Lose Weight and Keep it Off Paleo Style!

lorichristie · #1 08/21/12, 01:44 AM

Since there are so many diets out there using point systems, reducing calories, and encouraging folks to starve in other ways to lose weight (which they almost always gain back...sad yo-yo rollarcoaster). I figured it would be good to start a Paleo Style Weight Loss Thread!

What is Paleo Style? Getting back to the basics of how human beings ate, utilizing whole foods, and simply dropping unhealthy food choices from the diet. There is NO counting calories, no points to calculate, and no major food intake reductions just follow the recommendations on what to eat.

Here is an informative link (I have no affiliation in any way other than enjoying this style of eating and seeing friends and family lose weight and keep it off):

Paleo Diet Lifestyle | paleo diet tips and recipes

You will find a (2) week menu plan. The important thing is to be physically active, non-impact, low-impact, any type you can safely do (checking with your Dr. first, especially if starting exercise).

DH lost almost 30#s in one month and kept it off. My DS lost 20#s in one month. One of our friends lost 20#s in one month. I have met an increasing number of physically fit, healthy looking folks who told me they are eating Paleo Style. I have also been meeting more and more folks who switched, lost weight, and have kept it off eating Paleo Style (for years, not just a few months...). I lost 20#s just going off sugar a few years back, now eating Paleo Style, don't have to worry about gaining any back (weigh 120#s, 5'5" tall, small boned).

A picture of one of our recent Paleo Style Meals (this is my portion, which is at least 1/3 of DH's). I have never been a big eater, so this was a zero reduction in how much I eat.

Dungeness Crab (fresh cooked/shelled), homegrown: Zucchini, Green Beans, Org Mixed Greens, Quinoa (technically a seed, so we eat it), Watermelon, homegrown Thornless Blackberries/Marionberries/Alpine Strawberries, and drink water or hot tea with my meals.

StaceyS · #2 08/21/12, 10:30 AM

Looks yummy! I am also attempting to do Paleo, I love the freshness of everything

carolb5 · #3 08/21/12, 11:58 AM

Yes!!!!!!!!!!! We both do paleo/primal. The problem most people have is over thinking it. Just do it. You will say I can't live without bread or noodles or potatoes. By themselves they are very bland. We enjoy the toppings most. This is not a diet but a lifestyle. Please read as much as you can. It seems strange at first. Sorry, just took allergy meds so am rambling.

Carol

lorichristie · #4 08/21/12, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolb5

Yes!!!!!!!!!!! We both do paleo/primal. The problem most people have is over thinking it. Just do it. You will say I can't live without bread or noodles or potatoes. By themselves they are very bland. We enjoy the toppings most. This is not a diet but a lifestyle. Please read as much as you can. It seems strange at first. Sorry, just took allergy meds so am rambling.

Carol

You are sooooo right, it IS a lifestyle, not about starving, but eating healthy and enjoying life!

Simple? I'd say! You take a plate recommendation. First, a fist sized portion of meat (fat trimmed off), a portion of fruit, one of nuts/seeds, and the rest of the plate you fill with a variety of veggies (the recommended ones). The key is variety across the board, including the meat choices. I was very surprised at the nutrition comparison between a typical US diet and the Paleo Style of eating, with the latter being far superior!

lorichristie · #5 08/21/12, 03:15 PM

Here, it just so happens you also see Crab as the meat protein, but I do eat a wide variety of meat protein, not just Crab (LOL). The menu included fresh homegrown Blueberries, Marionberries, Kale, Egyptian Walking Onions, Mixed Leaf Lettuces, dried Currants, Pole Beans, Walnuts (added to salad after pic), homemade dressing (added after pic), Dungeness Crab (just caught/cooked), and Quinoa...nothing with Gluten, pre-prepared, or processed.

sherry in Maine · #6 08/21/12, 04:16 PM

I bought the book, after reading what you said about Paleo a few weeks ago.
I also bought other books about different eating 'lifestyles'. I think everyone is different, and some stuff works for some and some for others.

