Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Have you read Dean Dwyer's article, "Paleo That Lasts" and did you find some inspiration?

Which reinforcing habits do you have, and which would you like to practice?

EDIT: I posted this question because my own reaction to Dean's article is that some weeks my attitude is in great shape but other weeks see me getting a little lazy or whiny. I found Dean's list of successful traits a pretty good map to follow.

edited Mar 10 2012 at 19:37

asked Mar 10 2012 at 17:36

Nance
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Firestorm · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-10 21:17:17Z UTC

I found the article helpful, and I think it might help some of the other folk I have worked with over time. See, I know a few folk think the article was elitist, but to be honest, I've spoken with an awful lot of people who say "wow, you've changed so much -- I want to do what YOU'VE done."... so I tell them what I've done, and the very next things out of their mouths are the THOUSAND reasons why they just can't do what I did -- "... too expensive"; "... takes too long..."; "...don't like that food..."; "...can't imagine not eating that..."; "...don't know how to cook that..." In the end, though, if you want something different out of your life, you HAVE to look at your life in a different way, and be willing to do hard things to make and keep change.

I'm sorry if it sounded elitist, though to me, it just sounded blunt... but the reality has been, at least for me, that if you don't make the hard changes, and make them knowing that they're going to be hard, and that things aren't going to be instant, so you're going to have to keep doing them for a WHILE and just get used to it, nothing you try is going to 'stick'... and I'm kinda glad someone came out and -said- it, because I always feel like a creep when I hear the things I hear, and the little voice in my head says "You know that in a week, they're going to be whining that 'this just doesn't work!'"

DFH · Answer 2 · 2012-03-12 13:35:07Z UTC

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It's a nice list, but way too long!

answered Mar 12 2012 at 13:35

DFH
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karstyl · Answer 3 · 2012-03-12 12:24:12Z UTC

I like a lot of the ideas in the article, but for me one of the keys to sustainability is to separate weight loss from health. The article seems to measure success as weight loss, loss of inches and keeping it off. I think focusing on just weight is similar to focusing on just cholesterol, it is a marker of your state of health, not a measure of health.

A focus on more functional measures, like how you feel, if you can walk up a few flights of stairs easily (or many, depending on where you are in your path to health,) or how much you can lift. Or, even better, can you do the things you enjoy, avoid as many illness as possible and be productive. If one achieves healthy and happy, the aesthetic and biochemical goals often follow.

The markers improve when the health improves, the health does not necessarily improve when the markers do.

gydle · Answer 4 · 2012-03-10 20:21:19Z UTC

There are some nuggets of wisdom in there, for sure. And if it helps you focus on the positive, that's great. It turned me off because it was so binary. Either you're God's gift to Paleo, or you're a loser. I found it too judgmental about people who aren't "doing it right."

At least for me, changing the habits of a lifetime is a process, not an instantaneous transformation. I've spent enough of my life beating myself up for poor eating habits, that his accusatory tone towards the "weak" in the paleo world put my back up. I don't need that.

Lutfisk · Answer 5 · 2012-03-10 18:37:58Z UTC

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I find that it would be more difficult to go back. You can't un-know stuff.

answered Mar 10 2012 at 18:37

Lutfisk
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I hear you. When I'm "sane" that's my reaction exactly. When I'm emotional and the lizard brain takes over that can be different so I've bookmarked the article for future use. – Nance Mar 10 2012 at 18:44

Dragonfly · Answer 6 · 2012-03-10 18:33:38Z UTC

Context is everything.

I couldn't really relate to the article, but maybe because I've been eating a whole foods organic diet since I went away to college (30 years ago!)

Transitioning from whole foods vegetarian to whole foods WAPer to lacto-Paleo has been easy.

Fine-tuning has been easy because I never had an expectation of a quick fix.

Since I don't see processed junk (including grains) as real food, I don't struggle.

Apex Predator · Answer 7 · 2012-03-10 18:05:31Z UTC

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I tried to read it, but really couldn't handle all the marketing/corporate talk. Seemed like some good ideas, though.

I don't see the need to "reinforce" anything. Paleo works for me, and non-paleo doesn't. I suppose I could decide to stop it, just like I could take up hard drugs or a life of crime, but I don't feel the need to plan to prevent any of them.

answered Mar 10 2012 at 18:05

Apex Predator
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My reaction was a little different. I don't think it was about just staying or not; I think it was also about succeeding. Here on PH, we certainly have lots of people indicating it can be tough. I myself have had some rough spots along the way. – Nance Mar 10 2012 at 18:20

It could very likely help people, perhaps from a different background or with a different personality. I was talking only about my situation. – Apex Predator Mar 11 2012 at 4:06

Eugenia · Answer 8 · 2012-03-10 17:41:28Z UTC

Since Paleohacks is primarily about health and not as much about weight loss, I don't think that there's a big problem with people staying true to the diet. And if they stay true to it, then Paleo will last, their bodies will transform and stay transformed too.

Personally I came to Paleo for multiple health reasons, so when I saw these ailments go away, I don't see why I would ever give the diet up. I started exercising a bit too. It's a lifestyle for life.

Have You Read, “Paleo That Lasts”?

8 Answers