Your Thoughts on Paleo?

tyoung75
tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm just curious if any of you have started the Paleo diet and what your thoughts/concerns are with it. I've got a girl friend doing it and she swears by it. I've heard mixed reviews though. I started to alter my diet yesterday to get in line with it... but not 100% convinced yet that it's the right path. Thoughts?
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Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,996 Member
    I'm just curious if any of you have started the Paleo diet and what your thoughts/concerns are with it. I've got a girl friend doing it and she swears by it. I've heard mixed reviews though. I started to alter my diet yesterday to get in line with it... but not 100% convinced yet that it's the right path. Thoughts?
    It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • scarletleavy
    scarletleavy Posts: 841 Member
    I'm just curious if any of you have started the Paleo diet and what your thoughts/concerns are with it. I've got a girl friend doing it and she swears by it. I've heard mixed reviews though. I started to alter my diet yesterday to get in line with it... but not 100% convinced yet that it's the right path. Thoughts?
    It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    This!

    Paleo works for some people, doesn't work for others. It's a personal decision and only a personal decision. I eat Paleo, but I don't try to push my way of eating onto others, I just know it works for me just as it might not work for someone else.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    It works for me and many many others............
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    I'm just curious if any of you have started the Paleo diet and what your thoughts/concerns are with it. I've got a girl friend doing it and she swears by it. I've heard mixed reviews though. I started to alter my diet yesterday to get in line with it... but not 100% convinced yet that it's the right path. Thoughts?
    It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Exactly. This is why it is sustainable for me. I can eat like this for the rest of my life.
  • scarletleavy
    scarletleavy Posts: 841 Member
    It works for me and many many others............

    Well a lot of people just aren't willing to give up grains or processed foods. More meat and veggies for the rest of us...
  • Laceybaby1967
    Laceybaby1967 Posts: 82 Member
    I'm just curious if any of you have started the Paleo diet and what your thoughts/concerns are with it. I've got a girl friend doing it and she swears by it. I've heard mixed reviews though. I started to alter my diet yesterday to get in line with it... but not 100% convinced yet that it's the right path. Thoughts?
    It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    This!

    Paleo works for some people, doesn't work for others. It's a personal decision and only a personal decision. I eat Paleo, but I don't try to push my way of eating onto others, I just know it works for me just as it might not work for someone else.

    ^^^^^ This! I also enjoy Paleo....it just made sense to me.
  • tyoung75
    tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
    I feel like it would make sense if Diabetes was a concern, which in my family it is. I have 80 lbs to lose and I'm on a regular regimen at the gym. I'm sure I could adjust and adapt to this being a way of life over time. Just wasn't sure how many people have actually had success on it. Sounds like it's beneficial for many.

    Starting off is hard as I'm not sure where to start. What to eat daily to make sure I'm getting enough of what I need to function. I'm sure it's just a learning process. Thanks for the input!
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Eating fresh, whole foods is a good thing. I imagine, like any other lifestyle choice, there are things that you are going to have to evaluate for yourself. Are you willing to give up bread and cereal and grains? Why do you want to make the change? Even if you feel better and lose weight, will you want to conitnue eating this way? All choices and decisions you need to make. Best of luck either way.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I feel like it would make sense if Diabetes was a concern, which in my family it is. I have 80 lbs to lose and I'm on a regular regimen at the gym. I'm sure I could adjust and adapt to this being a way of life over time. Just wasn't sure how many people have actually had success on it. Sounds like it's beneficial for many.

    Starting off is hard as I'm not sure where to start. What to eat daily to make sure I'm getting enough of what I need to function. I'm sure it's just a learning process. Thanks for the input!

    It would probably be easiest to start out slow. While you are still researching, start changing things in your diet, instead of making all of the changes at one time. If you change everything at one time, you could feel kind of crappy for a little while until your body adjusts. That doesn't mean you are being unhealthy, it is probably more like a withdrawal type of feeling.
  • tyoung75
    tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
    I feel like it would make sense if Diabetes was a concern, which in my family it is. I have 80 lbs to lose and I'm on a regular regimen at the gym. I'm sure I could adjust and adapt to this being a way of life over time. Just wasn't sure how many people have actually had success on it. Sounds like it's beneficial for many.

    Starting off is hard as I'm not sure where to start. What to eat daily to make sure I'm getting enough of what I need to function. I'm sure it's just a learning process. Thanks for the input!

    It would probably be easiest to start out slow. While you are still researching, start changing things in your diet, instead of making all of the changes at one time. If you change everything at one time, you could feel kind of crappy for a little while until your body adjusts. That doesn't mean you are being unhealthy, it is probably more like a withdrawal type of feeling.


