your-guide-to-the-grocery-store/



Five reasons to go seasonal

http://whole9life.com/2010/12/five-reasons-to-go-seasonal/





Do you want to see what kind of Paleo and Primal recipes they have done? Visit those sites to check them out;

The Foodee Project http://www.thefoodee.co/

Chowstalker http://www.chowstalker.com/

Paleo Recipe Resource Page http://www.healthhabits.ca/2010/01/25/paleo-recipe-resource-page/

Paleo Pot http://paleopot.com/

PaleoFood.com http://www.paleofood.com/

The Food Lovers' Primal Palate http://www.primal-palate.com/p/recipes.html



Want to see a story with real results?

Real Results – FTA Feature: http://www.engrevo.com/blog/real-results-fta-feature/



PaleolithicDiet: A free members-only guide to the Paleo world.

Members receive a curated email of the best Paleo content and offerings. Become a member now.

http://paleolithicdiet.com/q5hxd



I have told several people I chat with about this: I suggested them to try 30 days without grains, JUST GRAINS! If they still have grains in their pantry cupboard then WEAN from it till it's gone and do 30 days of no grains! Then SEE how you feel so far without grains! The reason I suggested no grains is because it is major cause of Weight gains, IBS and is anti-nutrients! As Ian Lucas quoted this: "The Big Ideas are to avoidgrains whose proteins will worm their way through your intestines, vegetable fats that will rust you like a piece of steel, and excessive sugar that will harm you six ways from Sunday."



Let me know how you fared without grains for 30 days! I did… I LOST some weights and I felt better!



Important! Eat WHOLE REAL foods, Do exercises, rest and sleep LONGER! (don't rely on alarm!) and Get some SUN for Vita D! (I don't lather lotions at all that's another story as I have gone Paleo/Primal on hygiene aspects!)



If you decided you want to do more than without grains then I recommend reading this one page article to go Paleo for 30 days! (it has downloadable PDF that you can print out)

The Whole30, Version 4.0: http://whole9life.com/2011/06/whole-30-v4/



This is a great motivational guide by J. Stanton from Gnolls.com

“Eat Like A Predator, Not Like Prey”: Paleo In Six Easy Steps, A Motivational Guide

http://www.gnolls.org/1141/eat-like-a-predator-not-like-prey-paleo-in-six-easy-steps-a-motivational-guide​/



Here's another good "What is Paleo?" link which has some of links from above included and it is good read too!

FITBOMB: What Is The Paleo Diet?

http://www.fitbomb.com/p/why-i-eat-paleo.html

DianaPowerUp

Great post, KJackson! Like he said, if you do your research, you'll find that more and more researchers, doctors, studies show how eating a diet high in carbs (esp. processed carbs), leads to inflammation and many other disease states - obesity being the most obvious.

I started following a primal diet about 4 mos. ago, and the results speak for themselves. I've never been in better shape, and healthier, than I am today. I only wish I'd discovered this yrs ago. And it's VERY easy to maintain this lifestyle. B/c grains are such a big part of the western diet, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to sustain it. But I've made a few switches (breakfast being the biggest switch, from cereal/bagels/bread to yogurt/cheese/eggs), and the weight just literally melts away.

Now that I have been eating a clean, mostly primal diet (I'm not perfect, and I do have 3 kids!), I find that the temptation to eat something "not good" for me is almost completely gone, b/c I feel so much better when I don't eat the stuff, and when I do, I pay for it for several days afterwards. It makes me crave real food - fruits, veggies, lean meats....and I don't crave the things I used to (sweets, chips, breads...).

You just need to try it for yourself and see how it works for you!

BR1986FB

Now that I have been eating a clean, mostly primal diet (I'm not perfect, and I do have 3 kids!), I find that the temptation to eat something "not good" for me is almost completely gone, b/c I feel so much better when I don't eat the stuff, and when I do, I pay for it for several days afterwards. It makes me crave real food - fruits, veggies, lean meats....and I don't crave the things I used to (sweets, chips, breads...).

Completely agree.

A few weeks ago I did a forced carb "refeed" in the form of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. It was the first time I had anything close to resembling a "cheat" meal in 6 months but wanted to shock my system (have been keeping carbs <50g's per day).

