Going Paleo

Hi there

I have been doing Paleo / Primal for the past 3 years. I lost 23kgs (50.6 pounds) over a 6 month period. I exercise regularly, but not heavy. Read Marks Sisson's The Daily Apple for a comprehensive, sensible guide to the switch over. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/

I am female, 52yo and stronger, healthier and happier than ever.

It is difficult to adhere to the 'cult' like movements with some of these eating plans. Do the best with what you can get. Free range eggs, chicken, beef etc. If unobtainable, buy the best quality you can get.

Drop all grains, legumes, sugar and dairy. If you can. Mark says 80/20 is better than SAD!

Careful of alcohol. I love single malt whiskies and thought a tot or two a night won't matter. That is the ONLY time I gained back some of my weight, about 3kgs.

Give it a go - you can thank me later..;-D

Okay, so I've been researching the Paleo diet for a few days now and I can't help but notice the huge amount of stress they put on the words "GRASS FED BEEF" and "FREE RANGE EGGS". I understand that organic foods are best for you, but I feel like I have no access to organic foods where I live.

The idea is to get away from processed foods, so surely if I decided to go Paleo (organic or not), it will be better for me anyway, right?

Paleo is no healthier than regular intake. You still need to count calories to lose weight contrary to "popular" belief.

There is actually no proof that organic is "healthier" either.

If you want to go Paleo because you believe in the ideology that's one thing but if it's for weight loss there are easier ways. Such as eating what you eat now just in small portions.

^What she said.

Okay, so I've been researching the Paleo diet for a few days now and I can't help but notice the huge amount of stress they put on the words "GRASS FED BEEF" and "FREE RANGE EGGS". I understand that organic foods are best for you, but I feel like I have no access to organic foods where I live.

The idea is to get away from processed foods, so surely if I decided to go Paleo (organic or not), it will be better for me anyway, right?

Paleo is no healthier than regular intake. You still need to count calories to lose weight contrary to "popular" belief.

There is actually no proof that organic is "healthier" either.

If you want to go Paleo because you believe in the ideology that's one thing but if it's for weight loss there are easier ways. Such as eating what you eat now just in small portions.

^What she said.

Paleo / Primal DOES work - it's not a fad diet to lose weight quickly. It is a life-style change and you will have to stick with it. Smaller portions don't work for everyone and they tend to fall off the wagon. With Paleo / Primal I regularly went over the 'daily calorie intake'. I ate until I was satisfied. I counted no calories, only carbs. When you reach your ideal weight, then perhaps some reassessment is necessary.

She didn't say it doesn't work. She simply said it still requires a calorie deficit and restrictive diets tend not to be sustainable. Both of which are true.

How more restrictive can you be if you need to always count calories? If you are familiar with the Paleo concept, you will know that calorie restriction is not part of it. You actually do not overeat because you are just not hungry, once your body becomes fat adapted.

I was giving my personal opinion and positive feedback to the original question about something that worked for me - Paleo / Primal. He was specifically asking about Paleo. I am sure he tried other avenues.

Perhaps people need to familiarise themselves more with the principles of a new way of thinking instead just shooting it down and possibly derailing and demotivating someone else's weight loss journey.

If small portions and calorie counting work for others, that's great. Each to his or her own. Whatever get you the results.

I am quite familiar with Paleo/Primal actually. Restrictive is eliminating foods and/or food groups. Calorie counting is not "restrictive" in that sense.

And yes Paleo advocates just eat the food and you will be fine but science says overeat on any food and you will gain weight.

You can overeat on paleo actually it's very easy...you may not have been hungry but that doesn't apply to everyone.

How can you be sure he has tried other avenues such as weighing solids, measuring liquids logging accurately etc...are you his IRL friend?

I gave my personal opinion as well based on knowledge of paleo/primal...I too was giving my personal opinion...am I not allowed to do that? Or is it just people who follow that particular "diet"?

And who said anything about small portions? Look at my diary does it look like I eat "small"...I don't think so.

Paleo in truth doesn't even have a strict definition...almond flour? really? that's processed? grain fed beef? how so....more along the lines of wild game such as deer and moose meat would be more appropriate but you can't do that as it is almost impossible to buy in a store...

Paleo / Primal DOES work - it's not a fad diet to lose weight quickly. It is a life-style change and you will have to stick with it. Smaller portions don't work for everyone and they tend to fall off the wagon. With Paleo / Primal I regularly went over the 'daily calorie intake'. I ate until I was satisfied. I counted no calories, only carbs. When you reach your ideal weight, then perhaps some reassessment is necessary.

You regularly went over your daily calorie intake and still lost weight? Could you provide us with a food diary showing the foods you ate, weighed and measured of course, and corresponding data from that same period tracking your weight and measurements?

