Paleo diet?

[Catrin]

NYBiker- avoiding fat while on the Paleo diet will definitely leave one starving. I did the same thing the first time I tried it. Fat is key to satiety and to general satisfaction! It took me weeks to learn to tolerate it after years of low fat living, and months before i could enjoy it, but now I can comfortably embrace healthy fat with every meal. In fact, a meal is not complete to me without it now!

I can share more of our actual experience on the diet tomorrow. My husband is also paleo.

Whatever you would like to share would be helpful I must admit that the idea of increasing fat in my diet for an energy source in the place of carbs is...a bit scary. That being said, I know it is about good fats, and our focus on low fat diets since the 80's have caused more problems than we realized at the time but it's been difficult to not have absorbed at least some of the idea that "fat makes you fat". The reality is far more complex than that. As someone who has reversed diabetes 2, I recognize that insulin resistance will always be a concern of mine - and apparently there is research that has shown primal diets to have a very positive effect regarding insulin issues. I need to check out this research myself.

I know a couple of fitness professionals who were once against the Paleo/primal approach but felt it their job to research it carefully as these issues could impact those they work with. What got my attention is they are starting to change their original negative opinion and they are encouraging their clients to do the research and base our decisions on what we find. They aren't pushing us to do this - but to do the research and base our decisions on that.

Our library has the books you mentioned on order, I am now in the que. They have an electronic copy of "The Paleo Answer" by the same author of The Paleo Diet and I've checked that out.

[Dogmama]

There was a recent study that showed a low glycemic diet helped people lose weight & keep it off. It was superior to the low fat/high carb or high fat/low carb diets.

My only concern would be the calcium and minerals that dairy provides. Granted, we can take supplements but I do believe that whole foods deliver nutrients in ways we don't understand yet. For women, especially as we become more mature (cough - I have a birthday coming up) osteoporosis is a concern. Most dieticians are against cutting out entire food groups.

That being said - everybody is different. Some cannot tolerate a low carb diet due to lifestyle and the neurotransmitters that are manufactured with the help of carbohydrates. Others have no problems. I guess the real answer would be to try it & see how you feel.

[Catrin]

From what I've read, there seems to be different perspectives in the Paleo community regarding dairy. I doubt that I will cut it out entirely as I've the same calcium concerns but I've just started my research. I do think I need to give this a chance but want to do my research first.

[westtexas]

I've been Paleo for ~11 months now and I cannot see myself ever returning to a Standard American Diet ever again. I didn't have weight to lose when I started, but I definitely leaned out and built some muscle without really changing my exercise habits. For me, the biggest impact it made on my life was the elimination of constant daily heartburn, horrible terrible acne (which is still clearing up slowly), being tired all the time and being hungry all the time.

The key in my mind is that you have to do it with lots of fat and whatever carbs you eat need to be low glycemic index. I'm not 100% Paleo - I cheat every now and then, but I try to make smarter choices if I eat a grain or have some dessert. I do regularly drink red wine and eat dark chocolate.

The books I recommend most are Well Fed (as previously mentioned), Paleo Comfort Foods and Make It Paleo (the one I use most often). There are two more books coming out this fall - Practical Paleo and Paleo Slow Cooker (something like that).

On a regular basis, I read Mark's Daily Apple, Nom Nom Paleo and Paleo For Women. I have found the discussions in the latter to be especially intriguing because it talks about how as women, our different set of complicated hormones can make the Paleo diet tricky for us, as well as learning to accept your body the way it is. I found this especially important because for a while I was obsessed with getting my body fat percentage below a certain set point I made up in my mind, and now I feel more like I am eating to simply be healthy and feel good.

My mom and I both eat this way now and we love it. We're trying to get my dad on the gravy train, but the man is addicted to Cheez-Its.

[Crankin]

I have been eating low glycemic for a long time. In January, when DH and I wanted to lose 5 lbs. we bought a Paleo cookbook. I like some of the recipes, but I just can't totally give up whole grain carbs. I was able to almost totally not eat them for 3 months, but since cycling season has ramped up, I just can't do it. I've maintained my weight, so it doesn't seem to affect me. Also, when I had that high cholesterol reading, it was right when I had been eating lots of meat, semi-Paleo for 3.5 months.
I am not against Paleo, I just don't want to cut out a whole
food group. I am hungry all of the time, no matter what I eat!

[Sky King]

I have been eating low glycemic for a long time. In January, when DH and I wanted to lose 5 lbs. we bought a Paleo cookbook. I like some of the recipes, but I just can't totally give up whole grain carbs. I was able to almost totally not eat them for 3 months, but since cycling season has ramped up, I just can't do it. I've maintained my weight, so it doesn't seem to affect me. Also, when I had that high cholesterol reading, it was right when I had been eating lots of meat, semi-Paleo for 3.5 months.
I am not against Paleo, I just don't want to cut out a whole
food group. I am hungry all of the time, no matter what I eat!

Crankin, You sound just like my DH. He would completely blow away if he didn't have carbs. As mentioned, everyone is different. I can tolerate a more "paleo" diet than the DH and am currently doing just that as I am trying to dump some menopausal weight gain so am just supplementing meals for him with lots of rice, etc. Then he eats whole grain pancakes and sandwiches, etc to keep the fuel he needs. I will say, I am enjoying eating more almonds down 4 pounds in 8 days, know that will taper off but am good with it
Once I am where I want to be I will add more carbs but will be paying attention, giving up beer hasn't been as bad as I feared but I will enjoy having it again in six weeks

[Tri Girl]

I wouldn't worry too much about eliminating the dairy. If you eat healthy and eat your leafy greens, you will be taking in the calcium you need (and you can also supplement).
I was reading something recently (can't quite remember where online but I know it was a respected site like the Mayo clinic or something) that said that using dairy to get all your calcium (or most of it) was actually not the best way to get it into your body and was not the healthiest for your bones. I need to go try to look that up.

I'm not paleo- I'm vegan- but I have eliminated all dairy (which is why I was reading up on calcium and dairy and such).