Getting Ready to start

[maddmaxx63]

I have been Looking at the site and the diet for weeks now and think I am ready to Star.  I have been on other diets and  some have worked and some were just not for me.  I am 48 will be 49 in a few weeks and I want to change well me.  I am 5'10"(ish) and 304.  I lost 30 pounds last hear on an herbalife drink diet and that felt great but I hit a plateau and stayed there for months no matter what I did I could not get past that point.  and Finally during the winter I put all the weight back on and would say more flab than before.. I hope I can get down to the 200 mark or even a bit under but will happy just being less of me.  

Enough about me.  I have a few questions.

Is the plateau normal and so how do I break the stall.


What fruits are OK or all of them..
I know Peanuts are bad but what other nuts are OK  Love pistachios so I will assume they are bad.
what about crazins or raisins.. are they bad?
Lean meats, so I can assume not hotdogs or brats?  from Wisconsin and love the tube steaks.
Juice.,.  is there any juices that are?

[maddmaxx63]

Should Note I am a truck driver so this will be a special challange because of the lack of good health food while I am on the road.  I stop at sores as often as possible.  I am away from Home for 3-8 weeks at a crack due to the type of things I haul.  I have no access to a scale so iwill have to relry on measurements and or way clothes fit  but I will be excited to get home and see what my scale says ..  With planning and all I pray for this to work. 

[houmax]

Is the plateau normal and so how do I break the stall.

What fruits are OK or all of them..
I know Peanuts are bad but what other nuts are OK  Love pistachios so I will assume they are bad.
what about crazins or raisins.. are they bad?
Lean meats, so I can assume not hotdogs or brats?  from Wisconsin and love the tube steaks.
Juice.,.  is there any juices that are?

Some plateau some don't. If you do there's always room to cut out some calories or carbs or increase workouts.

No peanuts but unsalted pistachios are OK. I'd say great, they're super healthy.

Dried fruit are usually loaded with sugar, I wouldn't if your trying to lose weight.

Sausages can be OK, just check the ingredients. If they have added sugars or tons of chemicals, dyes, or preservitives I wouldn't eat them. Don't get on lean meat kick. That's not really Paleo. We're low carbs, not low fat. Your going to have to get calories from somewhere or you won't make it. Embrace high fat foods especially in the beginning. As your body adjusts you can make adjustments later on.

Juices are bad idea if your trying to lose weight. The very first thing doctors will change in peoples diets trying to lose weight is get them off sodas and fruit juices. Since juices are liquid they spend no time in your stomach and cause an instant insulin spike. It will all end up around your belly. Best to just eat fruits and berrys(any are OK BTW). You'll get the fiber, something you'll need as you won't be eating grains. And the sugars will stay in your stomach longer and digest with the fiber.

Read how to fail on Paleo diet(so you won't)
http://huntgatherlove.com/content/are-you-faileo-diet
http://huntgatherlove.com/content/real-life-faileo-dieters

[maddmaxx63]

Day 1.  after the water this morning I walked past the breakfast room at the hotel.. got a cup of decaf(YUCK) but will work on getting that habit gone.  was outside working and getting ready to load so exercise. in a mild form but movement already. 

Thanks for the advice.. I have been of the soda for a while now but still do juice..  I will pass on that also and do water with citrus or some such thing. 

Was at Walmart the other day and found a product from Benefiber that are small individual packets that have 5g fiber and a nice sugar free citrus flavor.  says no calories so I hope it is ok.  and extra fiber cant hurt. 

Wonder if hard boiled eggs are ok for grazing on occasion?
with no salt or pepper of course.

[houmax]

Wonder if hard boiled eggs are ok for grazing on occasion?
with no salt or pepper of course.

Yes, and pepper is OK. So is some melted butter on top. Remember, low carb not low fat. Low carb and low fat at the same time is a starvation diet and will not work.

You can have regular coffee also just pass on the sugar. A little cream won't hurt you either.
How...
http://hunter-gatherer.com/blog/do-you-take-your-coffee-john-wayne-or-mary-poppins
How much...
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-much-is-too-much-round-2/#axzz1tuk7WQ00
This assuming your not lactose.

[maddmaxx63]

I am lactois and next question  what about soy or almond milk?

[Lilnicki]

No Soy foods at all, it's not paleo......almond or coconut milk are fine.

Nicki

[houmax]

Soy Sucks

http://www.westonaprice.org/Soy-Alert/
http://www.realfooduniversity.com/ditch-the-soy/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/soy-scrutiny/#axzz1u6NpvdS5

[maddmaxx63]

Thanks for all the answers.  I am enjoying the new energy and actually sleeping better.  I still get the munchies during the day and have been grazing on the nuts a little heavy about 10 oz bag of pistachio's during the day.  hard boiled eggs with a dash of pepper or hot sauce has been a good starter for the morning.. I also just bought some liquid eggs for a quick nuke in the microwave 3 minutes and scrambled eggs.

my challenge is finding ways to prepare the meals other than a microwave as not a lot of room in the truck.  Thinking on getting a small griddle  and see if I can cook that way.,  also I have been eating the baby carrots when the munchies hit to curb.  I am also drinking around 64 oz of water.. Hope I get to phase two in the allotted time  2-4 weeks  I am eating less than I used to I can tell that after only 3 days but I have an up hill climb but I am up for the fight

Thanks again to all for the support

[houmax]

Most grocery stores have pre-cooked smoked brisket, all you have to do is keep in a cooler. Ready to eat and tastes great. Look in meat section, Krogers keeps them around the ribs.

Eddy not bad and they sell it at Krogers and Walmart...
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Eddy-Beef-Brisket-24-oz/19795902

...a little added sugar and kind of high in sodium but in a pinch it's better than a burger.

