Watching other people feed their children garbage, while not being able to intervene. Sometimes, knowledge is a burden.

trying to explain it to other people. I tell people I eat meat, veggies, fruit, and good fats. "fat? isn't that bad for you?" no. "no bread?" nope. "sounds like Atkins." not really. "sounds restrictive." definitely. restrictive in the sense that it restricts me from constantly stuffing my face with garbage.

I just don't get what's so hard to understand about it.

Our society's relationship to food is such that a person is made to feel guilty for declining a host's generosity. Have you been to a party lately? People bring bags of food and jugs of drinks to these things! Absolutely nothing to eat usually, unless I wanted to park next to the guacamole bowl with a spoon. And if I turn down this generosity, then I'm the bad guy, I'm the snob, I'm the weirdo who doesn't fit in.

At least, that's what I'm telling myself after eating like a little piggy at that party last night.

Of course I could have brought my own food and of course I could have been stronger, but that's the downside: perpetual advanced planning, and perpetual willpower.

I'm really looking forward to hosting my own party next weekend - my guests are getting meat and more meat. And my invite made it clear that if you're a vegetarian, I'm not cooking for you and you should bring whatever you need. At least I'm honest.

the worst thing about being paleo is that eating foods like pizza and burritos make you feel 10x worse than they did before you went paleo

I really miss potato chips.

And I hate that (ch)eating - eating bad foods - now feels worse than it used to feel.

As someone who loves to cook, it's been hard to leave behind such classics as risotto, paella, pasta carbonara, cassoulet, biryani, and so forth. Substitutions -- such as grated cauliflower for rice or spiralized zucchini for pasta are often pretty lame. They remind me of vegetarian "burgers" and the like, which trick the eye more than the taste buds.

The worst part of Paleo is having people talk down to you b/c you are doing something healthy for yourself. Giving up certain foods has been tough, but knowing what those foods do to your body is worth giving it up. Being on Paleo not only makes you feel better, it gives me the right fuel to do Crossfit!

We find it particularly irritating that none of our friends invite us over for dinner anymore, despite the fact that we throw great paleo feasts for the lot of them. We don't know if they're more intimidated by our awesome cooking skills or our weird diet.

It's funny because we happily make due with whatever's put in front of us, for the most part (a bowl of pasta might be tough.) Oh well.

There are a few minimal things that I've noticed since having made the switch to Paleo, and I can live with them (many are ones others have cited already). The hardest has been dealing with relatives, including my mother, who are so steadfast in their opinion of how I look now.

Having not been this lean since my younger years (I'm 35 now, stand 5'9", weigh about 167 and have -- according to the tape-measure method -- 17% bodyfat), I'm being told that I look "sickly" and "too thin" and what I'm doing is obviously not healthy. This, despite the fact that my doctor thinks I look great and has told me to keep it up.

Don't get me wrong: I know I have more energy, I'm the most fit I've been EVER and everything I'm doing is right. I'm not swayed. It's just difficult to hear people that I trust be so closed-minded. Disappointing.

I get some funny looks at work eating my lunch of artisanal salami and raw-milk cheese while my porky colleagues shove sandwiches, french fries, "healthy low-fat wraps" and other garbage from the cafeteria down their gullets. I also get some push-back when I try to explain why "heart-healthy low fat" is so bogus. It makes me sad seeing this one woman who's pregnant eating such garbage and washing it down with a liter of Coke. Hope the bun comes out of the oven OK...

Well, bitches, all you (colleagues, not, you know, you) need to do is look. I've dropped 33lbs in five months and can now get into a pair of 31" jeans from 36". My new nickname at work is "Skinny Mini" which is funny because I'm not skinny by any means but whatever. But just keep shoving crap into your mouths and bash your brains and joints into oblivion with your running and aerobics and other body-hostile abuse under the guise of "getting in shape."

Yeah, I get a little angry about it all, esp. when checking out at the market and rolling my eyes at what the rabble are buying thinking they're making the right choices. Oh you think 5 gallons of fat & sugar-free "ice cream" is the way to go, lady?

But I'm kind of a jerk anyway :)

Worst part would be the looks and comments from others implying I'm a bit odd ("Dinner for breakfast AGAIN? How weird!") - I'm shy, so the extra attention can be off-putting!

Social things like cake at work morning teas can be awkward, although conveniently snacking on something paleo at the right time helps immensely.

I just do the best I can when I'm out and about, and don't beat myself up if I can't eat 100% paleo at all times.

The worst of paleo (with worst being relative, because not that bad at all)

being evangelical about the ancestral health (although that seems to be getting better now, after 2 years) and

judging (not out loud) people for their bad habits, even though I don't really want to and I know they often try their best (by following common wisdom).

The other worst thing is somewhat different. Before going paleo, I used the internet less frequent for private matters. Now, since discovering all these great websites and blogs, I have to take care. Luckily we don't have a television.

Yea, I'd say dealing with the people that don't understand. I do very low carb, mostly paleo....I do have some dairy and occasional grains.

I just started a new job and I'm just telling people I'm on a special diet....doctor prescribed....which is technically true (Dr. Westman prescribed low carb, I decided to go mostly paleo). It's just easier.

