Paleo Diet Experiences?

[Fuji]

Hey all,

The trend going around my work right now is the Paleo Diet. I'm curious to see if anyone here has tried it or has heard about it. Any experiences would be great! A few guys have started to see results, but of course I'm sceptical of cutting grains out of my eating habits.

Thanks!

-Fuji

[WildVolley]

I know a few people who have tried it and invariably they've dropped a lot of body fat. One woman I know lost about 30lbs in 4 months by going fairly strict paleo (animal protein and fat, vegetables, fermented food, fruit, and almost no pasta, rice, bread or corn).

So my opinion at the moment is that it seems to work very well for dropping weight by most people who stick to it. I think most people drop out because the average diet is so heavily grain and bread based.

[r2473]

Changing the name from "Atkins" to "Paleo" has done wonders for marketing this diet.

[shissncg]

There are plenty of differences between Paleo and Atkins (Keto). A key one is that Paleo allows for plenty of fruits and foods like honey (a big no-no when you are trying to keep sugar low) while Keto allows for sugar alcohol and artificial sweetener (a no-no on Paleo). Also, milk, cheese, cream (Keto yes, Paleo no).

[sureshs]

Hey Fuji,

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=423443

[Sentinel]

what exactly is a Paleo diet.

I thought the healthiest diet was steak, fat drippings and potatoes fried in animal fat.

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

what exactly is a Paleo diet.

I thought the healthiest diet was steak, fat drippings and potatoes fried in animal fat.

That's basically it, but drop the potatoes and cook some greens in the fat drippings and you're getting close.

I'm not an expert, but I gather the diet is based on eating foods not made of grain or based on the widespread cultivation of grains. The basic belief is that the cultivation of grains made large increases in population possible, but it also made people shorter in stature, less muscular, and subject to diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

[maggmaster]

Which makes no sense since the population has been getting taller and more muscular since...food sources became more plentiful.

It is a diet, it is restrictive, it will be difficult to stick with forever. I do not like diets, I like lifestyle changes. If you are the type of person with the will power to give up grains entirely then this is a fine lifestyle change for you.

[Posture Guy]

Here's an article from a guy I respect, Jon Barron, talking about the Paleo diet. His perspective parallels mine. There's a lot I like about it, some thing I'm not sure about, and some things I disagree with. And there is not even consensus in Paleo circles about what constitutes a Paleo diet. But in general, I think the more we get grains out of our diet, the better, especially highly processed ones.

Right now, about the only grains I consume are sprouted ones, like Ezekiel bread. One day a week I might 'splurge' and have some pizza, but in general, I think white flour is not a healthful food choice.

Here's the article:

http://www.jonbarron.org/weight-loss...eview-good-bad

[GuyClinch]

I like this guys site for a Paleo like diet.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/page/3/#axzz1uUai6AyP

It's not 100% clear on what counts as Paleo and what doesn't. For some dairy is okay.. Its okay in my book.

I have dropped some pounds trying to avoid wheat - most rice - corn etc. The 'obvious' carbs - and trying to watch my sugar intake.

if you can handle a very simple diet of meats - sometimes with plenty of fat - and low sugar veggies (Kale for example).

I think you will lose a ton of weight. The downside is maintence is a *****. Its not cravings or hunger - its just convience. SO much of what we eat breaks Paleo rules ..
Then you throw in pressure from friends and family. Share a piece of cake with me.. <g>

And the borderline foods start to creep in more and more. My dad did even better them me - with a more hardcore no dairy version of the diet. So I think success with Paleo depends on compliance with the most hardcore versions of it.

The beauty of the diet though is that its calorie unrestricted. But its food type restricted. Its like you can eat as much as you want - as long as it steak and brocolli. Haha.

Atkins is the easier diet compliance wise - once you get into the later stages of it, IMHO. The introductory stage though of 20g of carbs is fairly brutal.

I say skip all that aim for less then 100g of carbs a day and you might not be ripped - but you won't be fat or getting fatter.

