Paleo Diet??

Yeah, I've heard of it. And you are probably going to get a lot of negative responses, so be prepared. It's a touchy subject on this site.

My advice would be to read up on it and decide if it's something you can stick with. If not, then I'd suggest you try something else. A diet that you can live with long term is more likely to yield long term results. The Paleo Diet excludes a lot of foods for questionable reasons. If you are not going to be happy giving these things up, then it's probably not for you. From the posts I've seen, most people tend to stray from the actual diet pretty quickly.

Best of luck to you, whatever diet you choose.

Weasel99999 wrote: »

Ut Oh!! Thanks for the heads up. I have not considered doing this diet, I was just curious. Thanks a lot. However, I do need to choose a healthy way of eating and FAST....

I understand. Do you prefer a structured or restrictive type diet? Paleo is very restrictive (no grains, no beans, no peanut butter, no added sugars, limited fruits, no flour, no a lot of stuff). If that's what you like, then it might be for you.

If you like structure with less restriction, then perhaps something like South Beach would be good.

If you like general guidelines with less restriction and structure, maybe something like the Mediterannean diet would fit.

Or you can simply eat less junk and more whole foods without an prescribed plan.

There is no one best way. Find a way to eat that keeps you happy and provides adequate nutrition. If your goal is weight loss, eat at a calorie deficit, but not a huge one. Don't make yourself miserable.

freqzinbigd wrote: »

I've been paleoish for 4 years.

Paleo is 'what' you eat, not necessarily how much.

Most paleo types will trade some carb calories for fat calories. Some will claim paleo is low carb-- it's not necessarily, although it can be done that way. It is almost always moderate carb; I get about 200g of carbs per day but I'm a big, active guy. Less than 150 and my performance at the gym suffers and more than 250 or so and I get grumpy and tired.

A lot of paleos eat more protein than they need.

I personally find it really hard to eat at maintenance level (3600 calories per day) or above and get 50% or more of my calories from fat. Heck, a lot of days I have a hard time getting 2800 calories...

Paleoish??

You either are or you aren't following Paleo.

OP paleo is a diet (not a weightloss plan but a what you eat kind of diet)
If you consume 1200 calories (which is probably too low for you) you will lose weight.
Just like any diet though if you eat too many calories you will gain weight.

It is a restrictive diet to follow - as they cut out a lot of foods.


The only diet that works is Calories in < Calories Out
How you get there is up to you. Find a "diet" that you will stick with. Be it Paloe, Keto, Moderation, vegan/vegetarian. Doesn't matter you just need CICO

I am currently doing the Whole30 which seems to work for me. This is the third time I have done it and each time, I lose weight. However, the process is less about losing weight for me, and more about learning about my relationship to food and why and when I eat for reasons other than hunger. It is very restrictive, but that works for me, and it is only for 30 days. Basically the rules are no alcohol, no sugar, no legumes, no soy, no dairy, and no grains for 30 days. The Whole30 website provides a lot of resources and it is free, which I like. However, I did purchase the Hartwig's book, It Starts with Food, as well as the cookbooks Well Fed, and Well Fed 2. The diet mainly consists of a lot of protein, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats from avocados, and things like olive and coconut oils. I also continue to eat fruit, even though they frown on that. However, I have to! The emphasis is on taste and using a lot of spices to add flavor to the food. I have learned a lot about food and as a result have eaten things like jicama and plantains, food that I never would have eaten before, let alone known what they were. After the 30 days are over you can start to add things back in, but I try to eat this way even after the 30 days are over, although honestly, it is challenging for me to stay away completely from alcohol and sugar, especially during Holidays.

A more flexible approach to paleo is primal blueprint, no need to purchase anything, sufficient info at marksdailyapple.com or for primal 101 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz3Odauolx9

elphie754 wrote: »

busseybl wrote: »

Paleo is awesome. It's based on what is good for your body and what your body is capable of processing. Lean meats, vegetables, and good healthy fats (i.e. avocados, eggs, etc).

Not really. It is based on a fad.

I'm sorry, I don't agree. Most paleo-promoting dietitians allow for flexibility. If you want a small bit of cheese and your body reacts well to that... Then eat it! Just be careful about the toxins and processed/fake foods you're putting in your body. Keep it natural, keep it clean!

Weasel99999 wrote: »

Thanks. I definitely need healthy way of eating that is not restrictive. I am searching for a low carb (which is my downfall) way of eating that would work for me.

Check out South Beach. It might be a good fit for you. It's pretty low carb at first, but then adds more back, but you focus on more slow digesting carbs which can limit cravings and keep you full longer.

busseybl wrote: »

Paleo is awesome. It's based on what is good for your body and what your body is capable of processing. Lean meats, vegetables, and good healthy fats (i.e. avocados, eggs, etc).

The average human is capable of processing grains, beans, and other legumes just fine. These are staple foods in most of the healthiest populations in the world. And they are packed with vital nutrients.

"The only diet that works is Calories in < Calories Out"

Yeah.... um.... this is outdated thought. Your biochemistry determines how well your body will burn or store calories. If you have leptin resistance, as 1.5 billion people do, then it's possible to gain weight on just 500 calories. The key is to identify your own biochemistry/hormone imbalances and adjust your diet based on that. For example, I have insulin resistance as a result of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and eating a low carb diet is best for me. Though I workout regularly, my body does not do well with carbohydrates. The carb to protein ratio that works for me might cause kidney damage in an ultramarathoner, even if we consumed the same total caloric intake. I also eat a lot of fat, and my body does well with it.

One size does not fit all. That's the moral of my blurb.

Feel free to add me as a friend.

adowe wrote: »

freqzinbigd wrote: »

I've been paleoish for 4 years.

Paleo is 'what' you eat, not necessarily how much.

Most paleo types will trade some carb calories for fat calories. Some will claim paleo is low carb-- it's not necessarily, although it can be done that way. It is almost always moderate carb; I get about 200g of carbs per day but I'm a big, active guy. Less than 150 and my performance at the gym suffers and more than 250 or so and I get grumpy and tired.

A lot of paleos eat more protein than they need.

I personally find it really hard to eat at maintenance level (3600 calories per day) or above and get 50% or more of my calories from fat. Heck, a lot of days I have a hard time getting 2800 calories...

Paleoish??

You either are or you aren't following Paleo.

OP paleo is a diet (not a weightloss plan but a what you eat kind of diet)
If you consume 1200 calories (which is probably too low for you) you will lose weight.
Just like any diet though if you eat too many calories you will gain weight.

It is a restrictive diet to follow - as they cut out a lot of foods.


The only diet that works is Calories in < Calories Out
How you get there is up to you. Find a "diet" that you will stick with. Be it Paloe, Keto, Moderation, vegan/vegetarian. Doesn't matter you just need CICO

How long have you been Paleo?

I cycle in and out of things that aren't paelo based on my goals and reading. Sometimes I'm eating dairy. Often I'm eating white rice. Both things that aren't technically paleo.

No refined flour, processed food, cleanest meat I can find, etc.

So, yeah, paleoish.

I'd recommend any one who is interested try it for 30 days or so and see for themselves. Even track it here on MFP so you can make sure you're no overdoing it if you like. What's the worst that can happen? You spend a month without bread and actually eat some fruit and veggies? If the CICO guys are right and calories are the only thing that matters then Paleo shouldn't make any difference one way or the other and there is nothing to lose.

adowe wrote: »

Paleoish??

You either are or you aren't following Paleo.

There is no consistent definition of "Paleo", as far as diet goes. So it's a lot like being a Christian - you are if you say you are.