My dd is obese. She is also special needs and has motor skills issues. I gave up on exercise with her while back, because of her depth perception issues, coordination or lack there of, etc etc, plus her anxieties that I didn't quite understand at the time. What we did in past was limited to swimming (once a week, it's an hour away) and horseback riding (again hour away in other direction, plus hard to find someone here that works with theraputic riding within easy driving distance)
Her balance and coordination has gotten better over the years and this summer after 2 year break I started walking with her again, and slowly have incorporated some simple (and a little bit complex) jumping exercises. This year her anxieties have been way down and I understand them better, plus she has cooperated (yay!) because I think she understands her obesity issues, and wants to look more fit (hurray!)

I used the paleo model. Easy in the summertime. Every now and then, I will give her a slice of bread in the morning with breakfast. Ocasionally, will have to remind her what we are doing. This kid, who rarely cooperates with me, has lost almost 2 sizes of clothing.
Part of it is the walking for one hour daily, but it also is I believe our sticking to this eating plan.
She's down from 2x clothing to almost XL in ladies size.
Today she came downstairs with 2 pairs of pants on (dont ask-behavioral issues do poke their ugly heads through every now and then.) and I noticed that both were loose!
Previously, they'd have been straining at the buttons & waist. Now, the top layer of pants was sagging, and the bottom layer was loose, amazing!

We started this around 20 June. It's now 21 August.
Haven't weighed her in a couple weeks or more, but the last time I did she'd lost 15lbs.
Every two weeks, she gets to eat some crap junk fast food that she wants. She's still lost weight. If we didn't do junk or bread, would probably be faster, but I am still pleased.

lorichristie · #7 08/21/12, 04:23 PM

Even though we should all incorporate a form of physical exercise, some cannot do that due to health reasons. One of our friends doesn't exercise and still lost weight, simply by changing to Paleo Style eating choices.

carolb5 · #8 08/21/12, 04:31 PM

It's hard not to shout out to everyone about how we are eating and how it makes us feel so much better. I've learned to keep my mouth shut until asked. It is also good to be able to help others by sending them to web sites with documentation to back up our way of eating. This is not a fad nor an unhealthy way to eat. And no counting anything!!!! Thanks for bringing this up again.

Carol

lorichristie · #9 08/21/12, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolb5

It's hard not to shout out to everyone about how we are eating and how it makes us feel so much better. I've learned to keep my mouth shut until asked. It is also good to be able to help others by sending them to web sites with documentation to back up our way of eating. This is not a fad nor an unhealthy way to eat. And no counting anything!!!! Thanks for bringing this up again.

Carol

Agreed! I get asked frequently why my skin is so clear, why I look so healthy, and how I stay slender. The most important thing is to be healthy, not try to get to a tiny size that doesn't fit individual bone structure. When I hit 120#s, I altered my eating a bit to stop losing weight.

The reason I started this thread was to bring attention to one of the healthiest styles of eating. I am completely against all the so-called "diet plans." First the poor folks reduce calories, suffer from hunger, then their bodies adjust to running on less calories (the plateau), so the Set Point is now lower. They then have to eat even less, but the Set Point lowers again in response. This can put the body into starvation mode. The moment the calories rise, the weight goes back on, much faster than before. All that hard work to lose it, just to gain it all back, and usually even more

lorichristie · #10 08/21/12, 05:44 PM

This was just my salad; just loaded with fresh grown vegges/herbs out of our garden. I have made this type of salad with Smoked Salmon, Chicken, or Crab.

lorichristie · #11 08/21/12, 05:49 PM

The Salad in the last post included Hard Boiled Eggs, Steamed cold Green Beans, Kale, Blood Veined Sorrel, Lettuces, two different Basil varieties, Walla Walla Sweet Onions, Fresh shelled Crab, and fresh Dill.

**Kung** · #12 08/22/12, 08:19 AM

I'm also on it as well. I used to weigh about 250 or so; I'm now down to 215. I have another 20# to go or so, but I'm starting up my running again (had Achilles tendon problems on my left left for a while) and am still doing CrossFit, so I don't doubt that it'll come off pretty quick.

lorichristie · #13 08/23/12, 01:29 PM

Congratulations Kung!

It is great to lose weight, but even better to eat like this, and keep the weight off, with relative ease!

As a side note, I'll share I am taking ZERO MEDS, prefer natural herbal treatments, and feel much better now than I did before going Paleo Style. My hair and nails began growing faster, too.

Rick · #14 08/23/12, 06:01 PM

We have been trying to limit the Paleo-no-nos.