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by maggmaster

Which makes no sense since the population has been getting taller and more muscular since...food sources became more plentiful.

I'm not so certain about that. It has been quite a while since I took an anthropology course, but I think there is skeletal records to suggest that humans decreased in stature after the widespread introduction of grain agriculture as compared to earlier hunter/gatherers.

There does seem to be evidence that animal fats and proteins make people bigger (not just fat). Vegan kids tend to have a problem with being scrawny and weak.

I think that Art DeVany also has a good site on Paleo concepts: http://www.arthurdevany.com/

[Posture Guy]

GuyClinch....yeah, that site is great, some very good information there.

[dominikk1985]

Real athletes don't use that kind of diets. they all eat tons of carbs. tour de france riders eat 8000 calories of carb every day during a multi stage race and they are not getting fat.

for rec athletes this kind of diet can work though.

[Lefty5]

Pretty sure that Atkins guy died of a heart attack not too long ago. Better to go gluten free, eat more veggies, and eat organic lean mean in moderation.

[Qubax]

Originally Posted by Lefty5

Pretty sure that Atkins guy died of a heart attack not too long ago. Better to go gluten free, eat more veggies, and eat organic lean mean in moderation.

This

10chars

[r2473]

Originally Posted by Lefty5

Pretty sure that Atkins guy died of a heart attack not too long ago. Better to go gluten free, eat more veggies, and eat organic lean mean in moderation.

I suspect you'll die anyway.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by dominikk1985

Real athletes don't use that kind of diets. they all eat tons of carbs. tour de france riders eat 8000 calories of carb every day during a multi stage race and they are not getting fat.

What you eat needs to match your lifestyle. If you like to sit around, you probably shouldn't eat very much. Especially not a lot of quick, high energy food. You don't need it.

If you are active, you probably have little to worry about. My main concern is usually having enough energy for my workout the next day. If I'm not being active, I seem to naturally not want/crave high energy foods.

I'm always amazed how "complicated" eating is. For women, I get it. They're nuts. Everything is complicated. But I'm always amazed when men make eating complicated. Well, whatever works.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by r2473

What you eat needs to match your lifestyle. If you like to sit around, you probably shouldn't eat very much. Especially not a lot of quick, high energy food. You don't need it.

If you are active, you probably have little to worry about. My main concern is usually having enough energy for my workout the next day. If I'm not being active, I seem to naturally not want/crave high energy foods.

I'm always amazed how "complicated" eating is. For women, I get it. They're nuts. Everything is complicated. But I'm always amazed when men make eating complicated. Well, whatever works.

Women have many hormonal imbalance issues which make eating choices very important.

Men who are health-conscious are also picky. Djokovic for example. And I am sure Federer will not be eating pizzas and burgers indiscriminately. The availability of cheap greasy unhealthy but convenient food has created an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, which are more common in men.

We have to rethink the whole issue of eating.

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by dominikk1985

Real athletes don't use that kind of diets. they all eat tons of carbs. tour de france riders eat 8000 calories of carb every day during a multi stage race and they are not getting fat.

for rec athletes this kind of diet can work though.

Most athletes (even professionals) don't eat a very good diet - at least this is my experience. Endurance athletes tend to eat a lot of carbs because they are easily converted for use by the muscles and they are expending a huge amount of energy all the time. If you eat like an endurance athlete without doing the actual exercise, you'll turn into a blimp.

Djokovic, however, has claimed to have improved his endurance by going on a gluten-free diet, which involves avoiding wheat.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Women have many hormonal imbalance issues which make eating choices very important.

Men who are health-conscious are also picky. Djokovic for example. And I am sure Federer will not be eating pizzas and burgers indiscriminately. The availability of cheap greasy unhealthy but convenient food has created an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, which are more common in men.

We have to rethink the whole issue of eating.

We aren't on the same page at all. I guess I'm happy eating isn't this complicated for me.