potato and sodas

[porkypiglet]

 I just heard about the caveman diet on channel five news and was actually very excited, for the first time, to actually WANT to try a diet.  a diet that I can follow thru with. I feel I can  but my roommate thinks that I can't/won't make it a week because  for one I LOVE MY CARBONATED SODAS,and two, where i live and work I have food readily accessible , food that for the most part ISN'T THE GREATEST ON THE HEALTH TABLE.i DO have a few questions about the diet , as i am sure all who try this diet too have just as many questions. FIRST QUESTION.... SODAS  I LOVE MY SODAS. as a matter of fact I get a headache if I DON'T  have a soda everyday. I know drinks like  COKE , OR PEPSI, ROOT BEER ECT. ARE bbbzzzzzzzzzt out of the question . this would be a problem for me at first . but there ARE carbonated waters out there, with no flavoring or sugars or  just a hint of flavors such as oranges limes found in CALISTOGA carbonated waters. My question is are these o.k. to drink,?are they okay to drink on a daily basis. if not, WHY what about carbonated WATERS is so wrong. and second...potato,. the diet says that potatoes are not a part of the diet...BUT  they say that  ROOT vegetables  are a good part of the diet. Aren't potatoes PART  of the root vegi family? they are grown underground which would basically make them a ROOT VEGI, correct ? Help me prove my roommate WRONG  and that I CAN  do this diet.

[Tony Bondioli]

Welcome

Sodas:  The conventional variety are, of course, not an option if you want to follow a paleo diet.  There are some made of 100-percent fruit juice, with carbonation added, that would be a healthier choice, although if weight loss is your primary goal, I would limit anything this sweet to only very occassionally (i.e. once or twice a week, at most).  I don't see that the carbonation, in and of itself, would affect you in terms of weight, but note that it is "basic" in terms of its pH, which means it will counteract your natural stomach acids.  If taken with food, it may have some inhibitive effect on your ability to fully and properly digest your food.

Potatoes:  Aren't the sort of root vegetable favored in a paleo diet.  Carrots, turnips, parsnips, rutabaga, etc., are better choices.  Yams (or sweet potatoes) are okay in moderation, but keep in mind that they (like fruit juices) are higher in natural sugars, which will cause more dramatic insulin spikes, which will inhibit the fat burning effect... you'll still see results, but not as quickly, the more you include these sorts of food.  Standard potatoes (white, red, yellow) are quite starchy, and will have a similar effect, as they convert to sugar in the body almost immediately upon consumption.

There are good alternatives out there to help you cope with initial cravings.  Check out these cookbooks for some great ideas:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-blueprint-reader-created-cookbook/

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[sabertec]

Hi and welcome

Sodas as Tony says are out, ask yourself why it is so hard to give them up - if the answer is the sweetness then try a few weeks without them you will find your taste changes and things taste different, I am a sugar addict so I avoid it at all costs but I do not crave it now and can for example watch people eating biscuits without any cravings.

As for potatoes, I have been very strict with myself regarding these in the past with good results but I have started barefoot running so i sneak in a jacket maybe twice a week at the most with little noticeable effect.

The thing this diets aims for is an intuitive attitude to food so when you eat something feel what it does to you and your energy levels. After a while you will know if you should or should not eat some thing

I hope this helps good luck

[Scorpio]

Hey Sabertec,
I started the lifestyle and I love it.  BUT I love Dr. Pepper (soda).  To be honest with you, the first two weeks, I dranked one Dr Pepper a day in my feast.  I planed my feast that way, for example at night, I would be a hamburger patty on the grill, a hotdog, a tablespoon of coleslaw and pickles with a 12oz Dr. Pepper.  In the feast, he states you can have whatever you wanted, and that is what I wanted.  NOW after my two weeks, I limited myself to one Dr. Pepper every other day, week four one Dr. Pepper a week.  By week two, I didn't want them anymore, because the lifestyle will change you.  I still lost weight and felt great, but I have 151 more lbs to lose.  I probably got away with drinking that one soda because I had so much to lose.  Before the caveman lifestyle I was drinking 7-10 Dr. Peppers a day.

I do agree with everyone, if you can stop all together then I would.

Thanks
Amy Garner

[SidheDraoi]

a poster (lilnicki) on this site said not too long ago, "don't focus on what you CAN'T have but what you CAN have" its the perfect outlook for this lifestyle 

My hubby is addicted to sodas, though he isnt exactly paleo... he eats whatever is handed to him. he drinks 3 MTN DEWs a day, I have gotten him to limit it to 1 a day but then he quickly ran back and claimed that he would rather quit smoking than quit drinking MTN DEW, which is saying something because he is a chain smoker. It really takes determination to quit something that you are so deeply addicted to, don't beat yourself up if you can't kick the soda completely but try to limit it as much as possible, say once a week.

You can do it! Just stay determined!