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New to Paleo... Need Help!!

czoee
czoee Posts: 3
edited February 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone,


So I've decided to start paleo tomorrow but I'm having some issues determining how many grams for fat/protein/carbs I should be having...

Thing is, I have a genetic disorder where I can't have too much protein or else it can cause disabilities, seizures or psychiatric issues, making me unable to do keto. I can't have my protein % too high and I can't go below 50g of carbs or I'll slip into keto and I can't have that... unless there's a way to be in keto without having to eat TOO much protein and mostly focus on fat? I'm not sure... so this is where I need help.

I'm 5"3, weigh about 126 lbs and I do light exercise.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Replies

  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Don't go paleo. Period. Especially considering the genetic disorder.

    Eta: there's no reason whatsoever you need to go paleo to lose weight or get in fantastic shape either. Eat the right amount of calories and whatever macro ratio works best for your disorder. ;)
  • somerisagirlsname
    somerisagirlsname Posts: 467 Member
    You're gonna wanna go find a group on MFP that does paleo, otherwise you're going to hear all about why this diet is ridiculous. Which it is, for me, but you don't want to hear that. So in summation, find some like-minded individuals in a group.
  • czoee
    czoee Posts: 3
    Well, I've never kept track of my protein or anything like that and my levels have always been fine, I've always eaten whatever I've wanted and how much I've wanted, but I don't know to what extent the amount of protein you're supposed to eat with paleo.

    If it's nothing out of the ordinary for me and it's more of just cutting out carbs, I'm completely fine with that. I would like to lose a couple pounds though to get back at my original weight, nothing too drastic and I've been watching my calorie intake but haven't seen any results. :(
  • GlassslippersAndFairyDust
    GlassslippersAndFairyDust Posts: 518 Member
    there are Paleo groups on here that may be able to help you......good luck :flowerforyou:
  • czoee
    czoee Posts: 3
    Hmm, is there a specific section to find these groups? Sorry, new to the site! Thanks though, everyone.
  • GlassslippersAndFairyDust
    GlassslippersAndFairyDust Posts: 518 Member
    sure, look under groups and type Paleo in the search box
  • somerisagirlsname
    somerisagirlsname Posts: 467 Member
    If you lose weight with paleo, or any fad diet really, and then you go back to eating normal, there's a good chance you'll gain the weight you lost right back.

    If you've been watching your calories but not seeing any results then you're not watching your calories close enough. For instance, MFP said I was burning almost twice the calories I was actually burning while exercising, so when I ate those exercise calories back, I was actually eating near maintenance and stunting my weight loss.
  • GlassslippersAndFairyDust
    GlassslippersAndFairyDust Posts: 518 Member
    Paleo is a lifestyle not a quick fix "diet," to that I'll agree.
  • booyainyoface
    booyainyoface Posts: 409 Member
    find the paleo/primal group. lots of hater on here... personally ive been paleo for 2 years. for me it isn't a "diet" and ive only lost a few pounds since being on it since i eat close to my TDEE, but i stick paleo becuase when i get the normal american diet i feel like poo, my joints hurt, my bowels aren't pretty, my mood swings, and i get zits :)

    as far as going into keto... that is weird that keto triggers seizures for you. i am a special education teacher and TONS of my kids with seizures eat a keto diet to prevent seizures and reduce the amounts of medicines they take.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I'm confused: how is not ever tracking your protein intake compatible with a genetic disorder that causes serious medical problems if you eat too much protein?
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    Well, I've never kept track of my protein or anything like that and my levels have always been fine,

    prolly should start tracking if you have this disease or whatevah
  • LisaGNV
    LisaGNV Posts: 159 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/54-primal-paleo-support-group <--go there for support/info.
  • Homemaker57
    Homemaker57 Posts: 106 Member
    Don't get on her case too much for not tracking protein ;) If going into keto is what causes the problems, there's no need to track all your nutrients. It would be really hard to accidentally go into keto especially in our culture. Those who go into it on purpose have to be very careful to slash carbs, otherwise it won't work. Eating a big steak will not put you into keto.


    All that said, Mark Sisson of Primal Blueprint suggests that less than 50g of carbs a day will result in keto, 50-100 carbs a day is the sweet spot for weight loss, and 100-150 carbs a day results in effortless weight maintenance. If we go off of those numbers, then losing weight by cutting carbs is going to be dancing a fine line for you. I would not suggest a diet that focuses on low carb/high protein for someone with your genetic condition, because under the paleo/primal diet you definitely could get into keto and hurt yourself.

    I personally am a fan of primal/paleo. It works for me and I feel best on it. However if I was in danger of hurting myself, I would either modify it or choose another way of eating. You might try cutting out gluten for starters; a lot of people are sensitive without knowing it and find that when they cut it out they experience a weight loss and overall better health.
  • hstoblish
    hstoblish Posts: 234 Member
    find the paleo/primal group. lots of hater on here... personally ive been paleo for 2 years. for me it isn't a "diet" and ive only lost a few pounds since being on it since i eat close to my TDEE, but i stick paleo becuase when i get the normal american diet i feel like poo, my joints hurt, my bowels aren't pretty, my mood swings, and i get zits :)

    as far as going into keto... that is weird that keto triggers seizures for you. i am a special education teacher and TONS of my kids with seizures eat a keto diet to prevent seizures and reduce the amounts of medicines they take.

    I also eat more or less paleo (some dairy, and tiny amount of gluten and wheat here and there) for the same reasons exactly. It's somewhat separate from my weight loss goal, which I manage through calorie intake instead of through macros.

    Personally, I eat SO much protein that it shocks me sometimes. I was a vegetarian for 13 years and I'm often shocked at my protein numbers. If you really want to try paleo, I'd recommend carefully tracking and weighing your food to be sure you're not going to harm yourself. My understanding of your condition is that it's quite serious so it's definitely worth taking a light approach. It's also very very easy to undereat on paleo if you don't replace the carbs with fats and protein. It's definitely not easy at first.
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