Paleo people - I have some Qs for you.

[JimmyCorkhill]

I have read Gary Taubes 'The Diet Delusion' and spent many an hour reading the success stories on 'Mark's Daily Apple' site. I really like the sound of this way of eating and did give it a sort of go before I got pregnant. I'm currently doing Slimming World because I know it works for me but I am eating loads of carbs and eek sweeteners. I want to become primal once I am happy with my weight because I want to get away from the diet = weight loss idea and move to a diet = energy way of life.

So, my questions are:

1. If processed carbs/sugars are responsible for weight gain, how come some people can happily eat this way and stay slim? (Not talking about exercise addicts/people who track their food)
   
   
2. In 'The Diet Delusion' it basically said to stop eating processed foods but on here and other sites I see people counting their carb intake. Is this just a hangover from doing diets? I want to stop all this counting malarkey and just eat.
   
   
3. Does anyone eat this way successfully in Britain with a young family?
   
   Thank you

[goodasitgets]

I don't have a young family but I do have a shift work job, a horse and a busy exercise routine!
I don't count carbs at all I literally just eat. And not always 100% paleo/primal
I've noticed the longer I eat this way, the more my portion control has become natural, and also that I don't really get hungry

[JimmyCorkhill]

That sounds much busier than my family!!

I like the fact it has become natural to you. I want to get off this diet bandwagon.

Are you buying really decent meat or shopping from supermarkets?

[goodasitgets]

Depends what I can afford tbh. I decided if I can't afford good meat if rather eat supermarket meat and veg than processed stuff
Today hasn't been great as not hungry but I'm food prepping for 3 night shifts at work
Made chicken marinated in lemon, olive oil and herbs, roasted veg with chipotle seasoning and sweet potato mash with butter
It's changed my body shape completely and I'm not longer hypoglycaemic which is a brilliant change
The best tip I got was shop the outside of supermarkets - all the crap is in the middle!

[JimmyCorkhill]

That food sounds lush.

When I tried it before I got pregnant (then ate for 12!!) I was drinking lots of coffee with cream which filled me up. I'm guessing this is a no no?

So if you aren't 100% you don't get mad cravings for carbs when you eat them?

[goodasitgets]

I still have tea with milk! And yes the odd coffee with cream. I had pizza last night as my cheat meal and there were 3 slices left. Chucked them this morning and had boiled eggs for breakfast
I can kind of take or leave it now. Like I said I'm not mega strict but I try to keep 90% clean eating
When I do eat stuff like chocolate (pmt week!) I've noticed I seem to balance the rest of my food intake without focusing on it

[goodasitgets]

When I was pregnant (not a continued pregnancy) I realised what cravings were
All I ate was marmite on toast and bitter lemon with extra lemon in (wasn't sour enough without)

[JimmyCorkhill]

That's good to know that you can have 'cheat' meals and not undo all your hard work cutting out carbs.

I always struggle when I'm asked out to people's houses for lunch/dinner (only ever happens when I'm on a diet ). So if you can have that as a cheat meal it won't cause problems.

Thanks for your answers .

[goodasitgets]

Yeah definitely. Think the key is to pick what you actually want to eat and not just have it for the sake of it. So if the main was something and chips and the pudding was chocolate sponge, I'd not have the chips but I would eat the pudding!

[Wiifitmama]

I have just finished Mark's Daily Apple 21 day challenge. I have been eating low carb on and off for the last 14 years (advised to by a fertility specialist who diagnosed me with PCOS and insulin resistance - very forward thinking in those days). I yoyo'd up and down with each of three pregnancies, gaining vast amount back each time I came off. 3 years ago, I went back to low carb and lost 110 pounds in a year and a half. I have been maintaining for a year and a half, but somehow around a year ago got sucked into the whole calorie counting thing. So although I was low carb, I was counting calories and staying low fat too. I got into a cycle of gaining half a stone and losing it again (always staying just within healthy BMI) and not being able to stick with it long and then binging. I decided to go Primal to break the bad habits. For me, that included also going dairy free.

So, 21 days of eating when I want to, whatever I want to so long as it is primal, and I have dropped the half stone and changed body shape already. I am loving not counting anything and just eating good varied food. On calorie counting I made separate meals for me than the Rest of the family as I kep my food very restricted to things I knew the count of. Now I cook a much more varied diet for everyone and we eat together. I just include ride, pasta or potatoes for them alongside the meat and veggies that we all eat. It has been very freeing, very delicious, and a real revelation.

To give you an idea of what I eat...

Breakfast for me is always eggs. Usually three eggs scrambled. On calorie counting I skipped breakfast. I also drink a black coffee. On calorie counting, I would just have a massive latte.

