Paleo/Primal Dieters

With Paleo / Primal you don't count calories...............you stick to the allowed foods of fats, protein, vegetables, throw in some fruit and nuts on occasion and dairy if you are tolerant.............

What?

Why wouldn't you count calories on paleo or primal when you otherwise would?

just like with Atkins, there is no need.

So you're telling me that it's impossible to get fat eating primal or paleo and that there is no need to count calories because you're not eating grains and dairy?

In other words, the only way to get fat is by eating grains and dairy?

I'm a little on edge here with your post because it was short and didn't actually explain your position.

I am beginning to eat this way. In the past I was successful w/ Atkins, but as soon as I returned to the SAD the weight (and heath problems) returned. I just feel better when I am eating a high protein and fat, low carb meal plan. I usually track my food so I am aware of how many calories I am eating, but I have noticed that if I keep my calories as low as this site is suggesing I feel deprived and have carb cravings.

I have a question about the daily nutrition values on MFP. For those of you that eat paleo/primal what % do you keep your fat, carbs, and protein?

Calorie counting turns me into a bit of a Crazy Lady and I end up getting too obsessed with how I eat (not the case for everyone, but that's how I am). I've found that I'm so satisfied while eating paleo that I don't really need to count calories. I still typically count once a week or so, just to gauge how everything stacks up. When I have counted, I am right in the 1600-1800 range (at or slightly below maintenance for me) -- some days it has been hard for me to even hit 1200, though.

If your eyeball estimates are close to when you actually count then it's not an issue.

However, the idea that someone doesn't have to worry about the laws of the universe affecting the body because of X food being eaten completely violates all laws of common sense.

I've been 80/20 Primal since early February, eating dairy, using MFP's calorie guidelines (1200 net calories/day to lose 2 lbs. per week), keeping carbs <100 g/day. I've lost 61 lbs. without feeling hungry or deprived, while eating mostly non-processed whole foods. GERD/heartburn is gone--whether due to weight loss or reduced gluten intake, I don't know. Since I'm now within 10 lbs. of my goal weight, I've recently reduced my weekly loss goal to 0.5 lb., and the weight is still coming off.

Mark Sisson of marksdailyapple.com says you can reap the benefits eating 80%Primal/20%conventional.

Supposedly, you can just eat primally and lose weight, but MFP guidelines + Primal worked wonders for me!

I eat mostly paleo - I tried atkins but I never lost weight - too much fat/protein/dairy and reliance on sweeteners. Paleo is a lot more realistic for me. I avoid dairy as much as possible but I'm allergic to coconut so occasionally I will have dairy where there is no alternative but it doesn't make me feel good (cream gives me asthma now). I avoid grains - I used to cheat but have taken the cheats out and I feel much better, I guess I just have to get used to not eating these foods any more. I haven't tried unconventional grains though like bulgur and quinoa - maybe when I've got my weight down futher I might experiment.
I eat fruit and this means I can avoid artificial sweeteners! I just use berries instead and I don't get blood sugar problems with berries either.
I eat mostly vegetables from my garden which beats organic any day of the week - but I don't buy organic unless I can afford it or its on offer.
I also count calories. The lifestyle is hard to stick too, but I've incorporated some solutions to certain problems (takeaways/ready meals/cheat days) and found some strategies that seem to be working for the moment. This isn't an easy lifestyle though, but I think its pretty obvious that it is healthier lifestyle for many people - when supermarkets start catering to that lifestyle (frozen cauliflower rice etc) it will become much easier. But until then it is hard work.

When I eat carbs (sugar/grains) I cannot feel satiety, even when my stomach is distended from food intake - this includes whole grains - I don't know why but thats just how it is for me, I can control my calorie intake much better when I avoid these types of foods.

I eat mostly paleo - I tried atkins but I never lost weight - too much fat/protein/dairy and reliance on sweeteners. Paleo is a lot more realistic for me. I avoid dairy as much as possible but I'm allergic to coconut so occasionally I will have dairy where there is no alternative but it doesn't make me feel good (cream gives me asthma now). I avoid grains - I used to cheat but have taken the cheats out and I feel much better, I guess I just have to get used to not eating these foods any more. I haven't tried unconventional grains though like bulgur and quinoa - maybe when I've got my weight down futher I might experiment.
I eat fruit and this means I can avoid artificial sweeteners! I just use berries instead and I don't get blood sugar problems with berries either.
I eat mostly vegetables from my garden which beats organic any day of the week - but I don't buy organic unless I can afford it or its on offer.
I also count calories. The lifestyle is hard to stick too, but I've incorporated some solutions to certain problems (takeaways/ready meals/cheat days) and found some strategies that seem to be working for the moment. This isn't an easy lifestyle though, but I think its pretty obvious that it is healthier lifestyle for many people - when supermarkets start catering to that lifestyle (frozen cauliflower rice etc) it will become much easier. But until then it is hard work.

When I eat carbs (sugar/grains) I cannot feel satiety, even when my stomach is distended from food intake - this includes whole grains - I don't know why but thats just how it is for me, I can control my calorie intake much better when I avoid these types of foods.

How do you get in your fiber?? If I avoid apples and grains I have a hard time getting more than 15 grams of fiber per day and I need AT LEAST 30 gms per day to keep everything regular. ???

I pretty much eat paleo. Lean protein like chicken and fish. I cut the red meat cause I had cholesterol issues but now that is gone and I'm sure this way of eating has helped. Also fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and legumes too. But I have to have my plain fat free Greek yogurt and I am pretty sure that is not considered paleo cause cavemen didn't milk cows. lol I don't eat processed foods either and have recently eliminated eating anything made with any kind of flour. I only eat whole grains occassionally like wheat berries, brown/wild rice, quinoa etc. It has helped me lose weight after a plateau. Is that paleo enough for ya. lol Feel free to friend me

Losing the grains helps us reset our metabolisms so most don't need to count calories because we naturally start consuming a more normal amount and what we do consume is metabolized better rather than stored as fat.

Oh boy, another baseless claim.

You're right. I can eat steak, potatoes, avocado and almonds by the boatload and I won't gain any weight.

Losing the grains helps us reset our metabolisms so most don't need to count calories because we naturally start consuming a more normal amount and what we do consume is metabolized better rather than stored as fat.

I was simplifying in my statement, not trying to be scientifically detailed, but are you saying that my body isn't using things like coconut oil and existing fat stores for fuel now rather than the way it was previously storing so much excess sugars (from sweets AND grain products) into fat? I don't keep track of calories to count them, I track to see the breakdown of fats/protein/carbs and to remind myself to make sure to try to make the carbs I do ingest more nutritional veggies. The point I was trying to make was made by others as well, you end up not overeating calories because you're full. That's not all there is to it, the answer is much more complicated but that's a simple answer to those who can't understand why we don't count calories. If they want to read more of the science behind it there are books and blogs full of the information, a simple message board thread isn't going to cover it all.

I CAN eat all I want with this method and still lose weight. The "trick" is I no longer WANT the volume of food I did when eating grains and processed foods/canola oils/ice cream by the bucket, etc. What I WANT ends up being "just the right amount".