I’ve only had one weight-loss client come see me who actually said, “My main motivation for losing weight is that I want to look hot.” Finally, someone just came out and said it! We all want to look hot, whether we admit it or not, and we all look our best when we’re at our optimal weight. The Paleo way of living has become popular partly because it helps people get there, whether that means gaining muscle, losing fat or both. Of course, in the process it also helps clear up our skin; reduce fatigue, depression and inflammation; and lower our risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. For some, though, the change in body composition alone is life changing.
Right now we’re going to focus on the reasons the Paleo diet helps you lose weight. For the exceedingly thin people who are wondering whether or not it will help bulk you up, the short answer is “yes” and there will be more to come on that topic.
Here are the top 3 ways that eating Paleo, and moreover, using the Paleo Plan, will help you lose fat and get toned:
1. No More Fluff
But Neely, fluff isn’t a staple in my diet, you may be saying. Yes, actually, it probably is. You just don’t think of it as fluff. Your bread, bagels, cookies, candy, crackers, potato and tortilla chips, sandwich wraps, rice, pasta and added sugar are all fluff. Those things are high in calories and low in nutrients, especially if they’re made from refined flours, which means that they’re a waste of your culinary time. Those foods are also mostly carbohydrates, which means that if they’re not used up right away they’re stored in your body as, you know it, fat.
In addition, refined carbohydrates (and grains, in general) have a very negative effect on your blood sugar balance. When you have spikes in your blood sugar (you know, the cracked out feeling you get after eating a box of candy and then the crash you feel afterward), you’re contributing to weight gain because of the insulin and cortisol spikes you create in your body. More on that in another post, though.
Because the Paleo Diet eliminates grains and refined sugars from your diet, you’re not going to be eating anything that isn’t densely packed with nutrients. The high quality protein you’ll be eating will stimulate muscle growth and balance out your blood sugar. The healthy fats will become your main fuel source, and the veggies and fruits are an invaluable source of nutrients, fiber and complex carbs. None of these foods are fluffy.
2. Water Retention
There’s a funny thing that happens when we eat carbohydrates: our cells hold onto the water that comes along with the carbs. It’s an evolutionary detail that helps people do sustained physical work without needing as much water. As you use up your glucose stores (your glycogen), water is released into your body. That was great for the active hunter gatherer type, but now that we are pretty sedentary as a culture, eating way more carbohydrates in the form of grains, legumes and extra sugar, we’re carrying around a lot of extra weight in the form of water. Have you ever watched the show “Biggest Loser”? All of the contestants always lose extraordinary amounts of weight in the first week: 10, 20, even 40 pounds in just seven days. Most of it is water that they’ve been hording in their cells.
When they first go Paleo, a lot of people, including myself, experience increased thirst and more trips to the bathroom to let out some of that excess water. Along with extra weight disappearing during this process, the edema you might have in your legs or feet, your puffy eyes or your swollen hands might start to dissipate, too.
3. Food Sensitivities
Some experts estimate that as much as 80% of the U.S. population might be sensitive to gluten. That is a LOT of people. Alright, now what is gluten and what do I mean by sensitive? Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, spelt, oats, kamut, rye and barley. That means that unless it says “Gluten Free” on the label, it’s in bread, pasta, cookies, crackers, almost all pastries, tortillas, many soups, cereals, granola, beer, and on and on. Having a sensitivity to something simply means that your immune system is reacting to that food in some way. It’s not necessarily an “allergy” like your doctor would diagnose you with, but your immune system is involved, nevertheless. People can be sensitive to anything, and be plagued by a host of symptoms from it. For instance, I get a headache when I eat arugula. Yep, arugula.
Often when people stop eating the foods they’re sensitive to, they lose weight. It happens because your body will hold onto water weight (blasted water again!) when it’s trying to protect itself from something; the water acts as sort of a buffer. So when you take out the offensive food from your diet, the water goes with it. Food sensitivities can also mess with your hormones and your thyroid function, and we know that both of those systems have much to do with body weight.
Because the Paleo Diet removes many of the foods that people are commonly sensitive to: gluten, dairy, soy, and refined sugar, there’s a good chance you’ll have a positive reaction to not eating one or more of these foods on a regular basis.
So there you have it. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anyone start eating Paleo and NOT lose weight if they needed to lose weight. If you’re eating what you were designed to eat, your body will finally have the opportunity to, well, look hot.
Does anyone have any experiences with losing weight after starting the Paleo Diet? Would you be willing to comment and share your story? (Oh, and we love before and after pictures!!)
![Pin It](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/03-07/will-i-lose-weight-on-paleo-plan/&media=http://www.paleoplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Screen-Shot-2012-02-23-at-10.42.54-AM.png&description= I've only had one weight-loss client come see me who actually said, "My main motivation for losing weight is that I want to look hot." Finally, someone ju){kind=link}
141 Comments
bd1star
Hi Neely;
So far I am loving this site. During the day (like now) I work in a corporate position as a PM but in my spare time I am a boot camp fitness instructor and Crossfit athlete (soon to be Instructor). I have known about the Paleo diet from Crossfit but until now never managed to get on to it and that’s partly because of the fact that I had no clue what recipes to follow and partly because I was lazy. Then I found paleoplan.com (thank goodness!). I have been following the paleo plan recipes for the last two weeks now and I have actually noticed that I am not as or feel as “bloated” as before. I feel and look a bit leaner and feel less sluggish than before.
I’m usually a skeptic, but the only thing I have changed is my eating so I’ll have so say that it’s probably the paleo diet that is working for me. I must admit though that I have to add a bit more food at times (another meal or two to my day) as I usually get hungry every 3 hours so 4 meals a day can’t cut it for me.
Anyway I plan to provide updates as I go along…great work on the site. I’m liking it :)
Sandy
I gained quite a bit from having children (twins) etc. My naturopathic dr put me on the paleo diet and one year later I’m down 80lbs! It’s honestly quite easy when you’re on it long enough because you’re getting what your body needs and the cravings for sugar and carbs don’t taunt you because of this. I’m not even trying to lose weight anymore and am working on just getting in shape but the pounds are still coming off. It’s fantastic!
Stania
Hi, I’m on paleo third day today. I’ve always been a chocolate lover and couch potato,so wish me luck:-)). Well, I think I’m doing pretty well so far, still don’t know exactly what to and not to eat,thought. So far I feel like a rabbit, but I like it. One pound is off. I am a coffee drinker, so I’ve started with decaf for the start which makes me pretty tired in the afternoons. Once I figure out my meals and stop craving sugar, I’ll be happy and hopefully I’ll stuck to this diet as long as possible. Makes me feel good that I do something healthy for myself:-)). Thanks to your website I’m moving forward. Thank you. Stania
joe
Hi,
I am a fairly active person – run, swim or cycle 6 days a week, usually training morning and night.
Im on the 5th day of the paleo diet and i am feeling weak and often nausious.
I havent had to change much as i was eating a lot of fresh vegetables, fruit and meat anyway (although alot more meat now) im not feeling any where near as hungry as i used to, and therefore not reamabering to eat as much, which i think is the reason i feel weak.
Im struggeling with energy especially on long rides (i used to rely on a muffin or power bar ) …. i love the concept of the diet and im a strong believer in eating naturally…. maybe a case of my body adapting …?
any suggestions
Neely
Hi Joe,
It could be that you’re still detoxing (5 days isn’t very long, and some people detox for up to 3 weeks). I’d say keep doing what you’re doing, but make sure you remember to eat. If you’re working out that much, you definitely need fuel. However, if after a week or so you still feel weak and nauseous, try adding more paleo carbs to your diet. Read this article for more info.
Good luck!
Neely
Nathalie
Hello,
My husband and I went paleo a little under 2 months ago, and since then I’ve lost 12 lbs, my husband 15 lbs. I’m definitely overweight and am trying to get more active. I have 3 children and I’m trying to teach them good eating habits and healthy activities. We’ve taken up hiking and I hope to do the West Coast Trail next summer.
My goal is to lose weight, healthily, so I can look fantastic on my 30th birthday next year.
I love the way I feel when I eat paleo, and how great my blood sugars are, but I’m a type 1 diabetic and am not sure what would be good to eat when my blood sugars get too low. (I’m talking just before I hit hypoglycemia, not full hypoglycemia, just when they’re low enough for me to notice that I’ll probably need to eat something).
Tonight when it happened I ate some ice cream, which, you know, was tasty and all, but now I know that by tomorrow morning my blood sugars will be all messed up.
Any suggestions?
Thanks for a great site!
Nathalie
Neely
Nathalie – I’d say first of all, try to eat more frequently to get used to not letting your blood sugar get too low. That way you won’t have to go to ice cream extremes. Being on Paleo Plan might help your situation, honestly. It helps to keep you on track and on schedule. Also check into Dr. Richard Bernstein’s books. Try having (very) baked sweet potatoes on hand for low blood sugar moments to see if that works at all.
Taylor
My boyfriend and I started paleo about a week ago and we’ve already noticed our bodies seem less puffy! Neither of us are too overweight (my bmi is 25, his 27) but we really do want to look hot! My issue is I’m not sure really how much carbs, protein and fats I should be taking in. I’m using sparkpeople to get an idea of what I’m consuming and my carbs are the highest, protein next, and fats last. I’m hoping just the change in diet will help me lose weight, especially when I start the p90!!
My boyfriends problem on the other hand is that he is 6’9 and 250lbs and he can’t quite figure out how to consume all the calories he’s supposed to need! Also, yesterday he was sent home early from work because his whole body turned red and he felt a little feint. He thinks it’s either from taking a cod liver oil pill or simply not getting enough food. It was after that we calculated how much he’s been taking in, which is much lower than recommended.
