Caveman Days? The New Paleo Craze!

Picture this... you are living in a dark cave, your partner is out hunting for your next meal, you have managed to find a few handfuls of berries but hope that they come home with something more substantial to eat. You hear something outside and go and check, its your partner with a nice juicy saber-tooth cat for dinner! The choice is yours... berries or meat? In that situation you would go for meat, and its not just because its more plentiful, but your brain is actually programmed to prefer the look, taste, sound, smell of the higher in fat and more energy filled food - the meat. Who knows when you will get your next meal, and the high calories and fat in this meat will keep you going for much longer than the berries. That's just for cavemen though right??

Fast forward to present day and the world has changed dramatically. Houses, tools, weapons, televisions, heating, bathrooms, fancy kitchen equipment... but look inside a modern-day human and they are 'wired' exactly the same as the people mentioned in the situation above. High fat, high energy (high calorie) foods are still much more appealing to us, the smell, taste, texture, how it looks, make us want to eat it, the same as it did 2.6 million years ago. Back then, we needed the high energy food to keep us going, keep us alive until our next meal so of course that's how their brain was wired to choose those high fat foods. Because our brains have not changed we still prefer to eat high fat, high calorie foods. But these days, food is everywhere, supermarkets stocked to the brim, television adverts making you 'crave' the Mcdonalds or KFC, there is no need to wait for your next meal, food is just there. So we crave those high energy foods, and eat more and more of them, not realising why we want those foods and why we cant just easily stop eating them.

The advertisers of fatty foods play on this desire, this inbuilt craving for those types of food that make us fat. Just turn on your tv and you are bombarded with images of burgers, crisps, chocolate, fried breakfasts, even sugary drinks. Surely this is adding to the 'obesity crisis' in so many countries across the world? How many times have you seen an advert for fresh fruit, healthy salad, lean meat? I can't think of any, maybe you can think of one or two... I can think of adverts for 'low fat' yoghurts, 'low sugar' drinks, but are they really healthy foods, are they fresh, clean foods? I can see why the new craze for the 'Caveman diet' or the 'Paleo Plan' is becoming so huge.

The Paleo Diet is eating as they did in the Paleolithic era, ie. Caveman times, the old stone age. Whatever you call it, its eating healthy, fresh, clean foods with no additives, no chemicals, no E numbers. Although they have found evidence of dairy consumption, there is no dairy to be eaten on the paleo diet, something I couldnt live without I know that, I love my cheese and milk too much. But, in the context I have been writing about today, I can see why this would work. Eat as you are programmed to eat, how the human body was made to be treated. The only problem is the world is such a different place now, and the temptations to eat processed, fatty foods are so much higher now.

So, If you can lose weight by eating less fat and sugar, then you are strong and have such strong will power to change the way your brain has thought for millions of years. Well done, you are stronger than you believed you were, you are changing your future and extending your life.

I'm off to cook lunch, one saber-tooth cat burger coming right up!

"Super Dieters" to the rescue? Top 6 tips!

Just read this article which says "Super Dieters" are those who have lost weight AND maintained it for 2 years or more. Ive never even got round to losing the weight (YET) but I do worry about maintenance when I do get to my goal weight. The article gives 6 tips from these "Super Dieters" which are:

Rule No. 1. Don’t ever cheat. They never give themselves a break, not even on holidays or weekends.

Rule No. 2.  Eat breakfast. The National Weight Control Registry shows that’s one of the most common traits of those who succeed in keeping those pounds off once and for all.

Rule No. 3. Get on a scale every day.

Rule No. 4. Put in the equivalent of a four-mile walk seven days a week.

Rule No. 5. Watch less than half as much TV as the overall population.

Rule No. 6. Eat 50 to 300 calories less than most people.

I totally agree with No. 1. When I did Cambridge I never cheated, until my big planned weekend blowout which went crazy and I ate my weight in chocolate. If I do 'cheat' I know that getting back on plan takes along time and I usually end up giving up. Thats me personally anyway.

So I thought I would give MY top 6 tips on dieting and how to lose weight that I have found/learnt over my years of dieting. Im not at goal yet, but I certainly know a hell of a lot about diets, its just doing it that I've found hard in the past.

1. Drink LOADS!- Non-alcoholic sugar-free fluids! This is my number 1 rule and I break it most days. When I do follow it though I am much less hungry and fluid fills you up. Especially if you are really thirsty your body can mistake it for hunger. So drink a big glass of water before you go for the biscuit tin!

2. Follow the PLAN. If you can eat unlimited fruit/veg, then do it. If you can have 5-15 syns each day then use them. If you have to eat 8 bananas in one day, do it. If you have to eat 14 individual carrot leaves every morning before 5am then do it. You get the point. However strange or incomprehensible a 'diet rule' may be, if you are going to do it then do it properly. And don't stray.

3. Write it down. Whether you take a photo of everything you eat, write it in a diary or log it on your mobile phone, keep a log of everything that passes your lips. Its easy to think you have stuck to the plan, and forget the handful of peanuts or the sneaky chicken nugget from your childs leftovers. If you bite it, write it.

4. Plan your meals. Make a menu plan for the week and stick to it. I have a meal planning folder which has lots of recipes in it and options for each meal. Then I make a menu for the week and make my shopping list from the menu, then I go shopping. When it comes to lunchtime I dont have to think about it, I just look at the menu and cook it then eat it. It takes all the thinking and wondering what you can eat out of mealtimes. Makes you less likely to reach for a hand ready meal full of salt and fat and instead cook something nutritious.

5. Get some support. I am very lucky in that my husband, both sisters and mum all do Slimming World so I have a great support network. But, I also have alot of friends from Minimins, facebook and other websites to turn to if I dont want to talk to someone in my family. I also make sure I stay to my SW group every week and soak up the tips and ideas shared that week from the members. However you go about it, get yourself a support network and use it.

6. Be POSITIVE. If you KNOW you can do it, and SEE yourself achieving your dream, then you WILL. Go into your diet plan believing you can achieve your goal. If you are negative from the start then that is how you will feel. If you have negative people in your life then either get rid of them, or use their negativity to be determined to prove them wrong.

I hope you find this useful and can take it forward with you to succeed with your diet, whether you are already doing one, or ready to start a new one. Good Luck!

What is your top dieting tip? Share it in the comments below or contact me so I can share it!