Let me start by saying that I believe anyone can transform their body if they are truly committed and ready for change.
But most have not been able to do this simply because they are making fundamental mistakes in how they approach this whole process. I can say that because I was one of those people for a long time.
1. Your goals are too vague
And that is assuming you even have goals. Many don't or think they do because they have proudly declared...
- I want to eat healthy
- I want to get toned
- I will exercise regularly
The problem is those things don't mean anything because they can't be measured. What exactly does eating healthy mean? How do you measure that? How do you know when you are toned? And what exactly constitutes exercising regularly?
I made this mistake every time I launched into a new weight loss effort. I had no clue how I would know when I arrived at these “milestones.” I was like one of those kids being lugged around in the back seat of the family mini-van. All I kept saying was, “Am I there yet? Am I there yet? And you know what, I never was, because I didn't know where I was going.
2. You don't understand the math
You trade-off workouts for the opportunity to eat like crap and you do so because you think it is a straight up trade. You think it functions on a 1-to-1 ratio. Your logic goes something like this. “I worked out today so I can eat this.”
There are three BIG flaws in this logic however.
One, you don't work out nearly as hard as you think you do and thus don't burn as many calories as you think you burn.
Second, exercise in general doesn't burn as many calories as you think it does.
And third, the crap you do treat yourself with contains far more calories than you think it does.
Here is a quick example to illustrate the point. A high impact one hour aerobics class burns about 660 calories. A meet up with friends after work could look something like this.
- ten chicken wings with sauce (660 calories)
- plus 1 portion of nachos (300 calories)
- two alcoholic beverages (200 calories)
- Total= 1160 calories.
You actually still have a surplus of 500 calories.
Translation: you gained weight and that ASSUMES your other meals that day were spectacular.
That's why you see people who workout regularly and continue to gain weight over the years. They just don't understand the math and make bad trades day in and day out.
3. You think the answer is out there.
You falsely believe that it is someone else who holds the magical keys to make you lean. That's why you join a gym. That's why you order DVD programs. That's why you purchase diet plans. That's why you hire a personal trainer.
You think someone else is going to give you that magical solution that will finally allow you to achieve that body you want. Sadly, it doesn't work that way. I know. I was that person.
The answers lie within, not out there. This is not a journey from the outside in, but rather from the inside out. You have the map pointed the wrong way and until you reorient yourself, you will ALWAYS be heading in the wrong direction and end up in the wrong destination.
4. You think it's a diet and exercise issue
I thought this too. I thought that for 25 years. But it isn't.
It's a YOU issue. There are reasons why you do what you do. They are reasons why you eat what you eat. There are reasons why you have abandoned every program you have ever tried (but we blame it on the program-surely it can't be our fault.)
This is an emotional and psychological journey first and foremost. It's a journey into understanding you and why you do the things you do.
Until you are willing to plunge into the depths of your murky inner self and figure out why you do what you do, all the other stuff is meaningless, because it won't last. You will blow it up long before the result can ever show itself.
5. You see you NOT as you are, but as you think you are
The best way to understand this is to view the dysfunctional relationship of someone you are close to. You know who I'm talking about. You talk about it with your friends all the time. There are a million things wrong with that relationship. Why don't they see what you see. Because you see it as it is and they see it as they think it is.
It's the same with you. You see yourself as you think you are, not how you actually are. There are things you do that you don't even know you do. Oh your friends know what those things are. They talk about these all the time with their friends as well (oh did you think people weren't talking about you like you talk about them? Welcome to reality buttercup).
Weight loss and body transformation can never occur until you are prepared to address the brutal facts about you and your situation.
I actually did this when I started. I wrote up a list of about 15 things. One thing I needed to come to grips with was the fact I am an emotional eater and when things go south I cry out for my friends Ben and Jerry.
That was a bit unsettling for me to admit because I'm a guy. Guys don't eat emotionally (we do, but we're too stupid to realize we do). I would not have been able to mend that problem if I wasn't prepared to see myself as I am.
