Please read first: This story is one person's experience and general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before you start any diet, especially if you are pregnant, have diabetes, kidney or heart conditions, or take regular medication.
Nishanth Reddy is 26 and lives in Vizag. A year ago he weighed 92 kg. Today he weighs 75 kg, which is 17 kg lost in a year on a paleo way of eating, alongside regular heavy weight training.
Paleo plus the gym
Combining a diet change with heavy training is different from dieting alone. Lifting asks a lot of the body, so food has to do two jobs: help bring weight down and support the work in the gym.
Protein and recovery
People who train hard generally need more protein than inactive adults, spread across the day, to help muscles repair. Paleo makes this easier because meals are built around eggs, meat and fish. Recovery also depends on enough total food, sleep and rest days. Cutting calories too far while lifting heavy can leave you tired and slow to recover, so the aim is steady loss rather than the fastest possible drop.
What a typical paleo day can look like
Every plate is different. As an example, a simple South Indian paleo day might be:
- Morning: tea or coffee with Cow Ghee, eggs, and a handful of almonds
- Lunch: vegetable poriyal and kootu cooked in Virgin Gingelly oil, with eggs, chicken or fish
- Side: a little Pro-Biotic Lime pickle
- Dinner: mutton or fish curry, or a coconut milk vegetable stew made with Virgin Coconut Oil
Season with Rock (Pink) Salt and Turmeric Powder. For recipes and background reading, the Paleo Diet Book and Diet samayal are good places to start. You can also see our 7-day paleo diet plan.
If you are thinking of trying paleo
Nishanth's result came from a year of consistent eating and training. Results vary from person to person, so speak to your doctor first, especially if you plan to combine a diet change with intense exercise.
Individual results vary. Shared with the customer's permission. Consult your doctor before starting any diet.
