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Low-carb diets

Share advice and experiences of following a low-carb diet.Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

paleo for weightloss

381 replies

yumyumpoppycat · 18/06/2014 15:28

Was sorting out some books to take back to the library and found Chris Kresser's your personal paleo Diet. It pretty much fell open on the weight loss page - seemed to be a sign! Soooo enough messing around and procrastination, on the wagon off the wagon, I just need to get my head down and just plow on and lose weight....

Is anyone up for doing paleo or a similar diet with a focus on weightloss?

These are the additional rules, or I guess a good starting point before adding in usual paleo 'rules' :
Eat more protein
Don't snack
Go dairy free
Reduce calorie density by eating more veg
Eat all food within an 8 hour window

and one more for me - in bed by 11.

Will update but be great if others join in!

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yumyumpoppycat · 02/07/2014 22:55

OK that's interesting and I guess it probably helps to have that awareness/mentality for times when you can't eat totally paleo. Good idea to have a muffin as part of breakfast rather than a treat.

I will have to buy some bananas they are really useful for desert bannana muffins sound tempting. bananas make quite nice ice cream when frozen then blended.

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HearMyRoar · 03/07/2014 19:58

I had fish and chips for dinner Confused I shall run away and hang my head in shame.

FavadiCacao · 03/07/2014 21:35

I had fish & chips too. Wink Hang in there! there's a substitute for all your cravings 'paleo' style. :)
Chips are fine cooked in the right fat (better still if you let them cool down to access the resistant starch). Lovely substitute are swede chips. The most important ingredient for batter is egg...just batter your fish in egg ( if you really miss the crunch just add some lightly toasted almond flour).
Paleo/Primal is about a life style and a mind set whereby the most important principle is ''do not stress''.

yumyumpoppycat · 06/07/2014 13:04

Posting this for a second time as put it on the wrong thread

Hi favadi [waves] Actually we went to the seaside yest and we had fish and chips too blush

www.channel4.com/programmes/the-worlds-best-diet/4od I watched this last night its on 4 od. Basically the program showed that unprocessed traditional foods are the healthiest, not exactly a revelation but it also seems that it doesn't matter too much what particular foods people eat so long as they are natural and unprocessed. The country with the slimmest women I think was south Korea where they eat a large variety of fish and lots of vegetables and also kimichi 3 times a day (fermented veg seems to be a big paleo thing too). I quite like watching these programmes sometimes as it gets me focused on not wanting to eat sugary foods!

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MillyDots · 07/07/2014 13:18

This lady does a wonderful paleo blog and she isn't too caught up with "Rules" like some paleo purists are. Her food is amazing.
paleomg.com/

MillyDots · 07/07/2014 13:23

You can use ground flaxseed instead of porridge oats with all those mixed ground nuts and coconut. I use
ground flaxseed
ground almonds
coconut
toasted almond pieces
crushed pecans
crushed walnuts
crushed cashews

then I add milk and a bit of honey or maple syrup. Yum!!

MillyDots · 07/07/2014 13:25

For baking you can use dates and bananas instead of sugar. The paleomg lady does wonderful deserts and fast food type foods as well.

MillyDots · 07/07/2014 13:45

although if your strict paleo then you probably wont eat legumes.

RiffyWammal · 07/07/2014 17:46

I've been eating paleo for 3 months now and feel fantastic, have lost two stone and am noticing big improvements in my MS symptoms (the main reason I decided to go paleo). I absolutely love this way of eating and would never go back to how I ate before; I feel too good to risk it, plus I really enjoy the food I eat now! The only drawback is I do tend towards becoming a 'paleo bore' and lecturing anyone I meet about the crapness of their diets and how good they could feel if they just gave paleo a go!

I'm 5'6'' and was 13st3 and am now 11st3, although I feel smaller than that - I have read others say that too. I think it may be due to losing more fat than muscle, as muscle is heavier, so I look leaner than when I was previously this weight but had a higher body fat percentage IYSWIM? Anyhow, I am in size 12 dresses that still have room so I am very happy!

I honestly find cooking and eating paleo very simple and easy, once in the swing of it. It's so clear cut and straightforward which suits me perfectly, and no calorie counting, thank God! I manage to be quite strict and stick to paleo 100% (which if you knew me before this would amaze you!) and I actually surprised myself by being able to ditch cups of tea, bread, pasta or potatoes with everything, and cereal for breakfast. I honestly never thought I would be able to do all that for a week, never mind 3 months!

I don't have any dairy but I really enjoy a latte made with almond milk, with cinnamon and a touch of maple syrup. I keep this as a treat due to the maple syrup (which is paleo as long as you don't buy 'maple-flavour') but I suppose if I had it without I could drink it more often. I drink tons of water and I keep a jug in the fridge as I find the coldness makes it taste better.

