Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Im just starting out here and have reached the 7 day(ish) mark. I feel so much better it is quite remarkable, but I'm not feeling that much lighter. I've seen stuff say Paleo is none restrictive in how much one can eat, then I'm reading theres more to it than that. I am however only eating lean meats, fish, and all of the appropriate fruit and veg etc, with zero wheat, diary, sugar or packaged/processed foods and loving it. But I do like large portions when it comes to steaks etc. Any advice or suggestions will be welcomed. Would like to lose around 25lbs.

edited Jul 16 at 20:59

Aughra
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asked Jul 16 at 18:46

Paul
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Seriously? You've been eating paleo for one week and you're bummed because you haven't lost weight? ONE WEEK! Sheesh. – Karen Jul 16 at 18:49

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Chill, get used to eating right and feeling healthy. Take it slow, adjust your serving sizes as needed later. Step away from the scale. Do weights. After a month or so, check how your clothes fit. Adjust as needed after that. – Karen Jul 16 at 18:50

I lost 15 pounds in 2 months doing what your doing the exception being that I eat fatty cuts of meat and drink hard liquor and wine while not counting calories at all. I also run over 20miles of week and am in the gym everyother day or so and yoga like crazy. I feel like I can use the fuel and the attitude adjustment. – polynesian_metal Jul 16 at 21:54

Put the scale away and go on how you feel. Don't let people who are bashing you for you being bummed you're not losing a ton after a week. Wait a month and a half, then weigh yourself. By then, you'll feel so great that you WONT care. – Justin Jul 17 at 3:42

Sleepyhouse22 · Answer 1 · 2012-07-16 19:04:41Z UTC

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Portion control is what helped me... In the first 4 weeks of eating paleo I lost ten pounds. Then I started adding in Paleo 'cheats' and real 'cheats' and out of control portion sizes of steak, grapes, and coconut. I gained back 5 pounds in a month or so.

i.e. I ate a whole bag of grapes DAILY before my Whole30. Yah-duh I gained weight.

Now I started a Whole30 while restricting fruit to one serving a day, steak to small portions, no coconut, no paleo cheats, no real cheats, etc. and I'm right back on track with losing weight weekly.

SO, portion control please. Paleo doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Science does still exist.

answered Jul 16 at 19:04

Sleepyhouse22
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Paleo helps you get your hormones in balance so you can burn fat and control your eating, but you still have to operate in a calorie deficit to lose weight. Paleo just makes that part easier. – RaiseFitness Jul 16 at 19:33

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I found fruit to be a stumbling block for me, as I tended to pig out at a single sitting (mostly because, imho, fruit doesn't make me feel full). The solution I came up with was that, whenever I eat a non-filling food (like grapes) I eat a filling food (like meat or cheese--I do eat dairy products) along with it. This has prevented me from pigging out on the fruit (and made the portion control thing unnecessary). – Talldog Jul 16 at 19:37

Eating paleo DOES help you operate at a deficit if you don't abuse it. Speaking from experience, I never want seconds of anything paleo except steak, steak, and more steak. So now I make my portion and put away the rest. Veggies can stay out for seconds, but it doesn't happen. Grapes are definitely not satieting whatsoever. A whole bag is nothing to me, unfortunately. On the zone diet, which I don't do... they restricted grapes to like, 8-10 per serving. That's what I follow. If I didn't have any other fruit that day, I'll have 8-10 grapes after dinner to also subside dessert cravings. – Sleepyhouse22 Jul 16 at 19:51

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IMO doing a W30 can be good for some people in the beginning. It depends on the person. I tend to handle a big change at once better than a long cascade of little changes. Other people prefer that slower incremental approach. – Karen Jul 16 at 23:41

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A W30 will definitely reset your food habits rapidly. – Karen Jul 16 at 23:43

show 2 more comments

Aughra · Answer 2 · 2012-07-16 21:12:13Z UTC

Here are some similar questions that may help you as a newbie who isn't losing weight at the very beginning:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109891/what-to-expect-those-first-30-days#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/39332/first-month-of-paleo-what-was-your-experience#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/22839/two-week-stall-paleo-teaches-patience#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/19703/week-two-how-am-i-doing#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/109965/1-week-on-paleo-feel-like-garbage#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/135169/2nd-week-of-paleo-gained-weight-back#axzz20oulx1qd

http://paleohacks.com/questions/95462/paleo-plateau-after-one-month-help#axzz20oulx1qd

SCUBABry · Answer 3 · 2012-07-16 20:53:00Z UTC

Hey Paul,

Here was my experiance. First week was a bit slow on the weight loss. My advice is to get used to eating this way and you will notice it very soon. I am almost one month into it and I have lost 19 lbs, but I also have a lot more to lose than you do. I am looking at loosing like 50 lbs over all...but I have it to loose. I think it is easier to lose, the heavier you are. Just enjoy the way it makes you feel and eat when you need to and you will be fine. Keep reading on PaleoHacks and go get a book to read about eating Paleo. It will help you understand the process and what your body is currently doing. Good job on choosing to go Paleo! I believe you made the right choice and, based on my experiance, you will find the results you are looking for.

Gerg · Answer 4 · 2012-07-16 21:02:17Z UTC

You haven't specified your activity level, but if you started exercising at the same time your muscles may be retaining fluid which is normal. This may have offset any losses you were expecting to see. In any case I'd give it some more time before adjusting anything...I don't think it has been long enough to be sure it isn't working.

Talldog · Answer 5 · 2012-07-16 19:27:50Z UTC

Fat (especially saturated fat) is what keeps your hunger at bay. If anything, drop the lean meats and go for the fatty ones. Also, cook your vegetables in fat (butter, coconut, or olive).

It was a big hurdle for me getting over the fear of fats, but once I did everything else fell into place and took off.

You're only a week into it. Worry less about little details, and more about eating the right classes of foods (and avoiding the right classes of foods), which it sounds like you are doing.

Don't worry about the portions for now. A few weeks into it you'll find that you just won't be as hungry and your portions will get smaller on their own (as I posted on another thread, I've lost 40+ pounds since Jan and haven't counted calories or exercised the first bit of portion control).

It sounds from your description that you are off to a great start in general (the fat thing is the only red flag I saw). Give it a few weeks for everything to settle in, then reevaluate.

Paul · Answer 6 · 2012-07-16 19:11:03Z UTC

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I'm not bummed by the way. Anything but.

answered Jul 16 at 19:11

Paul
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Good news. It sounds like you already have some reasons to be pretty pleased. Sorry I got smart assed with you. I guess I've seen the impatient question so often I'm starting to see it when it isn't there. – Karen Jul 16 at 23:46

Irene · Answer 7 · 2012-07-16 20:49:26Z UTC

intermittent fasting is a great way of creating a calorie deficit, i think if u do this and stick with the paleo way of life u should achieve faster weight loss (i typically fast from 8pm til 12pm = 16 hour fast monday to friday) u tailor it to suit u, best of luck

JennyUC · Answer 8 · 2012-07-17 07:21:22Z UTC

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Ive seen great results from the diet solution program, Ive lost a little over 7lbs in 3 weeks. If you want to check it out http://pl1.com/AyNsaPkm good luck and stay healthy

answered Jul 17 at 7:21

JennyUC
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Paul · Answer 9 · 2012-07-17 10:40:28Z UTC

I'm one of the people who cycles and walks a lot, yet have been unable to control my cravings and impulses. And have always binged on wheat foods and sugars. Now with ZERO wheat for the last 7 days the improvement in my mood and general feeling of well being is nothing short of spectacular. I'm really inspired and enthused to see what happens next.

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