Neely
@Taylor – For now, just keep doing what you’re doing if it’s working for you. If you stop losing weight before you get to your optimal weight, or your athletic performance starts to decline, then start tweaking with your ratios. In general, try to stay under 150 grams of carbs, eat as many grams of protein as you have lean body mass (subtract your fat weight if you know your body fat percentage), and eat enough fat to fill in the gap. As for your boyfriend, yeah that might be a challenge trying to get in enough food and not break the bank doing it. Think (relatively) cheap fats like coconut oil, palm oil and olive oil. So whereas a normal person might put like a teaspoon in with their eggs, he would use like a couple tablespoons. Then go for nuts, because they’re so calorie dense. Then tons and tons of veggies and fruits, including the starchy ones just to get in more calories. Then as much meat as it takes to get his lean body mass worth, or at least close to it. As for the flushing – did he take a niacin supplement that day? Like did you guys start taking a new multivitamin/b-complex/protein powder recently that has niacin in it? Speaking of protein powder, that might not be a bad way for him to get the calories he needs. I wouldn’t normally suggest that, but since he’s so big… Other than that, it may just be a detoxification symptom, but I can’t really say. Hope it doesn’t happen again. Hope that helps – good luck to you both!
Gigi
After having my baby girl last year I was still feeling exhausted, irritable, and having trouble losing the weight after 6 months. When my husband finally pushed me to see a doctor (because of the mood swings ) I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. Even though I was relieved to know I wasn’t just going crazy, I was devestated that I was going to have to battle this disease for the rest of my life. From there I started researching natural alternatives to try to lose weight and fight the depression/mood swings and the Paleo diet seemed ideal. I have been Paleo for 2 days now and am feeling more fatigued than ever since I was used to milk and coffee every morning just to get me going. I tried the almond milk with some coffee and I ended up gagging because the taste was so horrible. My question is if I stick to Paleo long enough will the Paleo diet help aleviate symptoms of my Hashimotos (i.e. weight gain, irritability, fatigue)? Also, any suggestions of what to wean the coffee and milk off with?
Thanks,
Gigi
Neely
Gigi – You’re likely going through withdrawal and detoxification, so everything is probably going to be a little more uncomfortable for a bit. Yes, taking out grains is definitely the way to go with Hashimoto’s. Read the book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Test Results Are Normal by Datis Kharrazian. It will help you a lot to understand what’s going on. I’d take the coffee out altogether, but for weaning try black tea or something like that. Try using coconut milk instead of almond milk. Good luck!
Gigi
Taking grains? I’m hoping that was a typo seeing as I’m trying to eliminate grains from my diet. I will take your advice and stop the coffee altogether and see how it goes and I’ll download the book suggested to my Nook asap. Thanks!
Gigi
Neely
@Gigi – Sorry – it was supposed to be “taking out grains”. I changed it in the comment. Good luck to you!
Gigi
I’ve been coffee free for 3 whole days and even though the first day I literally felt like I was dying I finally feel great and much more alert. I’ve also been Paleo for 5 days and have lost 3 lbs. Thanks Neely!
Peppy
I had a stent placed five years ago. Changed to the Ornish/Esselstyn diet and my lipids improved somewhat but the tri’s went up. Just went Fuhrman and eliminated grains and dairy and was amazed at the change in my lipids! Now dropped legumes and added salmon and fish with the greens and nuts/fruit and amazing difference in lipids for the better. But I really worry all the nut fats and fish fats and I eat some olives will clog my stent and arteries. Is there any long term scientific data showing eating this much protein and fat will not make heart disease worse? Kind of scary to know what to do so I don’t progress. Doctors like the difference in lipid tests. I am now down to only 2.5 mgs. of Crestor. That is a very low dose. BP has been good too. I’d love some encouragement backed by good science to continue the Paleo diet.
Neely
Hi Peppy,
I think your results are very telling on their own – don’t you? But if you want more information, here’s a pdf you might like. http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/colpo.pdf. This article talks about how they’ve shown that the plaques that break off and cause cardiovascular events are made of omega 6 oils mostly – not saturated fat or cholesterol. It’s a myth that saturated fat and cholesterol – the things we evolved eating and the things our body needs to survive – cause heart disease. Chris Masterjohn is the expert on this, and I suggest you read all his stuff here. He’ll link you to plenty more studies.
Susan Ward
I have been reading about the Paleo diet and one writer made it sound like the weight would just fall off. Is this wrong information?
mike
Just adding my two cents. I just bought “Well Fed” a paleo cookbook for those who love to eat. Getting ready to start my journey. I have been on a mission to lose body fat for about 4 months now. So far i have lost about 50 pounds on my way to a plateau. Start doing some research and discovered something interesting. The leanest demographic i know is competitive bodybuilders. When they are dieting for their cutting phase, they eliminate starches, diary, and fruits from their diets while increasing the consumption of lean proteins and leafy vegetables. This is what has sold me on the paleo diet. If the leanest people in the world are unwittingly eliminating the same foods as this diet recommends, then the expected results are obvious.
Kevin
My wife and I are on day 7. We usually eat really well and my wife is a 2x a day work out queen, run in the morning, crossfit in the evening. I’ve been sidelined with the recovery of a small procedure. I’ll be back in the mix 1x a day by next Friday. My question is, how much are we allowed to eat. I’ve done the zone and had it down to a science. I fell off the wagon and gained my weight back. We are following the books everyday paleo and another book to keep our interest in it. I guess that’s my only question, what are the guidelines or blocks we should be eating. My wife has noticed results immediately, I have not. Any suggestions.
Kevin
Neely
@Kevin- You’re “allowed” to eat as much as you need to eat. If you guys are working out that much (which is a LOT, by the way, and may be causing undue inflammation) then you’re going to need more than the plan at Paleo Plan provides. You really need to figure out what your individual needs are by calculating your baseline caloric needs and then adding on your calories expended every day. Go to fitday.com or myfitnesspal.com for some calculations. Then go from there. If you need help, I do Private Paleo Coaching. Just email me at neely@paleoplan.com if you’re interested.
Audra
I’d love advice. My husband’s been successful for about two months on the diet, losing around 15 pounds. I’m about three weeks in, and haven’t lost an ounce. I vacillate between about three pounds always, and it seems to be exactly the same, maybe slightly on the lower end, but not definitively. I don’t have a ton to lose, maybe 10-15 total, anyway; could that be the reason? How long before I hope to see some action? It’s getting discouraging.
Neely
Hi Audra – It seems like people in your position get to this point often. You don’t have much to lose and it becomes necessary to get into the nitty gritty. First, ask yourself if you’re really eating Paleo. Are you cheating at all? Are you drinking alcohol regularly? Are you on any medications that would hinder weight loss? Are you pregnant by any chance? Are you working out too much and stressing out your body? Are you eating more than 150 gm of carbs a day? If all of those things seem to be out of the question, then you may have to start counting calories. I tell people to use http://www.myfitnesspal.com or http://www.fitday.com to figure out how many calories you need to eat. If you’d like help, I’m available for Paleo coaching, but you can go a long way with those online programs.
Hillarie
I am on my 2nd day. I lost 106lbs with weight watchers through a course of 2 years. I got into a snowmobile accident and nearly killed myself, since than I went from very active and healthy for the first time in my life. Now 3 years and 50lbs heavier I felt like I was out of luck, because I have had hip surgery and they want me to have hip replacements and told me I would be crippled by the time I was 40. My brother in-law told me about paleo and how it can help with inflammation and pain, these two things are chronic. I feel like now there is hope, however I am really scared about doing a diet that is a 180 degrees from the one I did do and had hug success with. I am not able to work out no where near the way I used to. Is there anything encouraging you can tell me about what this will do for my health? I’m reading the books, visiting web sites trying to be informed as much as I can, I just want someone who knows what they are doing to give me a pep talk. Sincerely, Hillarie
Neely
Hi Hillarie – A pep talk you will get, then! The best thing about this diet is that the food is delicious, nourishing, AND it helps your health. Because of that, the diet is sustainable for a lot of people. I think other diets can go wrong by not taking out the addictive foods like sugar and grains. It’s not surprising that people often gain weight back that they’ve lost. You can only go so long “controlling” your food cravings until you just give in and start eating way too much of the food you’re trying to cut back on. What I hear over and over from Paleo eaters (and experience myself) is that people rarely have the intense cravings they used to have, and they’re not as hungry as they used to be. And when they do have cravings, there are plenty of options that don’t involve white sugar or grains to satisfy that craving. Once you start nourishing your body with foods that actually fill you up and give you the nutrients you need, I have a feeling your aches a pains will go away, you’ll start shedding fat, and it’ll get easier and easier as time goes by. And what do you have to lose? As Robb Wolf always says, just try it for a month and see how it goes. If you hate it, then try something else. Good luck!
Cheri
Hi! I’ve been eating Paleo for 5 weeks now. I’m 5’6 and weighed 144 when I started and now weigh 137. I am breastfeeding and I eat just 1 fruit a day. I want to lose more weight but I’ve been stuck at 137 for 3 weeks now. I have lost 1 inch each week off my waist but the scale doesn’t budge. Could it be that my body is just toning up and I don’t need to be much thinner? I still have some fat around my mid section I’m not happy with.
Thanks!
Neely
Hi Cheri – Here’s a blog post on that. I’d check your bmi online and see if you are where you need to be. Give it time while you’re breastfeeding, as your body is going to hold onto some fat just in case for the baby. http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/01-18/qa-breastfeeding-while-starting-paleo/
Adam R.
