Anyone here Try the Paleo diet? lack of carbs seems tough

Discussion in 'Racing and Training' started by surftime, Mar 9, 2014.

  1. skflow

    skflow Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Messages:
    497
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    OC
    Try adding some Medium Chain Triglycerides to your diet in lieu of some (not all) carbs.
    Search google on the many benefits of MCT.
    Extra virgin unrefined coconut oil is a great ingredient. As always, moderation is key.
     
  2. TranceRider

    TranceRider No, I don't Ride a GIANT

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2011
    Messages:
    449
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Occupation:
    IT Project Manager
    Location:
    Trabuco Cyn, CA
    I've done the low-carb diets (Lindora) with great success - only my goal back then was just to lose weight (didn't care if it was fat, muscle, water, etc) and I always bonked on rides and had headaches all the time - not getting enough glucose from those much-needed carbs. When my goal changed from losing weight to losing fat (get leaner), I had to have a way of eating that involved carbs.

    After a lot of searching I found and had a lot of success after meeting with Melissa at Total Nutrition Counseling and by reading the book Racing Weight. Personally I learned that the athlete needs a TON of carbs to have enough fuel for best performance. I train up to 12 hours per week, so I need close to 500g of carbs per day! I was shocked that I wasn't losing fat because my body was holding on to it - because I wasn't getting the fuel I needed. So after upping my carb intake (keeping all starches to whole wheat, eating organic as much as possible, etc) I felt much more energy, and the afternoon "blahs" and headaches went away or were drastically reduced. More importantly (to me) is my body is starting to shed the fat, probably because it doesn't doesn't think its starving anymore.

    The biggest challenge for me has been in reducing the serving portion of meats to 3oz or less (size of a deck of cards) and increasing the veggies. Didn't realize how much of an ingrained habit it was to eat so much meat....

    Bottom line - if you want to lose a lot of weight, don't care what kind of weight you lose, and don't mind dealing with the "side effects" of not having enough glucose in your system, then consider a low carb diet. #-o
     
  3. mfoga

    mfoga Intense Whore

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2008
    Messages:
    8,147
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    A former member(well she might be a member but haven't seen her hear in years) SDyeti runs a blog, has cookbooks and lots if info about it

    http://stupideasypaleo.com/
     
  4. launchpad

    launchpad Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2014
    Messages:
    231
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    Unemployed and Living In My Mom's Basement
    Location:
    Orange County but want to move to the Inland Empir
    It would depend on your goals too. Going on Atkins (original paleo diet) is great for losing weight. Probably okay for alot of sports that utilize alot of anaerobic energy such as crossfit (is this even a sport, I guess it is..) but for endurance alot of carbs are necessary. And if the paleo people are right then why are people in Japan living so long and in such good health when all they eat is carbs for the most part. Meat is a very small portion of their diet and always has been and they have the longest life expectancies in the world. They eat small portions and mostly rice and veggies. Bet they live longer on average than the Atkins folks. Any XC or road cyclists who are known for their endurance eat Atkins/Paleo? Genuinely curious. Seems like they all eat tons of pasta from everything I've read. Half-assed theories on what the human body is designed to eat using a very elementary understanding of our evolutionary history is one thing but there's tons of empirical evidence around you to consider.
     
  5. socal_eric

    socal_eric New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2011
    Messages:
    265
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Computer stuff
    Location:
    Temecula-ish
    I recently heard about a study that for the great majority of people there are no health issues associated with gluten/wheat and then a news article covering it went on about how it has become a popular marketing point and citing examples of "gluten-free" hand soap as to how ridiculous it has become. The issue for me is there are a lot of studies and I seldom read their scientific data and don't have the nutritional experience to evaluate them all of them. Is it a valid study or not? Who backs them, was it conducted correctly, and is the results repeatable and independently verifiable?

    I'm sure there are some people with gluten sensitivities just like those who can't tolerate nuts, milk and other foods. My concern is when creating a diet based around these issues and trying to apply it to a widespread audience that likely has different body compositions and different nutritional needs. Some people just want to lose weight. Some want to lose fat. Some don't need energy for long endurance. Some bodies just respond differently.

    To me it seems like another name for a fad diet of the week but I won't completely rule it out. Like most things I think moderation is generally a safer choice and cutting back on some bad carbs from processed foods, sugars, etc. is probably beneficial. But at least for me, if I really cut carbs with the intensity levels of some of my longer rides that involve trying to move my massive hulk over the road and up the trail it doesn't work that great.
     
