Losing Weight On Paleo

Losing Weight on Paleo in a Non-Paleo World

by Tanya

December 5th, 2011

Let’s face it, the holidays are among us and with that comes food. Lots of food. Plenty of cookies, candies, brownies, pies, breads and all sorts of goodies with lots of wheat gluten and sugar in it. What is a girl committed to losing weight on the paleo diet to do?

Well one thing to do is stay away from anything with wheat or wheat gluten in it. That leaves out a lot of things, but if you have been following Robb Wolf’s Paleo diet, if you start eating gluten again you will most likely feel really bad. Trust me, I know this from experience. After the first thirty days I felt great, but decided to indulge in some very non-paleo birthday cake and I felt terrible! The wheat gluten triggered my auto-immune response and it felt like my thyroid was completely turned off. I was cold, my stomach hurt and I had no energy. I couldn’t get out of bed and vowed right then and there to never eat wheat again.

So, if you have the memory of what it feels like after you eat wheat fresh in your mind it makes turning down those cookies easier. I look at them now and instead of thinking “yum” I think of them as little sickness bombs waiting to explode once I eat them! (I know that sounds crazy but it works)

As far as worrying about insulting anyone who offers you or insists that you have a cookie, I just explain that I can’t have gluten. Enough people are gluten-free now that I don’t have to say much more than that. (Although my husband seems a little awkward about it and starts explaining, most people get that.)

Now, if you have a hankering for some sweet goodies what do you do? Luckily there are plenty of great recipes available on the web. One of my favorites, is the Paleo CookBooks, here is a link to their Paleo Sweets site…, and here is a link to their regular cookbooks site. Another favorite is EverydayPaleo.com. I can always count on Sarah to provide some yummy ideas!

Finally, if you really need to have a sweet treat and you don’t want to make something (looking for instant gratification, hmm?) at least try and stay gluten-free. There are plenty of gluten-free cookies, cakes, candies and other things available that you can try. They won’t be completely paleo, so don’t get into a habit. But they will do in a pinch, and you won’t have to worry about the wheat side effects. Now regular grocery stores are selling gluten-free foods, and Trader Joes has some yummy options as well.

So what do you do to handle cravings? Please share!

Affording the Paleo Weight Loss Diet

by Tanya

November 18th, 2011

When I first started considering adopting the paleo diet as a lifestyle, one of my biggest objections was cost. I was about to leave my corporate job and my income was not going to be reliable. I was in the stages of starting a new business and all of my money was being invested in that. I was starting to slip into a poverty mindset, and had visions of stocking up on pasta, rice and beans to feed our family of five.

Lucky for me, as part of my job I had spoken to cross-fit guru Nicki Violetti (who happens to be Robb Wolf’s wife) during this time. I told her that I was wondering how I could afford to switch to the paleo diet. “It’s just so expensive” I said. Nikki just looked at me sadly and said “No, it’s really not, try it.” I walked away doubtful that I could afford all that meat and vegetables, And shamefully, afraid of letting her know I was scared to death that of being so poor that pasta was going to be a luxury.
Frugal Weight Loss Diet Foods
As it turned out, my new business venture turned out great, and I did have money to buy food. Then after a bad auto-immune episode I decided to give Robb Wolf’s 30 day Program a chance. So I tried it.

Now looking back, I realize how expensive junk food is! I have been following the paleo diet and am spending less money than before! Here is how I do it:

Buy Meats on Sale

Every week I get the ads for the supermarkets and carefully plan my shopping list. Sometimes that means going to 3 or more stores, but when there is a sale on meat it is worth the extra time and gas. I never buy beef, chicken, or fish at full price, and end up getting some great meals at a low price. If you are planning on eating grass-fed or pastured raised meats, try going straight to the rancher, most of them have websites to order humanely-raised, grass-fed meats.

Join a CSA

A CSA, or community supported agriculture is a way to get fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm. I joined G.R.U.B. here in Chico, and I love it! Seriously the vegetables are delicious, I get to try new ones that I would have never tried before and it is inexpensive. I pay $21 a week and it is well worth it. The one thing to remember is to wash the veggies really well since they come straight out of the earth and not processed and packaged in plastic like at the store. To find a CSA near you check out LocalHarvest.org.

