Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Okay, so I know there are a lot of you out there who advocate low carb as the only option combined with paleo for fat loss, but I also know a lot of you think low carb-Paleos are doing themselves a disfavor. I am looking to lose about 15 pounds again... the same 15 I lost going Paleo but recently gained from too many days of slipping sigh. I am now going back to strict Paleo now to lose those 15 lbs again, but originally when I lost those 15 lbs, I was VLC, and lethargic half the time. I want to try to lose those same pounds again but without that experience... but am wondering if that's what's necessary?

My menu the first time I lost weight was 4-5 omelette for breakfast, and a steak salad with avocado or something for dinner totaling out to somewhere around 1200 calories and >30 carbs. Can I still have adequate fat loss results on a similar 1200 calorie menu but with the addition of say 2 potatoes at dinner? :(

What have been your experiences? Have you lost weight with the presence of carbs? I just want to know what your honest opinions are because I know the VLC works... but it's miserable. I don't wanna test this out for a month, and find out it doesn't work, and lose that month of weight loss :/ Thank you!!

edited Oct 4 at 0:19

asked Oct 4 at 0:01

Amber
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+1 for knowing how to spell "lose." – twochickadeez Oct 4 at 1:09

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If you learn to eat a mixed diet while you lose the weight there's less tendency to slip up once you reach your goal. I ate carbs at Med diet level and was able to run average 2 lb/week losses, and have kept that weight off for 5 years. – thhq Oct 4 at 4:45

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I try to be under 30 carbs a day too. Sometimes I feel lightheaded or lethargic. For me, that is a clue my body needs a little more carbs. I might have a handful of frozen raspberries and coconut milk. Or 1/4 of a peach or pear. – Monkeyjebo Oct 4 at 6:08

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I would not eat carbs every time you start to feel bad. That would just prevent keto-adaptation, and ensure you feel miserable. – Ambimorph Oct 5 at 17:51

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Feeling light-headed or lethargic could be a mineral imbalance. See www.ketotic.org/2012/05/keto-adaptation-what-it-is-and-how-to.html for tips on keto-adaptation. – Ambimorph Oct 5 at 17:52

show 4 more comments

Jamie · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-04 08:53:01Z UTC

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Sisson says that under a 100 grams is good for weight loss. I tend to beleive him most of the time. If thats true, you shouldnt need to be VLC at all. So perhaps theres a balance you can find.

answered Oct 4 at 8:53

Jamie
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I agree! I have found that between 50 and 100 grams per day has been perfect for steady, sustainable fat loss – cocobean Jan 30 at 20:42

twochickadeez · Answer 2 · 2012-10-04 00:18:36Z UTC

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I think it is absolutely possible to lose weight without going VLC. It might take you a little longer, but it will happen. I have been Paleo on and off since February. When "off," I have tried to incorporate as many principles as possible (still omitting grain, lax on dairy, some sugar, etc). I have lost 15 lbs since (which is all I needed to lose). I'm sure if I was VLC or very strictly Paleo I would have lost more and lost it faster, but I have to keep things realistic and VLC isn't sustainable for me (makes me feel horrible). There is some interesting info out there regarding women going VLC and how it can be damaging to some. I am pretty certain I read it here: www.paleoforwomen.com

answered Oct 4 at 0:18

twochickadeez
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thats very smart!! My goal was 5 lbs a month for 3 months.. any slower than that I think would get depressed... and if carbs are gonna cause the weight loss to be slower maybe I just shouldn't have them :/ But does the source of the carbs really matter that much if your carbs for the overall day are low? Wouldn't I still have results if 2 potatoes a day were my only carbs...? In other words, can I still be low carb (>40) with with potatoes vs. only veggies? B/c I think I could still be low carb, but that the source of them would make the difference. Does that make sense? Thank youu! – Amber Oct 4 at 0:31

