Most everyone reading this will agree that we've eaten too much processed food and it has been a contributing factor in our obesity. The evidence is in our expanding waistlines and the growing ranks of those of us getting weight loss surgery. Many post ops, myself included, over time follow a Paleo Diet (paleolithic diet). "Eating like a cave woman" may be a bit of a marketing ploy, or catch all to make the diet fun and memorable. But the fact is that eschewing grains, dairy, legumes, sugar and processed foods and eating Protein, non-starchy vegetables and healthy fats, makes *me* maintain my weight loss and feel better. I should mention that I also do not eat red meat. I also should mention that I have celiac disease and lactose intolerance.

Many nutritionists aren’t buying this way of eating. They say we’re biologically different from our Paleolithic predecessors and that diets that ban whole categories of relatively unprocessed foods are too restrictive and flawed from a nutritional standpoint. I concede that we are biologically different from our cave-dwelling ancestors. But I whole-heartily disagree with the standard American diet -- SAD for short, and aptly acronymed in my opinion -- which is the diet espoused by most nutritionists. I absolutely see an immediate weight gain when I go back to eating grains.

What do you think? Have you tried the Paleo Diet?

I have tried following paleo post-op, but even though most of my one-year labs were great, my cholesterol was alarming. I am still going to avoid so-called "foods" made in a factory, but the yummy bacon, coconut oil, and nuts are going to have to be severely reduced. I love fruit, but it escalates my carbs so quickly. For the most part, I will have to stay with high Protein, non-starchy veggies,and a few berries now and then. Because of orthopedic and reduced post-stroke mobility, a thousand calories or fifty carbs throws me into maintenance.

@@Miss Mac, before dumping your yummy coconut oil, etc. have the lab do a full cholesterol profile. Even traditional mainstream medicine has finally caught up to the research and admitted that high cholesterol has NOTHING to do with heart disease. Read this: http://chriskresser.com/the-diet-heart-myth-cholesterol-and-saturated-fat-are-not-the-enemy

If you still aren't convinced, here is a good book on the whole cholesterol issue http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936608383/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&tag=livilavidalow-20

Besides the "good" and the "bad" cholesterol - there are subtypes, and the large fluffy ones are good, the small dense particles are bad.

Overall, triglyceride number is a better predictor of health than cholesterol.

Agree being vegetarian I don't eat bacon, but I eat eggs, and use coconut oil frequently. I have my choletsral is always within range and my carbs can go high as long as it from green leafy veg/fruit and beans. Unless you are genetically disposed to high cholesterol coconut oil isn't a bad thing.

@@Miss Mac do you have metabolic syndrome? the bariatric nutritionist told me that i had to balance all of my Protein to carbs 2:1 at every meal otherwise I would not lose weight. she also said i had to eat low carb. i would tell you the grams but i forget as it would change as time went on. I think I started at 80g protein and 40g carbs.

Note that I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV :-)

@@BLERDgirl what would you consider "high" in regard to carbs from fruit and veggies? why are these superior carbs to carbs from whole grains? thanks for clarifying!

My carbs tend to run in the 50's sometimes 60's. From what I've read most people here tend to try and stay within the 20 - 40 range or their weight loss slows down. I'm not trying to say they are superior to whole grains but my carbs are pretty much all from plant based sources and not breads or processed food like pastas and white rice. So I get the Fiber and nutrients from those plant based sources, which means less pills I have to take by mouth to make up for it and no constipation because my body can break them down easier than processed foods. Since my body is hyper sensitive, the more natural I can keep things, the better chance I have of not triggering an allergic reaction.

Drmeow, Thanks for the reminder about Chris Kressor. I have not read any of his materials for a while. It is kind of late to get into it tonight, so I will follow up on your response tomorrow. I do have some of his info downloaded into a primal/paleo folder on my laptop. I just neeed to review it.