Is the Paleo Diet a Simpler Way to Lose Weight?

There’s no doubt in my mind that a healthier lifestyle leads to a more meaningful one.

If, for example, we are near our target weight we are no doubt happier beings and therefore more content with ourselves and our life.

Because I need to lose about 20 pounds, I’ve been reading about a  diet/nutritional plan called paleo, (short for paleolithic diet plan). If you’ve not heard about paleo, just ask yourself this question:

“What did our hunter-gatherer ancestors eat?”

And the answer is: anything they could catch or dig up.

So Simple a Caveman Could Do It

Back in the days when the male members of the clan left for a few days on hunting trips, they generally brought back animals, fish, birds, and possibly a reptile or two. In other words, lots of lean meat.

They also dug up tubors, roots, and gathered other vegetation to supplement their carnivorous tendencies. To quench their resulting thirst (from running, hunting, chasing, etc.) they drank water and possibly a Big-Gulp every now and then (kidding).

I’ve been reading up on the Paleo Diet plan for a week and I’ve come across some interesting information. Here is a comprehensive article on paleo from Steve Kamb over at NerdFitness.com if you’d like some depth.

The 21st Century Version

In a nutshell, paleo looks similar to other low-carb/high protein diet like Atkins or South Beach. It also has some shared elements with Tim Ferriss’ Slow Carb Diet.

All of these diets take advantage of the body’s tendency to burn carbs first, followed by fat and protein. The theory is that if you consume more protein than carbohydrates, your body will deplete its stores of carbs rapidly and then focus on burning fat. That leads to weight loss.

There are outspoken critics and passionate fans for both of these nutritional plans. I can speak to the effectiveness of the Atkins plan having lost 30 pounds on a modified version of it in 2005. I gained the weight back only when I slacked off and started down the path of eating more carbs like pasta, breads, and cereals.

In my experience, I found that the higher the protein content of my meals, the longer I felt satisfied and less likely to crave a high carb snack like goldfish crackers (a personal favorite) or even a slice of toast.

My parents have a friend who lost 50 pounds by, as she put it, “not eating white.” This meant she cut out all white foods, like breads, rice, pasta, dairy products, potatoes, etc. These are naturally high in carbs and, in a more sedentary person,  more prone to be stored as fat if not burned through exercise.

I’m not advocating the paleo plan for you, but I am willing to try it for a month to see how my body responds.

The Simplicity of Paleo

From what I can tell, the ease of following the paleo plan is its chief attraction. There are no calories to count, points to allocate, or portions to conserve. It’s said that it’s difficult to overeat on paleo.

You simply ask, “Is this paleo?” If not, you avoid it. It so, you eat it.

How you feel about it?

Is this a plan that appeals to your appreciation of simple nutrition plan? Would you be willing to join me in my month-long trial? Think it over and let me know in a comment how this plan strikes you?

PS And if you know where I can some fresh Mastodon, I’d be ever so grateful!