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Clearly, if there's still a discussion, then I don't think you guys got it lol But to add something of value, correlation does not imply causation. Just because you smoke marijuana does not imply you drink alcohol, nor does following a 'Paleo diet' imply fat loss. Everybody's body is different, and what may work for one person may not work for another person

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Sorry I just find paleo funny. Eliminating carbs (essentially what it is) is just another way to restrict calories for the most part. Moderate diet works and is not near as difficult.

I eat primarily paleo, we can't afford to eat all organic or to buy grassfed meat. We buy the best quality that we can and don't sweat it when we can't afford the expense. I have still been very succesful with this lifestyle.

I did the typical MFP caolrie counting for 3+ years and was lucky to lose 1 pound a month, even at a calorie deficit. It just wasn't working and my career was on the line. In a last ditch effort I decided to try this way of eating. While maintaining the same intake (using hte same scale and measuring devices) I was able to lose 10 pounds in one month and 30 pounds in three months. I lost 10 inches from my waist from August until February. I am not one of those people that can say "all that matters is calories in/calories out". It does work for the majority of people, but if it isn't working, then something needs to change.

Eating this way, and staying away from some of the easier to over do it options...like a lot of nuts, I can eat more than MFP says I need and still lose weight. If I over consume calories from begetable, fruit and meat sources I don't gain, I just maintain. The thing is though I don't eat all I want of things like nuts or other calroie dense foods that don't provide as much bang for their buck. I prefer to fill half...or more of my plate with veggies and then some starch, like potatoes or squash, then 1/4 or so with my meat portion. It is very hard to over eat when you get enough veggies in your diet.

This way of life has been easier for me to maintain is has been sustainable for almost 5 years. I like not NEEDING to count calories. I track my food more to see where my macros are and to make sure I am getting enough of specific micro nutrients, not as a way to count calories.

To the OP there are some paleo/primal forums here on MFP, come join us!

If I over consume calories from begetable, fruit and meat sources I don't gain, I just maintain. The thing is though I don't eat all I want of things like nuts or other calroie dense foods that don't provide as much bang for their buck.

This is mathmathically impossible...



And this is why there is such a backlash....statements like that one.

Why is organic "healthier"?

The idea is to avoid pesticides, GMO's, hormones and antibiotics.

What's wrong with these? means healthier meat, and vegetables, I don't see any problem with them!

ETA : Again how or why is organic "healthier"??

Why is organic "healthier"?

The idea is to avoid pesticides, GMO's, hormones and antibiotics.

Have you ever looked at what is allowed in "organic" foods? Here is a list...

Non-Organic Agriculture Products Allowed:

•Casings, from processed intestines.
•Celery powder.
•Chia ( Salvia hispanica L. ).
•Colors derived from agricultural products.
•Annatto extract color—water and oil soluble.
•Beet juice extract color
•Beta-carotene extract color, derived from carrots
•Black currant juice color
•Black/Purple carrot juice color
•Blueberry juice color
•Carrot juice color
•Cherry juice color
•Chokeberry—Aronia juice color
•Elderberry juice color
•Grape juice color
•Grape skin extract color
•Paprika color —dried, and oil extracted.
•Pumpkin juice color
•Purple potato juice
•Red cabbage extract color
•Red radish extract color
•Saffron extract color
•Turmeric extract color
•Dillweed oil
•Fish oil —stabilized with organic ingredients or only with ingredients on the National List
•Fortified cooking wines.
•Marsala.
•Sherry.
•Fructooligosaccharides
•Galangal, frozen.
•Gelatin
•Gums—water extracted only (Arabic; Guar; Locust bean; and Carob bean).
•Hops ( Humulus luplus ).
•Inulin-oligofructose enriched
•Kelp—for use only as a thickener and dietary supplement.
•Konjac flour
•Lecithin—de-oiled.
•Lemongrass—frozen.
•Orange pulp, dried.
•Orange shellac-unbleached
•Pectin (high-methoxy).
•Peppers (Chipotle chile).
•Seaweed, Pacific kombu.
•Starches.
•Cornstarch (native).
•Rice starch, unmodified —for use in organic handling until June 21, 2009.
•Sweet potato starch—for bean thread production only.
•Tragacanth gum
•Turkish bay leaves.
•Wakame seaweed ( Undaria pinnatifida ).
•Whey protein concentrate

