Interesting Read

[mdalew2]

Here is an "athlete" who tries multiple diets for 6 weeks and records results and feelings in a journal. Not particularly supportive of Paleo but his numbers were impressive.

outside.away.com/outside/bodywork/201001/diets-fitness-nutrition-wellness-intro.html

[mcbalz]

I wish he'd offered more detailed and organized information about the numbers for each 8 week period, including, before and after weight, body fat, number of workouts and some measure of power/intensity, and perhaps an average calorie count or average daily macronutrient breakdown for each period.

He also seriously misreprsents the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet, as I understand it, does not permit or encourage processed and industrial carbs during periods of endurance exercise. I have the Paleo Diet for Athletes at home and I just don't take away that message. My hypothesis is that he never weaned himself at all from processed carbs, never really addressed his insulin levels, and never developed the metabolic response we're looking for. Any Paleo eater who feels underfed and tired isn't eating properly. There are plenty of Paleo alternatives to granola bars; if you need a quick to eat carb blast you have e.g. dates, dried figs, apricots, and apples, raisins. If you wake up too hungry to be fed by veggies and fruits... that's what eggs and nuts are for! So, while I enjoyed the piece I say F-that. He gets paid to write this shit??? I need a new job.

[ethanf]

I will concur with Matt's response and add that this bloke stated in the article that in the eight weeks he tried a Paleo diet, he always felt tired and hungry and it wasn't until the last two weeks that he felt better. It usually takes folks a few weeks to adapt metabolically to a decrease in carbs and their body becomes more efficient at using fat as energy. Although he didn't give a daily synopsis of what he was eating, my guess is that he was not taking in enough fat. You are replacing carbs with fat. EAT YOUR FAT, Folks! Ingesting the appropriate amount of protein and good fat, there is no way to feel like this guy is describing.

The most telling item for me was that he states that he is lazy in the kitchen and does not want to cook and that Paleo was monotonous. I think this mindset along with being a hard core carb junkie, biased this report.