Primal / Paleo Diet

[AK Forty Seven]

Quote from tomdavis:

Changing the way I eat was not easy for me. Previously, I ate a lot of "prepared" and "processed" foods. Now I rarely eat anything that comes in a can, bottle, bag etc. I rarely eat grains or milk products.

This is not a "diet." Diets don't work. This is a permanent lifestyle change for me.

Here's what I ate the past couple of days. I'm on the west coast and wake up very early to trade, so I have to fit my meals around my trading schedule. All fruits and vegetables are fresh (organic whenever possible). Chicken is free range and all fish is wild caught.

-------------------------------------------
THURSDAY

Breakfast (4:15am): Two poached eggs, half an avocado, herbal tea.

At my trading desk by 5:00am: Snacks while trading -- Almonds, 1 grapefuit and 2 apples.

Lunch (after trading -- usually about 1:00pm): A very large salad with butter lettuce, arugala, kale, tomatos, bell pepper, cucumbers, sliced chicken breast and pine nuts. Olive oil and vinegar dressing.

Dinner (about 5:00pm): Poached salmon, half an avocado, asparagas, steamed spinach.

Evening snack: Walnuts and blueberries.

--------------------------------------

FRIDAY

Breakfast: poached salmon (left over from the night before), a large pear, herbal tea.

Snacks while trading: 1 avocado, 2 apples, almonds

Lunch: A very large salad with romain lettuce, kale, tomatos, bell pepper, cucumbers, tuna and pine nuts. Olive oil and rasberry vinegar dressing.

Dinner: Grilled chicken breast with roasted bell peppers, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, steamed carrots and steamed beans.

Evening snack: Walnuts, pecans and red respberries.

-------------------------------------------

There are 5 things I work into my meal plan every day because they are very nutrient dense:

1. Kale
2. Apples
3. Avocado
4. Fresh berries
5. Raw nuts

- Instead of grains I eat Quinoa (pronouced "keen-wah"), which is a seed
- I don't eat white potatoes, but I do occasionally eat yams

---------------

I used to be lazy about the way ate, too, so I know exactly where you're coming from. The way I changed was by applying the same discipline to my eating that I do to my trading.

-- Do research
-- Make a plan
-- Test it throughly
-- Make necessary changes
-- Execute with discipline and precision

My grandfather used to tell me: "Self-discipline is the breakfast of champions." He was right.

Thank you for your post Tom

My cholesterol and blood pressure was getting higher and higher.Back in December my doctor said if my numbers didn't start going down she would put me on medication,that scared me into changing my diet

Currently I start my day off with a fruit smoothie made of a cup of orange juice,some mandarin oranges,3 slices of pineapple, a banana ,a scoop of designer whey protein and some ice cubes.I also make them with grape juice ,strawberries ,raspberries etc

For breakfast I'll have pancakes and oatmeal,eggs and oatmeal,eggs and pancakes,grits etc

For lunch tuna with sliced egg whites and multi grain wheat bread,salad with egg whites,veggie sandwich etc

For dinner pasta with veggies ,veggie pizza,veggie sandwich ,spinach or broccoli and rice,shrimp and pasta,fish with veggies etc


I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and she said my numbers went down and to keep doing what I was doing but to make sure my diet was balanced and recommended I at least add chicken cooked in a healthy way to my diet

I cut out all meats from my diet and the the only animal foods I eat are eggs,cheese from veggie pizza and the whey protein I add to my smoothies are from diary.I might add chicken back to my diet

I am taking some of your advice.I bought a food steamer today and will add kale (never heard of it before your post) and more freash steamed veggies

I am still working on my diet but it is much improved from what it used to be.In the past my diet consisted of egg or sausage mac muffins or other fast food sandwiches and breakfast.Fried po boys,Big Mac or whopper combos for lunch .Large chocolate shakes from baskin robbins or other ice cream or fast food joint daily .Steaks,Meat lovers pizza, pasta with sausage and meatballs, etc for dinner

 

[AK Forty Seven]

Quote from BellWeather:

Posted this before, but it is a good outline for the foods mentioned in this thread.

http://www.draxe.com/healing-diet/

Many quick read articles and videos on the website. If you go to the homepage, in the upper right hand corner there is a link to receive a free PDF mini-book - - - Superfood Super You - A Superfood Guide to Weight Loss, Detox, Anti-Aging and Building Muscle. A quick read too, but again.....pulls many things together about what people have been mentioning in this thread.

Thanks a lot for this post and the site,very informative

 

[AK Forty Seven]

Quote from WardTrader:

The problem with canned is for fruit they add HFC or Sugar. So you arent really getting the benefit of eating fresh fruit.

With vegetables, so much salt is added that is also destructs the value of the vegetable.

If you cant do fresh, frozen would be the next step.

Salt is a whole different issue. The RDA is wayyyy to high.

