Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I started a much more strict version of Paleo about a week and a half ago, because I realized that I need to lose my muffin top in a big way. I just started tracking my caloric intake at fitday.com to see my average daily consumption. I think I'm right around 1,200 cal/day, with 50-70% coming from fat. Carbs below 50 g/day. I'm also doing weight lifting 3x/week...I'm just getting back into it so it's not a lot of heavy lifting at the moment. Also, I'm walking a lot more than normal because I'm in a foreign city, briskly for at least an hour every day. Sometimes carrying a 20-lb backpack.

The thing is, I'm not really that hungry. I've sort of found this zen place when it comes to food. But, subconsciously, I know I need to get rid of this body fat (which only got worse after I got married a few months back). And I'm away from my husband for about 6 weeks, and I miss him. So maybe a spot of depression about my husband and my body image is suppressing my appetite?

I'm mostly concerned because I don't want to lose lean muscle mass, which I'm hoping that the working out is preventing. I'm thinking that maybe since a lot of my calories are coming from fat, those are more filling. Basically, I feel fine overall. No horrible hunger pangs or anything.

Weighing myself is kind of tricky because I'm used to pounds, but it seemed like I was around 67kg last Monday (6/27?), and when I weighed myself this morning I was around 65kg. I'm assuming that a lot of that is water weight since I'm definitely in solid ketosis. I'm not trying to lose that much every week because I'm only about 12-15lbs above my ideal weight. But that ideal weight must also come with a redistribution of fat and muscle (going this way -->!)

I hope that all made sense. Thanks.

flag	asked Jul 6 2011 at 19:38 Satapa 569●3●9

gilliebean · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-06 20:51:07Z UTC

Satapa, I'm assuming that you're female although you haven't stated that explicitly. I think sometimes some females do indeed require fewer calories than our male counterparts.

That said, one way in which you can tell if you're feeding yourself enough is through your weight-training. If your performance doesn't suffer, and you recover quickly, then you're probably feeding yourself enough.

If you don't have serious metabolic derangement, then I suggest dropping protein a little and also going a little easier on the carbs (ie. don't try so hard to keep them below 50g/day).

And I maintain, if you're not hungry, then you're probably eating enough!

Kelly · Answer 2 · 2011-07-06 19:56:09Z UTC

I say if you aren't hungry then you are probably doing something right (and your numbers look ok). Its might be early for you to be worried about this yet, since you have noticed some weight loss, I'd say just keep doing what you are doing and wait a bit longer.

After a month if you aren't seeing results, tweek your calorie intake and carbs but for now, I'd say you need to be patient and see where its going.

Muffin tops take time to get there, muffin tops take time to get rid of.

hang in there!!!

Josh M · Answer 3 · 2011-07-06 20:42:21Z UTC

Seems ok for the time being. Listen to your body, it does not lie. Even we we seem to eat less the body still gets nourishment from it's stores of fat, etc. Appetite can vary, what is important is long term effects of a healthy paleo lifestyle. We humans are obsessed with short term changes and instant gratification, just do what is best, what for abnormalities and live life, given the chance and resources the body will balance itself out just fine, on it's own terms, not on ours.

organic one · Answer 4 · 2011-07-07 00:12:18Z UTC

I have been back to it very strickt for the last month. Today I felt hungry but after about 4 oz of beef, I was done. I thought...why force it. and I put the rest in the fridge. For the first time in my life, food is not running my life. I feel free.

I’m not hungry…but am I eating enough?

4 Answers