Maybe 1-2 daily slices of bread tops, but still using noodles and potatoes twice a week as staples. Oats, kefir and sprouts daily, and tons of veggies.

We eats lots of eggs, but less meat - maybe 3 or 4 times a week.

Questions: From what you know, will a mixed Paleo diet work, just less effectively? Ann seems to have less low blood sugar this way, and we try to eat our big meal by 2pm.

Also: are rice and sweet taters okay? Which is worse of Noodles, bread and white potatoes?

Bon Appetite!

ErinP · #15 08/24/12, 05:44 PM

Really, you can't just "cut back" on gluten (ie, wheat products). I've heard it compared to poison ivy. A lot is obviously going to be a big problem, but a little isn't exactly a "little" problem, if that makes sense... It's still not a good thing.
So white potatoes are better than gluten and rice is better still.

lorichristie · #16 08/24/12, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

We have been trying to limit the Paleo-no-nos.

Maybe 1-2 daily slices of bread tops, but still using noodles and potatoes twice a week as staples. Oats, kefir and sprouts daily, and tons of veggies.

We dropped the bread immediately, but DH cheated a bit by making Gluten Free Pancakes. They do not include Gluten at all! He uses that like he would bread. Due to his athlete condition, this doesn't mess him up at all. I rarely eat one of those pancakes, but occasionally do. Noodles contain Gluten, but you can find noodles Gluten Free... Occasionally, I will eat oats, Kefir almost daily, and everything else sounds great! The Kefir is something I don't agree is a "dairy product" to be compared with the rest BTW.

We eats lots of eggs, but less meat - maybe 3 or 4 times a week.

On Paleo, you eat meat every single day, but the variety is important.

Questions: From what you know, will a mixed Paleo diet work, just less effectively? Ann seems to have less low blood sugar this way, and we try to eat our big meal by 2pm.

From what I understand, after reading (3) Paleo books, including a great cookbook, and a book on Gluten Free eating: I believe a mixed Paleo Style eating regimen works as long as the activity level matches the empty carb intake (physically very active & exercise regularly). Great to eat that larger meal by 2pm! Do you then have a light dinner?

Also: are rice and sweet taters okay? Which is worse of Noodles, bread and white potatoes?

I don't eat rice anymore at all, but do eat Quinoa instead. Sweet Potatoes are ok, according to one of the Paleo books. Noodles are the worst (unless they are Gluten Free), then Bread (unless Gluten Free), then White Potatoes. You can make or purchase Gluten Free Noodles, same with the Bread, but then this is just better than the other choices, still not recommended according to Paleo.

Bon Appetite!

What I did to start eating Paleo Style? Got rid of what I couldn't have, stopped preparing anything not on the list, and then decided what I would limit based on my activity level.

Rick · #17 08/24/12, 09:14 PM

Thanks Ladies.

Safe to say we will not be strictly Paleo until we are forced to eat more strictly from our Eco-niche, as it is almost impossible for us to envision eating meat daily, unless we process it .

Never say never.

lorichristie · #18 08/24/12, 09:47 PM

Your welcome

Very few can be strictly Paleo, but the closer one gets to the eating recommendations, the healthier one becomes.

I consider Eggs to be a meat product, so would count them, but DH and I actually do eat meat 7 days/week. We eat all sorts of fresh seafood (live only 5 minutes from the Hood Canal, so easy access to Clams, Oysters, but only fish/crab/shrimp in season. Now, we raised our own pigs, so still have some pork in the freezer. Right now, we have 50#s of Crab Meat in the freezer. I bartered for a few nice Organic Chickens, which are currently frozen. Rick, when you mention "processing meat," most needs some sort of process to preserve it. Are you eating only fresh meat?

BTW- Going off Gluten was far easier than I thought it would be! The bigger challenge was limiting potatoes, as I so enjoy them fresh out of the garden... I enjoy my food so much more, especially when I went off sugar!

lorichristie · #19 08/26/12, 12:48 AM

Here, you see grilled Cod, mixed Purple/Green Cabbage, fresh Cucumber slices, and sauteed Zucchini. I also drank a Blackberry Kefir Smoothie, yum!

