Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I originally misread this question as "Have you ever given Paleo a bad name? What is the rudest thing you have ever said about the area of Paleo." I assume I can't be the only one who was originally resistant to the idea of Paleo and talked some smack about the diet or the adherents to it before coming around. So, what are some of the worst things you've ever said about Paleo? Embarrassing and/or cringe-worthy is okay.

Here are mine: I mocked the first person I ever met who described their diet as "adhering to the principles of the Paleolithic era" (he didn't have the luxury of short hand yet, i guess, as this was in 1999) behind his back mercilessly. I used to say that his diet (which, at the time, was only raw meat and nuts) was insane and had no scientific backing at all and that anyone who ate like that smelled horrible (based solely on this sample size of one dude who admittedly was constantly ketosis-pungent--or maybe he was also not bathing, i don't know.)

Later down the line I also wrote Paleo folks off as "misguided neo-primitive wannabes" and just plain sad.

If only my past self could see me now!

flag	asked Oct 29 2010 at 20:27 amanda 2,325●3●12

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Oops sorry. Can't answer this one.. Worst I've said is... Wow that makes perfect sense... – Stephen-Aegis Oct 29 2010 at 23:26

I wish I could say that, but coming from both a commercial vegan and later raw vegan background I had a lot of things to sort through (from ethical things to learning how to cook meat) to get to where I am today. I'm happy that I did, I just wish it had happened sooner as I would have had far less health problems to overcome. – amanda Oct 29 2010 at 23:39

Glad you made it here tho! – Stephen-Aegis Oct 29 2010 at 23:51

I did go back and clarify the title of my question, thanks for the good-point. – Adam Crafter Oct 30 2010 at 11:14

Eva · Answer 1 · 2010-10-29 22:23:15Z UTC

I remember when I first tried lowcarb, I figured it didn't sound super healthy but then again, neither was being fat. The thing is, my version of low carb was pretty healthy. I had to nix milk cuz of the lactose sugars. And I didn't want to pay for a lot of expensive lowcarb product, so I ate a lot of meat and veggies instead. And I never did like the taste of grain oils so I was happy to eat butter and bacon fat instead.

But the whole time, I was worried it wasn't healthy to eat that way! I often went around saying it was probably a good diet for overweight people because it worked and although maybe not ideal, the benefits of the weight loss outweighed the potential health risks of an 'unbalanced' diet. THis was back before I did any research. But the thing is, even back then, I was eating basically paleo and worrying about it being unhealthy. Later, I did more research and now I have even become a research addict! And I am relieved to realize that my version of lowcarb was certainly a darned sight better than what I had been eating before.

Kamal · Answer 2 · 2010-10-29 20:34:56Z UTC

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I sometimes enjoy calling people "paleo-evangelists" or "paleo-fundamentalists". This inevitably comes about when someone says that eating a cupcake will kill you, or something of that nature.

answered Oct 29 2010 at 20:34

Kamal♦
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Do you ever read Free the Animal? Richard over there posted something very negatively attacking the surgeon general's overweight/obese status, which I thought was very haughty considering he used to be fat. So I went over and lambasted him for as long as I could stand. Commentors seemed to especially make fun of her being a fat woman, which really got my goat being that some of them were likely formerly fat men. – Kamal♦ Oct 29 2010 at 21:41

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I had a really difficult time with that. In college feminist-borne fat acceptance was a powerful movement so encountering this rabid anti-fatism (of the "f*** that fat b**** cow" variety) in a community that for the most part I found, for the most part was smart and accepting and more about health than weight loss (at least vs. other "diets") was really off-putting. – amanda Oct 30 2010 at 0:09

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Also, I liked what Melissa said on her blog regarding health at any size even before the FTA post: "We ain't in the paleolithic anymore and this is more complex than people not exercising enough or eating too much. Epigenetics, gut flora, pollution, and the complexity of metabolic set-points messed up early in life or with yo-yo dieting make weight a difficult issue." I wish conversations about weight were more like this and less about tired fat jokes. – amanda Oct 30 2010 at 0:14

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Here here! It seems so antithetical to paleo, which identifies a poisonous agricultural/industrial environment as a major factor in our declining health, to make stupid fat jokes about anyone. When I saw rows and rows of dumb comments by these suddenly macho paleo alpha-males, I seriously wanted to find one and punch them in the face. Then someone from here posted some logical comments, and stupid head Richard Nikoley is all like "Look at me swear! I'm so funny, aren't I?" Aaaahhhhgggg! I can't even read his (informative and helpful) juvenile error-laced blog any more! – Kamal♦ Oct 30 2010 at 1:02

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These days, when I see a fat person, I consider the possibility that they used to be fatter, and are doing much better now. – Ambimorph Oct 30 2010 at 4:34

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Resurgent · Answer 3 · 2010-10-30 03:58:44Z UTC

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@Kamal,I agree that politeness comes first.. its just human that way - but on 'free the Animal' the SG got picked because her position as SG did not represent her health and she did say 'You can be healthy at any weight' (Although, I have a suspicion she meant you CAN get healthy at any weight). But the country's SG making a TV statement could have been edited better.

One has to appreciate the candidness and forthrightness of Richard, even if it may seem to edge towards rude sometimes.

Finally, I do not know Richard nor I'm a schill for him. I am an avid Paleo and read copiously about it and practice it as well.

answered Oct 30 2010 at 3:58

Resurgent
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Positive reinforcement probably helps more. For example, Mark Sisson and Stephen Guyenet. Forthrightness and candidness helps too, like Kurt Harris. Richard Nikoley is the only one who is intentionally insulting, almost intentionally to stick out. When more and more obese people turn to paleo, and choose blogs to read, I hope they skip over Richard's. I've never been overweight, but I can only imagine being an obese woman reading that idiotic post, feeling bad about myself, remembering past dudes making fun of you, and not feeling totally comfortable in the paleo society. – Kamal♦ Oct 30 2010 at 4:17

Sure.! you are right but I wonder if the same will be said if a senior general of the army, 150 lbs overweight, is seen lecturing his troops about fitness.. He may be the best war planner ever born.. Reminds me of the Mahatma's words - "Be the change you want to see" Richards comments, unfortunate if seen through the lens of propriety, were directed at the chair of the SG, not entirely at the person occupying the chair at that time. Anyway.. Carpe diem.! – Resurgent Oct 30 2010 at 7:42

"What I was essentially getting at is the layer of fat is such a mask that she can wear any facial expression she wants and you’re not going to necessarily detect it."--Richard Nikoley on the Surgeon General – Kamal♦ Oct 30 2010 at 14:59

Who is Richard Nikoley? He is a partner of Mark Sisson's? I know he has a blog but that's all I know of him... – PrimalStyle Oct 31 2010 at 18:55

...and I know he loves potatoes lol – PrimalStyle Oct 31 2010 at 18:56

paleonyc · Answer 4 · 2010-11-04 16:41:34Z UTC

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i haven't said anything bad about Paleo, but the MDA superprocessed expensive protein powder makes me want to do so. badly.

answered Nov 4 2010 at 16:41

paleonyc
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Meeses · Answer 5 · 2010-11-04 15:14:04Z UTC

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"Your momma wears army Vibrams." Oh, snap!

answered Nov 4 2010 at 15:14

Meeses
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What’s the rudest thing you’ve ever said ABOUT paleo?

5 Answers