Convince me (or not) that Paleo makes sense

I think the main problem here is that diet is not a "one-size-fits-all" solution. I eat no sugar and hardly any grain (a little rice every other day or so). My health seems to be improving and I am losing weight on the order of 1 to 1.5 pounds per week. (I have lost a total of 20 lbs. so far.) Since I am a former "bread-aholic" going no-grain was something that made sense for me. And sugar is just empty calories. Most of us are simply NOT active enough to be able to afford empty calories. I know I am not--even though I have made a concerted effort to be more active for the sake of my health.

In the past, my standard breakfast was usually toast and coffee---not much nourishment there. By lunch time I was totally starving and would load up on three large pieces of pizza and a cola or a triple-decker hamburger and fries (even splurging on a milkshake sometimes). For dinner, I might have spaghetti and garlic bread. It is actually shocking to me how I could abuse my body for years and didn't clue in that the reason why I was experiencing health problems was as a result of my poor health habits. I ended up 70 pounds overweight, with arthritis, high blood pressure and blood sugar levels that bordered on Type II diabetes. I knew I was a candidate for diabetes as I had had gestational diabetes and my mother and brother have diabetes. I decided that I had to do something---so I decided to go without sugar and grains.

Since "going primal" I have not only shed 20 pounds but I have been able to go completely off my blood pressure meds (I was taking the maximum dose of two. * Cautionary note* no one should go off of B.P. medication without tapering off of them accompanied by daily blood pressure monitoring and a complete change in diet and exercise regimens). My arthritis has improved a great deal (especially after I started taking the herbs boswellia, bromelain and turmeric). And my blood sugar levels are down to normal limits. I feel better than I have felt for a long time. I often eat vegetables at breakfast, lunch and dinner and fruit a couple of times a day. I limit red meat (associated with inflammation) and eat a lot of fish, eggs and chicken. My cholesterol is just fine so I allow myself eggs every morning for breakfast. I scramble them up with onions, green pepper and spinach. For lunch, I will typically have some kind of lower carb fruit and a 2 oz. wedge of cheese. Maybe a few nuts. And for dinner, I might have baked fish, salad or vegetable, and fruit. I make no attempt to limit fat and try to eat some healthy fat every day. It is a very satisfying diet and I could likely stay on it the rest of my life. I usually go over my daily fat allotment but my calorie count is usually 500 cals below what I am allowed.

It has works for me, but as many here have noted, if you get rid of any food group, you will lose weight. I had to consider which calories could I go without long term. The sugar was a no brainer (I never particularly liked sweets anyway) and since I didn't seem to be able to control my craving for carbs, I took that as a sign that I would be better off without grain. After about four months, I have to say that I really don't miss them. I have actually been surprised by that---I thought I would really miss the bread, pasta, etc. Whole grains are particularly problematic as whole grain has phytic acid in it and phytic acid blocks the uptake of the macrominerals, zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium. Since we eat a lot of dairy, calcium isn't much of a problem (and enough meat so that iron isn't a problem) but magnesium (and zinc) deficiency is a real problem. Without sufficient levels of magnesium, our mitochondria do not produce enough ATP and that makes us sluggish. Eat enough whole grain and don't wonder why you cannot get off the couch.:sick:

As a vegan, I'm not a paleo eater, but I had to jump in on the theory that overeating is only psychological. When I limit or eliminate grains, am far less hungry and far less likely to overeat. It's very rare for me to have a day where I overshot my calories and it didn't include grains of some kind. I'm also glad that it was clarified that Orthorexia is not a recognized psychological disorder.

I recommend learning to use the search feature first. This topic has been beaten to death already.

This...I expect a slanging match to ensue pretty soon..... *waits for Wendy Terry and Paleopath4lyfe to arrive*

You could just read this

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/770824-paleo-diet-crazy-or-worth-it

I am watching the Cardinals game. Sorry to disappoint you.

To the OP, I will read responses and provide you with info that your looking for.

I think you are simply too defensive. You seem to get offended that others choose eating habits different from your own.

The amount you post in paleo threads, you'd think they were giving away free cake

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Im sorry but I do not have any research, but you have to do that on your own.

I have nothing against Paleo but I can not do Paleo for two reasons:

1) I have done the Master Cleanse, Juice Fast, Candida Cleanse, Kidney Cleanse, Vegetarian Lifestyle, Organic Lifestyle, Green Diet, and Vegan Lifestyle. I honestly do not have it in me anymore to do another restrictive diet. It requires a lot of mental strength and will power.

2) I am a full time student, I can't even afford red meat let alone having to go to a butcher or getting grass fed meat from whole foods. Plus I don't like fish.

