Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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Been eating pretty paleo for about a 6 months now, (I guess I was eating practically paleo before that except for the breads) and although I feel pretty good I've noticed my face has become quite a bit thinner, not really in a good way either. I'm in my twenties and the loss of that "healthy looking" bit of fat in my face has made me look quite a bit older/less nourished, I guess that's the best way I can explain it. Could it be carbs? That was probably the biggest change in my diet. My carbs are probably 150 grams or lower a day. Also less dairy than before. Wondering if anyone else had this type of problem.

flag	asked Dec 20 2011 at 22:31 Ryan 41●3

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Probably the carbs. – Kasra Dec 20 2011 at 22:47

Haha I have the opposite problem. I've actually gained a bit of weight on Paleo and I've always had naturally chubby cheeks and it seems to have gotten slightly rounder. I kind of want a slimmer face but obviously that only comes with weight loss. But now I'm kind of not minding so much because I figure when I'm 40, I'll probably look 30! :) And I eat low carb every day too. Most days is 20-80 grams. – April S.♦ Dec 21 2011 at 5:02

AndyM · Answer 1 · 2011-12-20 22:45:16Z UTC

Has your weight dropped? Do you want to gain fat? Are you eating enough? Or does your perception of what nourished should look like simply not match the reality? It can be very disorientating adjusting to looking different, but at the very least I'd look to get some other people's opinions if the only 'symptom' is facial appearance before making random changes to the diet.

Anna · Answer 2 · 2011-12-20 23:12:56Z UTC

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I haven't had this happen yet. But my face is much thinner. I do worry about it however, it keeps me from burning hard in a gym. I am already 44 and don't want to look 65 because my body fat is so low that my face looks hard. VAIN. Yes- but at least I am honest with myself and others about it. As long as I feel good and stay quite trim- I tow the line between lower body fat and fuller face. I mean, really, I gave up my boobs already, can't I just keep a little facial fat? :)

answered Dec 20 2011 at 23:12

Anna
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I hear you on the boobs thing. Apparently I DO take after my mother. Sigh. – syrahna Dec 21 2011 at 2:04

Here, here on the ta-tas. :/ – January Dec 21 2011 at 3:46

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Hey, make sure you keep your fat levels up. In all my previous diets, I lost weight from top to bottom and took a major hit on the boobs. With ancestral, much of the fat is coming off my waist and I'm surprised how little has come off up top. Just sayin' – Nance Dec 21 2011 at 4:02

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Six months low carb paleo here. Within the first few days, my face looked less bloated and that's where I lost fat first. Now the girls have stayed the same size even with my 40 pound weight loss. I was thinking they have firmed up a bit too.....not so saggy. I didn't tell my husband my suspicions and he finally noticed a few weeks ago. : ) But over all, even though I still need to lose weight, my body feels firmer, my fat not as soft. It's nice to see my skin slowly healing from the weight I have lost so far. – WestmorelandGrape Dec 21 2011 at 4:44

Well, WestmorelandGrape, those puppies must have been your to begin with- mine not so much- they were just more of my fat, but in oh so the right place! – Anna Dec 21 2011 at 18:03

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Nance · Answer 3 · 2011-12-20 22:55:06Z UTC

My grandson is 17 and is only 50% ancestral. He still has an occasional bowl of cereal and a bottle of Mountain Dew.

I mention his diet only because he has low body fat due to high activity and cross-country running last fall. His face has become very lean, almost hard looking, so he looks older than 17.

I think what you're seeing is completely natural; it only seems odd because so few young men are at a desirable weight these days. The lower the body fat, the leaner the face--period.

Missi · Answer 4 · 2011-12-21 01:36:47Z UTC

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(I guess I was eating practically paleo before that except for the breads)

Me too! My face leans out when I eat Paleo (but for me, in a good way). If I eat bread I get carb-face the next day... my face fills out, even kinda swollen once.

answered Dec 21 2011 at 1:36

Missi
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Yeah- carb metabolism requires water. Therefore you retain it for use. Fat metabolism doesn't so you don't keep it in your cells as much. Another reason why lean people look a little harder. We are drier from the inside out! – Anna Dec 21 2011 at 18:07

Loss of fat in the face?

4 Answers