The Paleolithic Solution – Episode 34

Hey Robb! Is there a problem with eating wild fish every meal? My roommate owns an organic catering company and with leftovers and extras from orders, I’ve got wild sea bass, albacore, and yellowtail all caught up and down the west coast, practically coming out of my ears. I could literally eat it every meal all summer long. Seared and bathing in coconut milk is my preferred method of ingestion. Do you forsee any problems? Would i still need to be taking my awesome Kirkland fish oil? I was down to taking about 4-5 capsules a day from my original 13 capsules a day just a few months ago.

Great podcast Robb. I am rereading the post workout section of The Paleo Diet for Athletes and see that Cordain recommends 3/4 grams of carbohydrates for every pound of body weight in ther first 30 minutes post exercise. To me this seems like a lot of carbohydrate, especially in comparison to what I believe you would recommend. From previous podcasts, you seem to recommend 30-80 grams of carbs per day. I am aware that it entirely depends on what your goals are and the really low carb would be for someone trying to lean out, however, the amount of carbs Cordain suggests seems a lot higher than what you would suggest. What are your thoughts on this recommendation?

Also… I am reading the metabolic typing book for the first time and think that it makes sense. I’m wondering what the draw backs of this diet are. I do, however, find it difficult to understand how to ’scientifically’ determine your metabolic type… it seems like a lot of guess work. Any thoughts?

I understand the benefits of eating a Paleo diet and have been doing so for almost a year; however, I have never been suffering from any autoimmune disorders and have never had any bad reactions to food. I have always eat pretty well, with no junk food and limited processed food. I yunderstand that for some people the Paleo diet makes themfeel awesome, but I never really felt bad to begin with and did not feel that different once I started eating Paleo. So my question is… Is it necessary for someone to eat Paleo if they function fine on non Paleo foods (such as dairy or legumes.. or even gluten.. although I try to stay gluten free even on cheat meals)?

Hi Robb, Hi Andy

Listen to your podcasts regularly, but today I have to post a reply. As a Type II diabetic, I take serious issue with your general dumping of all T2 into the same category, suggesting that any T2 who uses insulin probably has a “compliance” problem.

I spent the first two years after diagnosis controlling my diabetes through diet and exercise. That meant a radical change in diet with a huge list of items I no longer ate: no sugar (obviously) no sugar substitutes, no fruits, no starchy vegetables, no grains, no rice, no creams, no yoghurts … basically none of the things 90% of westerners eat 90% of the time. I remember parties where there was NOTHING I could eat on the buffet… I was very strict and became, because of it, very lean. So much so that my doctor was begging me to EAT.

It’s not that I didn’t eat, I just didn’t eat anything that would cause an insulin spike.

And I became very sports-addicted. My training heart rate went from between 100-135 to between 155 and 175. My cardiologist says I’ve now got the heart of woman half my age: my sports doctor marvels at my progress.

Still, after two year, I could not keep my BG levels down. I was doing up to 3 hours of sport a day, eating next to nothing, and my BG was rising, and rising, causing great stress, not to mention very foul moods. Eventually, when my HbA1c reached 6.3, I went to the doctor and asked for insulin.

It has saved my sanity. It certainly is saving my life.

I’m still eating strictly, I’m still doing sport regularly. I try very hard to use as little insulin as possible. I cannot mimic with insulin what a healthy body does on it’s own, that’s true. But I need insulin. Every day. No question.

So now, in your opinion, what MORE should I have done to avoid needing insulin? What less should I have eaten? How far does one have to go before accepting that SOMETIMES there isn’t anything more that you can do?

Laurie

Hi Robb

Thanks for the nice answer despite my obvious frustration. I think it is, in part, because I respect what you’re doing and saying that I was so annoyed with the comment about compliance.

Yes, I’m type 2 officially. I wasn’t always (and am no longer) doing as much sport as I was during the 3 months prior to going on insulin. At the time, I simply had no other way of getting my BG down. I was at the end of my tether and very glad to get insulin at that time.

I have realised that sport will not necessarily cause a drop in BG. If I do HIIT in the morning, BG will rise. HIIT in the evening makes it drop. Weight-training makes it go up as well. Low-intensity, long workouts (min. 45 minutes) will make it drop.

I now do 3-4 x/week HIIT and 2-3 x/week weight training. Plus walking the dog which I don’t count as sport because it isn’t “challenging” enough. (Altough here in Switzerland, walking always entails hills…)

In regards, to food, I still eat no wheat, legumes, sugar, etc. My “splurge” is 2-3 times/year Sushi. My worst habit is coffee, which I take with heavy cream or black. (Milk and coffee cream don’t work for me). My biggest problem is nuts: totally addicted. They used to keep me from getting too thin, but now, I think, they are the cause of weight gain (since going on insulin).

I just sometimes wish I could be normal. That I could go to a friend’s place for dinner without having to hear a long apology about what was or was not prepared for dinner… that I could go to a restaurant and order from the menu without having to modify the meal… that I could simply EAT without first having to ask myself a dozen questions in order to decide how much insulin to take… BLAH!

I maybe am a Type 1, but having been diagnosed Type 2, that will probably never be fully explored. Nobody in my family is diabetic except a great uncle that I never knew who was Type 1. Other than that, I’m the exception that proves the rule, I guess.

So, again sorry for ranting, I just felt so annoyed that even YOU would not understand how hard it is to be diabetic. This is how I felt after hearing the Podcast.

Laurie