Ever since the holidays I (and the rest of America) have been trying to drop some unwanted weight and get back into shape. For all of January I tried to eat all natural, low fat, low cal. I hit the gym 5-6 times a week and still could not lose weight.
I switched to Paleo (my version of Paleo) 2 weeks ago and I have dropped 11 lbs!!! And I feel great. Although I aspire to be a “true” Paleo, here are some areas I need to work on:
I still use dairy in moderation. This means cream with my coffee and little amounts of cheese with some of my meals. For instance, if I make eggs and veggies, I might throw a little cheddar in the mix.
The other main variation is that I try my best to use grass fed and local meats but it is not always easy or affordable.
I also will have about 4 glasses of red wine over the weekend.
Lastly, on my hard cardio days I will allow myself one serving of So Delicious brand Coconut Milk ice cream.
So far, even with these little imperfections I have been dropping weight and feeling great (hey, that rhymes).
I hope this post is helpful and/or encouraging.
Good luck to all of you trying this for the first time. I think it is great!
Adam
meaux
Hey Neely,
I have about 20 pounds to lose, but haven’t seen much budging these last 2.5 weeks on the plan (light exercise, carbs less than 150g daily, no meds). Actually, none of the methods that used to work are working now. I’m beginning to think being post-menopausal is really making it difficult to drop weight. Any thoughts on post-menopausal issues?
By the way, I feel great on this plan and am excited to be 12 days caffeine free! I’m so grateful for this site.
Thanks,
M
Neely
meaux – First and foremost, I’m VERY happy you’re feeling better eating this way, despite not having your coffee anymore ;) There are definitely things to consider at this menopausal stage of your life, and calorie counting may be part of that. Try logging your food in an online journal like http://www.slimkicker.com or http://www.fitday.com. Figure out how much you’re eating. If you’re not working out much, 150 g is a little high. Try eating fewer than 100g for a week and see if that helps it budge. Let me know if you want personal help with this – I’ve had a lot of success helping women get stubborn weight off when nothing else seems to work!
Abby
I have been on the Paleo for 3 weeks now and haven’t noticed any change in my body. I am not overweight by any means but I have that stubborn belly fat that doesn’t make wearing a bikini flattering at all. I was told the Paleo would help with that. I am not counting calories, carbs, proteins or anything but I am eating strictly Paleo and trying to limit my fruits to no more than 2 servings a day. Should I cut that down more? I am not concerned about losing weight per se as I am about toning up and losing body fat %
Neely
Hi Abby – Congrats to you on your recent switch to Paleo! It’s only been a few weeks, and sometimes people don’t start losing weight until a month or so into it. I encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing for a few more weeks and if the belly fat still doesn’t budge, consider these things. 1) Are you drinking caffeine? If so, I’d stop all caffeine-containing beverages and foods and see if that helps. Caffeine -> cortisol -> belly fat. 2) Are you sleeping enough? Like 8 or so hours a night – sometimes more? If not, sleep deprivation -> stress -> cortisol = belly fat. 3) Check in on your calorie intake just to see if you’re eating too much or too little. Both can inhibit weight loss. Keep me posted and good luck!
Ben
WhaT is the limit on fruit for a paleo diet to lose weight
Neely
Ben – It really depends on you. Some people really don’t tolerate much fructose at all, so they can’t eat fruit without digestive issues. If you’re trying to lose weight and you don’t work out much, then a couple pieces a day, along with a bunch of vegetables would work well. Here’s a blog post for more info on that, though: http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/12-27/fruit-paleo-diet/
Barbara
Hi Neely – I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 19 years ago and NO DOCTOR ever told me that gluten was poisen for me. I recently found out on my own through research. I went gluten free for a couple of weeks and began to feel a bit better and then found out that I probably had more sensitivities than that and have gone Paleo. I did it half-as*ed for about two weeks as I learned the ins and outs and have been doing it properly for about a week. I have lost 9 pounds (I need to lose about 130) and am starting to feel better. My question is, I retain A LOT of water and have achy joints in my hands. I work a desk job typing all day and drive an hour to work each way and therefore swell in my ankles badly. Can you tell me when I might start seeing that subside? It really effects how I feel. Also, can you tell me please if the book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Test Results Are Normal by Datis Kharrazian addresses issues in addition to diet such as supplementation, etc that would help me begin to heal my body? I appreciate any input you could provide.
Neely
Barbara – Yeah, doctors don’t really know that grains affect Hashimoto’s, although I think they may be starting to catch on. They just treat Hashimoto’s like they would hypothyroid – by giving you thyroid hormone, which you need more and more of as the years go by, and sometimes it doesn’t even help. Ok, to answer your questions, YES, get that book. It’s wonderful. He works in conjunction with Apex Energetics supplements to help people with thyroid issues. I’d find a good naturopath who will help you with that, as it’s hard to figure out what you need on your own without a few tests. Also, since you’ve only been on the diet for a week, I’d give it a couple more weeks to see if the swelling doesn’t go down. Are you peeing a lot? Sorry to be so frank, but if you are, then it means the swelling will probably start to go down (unless you just recently started drinking a lot more water than usual, which would explain the excessive urination). If it doesn’t get better, then you need to look at further food sensitivities. The first place I always go to is nuts and seeds, especially with excessive joint pain. For you, though, eggs and nightshades may be causing problems as well. It could be anything really. Experiment and keep me posted! Good luck.
Barbara
Neely – thank you so much for your response. I’m getting a bit nervous about all the things that someone with Hashimoto’s may need to cut out. I’m already dairy free, grain free, sugar free and the thought of no eggs….. well that I could live with if I had to, but nightshades? Just shoot me. I’m beginning to think there’s nothing left to eat but meat. I have an appointment with a Naturopath doctor near me on Tuesday. I met with a chiropractor that specialized in Hashimotos but his fees were beyond prohibitive, so I’m hoping that with insurance coverage, the naturopath will be more in my ballpark. I understand that I have to sacrifice to heal, but one can only spend so much. I’m disappointed too because his protocol seemed perfect. I will buy the aforementioned book and go from there. I’ll check back next week after my Tuesday appointment. Thank you again!
Sara
Hello, I am a newbie to Paleo but feel like it what I have been trying to get my diet to for a long time now. I am a 23 year old female, I weight about 128 pounds and and a little over 5’6. My main concern is CALORIES! My “normal” body weight is around 120 and I don’t feel comfortable with my body fat at 20% where it is now. I have a BodyBugg arm band and days I crossfit &/or spin I only burn around 2400. I would like to lose weigh so I’m trying to stay around 1500 calories to be deficient. I love nuts and coconut milk but can’t understand how they are so often eating because of their high calories. What modification can I make to lose weight but feed my not so small appetite. Thanks in advance :)
Neely
Sara, that calorie deficit is probably too much for you. I’d try more like at least 1800 if you’re active with Crossfit at your size. Otherwise, you’ll likely be very hungry and start to feel weak. Keep me posted.
Micko
Hello!
I have been on the paleo “diet” now for 4 weeks and I feel AWESOME!!!!
I was actually booked in to have lapband surgery but i thought I would give it one last shot [i want to be healthy not skin and bones]
I dont feel bloated anymore and im not craving chocolate after every meal like I was before.
Every time I have tried to lose weight before as soon as I started the diet I would crave everything I wasn’t allowed to have but with paleo im not craving anything.
The first week I was really tired but that could have been because I started the gym at the same time.
Everybody is commenting on how good I look which is making me realise this really does work as i really didnt believe my trainer when he told me the do’s and donts.
I have tried duramine, soup diets, light n easy, calourie counting ect ect ect but this is the easiest and because its working why would I stop?
My depression hasnt been as bad and I have lost 2 dress sizes.
Feeling awesome!!!
Neely
Micko – Congrats to you! I hope it continues to work for you for years to come!
Starla
I absolutely love this website. My husband and I started on the Paleo plan (not so much a plan as it is our new lifestyle) only 3 days ago, here’s the AMAZING part… I have already lost 6 pounds! 6 pounds in just days! I can honestly say that being very thirsty and running to the rest room a lot is most def part of your first week. Or first 3 days in my situation. I love it though. Running to the restroom a lot is not only healthy but let’s you know your body and BLADDER is working, FINALLY! lol Anyways, I had already lost 50 pounds prior to discovering this plan. I was looking for something that actually made sense, not crash diets or itty bitty meals that wouldn’t satisfy an infant. I was eating the same foods EVERYDAY and running an hour a day, ended up with tendonitis in my knee because of such excessive running that I had to stop for awhile, thus I didn’t continue losing any weight. I was working SO hard because I had never been over weight before in my life, I was always healthy, active and small. Until I got pregnant that is, and was not diagnosed properly, turns out all that weird and crazy fast weight gain that I was constantly complaining about to my doctors (getting no help in return) was actually gestational diabetes… I was diagnosed at 37 weeks, when most women are diagnosed at 20 if not sooner. Even with running an hour a day and eating a shockingly low calorie and carb diet I was only losing 3 pounds a week, now with only 3 days of Paleo and have yet to get to the gym I’ve lost 6. That’s DOUBLE the weight lost and less than HALF the effort. Thanks for this website. It’s amazing! Pre Pregnancy Weight- 135 Weight by end of pregnancy- 212 Weight before Paleo- 162 Weight as of today (3 days after starting Paleo)- 156
Neely
Starla – congrats on your success! I hope it keeps working for you. Please keep us updated on your progress and thanks for sharing :)
Starla
It’s been great so far but there are a few down falls I’d like to share. Number one being I have slowed down on BM’s. TMI. But has that happened a lot? I know this diet incorporates a lot of greens and some fruits so I am guessing the up in those and down in carbs and such and just the sudden change in diet has a tremendous impact on my problem. I’m thinking once my body catches up to my new lifestyle it will be regular but wanted to know if anyone else had the same issue? Also, unfortunately I have plateaued in my weight loss. Some more TMI but my monthly is coming up soon and I seem to always hold water no matter the circumstances just prior to that once it’s finished I am back to being 6 pounds lighter so again I am hoping it’s just my regular month to month hormonal peak. However, if that’s not the case what can I do other than adding in some cardio to help break my weight loss plateau?
