most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-26T08:19:23Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/user/16175 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/131996/i-have-fat-legs/132028#132028 mch 2012-07-02T15:18:32Z 2012-07-02T15:18:32Z

<p>While I think squats/leg workouts can be helpful for improving your body composition, I would actually consider looking a little closer at your diet/stress level. 15% body fat is extremely low for a woman, and consuming 1200-1500 calories for extended periods of time can be quite stressful for the body. It sounds like you may be dealing with some hormonal imbalance-- the fat distribution that you described sounds like possible estrogen dominance/low progesterone. This imbalance (which you may have had for a long time) can be perpetuated by stressful activities like staying in a caloric deficit for extended periods of time or going too low-carb for too long. Are you sleeping well? Recovering quickly from workouts? Is your digestion regular? How are your periods? These are good questions to ask yourself while dieting to make sure that your stress hormones are not spiraling out of control.</p> <p>I wanted to respond because I dealt with very similar body composition issues while on strict paleo and doing a lot of physical activity. Adding more carbs/calories, doing only low-stress exercise (hiking, yoga), making sure I was getting adequate sleep really helped improve my hormonal balance and subsequently, my fat distribution. Also, I know it gets old to hear, but women really are designed to hold onto more fat than men. I do think that you should evaluate your stress level, but it is also important to consider that you might just be a lady with shapely thighs! Speaking from experience, obsessing about the circumference of your thighs is generally a self fulfilling prophecy. Relax about your gams and go do something nice for yourself! </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/127972/if-and-women-bulletproof-coffee-solution/127992#127992 mch 2012-06-15T15:35:11Z 2012-06-15T15:35:11Z

<p>Bulletproof coffee didn't help me at all with IF. I just got shaky and felt somewhat nauseated for a few hours after waking up. Of course, IF didn't work out for me either so I can't blame it all on the coffee-- turns out I am just a breakfast gal! </p> <p>Additionally, I wonder if slamming a MCT-laced/butter-infused /caffeinated cocktail is really effective at sending the message to your body that there is an abundance of food... if you're body is under the impression that it is starving it seems that a super fatty cup of coffee is hardly going to convince it otherwise. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/125890/females-have-you-benefitted-or-suffered-from-intermittent-fasting/126333#126333 mch 2012-06-08T19:21:39Z 2012-06-08T19:21:39Z

<p>While everyone is different, I can say for myself that intermittent fasting (in combination with a fairly low carb, strict paleo diet) sent my hormones into a complete tailspin. Lost my period, symptoms of PCOS returned, dizziness and water retention were all side effects of my little journey into IF. Granted I should probably not have been tinkering with a potentially stressful activity while I was dealing with hormonal issues. However, I was only doing 14-16 hour fasts and did not feel that I was particularly stressed at the time but after a few weeks it became very apparent that I was not functioning 100%. </p> <p>Clearly many people have experienced positive results with it, but I think for some it can be like throwing gasoline on a fire. I do feel that intermittent fasting is treated too lightly in the paleosphere-- if an individual is attempting to regain optimal health I think recovery should be emphasized rather than the potential benefits of autophagy/leaning out, etc. Women especially it seems need to be very careful about keeping their bodies nourished, stress free and well balanced (damn ovaries!). Again though, if it works for you, go for it. Just be aware of potential red flags-- if you are irritable/starving/obsessing over food porn and your "eating window" maybe consider just eating when you are hungry and moving on. A healthy diet should never have masochistic elements.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/124209/body-composition-getting-worse/124395#124395 mch 2012-06-01T13:09:16Z 2012-06-01T13:09:16Z

<p>Personally, I would consider taking a break from extremely restricted eating. It sounds like you are dealing with a lot of stress right now and that the last thing you need is to worry about cutting out more foods (particularly whole, safe and nourishing foods like fruit). The stress in your day to day life, compounded by the stress of eating a "perfect diet" is likely the culprit behind your shifting body composition. </p> <p>Having spent several months eating a fairly strict paleo diet and seeing many of my health problems worsen (constipation, persistant amenorrhea, trouble sleeping, low body temperature and weight gain), I have come to think of the optimal diet as one that alleviates stress as much as possible and provides the nourishment your body needs to function. Adopting many of Ray Peat's dietary recommendations (lots of fruit, dairy, gelatin and organ meats) solved many of the problems I experienced on a strict paleo diet. Dropping all exercise except for walking and yoga also helped me regain control of my hormones, stress level and body composition. I lost the weight I gained effortlessly, and feel much, much better in general. Not saying my n=1 means anything, just food for thought. Allowing your body and mind to relax can do wonders for your stress level and physique! </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152119/did-anyone-lose-weight-on-medium-to-high-carb-paleo/152133#152133 mch 2012-09-28T05:28:01Z 2012-09-28T05:28:01Z

Ha! Me too Lindsay- low carb was a very bad diet for me as well... ultimately gained weight, felt horrible and sent my hormones into a tailspin. Now I eat 200+ grams of carbs and am so much happier.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/127972/if-and-women-bulletproof-coffee-solution/127992#127992 mch 2012-06-15T22:32:38Z 2012-06-15T22:32:38Z

Oh yeah-- I have no doubt that if you are fat-adapted it probably works really well. For whatever reason my body either hated ketosis or never became very efficient at converting fat to energy. After three months of VLC/LC, I gave up-- my body seemed to think it was starving no matter how much fat I ate (ALOT, by the way). I was doing bulletproof coffee at the time and it didn't seem to be effective for increasing my energy level/satiating me. We are all such individual damn snowflakes!

http://paleohacks.com/questions/127429/paradoxical-responders-who-among-you/127731#127731 mch 2012-06-15T03:36:40Z 2012-06-15T03:36:40Z

Same thing too with the exercise-- got flabby with too much HIIT. Yoga/hiking has yielded much better results. Bringing down stress levels and balancing hormones was key for me personally.

http://paleohacks.com/questions/127429/paradoxical-responders-who-among-you/127731#127731 mch 2012-06-15T03:27:38Z 2012-06-15T03:27:38Z

Holy crap-- this exact same thing happened to me! Meat and veggies for months= lethargy, digestion issues, hormonal upset, weight gain, thyroid problems and general shittiness. Worst diet ever (for me). Started eating unholy amounts of dairy and fruit and all of my problems disappeared. Thank you fructose and cheese!