Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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My 31 yo male housemate is very fit (marathon runner) and the perfect weight for his height.

After seeing my progress over the last year and my attempts at explaining why this lifestyle is so beneficial, he's finally keen to try a month on Paleo.

He's always had a SAD diet and he's very concerned about the perceived lack of carbs on Paleo. Particularly how he is going to have the energy to run. He's running an ultra marathon in six weeks time (and doing a lot of training in the meantime). He's keen to try Paleo for a month - but is very concerned how it will affect him from an energy perspective.

Any help you can give me in answering this would be great! I want to show him what positive impacts it will have on him (despite him being so fit already) If I manage to get him on board I'll have a paleo house - how much easier will that make life!

Edited to say - hmmm... looks like "convert" was completely the wrong word to use. He is already really keen to start, he just wants to know what to expect. I didn't get fit until after adopting paleo so have no personal experience of how it will impact someone who is already fit and has no weight issues.

edited Mar 31 2011 at 23:35

asked Mar 31 2011 at 9:53

Suz - Paleo Oz
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I would be very wary of giving him dietary advice. If he crashes and burns during his ultra, he will blame you. Point him to specific sources like the Paleo Diet for Athletes, as suggested below, and let him do his research and make his own decisions. – JJ Mar 31 2011 at 14:44

Get him Paleo for Athletes and tell him to investigate Joe Friel's blog - since he's a marathoner, he's probably at least heard of both. That was the path I was given to quit running marathons and transition to full paleo diet and fitness and I haven't looked back since. – mth Apr 2 2011 at 12:21

Jan · Answer 1 · 2011-03-31 16:38:51Z UTC

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It would be stupid to change his regime before the big event. Better afterwards during training season.

answered Mar 31 2011 at 16:38

Jan
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The Quilt · Answer 2 · 2011-03-31 12:29:56Z UTC

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If he is a marathoner he is not fit. Tell him to get a cardiac crp and a calcium index score and I bet he comes away in disbelief

answered Mar 31 2011 at 12:29

The Quilt
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Alan · Answer 3 · 2011-04-02 10:59:20Z UTC

6 weeks is way too little time to even begin the change to a fat burning metabolism. I suggest you give your friend all the info and web sites you can muster and plan to try a Paleo WOE when he has several months without any events, one month is not long enough. Training is OK but he must be prepared for his training to suffer. Being a marathon runner is no recommendation of fitness, in fact I'd suggest he wasn't fit at all. Read this: http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/1/1/2#IDAUFU0EB

http://www.gymjones.com/knowledge.php?id=17

Carly · Answer 4 · 2011-03-31 10:37:52Z UTC

Number one lead by example, our greatest friends here are time and patience, your good results and hopefully continued health will speak volumes. If you want specifics and need a quick answer google "Paleo Athletes". There is a wealth of information out there to share, maybe get them to read "Paleo diet for Athletes". The world (google) is your oyster if someone is willing to listen.

Lee · Answer 5 · 2011-03-31 18:05:13Z UTC

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I don't believe in "converting" people. If they're attracted to the changes I've made I'll gladly talk with them about it.

answered Mar 31 2011 at 18:05

Lee
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You must have missed that I missed that his friend was keen to try it. #gunjumper – Scott Apr 1 2011 at 4:43

What the hell?? – damaged justice Apr 2 2011 at 12:05

Scott · Answer 6 · 2011-03-31 12:34:55Z UTC

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Conversion may cost you a friend.

answered Mar 31 2011 at 12:34

Scott
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	It sounds like you missed where the OP mentioned his friend was "keen" to give it a try, but I can understand jumping the gun given the ton of posts about "how do I convert" a person who has no interest in changing. – damaged justice Mar 31 2011 at 16:45
	Didn't miss it at all. – Scott Apr 1 2011 at 4:43
	Then you should have explained your answer better. – damaged justice Apr 2 2011 at 12:05

Flavio M. · Answer 7 · 2011-04-02 11:13:41Z UTC

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Get him to watch Food Inc and Fathead.
Make him read the Paleo 2.0 article by Dr Kurt Harris.
Also make him read this awesome article by Alessio Fassano: http://www.healthy-eating-politics.com/support-files/celiac-disease-surprises.pdf

answered Apr 2 2011 at 11:13

Flavio M.
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Help me convert my housemate to Paleo!

7 Answers