[Jana]

The hard grazing on nuts will pass. I also had this one. And bacon.

My father was also a truck driver. I remember when he was driving long distances they had gas burners with them. This wasn't a french cuisine, they mainly had them to warm up canned food or prepare a quick instant soup. It will work for bacon and eggs. I don't know how much it would take to prepare meat or vegetables if you have to cook it entirely.
Perhaps, if you have a refrigerator in your truck, you can prepare vegetable or meat at home before you leave. It will be ok for a day or two. And then of course, my favorite and most practiced one, if you eat in grill/hotel... start asking for a vegetable side dish instead of potato or pasta. Rice will do if there is nothing better. Some will comply without problems, others wont, but if you take the same route often people will remember you and perhaps in time you'll get what you want without problems.

Nothing is easy, including persuading others to do as asked 

[maddmaxx63]

Yes I found some precooked meats and I found unbreaded cooked chicken wings.. add hot sauce and Super yummy. the grill in my picture is on my truck and I use it as often as possible.  I have thought of a single burner and  fry pan..  energy levels still going up and a little protein when I get tired  IE jerky or a slim Jim  seems to perk me right up.  not sure if I am dropping anything it has just been a few days  but feeling less bloated during the day but  get the chubby feeling after the feast.  (Thai food Tonight)  don't feel like I am over feasting  but feeling the bloat at night. I grazed less today and try ed to increase my water intake.  I have been on the road now for 6 weeks  I haul Wind Mill Blades and Tower sections  all big and heavy.. I can be gone from home for 1-3 months at a shot.  most stuff I can make is from the store and in truck or grill at hotel..  maybe I can get this dialed in and give info to others in a similar situation.  I am far from normal in job and life..lol

[Scorpio]

Hey Maddmaxx63,
Caverdude and Badbrad shared this link in a different topic, I thought you might be interested.  The second guy on the video was a truck driver too.

i watched  a doco the other day that really hit home called 'Fat Sick and Nearly Dead' you can check the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv3vEXy_EwU

It is also on Netflix.

[maddmaxx63]

hey thanks i will watch it.  today was a tough day  not a lot when on and i was out of nuts and had a few bananas and an apple.  Had a small 7 oz steak and  veggies  all was good but not enough water.  feeling it tonight..  will have to double the efforts tomorrow.

[Scorpio]

I have a hard time with me water now that I am on phase 2.  I know sometimes I don't get in enough, but hey at least there is no sugar, salt or bread going in my mouth. )

[MrChris]

Isn't it amazing, the influence a little positive change that we make can have on our friends...?!
A good friend of mine is a Navy SEAL (20+ years, so rather senior, not one of the young fit ones we normally think of, but I still don't talk smack to him)!  He can stand to lose a few pounds and is going to deploy soon for some extended training.  While on the training, he's going to do this diet.  My losing 11 pounds in the first 2 weeks has motivated him to jump on board.  Imagine that, a 20+ year, Navy SEAL will be joining us on this caveman diet experience!!  I don't know about all of you, but I'm pretty excited to have him here with us!!!

[Scorpio]

That is awesome MrChris, and we will welcome him with arms wide open!!! 

[MrChris]

I'm encouraging him to chat here, but I don't think he will.  He's rather private, due to the nature of his profession...

[MrChris]

I was in San Diego over the weekend and saw my friend, the SEAL.  In the first 10 days, he'd lost 15 pounds!!  I'm sure his being extremely active is pushing the numbers up.  One day, he went on a 100 mile bicycle ride AND ran 4 miles after getting home from work that day...!!  We get back what we put in and he's one heck of an inspiration, in my opinion!
Actually, I was teasing him.  I picked him up Friday night so we could go see the Avengers and he had on a jacket.  It was almost 70 degrees out at the time and I don't remember the last time I saw a jacket on him.  Now that he's dropping the weight (or his blubber as I'd like to think of it as, since he was giving me a hard time), he gets cold easier and needed the jacket.  After giving him a hard time, I congratulated him! 

[Jana]

So, the question if a  strenuous exercise is doable while on paleo diet is answered.

[MrChris]

True story!  I'd say a 100 mile bike ride, full work day AND a 4 mile run would probably count as rather strenuous...! lol  Good point, I was just thinking of the motivating story, not that question being answered. 

[Jana]

I can imagine it's possible and I do find it motivating.

I started exercising a bit more for the first time since I'm on the paleo diet. I'm quite energetic and I find running relaxing and easy.
This is quite new for me because while on a conventional diet I had to stop exercising (I was training for a marathon) because of a constant iron and calcium deficiency (gluten intolerance related). I felt exhausted on a verge of a collapse. Now I feel I can achieve anything I set my mind to.

[MrChris]

Way to go Jana, it sounds like you're doing really good on this diet!  It's great to hear motivating stories.  My friend motivates me with his stories, not to mention talks a lot of smack...! lol  I'm thinking of heading to San Diego this weekend and will see Battleship with him.  Then I'll let everyone know how he's progressing also, since he doesn't chat here.  SEALs are kind of like modern day ninjas...!! lol   

[Scorpio]

That is great Jana,  I feel like I could run but I think I would get hurt.  I hope to be running a mile a day by August.

[Jana]

it's not good to start running immediately if you are overweight, so I think you are making a right decision. Start with walking and progress to running. If you have an option choose dirt path, beach, forest trail because the surface is softer and it's easier on your joints. On the other hand, you'll be slower and running on such surfaces is more exhausting than on asphalt.
You can start doing calf raises though, to prevent shin splints once you start running. I do it with my feet in parallel, toes in and heels in.