6. You don't know when things aren't working
Have you been running or going to the gym or taking that Yoga or Pilates class for years. How's that working out for you? Do you now have the body you want?
If not its because you don't know how to gauge whether something is actually working for you or not.
You're not testing anything. You don't monitor changes. You just eat "healthy" and exercise and assume the miracle will happen.
Here is a word of advice. If you make a change, whether in your diet or your exercise and you don't see any difference in 2 or 3 weeks, then something is not working and more changes need to be made.
It doesn't mean you throw out the initial change, but it does mean you need to keep testing and tweaking ideas to find the right combination of things that does bring results.
It keeps going back to this.
Are you seeing results?
Use 21 days as a gauge. If you see nothing after 21 days then something ain't working and something needs to change.
7. You want all the benefits without doing the heavy lifting
Be honest. This is exactly what you want. You want to keep doing exactly what you are doing (which is nothing) and get all the rewards of great health.
But if you are not prepared to make whole sale changes then forget about any chance of transforming your body. You can't get something for nothing. If you aren't prepared to...
- give up fast food
- get up 30 minutes earlier so you can eat a proper breakfast
- get 8 or 9 hours of sleep
- cut out processed foods from your diet
- give up foods you love (but are killing you)
- commit to an exercise program that actually works
then you aren't emotionally or psychologically prepared for this journey and you are once again doomed for failure.
Bonus...
I would like you to complete number 8 by commenting in the comment section below.
What do you think is another big reason that prevents people (or you) from losing weight?
To making shift happen,
DD
Dean, Iagree with all your reasons….especially the one about setting vague goals and not tweaking ideas to find the right combination of things that does bring results. I think if I was to add a #8 to your list, it would be that we get off track too easily due to our addiction to sugar. Eating almonds has helped me curb my sugar cravings, but I’m now fearing that the high fat content in the almonds is keeping me from the look I want.
Thoughts anyone?
Ah sugar. Yes I battle that bad boy on a regular basis. Oh with regards to the almonds, you eat so few I doubt that would be causing you any issues.
There are people out there eating low-carb high-fat, Paleo or not, and losing their bodyfat. You actually do need fat in your diet, and probably a good bit more than you believe you need.
It’s true that if you’re eating a whole bunch of sugar and starch along with the fat, you’ll store more of the fat you eat, but that’s because your insulin’s elevated. So quit making your insulin spike, and that will help a lot.
Although it goes back to what Dean says all over his blog–tweak it! Start using a tracking site or a cookbook software that shows you the nutrients in your recipes and start figuring out WHAT you are eating and go on from there. What ratio of fat to the rest of the diet works in terms of weight loss will vary from person to person. Some people can eat lots and lots of it. Some people need to keep it around 40 percent of calories. You won’t know til you test it.
By the way, the other thing you want to look out for is making sure you’re getting all your nutrition. Everybody looks at calories. Not enough people going through weight loss make sure they’re getting all their vitamins and minerals. I don’t mean in a multivitamin pill, although that’s good as an insurance backup. I mean get the stuff from your food.
I was reading at Whole Health Source (a blog) that a study was done on two groups of overweight people. One group got a multivitamin–that was the only difference. They also lost more weight during the course of the study.
My hypothesis is that this “starvation mode” everyone talks about, where weight loss stalls when calories go too low? It is probably actually malnutrition causing the processes that mobilize stored fat to be slowed down or stopped. Your metabolic processes cannot work if they don’t have all the raw materials they need. Some of those raw materials are the aforementioned vitamins and minerals.
Something to think about. Food is nourishment, not fuel–your body is not an engine.
Great post. Nice dose of reality!
My #8 on the list would be Hormonal Issues – for people like me with wonky thyroids or metabolic issues (although this could fall under #4 or 5 too!). Having hormonal imbalances makes everything that much harder, and if we don’t deal with that head on, it will continue to be an “excuse” as to why we cannot reach our goals. Geez, I’m tired of excuses. Time to just deal with it and move on!
Thanks for the reality check and your inspiring story!
