paleo for weightloss

[yumyumpoppycat]

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!

Thanks guys. I think I will just stick to eating when I feel hungry and not worrying about it. I have tendency to low blood pressure and low blood sugar so just go a bit squiffy if I go a long time without eating. Though I have noticed the sugar crashing when hungry has really reduced since starting this. I think I'll have a look at the Chris Kresser stuff :)

Good plan, blood sugar/pressure is weird and seems to vary from person to person what works?

My coconut tools are very low tech! : Just a screwdriver or a nail, a hammer and a butter knife. :)
I tend to snack on salad, cucumber, celery, tomatoes or spinach rather than cooked veg but most veg should last a couple of days in the fridge. Potatoes and sweet potatoes last well when drizzled with a little olive oil and a splash of lemon juice to prevent browning.

The low blood sugar crashes can actually go away all together! It has been years since I had one and I no longer carry sachets of sugar in my pockets/handbag. If I am out all day on a hot day, I do carry some fruit (an apple or banana) just in case, but I don't seem to need the istant sugar hit anymore.

Interesting links Favadi, I am really struggling, so so tired. I really don't know what to do. I think I'm overloaded with all sorts of info too. YumYum I did try the batch cooking thing but I've never loved eating leftovers and I found I just didn't fancy it some of the time, I wanted a fresh salad. I cut down on the quantities the second week, did some minced beef and a chilli but not chicken or veg. I'm a bit negative aren't I, I'll get my coat

Its OK charlie if you can't have good moan on mn what's the point in it? That's why I could stay on the whole30 forum, so bloody positive all the time. It's not normal I tell you!

Anyway, back to the point. I admit I'm also feeling really tired at the moment. I'm hoping it's just a phase from being 1 week in to the whole30 thing, but I am starting to think I need to eat more regularly and have more carbs.

I was working at home today so snacked more during thr day and also cooked myself a proper lunch of sweet potato hash, cabbage and sardines. I never, in my wildest dreams ever imagined that such a lunch could taste so amazingly delicious.

I felt much better this afternoon for it. My usual lunch is eggs with salad bits and some meat so I have came to the conclusion that I need to eat regular snacks and get some carbs in my lunch.

Obviously that should say 'I couldn't stay..' Did I mention I'm a bit tired...

Do you think it's more carbs needed? I have a Cambridge consultant at work and she said maybe more, maybe less to get into ketosis would help me feel better. I just don't know, very confused. I've had little frittata thingies for breakfast today, 2 eggs, made in muffin tins lined with ham, chili over courgettes and roasted squash for lunch, a peach, and a burger (muddy boots, grass fed beef) with salad for dinner. Does that sound reasonable?

Sorry you are feeling low in energy Charlie. Why is nutrition so bloody complicated! Your food sounds pretty perfect Do you think adding extra fat-might help? Maybe some organ meat or dark chocolate? possibly a supplement (not multivitamin something more targeted?) Hope you feel more energetic soon

Are you drinking enough water and adding salt to food? I think its normal to have a day or two like this and then feel better so fingers crossed.

Thanks YumYum I'm starting to feel concerned that nutrition is too complicated for me to figure. I could drink more water, definitely. Also the crushing exhaustion can go along with my condition and I've had a very sore hip for a week so it could more about that, but then I start thinking oh maybe I should do AIP and be even stricter then argh!! I'm going through a stressful thing at work so it's all tied in. Only 4 more weeks till holiday, can't wait, but suspect I won't be wearing new bikini at this rate as weight loss appears to have stalled and I'm heading for a pizza binge.

Don't go for the Pizza!!!! Stalling is only natural when trying to loose weight. Your meals look delicious and well balanced, however it is possible that you are not eating enough calories.
The tiredness is always a difficult one to pin down but you now have been on this diet for a while so I don't think it's the carb flu from unless you are going in and out of ketosis. My personal experience has been that each time I have attempted to stay in ketosis (a month at the time) I get progressively more tired no matter the amount of fat, water, broth or salt (last time I also lost hair), which is why I eat more than 50g of carbs.
The 'Keto-calculator' by Martin Ankerl is quite good to play with the different proportions.

