Is anyone on the Paleo Diet?

I've heard of the Paleolithic diet before, and I found it rather intriguing. It takes us back to our true roots. I posted a thread on another food diary website that I am a member of and never got any responses from anyone.

I read up about it and this diet mostly inspired me to steer clear of processed foods. Often I will eat a meal of lean protein and veggies. Snacks are mostly fruits and nuts. I'm not on the diet, but the idea of it helps me with what I am doing.

For the record, almond butter (and peanut butter for that matter) is not processed IF you stick with natural almond/peanut/nut butters. The ingredient list should just be ground nuts and maybe salt.

Nut butters become processed when highly processed oils and sugars are added to increase shelf life and help keep the peanuts and its natural oil from separating. Many brands of peanut butter have ingredient lists that include high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, fractionated oils, and all kinds of *kitten* you dont want to put in your body.

Another note, if you are going to buy natural peanut butter (you should because it is DELICIOUS) it will need to be refrigerated or the peanut oil that separates from the paste can go rancid.

I have joined a CrossFit gym and a number of the other members are on the Paleo diet. They swear by it. Many of them are very fit and super active. I have decied that I am not nearly as dedicated to being healthy, as they are. The few articles that I've read suggest that the Paleo diet can be adapted (like anything I guess) but that it is best followed as prescribed. It calls for you to remove all processed foods, anything that is "post industrial" or that results from animal husbandry. That's pretty much anything that didn't fall off of a bush in the woods. It is very likely that I didn't read enough to get the full scope, but I believe that a healthy diet should include few if any processed foods, fresh foods that are in their simplest form and that contain the highest nutritional value. Because it is difficult in most urban areas to find foods that aren't packaged up in tidy little boxes, or processed in some way I can't imagine how difficult it would be to stick to this diet. I applaud anyone that can do it sensibly,:drinker: but I do well enough to maintain a semi balanced diet and not get tripped up by the shiny packaging and time sparing convenience foods that are most readily available in my area. I would love to hear the experiences of those that have been able to stick to it for any significant length of time. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

For the record, almond butter (and peanut butter for that matter) is not processed IF you stick with natural almond/peanut/nut butters. The ingredient list should just be ground nuts and maybe salt.

Nut butters become processed when highly processed oils and sugars are added to increase shelf life and help keep the peanuts and its natural oil from separating. Many brands of peanut butter have ingredient lists that include high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, fractionated oils, and all kinds of *kitten* you dont want to put in your body.

Another note, if you are going to buy natural peanut butter (you should because it is DELICIOUS) it will need to be refrigerated or the peanut oil that separates from the paste can go rancid.

This is why I had "processed" in quotes. It is all natural, at least the stuff he eats. But, since it is a packaged, commercial food, some would argue that it is still "processed".

www.marksdailyapple.com

There ya go.

My brother is on a Paleo version. He has dropped weight like crazy! But, his Dr is concerned because it went so fast.

His diet really doesn't consist of much at all. He pretty much lives on grilled (plain) chicken breast, white sweet potatoes, avocado, eggs and nuts. Once in a while he will treat himself to a Buffalo steak (very lean) or a salad. He will NOT eat any white starches like white potatoes or white rice. He doesn't eat grains....no brown rice, wheat, barley (other than a beer very seldomly). He will eat veggies because the doctor said he has to, but he doesn't eat fruit or drink juices because they are considered post-industrial. The only "processed" food he will eat on a regular basis is almond butter. He uses it as a major protein and energy pack. He does not eat bread or pasta of any kind. And he does not consume dairy of any kind. He also avoids inflammatory foods such as salt, onions and peppers.

Granted, I believe he is taking his diet to an extreme, and not solely following the Paleo guidelines. But I have read about it and though it sounds very interesting...I would imagine it to be very difficult!

I'm curious to see what other responses you get on this. Good luck! =0)

He is following it to the Paleo standards. He has adopted the lifestyle and the only thing your brother needs to add more of is fats..............

I have just about every Paleo book out there and feel great when adhering to the paleo standards.

I specifically follow the Primal Blue Print by Mark Sisson, it is fabulous. However, I wanted to lose weight a bit faster than it was coming off with the Paleo eating due to some health issues, so I am doing the HCG Diet for a while then will transition back over to Paleo eating for Life Maintenance.

I am on the Paleo diet - have lost 10 pounds since July 16th. It's amazing!! I have never lasted 2 weeks on such a restrictive diet before and I can see myself going a lot further with this way of eating. The only downfall is you gain weight immediately when you cheat. I have had 2 cheat meals since starting this diet and both caused me to gain a pound back.

I really recommend this diet though. I am losing weight quickly and feel super energetic. Just make sure you supplement with calcium.

Yes, Yes, and Yes! I love eating this way. And I do not consider it a "fad" diet at all. It is a healthy, natural way of eating. One of my close friends lost crazy amounts of weight doing this. She's been eating Paleo for almost a year now-11 months I think. She is also a runner and her times have really improved since going Paleo. Here's what I can tell you:

-I've been doing it for almost 2 months and have lost 12 pounds. (I weigh tomorrow, so maybe more!)
-My pants are falling off of me, I can wear two sizes smaller than I did 2 months ago.
-I can exercise longer and harder that I EVER have been able to before-including high school when I was a cheerleader and dancer. My trainer cannot believe all that I am able to do.
-All of my digestive issues and headaches have gone away.
-I only eat whole, organic foods and feel so much better.
-I think all of the processed crap and fake sugar was really screwing with my metabolism and giving me major cravings.
-ALL of my cravings have disappeared.
-I think I was lactose intollerant a bit...I used to have major bubble guts after milk and cheese. Not anymore.
-I eat a lot of frutis and veggies.
-I occasioanlly have greek yogurt or a whole grain (1-2 a week)

It is seriously not too hard. In fact, I think it is the easiest "diet" I have ever tried. I feel great, and I enjoy eating this way. OK, this was probably way more info than you wanted, and I know I sound like a commercial, but seriously, I would continue to eat this way, even if the weight loss stopped simply because I feel better. Good luck!

