experience with Paleo Diet

[knapplaura]

All,
Figured easier to put this in a separate thread....

I have read tons of nutrition books, and I bough both the original Paleo Diet book and the Athlete's version. While the 'pure' Paleo diet is too extreme for me, the "athlete's version" is working pretty well.

The major change I have made this season using it is to subsitute sweet potatoes and winter squash (butternut, kabocha, acorn) for grains. I also now eat protein at every meal, even breakfast.

Before a long day of weekend training, I scramble one whole egg plus 4 egg whites with mushrooms and onions and have a small baked sweet potato. I have a large salad with lots of veggies, a squash, and some lean protein for dinner. My energy level is consistent, and my body composition is improving.

Also I think the emphasis on organic /free-range meats is good and was suprised to find that deli meats really do not have the same nutritional value as actual cooked-at-home meats.

However, the one thing the Paleo Diet books get wrong (in my opinion) is that nuts are a good substitue. I have found that eating nuts keeps weight on or makes me gain. So I have to avoid them (after months of IM training and not losing weight and wondering why).

So, long story less long; I recommend the Paleo books but above all you must figure out what works for your lifestyle and body type.

Good luck!
Laura

[JenLeath]

I was just reading an articel in Runners World about that diet. It's nice to hear an actual persons account of it. I like sweets way too much. I tried the South Beach, I did phase 1 for only 1 week, then phase 2. I tried it for a little over a month. I was a cranky bi#$% the whole time, I had a horrible headache and I was always hungry. I lost less on that than I had on the diabetic exchange diet. This one sounds more doable.

Happy Training,
Jen

[rocknrollgirl]

So no grains huh...after I just ate my bowl of shredded wheat. I do not think I could go with no grains.