The new Paleo/Primal thread - please reintroduce yourself, newcomers welcome!

[misscph1973]

Wow, we got to 1000 messages!

Welcome back from the previous thread and welcome to all new!

I have been Paleo since September last year, I started as an ex-vegetarian/vegan, I wanted to give up gluten and I had been doing 5:2/IF, which lead me to Paleo/primal. I am 40, I have 2 kids age 8 and 6. I have no major health issues, but I would like it to stay that way. I have bad skin, which has improved since starting Paleo and my dandruff has disappeared. I have gained some weight since starting Paleo, but I was not overweight before, although I would like to get back on my pre Paleo weight - I just love Paleo mayonnaise too much ;) I still practice IF and I lift weights 2-3 times per week. My family is also Paleo.

I have just come back from a camping weekend where I was not strict Paleo as I was camping with other families and I just didn't want to spend my entire weekend telling my kids "no, you cant have it". I do think that Paleo camping is entirely possible, think tinned fish, nuts, sausages, eggs etc.

[EMUZ]

Oh I can't run used to run for a local harriers and can do 100m and hurdles and beat most people but not built for any form of distance. Always jealous of people that just pop out and run a few miles
I don't know why but I do seem to have insane upper body strength. No idea where from

[snoworneahva]

My very skinny 10year old dd has more upper body strength than I do and although I can distance run - my sprinting is poor, I'm always last in short races. I guess we all face body limitations - I will do a proper press up one day, I'm determined!

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

Thanks for the new thread Miss . Hi all

I need to catch up properly but will just reintroduce myself. I also found this woe through 5:2 fasting. Previously I had thought low carb no grain is def not the way for me, but somehow going from 5:2 it made sense. I haven't really done any planned fasts since changing and as weigltloss was so slow before I kind of think maybe its not right for my body at the moment.

Not sure what my weight is as currently doing whole 30 (half way through) with slight mistake/cheat of butter. I have cut out eggs and nuts due to mysterious body rash and increased sensitivity on face. Have become a tiny bit addicted to paleomom website which has a focus on clearing autoimmune and skin issues etc, but think I am going to end up with nothing I can eat! Even cutting nightshades (reccommended for skin and joint problems) isn't happening so far! maybe lifes too short and I should just wear foundation and put up with creaky knees...

Trying to do paleo with children but finding it hard. We have 3 dc the eledest of whom I suspect has wheat/gluten issues, he craves wheat big style and feels deprived by having even porridge for breakfast never mind meat!

This morning I had chicken liver with mushrooms, bacon (thought the liver made up for nitrates) and garlic. It was pretty ok but noone else would eat it so left with some in the fridge.

[FavadiCacao]

Rabbit Usion always bring confusion!
I agree with kelly that, as a diagnosed coeliac, all of the grains (quinoa too) should be off the chart; it was the first thing my GP told me. I'm not officially diagnosed, because after only 1 day of reintroducing gluten I had a scary severe asthma attack (after 3 months of not needing an inhaler and never needing one since). My Hb had been low since my teens and it was always put down to endometriosis but it reads in the good/great range since going grains free
Also be careful with potatoes as the phytate in them can be difficult to remove and phytates prevent iron absorption.

I love offal too: my favourite is liver cooked in freshly squeezed orange (a good dose of vit c to aid iron absorption)

On a Budget suggestions:
In our youth a whole chicken would last dh and I four meals: breasts; wing and thighs; carcass used to make a lovely broth (a few veg thrown in too); the broth to make soup. Now I know we missed a on bone stock! I'm not so sure we could have afforded the gas to cook it with!

Ham shanks gave us 2 meals and a treat: ham; broth and cracklings.

[marzipananimal]

Hi everyone, thought I'd mark my place on this thread although I've been mainly lurking on the last one. I'm interested in trying paleo to see if it will give me more energy and sort out my asthma, hayfever, dust allergy etc. However I'm nearly 40 weeks pregnant so am going to wait until life is a bit easier and baby cuts down on bfing before trying it. DH and I did try to do a whole 30 about a month ago but failed miserably! Really enjoy reading everyone elses ideas and experiences though

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

Def interested in getting into excersise side of paleo, kelly I am 35 at end of year too and want to be fit at 40 [cheesy] Love how enthusisatic you are about it Emuz

Snow my upperbody is rubbish. Was trying shred but couldn't do a lot of the pushupy stuff. Actually i found the stretching at the end hardest, I am totally unflexible.

Rabbit along the line of kelly and favadi's comments here is some stuff on gluten cross reactivity please ignore if you dont want extra food complications though.

Hi marzipan and forcookssake

I had another long post which I lost so hope I haven't missed anyone out but hi again to all

PS Himalayan pink salt is on offer in my hfood shop does anyone use this?

