I mentioned in one of the audio threads that i started eating according to the "Paleo" approach. (Someone, I think it was Rbbt, had made a comment about how no artificial food can be good for you, and that prompted my initial comment, and a groundswell of demand 
for a separate thread on this topic). So here it is. I'm not doing this as hardcore as some- who eat only raw stuff or avoid even certain veggies, etc. but the gist (and there are countless websites and blogs devoted to this is as follows):
You get rid of the starchy stuff- no bread, potatoes, pasta, rice- and starchy veggies and beans. You don't eat dairy- that means no cheese. And you avoid processed sugar. (Sugar naturally found in fruits is OK).
What do I eat? Breakfast- fruit ( a nice mix of various fruit and berries), eggs, lean meat- pork good, bacon- too many chemicals and too much grease- no sausage either. Lunch and dinner- pretty much anything as follows: salads, steaks (I prefer an aged bone in rib eye, but like lamb steak, pork chops, etc.); seafood, mainly grilled fish (I'm allergic to shellfish, but I think that's ok), chicken (not fried, and not greasy preparations), veggies of all sorts, but not the starchy ones; soups, all kinds. There is even ice cream that's sorta OK- since it's made from coconut milk. Raw nuts like almonds- good for snacking. Beef jerky is for some reason ok, but i find it of limited appeal. Etc. You get the idea. Sorta like Atkins, but not exactly- Atkins is all protein i think, and you can eat stuff like bacon, maybe even dairy, i don't know.
What's the point? Well, for me, it was about getting healthy. I had to quit smoking cigarettes after 40 years. I smoked unfiltered Camels, various roll em ups from Dutchland (shag) and Turkey, liked the high octane nicotine. Doc put the brakes on after a pretty serious stroke scare.
I knew I'd get fat as a house if I just stopped smoking and kept eating and didn't exercise. So, I went through a pretty rigorous stop smoking program which I'll be happy to explain elsewhere, and got a trainer and started going to the gym every day. I started hanging with the cross-fit folks- not that i was in any shape to do that stuff- but I learned some basic stuff and did it every day. Cardio, weights, pilates, boxing, fast walking, climbing over big bolders, chin ups, etc. Gym: at least 5 days a week, plus cardio.
And, in the process, the cross fit people turned me on to this 'paleo' thing. I did it as part of a group 'challenge' for 40 days, starting last July and just continued. I don't miss any of the stuff i'm not eating, and hell, if I want to order french fries with my steak, cool. (I have done it a couple times, and just sorta feel a little grossed out after eating 1/2 of them). I do miss pizza sometimes, but if it's the right pizza, and i'm in the mood, I guess I'd have a slice. Whatever.
I went from about 232-5 (I used to be 6'1" and could carry it, but i was still a large dude) to 180 from December 2010 til now. That's about a year and a half. I didn't go on a crash diet.
I feel and look younger, my skin is much better (probably from getting off the ciggies, which give you a pallor) and I have more energy, feel way less bogged down after a meal. Granted, dropping 50plus pounds is going make you feel much lighter, but the effect came on far sooner than when I dropped all the weight.
The key, i think, is not just the diet, as such, but in combo with the exercise- I work out intensively, call it a 40-50 minute work out, but i'm really pushing myself. Not just trotting on a treadmill, reading or listening to music with earbuds.
I don't know the science of this thing. But it has been good. Am I missing anything vital? Dunno.
The theory (and the concept of 'paleolithic' or caveman eating) comes from the notion that the human body was not meant to process the vast amount of synthentic, processed, food. And frankly, as I said, my body doesn't feel like it is missing anything, in fact, it feels like I'm 'burning clean fuel' if that makes any sense.
End of endorsement. Others who are doing this, have done it, think its wrong, or otherwise, are welcome to comment.
