Tag Archives: weight loss

My whole life, I have eaten a well-rounded diet full of high quality foods… little did I know I was eating the wrong kinds of quality foods! Thank goodness for the Dr. Cordain’s Paleo Diet, which completely transformed my body and my life.

When I started following the Paleo Diet principles in 2011, I was in my early 30s and exercised for more than five hours per day. But no matter how hard I worked in the gym, I simply couldn’t achieve the lean, muscular body I truly wanted.

I thought my lack of results was just luck of the draw, since I had always eaten “healthy” foods.

In fact, in my childhood my mother had been a forward-thinking nutritionist and the founder of a local wellness-oriented bakery, Julian Bakery, the now a thriving, nationwide chain. Yet, even as a young boy, I always felt tired and suffered from a constant case of bursitis (inflammation) in my knees, not to mention horrible allergies, particularly to milk products.

But in 2011, that all changed.

After stumbling across Dr. Loren Cordain’s eating plan I removed all refined sugars, breads, gluten, lactose (dairy products) and grains from my diet. Incredibly, it took only two months to lose 35 pounds – from 220 down to 185, at 6’3.”

When I first embarked on the Paleo lifestyle, I had 14 percent body fat. Within two months of religiously following the plan, I dropped to seven percent body fat. And I felt great! I finally had all-day energy and no longer suffered discomfort after eating.

My results come from following a ketogenic approach¬–kind of a “Paleo Keto” model–using Dr. Cordain’s principles as guidelines. I have found the Paleo Keto approach helps boost my results.

It’s been three years since I first discovered the Paleo Diet. I have easily maintained my weight loss and am in the best shape of my life, all while eating delicious, satisfying foods.

I believe so strongly in Dr. Cordain’s vision that I now create and distribute Paleo-friendly versions of everyday bakery products in our family’s bakeries across the country under the Paleo, Inc. brand. These products enabled me to lose the weight and maintain my results in conjunction with the guidelines I learned from Dr. Cordain.

It’s my honor to share Dr. Cordain’s message with more folks who, like me, try to eat healthfully and exercise, but still can’t get the results they want.

Paleo is the Answer. And I’m living proof.

Heath Squier
Owner of Paleo, Inc. and Julian Bakery, Inc.
San Diego, California

Dr. Cordain,

I am thrilled to tell you that I have been on a strict Paleo Diet for six weeks and I now believe in miracles. Five years ago at the age of 64, I stopped playing golf because I had too many aches and pains in my muscles, joints, bones and my energy level was very low. At that time I thought it was old age! Now, within six weeks I play golf and I work and/or exercise 10 hours a day.

As a lifelong skeptic (I’m from Missouri) this is hard for me to believe. And now I’m telling my flabbergasted friends that I’m going for 100. The only supplements I take are omega-3 and vitamin D. Thank you for your great work.

George

Dr. Cordain,

I have been on your paleo diet for a year and 5 months now. I watched the wonderful segment on Dr. Oz with your interview, and I would like to tell you my story. My doctor put me on your diet in November 2011. My main complaint was weight gain and the inability to lose any pounds at all. I had gained enough weight to make me very uncomfortable about my appearance. I was very discouraged by my sluggishness, as well, and my severe arthritis and gained weight kept me from exercise. Just a month before starting the diet, I had two shots in my knees because I could not walk up or down stairs without severe pain. The arthritis that plagued me had me seeing my physical therapist for hip and joint problems at least three times a month; many times I was not able to even walk into her office without limping. I had always had a strong aversion to milk, but I felt I was compensating by eating much cheese and yoghurt. So, I believed my diet was well balanced and healthy, yet I never was able to lose weight at all.

I spoke to my doctor about the weight loss, and he (who also uses the Paleo Diet) suggested I try your planned diet.With renewed enthusiasm, I bought two of your books that day and began the surprisingly easy regimen. I went from 165 to just about 130 pounds in 10 months. My doctor told me I would arrive at my ideal weight and stay there, and I did! I need to tell you that losing the pounds was beyond thrilling! But I quickly realized that the weight-loss benefit was minimal compared to the other ways your diet helped me.

The best result, I believe, is that my medical numbers are so great! Since I have been working with your diet, my doctor has reduced my cholesterol medication by half, and I am hoping that at my next visit he will reduce it even further. All of my blood test results have been terrific, and I truly believe it is due to the diet I am on.

Amazingly, my arthritis is nearly gone. I am 67 years old, and I still do have minimal arthritis in my thumbs (from much quilting and handwork) and slight arthritis in one hip. But I am limber, able to engage in yoga three times a week, and I just feel absolutely wonderful every day I get up! There were days that just arising was a painful procedure.

I will say that at the beginning the most daunting part was thinking about breakfast, but within a week I had settled into my “leftover” breakfasts (most delicious!), and now I even enjoy morning salads with meat or an egg on them.

Of late, I have been cheating a bit, and I do feel the effects of that. However, for my age, I believe I am in really good shape mentally and physically. Seeing you on the show just reinforced how using your wonderful and sensible diet has changed my life, and I am back on the diet with stronger commitment this very morning.

