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I got here via Peter Attia's blog. I keep reading there and here too, people complaining about major stalling or not losing all their weight. Kinda discouraging. I am a 43 yr old F, I have about 50lbs of weight to lose and am serious about this. Today is my 6th day, I'm in ketosis and I'm getting the hang of this. Arent there plenty of successful paleo for weight loss eaters out there?

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I lost 40 lb in about 6 months on Paleo alone and still keep losing it about 0.5 lb per day, no exercise. What worked for me was eliminating ALL FRUIT and all nuts. Later you can re-introduce them, but for the first couple of months I would avoid them. Also, go easy on fats and oils. To answer your question - yes, Paleo WILL work for you to lose weight (not all, we don't want you to be at 0) but the most important thing is that it is going to help you to get better health. I don't do VLC or LC. Everybody is different. You are on the right track, don't worry - you will get there! – VB May 30 at 11:01
Just go over to Mark's Daily Apple and read the success stories...you'll feel much better :) – legup May 30 at 13:54
If you're after a structured diet, you might as well do this. – Kasra May 30 at 18:41
Thank you for the encouragement. – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:44

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Here's a secret: Every single way of eating that results in weight loss is also going to have a lot of adherents who are currently stalled out, having averse reactions, or who haven't managed to lose as much weight as they would like. It could be veganism, vegetarianism, South Beach, low-carb, low-fat, Jenny Craig, 30 Bananas a Day...or paleo.

No way of eating is 100% effective for weight loss 100% of the time. And when things aren't going well? People tend to complain about it on online forums to anyone who will sympathize. The people who are doing well, in the meantime, keep on keeping on, and they aren't always as visible because they don't need so much advice or support (though they often give it).

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+1 -- excellent answer. I would also add that there is no one particular diet (or way of eating) that works for every single person, whether your goal is weight loss or not. – Canis Minor May 30 at 11:39
at the end of the day it will primarily be calories in vs calories out. no matter what the diet. – mzrdnan May 30 at 16:22
mzrdnan -- I think that the calories in/calories out hypothesis is likely not the bottom line we would expect it to be. I'm not sure that I'm quite Taubesian in my disregard for it (one would presume a 10,000 calorie a day eater would gain weight regardless of macronutrient profile) but it seems that higher fat, low carb eating has a little bit more wiggle room with regard to caloric intake. – mrmagee May 30 at 16:57
Thank you for the encouragement, Your right. Successful people are on message boards too, they arent posting "I am so lean now. Yay for me" I know for a fact that it is not just a matter of calories in calories out. ie people who take insulin often get fatter. This is why I love Dr. Peter Attias blog. esp the article Do Calories Matter? – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:56
Huh???? One of the basic ideas behind paleo is that the body DOESN'T work on a calories in calories out basis. That's how other diets get it wrong. They think they can just skimp on calories but doesn't doesn't work long term. Heard of hormones? – Glither May 31 at 9:42
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I've lost over 60lbs using a VLC keto diet. Try it, lose some weight, and worry about stalling later. The possibility of stalling later isn't a good excuse for not starting in the first place.

Good luck!

Edited to say: Also remember that the scales are a terrible indicator of fat loss. There were months when, although my weight never seemed to go down on the scales, my clothes suddenly all got much looser. I'd trust the tape measure much more than the scales.

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Totally agree. Yes, there are many success stories, but at the end of the day the only one that matters is your own. – Jen May 30 at 7:00
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I've lost 25 lbs so far, doing VLC--10 lbs in early January, then a stall until mid-April before losing another 15. I've stuck with it this long despite the slow weight loss because so many chronic health problems I had have either cleared up or greatly improved. Fast, predictable weight loss would be nice, but not being sick all the time? I'll stick with paleo just to have that, and trust that eventually the weight loss will happen in its own time. – More Butter Please May 30 at 8:40
I am already experiencing that almost instantly. Thank you for the encouragement. – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:47
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Stalls will happen along the way. I've had 3 in 6 months. I've also lost 62lbs. And yes, you can lose all of the extra weight. But paleo is more than just food- it's how you sleep and move too.

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Right on! Exciting.I sleep good and exercise too. Im actually fit and fat. – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:49
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I would strongly recommend not relying on diet alone. Try to incorporate as much or as little exercise into your paleo life style and you will see the pounds melting off. I just started paleo VLC 4 weeks ago with absolutely no cheats what so ever and have lost 16 lbs. I also fit in a 2-4 mile walk every day and just this week do 15 min every morning of body weight exercises (push ups, sit ups, burpees). My hubby and I are making it a challenge to see who can do more of each. We even cancelled our cable so that we can spend more quality time with our 7 month old son like walks, hikes, and bikes. We are fully embracing paleo as a life style not a diet.

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I agree. Even if I did lose all my weight, how nice will I be to look at naked? Being thin is one thing but being fit is entirely another thing. – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:51
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All weight lose efforts eventually end up stalling, its natural to hit a plateau, it just depends on the person to push through it and figure out what it takes to get past it.

I lost 35 lbs, but most importantly I'm much stronger/healthier than I have been in years and am working to fix my digestive issues created by a lifetime of boxed, canned, preserved foods.

People often fixate on the negative because thats whats going on at the moment, but I think a stall is good to allow you to regroup, refocus and rededicate oneself to your goals.

Diet alone is not the answer anyways, but you can fix alot of things by making lifestyle changes that include diet!

Best of luck to you! It is possible to loose weight after 40, its maintaining it thats more work!

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I've lost 61lbs over the past nine months by eating paleo and exercising (4 - 5 workouts a week). I'm 44 and am in the best shape of my adult life. I've found that to be successful takes dedication, you will have ups and downs but the key is to persevere and you will be successful.

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Were you ketogenic the whole time? That is amazing. Thanks. Quitters stay fat right? I hope I have the inner grit to finish this. – Boogiemaam May 31 at 4:54

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