Lily
I do have a question. I am a vegan and that’s not going to change, but the premise of the paleo diet appeals to me. Is it possible to eat paleo in a vegan way? I was thinking perhaps avocados and olives and other fatty fruits instead of meat, and then everything else remains the same as with “normal” paleo – fruit, veggies, nuts. Would that work the same way?
Neely
Hi Lily – I suggest you go to http://www.rawfoodsos.com where there’s a “for vegans” page. That’ll explain it!
crystal
Hi i am a 23 yr old female with 2 kids. I used to weight about 135 and i am 5′ 2″ I have gained about 80 pounds in the last couple years with being on medications. I started the Paleo diet and i love it, but i havent seen any changes yet with losing weight. What am i doing wrong? I am about 98% Paleo besides cheese and yogert every once in a while.
Neely
Hi Crystal, I really don’t know what you’re doing wrong without knowing more details. Could be your meds? Your calorie intake, hormonal issues, or any number of other things. Email me at neel@paleoplan.com for more help.
bmartin
I’m on day 5 of the Paleo Diet, and so far feel good for the most part. My gym is doing a strict 28 day Paleo diet…after that you can incorporate a few things here and there but for the first 28 days, no alcohol, etc. I have a beach trip planned on day 26…how bad will a few drinks here and there throw off my progress? I was thinking either red wine or vodka with a splash of real fruit juices. I know that there will be events in the future that I will want to have a social drink as well. Any suggestions?
Neely
bmartin – It really depends on how much you drink. It may not throw you off at all and it may set you back. Depends on your body, too. Here’s a blog post I wrote on Paleo and alcohol. Have fun! http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/09-01/alcohol-and-paleo/
kay
can you eat the imitation crab/ crab-shrimp mix in the refrigerator section on the Paleo plan?
leslie
According to my BMI I am 6 lbs overweight. I have plenty of room to lose 15-20 lbs, Both of my teen daughters are overweight as well. I’m very concerned with their weight gain over the last 2 years.
I’ve been trying the Paleo diet going on 6 days now. I have managed to eliminate nearly all grains without going completely cold turkey on the first week. This has surprisingly kept me from having cravings.
I admit I’m a lover of pastas and breads, well food in general.
I’ve never been a big eater of junk food or fast food anyway, and rarely drink soda. So no worry of cravings there.
Though I really thought I would have a difficult time adjusting to this new lifestyle. My daughters and myself have already a noticeable difference in our weight without feeling food deprived. I realized last night I haven’t been feeling achy or lethargic. My circulation feels so much better!
My husband is also a type 1 Diabetic and also suffers serious bouts of depression. Unfortunately he is a junk food addict, and has struggled with his sugars going extremely high. His belief is he’s fine as long as he’s taking the units of insulin to cover his carb intake. He had a bout a month ago of his sugar being so high (his meter reads up to 640 and it had read HI) He felt like he had a bad case of the flu.
I’m not sure how easily he will adjust. Unless he wants to cook his own meals he has no choice. Diabetes is not a forgiving disease.
As far as what to make for meals, I’ll think of what sounds good, then do a search for a Paleo recipe. So many recipes!
I love the natural concept of this diet. It frightens me to hear about all of the toxic additives in our foods, as well as our toothpastes, deodorants, soaps, lotions ect. So many manufactures have been poisoning us for so long and many of us don’t even know it. So sad it is all FDA approved!
Thank you for this site it’s been very helpful in transitioning our diet!
BJB
Thank you for writing this.
I’ve been Paleo now for one week. Besides feeling great and having more energy, I’m in the bathroom at least once per night (which is killing my 8 hour sleep goal) and am going through a large release of water weight.
I had not seen this addressed anywhere else.
Thank you again!
Ella
Been on Paleo 3 weeks now and lost 0.5 pound. so frustrated!
I’m 5″4 weigh 129 , and i know i don’t have a lot to loose but i gained 6 pounds over winter and now they are not coming off.
I work out, and i see a change in my body, but weight has been the same for 2 weeks. (shocking, because normally i will get on the scale every morning- sick , I know, and it will go 2pounds up one day, 1 pound down one day… i can’t rememeber the last time my weight has been the same for so long).
i wrote what i eat and im around 1200-1500 calories a day (no grain, no dairy. pure paleo).
What am I doing wrong??
Jordan
@Ella… I’m 5’4″ and 130 pounds! Same story… I used to be 125 or under but I’ve gained weight in the past year. I’ve been trying as well perhaps it has something to do with us having a little amount of fat to begin with? Also, nuts and avocado have lots of fat (good, healthy fat) I wonder if that has something to do with it? I’m not on this diet solely to gain weight, it’s more about nutrition for me but I’m also hoping to see some results in my waist line…
Julie
Ella, I don’t think you are doing anything wrong. You are doing great! Don’t worry about calories, just track your grams of protein. You should be getting about 100 grams a day. Focus on measurements too! You said you see a change in your body, but the weight is not coming off. Would you really be that upset if you didn’t lose the 6lbs but dropped a pant size? All of us women need to remember the number on the scale does not define us.
bobbiewhitaker
Hi Ella, just a thought because I’m not expert but I think maybe you are not eating enough. What types of workouts are you doing? How often are you eating? Maybe journal for a week everything you eat and what and how long you work out and then how you are feeling. This can help you determine what you are doing wrong. Maybe you don’t need to lose weight and that all that working out you are doing and paleo you are eating is helping you turn that weight into muscle! How do your clothes fit? That can be a better indicator of how healthy you are. Hope this helps!
bobbiewhitaker
Barbara, my name is barbara too (i go by bobbie) and I also have hashimotos. My endocrinologiist didn’t tell me about the gluten-hashi connection either and he put me on synthetic hormones. Synthetic hormones only replace T4 hormone that the thyroid produces. When I was still having symptoms of depression and weight gain (and many more) that were obviously thyroid related he told me to be put on antidepressants. I knew something wasn’t right. After researching, I found http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com you should definitely look it up. I found out that gluten can cause an autoimmune attack against your thyroid (brain & gut) and also found out that synthetic hormones were not doing the job. You should find a doctor that perscribes natural hormone replacement made from pig thyroid (it gives you ALL hormones-T4,T3,T2 & calcitonin). I feel tremendously better, losing weight, more energy I just can’t describe. Hope this helps!
TeGab
Hi,
This is my third day doing the diet. I already steered away from grains. It’s artificial sweetners and dairy that I am trying to get used to not being in my diet anymore. I do find though that I am smacking a lot on almonds and cashews. Any other snacking ideas? Is doing this going to make me gain weight? I have a lot of muscle and about 5 lbs that I would like to lose. Ultimately, the go would be for in about 9 days, but I’m not sure I’d that is possible bc I am only 5’2 and in great shape, just losing isn’t something my body does often. All suggestions are welcomed, please! Even a couple lbs in 9 days. I’m in a wedding, help!
Neely
TeGab – Sure! We have a whole recipe page full of snack ideas here: http://www.paleoplan.com/recipes/#Snacks
As for gaining weight, read this post on changing the diet for your own needs: http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/04-18/how-to-make-small-changes-to-make-the-meal-plan-fit-your-needs/
Manotee
100 grams of protein a day? That’s only 3.5 ounces of meat? What am I missing here? :)
Neely
Manotee – Not sure I follow you. Where are you seeing those equivalents?
MrsMeadows
I am wondering if I am doing anything wrong with this diet. I have been (99%) Paleo for 7 days now with few cravings. I must admit, however, that I have cheated a few times. I am a college student with a very small budget, so I haven’t been able to go completely organic, but I’m trying! I cheated and had 3 mini scoops of ice cream the other night (my downfall is chocolate…*sigh*), but other than that I don’t think I’ve done too bad? I’ve been cooking mostly chicken, eating lots of salads, but incorporating potatoes/sweet potatoes too much, I believe. I’ve also been eating a lot of (cage free w/ a vegetarian diet) eggs, whether it be boiled or scrambled. I am 5’1″ and almost 160 lbs. I havent gotten to weigh myself, however I don’t feel I’ve lost any weight at all (clothes are still not fitting right). I have noticed a huge improvement in digestion. Any advice?
Also, I’m fairly sure this is normal, but the first 3 or 4 days or so of going Paleo, I felt very lethargic and just drained of energy. I wouldn’t say weak, but I had to take breaks while cleaning my apartment. It was terrible! Anyone else experience this?
Neely
MrsMeadows – Sometimes you have to look at calories, especially as a smaller framed woman. We can’t eat very much, unfortunately… Here’s a blog post to help you with that.
http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/04-18/how-to-make-small-changes-to-make-the-meal-plan-fit-your-needs/
budderfli
Mrs Meadows…Ive been on paleo for 29 days now :) the first four days were tough!! i was hungry all the time and felt weak and lethargic (i was glad i wasnt scheduled to work those days..i do 12 hour night shifts… a hospital nurse)
But once i got over those first few days…. im no longer craving/ hungry and i feel my energy improving overall.