Weight loss? Yes! Healthy doctor’s report? How terrific! But even better yet is my most positive attitude towards myself and my life. Every morning I arise early with enthusiasm and excitement about the day and my activities.

Dr. Cordain, I cannot tell you enough how grateful I am for truly making a difference in my life, and all for the better.

With sincerest thanks,
Donna

Dr. Cordain,

I found your book, suggested to me by Dr. Valori Treloar (Dermatologist and co-author of The Clear Skin Diet), to help me with weight loss and lowering my insulin resistance (precursor to diabetes.) I have been following The Paleo Diet for about six months. It was suggested by Dr. Treloar during an appointment, to perhaps change some foods and eliminate others to improve my condition. I immediately purchased your book and found it to be extremely easy to read and to understand your suggestions on food choices and preparations. I was trying to become a vegetarian and introduced beans to replace meat dishes. Although tasty, I was very bloated and not losing pounds or inches. So, I followed your food lists, your recipes, your exercise suggestions and found myself feeling less bloated and more energetic. It is important to begin to feel better to then continue on an exercise routine. In my case, I ride the stationary bike because of knee issues and use the treadmill with caution.

The first couple of days eating the Paleo way, I Iost fluids and as well as my bloated feeling. This felt good. I have so many food choices, I never go hungry. I found vegetarian fed chicken and beef easily in the markets. My quarter cup of walnuts came in handy either on diced apple with cinnamon for breakfast as an alternative to egg white, veggie omelets or a couple of hard boiled eggs (Egglands Best, of course with extra omega-3.) Fruit is a favorite for me, so no problem having a serving with each meal or snack. Veggies are so easy to use in meal planning. I just make sure to buy lots of them at the market in winter and now at farm stands in summer here in the Northeast.

So now for the results: several doctors have confirmed my weight loss which has been gradual. About eighteen pounds in six months, (on Paleo Diet) but actually twenty-five in one year, struggling with the traditional food pyramid. Definitely the Paleo Diet is better for me dealing with the inflammation I had in my body, the fluid retention and lack of energy. I do not weigh myself daily, but I feel my clothes fitting better and actually some are too big for me. I began to see changes in my face becoming thinner, my neck thinner, my upper back thinner, my waist slimming and changes in my legs – less fluid around the knees and ankles.

One very interesting fact appeared about a month into eating the Paleo way. While exercising on my stationary bike, I had a burst of energy and stayed on it for a longer time. It felt good. I now split time on my stationary bike and the treadmill (no inclines because of my knee issues). I am able to walk longer distances outside as long as I avoid hills. It feels great to be able to enjoy being outdoors again. I also found doing tasks around my home taking less effort and my mental attitude is more positive. I am willing to take on a task and complete it. This motivates me to accomplish more during a daily routine. I work from home and my mental attitude is improved.

I will continue eating the Paleo way and suggest your book to others who find themselves unmotivated to lose weight. I enjoy the flexibility of this eating style and know when I eat foods not on the list, I feel bloated and sluggish. There are times when I do crave grains, but definitely I am in control and stay within Paleo guidelines most of the time. I do not deny myself from cravings and when not eating the Paleo way 100% each week, I find it very easy to get back on track. The slimmer me and good, healthy feeling I have, is the motivation to stay with this nutrition plan.

Thank you so much for making your book easy to understand and helpful with food lists. Your menu selections are helpful to get started and I now create my own dishes. By the way, my husband eats the Paleo way since I do the cooking most of the time. He lost ten pounds without extra exercise. We both feel much better eating the Paleo way.

Linda

Dr. Cordain,

I’ve been on the Paleo Diet since May, and I’m down 30 lbs (most of it lost in the first two months) and have never been leaner in my life. I can’t stop talking about (it) when I’m with my friends and family when they ask how good I look. I’ve been evangelizing my Wall Street buddies every time we enjoy a steak house dinner. My acid reflux, IBS, allergies, attitude, and complexion have never been better, and I never go into food coma any more. I wish your book was around in the 80s when I was a teen.

Rudy T.

Dr. Cordain,

After almost two years, I was ready to give up when I read about your diet. It made so much sense! It was logical!

I strictly followed your diet, and in the first two weeks, I lost TEN pounds!!!! As your book recommended, I did not exercise during this time, and I felt rather light-headed at times, but I was never hungry. I imagine that it was quite a shock for my body to stop living on sugar. I started to feel energized as my body started to learn to live on protein without sugar, and over the course of the next three months, I lost another 15 lbs. and I’m now down to a normal weight of 125 lbs, and I’m 5’6″. Not only am I happy with how I look, I’m ecstatic about how I feel. I’m no longer tired in the afternoons, I have a new energy, and I’m no longer sick with every head cold that goes around.

I have relaxed in my eating habits a bit in the last few months, and I watch the scale carefully, so that if I start to gain weight, I can tighten the reins on my eating habits.

What you have given me, and countless others, is not a diet, but a knowledge of how our bodies function, and what we can do to lay down habits essential for good health for the rest of our lives.

