Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I started paleo about 2 months ago and was on it strictly for 1 month. I lost 12lbs (I'm 5'1 and 137lbs) and felt great. I went on vacation, didn't follow paleo for a month, came back and found myself .5lb lighter (same body fat %).

The problem is, I've restarted paleo for over 1.5 weeks now and I've noticed no weight-loss or body fat % loss. What gives? My weight has fluctuated by +/- 1.5lbs and body fat % by +/- 3%. I've gone to the gym a few times this week unlike my first month on paleo and it HAS made me a bit hungrier so I stopped going to see if this will decrease my appetite and help me lose more weight. I do eat slightly (and I do mean slightly) more now than that first month I was on paleo so maybe my body is readjusting back to paleo? But still, something inside me tells me that I should be at least losing a bit of weight and not maintaining a plateau.

What am I doing wrong? Can someone help me please? I've cut out all processed carbs and only drink a tiny amount of cream/milk with coffee (which I did my first month on paleo). Plus, I'm not even allowing myself the "sweets" from fruits. But I don't feel "full" like before in that month when I lost 12lbs. I know I'm not at my "ideal weight" because I'm still about 15lbs overweight for my height and my BMI is above normal so it can't be that I'm approaching my natural weight set.

Any thoughts will be highly appreciated. Thanks so much! :)

ETA:

For exercise, I mostly do yoga and running for about 15mins/day. But I'm not consistent and do it for one week and may be not the next. I also tried to lift weights as well but exercising more tends to make me hungrier so I eat more. Sometimes, it feels like a lose-lose situation. Is there a way to exercise and not get hungry?

At this point, what should my fat:protein ratio intake be? I eat mostly protein now but too much meat and I get nauseated. I also notice that I'm craving sweets, something I didn't have the first month I went on paleo. It's odd, and I don't know what to attribute the change to.

Thanks so much for your suggestions!

edited Feb 5 2012 at 16:09

Dragonfly
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asked Feb 5 2012 at 14:04

PaleoNYC
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	See my answer below. When I am maintaining, I eat 60-70% fat, 15-20% protein and 10-20% carbs (by calories). When I want to drop body fat, I eat ~40% fat, 30% protein and 30% carbs. Add liver 2x a week & eggs to up your protein. Sweet cravings (to me) mean you are probably mineral deficient. – Dragonfly Feb 5 2012 at 16:15
	Do you know what the top mineral(s) people who are craving sweets are deficient in? I know everyone is different. I'm taking a whole host of vitamins from Omega 3 to magnesium and Vit B as well as a daily vit. Not sure what else there is to take! – PaleoNYC Feb 6 2012 at 2:05

j3wcy · Answer 1 · 2012-02-05 15:45:03Z UTC

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I would think about Jack Kruse's Leptin Reset Protocol

http://jackkruse.com/my-leptin-prescription/

Lots of posts here and on MDA about people's success with this.

answered Feb 5 2012 at 15:45

j3wcy
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Awesome, thanks! – PaleoNYC Feb 6 2012 at 2:05

Dragonfly · Answer 2 · 2012-02-05 14:50:00Z UTC

First of all--PATIENCE!

Your body is replenishing its nutrient stores, so it will likely take a few months for you to drop that last 15. The first 12 pounds is mostly water weight from dropping the grains.

I am finding that walking 1-2 hours daily, lifting weights 1-2x a week and dropping my fat intake (while increasing protein) is helping me drop my last 5 lbs.

I've been Primal (lacto-Paleo) for 15 months and I really needed to relax around dropping body fat so I could fine-tune my diet & remedy deficiencies first. Now my hormones are working beautifully & I'm finding it pretty easy to drop the last 5.

Suggest doing one-two more months of regular Paleo, fine tune your supplements (D, Magnesium & Zinc may be needed), then drop your dietary fat down.

dav · Answer 3 · 2012-02-05 14:29:53Z UTC

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Walk more (aim for 8km/day) and make your food more boring - two of the biggest, most-overlooked steps in a paleo lifestyle. Also make sure you're getting all the micronutrients you need. Forget about weight loss if you're only slightly overweight and everything else is truly in order.

answered Feb 5 2012 at 14:29

dav
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how does one make their food boring? – sage_ Feb 5 2012 at 15:28

@sage, LOL, I've never found a way! I love to eat, period. I savor my healthy meat just as much as I used to savor my junk food. – Nance Feb 5 2012 at 16:14

@sage no spices, no sauce, little salt, a bare minimum of varieties of food at each meal (say three basic ingredients). I find it hard to believe that one can't make food boring: one just needs to take all the foods one likes to eat least and make them the foods that one does eat. – dav Feb 8 2012 at 10:54

Waldo · Answer 4 · 2012-02-05 14:35:47Z UTC

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What are you doing for exercise?

answered Feb 5 2012 at 14:35

Waldo
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Dragonfly · Answer 5 · 2012-02-05 16:10:30Z UTC

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Added more info to my question!

edited Feb 5 2012 at 16:10

Dragonfly

answered Feb 5 2012 at 15:04

PaleoNYC
11●2

Thanks so much! I think right now I'm eating more proteins than fat though I don't really try to aim more for one or another. I might try upping my protein intake and lowering my fat. – PaleoNYC Feb 6 2012 at 2:02

gismcieri · Answer 6 · 2012-02-05 17:46:36Z UTC

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Hi,

I think patience will help you but here are some tips from mark sission that may help.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/17-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight/#axzz1lWx1AnCB

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/weight-loss-plateau/#axzz1lWx1AnCB

Matt

answered Feb 5 2012 at 17:46

gismcieri
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So much good info! Thanks! – PaleoNYC Feb 6 2012 at 2:03

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