I I have lost a total of 7 lbs..of which i am happy about. (i have 45 lbs to lose in total) I typically in the past with other eating plans have always been one of the slower losers. My goal is to lose one lb a week…… but if its more IM HAPPY! :)
toni
Eddie
I have been paleo for 7 weeks now. Although I still eat cheese and some dairy very limited. No grains. Im down to 242 from 272. I have been working out 6 days a week weight training3 and cardio6. I cant wait to see how I look in a year. At this point the initial “fun” is wearing off and meal planning and shopping had become a bit tedious. I have two daughters and a wife they appreciate variety which requires alot of planning. I am a believer lets see if I can get down to 200.
AsriePooh
I have been Paleo for 1 fill week now …I went 99% paleo, No cheating (except the 1st day). My weakness is wine. I drink Moscato, I switched and start drinking red. But i drink 2-3 glasses a day. Can you still loose the weight you need to drinking wine everyday!!
Neely
AsriePooh – Nice work on going Paleo! So the wine thing… it’s definitely a “Paleo” drink in moderation, but it also has a ton of sugar in it. If you don’t start losing weight in the next couple weeks doing what you’re doing, it’s the first thing I’d consider decreasing.
Baya
I’m addicted to diet, caffeine free soda. Is this an absolute no no on this plan or can I drink it in moderation. I drink 4 cans of soda daily.
Neely
Baya – In my opinion, if you’re “addicted” to something, that should be your first cue to give it up. Beyond that, though, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that diet sodas/fake sweeteners are very bad for people’s health, and contribute to sugar cravings and being overweight. Hope that helps.
ccasey11
I am new to Paleo, today is just day 1. I have a friend that pointed me in this direction, and since I have tried EVERYTHING else and can’t keep the weight off, I figured I would give this a shot as well. I’m a little worried with the holiday’s coming up, though. Anyway, my questions is this; I live in a fairly small city with only two grocery stores. We are about 1 hour from a city with more “healthy” store options (Whole Foods, etc.) We have a small co-op that carries stuff like almond flour and coocnut aminos, but my main concern is obtaining grass-fed meat. I can’t really afford to go all organic all the time, so I go where it counts such as the dirty dozen veggies, etc. How basly am I affecting my diet with normal beef and other meats? I really am hoping to lose about 80 lbs and change my eating habits for life.
Neely
ccasey11 – I hear you. First of all, look for a source of grass-fed/pasture-raised meat in your area on http://www.eatwild.com. I’ve gotten organically raised, grass-fed beef for around $4.50 a pound when I bought it in bulk. Even if you have to drive a little ways to get it, it’s often worth it. Is eating conventional, factory farmed meat the worst thing you could do for your health? Probably not, but the fatty acid/protein/nutrient make-up of those animals is significantly different than naturally raised ones. Here’s a blog post I wrote on the differences between meats and how to interpret labels – http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-10/meat-labels-2/
Lee
I have been on Paleo for 6 days so far and have no problem following the diet. I’m 43yo male at 200lbs 5’10″ and should be around 180 or so.Since I’ve started Ive had no movement in weight loss I feel good but thought that I would be seeing something by now. My wife also has the same issue. I use my fitness pal and take in 1600 cal a day and usually at 100-120 gm of carbs. Two fruits a day and a handful of nuts or tablespoon of nuttbutter(homemade) Everything else is chicken, beef , pork and veggies. Just curious if you have any suggestions?
Neely
Lee – I’d say be patient with it if you’re truly only taking in that many calories and carbs. Are you getting calories in your diet from anything else? Drinking alcohol or any other beverages besides water? Try adding in some lifting of heavy things and see if that helps :)
Lee
i also walk with 10 pound weights 3-4 times a week for 2 miles each time
Missmac
Ive just stummbled across this web page as I was researching Atkins because a friend wants me to do it with her. I’ve been on weight watchers since May 2012 and have only lost 6 lbs. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 2005, went through RAI treatment and am now Hypothyroid. I’d like to lose 25 lbs, but my health issues have made it very difficult, I’m back and forth to my endocrinologist every 8 weeks for lab work and med adjustments. I’m lactose intolerant and don’t foresee myself giving up fruit which is why I am hesitant to try Atkins. The Paleo way of eating appears to be right up my alley but I’m so frustrated with not being able to lose weight I’m just worried that I won’t have success, again. Any suggestions on how to get started the ring way would be great. Thanks
Grace T.
Hi there!
I have a rare condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy. My heart is very weak, and I retain a lot of water. I am hoping the paleo will help me lose weight, help with the water retention, and help me to gain better heart function through clean eating. Are people able to lose a significant amount of weight on this diet? Any tips to help speed weight loss?
Cami
I am 34, female, I walk daily but haven’t been eating right at all for the past 6-8 months. I went Paleo on Dec 31st and am 11 days in. The first few days were rough, watching everyone around me eating cheese and bread etc. But once I started cooking…I was able to get creative and find things that are tasty and satisfying (like herb broiled Swai fillets and sauteed purple cabbage with garlic and onions!) After about five days I was getting stomache aches and felt bloated. Green tea soothed this for me. I have lost 5 pounds already so I am feeling good. My face looks clearer and less puffy and I feel very energetic. I am hoping to lose 25 pounds…wish me luck!
Cyrus860
Hello Neely,
My name is Joshua, I am 24, 289lbs 5’11. I have gone down and up and down and up, and I know that eating is most of the diet. My wife brought home her iPhone tonight and showed me the Paleo Plan and I was very excited to try it. Although it is very new to me, I am excited to commit to getting fit being the first week of the new year.
I will keep you and others updated. We go tomorrow to purchase our first grocery list and we wil throw out the stuff not on the list ;)
Wish us luck!!
Janet Garland
Hi, I’ve been on the Paleo diet for two weeks now. I’ve eaten pretty much vegetarian for about 3 years and thought Id try this and eat lean meats. I run and do pilates and I find im tired now without any grains. I also dont find im losing any weight. I am doing myfitnesspal to make sure i’m not eating too many calories. Just wondering what i’m doing wrong.
Neely Quinn
Janet Garland – You might just be missing carbs. It’s hard to run and do pilates without any carbs to fuel you, so add some in in the form of sweet potatoes, potatoes, fruit, and more veggies. You’ll probably notice a difference right away. As for the weight loss, I don’t know – I’d have to get more info from you. I do private consultations for that sort of thing if you’re interested.
Priscilla
Just started this with hubby about 3 days ago, following a meal plan by Rob Wolfe. The meal plan seems a bit wacky as the meal plan is for 1 person and he wants 1 person to buy 2-3 dozens of eggs in week one on top of pounds and pounds of meat/veggies. Is that normal?? So far, I’ve just been eating what I feel I need to eat, so i’m not “strictly” following the portion that Rob Wolfe laid out. I just can’t eat 1 pound of ground beef in one seating!!
Hubby and I are a bit worried if we’re reading his meal plan wrong? Or is the Paleo Diet just eating a lot of meat all the time? I haven’t felt hungry so far and to my surprise, I haven’t missed carbs. I’m Asian and eating rice and noodles, no matter how stereotypical that may sound, is a staple for me and a comfort food for me. I”m really surprised I haven’t been craving rice and noodles yet.
Would like to get your insight to see if we’re doing anything wrong with how we’ve been doing thus far.
Neely Quinn
Priscilla – I’m really not familiar with Robb’s meal plan, so I can’t comment on whether or not you’re doing it right or wrong. Are you sure it’s made for only 1 person? I’ve never heard of any Paleo advocate telling an average sized person to eat 1 lb of meat in one sitting :)
Taylor
I have been wanting to lose weight and get healthier for a while but have been having problems doing so. My husband got me Zumba dvd’s for Christmas and it is fun and i can keep to it. But as for diet i have been counting calories and my doctor said that i am not getting all the nutrients that i need and she gave me homework on Paleo. I am hoping to start it soon but still am confused on a few things. I don’t know how much protein, carbs, or fats im supposed to intake or how much my husband needs. My husband also wants to know if taking Whey protein is alright.
Neely Quinn
Taylor – Check out these blog posts: http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/04-18/how-to-make-small-changes-to-make-the-meal-plan-fit-your-needs/
and
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/05-11/more-on-protein-powders/
April
I have been on the diet for 35 days. I have lost 9 pounds and haven’t exercised at all. I was a huge carb eater and can honestly say that I have not craved carbs after the 2nd week. I do however still crave chocolate! I have noticed that the amount of migraines I used to get has dropped alot. I have also noticed a little difference in my energy level and skin complexion. My taste buds have changed as when I was at a restaurant I ordered something that I normally would have and it tasted gross! This is a good sign. My biggest trick is to plan my meals in advance and make sure I have leftovers for lunch the next day.
Lambchops
Hi. I am the biggest chocolate and sugar addict EVER. Can eat 5-6 bars a day (easily) and a packet of biscuits (cookies) I am also an all or nothing girl ;)
I started Paleo yesterday, but am adapting it to suit my lifestyle. I don’t eat any meat at all so I will keep mt quorn products (and try and stomach tofu) and keep my full fat Greek yogurt. Apart from that it will be fish, all veggies, all fruit and nuts and seeds. I know that I will struggle as I snack every hour or so and don’t have many snack options. I’ve recently purchased a few “Natashas Living” products and Nakd and Bounce bars – think all are Paleo or close enough?? Anyone any opinions on these products?