Jennifer

Dr. Cordain,

Thank you more than words can ever say for doing this research and for making it public. Over the past 25 years, I have gained 100 lbs and have asked every single doctor that I had been to for help. No one had advice that worked, if they bothered to give any at all. I have been doing the Paleo Diet for 16 days now and have lost already 15 lbs, 1.5″ on my waist and 1.5″ on my hips. I have come to believe that I have had celiac disease since I was a small child and have been for years, and borderline, and now definitely, lactose intolerant. You have saved my life! Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO very much,

Marian

Dr. Cordain,

I was stunned a year ago when my doctor mentioned that I should lose some weight. Compared with most Americans, I thought I rated on the thin side, except for a gut that refused to melt after I quit smoking, for the first time, about 15 years ago.

I probably wouldn’t have tried to lose weight, except that the idea of the Paleo-type dietary regimen seemed to make sense, gut or no.

For me, it wasn’t as though I had been a slouch physically. After quitting smoking the second time, about eight years ago, I started building a healthier lifestyle. I cut back on red meat, started limiting fast food, added more vegetables, legumes and lots more fish to my diet and started a moderate weight-lifting routine. With in-line skating, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking and lots of walking, I figured I already did enough cardio.

Then I read Loren Cordain’s book The Paleo Diet. Following it strictly on weekdays and more loosely on weekends, I cut back dramatically on grain and dairy products, and quit adding salt or sugar to anything. As with my religion, I simply tried to get it mostly right but forgave myself easily.

The hardest thing to give up was wheat grain. It never had dawned on me how often most of us eat wheat, especially refined grain such as pasta, pastries and white bread. I still allowed myself whole-wheat toast and jam on weekends.

My diet primarily became three heaping bowls of fresh vegetables daily, lots of fresh and frozen fruits, especially berries, plus sardines, salmon and low-sodium turkey. Sparkling water became my beverage of choice, but I also had plain water, coffee and unsweetened tea. Sugary soft drinks didn’t pass my lips. Wine and the occasional martini did.

Within two weeks I was down 9 pounds. Within six weeks I was down 15, to 150 pounds. Over the next couple of months I drifted even further down to 145 and plateaued there. At a height of 5 foot 7, that still –unbelievably – puts me on the high end of my ideal Body Mass Index, at 22.7, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nevertheless, my gut vanished, leaving me with a waistline I haven’t seen since college: 30 inches, down from 34 when I first went mostly Paleo four months ago. All obvious fat under the skin is gone.

My cholesterol after three months on the diet was a total of 153, with HDL at 60 and LDL at 76. By most measures, that’s fantastic. My highest reading in total cholesterol was about 220 right before I quit smoking the second time.

Now my energy level seems boundless. My weight-lifting goals in repetitions are much easier to reach than before. Even running, which I never really cared for, is fun.

Maintaining the diet has become easier, once I figured I could find all the vegetables and fruits I want on nearly any salad bar. Trips to the grocery store still tend to feel like an alien experience, but I’ve learned to ignore all my previous loves, especially Lucky Charms.

In fact, now I burn excess calories simply by rolling my eyes at all the processed foods that are offered to us as sustenance.

Oh, yeah, I’ve also gotten a little preachy.

Ross Werland
Chicago Tribune staff reporter

Dr. Cordain,

Three weeks ago our doctor recommended that we get your book and try the Paleo Diet. He said he liked it better than the South Beach Diet or Atkins. Since I was going to have to cook for him, I figured I should read the book. I got so excited that I decided that I was going to do it whether my husband did or not. I had 100 lbs. to lose, have a family history of diabetes and have polycystic ovaries.

To date I have lost 20 pounds, dropped a dress size and shoe size. Yes, that’s right, I went from an 11 wide to a 10 regular shoe size. I am not hungry or tired. My husband is following it about 80%. And he is losing weight also, just not as fast.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist I believe in trying things myself before I recommend them to my clients. Well, it didn’t take long for my clients to notice the weight loss and demanded to know how I’m doing it. Many have bought the book and are trying it also. Thank you for doing the research you’ve done and for helping me and others regain our lives.

Karen M.

Dr. Cordain,

I’m 36 years old, and 5 ft 8.5 in tall. I started the Paleo Diet about four months ago. Since then I’ve lost almost 25 pounds, bringing me down to my ideal weight of 150. My blood pressure went from 115/70 to 92/56. I decided to try the Paleo Diet because I read (on About.com) that it may help alleviate depression and anxiety. To my delight, it worked – my depression and anxiety have disappeared. My energy levels are much higher than before. I’m no longer tired throughout the day. My mind is clearer – I can focus much more easily, and my short-term memory has improved greatly. My skin is much smoother and less dry. Another improvement that I’ve found, which is kind of strange to me because I never expected it, is that my shinbones are no longer really sensitive. It used to be that if I barely bumped my shinbones against something, the pain was quite bad. Now they’re hardly sensitive at all.

Scott

LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D.

Tag Archives: weight loss

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