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}
50 Comments
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
bd1star
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!
Sandy
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
Stania
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
joe
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
Neely
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
Nathalie
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.
Neely
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.
Taylor
@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!
Neely
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
Gigi
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!
Neely
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
Gigi
@Gigi – Sorry – it was supposed to be “taking out grains”. I changed it in the comment. Good luck to you!
Neely
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!
Gigi
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.
Peppy
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.
Neely
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?
Susan Ward
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.
mike
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
Kevin
@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.
Neely
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.
Audra
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.
Neely
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
Hillarie
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!
Neely
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!
Cheri
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
Adam R.
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/
Neely
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
meaux
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!
Neely
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 %
Abby
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!
Neely
WhaT is the limit on fruit for a paleo diet to lose weight
Ben
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/
Neely
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.
Barbara
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.
Neely
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!
Barbara
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
Sara
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.
Neely
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!!!
Micko
Micko – Congrats to you! I hope it continues to work for you for years to come!
Neely
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
Starla
Starla – congrats on your success! I hope it keeps working for you. Please keep us updated on your progress and thanks for sharing
Neely
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?
Starla
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?
Lily
Hi Lily – I suggest you go to http://www.rawfoodsos.com where there’s a “for vegans” page. That’ll explain it!
Neely
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.
crystal
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.
Neely
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?
bmartin
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/
Neely
can you eat the imitation crab/ crab-shrimp mix in the refrigerator section on the Paleo plan?
kay