I got into paleo mainly from reading De Vany's blog but also because I 
was in to weight training and found that the conventional dogma of 
stuffing your face full of as much calories as possible couldn't be very 
healthy long term (plus I don't like wasting money on food).  So I 
sought the most efficient way to keep muscle on and feel good about my 
diet.  Since I still consider myself to be a paleo rookie I am still a 
little paranoid that I might need to add some more carbs in.  Intense 
exercise is an every day thing for me and I am naturally lean to begin 
with.  If anything I'm considering adding some ground quinoa or amaranth 
to my nut flour pumpkin bread that I like to snack on with meals.  Or 
maybe I should just eat more fruit.

Intermittent fasting works well for me, on days where I fast I feel very 
alert and productive.  Curious to hear other people's experience with this.

-Greg

Ashley Moran wrote:

> Greg - you sound quite like me (I thought I was alone).  I'm also 23  
> and about 6', and weigh slightly less than you (about 75kg which my  
> calculator tells me is about 165lbs).  Can I ask why you got into  
> paleo?  Most people don't look at their diet until well into their  
> 30s when bits start dropping off them.
>
> I *don't* live a student life and I still eat repetitive meals!   
> Right now I'm fond of roast pork leg or belly, with a roast parsnip  
> or 2 and roast mushrooms (soaked in the fat from the meat) and a  
> couple of carrots mashed with cauliflower mixed with beef dripping  
> and whatever fat is left from the pork.  I'm drooling just writing  
> that :)  Anyway I eat this 3-4 times a week and I could quite happily  
> eat it every day.  I don't ever get bored of foods on paleo.
>
> An intermittent faster too :)  I tend to eat once a day, sometimes  
> with a small snack in the day.  I plan to start skipping days some  
> time.  I have days now when I'm not that interested in food, but I  
> will be living with my mum for a few months at least and she makes it  
> her duty to see I over-feed myself.
>
> You were eating WAY too much of the wrong fats before you started  
> paleo, and you've probably eliminated at least 95% of the cause of  
> illness (eg bread, cheese) so personally, in your situation I  
> wouldn't worry.  You won't be a student forever, and when you are  
> earning more you can eat grass-fed beef to your heart's content.   
> (Unless you move in England, in which case you'd need to spend half  
> an average wage just to eat properly).
>
> Carbohydrates are absolutely, completely, 100% unnecessary for human  
> health or fitness.  They can be used for energy, but it is only in  
> high-intensity competitive athletics where you *need* the extra  
> energy to gain a competitive advantage.  For most sane levels of  
> workout there is not need at all.  (Hell it should be possible to go  
> without *food* for several days and still train, never mind carbs).
>
> I just add some extra fat.  When I eat mince meat, I fry it in some  
> extra beef dripping.  When I mash vegetables, I always add a bit of  
> fat.  If I'm eating something "non-absorbent" I often have some  
> mushrooms to soak up the excess fat.
>
> Ashley
>
>
>