I promise I won't do pizza! I've done a really detailed analysis of my diet over the past week this morning and I think going in and out of ketosis could be a factor - for instance on Tuesday I made fishcakes from smoked mackerel and used a potato, so basically ate half of one, plus I had a pecan pie nakd bar and a bag of M&S kale chips (bad bad day at work ), pushing my carbs well up that day, then i've been under 50 every day since. I am actually feeling a little better today. I will have a look at the keto-calculator, thanks for the tip. You could be right about the calories too, I'm averaging around 1250 I think.

Having a frustrating few weeks here. With only 3lbs to go to my target (giving me a BMI of 25), I gained 2lbs, then lost 3lb then gained a pound again so I still have 3 lbs to go :( I'm not sure if it's because I've relaxed a bit knowing my target is close (easier to be strict when you have two stone to go rather than two pounds) or that my body has got used to the diet.

I've resolved to not cheat (difficult as we have an extended family meal this weekend), not have any cream (was having 1/3rd of a small pot on tinned fruit) and cut down on fruit. Hopefully this will help.

Hope you get to target soon dogs, it's good you have wiggle room to make some changes to your diet. I guess its possible you are at your natural/ideal body weight but it is frustrating to be so tantalisingly close to your goal.

Charlie....step away from the pizza Glad your energy is up again.

Anyway i am a big hypocrite as i just had a row with my sister then afterwards couldn't resist a packet of walkers crisps

Would it be worth cutting out either eggs or nightshades but trial adding something else back first that you suspect you are ok with so your list of food doesn't get too narrow?

It sounds a good plan, Dogs. You will get there very soon. :)

Charlie, glad to hear you are feeling better. Have you tried either argan oil or magnesium for your joints? I don't know how effective either would be but argan oil is brilliant at clearing psoriatic plaques.

At least it was only one packet, yumyum. :)

I haven't heard of argan oil for psoriasis, only for hair, will give it a go. I spoke too soon re feeling better, crashed this afternoon. Got some ketostix today and tested when I got home, not in ketosis. Did the keto-calculator and today my proportions were pretty much perfect so will try to keep going for a few more days. I am currently so hungry having scoffed my dinner, it's going to have to be a very early night.

Good luck on the non cheating Dogs, so close, and so frustrating.

Good point favadi I nearly went for two then had some almond butter ... progress really!

Very confusing charlie hope you figure it out.

The whole30 now allows white potatoes to I had a few today with some gluten free sausages and sugar snap peas. A sort of slightly naughty meal but just about ok. I do feel better this evening though. Not sure if it is the potatoes or I'm just getting over the hump.

I'm going on a 3 day meditation retreat on sunday and it will be all vegetarian food so not sure how much I will be able to keep up with the paleo. I've been looking at the whole30 vegetarian plan so might see if I can mostly keep to that if possible. Might just have to write of the 3 days and start again when I get back.

A retreat sounds perfect if you are very tired, I am very envious. The food may well be a challenge even for paleo let alone whole 30 though, there will be beans and grains for sure, probably dairy if it's not vegan, but it will be an interesting opportunity to see how your body responds.

Enjoy the retreat, Hear. Food would be challenging but it always is when we are away from a familiar environment.

Well done, yumyum.

Charlie, crashing is not good. Is it part of your condition or do you think is caused by the diet?
re: the argan oil. My aunt used to use it on my uncle; if his plaques were very bad she would add a couple of lavander drops. My husband used to suffer from it many years ago but never as bad as Uncle, and for Dh lavender was enough.

Few more questions.... if you don't mind?

1. Which gluten free sausages can you have? I currently have black farmer which are GF and low carb, can I stick with those?

1. I'm still trying to get my head round dropping dairy and nightshade (tomatoes and peppers for me) - the nightshade due to the link with autoimmune conditions. Is there a menu idea or a good recipe book that would help me figure out how to change some of what we eat?

1. Currently my family eat the same main meal (low carb) as I do but I add carbs in for them. I don't see why they couldn't swop to the same paleo evening meal as it's healthy food. But, do you find yourselves making separate meals because they want pizza or chilli (tomato based sauce) etc? Do you find you can eat the same most of the time?

