September/October weight loss challenge

[Veronica]

Oh no - you've gone Paleo!

I had to stop reading nerfitness forums because I got tired of papelo this and paleo that.

Veronica

PS If it works for you - that's great!

[GLC1968]

Oh no - you've gone Paleo!

I had to stop reading nerfitness forums because I got tired of papelo this and paleo that.

Veronica

PS If it works for you - that's great!

Yeah, I'm more than a little tired of the connection between paleo and crossfit myself.

I started this to drop some bloat for the end of a summer weight loss challenge, but I've stuck with it (over 4 weeks now) because I really like how I feel when eating this way. And I'm having a blast exploring new foods and new combinations, too!!

My next two challenges are to 1) learn to like avocado and 2) to learn to like egg yolks.

[azfiddle]

My husband lost weight (he didn't really need to) and was hungry all the time following the paleo diet for athletes, which allowed for more carbs before/during/after exercise. He has given it up and come back to a more balanced approach...

I would be miserable on that program

[Veronica]

I eat a lot of protein myself, but I have issues with just not eating entire foods.

I personally love avocado and egg yolks and frequently eat them together.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

I eat a lot of protein myself, but I have issues with just not eating entire foods.

I personally love avocado and egg yolks and frequently eat them together.

Veronica

Yeah, but the theory is that the foods a paleo person doesn't eat are not meant to be eaten by our bodies in the first place. They will keep you alive, but on them, you will not thrive. Many feel that they aren't really foods as much as they are poison. I still eat plenty of carbs (sweet potatoes, fruit, veggies, etc), plenty of protein and plenty of fat... so I am eating all the types of foods my body needs. I even eat raw, full-fat dairy in small amounts, so I'm not a total militant type.

But for example: Do you eat margarine? I'm guessing not, but just 25 years ago, margarine was the 'healthy' choice and people freaked out if you mentioned eating real butter.

The only reason that 'grains' are a HUGE food group (the bottom of the entire food pyramid) is that the food pyramid was built by the department of agriculture! Of course they want us to eat lots of grains! It's been a staple of the human diet since the rise of agriculture, but that doesn't mean that it's the best choice for us. It's cheap and easy to grow though...

What I find amusing is a conversation I had with my mom last night. My father has a rare form of kidney stones and because of it, he cannot eat any whole grains or legumes...two things that you'd think would be healthy right? Except that for him, they could kill him. Not unlike a person with celiac. I mean - not eating wheat? That's insane...it's the basis for our food system! Or I have a family friend who was allergic to all corn products. He passed away 10 years ago, but imagine how impossible it would be for him to eat these days. Corn is in EVERYTHING.

I don't know - it makes sense to me. If we were meant to eat grains, we'd have stomachs like ruminants.

Just so you all know, I am so NOT a paleo-pusher at all. I don't preach. I would rather not even talk about it in real life unless it's to find good recipes. Most people assume I'm on Atkins or that I'm a celiac, so I just let them think that. It's a lot easier than getting into philosophical arguments about my choices!

[Veronica]

Oh, I think there is a lot to be said for the basis of the paleo revolution - I think my diet is fairly paleo. But if I want to eat ice cream - I'm going to. I had the opportunity to have some homemade Dutch Chocolate ice cream this weekend. It was AMAZING. And I think I run best if I've had Trader Joe's Cinnamon bread for breakfast - slathered with butter. Funny - I eat almost no corn now. I love it, but I've had trouble digesting it since I had a stomach bug when I was twenty.

I find the obsession and the pushing of the diet off putting. I really think it comes down to what works best for each individual. Of course I am probably a bit obsessive myself.

Veronica

[GLC1968]

After I've been 'strict' for a month or two, and after I reach my goal weight, I will definitely be having occasional non-paleo foods. So far, the only things I'm missing right now are hummus (and I'm planning on making baba ghanoush this weekend instead!) and pizza. I will have pizza again some day. And I will definitely eat my mom's stuffing at thanksgiving.

Dutch chocolate ice cream sounds like a damn good way to splurge to me!

[GLC1968]

My husband lost weight (he didn't really need to) and was hungry all the time following the paleo diet for athletes, which allowed for more carbs before/during/after exercise. He has given it up and come back to a more balanced approach...

I would be miserable on that program

I thought I would be too. I certainly was the first time I tried it about 7 years ago.

What is helping me this time around is not thinking about what I can't eat. I only think about what I CAN eat and so far, it's been very smooth sailing. I'm not saying it's easy - traveling last week was a serious B1TCH and I generally have to spend way more time in the kitchen than I'd normally choose, but I'm not craving anything. I don't miss anything. And I'm feeling fantastic and recovering from workouts in record time.

There have been quite a few changes in thought since The Paleo Diet for Athletes was written (even by Loren Cordain himself), so it's not nearly as rigid as that book paints it. I'd be miserable if I stuck to all those timelines and restrictions, too!