Im sorry but I do not have any research, but you have to do that on your own.

I have nothing against Paleo but I can not do Paleo for two reasons:

1) I have done the Master Cleanse, Juice Fast, Candida Cleanse, Kidney Cleanse, Vegetarian Lifestyle, Organic Lifestyle, Green Diet, and Vegan Lifestyle. I honestly do not have it in me anymore to do another restrictive diet. It requires a lot of mental strength and will power.

2) I am a full time student, I can't even afford red meat let alone having to go to a butcher or getting grass fed meat from whole foods. Plus I don't like fish.

Congratulations!

You have successfully talked yourself out of taking charge.

Everything worthwhile takes mental strength and will power.

It's a good thing you have given up. Now you won't be disappointed again.

Another interpretation is that she has now taken charge by deciding for herself what to eat rather than to be easily influenced by the latest fad diet.

Im sorry but I do not have any research, but you have to do that on your own.

I have nothing against Paleo but I can not do Paleo for two reasons:

1) I have done the Master Cleanse, Juice Fast, Candida Cleanse, Kidney Cleanse, Vegetarian Lifestyle, Organic Lifestyle, Green Diet, and Vegan Lifestyle. I honestly do not have it in me anymore to do another restrictive diet. It requires a lot of mental strength and will power.

2) I am a full time student, I can't even afford red meat let alone having to go to a butcher or getting grass fed meat from whole foods. Plus I don't like fish.

Congratulations!

You have successfully talked yourself out of taking charge.

Everything worthwhile takes mental strength and will power.


It's a good thing you have given up. Now you won't be disappointed again.

Way to be supportive. Not.

I personally feel restrictive diets are the wrong way to go and applaud those who make the decision for themselves to not go on one.

If you like them, more power to you..myself, I will take healthier eating of all food groups in moderation for myself.

Way to be supportive. Not.

I personally feel restrictive diets are the wrong way to go and applaud those who make the decision for themselves to not go on one.

If you like them, more power to you..myself, I will take healthier eating of all food groups in moderation for myself.

Don't all diets have restrictions of one kind or another?

Paleo/Primal is not a diet or fad, it's a different approach to what you eat. It isn't touted as a weight loss plan all tho it can be one of the many perks.

Personally, I'm Paleo (well, Primal) due to my oh-so not-very fun case of coeliac, but also because it just seems healthier.

Does that sound weird? Well, yeah, kinda is, but at the same time, how can a diet consisting of whole, natural foods be bad for you? It's a he'll of a lot better than a lot of other diets out there, such as Atkins with it's processed garbage and other "gluten free" diets with their "gluten free" breads (of which I refuse to eat - they taste like crap and sit like lead in my stomach, bleh), and eliminating "food groups" isn't exactly bad. Some would argue vegetarian/vegan is bad because a lack of protein, yet they seem to live rather lengthy lives - exceeding that of SAD eaters, mostly.
In regards to how it makes sense (without getting into the whole "it's what our ancestors ate for 140,000 years" thing) when it comes to, say, weight loss, is in it's elimination of these food groups. Legumes, grains, dairy, etc are fairly calorically dense and commonly served - find me a restaurant that doesn't serve at least one of them. By not eating these you're eliminating a fair amount of calories that - unless you stuff yourself with nuts, which some people do and complain about - will lead to almost effortless weight loss.
The emphasis on protein/fats also makes the diet very satiating, too... Not that it's necessarily a low carb diet (certainly isn't for me), but the satiating effect of the high-protein no doubt helps - it's hard to stuff yourself in steak, but pretty easy to do soon cake. Unless you REALLY like steak and don't ever seem to get full > me.

Now, I love dairy, and my chocolate... So I'm more in the Primal camp than Paleo, but I have to say I love both "lifestyles". Maybe because it's healthy, maybe it's because it means there's more recipes for me out there that don't involve garbage bread substitutes... or maybe because I'm kind of a total nerd and think the idea of eating like a caveman is awesome. Who knows, who cares. It works for me, I like it.

while never, ever being hungry (unless it's real hunger).

I don't understand this remark? Why would your hunger be more real than anyone else's? Are you refering to cravings?

I'm refering to the constant struggle with hunger, cravings, binging that occurs when I eat a "normal" diet. I mean that I am only hungry now when my body really needs food, and then it's not uncomfortable and I have no need to over eat.

I can't count the posts that I've read to the effect of "help me, I'm always hungry" or "I can't stop eating", whatever. Yup, that was me, BEFORE.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just started Paleo since recommended by my doctor. I am never in the kitchen trolling for food! It is great! I am not constantly thinking of when I can eat next, what am I going to eat, etc.