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Look at it like this, you will weigh less in 3 months if you do what will make you successful. Don't put so much stress on yourself to lose 15lbs in 3 months. I have seen the most success when I stopped looking at weight loss with a set date in mind (I have to weigh this much by this day). Slow and steady will get you there and you won't be miserable in the meantime. And yes, that makes sense. I don't really know the science behind it though. I'd just say, eat the potatoes if they will make you happy!!! If you stick to whole foods you'll be healthier than 90% of people out there. Good luck! – twochickadeez Oct 4 at 1:08

I'm not even sure that VLC is that much faster than other diet approaches. – thhq Oct 4 at 4:48

It might not be. Any time I went VLC, the weight came off, but came right back when I added in more carbs. – twochickadeez Oct 5 at 1:49

Ambimorph · Answer 3 · 2012-10-05 17:49:34Z UTC

I'm guessing that the reason you feel like crap is that you aren't eating enough. Very few people need to reduce calories when they reduce carbs, and doing so can definitely cause fatigue and misery.

Try eating to appetite and getting plenty of good, satiating fat.

Right now your weight gain is very minimal, but if you are restricting calories because you think you need to, you are likely to lose lean mass, and set up a starvation response in your body. This could be the beginning of a lifelong losing battle of yo-yo dieting.

animaleater · Answer 4 · 2012-10-04 09:12:33Z UTC

I lost more weight using carbs appropriately.

Leangains done paleo.

IF, eat 2x 12pm and 7pm. Lift heavy 3x week at 10:30ish. 10g BCAA before workouts, coffee if you want, black. Protein same always, more cal wo days, low cal rest days. I do 2000/1400 cal. Post workout carbs (tubers, or rice) high, fat very low, lean meat. Rest days VLC/ZC FATTY red meat.

Went from 12% to below 8% in a few months.

David McC · Answer 5 · 2012-10-06 09:46:15Z UTC

No wonder you felt lethargic, 1200 calories a day is a huge deficit for your body to adjust to.

I would have thought the lethargy is entirely down to you not getting enough fuel in side of you. If you eat of plenty of vegetables (not potatoes, obviously) and lay off the fruit for a while, then you'll do fine AND it will be sustainable.

You definitely need to find a source of fat that suits you. If you are low carb, high protein & low fat you will feel rubbish. Please find a way to experience how fat-burning feels and then it becomes sustainable. Cream works for me, but I appreciate it doesn't work for everyone.

good luck

Janknitz · Answer 6 · 2012-10-04 16:53:05Z UTC

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Some people have higher carb tolerances than others. Why don't you try your idea and see if it works for you or not. Then you will know. If your weight loss stalls or you have cravings, tweak it by cutting back on starches.

answered Oct 4 at 16:53

Janknitz
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Wayne daniels · Answer 7 · 2012-10-06 17:37:15Z UTC

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Lower calories rather than carbs to lose weight and keep it off.

answered Oct 6 at 17:37

Wayne daniels

community wiki

alligator · Answer 8 · 2012-10-04 11:25:33Z UTC

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Carb reduction is only related to short term weight loss (as you by now know, as it is your second time dieting). It is inversely related with long term weight loss as low carb dieters have the lowest success rates.

answered Oct 4 at 11:25

alligator
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^ Thats the opposite of what I read in a study comparing low-fat dieters to low-carb dieters. Maybe you can dig up your study, and ill see if I can find mine? – Jamie Oct 4 at 11:28

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Is this a joke? Do you know how many people on this board have lost weight using LC and VLC and kept it off for years? You should pay closer attention. Yes please do dig up your "study". I'd love to see where this gem came from. – Shari Bambino Oct 4 at 17:45

I lost 100 of my 150 on LC or VLC and 50 on moderate carb. How does that fit with your statement. I'm going to yoyo the 100 I lost but keep the 50 off? – Satchmo Oct 7 at 3:41

Carbs Reduction Related to Fat Loss?

8 Answers