Paleo and primal

[Daughteroughter]

I have been reading about paleo and primal diets has anyone tried them?

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Ooooo samphire! Love it with mixed fish, mushroom and leaks shoved in the oven with butter/raw coconut oil and a handful of herbs.

Xenia makes a good point, paleo is not of itself "low carb" but it should be fewer carbs than the typical modern western diet which is extremely carb heavy... But for those loosing rather than maintaining weight, low carb or very low carb at least initially will deal with the metabolic and appetite issues faster.

[HighJinx]

I eat paleo and love it. I feel better, sleep better and lots of niggling aches and pains have gone too.

I was nervous at first and planned lots of snacks as I thought I would be hungry but I haven't been. On the rare occasions that I have processed foods now they taste horrible so it makes it even easier to say no.

I have tried loads of diets etc and this is definitely the best one for me but I think that's the secret - to find what suits you.

You can also follow Paleo as strictly as you want but I have found it a bit addictive.

If you do go for it then I would advise you to try lots of different recipes or it soon gets dull and repetitive. There are loads of great blogs out there so no need to buy a cookbook or anything.

This is one of my favourites everydaypaleo.com/

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Bedhanger, if you tried low carb and ended up eating MORE carbs, you need to thing about your fat and protein intake - increase protein and make sure you are getting enough fat! Also - did you cut out grains? Some (many) people have a real problem with grain foods and appetite (various paleo/primal blog sites will tell you the science of why, if you want to know. Robbwolf.com, thedietdoctor, marksdailyapple etc).

IME, although I low carbed and lost a lot of weight, it wasn't until I stopped eating grains that I really got on top of the cravings, my bread/cake cravings/binges were legendary, I had no control if I had any !

[EMUZ]

I am Paleo/primal. Started properly in January. I do circuits and weight training alongside and am roughly 9kg down after 3 months
I love it

[BedHanger]

Tbh I think the problem for me is psychological rather then physiological. I have a history of bulimia, which did screw up my metabolism royally, but more than that, meant I became reliant on food to help me manage my emotions. That's what I'm struggling to overcome.
I'm tired, stressed, whatever - I eat crap. It's such a strong association for me.

[EMUZ]

I'm an emotional eater but more the other way - I don't eat when I'm tired or stressed. And if I'm busy I eat crap
I guess changing has helped me see food = fuel and I think more now about "right I haven't eaten enough protein/veg" and I eat what's good for me rather than what I feel like (because otherwise I would live off pizza and cake with icing)

[mrsXsweet]

I have been reading up on this way of eating and am really keen to make the change. I am currently 3 stone over my desired weight, and a stone over my pre-pregnancy weight (baby is 3 months old).
I have been trying to low carb (to lose the initial weight) since Saturday and think I am doing ok. I'm struggling to stop drinking squash and eat ketchup though!
My dh is being is typically unsupportive self ( he is lucky in that he is slim and manages to lose weight quickly if he needs to) and thinks this is another one of my fads- I am notorious for trying any old quick fix! But I really belief that this way of eating could be long term.

[buildingmycorestrength]

I'm doing really well ...day 3. Have not ditched dairy and had a couple of rice cakes yesterday but unbelievable lack of cravings! What is going on? .

[teaandthorazine]

Good innit, building?

I still eat dairy. I know paleo doesn't support dairy but primal does as long as you can digest it without problems. I have pretty much cut out milk but still eat cheese, cream and of course BUTTER! I don't think it's necessary to give it up, but be mindful of whether you can eat it without issues.

The rice cakes should probably be kicked to the curb though

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Tea, paleo does, for many people, include butter and cream, and even milk (for those who tolerate milk), but preferably RAW, or at least from pasture fed (grass not grains) animals. It is easy to get raw cheese, not so easy to get raw butter or milk.

Mostly, it is advised to cut out dairy initially for a few months before trying butter and cream.

Even my paleo hero robb " the paleo solution" wolf has (some) cream in his coffee as a morning treat (no cheese or milk as far as I know).

[teaandthorazine]

Ahhhh, interesting, Raw. It gets confusing sometimes! I must admit cheese is the one thing I really couldn't live without -grains, sugar, meh. Can manage. But cheese?

[Posterofapombear]

I just finished the Whole30 which I really enjoyed. I foolishly ate some crap over Easter and I feel awful. Back on paleo now and I'm going to think carefully about 'off roaring in the future!

my Whole30

• lost 7lbs
  
• stopped all my joint pain
  *no more insomnia
  
• no more mouth ulcers
  
• no more crazy mood swings
  
• clear skin/ lovely hair
  
• less lethargic
  
  
  

[Posterofapombear]

Ahem 'off roading' not roaring!

