User alefrombrazil - PaleoHacks.com

I'm hungry! suggestions needed

2011-11-24T21:49:52Z

I’ve been doing a paleo-adapted diet for about two months, and this site is a great source of inspiration and knowledge for me. Now I come to you for suggestions about what to eat so I don’t get hungry (and I apologize about my english, it's my second language - I'm brazilian). I know there are a lot of similar questions already posted, and I am reading all the answers. But I hoped you guys could take a look at my particular situation, since I don't eat red meat and hardly ever eat chicken. I only eat fish and some other sea creatures, like shrimps.

By what I read here, I figure Paleo shouldn't leave me feeling hungry – nevertheless, I am. I read some of you saying you eat 3 eggs in the morning and eat again only at night and I wonder how on Earth is this person not hungry...

So, what do I eat?

Before training, yogurt (sometimes low fat) with berries.
After training, usually 2 eggs with coffee and maybe some avocado. If training is specially hard I’ll eat a banana or a small serving of a starch, like sweet potato or cassava (very common in Brazil). Training used to be only running, now is running some days and crossfit some days. By now it’s 9am.
By 12 I’m very hungry. My stomach is growling. For lunch I usually eat salmon, which is the fattiest fish easily available on restaurants, with green salad and veggies. If salmon is not available I’ll have to do with whatever fish they have, and white fish tends to be very lean. I usually also have some fruits like strawberries and pineapple if they are available (I usually have lunch in restaurants).
Then somedays I have to eat again by 5 or 6pm. Usually some fruit with an egg or nuts (sometimes all these).
At night I usually eat fish again, either salmon, tuna or a shrimp preparation with veggies or curry. And I finish with strawberries with heavy cream. Sometimes I eat a starch (sweet potato or cassava), to help the training next morning.

So, as you can see, I'm eating too often - and I'm still hungry.

I try to use coconut oil when possible, but I find that cooking with it sometimes adds a sweet taste not always wanted. And I try to include coconut – fresh, shreded, milk etc very often. In Brazil coconuts are easily available.

During the weekend I’ll have some more liberal meals, adding tapioca and cheese. The tapioca I'm talking about is a very common food in Brazil, I make it myself or buy at the farmer's market. It uses only cassava flour mixed with water, passed through a strainer - and then cooked on a pan to give it form. It resembles a pancake, which you can fill with shredded coconut, cheese, butter - you name it. It looks like this:

and it's delicious.

I know I should be eating more fat! But what kind of fat may I eat? Since I don’t do red meat? How do I eat butter without bread? (I love butter and wouldn't mind eating more of it). And what else can I do not to be hungry all the time?

I've lost about 4 pounds in two months and I still have about 5 pounds to go.

Thank you very much!

Answer by alefrombrazil for How many people here started as vegetarian/vegans?

2011-11-12T14:03:53Z

I stopped eating animals when I was 14 (28 years ago!). And I've had a very healthy life. But as the years passed I felt the need to eat better, since my vegetarianism was in fact very trashy. My staples were bread, pasta, cheese, pizza, ice cream and chocolate. I always had problems keeping the weight off. 10 years ago I started eating fish to get more protein and to be able to have an overall better nutrition without so much crap. Even so, I was tired of always dieting, the same kinds of foods, all that low-fat/whole wheat stuff. About a month ago I decided to go kinda-Paleo - stopped all wheat, sugar, processed and fried things, cut most dairy, put way more fish, good fats, vegetables and fruits.

The result is that I lost some weight (still a little bit to go), feel good, don't miss bread at all (I thought I would die without bread) and I am eating with creativity and started cooking again. I rely strongly on salmon, as it is the fattiest (more fulfilling) and easiest fish to eat out, but the fact is that my meals are never boring and repeating anymore, since now I eat a variety of things I wasn't eating before. I am happy and enjoying.

However, I don't think I would ever eat red meat again. When I was a vegetarian, I used to say that I would eat animals only if I had to hunt them, because then it would have been a fair struggle. If I have to kill to eat, it's acceptable (for ME). If there is an industry that enslaves and objectifies animals for me to buy a sanitized piece of meat on the supermarket, it's not acceptable (for ME). For the same reason I don't eat chickens either, and I only buy free range eggs and organic yogurt. Eating fish for me is more acceptable, but of course there is still struggles in my mind, because of predatory fishing methods. In my opinion, all meat should be treated almost sacredly. Like one zen blessing says: “This meal is the labor of countless beings. Let us remember their toil".

Like someone said above about ex-vegetarian friends, I do feel guilty about eating animals in this time and context (we are not paleolithic folks, it's impossible for everyone to hunt and the meat industry is awful). I think there is just too many people on Earth for any kind of rational living to be possible, so we have to do the best we can individually. For me, it's eating only water beings.

I thank everybody here on Paleohacks, I have learned a lot from all of you. I have to confess that in the beginning I was kind of scared of the heavy carnivorism of everyone here, and one of the first things I researched here was how to do Paleo eating only water animals and the general opinion about the meat industry -- and I felt relieved when I found out that most of you would rather eat grass fed meat.

(I apologize about my english, it's my seconde language)

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-24T23:27:02Z

I have to add that sometimes I get sick when I eat too much fat, I'm definitely not used to eating it.

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-24T23:08:45Z

Nance, after a life of low fat eating, I guess I'm afraid of fat... I like you suggestion of cooking my eggs on butter, I'll do that. And maybe I'll have to always have some sardines and butter in hand when eating out. Thank you!

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-24T23:05:41Z

I'll try to eat coconut oil by the spoon, let's see if I'll be able. About the second breakfast, I can see that after a crossfit session it's definitely not enough food. Thanks!

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-24T23:02:31Z

I think you are right about me burning glucose rather than fat... I think I'm eating too much fruit, I really like them and maybe I'm clinging to the last carbs I'm left with :) Thank you!

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-12T14:35:56Z

wow, now that's an original experience!

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-11-12T14:29:19Z

My experience is similar to yours, as are my feelings about vegetarianism and the reasons I'm no longer vegetarian.

Comment by alefrombrazil

2011-10-20T22:01:20Z

Rhubarb, thank you very much for this answer. On my second paleo week I had a horrible night just like Jac described and it freaked me out really bad. Very good to know it has a scientific explanation related to food - and it was not a panic attack!