Grimspark

Hey Nerds! I joined way back in 2011 and found a ton of success with the community, here! A lot of life has happened, since, and my focus has been on putting out constant fires instead of taking care of ME. I'm back, now, and I'm committed to making it work like I know it can! Little bit of backstory: I've been overweight pretty much my whole life. About 13 years ago, I had a stroke - the lasting effect has been minimal - but it sparked a strong desire to get healthy. And I was on a pretty good path - at one point I had lost about 200lbs - THEN it all changed. I was diagnosed with ESRD (end stage renal disease), in short, my kidneys no longer work and I'll be on dialysis until I, either, get a transplant or die. But, because of that, and a host of new challenges that brought with it. for about 10 years, my weightloss and fitness has taken a backseat to just keeping myself alive. Now, I'm in a position to put more focus on being healthier and weighing less (also, I have motivation - I have to lose weight to be resubmitted for a transplant consideration) so here I am!

Well said.

I have done a bit of research and put together an Excel sheet referencing a paleo-based food list categorized by phosphorus and potassium (the two things I need to watch most). Notes on sodium and fats are also included. I'm happy to send it to anyone who's interested. PM me.

Thank you for the responses. @Lalie Fanyarendil - Thank you. I'll read that in a bit once the fog clears from waking up. @DerekP - As for the doctor thing, I've talked to a couple of renal nutritionists and they all have the same answer. They see nothing wrong with it as long as I can make it work. They have no input on the HOW to make it work. As for moving out, while I understand your position, that isn't going to happen. I know that moving out is an option - it's the final option - but I am seeking others hence asking for links and resources as opposed to "you need to do..." type answers. I appreciate your input but I'm looking for more information that will lead me to making the changes without uprooting my family.

No worries. I am happy to answer an questions that I can. I certainly recommend MFP. I used it for a couple of years. One word of advice though, don't believe everything that you read on there. As with everything, there is a ton of conflicting information online. It's up to you to figure out what works for you. Good luck to you and if you have any more questions, I'm here.

Depending on how nit-picky you want to get, canoloa oil is made from corn, corn is all geneticly modified and ergo not the corn our ancestors ate thus generally is labeled as a grain. Most paleo people avoid it. In my opinion, I just use olive oil because I like it. I don't know the science behind the oils and, really, are you using enough to make that big of a difference? As for cooked v uncooked rice - on MFP I've seen it listed both ways. It's up to you but I would stay consistent. Use common sense. A serving of rice is roughly 1/4 cup dry = 3/4 cooked. I always measure it uncooked but whatever you choose, do it the same each time. In restaurants we measure it uncooked.

You'll hear 100 different theories from 100 different people as to why it works. I don't care about the technicalities or the number crunching. I just wanted to feel better. I learned WHY things are the way they are. I learned WHAT I should and shouldn't eat. But most importantly, I learned HOW certain foods affected me and WHEN I could break the "rules" that people try so hard to adhere to.

I cut the highly processed stuff. Anything that comes in a box or can. Fresh produce, fresh meat and on days that I was feeling particularly hungry I'd cook a bit of rice. What I cut, most of all, was the micromanagy trap that nearly everyone falls into. I didn't live so that I could diet - I diet so that I can live.

Yeah, apple a day or bananas and grapes are fine. As for rice, the choice is yours, but I lost 160lbs and still kept rice as a staple part of my diet.

Even when weight loss is the goal, fruit shouldn't be avoided. As I said, if you are fairly active, have a bit of fruit. I don't care what the numbers tell you - a ripe peach (or whatever) is ALWAYS going to be a better option over a "health" bar. As for rice, again, since weight loss is the goal, limit it but as to the paleo-ness of it, I wouldn't stress about it. If you like rice, have rice once in a while. Just understand how it affects your body.

I thought that I should add to that. In the case of fruits, yeah, they can be high in sugar. BUT, as I said, as long as there is no health issues that prevent the proper use of that sugar, it isn't generally a detrimental thing if you are relatively active. I've seen too many people get hung up on details and micromanagement of their diet. This can result in stress and that can't possibly be healthy. Make informed decisions. Do some research and, ultimately, pay attention to how your body reacts to food.

I'm gonna go ahead and stir things up here. If weight loss is not the primary goal and there is no diabetic reasons then, generally, fruits are fine. As with everything, just don't eat all fruit 24/7. Rice is not "paleo" per se but from my experience it's more of a "neutral" grain in that it is fairly innocuous on its own. It's not necessarily good for you but it's not bad either when eaten in moderation. It is extremely high in carbohydrates and has a high glycemic index so take that into account if weight loss and/or foods with a high sugar content are going to be a problem That's WHITE rice. The brown rice has the bran attached still and that's where the yucky anti-nutrients live. Just stay away from that stuff.

This post is a two-parter: The first (and probably more important): Earlier this year I was diagnosed with ESRD (End stage renal disease) which translates to "my kidneys are just about useless". With this diagnosis, I have to change a great deal of how I eat. Which, regrettably, I am not doing very well with right now. My main concern is the phosphorus in foods - it is in literally everything. I am also to limit my potassium. I have learned that many of the fresh veggies and fruits that I love are high in potassium as well. Shame. I suppose my question, then, is does anyone have any links/resources for a paleo diet that is geared toward kidney patients? The second half of the post: I have been paleo for a few years now. In those few years I lost more than 160 lbs but recently, with the medical issues and dramatic change in living, I have put 20+ of those pounds back on. They've got to go and more! I am now living with my girlfriend and her 2 year old daughter. My girlfriend has no issue with me cooking (I do all of the cooking) a cleaner and paleo-type meal. However, she allows the 2 year old to dictate far too much so there is always an abundance of junk - PopTarts, hotdogs, snack bars - around and are far too easy to grab myself. I am struggling with getting back on the wagon and improving my life the way it used to be but it's difficult when there is so much crap around the kitchen. I understand that it is, ultimately, my responsibility to make changes in my life and I'm certainly not dropping blame on them but I am asking if anyone has any tips to help me get back the habit that I worked so hard to train myself into previously.

Thank you. That's what I needed to know!

I saw 2 jars of coconut oil on the shelf at my local market. One was completely unrefined coconut oil for roughly $20. The other listed "refined, non-hydrogenated coconut oil" as the only ingredient and sold for $4. I understand that the raw one would be the top pick but, what I want to know is, how bad is the "refined" one really? I am on an EXTREMELY tight budget and would be grateful to save the extra cash if the less expensive is "almost as good" as the other. What say you?