It's comical though....people ask me where I bought my meal. I tell them what food store I bought the ingredients in....and then if they ask tell them I cooked it myself. Seems that no one cooks real food!!

Hands down the hardest is cooking and planning meals all the time. I live in nyc with a nice 24 bodega on every corner and three pizza spots in a 10 block radius. I won't take up this space of all the savory places in my neighborhood but there are lots. I also work in the film industry and put in 10-14 hours average. They cater but its mostly non paleo friendly food. So that means I have to come home after 14 hours and cook food for the entire following day. I miss not having to plan every meal and being able to go out and get my bagel.

Also, even though I'm part of a food co-op, its not so cheap. I'm sticking with it cause its worth the effort but what was convenient for the caveman is not always convenient for the new yorker. Also caveman didn't have rent to pay for his nice loft space cave. But I guess I don't have to fight sabertooth to the death so I'll call it even.

Not being able to feel virtuous about running miles every day and being in the gym doing weights every 48 hours!

Not drinking beer. That would most def be the worst part for me.

Being a freaking Encyclopaedia of medical knowledge. You try and say useful things here and there, and next thing people believe you know everything and want answers.

Being a teenager and having to go on 3 day feild trip with only pizza as a food source. Better yet we can't bring any food. Also having to deal with a mother who dosent understand my diet AT ALL! Its tough eating the right way..

watching my family grow fat and sick on the SAD. :(

My mom totally freaked the day I told her I'm not eating bread, potatoes, rice and pasta anymore.

When pizza is ordered at the office I'll grab a few slices and discretely eat the tasty topping, hide the crust in a napkin and discard it. I think my colleagues would find that weird.

I miss eating large servings of ice cream.

I was asked by a coworker what my secret to weight loss was. I started at low carb and when I didn't get an instant rejection explained the rest of how I ate. My coworker thought is sounded doable, and that she'd try it.

A few days later I saw her coming in with a McDonalds bag, and I joked that she was quiting already. She laughed and pulled out a burger with lettuce and tomato but no bun. Hurray ish Until I saw the cup of sugar and ice they call a Frappé.

Having a burger without a bun was ok, but letting go of that sugar drink. She just couldn't do it. This has happened more times than I can count. Interested person will eat right and loose it all in a cup/bottle/can of sugar and HFCS.

The worst part is being on a really long interstate road trip and forgetting to pack the paleo lunch. However I'm back home and at the moment eating a heaping plate of venison and a big juicy tomato for lunch. I will be fishing this afternoon and hopefully I will have some fresh trout with cattail shoots for supper.

Paleo is much more than just a diet. It can be a lifestyle

Hi-tech-Luddite

Being a barefooting Paleo in Portland, OR and having to explain to Vegans/ignorant masses why I choose to do what I do and getting condescending looks for it. Joke's on you ya gaunt little fuc*ers!

"where the rabble also drink, all wells are poisoned" - Nietsche

why should i bother explaining myself to those who i beleive are poisoning themselves?

the information about paleo is not new, is not difficult to access, and is not difficult to understand.

Second thought. Most people are so dull-witted that they can intently watch a magician doing his act, and STILL not notice the sleight-of-hand. It is not much challenge to nurse a plate of party food to leave the IMPRESSION that you're consuming it.

I used to be a real night owl. Arriving home as the sun came up and loving it. Since turning paleo and realising how much better I felt on adequate sleep I have been much more hesitant to punish myself with a late night. Mostly I don't mind sacrificing some social time for proper bedtime but sometimes this can feel quite limiting.

Socializing and the lack of freedom to eat anywhere!

It's interesting to me that most of our responses have to do with other people. I always find it ironic that eating clean, fresh, unprocessed foods is abnormal, but eating heavily processed, GMO foods is normal.

I'll have to second the knowledge thing, especially with my kids. My son goes to a day school that doesn't allow outside food and I know what he eats at school and it scares the piss out of me.

For brunch today, I went to my favorite little french cafe/bistro near my work. They make the most wonderful omelettes, and I ordered one with mozzerella/swiss/parmesan cheeses and raw onion. I also asked for sliced tomatoes instead of the default sliced sugarbags (fruit) and requested it be fried in butter, hold the bread.

My brunch came out with sugarbags and bread intact. I was in a hurry, so I didn't send it back and scarfed only the omelette. When I asked for my check, the waitress was incredulous: "Why aren't you eating your fruit and bread???". I just smiled and paid my bill. I had not the time nor the energy to get into a food battle with an uninformed opponent.

I find this scenario played out constantly, and it's frustrating. But the benefits of going Paleo have far outweighed this down-side!

All I can usually do is....facepalm...

People around me can see the change paleo has made in my life. I'm thin! I'm healthy! I have energy! etc. Yet most of them keep on eating crap, and I don't get that. It's hard to watch.

It definately trying to convince those you care about that most of what they've been inundated with their entire life about nutrition is wrong regardless of your 100+ lb weight loss, energy health etc and seeing everyone poison themselves constantly and see poison dispensors with lines out the door. Depressing