Your welcome Jen. Hormonal issues are certainly a challenge the does make life a bit more challenging. Keep me posted on your progress.
Great post man! I deal with a lot of these issues when it comes to my clients. It’s hard to get people to stick with something even if it’s not working right away.
Thanks my friend.
It’s tough. I was just reading in a forum about someone who is trying to lose weight. She is currently around 223lbs and in 30 days lost 10lbs. She is very frustrated with her progress.
I think she has lost sight that she has made progress however.This is a long-term commitment in a world obsessed with quick fix solutions. Most tend to abandon the whole flippin program when they don’t get speedy results instead of looking at what’s working and tweaking what isn’t.
The good thing for you though William is many trainers miss that part of the training equation. This is as much an emotional journey as it is a diet and fitness journey.
Where you located btw?
DD
a common mistake: Give yourself permission to fail
http://optimalhealthsource.blogspot.com
Actually Rafael I would argue the exact opposite…I think too many people fail with weight loss in general because they give themselves permission to fail. A little bit of this, a bit of that. More people fail than succeed at losing weight for that very reason. However, I actually advocate cheating…but planned cheating…so as not to fall into the traps many do when they act spontaneously (which is to say their emotions get the better of them at the moment).
Seven times yes! You are so very right about everything. Of course, add to “You don’t understand the math”… the chicken wings and alcoholic beverages etc are full of crap. Sugars, grains, starches, you name it… the wings alone are drenched in stuff you shouldn’t ever put into your body. So, even if the calorie count was as low as the workout, chances are you would STILL gain weight, because your body just loves storing all that extra sugar and other junk.
Been there and done that… sadly. Lost almost 30lbs now, gained plenty of muscle and feeling fabulous these days. Grok on!
awesome!!!!!
I would love to stop my addiction to raw goats milk.
But whenever I quit (for only a day or 3) I get HUGE cravings and my food consumption (especially that of fruit) goes waaaay up. I end up gaining weight NOT drinking 3 gallons of raw goats milk a week, how is that possible!? LOL
My Dad is the same, he also drinks a litre of milk (his is unfortunately pasteurized) a day. Maybe it has something to do with our genetic make up…we’re both south eastern Balkans. (Our nomadic history herding sheep and goats)
My mother is a Fin and craves fish like mad, maybe there is something to it.
Here is a suggestion that has worked well for me. Instead of giving up on junk food completely (because I knew I would crash and burn eventually) i decided I could have 3 treats per week at my choosing. BUT and this is a big BUT (not to be confused with big BUTT) I can’t go past 3. And I haven’t in 7 months. New territory for me to have that kind of discipline…but I have learned this…discipline is a skill that can be learned. It might worth exploring something that works for you instead of giving it up completely and then crashing and burning (I totally relate to that).
Goats’ milk isn’t junk food! Milk may not be proper “Paleo” but it’s very nutritious.
Especially the raw stuff mentioned here–I don’t think as much of the ultra-pasteurized stuff I see at Kroger. Can you say “pointless chalk water”? I knew you could…
number eight could read , “but that does not pertain to me , just the other guys!”
Love it!!!
#8: You’ve Got a Big BUT:
As in:
1. I’d like to eat Paleo, BUT it’s so expensive and time consuming
2. I’d like to exercise this morning, BUT I went to bed too late and I’m tired. PLUS, I just had my hair done and I don’t want to ruin the blow out.
3. I’d love to have time to make a homemade meal, BUT with my busy schedule, I don’t have time.
4. I could plan my weekly meal schedule on Sunday, BUT that’s my rest day and I don’t want to be running around looking for recipes and grocery shopping.
5. It’d be great if I lost 10 pounds by Christmas, BUT I just bought 3 new pairs of jeans so I shouldn’t throw that money out the window.
6. I should workout, but I hate getting all sweaty.
7. I guess I could make better food choices when I go out to eat, BUT then where’s the fun in a green salad, hold the dressing, croutons, candied walnuts and gorgonzola cheese. Bring on the nachos!