Wish me luck! :)
Suzette
I have been told by my Holistic MD, that I have to make a lifestyle change or I will die of a massive heart attack or stroke. (I take no statins @ all, just suppliments). My triglycerides are 1025 & should be under 150. My Cholesterol is 342 & should be between 125-200. My Glucose is 92 & should be between 65-99. And my Thyroid reverse T3 is out of range @ 26 & should be between 7-24. He said this is all high because of my Cholesterol, so he wants me to not have any carbs @ all for 6 months, until my next blood test. I started about 2 wks ago, omitting breads, rice, pasta, potatoes & sugars & anything with flour. I went to see a certified nutritionist today & she told me to ck out Paleo meal plans. So far I feel better, but I need to get my numbers down. I really dont’ excercise except for alot of housework & up & down the stairs. What else will help me bring my numbers down with your Paleo meal plan?
Sydney
Hi Neely,
I’ve been following a modified Paleo diet for a little over 5 months and am super disappointed that I have lost only 10 lbs according to the scale. I’ve been following Tim Ferris’ Four Hour Body Plan, so no fruits but I do eat beans. I am 17 years old, female, 5’3.5 and currently weigh around 130 lbs (I fluctuate a ton). I am fairly muscular, but I can definitely lose a minimum of 5 lbs and probably would be thin if I lost 8-10 lbs. I take take a weekly cheat day, which hasn’t been a complete free-for-all filled with pastries and sugar in the last few months but does include dark chocolate, fruit, cheese, almond milk, brown rice sushi, etc.
I cut out legumes the last two weeks (no results), so now a typical day for me consists of:
Breakfast: eaten 10 minutes after awakening- 2 eggs, 1 cup of broccoli or cauliflower or brussels sprouts
Lunch: 4 oz grilled chicken cutlet, about 10 oz spinach
Dinner: .5 lb filet mignon or chicken or salmon, 1 cup vegetables- usually broccoli, spinach, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts
And tons of water- at least 2 L
In the last few weeks, I’ve only snacked on veggies. However, in the past I have had a few tablespoons of almond butter or some cottage cheese. I wasn’t losing weight with these foods, but removing them gave me no results, either.
I exercise 3-5 days/week. I run a little over 3 miles in 30 mins then do strength training- ab exercises, lunges, weight lifting, etc. Working out has changed my body more than my diet plan has in the last few months.
Before cutting out legumes, I was exercising 5 days/week. When I hit a plateau the first time months ago, I halved my portions (and they were still bigger than they are now) and lost 2 lbs. Since then, I haven’t lost an ounce despite reducing my portions yet again.
I had bloodwork done- all normal and healthy.
Any advice?
Neely Quinn
Hi Sydney – Well, my first thought is that you may have some hormonal imbalance (thyroid, adrenal, female hormones) that’s messing you up and creating weight loss resistance. Did you have your bloodwork done by a conventional doc or a naturopath? I’d go see a naturopath and see what they have to say. In the meantime, start counting calories, as annoying as that is. Because you’re so small, you need way less food than the average person. I use http://www.myfitnesspal.com when I want to know how much I’m eating and it can be really helpful. If you want further help, let me know if you want to do consulting with me. Good luck to you.
Jodie
My husband and I went Paleo on January 1st and love it. He lost 14 lbs and 13 lbs for me. Love the food and have not had cravings for all the bad stuff we at in the past. As I was reading some of the posts, I noticed that people are quitting coffee. Is this necessary? I read somewhere that you can have coffee but not the cream in it.
Neely Quinn
Jodie – Check this blog post out…
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/06-28/the-cruel-calling-of-coffee/
mary
Hi Im just starting the paloe diet Im 49 yrs old 5’2 and 235lbs eeeekkkkkk
should I keep my fruits to a minamal…..and how much should I loose in by the week
can I have a free day or should I stay strict…..I get out and walk but not alot of exercise
right back and knee issues….I really love veggies and I SOOOOOOO want to loose
as much as possible by my 50th birthday 6mo from now…PLEASE HELP
Neely Quinn
mary – If you’re not active, as you say, then keep your fruit to one or two pieces a day. I don’t know how much you’ll lose in the first week – everybody is different :) If you feel like a “free” day is necessary for you to stay on the diet, then please, by all means take a free day every week. You’ll still see benefits most likely. Good luck!
KC
I just started Paleo, but had been doing “clean eating” prior, so it has been an easy transition. I’m looking forward to seeing the results! Is there a good macronutrients ratio to keep for weight loss on Paleo? I’ve been doing my research, but can’t seem to pinpoint exactly the right amount of carbs/protein/fats to eat per day. I’ve also been logging my food on myfitnesspal, but am not sure how well the tracking works with Paleo. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! :)
Neely Quinn
KC – myfitnesspal.com works great with Paleo. You just have to ignore what they say are your “goals” for fat, protein, carb intake. There’s really no cut and dry answer to this to be honest. It depends on how much activity you’re doing, if you have concurrent diagnoses (diabetes, thyroid issues, etc), and how much weight you want to lose and how quickly you want to do it. Or you can look at it from Mark Sisson’s point of view and follow the carb curve: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/#axzz2LkYRvpSb
That means you stay under 100g a day of carbs for weight loss, under 50g for quicker and more guaranteed weight loss, and between 100 and 150 for weight maintenance. However, if you’re doing a lot of exercise you’ll need more than 150g a day. You could also check out Zone Paleo, which would be somewhere around 30% protein, 30% fat, 40% carbs. Hope that helps!
Laura Williams
I’m just starting. Does anyone know if Rejuvelac should not be consumed? I just bought 2 gallons and am wondering if I should pour it down the drain. I also drink Green Kamut occasionally. Saw in your article that kamut is a problem. If these are to be removed, what can I drink other than water?
Neely Quinn
Laura Williams – I’m not sure what Rejuvelac is or what its ingredients are. And I don’t actually know what Green Kamut is, either. If you give me a list of ingredients I’d be happy to give you my opinion on them. Here’s an article on what to drink on Paleo: http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/03-11/qa-what-should-i-drink/
Laura Williams
Neely – Rejuvelac is a drink made from sprouted wheat berries. That’s all I know. According to the label, the Organic Kamut (aka Green Kamut) drink contains 60% organic kamut leaf juice and 40% organic alfalfa leaf juice. It says the kamut is gluten free, but after reading your article, I wonder. The words “wheatgrass juice” also appear on the label, though it is not mentioned in the ingredients. It appears that the packagers are referring to the combination of the kamut and alfalfa as wheatgrass. I have no official diagnosis on edema, but I believe I was experiencing symptoms in my feet. That has been the first and very dramatic change since going Paleo. My constant discomfort at night ended almost instantly. Sleep is more restful. I did experience the extreme dry mouth as well, but I am enjoying drinking more water. Now I am due to have a hip replacement. I stopped exercising as it was just too painful to continue, so I gained a lot of weight. I have osteoarthritis in both hips (with spurs), both knees, upper and lower back. Paleo makes me feel like I can go the distance (probably a year) to get all the weight off. I certainly hope so. I realize the carbs, which I thought were required for a healthy diet, obviously caused the roller coaster ride I’ve been on my whole adult life. I am relieved to have to avoid them. Thanks very much for the link on what to drink. Looking forward to reading your response.
Carly
I’m planning on starting this tomorrow for Spring Break! I have about a minimum of 35 lbs to lose. I’m pretty active, working out 6 days a week, with both cardio and strength training.
Do you think it would be fine to still eat greek yogurt and oatmeal in small quantities? Being a poor college student, it’s some food that are cheap and I have a great supply of :)
Neely Quinn
Carly – Sure, if that’s what you can afford. I think a lot of people have a lot of great success with Paleo/primal using the 80/20 rule, which gives you around 4-6 meals a week that aren’t paleo. I always suggest that people take all grains and dairy out of their diet (including greek yogurt and oatmeal) for the first month, though, so you can really see the effects they’re having on you, and especially if you’re having serious symptoms of any kind. After that, you’ll be better equipped to decide whether you should be eating those foods.
Melody
I’ve been on paleo for about two weeks now, even though I still allow myself some cheats, (a small piece of dark chocolate after dinner, a bit of milk in my coffee) I’m already down 10 pounds and loving it!
Hugmelikeabear
Is this okay for teens?
Neely Quinn
Hugmelikeabear – Yep! It’s ok for all humans :)
foolonthehills
i lost 7lbs in 3 days when i started this time!
i have been a long time atkins quitter. it has always been the only diet i had been able to actually do and see results with. i’ve done them all! finally, nearing my 30th birthday, i’ve decided to make a lifetime commitment. i’m tired of falling off the wagon and having to take it all back off, again. i’m currently still eating dairy but in tiny amounts and it’s about to go too. i’m at about 3 weeks now and have lost 10lbs. i tried eating fruit for a week and it didn’t make me gain but it definately stalled my loss.
i feel better, i want less food, i breath better, i’m just BETTER with paleo. don’t get me wrong, if i could eat cereal and potatoes at every meal and be thin i would. but i can’t! so here i am feeling good.
Sarah Ann
Hello! I started a strict 30 days of Paleo 2 weeks ago for a crossfit challenge at my gym. Week one I lost weight quick but week two it all came back… Is this normal? I am eating paleo meal delivery for lunch/dinner and my breakfast is eggs/turkey bacon and snacks are cucumber slices, raw almonds, and/or a small apple. Any suggestions on what I’m doing wrong? I am 5’4″ and approx 160lbs.
Neely Quinn
Sarah Ann – Hmmmm. Did you start eating more in the second week? Or more nuts? Those things are sneaky and they often wreck people’s weight loss goals because they’re easy to overeat. Other than that I’m not sure.
Thalita Pichelli
My fiancé and I have been on the paleo diet for a week today and he’s lost 1lbs and I haven’t lost any weight! I’m 5’5 150lbs and do Pilates 3 times a week and started to incorporate a spin class 2 x a week. I don’t know why I’m not losing weight since I have changed my diet completely! I will keep it up to see what happens but it’s so discouraging not to lose any thing :( is it possible I’m doing something wrong or is this normal for certain people? Help!