  6. MohammedInABearSuit

    MohammedInABearSuit Sticks and Stones...

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    2,566
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Timmy has been abducted by aliens!
    Pay no attention to any of the hooey being spouted by this imposter!!!
     
  7. surftime

    surftime New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2010
    Messages:
    778
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    self employed
    Location:
    huntington beach
    I know there are a lot of threads here using the word "fad" regarding paleo. Basically saying that the current american diet is normal. Keep in mind that we now eat in america high carb, high sugar, high processed food. Even just 50 years ago we ate more meats (as a ratio of carbs), more veggies, and more fruits, and ofcourse our food was not as refined.

    At my house we have gotten rid of as much packaged stuff as possible, I dont know if I will go Paleo, but I think I am back to gluten free as it worked for me

    this is really close to my thought process, agree with almost everything you are wrote. Get rid of sugars, does wonders for kids and I have seen it first hand with my own
     
  8. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2007
    Messages:
    960
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    artist, picture framer
    Location:
    laguna beach
    All though ive been into cutting down on wheat and grains (note i have not cut it completely) i agree the whole "gluten-free" sales pitch is such a scam. Only a very small percentage of the population is allergic to gluten, and only those people really need to avoid it. If youre concerned about weight loss its the carbs in wheat that matters, not the gluten, which is a protein. Read the ingredients on many "gluten-free' products and they just replace the what with rice, which has the same high glycemic index and less fiber and nutrients,
     
  9. socal_eric

    socal_eric New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2011
    Messages:
    265
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Occupation:
    Computer stuff
    Location:
    Temecula-ish
    No, at least for me and those two completely different things. On the second part, many people in many different parts of the world have different diets. I'm not saying the average diet of an American is great, but that doesn't mean taking on another diet (or food lifestyle so to speak) is better. Randomly switch to something new is part of what makes a fad but it's also when one is marketed heavily for the sake of sales, becomes the latest trend people try without understanding pros and cons, and people going with only a certain diet and ignoring other foods that have different benefits. Also with a lot of diets there aren't a lot of good, unbiased scientific evidence showing how it works for different people with different activity levels and fitness/health goals and having the same basic "diet" come back with a different name every few years makes it a fad.

    While the term fad diets have negative connotations they aren't necessarily bad and may offer something beneficial. I could easily buy into some aspects of it but to focus on Paleo being your primary diet like so many do when switching from one diet to another trying to find something that "works" better, I could see potentially more benefits from tailoring a diet from the best elements of different diets and a proper balance than trying to massively cut wheat/gluten, meat/protein, fat, etc. or simulate a diet of another people from another time that may not have always had as broad of selections and choices in food to choose from.
     
  10. Varaxis

    Varaxis Trail Ninja

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2010
    Messages:
    1,277
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    Location:
    I.E.
  11. MohammedInABearSuit

    MohammedInABearSuit Sticks and Stones...

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    2,566
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    I've been doing some things to reduce an inflammation problem that I have in one of my shoulders.
    Eliminating the processed products seems to be a key.
    Simple diet: If it is white, don't eat it. No flour, bread, potatoes, rice sugar milk etc...
    Then start replacing things with stuff like quinoa, amaranth, millet and even farro.
    Get your carbs form stuff like kidney beans instead of bread/pasta.

    Trust me this works. you might even slim down ;)
    I do have issues getting enough fat as I'm almost completely vegetarian (no meat/fish or chicken at home and only occasional fish out) so I supplement with flaxseed oil.
     
  12. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2007
    Messages:
    960
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    artist, picture framer
    Location:
    laguna beach
    Mohammed, to get enough fats nuts are your friend (thats sig material right there!) that being said i hate to say this (I used to be a vegetarian) but your body does need some animal products there are some key nutrients only found there like b12 (important for nervous system) and certain fats. But not a lot.
     
  13. MemBrain

    MemBrain Bone Healer

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2010
    Messages:
    203
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Occupation:
    Bio Manipulator
    Location:
    Anaheim Hills
    This member is bad ass. She's a competitor in a multi-array of sports from cycling, weightlifting, and crossfit. She's a science teacher that took a 1 year sabbatical to teach health & nutrition by speaking at seminars affiliated with Dallas Hartwig and the crew of Whole 9 Life. (whole9life.com) They have tons of information backed by science, self-experimentation, and others.
     
  14. MohammedInABearSuit

    MohammedInABearSuit Sticks and Stones...

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    2,566
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    My personal favorite is sprouted almonds.
     

Share This Page

Help keep STR alive, please click the donation button below