On Paleo Style eating being expensive, I'd disagree to an extent. Now, if folks stick to their local meat type choices, that saves them a lot when purchasing their meats. Freshwater fare substitutes for saltwater fare. Since junk food, processed foods, sugar, empty carbs, juices, pop, legumes, Grains, and dairy (I do make exceptions for a small amount of dairy, and do not consider Kefir Milk in that category due to its changed dietary composition) are all off the list, a lot of $ is saved not buying those items! Since we grew the veggies for the meal pictured, didn't cost much. I bartered for the mixed Cabbages. The Cod came out of our freezer (DH caught it).

By fishing, hunting, raising your own meat animals, and bartering for meat, you can greatly reduce your meat budget!

lorichristie · #20 09/08/12, 02:25 AM

Tonights dinner consisted of:

Apples Sauteed w/Currants, Smoked Homegrown Ham w/Onions, Lemon Cucumber, Sauteed Zucchini, Steamed Green Beans, and Garlic Aoli. The Fruit and Veggies were Organic, too. Everything but the Onions and the Apples were grown by us. The Apples were from DH's parents, and the Onions were from a local Organic Farm (bartered for them).

Silver Salmon are now in open season on the Hood Canal locally, so we are out fishing for them. Len's youngest DS caught a 9-10#er tonight (yes he is a big guy at 6'5"):

I haven't figured out portion in regards to fish size, but probably should!

lorichristie · #21 09/08/12, 02:26 AM

My DH weighs 180#s, which means he has reached his target weight!

PamB · #22 09/08/12, 07:24 AM

mmm, all that fish looks so yummy! you are doing great with this. Pam

lorichristie · #23 09/08/12, 01:08 PM

Thanks, PamB! Soon, we should be harvesting more veggies, widening the variety we eat. All of our friends and family members enjoying eating with us, and most are now eating Paleo Style (!!!).

carolb5 · #24 09/08/12, 04:53 PM

I so enjoy your post. I think the pictures are such a help for people who are new to this way of eating. It can have quite a learning curve. So you keep taking and posting those photos.

Thanks again.

Carol

lorichristie · #25 09/08/12, 05:07 PM

Thanks, Carol, will do!

StaceyS · #26 09/08/12, 05:18 PM

Sure wish we had access to the seafood you do! We're inland, so "local" is grassfed beef and lamb, we are lucky to have that readily available, wish I could find someone that raises pork here though...

lorichristie · #27 09/11/12, 12:18 AM

StacyS, are there freshwater fish you can catch? Otherwise, plenty of folks raise their own fish, too, something to consider. That is something I will be looking into doing... Also, you should be able to get local chicken, duck, turkey, and pork... Have you asked your local Butcher Shop? Often, they know Farmers & Ranchers, who raise and sell their own meats. You can also get good meats from some of the Butcher Shops, also. There is one South of here, where we get additional cuts of meat, when we want more.

lorichristie · #28 09/11/12, 12:19 AM

I should probably clarify about the above picture of the meal with Pork. It appears pinkish due to being smoked, but was cooked and brought to the proper temperature.

carolb5 · #29 09/14/12, 11:42 AM

Just happily counting the bags of veggies I'm putting in the freezer. That, with a beef going in the other freezer after Thanksgiving, we're all set to continue eating this way. We've never been ones to eat processed meals. I thought dropping grains would be hard, but not at all (for us). I used to grind my own grain and bake my own bread. Health is important but more so it seems as we get older.

Carol

lorichristie · #30 09/14/12, 12:36 PM

Simply due to time constraints, I just blanched a bunch of green beans last night. They will be sealed/frozen. I will be canning green beans, also.

I agree this isn't hard at all. At first, folks miss their "breads," but they are enjoying the foods recommended so much, they stop missing all those gluten laden carbs!

carolb5, are you also finding this isn't as expensive as folks think? Granted not all can fish, hunt, grow most of their fruits/veggies, but the up side is not buying all the processed/packaged snacks, grains, dairy, etc... I don't consider it more costly unless one has champagne taste on a beer budget to begin with.

DH was remarking the other day about the meals in the cookbook. He was referring to the ones with Lobster, Crab, and other expensive seafood meats in them. The meat choice should be from your local meat options. There are freshwater choices, not just saltwater. We are blessed to be close to both.

Also, bartering is alive and well!