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

PS marzipan why not go ahead and make some small changes now it can take years months to feel like life is easier plus people will be fussing around making meals for you for a while hopefully? Might even be positive for breastmilk? how cool it would be to do baby led weaning if you have managed to get primal/ paleo by 4 -6 months time! At least that way you wont have to wean your 7 year old off weetabix and toast for breaky, cheese sandwiches for lunch and pasta with cheese for dinner like I am trying to do

[misscph1973]

Giraffes, I am a fan of the paleomum as well, and my DH use it currently as he is on AIP at the moment. Although he misses his coffee, he is enjoying his food even with the restrictions, lots of mince (think patties and hash/scrambles), steaks, chops and cabbage. This he has had bacon and leftover chicken breasts for breakfast. I think once you get into it, AIP is not so hard and quite enjoyable. I am considering if myself at the moment.

Back to the paleomum, that's where I learnt to make coconut milk kefir, which you can have on AIP, I think it's DH's only treat at the moment, and what a good one ;)

I think the wheat cravings in kids are peer related, they see their friends having all that crap in school, it's hard not to think the grass is greener ;) I do find that my kids are very good and really enjoy most of the food they have. Last night we had meatballs in tomato sauce with cheese and served with broccoli and they loved it. This evening I am making liver pate served with fried mushrooms and crispy bacon, I swear my DD would eat the entire batch on her own if I let her;)

[EMUZ]

I have some Himalayan pink salt I keep meaning to do the morning drink with it but haven't done yet!
Today has been rubbish so far as not slept but have had protein shake and total yoghurt with raspberries

[FavadiCacao]

Marzipan Congratulations on your imminent arrival!

What is bothering you or you're not convinced about Paleo that is stopping you from starting now? With both my pregnancies I couldn't stand the smell of bread or the taste of pasta, so I was pretty much paleo (with too many potatoes and way too much fruit). Also, when dd was born pasta was still a novelty in this country, the bread was more expensive than potatoes, Basmati rice had the same price as gold and the 'easy cook' rice was/is just that;lean meat, other than chicken and rabbit, was out of our price range; the only pulses available I didn't like; so I continued to eat grain and pulses free all through breastfeeding. Dd is a healthy young woman, who does her best to follow paleo on a shoestring.


Thanks to snow, I'm now addicted into making Bacon. The current batch is producing more liquid: the belly is meatier than the last one.

[FavadiCacao]

In the last thread we discussed some hot topics that we felt best aired in this little group rather than in the open arena! And some of us felt somewhat relieved in venting out!

Again, recently, in the news I spotted the nth facilitation towards installing smart meters-what's wrong with the good old fashioned analogue meters? I like the idea of being able to track what I consume, I always used to when young and pennyless (switch everything off, try the kettle, fridge...). But I don't like is a meter that has potential health hazards! and if installed can't be removed without a court order! arrrrg!

Feel better now

[marzipananimal]

Favadi I found that cutting out sugar and grains made me a bit dizzy and faint - probably normal but I didn't feel comfortable with it while pregnant. Also, DH and I have both been so knackered that we found the planning of different meals/shopping lists to our usual ones just too challenging. I also don't want to be an awkward customer for all the friends who will make meals when the baby arrives, so it's easier if we'll eat anything!
Giraffes, very true about it taking ages to feel like life is easier - took at least a year with DS! Paleo BLW does sound like a great idea but DS (2.10) is pretty fussy and lives mainly on bread, fruit, cereal and dairy, so it would be difficult to avoid giving the same things to the baby. We have made a few changes though - we have salads more often for lunch instead of sandwiches and eat more meat, eggs and veg than we did before

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

marzipanimal Primal is a lot less hardcore than whole 30 - dairy is fine maybe check out briffa for a more moderate approach. Microwaved sweetpotato is a great way to keep carb flu away. Getting toddlers to eat anything can be a mission though so I don't blame you for not wanting to upset the applecart with big change ahead . My 2 yr old dd has been ok with paleo ish homemade nugets and fishfingers, she also likes duchy originals beef burgers if I cut them up and tell her its sausages She is still eating plain choc and yog but no biscuits and gluten free bread. She will not eat any veg which is tricky.

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

Miss interesting about your dh, glad he is finding it ok on aip . I have managed to skip coffee today (by drinking lots of tea) I am quite confused by allowed vegetables; what veg is your dh eating besides cabbage?

Fav apparently 3g is being installed around here, I don't think that can be all that healthy either.

[3ismylot]

Hi all I posted a little on the last thread but mainly just lurked!