    That's my thought process at the moment. I've cut most of my bread and pasta out. The dairy will be tough but it's really only cheese.... which I'm sure over time I could make that change. I love fresh veggies and fruits and have found that when I crave something sweet a cutie works like a charm. I do feel it would be a lifestyle change that I would be able to implement and keep.
  • samand25
    samand25 Posts: 30 Member
    I started it about 6 days ago and felt SO much better than normal for the first 4 days, then the 'carb flu' set in and im feeling a bit rough, but hopefully that wont last. I've also lost about 0.8kg in 2.5 days, and have more energy.

    The negatives (atm) are carb flu, the need to always be organised - no carbs means no buying a quick sandwich at lunch, so meals have to be planned ahead, and finally the cost. I'm not sure whereabouts you are based but in England health food costs so much more than rubbish.
  • It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.

    ^^^THIS^^^
  • It's a personal choice. Any diet works if you adhere to it. But not every diet is sustainable. If you don't think you could eat that way the rest of your life, then don't take the leap.
    ^^^THIS^^^
  • tyoung75
    tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
    I started it about 6 days ago and felt SO much better than normal for the first 4 days, then the 'carb flu' set in and im feeling a bit rough, but hopefully that wont last. I've also lost about 0.8kg in 2.5 days, and have more energy.

    The negatives (atm) are carb flu, the need to always be organised - no carbs means no buying a quick sandwich at lunch, so meals have to be planned ahead, and finally the cost. I'm not sure whereabouts you are based but in England health food costs so much more than rubbish.

    I wondered how that would negatively impact the transition. Even replacing with healthy carbs in vegetable form would probably not help as much as needed. And yes, health food and produce are high here in the U.S. but it's probably not much higher than the fast food adds up to be for the week. The organization is definitely going to be the challenge but luckily I work in an office with a kitchen so I can prepare what I need daily. Thanks for your input, that is VERY helpful!
  • FunandFitMom
    FunandFitMom Posts: 146 Member
    Diet is what and how you eat everyday - not just about specific food or calorie restriction. That said, if you can incorporate and maintain healthy dietary changes - go for it!

    If you can't maintain it, it's best to look for an alternative that suits your lifestyle :)
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    It seems pretty healthy to me. I couldn't last on it, though.
  • chammich
    chammich Posts: 104 Member
    I love Paleo. It takes a while to get used to. Definitely alot of planning ahead and research but once you get in the mode it's worth it. It's the exact opposite way of eating than what you see in the supermarkets. No packaged anything, etc. If you have a grain issue it's the way to go.
  • jenrod1118
    jenrod1118 Posts: 150 Member
    I've heard good things with it helping with PCOS but i haven't looked into it too much yet.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    paleo_chart1.png
  • emanp
    emanp Posts: 8 Member
    I just thought I'd chime in with a response from Skeptoid about paleo diets, as I find it to be a balanced view:
    http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4277
    The "paleolithic diet" is a fad diet based on excluding from the diet any foods developed in recorded history. Like most restrictive diets, it's generally perfectly healthy and low calorie. And, like most other diets, if adhered to it should indeed result in weight loss and generally better health. Those are the facts.

    Unfortunately, many promoters of the paleo diet go well beyond the facts and make untrue and irresponsible health claims, such as their diet will prevent all sorts of diseases. That's just an unscientific sales pitch. If you want to be in great shape, exercise a lot and eat well. That's the most basic health advice of all. There is no one magical fad diet that's needed, certainly not one as arbitrarily defined as this one. If you were to survey the world's top athletes, I think you'd find very few who owe the credit to a fad diet and not to hard work and healthy living.

    Personally, I look at paleo recipies and ideas as a great source of healthy food ideas, I've noticed positive changes in myself as I eat less dairy and grains, more veggies, eggs, nuts and meat. I think Michael Pollen's food rule #1 is a great guideline: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090323/7-rules-for-eating
  • Aleciajones
    Aleciajones Posts: 153
    I don't follow a strictly paleo diet but I have felt a lot better since I cut out 95% of bread and pasta, etc. I eat bread maybe twice a week but it uses to be daily. I don't crave grains and unless it's a really great pastry/ bread piece I have found the taste has become rather bland. I finally eat the daily recommended veggie (more so). I really feel this is a diet I can maintain since I don't miss grains and will likely at some point totally remove it.
    Many in my family are diabetic, I'm over weight (morbidly obese is more accurate) and my mom had symptoms of celiacs disease. She passed in 2010 so no way of knowing if she really had it now. not sure if it's hereditary but even my grandmother has begun reading about it-a book called wheat belly.
    I made garbanzo bean cupcakes this past weekend, very passable even to kids. One of the easiest ways to start is next time you go to the store avoid the inner aisles where packaged, preserved, processed items are.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I just thought I'd chime in with a response from Skeptoid about paleo diets, as I find it to be a balanced view:
    http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4277
    The "paleolithic diet" is a fad diet based on excluding from the diet any foods developed in recorded history. Like most restrictive diets, it's generally perfectly healthy and low calorie. And, like most other diets, if adhered to it should indeed result in weight loss and generally better health. Those are the facts.

