Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Since I stopped eating bread and other grains, like one month ago, i'm losing too much weight. I was a vegetarian my whole life, but start eating meat (chicken and fish) when I noticed that it was going to fast.

I don't need to lose weight, I just want to eat healthy. My BMI is around 18 (so too low). I'm not used eating a lot in one time, I eat 3 'big' meals a day and in between 'snacks' so I eat every 2-3 hours something. I tried eating more in the big meals, but I get really nauseous.

So what kind of food can help me gaining a bit more weight again, or at least stop losing it. And I'm not talking about quantity.

Thanks a lot!

edited Apr 13 2012 at 15:48

asked Apr 13 2012 at 15:31

Yarah
95●7

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Lose weight, lose weight lose weight! AAAAAGGGHHHH! – Dave S. Apr 13 2012 at 15:35

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uhm, English is not my native language, so please tell me in a normal way ok? – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 16:28

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Sorry, this particular mistake has been made quite frequently. It's fine if you can't spell, especially if English is not your native language. You'll have to excuse me when I do a few laps around my office screaming from time to time (it's VERY paleo, I assure you). – Dave S. Apr 13 2012 at 16:55

no problem, I don't mind being corrected in my English, I like to learn ;) – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 17:44

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About how many calories are you eating a day? You could plug what you typically eat into SelfNutritionData/FitDay/Cron-O-Meter and see what you come up with. I suspect it is low for your frame. I also echo adding in some safe starches especially if you are having symptoms of hypothyroid. – Violet Apr 13 2012 at 19:35

Nemesis · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-13 16:34:43Z UTC

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Include starchy foods in your diet. White rice (plain), potatoes, yams, squashes, and the like. Eat more fats. Diversify your animal proteins. And an 18 BMI isn't "too low", IMO, you just don't need to go any lower.

EDIT: I asked a similar question last year Hack my "Over" weight loss, you may find some helpful suggestions!

edited Apr 13 2012 at 16:34

answered Apr 13 2012 at 15:42

Nemesis
11.4k●1●9●40

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Nemesis, how do you know it's not too low for her? Lower than 18.5 is technically considered underweight. – Renee Apr 13 2012 at 15:50

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However, Nemesis, your advice is bang on. I was losing weight on Paleo when I started, now I eat more white rice (which also helps my IBS) and I'm actually up a few pounds. – Renee Apr 13 2012 at 15:51

Thanks for the advice. I thought eating rice is not paleo? I stopped eating it because of my glucose fluctuations. – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 15:55

I want to know this too. I've been on Paleohacks for a couple weeks now and I keep seeing people mentioning that they eat rice. – D.K. Apr 13 2012 at 16:18

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Rice is probably categorized as Primal, but not strict Paleo. But with white rice having no anti-nutrients it's considered a "safe" starch. I have to eat starch in order to maintain my weight. Going strict/orthodox Paleo caused too much weight loss as I was only doing it for the health, not to drop any pounds. – Nemesis Apr 13 2012 at 16:28

show 2 more comments

Dave S. · Answer 2 · 2012-04-13 15:43:56Z UTC

Adding fat could help. Cook in coconut oil, add butter to veggies, eat fattier meats, chicken with the skin (dark meat instead of white).

Either that or back some of the carbs you lost by giving up grains, try a sweet potato, white potato or white rice.

Better yet, do both! Butter on rice or sweet potato, etc. Best thing to do is eat more high calorie density food.

The other idea is to reverse engineer the weight loss advice. For example, people are told to cut back on fruit, nuts or cheese. So, go ahead and eat those.

Obviously, if you don't do dairy or rice or white potato (never know how orthodox anyone is) then ignore those aspects.

D.K. · Answer 3 · 2012-04-13 15:44:35Z UTC

I have the exact same problem. After having a jelly belly for almost 20 years since I was a teenager, I started eating Paleo in early Janurary and I've gone from 183 to 161.5 lbs this morning. It's too much now - although I enjoy the size 30 jeans. I started adding in sweet potatoes 3 days ago and more fruits. It's too early to tell if it's working yet, but even in the last 3 days I've lost another 2.5 pounds. Basically, you need to eat more of everything and/or you can add some slow digesting starches and carbs to put the brakes on.

Ratiocinative · Answer 4 · 2012-04-13 16:27:16Z UTC

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If you're not showing abs then you're not losing too much fat, though you might be low on lean body mass. If you want to put on more lean body mass you will need to lift weights. If you are showing abs, and for some reason don't want to, then you just have to eat more.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 16:27

Ratiocinative
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since when are abs the benchmark of underweight/health? What about: are you still menstruating, are you cold all the time, do you have fine downy body hair, low energy, etc. – Renee Apr 13 2012 at 16:58

you can count my ribs, does that count? I never had cold feet before but now... I need socks in my bed. My energy level at the end of the day is the same and that can be a lot better! – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 17:12

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What the heck? Having some abdominal fat on a woman is normal, even when underweight. I know people who were in treatment with very low body weight and had "flab" because of stress, natural anatomy, bloating, etc....ugh. – Sunny Beaches Apr 13 2012 at 19:11

Monique · Answer 5 · 2012-04-13 18:04:25Z UTC

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About the nausea, are you sure you have enough stomach acid and/or enzymes. I'd consider supplementing and/or eating pineapple or papaya when you eat meat.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 18:04

Monique
11●1

Never thought of that, I just thought it had to do with my stomach was not 'big' enough. I just ate and I'm nauseous again :( But ate pineapple with chicken. I will eat some more, maybe it helps, thanks! – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 18:10

Team Oberg · Answer 6 · 2012-04-13 18:10:25Z UTC

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Also, make sure to up your fat intake. My husband had a problem with losing too much weight on a low carb diet before because he was not consuming adequate quantities of fat. Many people switch over and still retain a bit of the "low-fat" mentality.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 18:10

Team Oberg
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	I eat lots's of nuts and coconut and cook with it as well. I eat Greek yogurt with 10% fat, I'm not afraid of it. Can you give me some examples what to eat? – Yarah Apr 13 2012 at 18:26
	oh jeez, 10% fat greek yogurt tastes like cream cheese to me, you are one brave person...I just can't handle to stuff. It sounds like you are consuming fair amounts of fatty foods, you could always add a little truffle oil or grass-fed butter to your dishes at the end. My only other advice is to lift heavy weights if you are not doing it already, it is making me grow in all the right places. – Team Oberg Apr 16 2012 at 20:14

Aglaee the Paleo RD · Answer 7 · 2012-04-14 08:07:49Z UTC

Eat more fat! Use plenty of coconut oil, ghee, butter or add olive oil or macadamia oil to your meals! Avocado, guacamole and olives are also good ways to add more fat to your diet. You can also make a homemade mayonnaise with healthy oils.

losing too much weight

7 Answers