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

I love a bit of cheese too, sadly the lovely strong stuff is a migraine trigger for me (due to the natural high tyramine content), so I can only have it in small amounts .

20g is great on my burger stack tho' - steak burger served topped with a thick slice of onion fried in butter, then cheese and some herbs on top, finished under the grill to melt the cheese... With mixed salad leaves! That was our dinner last night (plus sweet potato for the teens).

Actually its probably a good thing I have to limit my cheese as I could probably eat far to much of it !

[teaandthorazine]

I think roaring is entirely in keeping with primal living pombear!

Raw, those burgers sound fab. Am having moussaka tonight (made with a cheesy/egg topping, can't wait!

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Mmmmm moussaka!

[snoworneahva]

I'm currently on a carb crash - on holidays and finding food that's tasty is hard enough without thinking of further complications, coming back to primal - with wine, tiny bit of milk for coffee and the odd chunk of raw cheese - it tastes better anyway! And I've found some paleo sweet treats for the dcs that are just about acceptable. Have made a pretty good gluten free loaf too....the journey continues. I'm getting testing for gluten intolerance next week so the whole carb crash fits in well, you can't give up grains before the test or it won't work.

[Rulesgirl]

I love the very popular blog paleomg.com/......she has amazing food and daily recipies and lots of puds too. Yummy. I too try and eat low carbish but not Atkins etc cause I disagree with all the rubbish bars and stuff using artificial sweetners but would like to eat more paleo/primal as its just more naturally healthy isn't it

[Rulesgirl]

paleomg.com/
hope this link works

[snoworneahva]

Rules girl I love paleoomg too, also love Healthbent - she was a pastry chef before getting into crossfit and paleo, she has some great ideas.

[Xenia]

There is a lot of choice as indeed our ancestors had a lot of choice in most places as to what they ate. I am not in favour of recipes for "cakes" or biscuits made with ingredients to make them "paleo" but that's just my personal preference. I would rather have a piece of fish. I feel a bit like I do about diet drinks . You are better off changing the kinds of foods you eat rather than buying "paleo products" (which in a sense defeats the purpose) or making paleo cakes. It certainly gives you scope however to find what suits you best.

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Yes^^ this.

Paleo cakes, treats, etc should be exactly that- a treat, occasional, not a part of every day eating.

For me, yes I will make grain free cake for a birthday, or big event, but no cake, bread, cracker substitutes for "everyday" because these things are higher gi and I do make them with raw honey - great stuff and certainly paleo/primal but the "natural" way to eat honey is to gorge on it occasionally iykwim! ! ie when you find a hive of bees - treats need to be treats (and I say that as a former complete sugar/carb addict). Otherwise it messes with your metabolic responses (and causes weight problems).

For that reason I'm "against" all this very fake (look at the ingredient lists, shocking!), wheat free bread etc - it's not real food and actually isn't great even for the coeliacs its marketed at!

[snoworneahva]

The thing I dislike about paleo is how overbearing people can be about sticking to pure paleo. We all know what it is, we all make our choices, most of us don't need a lecture about what we eat. If you don't wish to eat paleo cakes - good for you, you are more paleo than me - I think you could even get the t shirt available on mail order. I would like to eat healthier but I am not a drone, I don't wish my diet to be 100% paleo, if I can stick to 80% that will be good enough for me and my family, we all have a balance to achieve - perfection in diet, sounds a bit obsessive especially around kids.

[teaandthorazine]

Agreed snow. It's a guide for good health and eating, not a historical re-enactment society

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Errr - overbearing? Hardly, 100% paleo? (Whatever that is, anyway!)? No, but I try to be, 95 % of the time and I am not a drone, or I would be doing what I was told and basing my woe on "healthy grains and low fat everything"!

I am trying to point people - anyone who wants to know more- in the direction of blogs/ info that looks at the science of why, in metabolic terms, a more natural way of eating is less damaging to our organs and metabolic pathways than than our current modern diet ( the modern diet really isn't working!).

Now maybe that's my problem, I'm a scientist by training and love to read the "why's"... I think the "why" is very important. But nobody has to listen to anything I say, or anyone else says, it's all just a suggestion, take it or leave it.

Personally, I'm coming from the angle of someone who has done this woe for a long time, lost over 6 stones and gained a lot of health . I want other people to archive the same - if the CHOOSE to try this woe .