Weregrognard
First Post
As it happens I have just finished 30 days of low-carb dieting. I'm doing the p90X exercise plan, and the nutritional guide for the first 30 days is high-protein, low-carb. It's the first time I've done this type of diet before. I have to say I haven't noticed much of a difference, in terms of energy or general well-beingness. I do feel good, and I've lost about 5 pounds and gained a bit of muscle. But I'm looking forward to upping the carbs in the next phase. I want a bowl of slow-cooked, steel-cut oats for breakfast (yum).
As far as the "Paleo" diet goes -- I think of these diets as narratives. They're stories that some people need to get jazzed enough to make a major change in their lifestyle. The Paleo diet has the whole uber-masculine thing where you pretend to be a caveman. I find that pretty cheesy, so I'm not into it, but if it's what turns you on enough to stop eating junk food and eat more plants, then rock on.
Of course if someone is gluten or lactose-intolerant, then I'm sure they'll feel much better with the paleo diet, or any diet where they eat less grains and dairy. But as far as I can tell I handle grains and dairy fine.
Indeed. The problem here is that the message is getting lost because of the need to simplify by labeling. On one hand, "Paleo" as a buzz-word gets public attention, on the other, any legitimate scientific research behind it (that just happens to run counter to mainstream thought) gets dismissed as a "fad", or pseudo-science.
When co-workers noticed I was losing weight, they eventually asked what my "secret" was. At first, I tell them about eating "real" food over processed stuff, and they nod. When prodded for more details, I talk about my avoidance of (processed) grains and sugar. That's when I start to get the weird looks. Finally, the need to simplify means the word "Paleo" or something like it escapes my mouth, and that's when I get the typical: "oh, it's that caveman thing".
P90X is good (I'm a "graduate" myself), and the exercises are "legit" (as opposed to gimmicky gadgets), but I've since realized that I can get the same results with a shorter work-out, fewer times a week, and that works better for me.