Quit Buying Crap

Well, this goes along with being on the paleo diet. You won’t be buying cookies, donuts, sodas, ice cream, candies and processed food, so you save money there. After Robb’s 30 day challenge, I ended up slipping for a few months and started drinking soda, chips and eating ice cream. Once I gave that up and recommitted to the Paleo lifestyle, my grocery bill went down by 30%.

Save Money by Lowering Medical Bills

In the 6 months before starting the paleo diet, I went to the doctor 6 times for various reasons but mainly from being sick. I had infections, influenza, and my thyroid was going out of control. Since being on the paleo diet I have only gone for my normal thyroid check up. I have only been sick with a cold for a day and a half, when the same cold put other people out of commission for 2 weeks. Those bills add up.

Now, I may not have been following the paleo diet completely, since I am eating conventional instead of pasture raised, grass-fed meats but I am still getting the benefits: weight loss and increased health. So when I start making a little more money I will switch to completely grass-fed and organic meats and continue reaping the paleo benefits.

So don’t give up on paleo if you can’t afford grass-fed beef. Robb Wolf has mentioned that people use the cost of paleo food as an excuse for not following the diet. I am paraphrasing, but he mentions people not being able to afford grass-fed meat, so instead they continue eating bagels on a daily basis. This isn’t an all-or-nothing thing. Smaller changes will get you there, and as soon as you start feeling better on the paleo diet, you will be encouraged to change more.

If you are looking to try losing weight on Robb Wolf’s 30 Day Paleo Transformation click here! Please share your successes.

Also, what are some ways you save money while eating healthy? Please share with the rest of us!

Categories About Paleo, Frugal Paleo
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About Me and the Paleo Diet…

by Tanya

November 16th, 2011

Who are you? And what the heck is this Paleo diet?

First things first, I am a forty-year old, stepmom, wife, business coach and writer who started the paleo diet about 8 months ago. As of today I’ve lost over 30 pounds and one dress size! And just so you know I LOVE good food! I mean, I love looking at food, smelling it, cooking it, and especially eating it. So for me to lose this sort of weight, I need to eat food that tastes great.

What is Paleo?
The Paleo diet is the first “diet” I have been on that I enjoy and don’t feel deprived. I put the word “diet” in parenthesis because it isn’t really a diet, it is a lifestyle. In a nutshell, it consists of eating meats (mainly natural and grass-fed), vegetables such as greens, fruit and the right fats. It is often called the “Caveman Diet” since it is like the foods we ate in the Paleolithic era, before humans started agriculture and eating cereal grains.

So here is what I usually eat on the paleo diet:

Meats, fish and poultry,
Eggs
Green and orange vegetables
Fruit
Avocados
Coconuts
Nuts

And here is what I don’t eat:

Any gluten
Any grains, especially wheat, but also rice, barley, and oats
Soy
Legumes
Corn
Sugar or sugar substitutes
Dairy (although occasionally)
Anything artificial or engineered

I will go into more detail later. Some of these things I may eat every once in a while, except for wheat and gluten. Gluten is a big no-no on the paleo diet. It may seem like a bummer at first, but TRUST ME, it gets easier and the results are worth it! Not to mention how good you feel.

Why did I start the Paleo Diet?

A year ago, I went for a check-up and was told that “I was on the on-ramp to diabetes” by my nurse-practitioner. I decided then and there to eat healthier and do whatever I could to lose weight. It wasn’t until two months later that I made the decision to try Robb Wolf’s 30 day Paleo Challenge.

Now, thirty pounds lighter with more energy, flexibility and health, I am excited to share the Paleo diet and my journey of fat loss, weight loss, and good food. And I want to share how easy it is to eat Paleo-style without breaking the bank. Frugality is important, but so is feeling good.

Why are you writing this when there are plenty of other Paleo diet blogs and resources out there?

Well, I am 40 now, and have been overweight my ENTIRE life. I mean, when I was an infant, my mother went to the doctor about my weight. He said to only have me drink non-fat milk. There may have been times in my life when I was only 20-30 lbs overweight, but that is the closest I got to “normal.”

I know that there are other people like me, who have struggled with their weight and are really frustrated. This blog is for you. You aren’t alone. And since paleo has been working so well for me, I wanted to share with you my successes, failures and frustrations. I want you to see how some small changes can help you become healthier and happier.

To your health!
Tanya

P.S. What is your weight story? Have you ever struggled with your weight? Or are you one of the “lucky ones” who eat everything and never gain an ounce. Please share!

Categories About Paleo, Losing Weight on Paleo
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Losing Weight On Paleo