8. Looking svelte and thin is a dream I have, BUT if I did achieve that, I think my relationships with friends and loved ones may change and I’m afraid of change.
I could go on and on. Why? Because I am full of big BUTS in my life. The first step is acknowledgment, no?
Damn Barbs…I should have you write this post…nice one gurl!
Visiting via Mark’s Daily Apple. Your story is fantastic.
Your list is good but I have one major bone to pick. Given that you started with Taubes GCBC and saw the Primal Blueprint Carb Curve graphic as your northstar, I am surprised that Point 2 (You don’t understand the math) focuses essentially on traditional calorie counting.
One of the most impostant lessons to be learned from paleo is that, if you are eating and exercising properly, calorie counting is a red herring. 2,000 calories from sandwiches, pasta and candy bars is not the same as 2,000 calories from meat and veggies. Not only will your fat storage mechanism react differently, but your energy level and motivation levels will vary radically. Pasta + sandwiches = lethargy and guilt (any desire to work-out comes from guilt with this diet). Meat + veggies = almost uncontrollable urge to DO SOMETHING. (working out feels literally irresistable)
One of the most valuable lessons of Taubes for me was the insight that our work-outs do not “feed” our diets (i.e. have a big work-out in order to have a big appetite); rather the RIGHT diet “feeds” an urge to be active.
Moreover, the fat storage mechanism is much more important than calories to understanding body composition. If you eat nothing but schmaltz and sour cream all day … your body will get rid of it; if you eat pasta and bread all day … your body will store it.
The “math” that people need to understand is that getting the diet right leads to a mental compulsion to work-out that makes calorie counting irrelevant.
Perhaps I didn’t come across as clearly as I wanted that to. I don’t count calories myself. The point was simply to show that on the simplest of levels most people are flawed in their thinking that a workout gives them permission to go banana’s with some food that doesn’t fit for their particular body type.
Your other arguments are great in theory, but you are assuming every body responds exactly the same. I think this is a big boo boo many people make. Just because something works for me, doesn’t me it will work for you. This isn’t a one size fits all. Same with the cream thing. Too many assumptions there that we all function the same. More important that people test ideas rather than just assume that 6 billion people all function exactly the same.
I’m going to guess that if most people test his idea, they’re going to find it’s true for them, with varying degrees of starch and natural sugar permissible from whole-food sources. At the end of the day we’re all the same species. The differences lie in traits like enzyme production and epigenetic expressions in one’s DNA template… food allergies… that kind of thing.
Most people won’t even try though. “Drink a cup of cream? EEEWWWW! I’ll get fat in like two seconds!” Kind of frustrating.
“…Meat + veggies = almost uncontrollable urge to DO SOMETHING.”
LOL ! That’s how I feel! My legs only stop moving when I lay down to sleep for the night. My husband thinks I have ‘A.D.D.’.
And I used to be the one that slept for 14 hours at a time and still woke up tired. The tables have turned…
“I actually did this when I started. I wrote up a list of about 15 things. One thing I needed to come to grips with was the fact I am an emotional eater and when things go south I cry out for my friends Ben and Jerry.
That was a bit unsettling for me to admit because I’m a guy. Guys don’t eat emotionally (we do, but we’re too stupid to realize we do). I would not have been able to mend that problem if I wasn’t prepared to see myself as I am.”
Thanks for being so honest about your emotional eating. I think it’s hard for anyone (especially guys) to talk about this. As an athlete who’s been super fit my whole life–yet struggled with emotional eating and binging nonetheless–my not-so-functional relationship with food was (and still is) a hard thing to look at honestly. Hearing other folks share their own experiences with this is always comforting and encouraging.
Your welcome my friend. Most guys fit into this category…but they would never say that of course.
Great site and success story! For me, I have to get to the bottom of why I can achieve some success, but never take it to the “end” point. I always seem to stop at a certain point. Fortunately, over the past couple of years, I’ve made some foundational changes in my food and cut out processed food and chemicals, and that has saved me from my past pattern of regaining all weight lost, plus more. However, I still struggle.
