PALEO: pros, cons and whatever else you may think?
Replies
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Hi!!! I have been doing the Paleo-Zone Challenge at my box too. I am at week 3 of week 4.
I was already starting to eat more Paleo (90%) three weeks before the challenge so it wasn't as bad to begin with and I wasn't eating a lot of junk food and trying to make healthier choices.
Progress so far: I have lost 5 pounds, and 5 inches off my waist in three weeks. And I've been working out 5 times a week. (3-4 times at the box and another activity on the weekend) and yes, I did have the occasional cheat on the weekend that wasn't paleo-zone. (I'm only human!) But people are noticing my progress.
But seriously, I was still counting my calories so that I don't go overboard. Because you can't lose if you go over your calorie allowance even if you eat Paleo. Paleo will not be the reason you lose fat. A calorie deficit will. I have experienced that eating Paleo will help you feel fuller longer on foods that have less calories because you can really fill yourself up easily with vegetables which are low calorie. But if the reason of the challenge is to feel better and healthier overall, try it for three weeks! You will notice a difference!
But here are my Pros and Cons at week3 of my Paleo-Zone Challenge:
PROS:
- You feel amazing! Believe me, what you put in your mouth really does make a difference. I have so much energy and feel great!
- Get to try new recipes
- Feel less bloated and gassy....:blushing:
- Grain-fed meat is a lot tastier. (I never thought I would taste the difference)
- More regular
- Because I am eating more vegetables and fruits, I feel less hungry all the time and can actually control my portions better.
- You can't be Paleo all the time, it's socially restrictive. So when you do have something you have been missing, (icecream, nutella, bread), it is just that much satisfying!
CONS:
- It has lots of restrictions (pasta, bread, nutella, booze, beans, corn etc)
- Hard to access grain-fed meats (depending on where you live)
- Need to plan ahead
- Lots of contradicting information on what is considered Paleo.
For people saying that its more expensive going Paleo, I would say that I disagree. I track all my expenses and my grocery bill for me and my bf have been going down for the past two months since we started going Paleo. Of course, this might vary if you don't have access to grain-fed meat easily.
The secret is plan plan plan. Don't just come home to an empty fridge or else you will be tempted to eat that box of KD that's been in the cupboard for so long. Try to cook more portions at your supper for leftovers the next day at lunch!
Good luck :drinker:0 -
Con: no legumes
That con alone is too big for me. I eat legumes every single day and have for several decades.0 -
Self-imposing a dietary restriction can make it easier to resist typical treats served at holiday parties. But if you go paleo and want to lose weight, don't ditch calorie counting. I went paleo for a while and actually gained weight because fatty meat wasn't satisfying my appetite as much as grains and legumes do. I know people are always saying that meals with protein and fat are more satisfying, but that hasn't been the case for me.
Can't hurt to give paleo a try for yourself, though.0 -
I personally wouldn't be healthy on a plan like this. I have reactions to most fruits and veggie, I also can't eat red meat or pork. That being said Paleo is based on eating lean meats and veggies which is healthy and a lot of people would benefit from eating more of these foods. For those who don't mind the restrictive nature of paleo can be very successful with it and it can be a permanent lifestyle change. Is is necessary for everyone to follow in order to be healthy? No... You have to choose if paleo is the right path.0
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Paleo definitely feels like the most sustainable eating plan to me. I don't really have to count calories - if I eat Whole30 approved foods until I'm full 3-4 times a day, it adds up to being right about the amount of calories I want, so I don't have to watch too carefully. If I eat bread/sweets/etc. - I feel like I'm starving to death on the same amount of calories and not only do i have to count, but I have to restrict to get there, and it's not fun and I don't feel like I can sustain the effort for very long. People are correct though that if you're trying to lose weight it's worth counting. Especially if you eat many nuts, you can go over on calories, but to me it's more like I can eat until I'm full to maintain, cut back just a bit to lose weight. That's very doable.
Also - it's still pretty easy to eat out. Yeah, you have to ask for modifications sometimes, but meat/fish and steamed veggies or salad with olive oil and vinegar isn't a crazy request. Honestly I think it would be harder to be a vegetarian at some places and eat anything nutritious.0 -
Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.0 -
I say give it a try OP! I myself am not Paleo/Primal (I like cheese) but I do eat a diet based in lean meats and veggies and keep it as minimally processed as possible and I've never felt better. People might tell you something like that is needlessly restrictive but if it works for so many people is it really needless? Isn't a lack of restriction what gets so many people in trouble in the first place?!
