Paleo Diet
 

My very best friend gradually put on weight in her 30s. She knew she was eating too much pasta and salty-carby snacks (sugar was never her thing) and drinking way too much beer. She is about 5'6" and though she only got up to around 154, she is very small boned and NEVER exercised, so it wasn't muscle. She never reads LCF, :) so I think I'm safe to say that she really did look bloated and unhealthy.
Well, we talked about 4 months ago because she was really feeling awful and knows how good I feel on LC. She didn't like the idea of all of the fat on Atkins, but she read up on the Paleo diet and liked the idea of all of the fruits, veggies, nuts and lean meats. (no dairy)
Cut to now...she works out 5 days a week, follows the Paleo Diet and now weighs 117!!!
She looks and feels incredible. I am sooo proud of her...and now I'm thinking I want some of that, too! I love how I feel on Atkins, but I am wondering if all the dairy/fat could be keeping me from losing the last 15 lbs. I know alot of folks say that fat is the key to losing the weight. Is it possible that it isn't true for everybody?
Anybody have any luck with the Paleo Diet?

I believe the evidence is (so far) clear about what would be more or less optimal for MOST people -- low carb (under 100 g/day), no refined/processed stuff, as little sugars as possible, no wheat, only sprouted/fermented grains (if that), and as much good fat as you need to not be hungry. But -- everybody's a snowflake ;) Congratulations to your friend on finding a way that fits her and obviously gives great results! Folks more experienced with loss and stalls can chime in on your situation -- I've seen plenty of related posts about tweaking calories/fat for your particular weight, etc.

PS: Does your friend eat eggs? Just curious because it appears that while dairy and grains are indeed the most common allergies and sensitivities (which supports the Paleo/'primal' view of better health and longer life pre-agriculture), eggs seem to have negative effects on fewer individuals. I'd be willing to bet we were stealing eggs from animals long before we domesticated them and started milking them :)

There's a great thread about the Paleo Diet in the Organic and Natural Eating forum.
It's not really about success on the plan, though -- just a solid discussion of what's behind it. Still, it might be worth it for you to check it out. Don't be intimidated that it's 4 pages long. Most of it's really interesting stuff!

The book (by Loren Cordain) is pretty high on my reading list. Can't wait to get to it.

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/or...aleo-diet.html

Thank you for the responses!
I checked out the thread you recommended, Goldenrod. Lots of great info. I do believe my gfriend is going waay low fat...and hasn't given a thought to factory farmed meat.
Lots to think about....

has anyone seen this guys blog?

Free the Animal: New Lipid Panel

He kinda looks familiar.

Anyways, its interesting. He does the paelo diet but adds fatty creamy stuff?
Like coconut gravy.lol

I LOVE Free the Animal -- one of my daily visits. Richard's photo progress, full disclosure and straight-shooting style have made it an excellent resource for helping convince my dad to eat better!

While not having read the book, but looking at blogs/websites...It seems to me that there are a hundred different ideas of what exactly the Paleo diet actually is. I think there may be some good stuff to learn from the P.D....but meh, I'm just not up for learning a new philosophy/woe. Atkins makes me feel great. I'm having trouble with the last 15 lbs, so I think instead of trying anything radically different, I'm just going to try cutting out dairy for a bit and really stepping up the exercise.
Thank you all for your responses!!

I was going to mention excersice. You said your friend never excersiced before and now she goes like 5 days a week IN ADDITION to the new Paleo woe. I think that sheds some doubt as to whether or not Paleo was THE THING that made such a dramatic difference for her. . .could've been that, but also could've been her couch-potato to five-day-a-week-excersice status, or likely a combination of both. Just as Atkins is not a magic pill, neither is any other woe, IMO. Add in some more, or better yet, VARIED excersice to your week, stay true to doing your woe very CLEAN (not that you're not eating clean now. ..you didn't say), and maybe that will shake up your scale a l'lil bit.