Neely Quinn
Thalita Pichelli – Hmmm. Not sure what’s going on with that. I’m wondering if you’re eating too much food? A lot of times people incorporate too much fat or too many nuts, along with the other foods on Paleo and they just eat too many calories. Email me at neely@paleoplan.com if you’d like to do a consult and figure this out!
Jessica
Hi-
I’ve been doing Paleo and Crossfit for about a month. I only eat 3 meals a day because I am fully satisfied and no longer hungry in between. I’m loving that! I don’t eat grains or dairy, and I limit fruit and nuts. I eat those only a handful of times per week. I do Crossfit 2 times per week and am trying to get to a level to increase my frequency. In between that, I stay active by walking, going to a regular gym and doing things like gardening. My concern is, my lack of weight loss. The first week I lost 3 pounds and that has been it! I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong. I’m a 37 yr old female who has tried almost every diet under the sun since age 19. Two years ago, I worked with a personal trainer and I was in the best shape of my life. Granted, it took me like 10 months to get there, including losing only 15 lbs and reducing my body fat like 5%. Unfortunately, I broke my rib 2x and it has been downhill from there. SO, I’m hoping that that’s all it is-that my body seems to take a long time to respond. I will keep up with Paleo as a life style change and working out, cuz I feel awesome. I was just hoping to speed up the fat loss process since summer is right around the corner. I’m currently 5’9 and 170 lbs. I would love to lose 20 lbs of fat! Thank you!
-Jess
Neely Quinn
Jess – it’s really difficult to say what’s going on. You might be eating too much food. Check your intake in myfitnesspal.com for a few days and see where you’re at. You might not be eating enough carbs. Check out “carb refeeds paleo” online and see if anything resonates with you. Or read the ebook “Carb Nite” and see if a regimen like that works for you. Or maybe try intermittent fasting. Make sure you’re sleeping enough. And look at your caffeine consumption. I’ve seen caffeine throw people’s appetite off so much that it puts them in “starvation mode” and they don’t lose weight. Try taking caffeine out of your life for 30 days and see if you don’t feel even better and lose weight. If you want help with this, at any point, let’s set up a consultation where I can really look at the details of your situation. Best of luck!
Rebecca
Hi. My husband and I are both overweight. We have 3 children and I have gained almost 50 pounds since I got pregnant with my first 6 years ago. I know very little about Paleo and have some questions. Mostly is this safe for my children? My girls are both small for their ages and I don’t want them to lose weight. We are working very hard to change our eating habits and lifestyle to teach them the best we can. I firmly believe healthy eating habits is one of the best gifts you can give your children. Also, I have heard a lot of people say they get very dizzy and vomit when starting this diet. Is this true? And if so what can I do to prevent it? Thanks.
Neely Quinn
Rebecca – I actually haven’t heard a lot of people say that, but if it happens it’s just your body’s way of saying that you were not eating the right way before and it’s detoxing the nasties out of your system :) I’d say just make sure you’re eating enough food and moreover enough carbs so your blood sugar doesn’t go too low. Eat sweet potatoes, potatoes, and fruit every day – don’t skimp, especially in the beginning because it’s hard enough for your body to go through grain/dairy/legume withdrawal and then on top of it go to a very low carb diet. Also, make sure you’re eating a whole lot of fat in the beginning – so plenty of olive oil, coconut oil, home-rendered tallow or lard, or bacon grease. People may be throwing up and dizzy because their blood sugar gets too low, and all of these suggestions will help with that. Good luck to you!
TexanGirl
I’ve been doing Paleo for a while but have not experienced weight loss like I thought. I’m 51 and female. 5’8″ and now about 175lbs – which for me is about 35 lbs overweight. I’d love suggestions of what I can do. Oh, btw, I try to get in 10,000 steps everyday – and I do moderate exercise 4-5 days a week.
EB
I am 3 weeks postpartum and have already lost all the baby weight I gained. I am 5’6″ and weight 140. I would like to lose 15lbs and started Paleo about 6 days ago. The scale has not budged one pound. Will the hormones from pregnancy affect my progress?
Neely Quinn
EB – It’s possible. I’d definitely not go low calorie on the diet right now while you’re breastfeeding (are you breastfeeding?). There’s a lot that goes into losing weight, though. If you want to get help from me personally, please email me at neely@paleoplan.com
EB
*i should have also specified that I am not breast feeding
Kali
Hey Neely. I have been Paleo for almost a week now. Full paleo I mean. I have been easing into it the past month. Anyways. I was wondering how much weight I can expect to lose. I am trying not to make weight loss my main goal…
I was diagnosed with Anorexia last year, I was 5’8 and only 120 pounds. After recovery (I am still currently in) I just kept gaining. Last week I was 5’9 and 201.5 pounds (:O) I do already have a fair amount of muscle….Today I got on the scale and I was 197. :) I am starting my grade twelve year in High School in September. And I would like to lose the majority of the weight by Summer Vacay, so I can focus on toning up over the summer, before school starts. I would like to get down to about 165 pounds, but ultimatley I want to be 145 pounds. I am not sure if that is reasonable or not. I am following the Paleo diet. I run a couple times a week, and I also swim laps a couple times a week. I don’t have a car, so I walk everywhere. Once I lose some weight I am most likely going to sign up for a hip hop class or something.
How long do you think it would take for me to at least tone up? Look slimmer? It is always hard for me to stick to things unless I see results. But I will keep pushing through as much as possible. Thank you for any tips or feedback! :)
Neely Quinn
Kali – I wish I could give you a straight answer to this question, but it’s impossible to know how much weight you’ll lose without knowing exactly what you’re eating and how active you are (more details would be required to know this). Plus, you have to consider carbs, protein, how often you’re eating, if you’re cheating and how often, whether or not you have food sensitivities to things you’re still eating, how much you’re sleeping, how much caffeine you’re drinking, if you’re on any medications, and if you have any underyling hormonal issues (thyroid, estrogen, adrenals, etc), which could all affect your weight loss goals. If you’d like to set up a call with me, please email me at neely@paleoplan.com. As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into this :)
Ashley
Is the Paleo plan okay if you are breastfeeding? I think calcium is one of the things you are supposed to get alot of and since no dairy, what would you suggest? (sorry i’m still new to this) I think i am going to start this plan this week!
Neely Quinn
Hi Ashley – Yes, it’s great when you’re breastfeeding. Here’s an article on breastfeeding and Paleo – http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/01-18/qa-breastfeeding-while-starting-paleo/ and here are 2 on calcium –
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/08-29/getting-enough-nutrients-in-your-paleo-diet/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/07-07/the-calcium-conundrum/
Angela
I am very impressed with the paleo plan. I started my adventure 6 weeks ago at 192 lbs standing 5 feet 6 inches and I am happy to report today I weighed 162. I made a promise to listen to my body carefully and STOP eating when I was full and ONLY eat when I was hungry. At this point I am only walking a couple days a week but I hope to start crossfit soon. I do eat a very strict paleo diet. I followed the whole 30 challenge and after I had figured out how to eat and be happy in those guidelines I have not modified those guidelines. I am very happy with my weight loss but MORE happy with the way I FEEL. I do not have any caffeine and my body has a lot of energy throughout the day. Also, I had some tummy cramping and weird migraines before but after three days of paleo….it was completely gone. Oh and I had soreness in my knees and that is gone as well. This new life style has not costed me a ton either. There are so many helpful blogs on the Internet that have helped me develop recipes! If you are new to this paleo thing I can honestly tell you I wanted to quit a million times in the beginning because I felt trapped but after six weeks of sticking with it I will NEVER go back! Yay!
Carol
Hi. I am a diagnosed Celiac. Have been gf for ten years. Although I am feeling SO much better, my weight was still an issue. At 5’6 and 220 lbs size 18, I was looking to make a change. At a friends suggestion I tried the Atkins Diet. I lost 15 lbs but felt TERRIBLE! My skin constantly felt like it was crawling and my hot flashes/night sweats were beyond acceptable! Looking for a healthier version I went Paleo. Absolutely NO sugar NO processed foods NO caffiene NO MSG NO grains or legumes and very little dairy and fruit. I started cooking with coconut oil but not too much. I have GAINED not just the 15 lbs back, but an additional seven lbs on top! I am SO discouraged! My husband, who by the way, has lost 35 lbs just by MY healthy changes, is just as confused as I am. We have nothing unhealthy left in the house! I am active. I garden and I work retail. I so want the Paleo way to work for me and feel that if this is not working then the only thing left is Bariatric Surgery. HELP!
Neely Quinn
Carol – If you’d like some personalized help with your diet, I’d be happy to do some coaching with you. Just email me at neely@paleoplan.com and we’ll talk more about it.
Scot
Hi Neely, a couple years ago I had gall bladder surgery and it was a mess. Initially, I tried to eat well and eventually fell into poor habits. I have been looking into the paleo diet and I am wondering how helpful it would be. At the time of the surgery my triglycerides were pretty high. I have recently started working out again and after getting back into it I am feeling better ( CROSSFIT), i have cut sodas from the diet completely and drink unsweetened tea and water with some milk and juice but not much. Looking for a place to start and get things rolling. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Neely Quinn
Scot – Good for you trying to clean up your diet a bit! Paleo is great, but you’ll have to make some modifications maybe. Diane Sanfilippo wrote an article about that here: http://balancedbites.com/2012/12/faqs-how-can-i-eat-paleo-without-a-gallbladder.html
As for getting started, I’d say try out our meal plan service, even just for a couple weeks so you can get into a rhythm with it without having to think too hard about it. That can be found here: http://www.paleoplan.com/tour/#meal-plan
A.M.B.