A strictly controlled diet is just what is needed for lots of people.0 -
Shudder. It couldn't appear more cult-like if it tried...Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.0 -
Also - it's still pretty easy to eat out. Yeah, you have to ask for modifications sometimes, but meat/fish and steamed veggies or salad with olive oil and vinegar isn't a crazy request. Honestly I think it would be harder to be a vegetarian at some places and eat anything nutritious.
Processed foods like olive oil and vinegar are okay, but beans are not. Makes no sense at all.0 -
I was/am trying, but only b/c I have an autoimmune skin condition and I figure it's worth a shot.
But, it's hard for me, as I don't love meat and I do like pizza (and crackers and alcohol....).
I do feel better when I don't eat refined carbs, but like others have said, it's a bit hard b/c food preparation is a constant and nothing is shelf stable. You can make dinner with pasta, canned tomatoes/beans/rice/etc. But, with a meat and fresh centered diet, it's harder.
I also cannot bring myself to cook with lard eat bone broth.
If I wasn't trying to help with a medical issue, I am 99.9% certain that I would never have stumbled upon it and decided to try it.0 -
Shudder. It couldn't appear more cult-like if it tried...Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.
The whole idea though is to cut out foods that cause problems for many people to see what happens. Once you've gotten them out of your system, you are encouraged to re-introduce whatever foods you miss and see how you feel eating them. So if you want your legumes, try them after 30 days of not having them and see if you still feel as good. If you do - eat them. If you don't, it's up to you. Would you rather not eat them and feel better or feel worse and eat them? Do what works for you. Same with dairy or anything else.
I've not heard of a lot of cults that are all about figuring out what's the absolute best thing for you as an individual...0 -
Shudder. It couldn't appear more cult-like if it tried...Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.
The whole idea though is to cut out foods that cause problems for many people to see what happens. Once you've gotten them out of your system, you are encouraged to re-introduce whatever foods you miss and see how you feel eating them. So if you want your legumes, try them after 30 days of not having them and see if you still feel as good. If you do - eat them. If you don't, it's up to you. Would you rather not eat them and feel better or feel worse and eat them? Do what works for you. Same with dairy or anything else.
I've not heard of a lot of cults that are all about figuring out what's the absolute best thing for you as an individual...
The whole idea is to sell books.
Right from the Whole30 (registered trademark) home page:
"LET US CHANGE YOUR LIFE. $14.95. SIGN UP NOW."0 -
Any diet that has a name is silly.
Any diet that strictly prohibits certain foods is silly.
Any diet that does both of these is double-silly.
By all means focus your diet on lean meats and veggies. But don't listen to what other people tell you are acceptable foods and unacceptable foods. Focus on your nutrients and eat things you enjoy.
Well some of us that approach doesn't work. I need to impose restrictions on myself for a number of reasons. While your advice might work for some people. You should perhaps consider that those of us who have had eating disorders or are recovering from them. Might not be able to handle that kind of diet.
I eat basically a keto regime. I eat high protein high fiber, low carb and low cal. It works well for me.
- I don't eat wheat products (bread, pasta, processed foods)
-I don't eat refined sugars (I eat fruits but limited amounts)
Although I do partake in a taste or two of certain things. My low carb regime stops me from eating a number of items on a regular basis.
I'm not saying this will work for everyone. But for me this is how I choose to live my lifestyle. I don't go out and preach this to most people since they won't want to give up those foods they like.0 -
Pros:
Yummy delicious meat
Cons:
No bread
No cookies
No ice cream
No potato chips
No pasta
No pretzels
See where I'm going with this?0 -
Any diet that has a name is silly.
Any diet that strictly prohibits certain foods is silly.
Any diet that does both of these is double-silly.
By all means focus your diet on lean meats and veggies. But don't listen to what other people tell you are acceptable foods and unacceptable foods. Focus on your nutrients and eat things you enjoy.
Well some of us that approach doesn't work. I need to impose restrictions on myself for a number of reasons. While your advice might work for some people. You should perhaps consider that those of us who have had eating disorders or are recovering from them. Might not be able to handle that kind of diet.
So impose restrictions on yourself. If you have trigger foods or something that's fine.
But don't impose restrictions on yourself because some Diet Plan ($14.95 a month!) tells you that those foods are automatically bad and they have The Secret To Weight Loss (tm).