Thanks for the post

I used to use canned mandarin oranges,canned pineapple in juice,canned peaches and pears etc in my smoothies.I am going to go fresh with everything but the pineapple,I hate cutting those up

 

[tomdavis]

Quote from AK Forty Seven:

Thank you for your post Tom

My cholesterol and blood pressure was getting higher and higher.Back in December my doctor said if my numbers didn't start going down she would put me on medication,that scared me into changing my diet

Currently I start my day off with a fruit smoothie made of a cup of orange juice,some mandarin oranges,3 slices of pineapple, a banana ,a scoop of designer whey protein and some ice cubes.I also make them with grape juice ,strawberries ,raspberries etc

For breakfast I'll have pancakes and oatmeal,eggs and oatmeal,eggs and pancakes,grits etc

For lunch tuna with sliced egg whites and multi grain wheat bread,salad with egg whites,veggie sandwich etc

For dinner pasta with veggies ,veggie pizza,veggie sandwich ,spinach or broccoli and rice,shrimp and pasta,fish with veggies etc


I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and she said my numbers went down and to keep doing what I was doing but to make sure my diet was balanced and recommended I at least add chicken cooked in a healthy way to my diet

I cut out all meats from my diet and the the only animal foods I eat are eggs,cheese from veggie pizza and the whey protein I add to my smoothies are from diary.I might add chicken back to my diet

I am taking some of your advice.I bought a food steamer today and will add kale (never heard of it before your post) and more freash steamed veggies

I am still working on my diet but it is much improved from what it used to be.In the past my diet consisted of egg or sausage mac muffins or other fast food sandwiches and breakfast.Fried po boys,Big Mac or whopper combos for lunch .Large chocolate shakes from baskin robbins or other ice cream or fast food joint daily .Steaks,Meat lovers pizza, pasta with sausage and meatballs, etc for dinner

You're doing the right things. Stay with it. I can tell you from personal experience that if you eat right you will get the results you want.

In addition to watching your cholesterol, also keep an eye on your triglycerides. My cardiologist says they're often more predictive of heart disease than cholesterol. Triglycerides are driven largely by sugar/carb intake. Ideally, you want your triglycerides less than 150 (less than 100 is excellent). If yours are too high and not coming down, you'll need to cut down on fruit and refined carbohydrates. It varies from person to person, so keep an eye on it over time and make adjustments as necessary.

Two suggestions: (1) If you're going to eat bread, try "sprouted" breads. They're lower in carbs/sugars. (2) If you're going to eat pasta, give Quinoa pasta a try. It has a lower glycemic index than regular pasta.

And...a note about kale... Kale is extremely healthy, but has a somewhat bitter taste. Try to find ways to mix it in with other things, like in a salad or a sandwhich where there are a lot of other flavors.

Good luck to you.

 

[AK Forty Seven]

Quote from tomdavis:

You're doing the right things. Stay with it. I can tell you from personal experience that if you eat right you will get the results you want.

In addition to watching your cholesterol, also keep an eye on your triglycerides. My cardiologist says they're often more predictive of heart disease than cholesterol. Triglycerides are driven largely by sugar/carb intake. Ideally, you want your triglycerides less than 150 (less than 100 is excellent). If yours are too high and not coming down, you'll need to cut down on fruit and refined carbohydrates. It varies from person to person, so keep an eye on it over time and make adjustments as necessary.

Two suggestions: (1) If you're going to eat bread, try "sprouted" breads. They're lower in carbs/sugars. (2) If you're going to eat pasta, give Quinoa pasta a try. It has a lower glycemic index than regular pasta.

And...a note about kale... Kale is extremely healthy, but has a somewhat bitter taste. Try to find ways to mix it in with other things, like in a salad or a sandwhich where there are a lot of other flavors.

Good luck to you.

I'm going act on all those suggestions.Thanks again Tom

 

[Rehoboth]

If you numbers dont start going down, I would suggest removing any juice and simple carbs.

I would also suggest trying to increase your greens.

I am not 100% primal/paleo (I still incorporate non canned beans and love a good beer) But I can attest to the increase of health benefits.

 

[highballs]

Quote from jnbadger:

I thought I covered that in my evolutionary comment. But I'll try again.

Over millions of years our bodies and our adaptability to what it takes in has evolved veeeeeeerrrrryyyy ssslllooooowwwlllyyyyyy......

Kind of like your brains.

Throw modern processed crap into a body which is used to meat and veggies, you're going to have problems.

But let me guess, you clowns work for the FDA, the medical field, or the junk food industry, and would suffer if the truth got out.

Ever notice what Crossfit.com charges people to view their info? zero. nada.

Keep eating your cheeseburgers and drinking your scientifically tested pepsi and see how your health progresses.

you do realize that early man's surrounding were very variable as to climate, geography and FOOD SOURCE & TYPE, and sooo any "adaptation" (i guess you don't or you wouldn't have said smthg so foolish)

 

[bigarrow]

Quote from highballs:

you do realize that early man's surrounding were very variable as to climate, geography and FOOD SOURCE & TYPE, and sooo any "adaptation" (i guess you don't or you wouldn't have said smthg so foolish)

That is a very good point. Early man ate what plants and animals it took to survive. And the foods varied greatly compared to where they lived.

 

[highballs]

Quote from bigarrow:

That is a very good point. Early man ate what plants and animals it took to survive. And the foods varied greatly compared to where they lived.

Yes, it is a good point. Another is who really knows what early man ate, or how this really affected evolutionary physiology (if it even did). Early man dies @ 35...do YOU want to eat like that..not me

 

[jnbadger]

Quote from highballs:

you do realize that early man's surrounding were very variable as to climate, geography and FOOD SOURCE & TYPE, and sooo any "adaptation" (i guess you don't or you wouldn't have said smthg so foolish)

So they had a very limited variety of food to hunt and gather, where as we have all kinds of healthy food from which to choose, which falls into the paleo diet category, every time we walk into the grocery store.

Gee, great argument.