Non-Synthetic Allowed:
•Acids (Alginic; Citric—produced by microbial fermentation of carbohydrate substances; and Lactic).
•Agar-agar.
•Animal enzymes—(Rennet—animals derived; Catalase—bovine liver; Animal lipase; Pancreatin; Pepsin; and Trypsin).
•Bentonite.
•Calcium carbonate.
•Calcium chloride.
•Calcium sulfate—mined.
•Carrageenan.
•Dairy cultures.
•Diatomaceous earth—food filtering aid only.
•Egg white lysozyme
•Enzymes—must be derived from edible, nontoxic plants, nonpathogenic fungi, or nonpathogenic bacteria.
•Flavors, nonsynthetic sources only and must not be produced using synthetic solvents and carrier systems or any artificial preservative.
•Gellan gum —high-acyl form only.
•Glucono delta-lactone—production by the oxidation of D-glucose with bromine water is prohibited.
•Kaolin.
•L-Malic acid
•Magnesium sulfate, nonsynthetic sources only.
•Microorganisms—any food grade bacteria, fungi, and other microorganism.
•Nitrogen—oil-free grades.
•Oxygen—oil-free grades.
•Perlite—for use only as a filter aid in food processing.
•Potassium chloride.
•Potassium iodide.
•Sodium bicarbonate.
•Sodium carbonate.
•Tartaric acid—made from grape wine.
•Waxes—nonsynthetic (Carnauba wax; and Wood resin).
•Yeast—nonsynthetic, growth on petrochemical substrate and sulfite waste liquor is prohibited (Autolysate; Bakers; Brewers; Nutritional; and Smoked—nonsynthetic smoke flavoring process must be documented)

Synthetics Allowed:
•Acidified sodium chlorite—Secondary direct antimicrobial food treatment and indirect food contact surface sanitizing. Acidified with citric acid only.
•Activated charcoal —only from vegetative sources; for use only as a filtering aid.
•Alginates.
•Ammonium bicarbonate—for use only as a leavening agent.
•Ammonium carbonate—for use only as a leavening agent.
•Ascorbic acid.
•Calcium citrate.
•Calcium hydroxide.
•Calcium phosphates (monobasic, dibasic, and tribasic).
•Carbon dioxide.
•Cellulose—for use in regenerative casings, as an anti-caking agent (non-chlorine bleached) and filtering aid.
•Chlorine materials—disinfecting and sanitizing food contact surfaces, Except, That, residual chlorine levels in the water shall not exceed the maximum residual disinfectant limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Calcium hypochlorite; Chlorine dioxide; and Sodium hypochlorite).
•Cyclohexylamine —for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging sterilization.
•Diethylaminoethanol —for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging sterilization.
•Ethylene—allowed for postharvest ripening of tropical fruit and degreening of citrus.
•Ferrous sulfate—for iron enrichment or fortification of foods when required by regulation or recommended (independent organization).
•Glycerides (mono and di)—for use only in drum drying of food.
•Glycerin—produced by hydrolysis of fats and oils.
•Hydrogen peroxide.
•Magnesium carbonate—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural products labeled “organic”.
•Magnesium chloride—derived from sea water.
•Magnesium stearate—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural products labeled “organic”.
•Nutrient vitamins and minerals, in accordance with 21 CFR 104.20, Nutritional Quality Guidelines For Foods.
•Octadecylamine —for use only as a boiler water additive for packaging sterilization.
•Ozone.
•Pectin (low-methoxy).
•Peracetic acid/Peroxyacetic acid —for use in wash and/or rinse water according to FDA limitations. For use as a sanitizer on food contact surfaces.
•Phosphoric acid—cleaning of food-contact surfaces and equipment only.
•Potassium acid tartrate.
•Potassium carbonate.
•Potassium citrate.
•Potassium hydroxide—prohibited for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables except when used for peeling peaches during the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) production process.
•Potassium iodide—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural products labeled “organic”.
•Potassium phosphate—for use only in agricultural products labeled “made with organic (specific ingredients or food group(s)),” prohibited in agricultural products labeled “organic”.
•Silicon dioxide.
•Sodium acid pyrophosphate —for use only as a leavening agent.
•Sodium citrate.
•Sodium hydroxide—prohibited for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables.
•Sodium phosphates—for use only in dairy foods.
•Sulfur dioxide—for use only in wine labeled “made with organic grapes,” Provided, That, total sulfite concentration does not exceed 100 ppm.
•Tartaric acid—made from malic acid.
•Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (CAS # 7722–88–5)—for use only in meat analog products.
•Tocopherols—derived from vegetable oil when rosemary extracts are not a suitable alternative.
•Xanthan gum

^Escloflowne- You're hilarious bro, I'm loving your comments. Totally showing this to my colleagues


^Nutmeg76
I don't like your grouping bias. Again, correlation does not imply causation, please understand this concept. It's like saying stretching implies less injuries for an athlete, which is false.
As studies on stretching increased over the years, another type of evaluation—one that assesses a large group of studies and the subjects used for them—were performed. Ian Shrier, M.D., a past president of the Canadian Society of Sports Medicine, published such a study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine in 1999 titled "Stretching Before Exercise Does Not Reduce the Risk of Local Muscle Injury.” Among his conclusions were that stretching can produce damage in muscles, and that stretching can mask muscle pain.

It might be an easier lifestyle for you persay, but I think that practicality is inherently different from person to person lol

Do you even quote button?