Anyone Tried the Paleo Diet?

Nutrition
21

I have been on the Primal Blueprint (a “loose Paleo” diet) for some months now, and have lost ~35lbs, with no loss in strenght or muscle mass. I still drink alcohol and consume some high fat dairy, but given up the grains (that includes CORN…it is a grain), and most of the processed junk, and limit things like white potatoes. It is easy to follow the plan…even when eating out. You can get some form of grilled meat and vegi’s or a hearty salad with meat anywhere these days.

I would think that, if nothing else, the physical training aspect of these plans would be in sync with T-Nation-ers…lift heavy, lift hard, limit the long-duration, high-intensity cardio, but rather focus on the intense short-burst interval cardio (like sprints), with some long duration, low intesity cardio (like taking a hike) mixed in.

For more info, check out Mark Sisson’s “The Primal Blueprint”, Bob Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution” or Auther De Vany’s new work “The New Evolution Diet”.

I have always considered myself a civilized savage, so I guess this is maybe why the basis of these plans appeal to me. :slight_smile:

22

[quote]Phil-SC wrote:
I have been on the Paleo Blueprint (a “loose Paleo” diet) for some months now, and have lost ~35lbs, with no loss in strenght or musule mass. I still drink alcohol

Great to hear about your success. Now, if you can quit drinking while posting you’ll be all set :slight_smile:

23

[quote]Phil-SC wrote:
I have been on the Paleo Blueprint (a “loose Paleo” diet) for some months now, and have lost ~35lbs, with no loss in strenght or musule mass. I still drink alcohol and consume some high fat dairy, but given up the grains (that includes CORN…it is a grain), and most of the processed junk, and limit things like white potatoes. It is easy to follow the plan…even when eating out. You can get some form of grilled meat and vegi’s or a hearty salad with meat anywhere these days.

I would think that, if nothing else, the physical training aspect of these plans would be in sync with T-Nation-ers…lift heavy, lift hard, limit the long-duration, high-intensity cardio, but rather focus on the intense short-burst interval cardio (like sprints), with some long duration, low intesity cardio (like taking a hike) mixed in.

For more info, check out Mark Sisson’s “The Primal Blueprint”, Bob Wolf’s “The Paleo Solution” or Auther De Vany’s new work “The New Evolution Diet”.

I have always considered myself a civilized savage, so I guess this is maybe why the basis of these plans appeal to me. :-)[/quote]

I, too, had some pretty good results with a paleo style cutting phase. Piling injuries and pain issues had helped me pork up to a frightening weight and horrible body comp. I never got calipered or hydrostatic, but I would bet I was 20-25% bodyfat at about 215-225lbs. I had lost all respectable muscle mass in the years dealing with chronic pain, and was about 8 months away from getting married and wasnt even about to stand next to my beautiful wife as a big fat idiot. I aint exactly good lookin, so I at least had to be lean. With paleo style I got down to about 190-195 while increasing muscle mass and strength (it was regaining lost mass, but I think it is still relevant).

My diet consisted of red meat and frozen veggies with 1 cheat day a week. I started with about 2500cal/day for a while, dropped down to 2000-2100 for a while, and for the last 3-4 weeks tightened down to 1600-1800. I supplemented with a thermo, creatine, beta-alanine. Toward the end I threw in some old school MAG-10 Legacy I have in the freezer. I was 185-190 at my wedding, with visible abs.

My strength went up for the entire duration of the diet. It was regaining lost strength, but lost strength from about 6 years ago. My muscle mass visibly increased, as well. Again, muscle memory, but from a really long time ago…

Considering my now advanced age of 31 years and my injury/pain issues since I was 24, I consider it pretty dern good overall. I wish I had kept better notes.

EDIT: I should also include that workouts were FAR from optimal, due to the whole chronic pain thing. I was also on an opioid, and there is evidently some evidence opioids can negatively affect muscle gains.

As a complete side note for anyone interested- when I started the MAG-10, my pain decreased significantly. I haven’t been able to find much on androgenic steroid hormones as they relate to pain, but it is an interesting note for anyone dealing with long term pain.