I am on the Paleo diet - have lost 10 pounds since July 16th. It's amazing!! I have never lasted 2 weeks on such a restrictive diet before and I can see myself going a lot further with this way of eating. The only downfall is you gain weight immediately when you cheat. I have had 2 cheat meals since starting this diet and both caused me to gain a pound back.

I really recommend this diet though. I am losing weight quickly and feel super energetic. Just make sure you supplement with calcium.

When you eat something like grains that you haven't had and have major water retention (like half pound or more) that is a sign of gluten or grain intolerance.................

Really??? That explains alot :grumble:

Thanks

It sounds similar to the atkins diet, doesn't it?

I'm mostly eating a whole foods diet now, but would really like to refocus on even cleaner eating. I'm going to try primal because paleo is just a little too limited for me. I won't be following it strictly because I have to have some processed things. It's too inconvenient to not eat bread and to limit healthy grains, but I am going a little more restrictive until I reach maintenance. I will be limiting dairy, but I will still drink skim milk and eat Greek yogurt.

The hardest part of this for me will be lowering my carbs a bit. I won't be really restrictive on this either because I have intense workouts and need the carbs to make it through.

I started today, so we'll see how it works.

I am on the Paleo diet - have lost 10 pounds since July 16th. It's amazing!! I have never lasted 2 weeks on such a restrictive diet before and I can see myself going a lot further with this way of eating. The only downfall is you gain weight immediately when you cheat. I have had 2 cheat meals since starting this diet and both caused me to gain a pound back.

I really recommend this diet though. I am losing weight quickly and feel super energetic. Just make sure you supplement with calcium.

No it didn't. 1lb of fat = 3500 calories. You didn't consume that in a cheat meal. It was probably water weight.

Hi all,

I'm new here but just wanted to give a little input. It seems that around here a restricted calorie diet is the thing, but I am definitely more into this style of Paleo eating. Personally, sugar cravings are curbed, severe hunger diminishes, and it overall just appeals to my historical/scientific approach. I think that low-carb/paleo/primal/ketogenic scale has been around awhile, but it is just repackaged and labeled with the rise and tide of dietary fads. However, I think it is safe to say that there is sufficient scientific literature supporting this way of eating, as well as common sense if you think historically about what we ate as pre-industrialized humans. If you want to look more into this, consider the following resources. I encourage everyone to do their own research, consider every approach with a critical eye, but DO NOT believe something just because it has been reiterated and perpetuated by mainstream media or some TV doctor.

Clear your mind of everything that you have been told and consider all angles with an open mind.

Jimmy Moore of the Livin the vida low carb podcast has some great interviews with people making strides in the low-carb world. The interviews are well structured, informative, and introduce many topics that you probably haven't considered as factors or results of diet. However, he also interviews people with exact opposite views and allows them to give their opinion as well.

Marksdailyapple.com is a great resource for Primal people. This is kind of like the Paleo diet, but I think that Mark's approach is slightly more relaxed than the Paleo diet, even though the principles are very similar.

The Paleo Solution is a book by Robb Wolf, and he also hosts a podcast with Andy Deas from his Crossfit gym. Robb really dives into some higher-end stuff that can be somewhat complicated for the diet beginner, but it really gets your mind going. He talks of things like fatty acid balance, supplements, and other more advanced topics like dairy (yes or no?) and gives convincing information in a very easygoing, question and answer type format.

Finally, if you are really interested in where your food comes from, I encourage you to see documentaries such as Food, Inc, King Corn, and others concerning the industrialization of farming and how politics, government intervention, subsidies, and genetically engineered foods and hormonally enhanced foods are produced. They will open your eyes and likely encourage you to reconsider many of the foods we consider staples in the standard American diet.

Hopefully these resources are a good start!

Nice perspectives.would live to hear your progress with paleo. I recently quit glutenous grains, and most seeds. I love the sated feeling from fats and have kept dairy. Feels houd this far and my p90x workouts are fairing well. Having a hard time adjusting to the reduced calories too. My wife is wheat sensitive, and probably the fittest and healthiest she's been. Even after 4 kids

Thanks guys, yea this diet might be a little too strict for me which will lead me to binge which I need to prevent from doing ..

No, it won't..............It is the closest thing to curing binges. I was a binge eater. Bulimic.

Between Atkins and the Primal Blue Print, it helped me get rid of cravings which led to binging and purging.

I am following the Dr. Oz principles of YOU ON A DIET and found that by eliminating white flour (pasta & rice) and switching to whole grain versions instead and eliminating sugars, my cravings for junk food also went away within a week or two. I try to eat as little of processed food as I can, but both the Primal blue and Paleo look much too stringent for me. I am happy with the Dr. Oz diet. I can easily say no to pizza, donuts, etc. I'd love to have them, but choose not to.