Lunch is usually a vegetable soup that I make in a big batch at the weekend so I can just heat a bowl for lunch. I am often out and about and can take some in a thermos. I always eat some protein too. Leftover chicken etc.

Dinner is a whole family meal. So much variety. Tonight we had slow cooked pork belly ribs, roast celariac (and roast potatoes for everyone else too) and green beans. The other night was a roast chicken with a side of chinese stir fried cabbage with rice for the family. Etc etc.

I snack on nuts once a day and also have a couple of black coffees and some herbal teas.

[Wiifitmama]

Forgot to say that eating out is easy. Just chose the meat option without the carby bits. I had a fab meal out with a friend the other night at Jamie's Italian any I had pork belly and salad. Very yummy. At people's houses I just try to be polite and eat the meat and veggies. The biggest problem is if you are only offered something like sandwiches.

[misscph1973]

You shouldn't need to wait with going Paleo/Primal untill you are at the weight you are. If you eat low carb, the weight loss should follow, unless you stuff yourself silly, that is.

We started Paleo as a family just over a year ago. It's going very well now, although there has been some bumps along the road. We did it gradually with the kids (now 6 and 8) and they are doing great.

I also do a bit of intermittent fasting (skip breakfast twice a week) and that keep my weight and PMS in check.

I did count carbs and calories in the beginning to be sure I was eating what I should.

I can thoroughly recommend Paleo. It's enjoyable and improves your health.

[JimmyCorkhill]

Great answers - thank you! I especially like the bit about just providing carbs as an add on for the rest of the family. I have been considering the 21 day challenge - might get it from Amazon. Thanks again .

[PinkCustard]

I've just ordered a copy jimmy as I've been interested in paleo for ages but have struggled to get going properly with it. Maybe this will sort me out..?!

[JimmyCorpseHell]

Good luck PinkCustard!

[PinkCustard]

Thanks, although I'm very good at ordering books, reading them and agreeing with them in principle...it's the following them part that I seem to struggle with . I'm hoping that the step-by-step element might make things a bit easier, I'll report back once the book has arrived if you like?

[JimmyCorpseHell]

Yes please. I know what you mean about being great at research but not moving on eyes bookcase full of 'great ideas'

[BerylsDailyKumquat]

Book has arrived (this is Pinkcustard with a name change!). Have only just started it but liking it so far. I've got 3 occasions planned for the next 2 weeks which involve booze and eating out so I had intended to get started after these were out of the way, but I've already started making some healthy changes.

[JimmyCorpseHell]

Keep updating! I am very impressed

[BerylsDailyKumquat]

The book makes it sound much more do-able, and less complicated\strict than I had expected. I've already given up grains, so that's a big step already done, my next is to eliminate sugar!! This will be a really tricky one for me...

My plan is to finish reading the book, and then pick a date to start the 21 day challenge (once my weekend away and birthday are out of the way, over the next 2 weeks). I'm definitely going to give it a good, committed go though - will you be joining me..??!

[JimmyCorpseHell]

There's a challenge .
D'you know, I really do want to do it as I have been reading all the success stories/testimonials on the Mark Sisson/Robb Wolf sites non stop for days.
The only thing stopping me is really stupid . We are being treated to Christmas dinner at a restaurant this year and I'm really looking forward to it. I was thinking that would be my last hurrah and I could eat primally (sp?) in the New Year....

[BerylsDailyKumquat]

Or you could 'go primal' upto Christmas, then treat yourself to the day off..? I'm really inspired by the success stories too - I don't need to lose much weight but I would love a flat, toned stomach!

[JimmyCorpseHell]

That's a good idea. Or at the least I could cut out as much highly processed food as I can in preparation. Our cupboards are bare so this would be a good time to stop filling them with rubbish!

[BerylsDailyKumquat]

Yes, and it will be nice to have a splurge event to look forward to (and Christmas is far away enough for you to make a good impact with change of lifestyle before then).

Whilst I'm going to be mega strict for the 21 days, I think it's unrealistic to think that I'm never going to have treats etc now and again. I just need a drastic change, so I can alter my eating habits from having sugary treats all day every day, to being ok with having them every once in a while. At the moment that seems quite hard to imagine...

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Do it NOW OP .

Christmas dinner can be a "day off", why delay?

You need to be careful about "cheats", Don't do it at all for the first 4 weeks, and be cautious after that - some people can cope with having the odd day totally off plan, and some people really can't, any increase in carbs (especially grain carbs which increase appetite and give you cravings), is problematic for them.

Good luck!

[JimmyCorpseHell]

Ha ha, I'm running out of excuses aren't I?!!

I suppose that as a 'day off' a roast dinner isn't that bad carb wise.

How's it going Beryl?