24

Ive been really interested myself in the diet. But a couple of questions for some of yall: Is steel cut oats ok? I understand the concept about grains that paleo followers talk about but why oats? And have yall noticed that your grocery bill is higher due to the diet?

25

[quote]farmerson12 wrote:
Ive been really interested myself in the diet. But a couple of questions for some of yall: Is steel cut oats ok? I understand the concept about grains that paleo followers talk about but why oats? And have yall noticed that your grocery bill is higher due to the diet?[/quote]

For steel cut oats - I guess it comes down to how “strict” you want to be. As far as carb sources go, I think they are pretty good. As far as being “paleo”, I dunno.

I also forgot a supplement from my diet. I had 25-50g of glucose and 25-50g whey hydrolysate peri-workout. With that being said, I really wasnt following a militant paleo approach.

As far as grocery bill, mine has always been pretty high. It stayed at my average of about $75-125/wk during my adventure.

26

Oats are most definitely not paleo. All grains & wheat get cut.

My grocery billed raised initially, then I got smarter about what to buy. Then I started living with a like-minded mate and we went halves in everything. Almost too easy

27

As soon as neolithic man invented writing, his first cuneiform tablets were probably all like “fuuuuck I feel as fat as a ziggurat”

28

[quote]Gymjunkie wrote:
Paleo all the way man…We were not MEANT to eat processed crap.

It’s unfortunate, however, that the quality of food today is so much lower compared to say 50-100years ago. We need to supplement our diet with the essential/additional nutrients, aminos etc to make even better progress. Hence why taking foundations supps, such as fish oil, high quality multi etc are essential…paleo or not.

GJ[/quote]
What makes you think that food quality today is so much lower?

29

[quote]Jakabol wrote:

[quote]Gymjunkie wrote:
Paleo all the way man…We were not MEANT to eat processed crap.

It’s unfortunate, however, that the quality of food today is so much lower compared to say 50-100years ago. We need to supplement our diet with the essential/additional nutrients, aminos etc to make even better progress. Hence why taking foundations supps, such as fish oil, high quality multi etc are essential…paleo or not.

GJ[/quote]
What makes you think that food quality today is so much lower?[/quote]

That inorganic farmers aren’t bathing their crops in manure and nicotine. The native americans contain ancient wisdom of the Earth.

30

[quote]dnlcdstn wrote:

[quote]Phil-SC wrote:
I have been on the Paleo Blueprint (a “loose Paleo” diet) for some months now, and have lost ~35lbs, with no loss in strenght or muscle mass. I still drink alcohol

Great to hear about your success. Now, if you can quit drinking while posting you’ll be all set :)[/quote]

Ha! Dang that spell-checker! :slight_smile:

31

[quote]farmerson12 wrote:
Ive been really interested myself in the diet. But a couple of questions for some of yall: Is steel cut oats ok? I understand the concept about grains that paleo followers talk about but why oats? And have yall noticed that your grocery bill is higher due to the diet?[/quote]

As to my grocery bill, I’ve seen no real change. I do buy more veggies, fruits and nuts, which tend to cost more, but I’ve stopped buying a lot of non-Paleo foods, so my bill has pretty much evened out. My meat/protein purchases are about the same, before and after.

As to oats, they are a grain, so most Paleo experts say no. However, it is part of my “20%” that I am allowed on the PB diet, and I do consume them on occasion. They are also low in gluten, which some experts believe is the culprit/trigger factor for many problems with grains. In fact, this past week, I was backpacking for a few days, and had them for breakfast each morning. As a general rule, I do limit them though. I also, on occasion do eat some sprouted-grain bread, but as a treat.

I hope this info helps.

32

[quote]MODOK wrote:
I wonder if Neolithic man realized how big of a fuck up he was? [/quote]

I dont like using interweb acronyms, but LOL!

33

Just throwing words into the ring.

Oats, of almost any kind cause “gut irritation” amongst several other problems (GI being the worst) also I believe under most circumstances there is an insulin spike from the oats because most dont just eat them by themselves but also add. Oatmeal is worse. I completely understand that this is a BB staple and most bodybuilders claim to eat them but come “cutting time” you will notice they are not on the list. I was getting a bunch of bad inflammation from oats in the morning, I feel it the most in my shoulders.