Oh, it was a shock to my system alright. Tasted great but within 30 minutes felt like World War 3 was going on in my stomach. Lesson learned.

I don't crave sweets or carbs at all anymore (former chocoholic..now just do 85%+ dark chocolate) and have found ways around it (casein protein "ice cream" made with coconut milk).

webbed1

Like eating clean. Like avoiding most bad processed foods. Will not and do not need to avoid good processed foods. I do not have health problems. I am not overweight. I do needs 40-45% of my calories to come from clean protein sources. I consider whey and casein protein powders to clear that bill. Pastuerized liquid egg whites? Yep use them too. Whole grain bread, brown rice, barley, yep use them too.

"But processing is bad." Ok, cooking your food is processing people. So are you a raw eater, including fish, chicken, pork, meats? Temperature application to animal protein sources induces numerous changes. So you just processed your food.

Cooking any veggies in water? You just processed your food.

I don't mean to knock the diet, I believe in some of its principles. But the HS has to get laughed at. If you really want to know the benefits of the primal/paleo diet, they revolve around 2 fundamental facts. 1) ancient people worked throughout the day to get barely enough food to survive, and endured periods of scarcity. Go read the the anthropology and archealogy. 2) There was NO abundance of food except for rare times. So they did not REGULARLY eat their *kitten* on. They essentially evolved and subsisted on maintenance calories, PERIOD.

Oh, they were dead by 40, If you are truly primal/paleo, stick to the whole plan...

BR1986FB

AND...it begins. SMH

sjhmommy

Thanks again for all of the input. I will definitely be researching. The toughest thing for me is going to be foregoing my oatmeal in the morning

sjhmommy

I have dipped my toe into the water of the Primal Blueprint- and it is making more sense than anything I've ever done. I just can't seem to let go of my oatmeal in the morning, but other than that it's been good. Introduced my kids to steamed artichoke this evening- my daughter loved it...my son (who is almost two) couldn't quite get the hang of it I'm a little worried about the cost- anyone have any tips or advice? As a single parent my food budget for the month is typically around $250. That's it- now, any suggestions? Other than take up a second job lol.

DrBorkBork

buy in season fruits & veggies (they're cheaper), learn to coupon & become coupon ninja, stock up on frozen veggies when on sale (they're just as good, be sure to check ingredient labels), stock up on meat whenever you can, become friends with local farmers and trade with them (maybe you can spend a day working on the farm in exchange for their products). The rest is luxury items.
Our family of 3 averages $250/week on groceries living this clean. It sucks, but either you pay the doctor or pay the farmer.

AmyNVegas

Ditto on what Trish said and stretch meals with cheap veggies like celery I make a lasagna that has a lot of celery in it and that stretches it so it is very filling and cheaper to make I make a double batch and cook up 2 pans and put the rest in single serve plastic bowls for easy reheats. I also do not eat a huge variety of foods. i try new or different ones every once in a while but zucchini, salad veggies,and frozen cauliflower and greens make up most of my veggies. I use chicken 10 different ways and buy it in bulk yes I know free range is better but value packs on sale are budget. Crock pots are great for cheaper cuts of meat, make a Primal stew.

Sj have you tried flax meal muffins in place of your oatmeal? They are great and filling and almost all fiber.

fitnessbugg

Love this way of eating!

TK421NotAtPost

A few weeks ago I did a forced carb "refeed" in the form of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. It was the first time I had anything close to resembling a "cheat" meal in 6 months but wanted to shock my system (have been keeping carbs <50g's per day).

Oh, it was a shock to my system alright. Tasted great but within 30 minutes felt like World War 3 was going on in my stomach. Lesson learned.

I don't crave sweets or carbs at all anymore (former chocoholic..now just do 85%+ dark chocolate) and have found ways around it (casein protein "ice cream" made with coconut milk).

That sounds more like a cheat meal/dessert.

Was it non-fat ice cream? Refeeds are most effective when minimizing fat intake and should be done throughout the course of a day. A single meal with a higher carb content will not do much in terms of helping normalize your metabolic hormones.

ecaz

bump

daisylovespink

bump - wanting to learn more to help deal with my PCOS, will check out all the great links when I have a little more time