Best,
Bill Hart
PS. While i don't buy everything organic, or health food store 'certified' i eat pretty high quality stuff. Locally grown if possible in season. Highest quality meats, wild, rather than farmed fish, chicken, etc.
for a separate thread on this topic). So here it is. I'm not doing this as hardcore as some- who eat only raw stuff or avoid even certain veggies, etc. but the gist (and there are countless websites and blogs devoted to this is as follows):You get rid of the starchy stuff- no bread, potatoes, pasta, rice- and starchy veggies and beans. You don't eat dairy- that means no cheese. And you avoid processed sugar. (Sugar naturally found in fruits is OK).
What do I eat? Breakfast- fruit ( a nice mix of various fruit and berries), eggs, lean meat- pork good, bacon- too many chemicals and too much grease- no sausage either. Lunch and dinner- pretty much anything as follows: salads, steaks (I prefer an aged bone in rib eye, but like lamb steak, pork chops, etc.); seafood, mainly grilled fish (I'm allergic to shellfish, but I think that's ok), chicken (not fried, and not greasy preparations), veggies of all sorts, but not the starchy ones; soups, all kinds. There is even ice cream that's sorta OK- since it's made from coconut milk. Raw nuts like almonds- good for snacking. Beef jerky is for some reason ok, but i find it of limited appeal. Etc. You get the idea. Sorta like Atkins, but not exactly- Atkins is all protein i think, and you can eat stuff like bacon, maybe even dairy, i don't know.
What's the point? Well, for me, it was about getting healthy. I had to quit smoking cigarettes after 40 years. I smoked unfiltered Camels, various roll em ups from Dutchland (shag) and Turkey, liked the high octane nicotine. Doc put the brakes on after a pretty serious stroke scare.
I knew I'd get fat as a house if I just stopped smoking and kept eating and didn't exercise. So, I went through a pretty rigorous stop smoking program which I'll be happy to explain elsewhere, and got a trainer and started going to the gym every day. I started hanging with the cross-fit folks- not that i was in any shape to do that stuff- but I learned some basic stuff and did it every day. Cardio, weights, pilates, boxing, fast walking, climbing over big bolders, chin ups, etc. Gym: at least 5 days a week, plus cardio.
And, in the process, the cross fit people turned me on to this 'paleo' thing. I did it as part of a group 'challenge' for 40 days, starting last July and just continued. I don't miss any of the stuff i'm not eating, and hell, if I want to order french fries with my steak, cool. (I have done it a couple times, and just sorta feel a little grossed out after eating 1/2 of them). I do miss pizza sometimes, but if it's the right pizza, and i'm in the mood, I guess I'd have a slice. Whatever.
I went from about 232-5 (I used to be 6'1" and could carry it, but i was still a large dude) to 180 from December 2010 til now. That's about a year and a half. I didn't go on a crash diet.
I feel and look younger, my skin is much better (probably from getting off the ciggies, which give you a pallor) and I have more energy, feel way less bogged down after a meal. Granted, dropping 50plus pounds is going make you feel much lighter, but the effect came on far sooner than when I dropped all the weight.
The key, i think, is not just the diet, as such, but in combo with the exercise- I work out intensively, call it a 40-50 minute work out, but i'm really pushing myself. Not just trotting on a treadmill, reading or listening to music with earbuds.
I don't know the science of this thing. But it has been good. Am I missing anything vital? Dunno.
The theory (and the concept of 'paleolithic' or caveman eating) comes from the notion that the human body was not meant to process the vast amount of synthentic, processed, food. And frankly, as I said, my body doesn't feel like it is missing anything, in fact, it feels like I'm 'burning clean fuel' if that makes any sense.
End of endorsement. Others who are doing this, have done it, think its wrong, or otherwise, are welcome to comment.
Best,
Bill Hart
PS. While i don't buy everything organic, or health food store 'certified' i eat pretty high quality stuff. Locally grown if possible in season. Highest quality meats, wild, rather than farmed fish, chicken, etc.
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