I've been eating Paleo/Primal. And I've definitely dropped the weight I gained in the winter, and it's made it so much easier to get back into shape while not doing much at all. Paleo is fairly simple. No processed foods, no grain(this is hard, because of all the flour, corn by-products, and so on that is in our foods), and only natural carbs like sweet potatoes. You stock up on meat and veggies, and some fruit...but not a terrible amount because of the sugar. Some people cut out dairy, some don't. I did at first, then I've slowly added it back in. I cook with butter, olive oil, or coconut oil...never veggie oil or any other icky crap. No transfats...only natural saturated fats that's we've been eating forever.
I love it, because this is a diet I can eat EVERY DAY for the rest of forever...and be perfectly happy and healthy. And I AM happy and healthy. That is SUCH a huge deal to me! I have issues with depression and PCOS, hormonal crap and constantly tired. Not anymore. It isn't a fad diet that you're on for two weeks, lose the weight, get off it, and then gain the weight back. It's great for you, and the research and science behind it is solid. People with cholesterol issues, diabetes, people of all lifestyles and health issues, it works for everyone. No counting calories, either. You eat whatever you want, whenever you want. I'm probably averaging around 2500-3000 calories a day, doing next to nothing besides walking Zander, and I've gone down a couple pants sizes in the last 2 months. And I'm not even going all out. I still use typical creamer in my coffee, for example.
And, I can cheat every now and then without the world ending. Although, I feel so crappy afterwards that I really don't want to cheat! I even have DH on board, and he's a junk food and soda addict. He's lost weight, too, although he didn't have much to lose at all...he's just toned up a bit.
There's a group on facebook if you'd like more info or support. It's a pretty small group, but we all post recipes we've tried, research we've found, blogs, and some of our daily happenings.
I love it, because this is a diet I can eat EVERY DAY for the rest of forever...and be perfectly happy and healthy. And I AM happy and healthy. That is SUCH a huge deal to me! I have issues with depression and PCOS, hormonal crap and constantly tired. Not anymore. It isn't a fad diet that you're on for two weeks, lose the weight, get off it, and then gain the weight back. It's great for you, and the research and science behind it is solid. People with cholesterol issues, diabetes, people of all lifestyles and health issues, it works for everyone. No counting calories, either. You eat whatever you want, whenever you want. I'm probably averaging around 2500-3000 calories a day, doing next to nothing besides walking Zander, and I've gone down a couple pants sizes in the last 2 months. And I'm not even going all out. I still use typical creamer in my coffee, for example.
And, I can cheat every now and then without the world ending. Although, I feel so crappy afterwards that I really don't want to cheat! I even have DH on board, and he's a junk food and soda addict. He's lost weight, too, although he didn't have much to lose at all...he's just toned up a bit.
There's a group on facebook if you'd like more info or support. It's a pretty small group, but we all post recipes we've tried, research we've found, blogs, and some of our daily happenings.
He has nerve agent poisoning (was in Desert Storm when he got it), this diet has helped with that. His elbows and knees were shot to sh!t, now they are better. And he has lost 80 lbs or so, since last summer. He didn't do Paleo for the last 30-40 days and no weight has came back on. It really is amazing. (And he never really worked out while doing this diet until just recently, like 2 weeks ago. He would camping once a month before 2 weeks ago, but that was about it as far as exercising goes).
I am going to start doing it. Actually I started last week. And I don't really have an appetite cause I am drinking water like its going out of style, and if you know me, I use to HATE water, like HATE. Now its not that bad.
I drink a cup of coffee in the morning (the way I like it which is coffee, half milk, and 2 tsps of sugar), I don't eat breakfast but that is just me, I eat soup or some sort of meat with some veggies for lunch, a small snack, then small dinner. Of course, you eat how you please as long as the paleo diet says okay. I just don't eat a lot cause of all of my water intake.
Best of luck, Amber! You will find something that works for you.