I start the day with a smoothie of almond milk, frozen berries, a mixture of greens, kale, and spinach, and a spoonful of a fabulous flax, sunflower seed and goji berry mix that Aldi sell. For a treat I make paleo porridge which is gorgeous. I add a handful of sultanas and leave it overnight so they plump up, then I eat it cold. It's even nice as a snack or a pudding. Another favourite pudding is a little bowl of sliced banana, coconut cream (£1 a tin from Waitrose), dessicated coconut, flaked almonds, cinnamon and a drizzle of honey. Yum!

Anyway, I'd better leave it there for now - I told you I was a paleo bore! Grin

MillyDots · 07/07/2014 18:21

Riffy I want to hear more. I follow Paleomg blog and love her food, your weight loss as a side effect is amazing. I would love to know more about your menus etc.Grin I love Linwoods cereals which are flaxseed based and are the same as what you described. I have them hot or cold.

RiffyWammal · 07/07/2014 20:29

Ooh well I can't pass up on a chance to talk paleo a bit more can I! Grin

For lunch today I had two chicken legs, marinated in a mixture of maple syrup, garlic (Lazy Garlic) and chili (Lazy Chili too!) then cooked in the oven for 45 mins on a cooling rack thing so they go nice and crispy. I made a salad of mixed leaves, red onion and tomato, and I mixed up a dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice (sometimes I add Dijon mustard or garlic), and I had some steamed asparagus spears with it - I am always trying to cram in some more green veg!

Tonight I am making pork chops, butternut squash (frozen chopped from Tesco, brilliant as it's a nightmare to peel and chop!) roasted in lard, and sweet potato with a bit of garlic and lard, cooked in one of those oven bags so it goes lovely and soft. I'm making steamed carrots with it.

I cook everything in coconut oil (which is expensive unfortunately, but you can buy it cheaper on ebay) or lard, and I only use olive oil cold as it's not so healthy when heated. So that food doesn't taste bland I season everything with pepper and sea salt (healthier than normal salt) and I make use of herbs, spices and garlic and put lemon juice on vegetables. For a quick lunch I stir fry veg (cabbage, greens, kale, broccoli) in coconut oil with thin sliced chicken or steak, prawns or salmon. I cook salmon steaks from frozen in an oven bag with lemon juice and it's so moist and tasty!

It's such a treat to be able to eat fat without guilt. I had some amazing seabass (frozen from Tesco again!) fried in coconut oil the other day. I have a smallish fried steak a few times a week with loads of fried red onions and mushrooms - heavenly! One of our favourite meals is pork belly (v cheap at Aldi) cooked in the oven until very crispy, with mashed sweet potato and garlic and steamed cabbage.

I make curry with spicentice curry kits from Tesco, as all they contain is spices and seeds. I just substitute coconut cream/milk for yogurt and have it with cauliflower mixed in the sauce instead of rice. The lamb rogan josh one is gorgeous. Tesco also sell paleo-friendly sausages called Debbie & Andrews that have no gluten or grains or dairy and taste great - I have them with onions and mushrooms and red cabbage.

Another favourite is lamb's liver. I cut it thin and fry it in lard with mushrooms and onions until it looks cooked (5-10 mins?), and serve with sprouts. I boil the sprouts for 5 mins and then cut them in half and fry them with some cubed pancetta (Aldi!) which makes them really tasty.

Once a week I roast a large chicken in a big oven bag - that makes it easier to save all the cooking juices for stock. We have the chicken with veg and save some for soup the next day. I make stock in the slow cooker overnight (aforementioned juices, carcass, carrots, onion, celery, leeks, thyme, seasoning,garlic and some water) and then strain it and make it into soup with the leftover chicken and more of the same veg and flavourings. I leave it for hours in the slow cooker so it goes quite dark and brown and it is delicious - more a stew than a soup as I put only just enough water in to make the stock.

For pudding/snacks I have berries, dried fruit and nuts, an avocado or a mango, or the aforementioned banana pudding or paleo porridge. I can honestly say I don't feel hungry or crave anything on this diet!

That's all I can think of for now. Thanks for letting me bore on about paleo! Smile

MillyDots · 07/07/2014 20:40

Yummy yum!! Ha ha. My kind of food. Im on day two of eating this way. I generally do eat like you but also was having bread, biscuits, cakes (good quality homemade though) and no matter how little I ate the weight just didn't move. Eating small amounts and the scales not moving is demoralising isn't it. So I shall hopefully keep going though the urge to eat a piece of bread is very strong. Always the way when you cant have something though. Im hoping to stop some aches and pains with this as well as losing weight but keeping muscle.
Thanks Smile

Cindy34 · 07/07/2014 22:13

Riffy you don't bore us... D&A sausages are nice.

Anyone know if any haggis is suitable?

yumyumpoppycat · 07/07/2014 22:49

frozen squaaash....almond latte.. stir fry for luuuunch.... coooking bags....

