Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

5

I've been successful in the past on low carb dieting (lost 60 or so lbs) but the old demon of sugar and processed junk took me over. I am a member of Weight Watchers and have seen steady losses of .5 lbs per week but I still feel like crap. I knew I needed to do this - remove the garbage from my life - and so I've made the commitment to do it. Hoping to see more than a .5 lb loss per week, but I can deal with the ups and downs as long as I'm seeing measurable changes elsewhere.

My husband is on board and doing it as well. We're migrating our 3 kids over to the paleo lifestyle as we can. I have about 90 lbs to lose. Here we go... :)

Any tips for a person doing this the 2nd (or 3rd, or whatever) time around?

flag	asked Apr 2 2012 at 21:52 Bobbie 471●1●10

	Don't get too obsessed with "perfect". There is no such thing. The process of continually seeking a better understanding, balance, and harmony between body, mind, and spirit (in this case as it relates to food) is where the real benefit lies. – FED at LiveCaveman.com Apr 2 2012 at 23:03
	You pretty much know what you need to do. You can make small changes over time. I added different things like coconut oil, grass fed beef and pastured eggs at very different times. The most important thing is not to worry when you slip up. Every day is a new day. In fact, use the slip ups to remind yourself how crappy that food makes you feel and then they will help to reinforce your good habits. The other thing is eat paleo stuff that you like. If your food is delicious, you have less incentive to cheat. – Dave S. Apr 3 2012 at 13:27

Todd · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-02 21:59:09Z UTC

9

Stay the course.

Toss the scale.

Don't get lost in the minor details.

Be Patient.

Enjoy the journey.

answered Apr 2 2012 at 21:59

Todd
5,837●1●11●39

Nance · Answer 2 · 2012-04-02 22:05:51Z UTC

Hi! And welcome. If you haven't already, plan to read Eat Like a Predator and The Archevore Diet. Another great practical resource is The Perfect Health Diet. I'm sure I've forgotten some, but others will cover for me.

As Todd said, don't get lost in the details particularly with your kids. If you're teaching them that whole foods can be tasty, that's the major victory. The best thing for them is to gradually learn to eat a wide variety of whole foods as opposed to thinking of it as "we can't ever have anything good."

Have fun!

Derek · Answer 3 · 2012-04-02 22:45:36Z UTC

Eat real food. Get out and enjoy the sun and nature walking, hiking, throwing a frisbee with the kids. Be patient (I like that from Todd there) and don't feel guilty if you cheat once in a while. Telling yourself you will "never" have something again and you'll inadvertently panic inside some. Embrace an occasional (not daily, but say you're at a gathering or something) treat and try to keep life simple. I feel like paleo is so much about embracing life the way it was meant to be lived and that whole package is what really has been helping me. Good luck and keep us posted!

twochickadeez · Answer 4 · 2012-04-02 22:05:36Z UTC

1

I agree toss the scale.

Are you done with WW then? I started Paleo after doing WW for a couple of years (never really lost anything looking back on it, but I liked the structure). Paleo is very, very different. I'd advise letting go of the fear of fat, if you haven't already. Give Paleo time and tweak it when necessary. Stop weighing yourself and go by how your clothes feel.

Good luck!!!

answered Apr 2 2012 at 22:05

twochickadeez
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	Signed up (and paid) for WW through July... It's a WW at work program. I do like the group. They don't seem to push the crazy stuff (so far) like low fats or anything. I may still go once a month to weigh in and keep accountable. I have no prob throwing out the scale as long as I am feeling better and my clothes are feeling looser. You know things like that. – Bobbie Apr 2 2012 at 22:14
	Gotcha. I thought you were talking formal Weight Watchers. I found their focus was on high fiber, low fat (butter is bad, light butter or I can't believe it's not butter is good), and "fake" foods. I found that was a difficult mind-set to get out of. GL! – twochickadeez Apr 2 2012 at 22:52

Johnny · Answer 5 · 2012-04-02 23:35:01Z UTC

For anyone that's been through various paleo attempts and wants to get back in I highly advise the whole30 program. I too had gone through multiple rounds of paleo and I was getting so bogged down with details and rules that the whole30 let me do a total nutritional reset. After the 30 days it was waaaaay easier to understand what things were acceptable and which were not because my body would react. For instance, I get itchy when I have dairy now and when I drink alcohol I'm hungover for a full day.

Marcy · Answer 6 · 2012-04-03 13:32:28Z UTC

I find that the easiest way to get through an urge to cheat is to say, out loud, "I would rather eat this ____ than lose weight / feel healthy / sleep well / have clear skin / not be bloated." It helps me to hear myself voice this ridiculous priority. And by all means, if a cupcake is worth several days of feeling miserable, go for it.
If you eat the cupcake, and you still have the urge, give yourself an hour window to cheat. This helps limit the downward spiral that people feel once they re-introduce an addictive substance. Of course, it would be much, much better to never eat the cupcake, since you essentially have to "start over" with overcoming these cravings.

Good luck!!

First day of Paleo down. A lifetime to go. Any tips?

6 Answers