Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I found the Primal Blueprint 8 months ago and have lost 60 pounds. I went from 240 to 180, size 18 to 12, at 5' 4". For the last couple of months, though, I've been regaining and relosing the same 6 pounds. At this point, I don't know what my goal weight should be. I think I'll end up somewhere between 130 and 145, depending on how I change up my exercise routine.

I still eat paleo most (85%) of the time. My biggest "cheat" is Splenda, which I have experimented with enough to know does not stall me; however, the amount of carbs I get from artificial sweeteners is just plain silly, especially when they are completely unnecessary. I've decided to jump start myself by doing Whole30 -- to kick the last of my bad habits and to strengthen the good habits I have already developed.

I'm wondering if anyone else has tightened their paleo belt, so to speak. I'd like to hear how people have fared when going from a less strict version of paleo to a more strict version. I'm not totally focused on weight loss. I did start that way, but this has become about total fitness for me. I've just become complacent and need to remotivate.

flag	asked Feb 11 2012 at 17:57 Marsha 21●1

Many of the people who complain of weight plateaus describe very strict eating so I don't know that that's an answer. I haven't plateau'd and I make a point of varying what/when I eat and what/when I do. Sometimes more, sometimes less, sometimes moderate. I don't lose rapidly but I do lose steadily from month to month. – Nance Feb 11 2012 at 18:02

I should say I haven't plateau'd for more than 1 month--if I'm about the same for a month, I usually have a good loss the next. – Nance Feb 11 2012 at 18:03

And I don't do much if any true cheating, as in non-paleo. I'm talking about varying my amounts of food. – Nance Feb 11 2012 at 18:04

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You write: "the amount of carbs I get from artificial sweeteners is just plain silly." How are you getting a silly amount of carbs from artificial sweeteners? – Beth-WeightMaven Feb 12 2012 at 0:33

from what i have read, at least 955 (Splenda, Sucralose) is one of the lesser evils when it comes to artificial sweeteners, 951 and 961 seem to be worse.... – daz Feb 12 2012 at 4:11

none · Answer 1 · 2012-02-12 00:35:13Z UTC

Have you ever done cronometer.com or fitday.com to see whether you are lacking in any mironutrients? Depending on your carbohydrate level, you may be down a quart in potassium which can cause your cells to be less responsive to thyroid and cause your basal metabolic rate to drop a bit, among many many other things. I only say this because I am not much of a tracker, but I have been doing this for a few weeks now and I am shocked at how low I have been in dietary potassium. Also, since low carb can cause electrolyte depletion you may be in need of some electrolytes - particularly when you start to do Crossfit. You do not want to be lacking in this area when you start that kind of intensity.

Also, I have no clue if it's Whole 30 compliant, but I have great luck with green tea on many levels, fat loss being just one.

Eric · Answer 2 · 2012-02-11 18:35:49Z UTC

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You may need to start lifting weights.

answered Feb 11 2012 at 18:35

Eric
22.5k●1●18●69

Beth-WeightMaven · Answer 3 · 2012-02-12 00:25:56Z UTC

Jack Kruse's posts about seasonality and circadian rhythms suggests to me that it's worthwhile to pay attention to where we are calendar-wise. To me, this means cut yourself some slack in the winter, and rev things up in the spring/summer when you can complement your efforts with a nice dose of natural vitamin D.

Marsha · Answer 4 · 2012-02-12 03:48:14Z UTC

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Re> carbs from artificial sweeteners: I say it is a silly amount because I could stop using the sweeteners altogether and avoid those extra carbs.

answered Feb 12 2012 at 3:48

Marsha
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From a practical standpoint, artificial sweeteners don't have any carbs. – malapert Feb 12 2012 at 6:21

Marsha · Answer 5 · 2012-02-11 18:54:27Z UTC

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Oh, I should have mentioned I am about to start CrossFit.

answered Feb 11 2012 at 18:54

Marsha
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josh · Answer 6 · 2012-02-11 23:59:08Z UTC

It can be easy to over eat on paleo foods. Just cutting the crap (veg oils, grains, most dairy legumes) out will only get you so far. I had been eating this way for about a year and was very healthy according to my blood work, but had a few extra pounds on me. I decided that I had to eat optimally to be at my fittest. I focused on berries instead of apples and bananas, then cut out most nuts (my addiction haha). If you are looking into crossfit I suggest looking into MovNat as well and reading up on its philosophy, which focuses on life style as well as whole body movement capacities.

staceychev · Answer 7 · 2012-02-12 13:59:46Z UTC

I like the cycle of being strict (a la Whole 30) and then a little more moderate (a la Sisson), and losing weight and plateau-ing accordingly. To me, a plateau feels more like normalizing the current weight before I start off again, rather than the stubborn scale annoyance that some other people feel. (For some reason, I'm thinking of the multiple base camps that high altitude mountain climbers need to spend time at to normalize the oxygen levels.)

Anyway, I've been eating varying degrees of paleo for almost 2 years. I'm not sure how much I really lost, because my highest weight was 218--the week before I delivered by 6.5lb daughter. But, I was 175 when I got pregnant with her. I was hovering in the 156 range and then the holidays happened. I was up to 161. I did a Whole 30 and got down to about 149/150. So, yes, I guess from a philosophical and BTDT stance, I totally think getting stricter periodically can help.

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