Eat what works for you. Don't eat certain foods, or avoid certain foods, because some fad diet tells you they're "Approved" or "Bad" or whatever.0 -
Con: no legumes
That con alone is too big for me. I eat legumes every single day and have for several decades.
Peanuts!
Nomnomnom...0 -
Shudder. It couldn't appear more cult-like if it tried...Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.
The whole idea though is to cut out foods that cause problems for many people to see what happens. Once you've gotten them out of your system, you are encouraged to re-introduce whatever foods you miss and see how you feel eating them. So if you want your legumes, try them after 30 days of not having them and see if you still feel as good. If you do - eat them. If you don't, it's up to you. Would you rather not eat them and feel better or feel worse and eat them? Do what works for you. Same with dairy or anything else.
I've not heard of a lot of cults that are all about figuring out what's the absolute best thing for you as an individual...
The whole idea is to sell books.
Right from the Whole30 (registered trademark) home page:
"LET US CHANGE YOUR LIFE. $14.95. SIGN UP NOW."
Heh, except most of the people I know who are doing/have done Whole30 never bought the book. You can get all the info without it - the book is just useful in understanding the science behind the rationale.0 -
PROS:
It can work well and quickly for weight loss
No need for the hassle of calorie counting
Can help regularise cravings
Can help with digestive discomfort
CONS:
Restrictive food choice
Lack of cake
Can be expensive
Can be hard to implement into day to day life
Did I mention lack of cake?
There is ALWAYS the need for counting calories. Always. Your weight is an equation of calories in vs. calories out. That's IT. There are no magical foods. If you eat 10,000 calories worth of organic salad in a day, you will gain weight. If you eat 1,500 calories worth of KFC in a day, you won't. All food plans are basically shams. If they work, it's only because it manages your calories without you realizing it. And that's why people get off them when they reach their goal and then gain everything back. You need to learn to manage your calories with your everyday diet. No, NO food plan will teach you that. Only you can, using the food you already eat every day. That's the only reliable way to get lifelong results.0 -
Shudder. It couldn't appear more cult-like if it tried...Whole30 approved foods
That phrase makes my skin crawl.
Also: Oh, look, you can buy things right on the Whole30 (TM) website! Yeesh.
The whole idea though is to cut out foods that cause problems for many people to see what happens. Once you've gotten them out of your system, you are encouraged to re-introduce whatever foods you miss and see how you feel eating them. So if you want your legumes, try them after 30 days of not having them and see if you still feel as good. If you do - eat them. If you don't, it's up to you. Would you rather not eat them and feel better or feel worse and eat them? Do what works for you. Same with dairy or anything else.
I've not heard of a lot of cults that are all about figuring out what's the absolute best thing for you as an individual...
The whole idea is to sell books.
Right from the Whole30 (registered trademark) home page:
"LET US CHANGE YOUR LIFE. $14.95. SIGN UP NOW."
Heh, except most of the people I know who are doing/have done Whole30 never bought the book. You can get all the info without it - the book is just useful in understanding the science behind the rationale.
It doesn't matter whether everyone following the plan has bought the book. The plan exists in order to sell books. It was developed to sell books.
There's nothing magical about it. It's not special. It doesn't have The Secret. Whole30 is a commercial operation designed to sell books and online memberships.0 -
Hi!!! I have been doing the Paleo-Zone Challenge at my box too. I am at week 3 of week 4.
I was already starting to eat more Paleo (90%) three weeks before the challenge so it wasn't as bad to begin with and I wasn't eating a lot of junk food and trying to make healthier choices.
Progress so far: I have lost 5 pounds, and 5 inches off my waist in three weeks. And I've been working out 5 times a week. (3-4 times at the box and another activity on the weekend) and yes, I did have the occasional cheat on the weekend that wasn't paleo-zone. (I'm only human!) But people are noticing my progress.
But seriously, I was still counting my calories so that I don't go overboard. Because you can't lose if you go over your calorie allowance even if you eat Paleo. Paleo will not be the reason you lose fat. A calorie deficit will. I have experienced that eating Paleo will help you feel fuller longer on foods that have less calories because you can really fill yourself up easily with vegetables which are low calorie. But if the reason of the challenge is to feel better and healthier overall, try it for three weeks! You will notice a difference!