This is week 7 for me on the plan.. with a few minor cheats along the way. I am taking 70% less of my pain meds for arthritis, feel more energy and mental focus.. and losing a pound a week.. slow and steady. This plan is a keeper for me.
Ursula
Hi Neely,
Since becoming perimenopausal I am just piling on the weight. Please advise if the Paleo plan will help shift the weight. Thanks
Neely Quinn
Ursula – Here, read this: http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/06-04/qa-is-paleo-good-for-menopausal-women/
brip
hi neely, any thoughts? thanks :)
1) what do you guys have against animal fats other than butter? with a bit of a weston price/traditional foods background, i’m surprised that lean meats are recommended even though beef fat is often good and saturated like coconut, butter, palm, etc.
2) fiber – are veggies rough enough? in the past i’ve had great success improving my health and weightloss when i remember to eat half a can of beans every day. it is my understanding we need resistant starch and that new evidence has shown our bodies react to it by producing the fatty acid butyrate, which affects us into fat burning instead of sugar burning. might a very low carb paleo diet not be as good for weightloss as it could be? beans, corn, and cold potatoes/rice/pasta (cooked then cooled down – think paleo version potato and rice salads) are good sources of resistant starch. seems like resistant starch also increases the absorption of calcium and prevents constipation. perhaps the weightloss paleo plan will work better for me and others with the inclusion of some foods like beans, corn or cold potatoes/rice/pasta.
Neely Quinn
brip – I don’t think I state anywhere on the site that I have anything against fatty meats or animal fats in general. In fact, I just cooked my eggs in duck fat. I totally agree with what you said about animal fats. As for fiber, I think it’s a little over rated, especially the stuff in beans, corn, and potatoes/rice/pasta. The Paleo Plan wouldn’t be the Paleo Pland if you were eating those foods (except the potatoes), in fact. You can get a ton of fiber in fruits and veggies – no need for those foods with all the anti-nutrients in them.
Shelly
I am super nervous. I have been on this website 3 different times today. I am a medical professional. I am a super busy mom. I am a full-time student nearing graduation from a Doctorate program. However, I am at least 100 pounds over weight. I have not started the Paleo plan yet but am seriously considering it.
Here are my concerns……I do not have acces to grain-fed meat: I absolutely do not have time to meal plan; I am not super crazy about fish (unless it’s trout that I have caught and cleaned myself); I have seriously bad ankles that will eventually require surgery. The excessive weight is really taking a toll on them but excersie is nearly impossible.
I guess I just need support and encouragment that this is a doable plan for me and my lifestyle! Any words of encouragment or suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated!
Neely Quinn
Hi Shelly – Plenty of people in your situation do this! You can just pick out a few recipes on a night you have free, make large batches of them and have them in your fridge for the whole week so you don’t need to be cooking every day. Either that, or just cook up some chicken/burgers/steaks/whatever and have them as the base of meals and add salads or cooked veggies, and good fats to them to make them into meals. I’m assuming you meant you don’t have access to grass-fed meat since the grain fed stuff is what we’re trying to stay away from? Don’t let that stop you. Please. Just try it out with what you have, and in the meantime look on eatwild.com for a local source of grass-fed/pastured meats and see what you can come up with. Exercise is not necessary to lose weight – it’s mostly diet. If you want to set up some counseling with me, just email me at neely@paleoplan.com and I can help you through it. Good luck!
Canadiangirl
Hi Neely
My husband (not overweight) had injured a muscle in his side last fall, it was aggrevating him enough that he wanted to get into better shape to strengthen his abs. I have struggled with weight for awhile (tried the Dukan diet), it did wonders for me until I went back to eating like the rest of my family.
Luckily my husband had a revelation that “he needed to change his ways”, so we both signed up with a personal trainer; our personal trainer introduced us to the paleo diet. We started the last week of January and I am now down 20 lbs. since then; husband has lost 10 but doesn’t need to lose any more weight.
We gave it 100% from the day we signed up for the program. What we love the most is that our trainer has us work out 2 times a week for a 30 mins., each time. We do not have to run on a treadmill (which I do like), or spend 2 hours a day working out. It is tough resistant training and the diet is what is the miracle.
I would recommend to someone starting to be fully committed and to be prepared with foods. I found I was running to the grocery store almost every other day trying to keep stocked up until I got the hang of the quantities I would need. Being prepared is very important.
We just came home from spending 3 weeks in Florida and we missed our workouts but we still ate paleo, I had lost 7 lbs. in those 3 weeks.
Hubby is a fan of beer but had switched to Tequila, club soda and lime to enjoy around the pool while in the south. I would have the occassional glass of red wine. Hubby was also sad in the beginning about giving up pasta but I have found creative ways to still make the pasta sauce but use vegetables as the pasta that the sauce goes over.
We never feel deprived of food, we feel better and I definitely look better. While away I would make paleo dinners when friends and family came over and everyone loved the food. I recommend anyone to try this diet and watch the pounds melt away.
Canadiangirl
For some of you still struggling:
Are you drinking enough water everyday?
Are you getting enough sleep every night?
Drink 8 – 12 glasses of water a day.
Get as much sleep as you can, 9 – 10 hours if possible.
You should never go hungry on the diet, however if you are not seeing results:
Cut back on nuts if you tend to go crazy on them.
Make sure you are not eating high carb veggies (carrots, peas, lentils).
Make sure you are eating berries and not high carb fruits as well.
I limit my carb for the day to around 50 grams, so choose your carbs carefully and read the labels.
Lolarae
Hi Neely im 21 – roughly 60 lbs overweight and have always yo-yoed when comes to dieting. I love the premise of a paleo lifestyle and find it to be inherently right- i have a few questions. How i can do this on a very tight and small budget? I don’t drink alchohol but smoke weed on the weekend would this hinder weightloss? I was also wondering if flabby skin would be a problem due to the weightloss on paleo? Thank you wonderful site! (I adore the way you reply to people online so insightful and kind)
Neely Quinn
Lolarae – Ok, first of all, here’s a post I wrote on eating paleo on a budget: http://www.paleoplan.com/2013/03-07/paleo-on-the-cheap/
As for the week smoking, just be careful as it works kind of like sugar in your body, creating high blood sugar then a blood sugar crash, hence the munchies. So make sure you have good Paleo snacks on hand when you’re smoking so that you don’t make bad decisions while you’re high. Other than that, I don’t know why it would affect your weight loss goals, but I’m not a weed expert by any means. As for flabby skin, that really depends on the person. 60 pounds doesn’t seem like enough to cause permanently flabby skin, but who knows? I wouldn’t worry too much about it – just try to do some work with weights and strength gaining in general so you have less of a chance of that happening. And thanks for your kind words :)
Janet
My husband and I have been doing paleo for a month now. He started because after having much his sigmoid colon removed last year, due to diverticulitus. He had another flare up last month. He does great on it- feels fantastic- but, he needs to quit losing so much weight! He is 6’2 and down to 165 lbs. He’s in the Army, so he works out or runs almost everyday. (he’s not very muscular- people see him as skinny) How can he stay Paleo and not lose more weight? I give him lots of fruit to snack on and even got a dehydrator so he could eat more and feel like he’s eating chips instead. He eats a lot! He can’t have nuts due to the diverticulitus- so we can’t add that fat/calories to his diet, and he doesn’t like avocados either. Thanks, Janet
Neely Quinn
Janet – Try reading this article and see if it helps: http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/03-23/qa-gaining-weight-on-paleo/
Nicole
Hi Neely,
I am loving all your recipes! Everything is so good, and I never feel hungry. I am so happy to have found your site. I am now five days on the plan and just wondering when I might feel the headaches go away.
Thanks again for such great plans. Nicole
Neely Quinn
Nicole – Do you mean the detox headaches? Give it a few weeks, and after that if you still have them you’ll want to consider the idea that you may have a sensitivity to one or more of the new foods you introduced on Paleo (you’re probably eating more coconut and nuts, for example).
KSL
I am on day 5 of my new paleo diet. I have never ever ever been on any diet before. I was in amazing shape for most of my life due to dancing and being a gym rat. I was told to even become a fitness model because I was in such fabulous shape. I then got pregnant and all hell broke lose. I put on tons of weight. We then got stationed in Alaska which was very very hard for me and I put on more weight. Again, I have never had a weight issue pre-baby nor been on a diet. I have tried working out, but its hard carrying all of this weight. I also am at a very high altitude which makes me not breathe well. So, I decided the other day after seeing a recent picture of myself that I MUST do something. I did lots of research and found the Paleo diet. I decided to try it. I have had a serious soda/sweet tea addiction since I was a teen and gave it all up 6 days ago. I have had nothing but water for 6 days. An unbelievable feat for me!
I have a problem though. I am such a picky eater that I can hardly find any recipes that I would eat or even sound remotely edible. Im struggling badly! I cannot change my taste buds….and I find that im eating the same dang thing every day and eventually im going to get sick of it. And im afraid that I will give up and go back to the comfort food I love. I eat meat and fish but my stomach can only handle so much meat. I eat some allowable veggies but only few. Fruit is not an issue; however, needing to lose a lot of weight, that is a lot of sugar which I gave up in starting paleo. I absolutely hate salad. Hate hate hate hate it. But before trying paleo, I tried eating crunchy lettuce type salad with ranch. Now ranch is a no-no and juts eating raw lettuce is not good to me.
What do picky eaters do?? I know I cannot be the only one. I don’t want to give up, but I don’t know what to do. I wandered the grocery store yesterday and came home with hardly anything :(