As a recap I have been following primal since the start of april and have lost a total of 2st 6lbs

I have also taken up running in that time and am currently in training for the Great North Run in september!
This WOE is amazing for running as I get up at 530am and go straight for a run and have breakfast when I get back and I have all the energy I need! No need for carbing up the night before or eating running gels half way through when you eat properly to begin with

I have gone from being a terrible daily binge eater to being completely in control of my eating and have never felt better. I intend to eat like this for the rest of my life and urge anyone lurking on this thread and thinking about giving it a go to just do it as you certainly wont regret it

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Marizipanal, hello!

The single most beneficial thing you could choose to do now, if not wanting to immediately adopt a paleo/primal woe, is to cut gluten containing grains out of your diet..

That way you will make a very positive change you can build on. Grains strip nutrients from you (your body needs to use them to process the toxins which occur naturally in all grains).

I read some very interesting papers on bone density (higher) and breast milk quality (higher nutrient content on ancestral, grain free diets), so you don't need to be concerned that grains are needed in your diet for health, quite the opposite is true!

Ancestral diets are not of them selves "low carb" you can eat that way, healthy, natural foods without being low carb -although it will be low carb compared with a SAD (standard American/awful diet!).

If you chose to remove grains, you could transition by keeping white rice (not brown or whole grain), potatoes (peel them), sweet potato, and that will make it easier to gradually change your toddlers diet. I have a 2yo and know how fussy they can be!

Btw, feeling faint etc when dropping carbs does suggest blood sugar spiking and falling a bit more than normal, I speak from experience here, take it as your body gently telling you you need to eat fewer carbs to stabilise that. Just dropping grains would be a big help.

Also, especially when pregnant, animal fats which come naturally on your meat, butter, avacados etc, these are where the vitamins are! So great for baby!! Embrace those tasty healthy fats .

[RawCoconutMacaroon]

Giraffes, my 2 yo is also not keen on veg, but when I make burgers, I grate carrot, courgette etc and add it in ( meatloaf if even better as you can add a lot of veg!). Also, tomato cooked in with things, he will eat no problem, but not raw. ATM he doesn't like anything cold/raw, .

[misscph1973]

Giraffes, any veg, but obviously not legumes, and not potatoes and nightshades. So you are fine with carrots, leafy greens, sweet potato, butter nut squash, onion, garlic etc.

[misscph1973]

This is a good overview of AIP:

paleospirit.com/2013/what-is-the-autoimmune-paleo-protocol/

[78bunion]

It is a good way to eat (and does not have to be particularly low carb unless you want it to be).

On MS (which I don't have) Dr Wahl's is worth reading - sounds sound research. I would imagine most conditions and depression never mind obesity are improved by eating whole- real foods/paleo.

I like paleohacks.com and marksdailyapple sites.

[FavadiCacao]

Marzipan, I agree with Giraffe and Raw. It sounds you might have cut the carbohydrates too quickly and possibly too low. Mark's Carb curve is here It's worth noting that even the dietdoctor (in the low end of LC of primal) feeds fruit to his child!

I understand not wanting to be awkward with people being kind to you and only you know how to handle them. Maybe to the closest friends/family you could mention that you would like to try gluten free to relieve your asthma, in my experience people automatically understand it as 'meat and two veg' recipes. :)

[FavadiCacao]

Finally got round to trying this pizza. I only tried the base and it's really nice, it's firm enough without becoming soggy when adding sauce. It doesn't taste eggy or coconutty and it takes seconds to mix in just one bowl (I didn't bother with beating egg and oil together before adding to dry ingredients). One serves comfortably two adults, I daren't thinking how filling it would be if I had made the cheese too!
I believe this base would also lend itself to make a lovely Bruschetta and a beautiful hot or cold Crostino (just imagining a creamed avocado with prawn/bacon topping with a hint of garlic and chilli, and just splash of lemon!). Having made crackers with a similar recipe, I don't think the tapioca flour is necessary.

[snoworneahva]

Thanks for the link fava I've nabbed a few recipes from that website.

[misscph1973]

I don't have any scales, they stress me, but I have been wondering for some time what I weigh as I have been IF'ing and cutting carbs as well as going a bit easier on the Paleo mayonnaise and red wine ;) So today when I took my kids to the nurse for their yearly asthma check-up, I jumped on her scales, and I have lost 2 kg in the last 4 months ;) Not bad, seeing that I have only been really serious about it in the last month or 2. Unfortunately the skinny jeans are still impossible to get on ;)

[GiraffesEatPineapples]

misscph that was a good summary thank you! I had a slight coffee relapse today unfortunately but it was delicious :)

Fav that pizza looks amazing - I can't believe its not cheese

raw good idea about veg, I have made nuggets most to her taste by putting slow cooked chicken and egg in the blender then rolling the sludgey mix in balls and coating in almond and arrowroot. I am thinking courgette might blend in without adding too much colour. Will start with a little and increase veg ratio!

Hi 78bunion