I think there’s a certain amount of deep-seeded fear involved in achieving total success, and knowing how my life might change. I also struggle with self-acceptance and fighting society’s ideas of physical perfection and stereotypes of obese people. I really believe you have to accept and love yourself as you are before you can really change.
Anyway, those are just a few of my thoughts!
Your list in #7 really resonates with me. You are right that if we commit to something on paper it is harder to dismiss. I’m trying to get to the point where I am ready to commit fully . I need to get rid of my excuses.
Barbara- your “But” post sounds SO familiar! I do these things way too often in order to justify slacking off. First step is recognizing the problem. Second step, committing to change. I’m halfway there
Its a start Robyn…gets us out of our head and starts making something that has the potential to become concrete. Halfway is good baby!
Hi Dean,
Thank you, thank you…I really needed this today. I have reached a plateau after losing 2st by going primal and over the past month bad habits have started creeping in. I haven’t been losing weight and with another 2st to go it has been really getting me down.
Your words have really encouraged and motivated me to be honest with myself and tackle the remaining weight loss full on. I have to stop kidding myself that I’m still “kinda primal” when I’m eating ice cream (Ben & Jerry are on offer at my local supermarket, dammit!)and chocolate.
Number 5 on your list has really given me food for thought. We are so quick to discuss other people and their relationships, but we rarely look at ourselves.
The emotional eating…well, that does sound very familiar. I weighed myself last Saturday and had put on one pound. What did I do to “cheer myself up”? I bought a massive bar of chocolate !!! Bearing in mind I was actually in tears after getting weighed! Crazy, huh?
I also want to congratulate you on your success – you have done amazingly well with your weight loss. Looking great!!
Thank you again. I was close to giving up, when I thought I’d look through the MDA website and came across your story
All the best
Hey Mary,
First do me a favour. If you get to a point again where you are thinking of giving up on this whole body transformation journey send me and email (deandwyer@rogers.com) and we can chat about some things. I have been there myself and I know this is a hard frustrating journey to go alone so know you are not alone with that notion. In fact that makes you normal.
And I didn’t think it was crazy that you cried after your weigh-in. I actually thought it meant you cared enough to express your disappointment that this is not where you want to be.
And I get the whole bad habits creeping in. That’s why I went in circles for 25 years. When I wrote that piece I was actually thinking about myself and what I am doing differently now that I wasn’t doing before. I am oversimplifying the point by simply writing them but at least being aware is a start.
And yes we (you, me, everyone) are quick to judge…truth be told we all have baggage…I don’t say that apologetically anymore…we all have it…the challenge is actually confronting it…it sounds like you have begun that journey gurl
Dean,
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
You have really helped me see things in a
different light.I will most certainly email
you next time I feel like giving up – although I’m hoping there won’t be any need
I’ve been carrying my food and diet issues around with me for over twenty years now and it’s good to get hope – thanks again & keep up the good work!
Best wishes
The offer always stands gurl
Not being honest. I lie to myself by saying that I will start tomorrow, or by saying that this won’t hurt that bad. I am rationalizing and making excuses, while coupling this with unrealistic expectations. All of this comes down to honesty. I am lying to myself and if I realize it or not, that is what it is.
I need to stop.
Easy to say. Tough to do.
Whooo doggies. I couldn’t have read this at a better time.
I’m on day 13 of a personal challenge and have been making excuses until the paleo cows come home.
I’m trying like hell to transition and the successes to date are 12 days no sugar (for real) and no chips (my downfall).
All crap not out yet, but getting there.
Your story is fantastic and I’m coping this post to print out. Thank you.
I’m really glad it can help deborah! Crap is tough to get rid of…but baby steps make a difference.