But here are my Pros and Cons at week3 of my Paleo-Zone Challenge:
PROS:
- You feel amazing! Believe me, what you put in your mouth really does make a difference. I have so much energy and feel great!
- Get to try new recipes
- Feel less bloated and gassy....:blushing:
- Grain-fed meat is a lot tastier. (I never thought I would taste the difference)
- More regular
- Because I am eating more vegetables and fruits, I feel less hungry all the time and can actually control my portions better.
- You can't be Paleo all the time, it's socially restrictive. So when you do have something you have been missing, (icecream, nutella, bread), it is just that much satisfying!
CONS:
- It has lots of restrictions (pasta, bread, nutella, booze, beans, corn etc)
- Hard to access grain-fed meats (depending on where you live)
- Need to plan ahead
- Lots of contradicting information on what is considered Paleo.
For people saying that its more expensive going Paleo, I would say that I disagree. I track all my expenses and my grocery bill for me and my bf have been going down for the past two months since we started going Paleo. Of course, this might vary if you don't have access to grain-fed meat easily.
The secret is plan plan plan. Don't just come home to an empty fridge or else you will be tempted to eat that box of KD that's been in the cupboard for so long. Try to cook more portions at your supper for leftovers the next day at lunch!
Good luck :drinker:
This is an excellent explanation. For me, it also made me so much more aware of foods I am sensitive too. Dairy and gluten are the big ones for me. I never went back to dairy but occasionally I have some gluten and within a few hours I realize why I gave it up in the first place. Overall (even with slip-ups) I feel so much better. I have lost 5 lbs (but I also cut calories) and my boyfriend has lost 25 lbs. He also does crossfit and his place just completed their 30 day paleo challenge, but we've been doing Paleo for 5 months.0 -
I couldnt go strictly Paleo and cut out everything! BUT, about 9 months ago I did a modified version of it, limiting dairy, sugar and carbs but not eliminating it all together and it was a good kick start for me. Am literally about to do the same thing. I don't like to say I am doing any particular "Diet" ... rather I am changing my diet up since I have been sitting at the same number for a while now!
I would ignore the Haters comments, focus on what you think will work for you. Best of luck in whatever you choose.0 -
Hi!!! I have been doing the Paleo-Zone Challenge at my box too. I am at week 3 of week 4.
I was already starting to eat more Paleo (90%) three weeks before the challenge so it wasn't as bad to begin with and I wasn't eating a lot of junk food and trying to make healthier choices.
Progress so far: I have lost 5 pounds, and 5 inches off my waist in three weeks. And I've been working out 5 times a week. (3-4 times at the box and another activity on the weekend) and yes, I did have the occasional cheat on the weekend that wasn't paleo-zone. (I'm only human!) But people are noticing my progress.
But seriously, I was still counting my calories so that I don't go overboard. Because you can't lose if you go over your calorie allowance even if you eat Paleo. Paleo will not be the reason you lose fat. A calorie deficit will. I have experienced that eating Paleo will help you feel fuller longer on foods that have less calories because you can really fill yourself up easily with vegetables which are low calorie. But if the reason of the challenge is to feel better and healthier overall, try it for three weeks! You will notice a difference!
But here are my Pros and Cons at week3 of my Paleo-Zone Challenge:
PROS:
- You feel amazing! Believe me, what you put in your mouth really does make a difference. I have so much energy and feel great!
- Get to try new recipes
- Feel less bloated and gassy....:blushing:
- Grain-fed meat is a lot tastier. (I never thought I would taste the difference)
- More regular
- Because I am eating more vegetables and fruits, I feel less hungry all the time and can actually control my portions better.
- You can't be Paleo all the time, it's socially restrictive. So when you do have something you have been missing, (icecream, nutella, bread), it is just that much satisfying!
CONS:
- It has lots of restrictions (pasta, bread, nutella, booze, beans, corn etc)
- Hard to access grain-fed meats (depending on where you live)
- Need to plan ahead
- Lots of contradicting information on what is considered Paleo.
For people saying that its more expensive going Paleo, I would say that I disagree. I track all my expenses and my grocery bill for me and my bf have been going down for the past two months since we started going Paleo. Of course, this might vary if you don't have access to grain-fed meat easily.
The secret is plan plan plan. Don't just come home to an empty fridge or else you will be tempted to eat that box of KD that's been in the cupboard for so long. Try to cook more portions at your supper for leftovers the next day at lunch!