Keep em coming riffy! Well done on losing so much weight and I hope paleo helps with your ms.

Hi milly dots I really should try grinding up some different nuts, I have a food processor thing so no excuse.

Have been gluten free today but also its totm and I have been scoffing dates and walnuts all day. Def could be worse though.

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yumyumpoppycat · 08/07/2014 10:56

ooh look a 14 day meal plan paleogrubs.com/paleo-diet-meal-plan

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CharlieSierra · 08/07/2014 14:00

love your posts riffy, i am really interested in your 'incidental' weight loss. I've started eating this way due to my psoriasis/arthritis, but also need to lose weight (2/3 stone). I'm scared to let go of my old calorie counting ways, so it's good to get first hand advice from someone.

Does anyone know if the sausages are available anywhere else except Tesco?

yumyumpoppycat · 08/07/2014 14:39

Charlie I have only seen them in tesco. I think m&s do a gluten free sausage. Dutchy originals sell gluten free chipolatas (the one with herbs) but you have to check the label as most of their sausages are not gluten free.

Riffy can I ask where you got the oven bags. I bought a big bag of half price frozen wild alaskan salmon and it sounds like that would be a good way to cook them. Also bought some organic almonds in tesco as not much more expensive - going to try the almond milk lattes too Grin

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yumyumpoppycat · 08/07/2014 14:45

I can't find the dutch original chipolatas with herbs but this is similar www.mysupermarket.co.uk/ocado-compare-prices/Sausages_And_Burgers/Duchy_Originals_from_Waitrose_Organic_Pork_Chipolatas_with_Rosemary_And_Honey_12_per_pack_340g.html

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RiffyWammal · 08/07/2014 15:17

I get my oven bags from Wilko yumyum, you can find them in most supermarkets but some of them aren't quite big enough for a big chicken - it's a bit like trying to pull on control pants! The instructions tell you to add flour to the bag but I never do.

I like to buy salmon fresh when it's on offer in supermarkets (it's usually 6 fillets for ten quid) then I separate them into food bags and freeze them. I have no idea why I do this. I think I once bought ready frozen salmon and didn't like it! It takes 15 mins at 200c to cook a fillet or ten mins if I've remembered to defrost it.

I'm really chuffed that you've all enjoyed my paleo posts! Smile

RiffyWammal · 08/07/2014 15:44

I've found that when buying sausages (or anything really) you have to read the label carefully as 'gluten free' often just means it contains rice and dairy instead. Since starting to read labels I am constantly amazed at the stuff that manufacturers add to food - they seem to put sugar and grains in everything!

Another good tip is Waitrose 'a measure of' stock for recipes as it doesn't contain any gluten-y nasties like stock cubes do. Stock pots are better than cubes but they do still have some preservatives etc.

Also, Home Bargains sell the cheapest tins of coconut milk I have found, at 69p. They are £1.99 in Tesco!

FavadiCacao · 08/07/2014 17:25

Sainsubury's used to sell gluten free sausages that had potato starch as bulking agent. I haven't bought them for a while as I make my own sausages but I'll try to remember to check their ingredients next time I go in. I think ASDA also had 1 gluten and grain free in their extra special range. Farmers' market are starting to have 'paleo' friendly sausages.

Riffy, I wish I had the juice of any roast to add to the stock pot! My lot love it served with their roast dinner! Grin
I generally have the shells of shellfish (no bivalves) to create a lovely stock to cook other fish in or soups or as 'fish' sauce for Thai dishes.

miffy49 · 08/07/2014 20:36

Hi Folks
I do a sort of low carb Primal rather than strict Paleo as I have a bit of dairy. Been reading your comments with interest. Sainsburys do still do gluten free sausages in their Taste the Difference range. Not the whole range though. Pork and herb, Toulouse and I think Sicilian.

Having just tried to force a large chicken into a roasting bag I love your comparison to control pants RiffyGrin

CharlieSierra · 08/07/2014 22:24

Miffy, I'm the same really, still eat some dairy.

I made some 'breaded' pork escalopes tonight with mustard sauce. The ground almond coating worked really well.

yumyumpoppycat · 08/07/2014 22:36

Funnily I just had a bit of cheese as I was really hungry!

I bought a mooli last week - i had no idea what it was but it was only 16p!. It's been languishing in the fridge so finally used it today to make wraps for stir-fried spring greens and matchstick carrots. This shows how to slice the mooli www.azeliaskitchen.net/mooli-rolls-crudites-rolls-gluten-free/ . It was nice, a bit like spring rolls, but I did cheat and use a bit of packet sauce on the veg which might have had something to do with it .

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FavadiCacao · 09/07/2014 11:22

My relationship with dairy is one of love & hate. Cream and butter really upset me, I start bloating within half hour but I seem to be fine with some raw milk hard cheeses, home-made cream cheese and home-made yoghurt.

I love the idea of mooli spring rolls, yum!