Thanks :-)

Daisy, I make my own sausages - incredibly easy and much cheaper than shop gluten free ones. :) I never had the Black farmer's sausages and I would be wary of the soya, dextrose and the E numbers in them (to lazy to look them up ), especially if you are following the Whole 30. On occasions I have bought Sainsbury's Taste the Difference gluten free sausages ( I think there are a couple potato starch free but i think they all contain sugar of some sort).
We all eat the same meal but some of us are lower carb than others. Ds is a fast growing very active teenager, so I make sure there are enough root vegetables, potatoes, rice for him and I might even cook some paleo tortillas for him, which he uses as a pizza base. My problem is affording and cooking enough meat for ds! And I seem to never buy enough cucumbers, celery or spinach!

Hello again Daisy. Have you managed to get hold of The Wahls protocol from your library yet? Because she doesn't ban nightshades and she is all about healing autoimmune conditions and has done a lot of research. So you might be ok? I would find it hard to do without tomatoes especially, as they make such a nice sauce for curries, spag bol, meatballs etc.

She definitely advises to drop dairy altogether though. What do you use it in now, to give us an idea of suggestions for you? I use coconut or almond milk in place of it in coffee and smoothies, and in sauces that call for cream. I don't think there's a cheese substitute though, sorry

I usually make entirely different food for everyone in the house. It's a bit of a 'mare and I have made a rod for my own back to be honest. My DH tries to eat paleo with me but has frequent terrible binges that last for days. My sons are all young adults so I can't force them to eat anything and sadly none of them are interested in eating for health. They have that feeling of indestructability and disregard for future consequences that I had in my youth, oh to be young again!

I do sometimes cook meals for all of us and adapt them for my sons, such as I make shepherd's pie with one half topped with mashed potato and the other half mashed sweet potato, and meatballs and spaghetti bolognese with veg for us and with spaghetti for them, and curry with cauliflower for us and with rice and nan bread for them.

Sausages, I buy Debbie & Andrews from Tesco - the ingredients are: Pork Shoulder (97%), Salt, Spices, Water, White Balsamic Vinegar (0.3%) [Wine Vinegar, Grape Must, Antioxidant (Sulphur Dioxide)], Preservative (Sodium Sulphite), Sausage Casing (Natural Pork). I don't know what Black Farmer sausages you buy but the ingredients of the premium sausages are: Pork 90%, Soya Bean Flour, Salt, Dextrose, Spiced, Herbs, Stabiliser: E451(i), Preservative: E221, Antioxidants: E300, E330, Spice Extracts. Soya is not paleo as it is a legume and is associated with some dangers, dextrose is sugar so very non-paleo, and I would definitely give those e-numbers a wide berth! But Debbie & Andrews are lovely so don't be too disheartened.

Daisy - Tescos finest chipolatas are paleo friendly if you are still eating potatoes. They don't have any sugar or wheat but do have potato starch. When I'm feeling lazy I consider that good enough. When I'm not feeling lazy I puree some raw onion (not good on the eyes!) then mix it with 500g of ground pork and fry or grill in burger shapes. Dead quick and reasonablyy yummy. I've thought about adding some apple but haven't got round to experimenting yet.

I'm officially giving up on understanding my weightloss. Reweighed today to get back into a routine of Saturdays only and I'm down 2lbs on yesterday! I can't believe that's real. On a brighter note my Wii told me off for not reaching my target this morning. I'd forgotten that today was the day and really didn't expect to reach it when I set it so a mixture of happy and miffed that I was one measly pound off my target.

Well done dogsrus only 1 more lb

Daisy I tried getting all 5 of us all gluten free and it didn't work. I am hoping if i can sort out my own eating our family meals will get healthier with time part of the problem is I cannot make delicious food.

Favadi I def don't have that problem my brood are very reluctant to eat real meat that's not disguised in bread or shaped like a sausage!

Really interesting about nightshades being ok on Wahl protocol Riffy, is any reasoning given?