I think a number eight for me would go with an excuse to not start right away… Special Occasions! It goes something like this: Well, I would like to start my Paleo diet on this date but the next weekend is a wedding/birthday/potluck/anniversary/etc….. This is one occasion where I feel it is better to do it spur of the moment. I have known about the Paleo diet for a little over a year now and have very vaguely followed some of the rules occasionally. Sunday I was talking to my boyfriend(also a believer!) and I was just like, I’m gonna start the Paleo diet. I went to the grocery store that night and bought food for the week. When I got home I threw away a bunch of crap food and started cooking veggies and meats for the week so I KNEW I couldn’t just say, but I’m way too hungry already to have to cook stuff before I can eat, I’ll just go get something. Nike, “Just Do It!”
gurl forget Nike…this is Ash the Smash…LETS DO THIS THING!!!
Not sure if you saw my first video but I have put this off for about a year. I always felt like I could do video well but I had a million reasons why I wasn’t ready to start.
Sunday was my f*ck it moment. Just put something out and learn from it.
Best thing I have done in this space. Video 2 was better…and the video I did today was better than the first two.
Fourth one is going to be better than today’s.
So it goes it the Primal lifestyle…sounds easy Ashley but just doing it takes courage…so don’t discount what you have done…as you so elegantly have stated… whole bunch of people who are going to do it “soon”
I thought giving up fast food, grains, sugar, would be hard. In the first week or 2 it was crazy hard! But after that, so easy! The hard part, i found, is learning how to cook in a whole new way!
We had fast food once a few weeks ago. and it was disgusting!! I couldn’t eat it. the food I make is so much better. not to mention healthier.
we’re still adjusting to a few things. when I must buy store brand foods, I make sure it has as few ingredients as possible. most importantly, I make sure it’s sugar and sodium free. it’s a challenge. i’m still learning how to cook.
thanks for starting this page, it really helps me focus and teach my family the right way to do things.
Thanks Jill…it does get easier as you start putting a string of successful days together.
Wow! Genius article! I’ve been telling people these very same things….they don’t seem to what to listen.
If you want something bad enough you’ll find a way and if you don’t, then you’ll find excuses.
True…but I also think sometimes people have experienced so much failure in this area they just stop trying…it’s called learned helplessness.
But all it takes is one good idea to get you on the right track to something incredible.
Just found your site and I love it. When you say you allow 3 treats a week what are you having? I make paleo desserts, but I know I do it too often and too much. I don’t do sugar I only do honey as a sweetener, but I know I’m having too much of it. Other than that the paleo lifestyle hasn’t been hard to adapt at all.
My suggestion for number eight is wildly off-topic, but it worked for me (I’ve lost 65lbs so far)….
DECLUTTERING stuff from my life. Every time I donate, recycle, shred, process, or throw away things I no longer need, I feel lighter.
CW that is brilliant. Sending you and email now in fact. Would love to hear more about what you have done!! LOVE IT!
Number 8 for me would be:
Getting over the fear from what succeeding brings.
I lost 40 kilos (88lbs) in one year all on my own with no
real help. I ate healthy, natural foods didn’t touch processed or refined foods and started developing my six pack again.
I had never been never been over weight
Having had 3 kids changed my body and not for the better.
When I did succeed and was getting, lean, toned and building muscle others who were jealous teased/tormented me at work, harassing me everyday for a year and making life hard which in turn sent me on a downward spiral.
That is what I have to over come and remember they are just doing this because they aren’t strong enough to do it themselves and want to be as strong as me.
Hi Dean,
I just found your site. Thanks so much for this article.
After having lost 60 lbs over the last 4 yrs, and the last 10 from following a clean way of life since last November, I find some days are harder than others too. One thing I have to keep reminding myself is to stop and acknowledge the small successes and to never give up. I find giving myself permission to be kind and loving helps when hitting a plateau, and by this I don’t mean falling back into bad habits or cheats. There is always room for improvement and baby steps go a long way…
Love your story, it’s inspiring. Keep up the good work!
p.s. @CW…Clearing out clutter is a big help for me too!
As a nutrition coach I realize that digestion is a big part of whether diets work and supplements help. If they aren’t digested than they aren’t going to work.
