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I have always tended to vegetarianism since I was a young girl, and have been strongly drawn towards fruitarianism and raw food diets. At other times, I like to eat good meat, and will eat quite a bit of it for awhile, but then feel the need or desire to go veg again. I've been eating paleo for several months now, and against my wishes have gained substantial weight as opposed to losing it like I hoped to, even when I did the whole thirty, and I've been strict (although not with calories, just with types of food). I've got cellulite in places I've NEVER had it before- not good. I'm not actively gaining, but I'm also not losing, and I really want to.

ANYWAY I have been chowing down on a grass-fed free-range organic meat extravaganza and now I really feel like I don't want to eat meat for awhile! I think I've had enough. I have recurring cravings for the full-fat raw milk to which I have access. I've been avoiding it but I keep wanting it!

Also the meat is really not jiving with my ashtanga yoga practice, physically I feel a bit heavy.

So this is what I want to eat:

raw fruit

raw milk with raw eggs and a little raw honey shake

green smoothies, both fruit and savory (I wish I had a juicer but I don't right now so it's smoothies)

steamed veg with lemon and fresh herbs

some coconut

fish

sweet potato/ winter squash

I want to keep it fairly low-fat and low-cal overall as that is the only way I've lost weight in the past. All attempts at low-carb have resulted in weight gain for me, and I've tried alot. I've tried high fat diets and while I understand it works great for some people the sad reality for me is that I now have more fat on my body. When I've cut out all fat I lost the weight quickly, but I don't really want to go that extreme. I still want animal products and fish but no red meat/ poultry for a few months.

To me this seems like a nourishing but not too heavy diet. What do you think?

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I am right there with you. I am so sick of meat. I am trying just about the same thing as you. (But with gelatin). – Senneth Oct 5 2011 at 17:17
Can I come for dinner? – PolkaAches Jan 6 2012 at 23:15

10 Answers

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if you're open to fish, i'd do other sea creatures as well. oysters are great and they're sustainable. what about bone broths? i find them satiating and nutritious. sea vegetables like kelp might also be a good addition.

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First of all, you might get thrashed by paleohackers.

Second of all...looks good to me! Fresh, tasty, colorful. Seems like a meal plan Padma Lakshmi would have. I'm not sure what people will say regarding not getting any red meat--maybe that you want CLA, micronutrients from liver, etc etc. But whatever, lots of people don't eat ruminants and are just dandy.

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 i once went to a reading of padma's book at the strand (my friend was crushing on her majorly). she pretty much waxed poetic about bacon for the better part of 20 minutes... – smartcookie Oct 5 2011 at 4:16
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 I kinda crush on her madly myself. – none Oct 5 2011 at 4:35
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 Padma used to date a friends dad, she's very nice, but I was seriously disappointed that she didn't smell like bacon or cookies.. which yes, I had hoped for. Instant hearbreak and my crush was crushed. – jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com Oct 5 2011 at 13:41
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 Your friend's dad was Salmon Rushdie?!? If not, still cool. – Kamal♦ Oct 5 2011 at 13:57
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 You are a dummy Kumar – Aravind Oct 5 2011 at 15:59
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I do not know any intelligent Paleo eater that does not eat meat. Kamal has beat it into my head that I am a dummy. He kinda sucks that way.

An example of my diet for the last 6 weeks as part of the Kumar and Kumar Escape From Rewardtanamo Bay experiment

  • Breakfast - 3 boiled eggs with sweet potatoes
  • Lunch - White rice with spinach (cooked in ghee), okra (cooked in ghee), homemade yogurt
  • Dinner - Spinach salad with 1-2 boiled eggs, yogurt with white rice or sweet potatoes
  • Snacks - banana, 85-90% chocolate, macadamia nuts

I no longer snack since I have adapted to low reward and do not feel hungry in between meals since I achieve satiety from my 3 primary meals

Note the lack of meat consumption...or gluten, or vegetable oils, or excess fructose. Down 10 lbs in 6 weeks after being weight stable for previous 6 months.

I would be concerned about going too low fat only because of the beneficial fat soluble micronutrition you might be missing out. If it is of any value, my macronutrient ratios during this period - Carbs 60%, Fat - 20%, Protein - 20%

My 2 cents - While meat does the body good and I do not dispute this, Paleo is not about meat consumption, but first and foremost about toxin avoidance.

Bottom line - I think your diet looks fine. Ok, back to my low reward cave...

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what is low reward for you and how long did it take to "adapt"? – Primordial Oct 5 2011 at 18:48
Kamal and I will be sending a write-up to Stephan Guyenet hopefully soon and will outline the specifics our dietary changes. Regarding adaptation, I was overcoming a 3 liter per day Diet Coke addiction, so for me the withdrawal was pretty huge and I used Paleo friendly snacks as a substitute until I got over the hump. So it took me 2-3 weeks. Kamal was adapted virtually immediately and his diet is lower reward than mine for sure. – Aravind Oct 5 2011 at 18:55
Key changes - limited added fats/salt/spices, no sweeteners (natural or artificial), no alcohol. Generally monotonous diet day in, day out. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? – Aravind Oct 5 2011 at 19:13
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Fish, eggs, dairy, no processed junk, loads of veggies, tubers and fruit, two thumbs up from this caveman. Seriously sounds legit and not lacking.

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Sounds great. Try and get some wild salmon. Dont skimp on the fish...

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Do you think mercury could be an issue if they are relying on most of their protein coming from fish? – pbo Oct 5 2011 at 15:53
One would suspect that but there are no studies showing neurological impairments in populations consuming large amounts of low-mercury fish, rather the opposite! It may be the selenium binding the mercury or DHA and EPA battling the negative effects of mercury. – Primordial Oct 5 2011 at 18:46
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I think it looks good! I second Smartcookie's oyster & sea veg recommendation.

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I think it sounds absolutely fine. If you're happy with eggs and fish most of the time then eat that.

Also remember you don't have to have meat every day or with every meal - take all the paleo advice and then make it your own - you have your own requirements.

On the subject of spiritual beliefs - I have been at this crossroads too... remember that plants are alive too, and if that isn't enough, loads of insects and other small creatures are killed in the production, shipping and storage of plant foods. Be grateful and respectful for what you receive, as whatever it is, almost inevitably something else gave its life for you to have it. At least a caveman hunted wild food, so the creature had a real life before it died - I think trying to eat wild where possible is a positive thing, obvious health benefits aside.

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You could use kombu kelp in fish broths, i use it ground on salmon and herring.

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cellulite usually means you are dehydrated....esp seems you are craving liquid(drink that milk!) and juicy veggies...do you drink enough water?

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cellulite usually means you are dehydrated....esp seems you are craving liquid(drink that milk!) and juicy veggies...do you drink enough water?

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