For everyone else struggling for meal ideas i know this can be a true pain in the ass. There are some very fun subs for certain kinds of food out there. I make a paleo pizza once a week (crust made from almond meal) and then add a ton of meat. You can make all kinds of goodies. Recently our (I know, I know) crossfit gym had a paleo potluck. Im kind of the paleo guy at my gym and it was crazy to see all the super tasty easy stuff people brought just by doing some research online. Its kind of easy to take an existing recipe and switch “non-paleo” ingrediants for “paleo” ingredients.

Some good websites to check out are:
everydaypaleo.com

Honestly the main site you should go to (even for the poster asking for how to do paleo and bulk, Robb has gone into very large detail about this on his site and uses ex-footballer John Welbourn as a reference) robbwolf.com
From there you can pretty much find anything and everything concerning paleo.

34

There’s nothing wrong with white rice, particularly long grain. Just have it in your PWO meal…but really, some fiber and fats should negate the insulin spike that would come from JUST white rice.

I can’t give it up, personally. It’s a staple in my cultural foods.

35

[quote]Lover95 wrote:

That inorganic farmers aren’t bathing their crops in manure and nicotine. The native americans contain ancient wisdom of the Earth.[/quote]

Are you insinuating that we should eat Native Americans to inherit said wisdom, you sick racist fuck, you?

(quick: are they Paleo, guys?)

36

i eat white rice before bed, cunts lol!

37

Mr. Modok,
Gotcha and I was aware of that but I have a “paleo cheat day” whether rather than other typical cheat days where its anything goes, for me its anything goes as long as its on the paleo “list.” I only use almond meal occasionally but dont eat almonds anymore, usually use coconut milk for fat. Clearly it is difficult to keep with the old paleo ways without trying to move that style of grubbing into a more modern style. I have been watching 5 hours of that ancient aliens show so Im just trying to figure out now what our REAL ancestors ate :wink:

38

sadly the diet has some good merits, but it attracts the kool-aid drink Crossfit people.

Here’s an idea, stop eating processed garbage (not saying eliminate forever, I love pizza, cookies, beer, etc). Why does it have to be a special “diet” term.

Is it just not cool to say eat meat, veggies, fruit, nuts, etc?

39

thank god modok! I thought you were one of those complete 100% paleo badasses. Im trying to become more disciplined with it and remove certain things but my taste buds just wont let it go. Its hard to detox especially from anything containing sugar.

JFit: It attracts the crossfit groupies because one of the main supporters and voices behind the “paleo diet” is Robb Wolf who had a very large role within the crossfit community (and still does). (And please I am not saying that paleo didnt exist b4 xfit and only because of xfit is it now mainstream nor is it the end all be all in case anyone wants to go there :wink:

I think it has to be a special diet term because it does to modern americans seem forgien. usually when I tell people “meat and veggies, seeds and nuts, some fruit little starch no sugar no grains” (after they say F**k you no grains!!) is ok what kind of meat? And then they start really nit picking (sometimes not a bad thing). Then Ill get a food log back and its all processed meats (bacon (with nitrates) sandwich meats, store bought dinners etc etc. There is also SO much conflicting info sent out daily that its beyond insane to try and say that meat/veggies/fruits/nuts etc is the best way to eat without someone else arguing immediately. For instance i turned a client on to paleo, she went and got blood work done, came back with a piece of paper from her Dr. saying that she should eat this “hearth healthy way” which included 4-5 serving of grains daily and then something like 1-2 servings of meat weekly with a bunch of bs in between. For some reason the MVFN diet keeps getting rejected main stream. (shrugs) maybe we are not all suppose to be healthy and look good??

40

I’m doing it. Well, paleo plus dairy.

I’m told that if you do this you can get by on far fewer calories (I know guys who eat 1000 calories a day a lot of the time) without being hungry or tired. So far I haven’t tried that – I’m a little bit of a pussy and I like eating more than that – but I’m wondering if anybody else has tried serious caloric restriction. Is it worth trying?