Hi Dean, I just listened to your Paleolithic Summit presentation, loved what you had to say, and came to your blog to hear more of your philosophy. My own #8 has been self-anger and an inability to forgive myself for regaining the 30 pounds I lost when I first transitioned front the SAD to low carb over 5 years ago. I went primal 1 1/2 years ago but I’ve done so much damage to my metabolism from swinging between binging and restricting that I am struggling to lose weight, whereas ithe weightloss when I first went low carb seemed effortless.
As a result, after a weeek or two of eating a near perfect paleo diet, when I get on the scale and see I haven’t lost any weight, I blame myself for having lost control of my weight in the first place, feel like the whole thing is hopeless, and seek comfort in ( no surprise) food. What’s most frustrating is that my comfort eating is still paleolithic and nowhere near the level of my past hinges but I still gain weight. So what ass 10 pounds over weight 1 1/2 years ago became 20 pounds 6 months ago and now is 30 pounds. On some level I know if I can be patient and consistent my body will probably respond eventually but that logic flies out the window when I feel like I’m doing everything right but making no progress. I know what I need to do but am fighting to hold on to the motivation to do it.
My number 8 would be, “I am eating MOSTLY Paleo,so shouldn’t I see some sort of difference in my body? I mean we used to have starches with every meal, and snacked mostly on processed grains, like chips and cookies, and now are meals are meats and veggies mostly, and we have nuts and hard boiled eggs for snacks. Well, that is on a good day, and it probably is number 2, that my treats are a lot more calories and processed carbs than I think they are. And a lot more frequently than I am willing admit.
For me I believe that a reason is that I don’t feel like I deserve to be healthy, fit and strong. I am not worth the effort. Recently, I am changing that picture and seeing positive results. However, there are days that I still battle with this.
Do comments here end up on Facebook?
Great article, Dean. I found it refreshing to find point #2 on a primal site. That it helps to understand the maths. I have been eating primally for 6 months now, and despite a great start with weight loss for the first 3 months, I then regressed a good deal because I didn’t understand the maths. I kept on eating all those great clean foods, but I believed totally what all those bloggers and writers said, that you could eat all of it you wanted, as long as it was primal, and you’d still lose weight.
I didn’t realise till a few weeks back that even though a calorie of sugar is totally different than a calorie of cheese, if you eat more than you burn in a day, you’ll still gain weight. I was having a field day with cooking (I love cooking) and feeding my family heaps of healthy foods. It wasn’t till I read a woman’s primal book that pointed this out that I could see that all the info I’d read before was by men.
Women in their forties and older go through big hormonal changes which actually increase the ability of their bodies to store fat, and what may have been good to eat in our 20s will now fatten us up. My husband, who is also primal with results rather like Dean’s in just 5 months (except he started off much fatter), can eat double what I can eat, cheat more often and not count calories and gets leaner and more muscular by the day. I like it!!! Me, on the other hand, allow a cheat meal only once a week, count calories of all those primal foods like a hawk, and have recently given up dairy to stop me snacking all day long on butter, cheese, cream, more cheese, plain Greek yoghurt and raw milk. Only with this type of careful eating can I drop fat. And I do I exercise – at least 6 days a week, and use a guideline similar to Dean’s quadrants in his book (some days lifting, some walking, some sprints etc. so I’m not overtraining – just being active).
It’s a great relief to see a man say that calories do matter. Being primal isn’t a matter of stuffing in all the primal foods you feel like all day long and not having to pay for it. It just doesn’t work like that for every person, and the sooner people realise that the better. Not all healthy foods are fat loss foods, and that’s the truth.
Why do you think menopausal women generally tend to get bigger around the middle – is it because suddenly they started eating more? No – it’s because their hormones change to store more fat, so to counter that, short of taking hormone therapy, which doesn’t seem primal to me, they need to eat more carefully and exercise consistently as there is not as much forgiveness for cheating as there was in earlier years.
I only discovered you last week, Dean, on an Underground Wellness Podcast and I’ve already bought and read your book, read the whole website and I love it all. It’s a fresh breathe of air.
Mary, have you received a reply to your post from Dean? Between your post and his his original you guys have read me like a book. Wondering about Dean’s thoughts of the whole menopausal issue.