Primal/Paleo foods allowed/not allowed??? Starting Phase 2 on Monday.

[Wyldkat]

I've been doing phase one rather closely for two weeks and am starting phase 2 on Monday.  I've been reading a lot about this way of eating  and have only managed to get more confused than when I started.

Some places say sweet potatoes are good, some say don't touch them with a ten foot pole.  Some say some grains are ok if they are whole and an infrequent side and others say NEVER. 

I can understand the no processed food, no processed sugars, no chemical additives (although some sites say those are ok?!?), but considering that our ancestors ate everything they could and that did include gathered grains at least to a certain extent, I'm not really sure why some places are so dead set against them.  Some sites talk about carb counts so if you fit them in to that count, wouldn't it be fine?  I'm not talking a plate full of white pasta, but a 1/4-1/2 cup side of brown rice or a handful of barley in a soup once a week or so seems like something our ancestors would very likely have done.

Also does anyone have a site that lists good paleo recipes?  (I have searched and failed, but I'm a foodie so I might be too picky.)  Also, I know that this site is not about calorie counts, but I'm curious around what people think they eat calorie-wise in a day on phase 2?  I'm not a calorie counter, just curious.

Thanks!

[Lilnicki]

Try not to get too caught up in the finer details. I myself have sweet potatoes and rice about once a week. I also did a lot of reading back in the beginning, and couldn't understand why one site had a recipe for apple pie and cream!,,,,that would be a definite NO for me!

Make yourself a list of all the foods YOU want to eat, and come up with some menu ideas and a shopping list . Being prepared in the begining means you always have something in the fridge so you're less likely to cheat. Also stock up on some cooked meats and boiled eggs as well as fruit, nuts and seeds.

Keep us up to date with how you're getting on

[Tony Bondioli]

I'm a big fan of Mark's Daily Apple ( www.marksdailyapple.com ).  Mark Sisson advocates a diet that is paleo-correct about 85% of the time, and this seems to work just fine.  This would amount to eating one non-paleo meal every few days (i.e., a couple of times a week).

[Wyldkat]

Thanks both of you.  I've been reading Mark's daily apple a bit already. 

I've got a fridge full of meats and veggies and meal plans for the next week already worked up.  I've lost 30 lbs twice before (2 totally different methods) and I've gained back 10 due to a medication I'm on so I have around 35lbs to lose to goal right now.  I know that total restriction doesn't work for me which is why I was curious about the grains.

[Lilnicki]

Once you get going, you really won't miss the grains...... New and healthier habits will be made instead

I now always eat my 5 a day, whereas before i hardly ate any fruit and veg!!

Nicki

[Wyldkat]

Well Day 1 of Stage 2 went well.  I really think this is something I can stick with.  I wasn't nearly as hungry as I had expected I would be.  I didn't lose any weight on Stage 1, but I've been feeling better and started working out again.

[Wyldkat]

I've been doing well, following the eating plan pretty closely.  I'm not losing as quickly as i'd like, a net 2 lbs over the week (I'm used to a bigger loss during the first week of a new meal plan), but I'm feeling better so that's good.

[Lilnicki]

Keep it  up a bit longer ... If the weight still isn't coming off then take a look at your portion sizes, and do some more exercise.

Nicki