Good luck :drinker:
You state Grain Fed beef / Meats.... I always thought it was supposed to be GRASS FED meats? Because Grain causes the same problem in animals as they do in humans. So I thought... not an expert by any means and not saying you are wrong, you seem to be way more experienced in this than me, just a question.0 -
Any diet that has a name is silly.
So, say there is a way of eating that masses of people follow for generations. It's healthy and sustainable. Then, someone comes along and gives this way of eating a name, say for example, the Mediterranean Diet. Now this time proven healthy diet is suddenly silly? I don't see the logic there.0 -
Any diet that has a name is silly.
So, say there is a way of eating that masses of people follow for generations. It's healthy and sustainable. Then, someone comes along and gives this way of eating a name, say for example, the Mediterranean Diet. Now this time proven healthy diet is suddenly silly? I don't see the logic there.
Yes, it's silly because "The Mediterranean Diet" doesn't accurately capture how any actual individual, let alone an entire culture, eats. It's a silly condensed list of "eat this not that" that doesn't allow for the flexibility and variation found in "the real thing."
If you took "The Mediterranean Diet" and applied it to how anyone living around the Mediterranean actually eats, you'd see that they don't actually follow "The Mediterranean Diet."0 -
I've been considering a version of paleo for a while. But my reasoning for doing so has been less about weight loss and more about additives and gmo. Eliminating grains and dairy for me means eliminating a lot of prepackaged and processed food. While I won't be following paleo to the letter. Ill probably be doing what works for me with paleo as a general guideline. I've lost plenty of weight doing non paleo calorie counting so you don't need paleo to lose weight. But it might help with avoiding some of the frighteninggarbage most major ccompanies hide in your food. A good rule of thumb. If it has more than five ingredients, it's probably a bad idea.
Imho
ive been doing the whole eating healthy, counting calories thing for over a year now with a lot of success...i recently switched up my workout routine from just basic gym work/cardio/etc to include crossfit and a lot more weight lifting so i was thinking i would transition my diet choices as well and see how that worked for me.
By all means switch up your diet if you want something different. Introduce new foods and new meal ideas.
You don't need some silly restrictive diet to do this. If you think paleo sounds good, incorporate some common paleo foods into your meals, whatever those might be. But there's no reason to buy into "paleo" and skip the ice cream.
This is actually a good idea. You can look around at all the various silly diets out there and work some of their common foods into your meals. Have a big pile of paleo meat for dinner one night followed by ice cream, then have some vegan enchiladas for lunch the next day. Or whatever.
What I'm saying is if you're bored with your food take food inspiration from others. You don't need to totally buy into their "diet" to enjoy their meals.
I guess my greater point (which I did a terrible job making) Is that I generally don't do any "diet" verbatim. But I do like some of the concepts here. The science behind paleo is flawed to say the least. But some aspects are pretty darn good. Anything that involves eating less processed foods and more veggies is good stuff. The general idea is do what you want with your diet. For me, I could definitely afford to cut refined sugars and a lot of the grains. But legumes? I needs may beans.0 -
Con: no legumes
That con alone is too big for me. I eat legumes every single day and have for several decades.
QFT
Life without my favorite legume would be unlivable!
0 -
Pro: its composed of mostly whole foods
Con: it has stupid exclusions that make no sense for 99% of the population
/thread0 -
Just don't turn into a paleo freak. Also don't forget that paleo is based on evolution from the paleolithic era. Everything might not have been optimal back then, and well, somepeople don't buy into evolution but they want to eat like a caveman that came from apes.....?0
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Plus Alan has spoken. Thus sayeth the lord.
Alan Aragon is a name you can remember to help you cut through all of this industry's bullshlt.
http://www.nsca.com/uploadedFiles/NSCA/Inactive_Content/Program_Books/PTC_2013_Program_Book/Aragon.pdf
Now end thread0 -
You posted in the right spot, theoretically. But there are a few very prescriptive know it alls who mock anything other than "iffym" (google it).woops! did i post in the wrong spot? ive been a member for about 18 months and never posted before...rookie mistake.
ive already cut out bread for the most part, my boyfriend is into powerlifting so we tend to go through phases of him eating 0 carbs for a few weeks and then transitioning, etc.
every time i've tried to cut out carbs entirely the first week is brutal. thats why i was thinking maybe paleo would be a bit easier and more sustainable.
You'll get some good replies here though, and if you decide to study it more, there's a few good groups that can answer your questions.0
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