    Unfortunately, many promoters of the paleo diet go well beyond the facts and make untrue and irresponsible health claims, such as their diet will prevent all sorts of diseases. That's just an unscientific sales pitch. If you want to be in great shape, exercise a lot and eat well. That's the most basic health advice of all. There is no one magical fad diet that's needed, certainly not one as arbitrarily defined as this one. If you were to survey the world's top athletes, I think you'd find very few who owe the credit to a fad diet and not to hard work and healthy living.

    Personally, I look at paleo recipies and ideas as a great source of healthy food ideas, I've noticed positive changes in myself as I eat less dairy and grains, more veggies, eggs, nuts and meat. I think Michael Pollen's food rule #1 is a great guideline: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090323/7-rules-for-eating

    Uh oh, I've found if you should so much as question the superiority of the Paleo Diet the more zealous of the adherents can get up in arms
  • funkycamper
    funkycamper Posts: 998 Member
    I've found that zealots of any particular eating plan, not just Paleo, get up in arms sometimes. Even those who advocate for moderation do it sometimes.

    If Paleo works for you, great. If not, maybe you might like it if you ate 80-90% of the time Paleo but also allowed yourself some splurges with non-Paleo foods. And there are probably a million other "or this, or that" eating plans you can try.

    Just find something that is sustainable and doesn't make you feel deprived.
  • Amayrial
    Amayrial Posts: 139 Member
    I'm allergic to gluten and have trouble with some dairy, so I eat more paleo then anything else. I feel better when I dont eat a lot of carbs, even the non-gluten ones.

    Like others have said, what you pick for a diet plan will only work if you are willing to sustain it for the rest of your life. Trying it never hurts though :)
  • tyoung75
    tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
    The more research I do, the more it makes sense. And all of your input has been extremely helpful as well. I went cold turkey and went straight Paleo starting Monday morning. I've been very pleased. I've noticed I eat a ton of food to hit my intake goals for the day and feel so full but still have so much energy unlike when you eat all the processed stuff. I thought I couldn't live without cheese, but so far I've not missed it so much. I guess only time will tell but for now seems to be the right decision.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    I do a slightly more moderate version called Primal based on the book The Primal Blueprint. It is not as hard a line on diary for one thing. I'm not sure what the other differences are as I'm familiar with Primal but have not read any othe books on Paleo. I think the most important factor is compliance. Any diet will help you lose weight if you eat in a deficit. For me, the advantages of this style diet are most beneficial for those that have allergies/ sensitivities to grains and lactose (diary). There is no silver bullet diet for diabetes prevention or any other heatlh issues in my humble opinion. One possible benefit for those with a history of diabetes in their family is the limited carb intake, generally no higher than 150 grams per day, that has the effect of keeping insulin concentrations more level and insulin sensitivity higher in most folks.
  • sapalee
    sapalee Posts: 409 Member
    I love Paleo, and I think of it as a lifestyle rather than a diet. No one wants to be on a diet forever. I have had huge sucess with managing blood sugar, IBS symptoms, fatigue, and overall body composistion. I've cheated a few times with pizza or pasta and I felt it pretty quick (bloat, cramps, cravings), I'll only do this maybe once a month from now on. It is difficult at first but it gets much easier. After a strict 30 days I have brought some cheese and greek yogurt back in. The carb and especially the sugar cravings really wane off when you're not constantly eating the crap.
  • sapalee
    sapalee Posts: 409 Member
    Love this!
    paleo_chart1.png
  • emanp
    emanp Posts: 8 Member
    I could have posted this comment myself, I'm in the same boat... Gluten gives me heartburn and cow dairy gets me all stuffed up... The funny thing is how long it took me to realize that's what was going on. Pay attention to your body, treat yourself like a science experiment, do what gets results and makes you feel good.
    I'm allergic to gluten and have trouble with some dairy, so I eat more paleo then anything else. I feel better when I dont eat a lot of carbs, even the non-gluten ones.

    Like others have said, what you pick for a diet plan will only work if you are willing to sustain it for the rest of your life. Trying it never hurts though :)
  • tyoung75
    tyoung75 Posts: 51 Member
    I love Paleo, and I think of it as a lifestyle rather than a diet. No one wants to be on a diet forever. I have had huge sucess with managing blood sugar, IBS symptoms, fatigue, and overall body composistion. I've cheated a few times with pizza or pasta and I felt it pretty quick (bloat, cramps, cravings), I'll only do this maybe once a month from now on. It is difficult at first but it gets much easier. After a strict 30 days I have brought some cheese and greek yogurt back in. The carb and especially the sugar cravings really wane off when you're not constantly eating the crap.

    This is exactly the information I am looking for. Thanks for the input! VERY helpful!
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