I think of the basic paleo diet as kind of like the food pyramid with the bottom level removed.  When you get rid of all those grains, you can get rid of the calories that go with them as well.

If you get a lot of exercise, you'll need more calories to replace what you burn - but your body will tell you by being hungry.  If you're not getting hungry, you're probably eating enough.

PaleoRainy, are you losing weight? If you are losing weight then it's really [1400 calories + (how ever much fat you burn in calories)] that your body is using. Once my weight stabilized on the paleo diet I naturally (without realizing) started consuming more food to keep that weight.

I find I don't eat much unless I workout. I can put down some massive amount of food (for my size) if I workout. Caloric restriction is linked to many benefits, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. As long as you are eating quality food you shouldn't worry about calories.

I think that we eat more protein and fat we don't need as many calories.

If you are still hungry, then eat!  But, don't eat just because you think you HAVE to.  I have noticed after months of food tracking, not y choice...lol.  That some days I eat less and others I eat more, but it usually evens out to about 1800-2000 calories a day.  If you tried for about a week to keep track on an online calculator, you may have the same results.

If it feels right, it is right.  If you aren't hungry and have the energy to do the things you want to do, you are fine.

DESTER: I'm a newbie here with a couple questions regarding this topic. I understand what she is talking about from being full off of 1400 calories or so a day. I too have the same problem. I have been writing my meals down and counting calories just to see what and how much I have been eating. Turns out, I eat approximately the same 1400/1500 calories a day and feel satisfied and full at times. I do not however count veggies, I never do. This is counting only pro/carb/fat's. My goal is to lose body fat, at 24% right now. There for I stay away from the fruit. Maybe a serving of berries in the morning or post workout but that is it! Just started this diet 2 weeks ago. I feel GREAT and have TONS of energy. VERY clear headed, and sleeping very well. Although I haven't lost any weight yet or body fat(I get my Body Fat taken at the gym
). I thought it was from eating  too much. But apparently I'm not eating nearly enough. I work out 4-5 days a week intense for about 40-60 depending on workout. My meals are about 300-400 calories 3-4 times a day. Sometimes I'll have a small baggies of almonds to snack on but rarely do. How can I increase my food intake by not feeling full?? Suggestions Anyone?!

I'm having the same trouble eating enough to maintain my weight too. I'm having to include more nut butters, and other fat-heavy foods. Bacon with breakfast, almond butter (at least 4Tbsp) with a whole apple, dried dates, canned tuna. I get fuller on less food, so I have to go for calorie-dense foods so I don't waste away. Seriously, I weighed myself this morning and was down to 118.5 lbs. And that was after having breakfast and going poo. I'm trying to stay at 120. I can tell that I've lost a lot of body fat, not muscle tone, just by pinching the skin under my bicep when flexed. I can barely get a half inch in the pinch. Same with my thighs, and around my neck and chin. My ribs are more prominent like they used to be too. I'm half-earnest when I joke about being back down to my "poor" weight--what I weighed when I lived in a mobile home here in Florida w/o air conditioning, had no car and had to ride my bike everywhere God, it was awful. I had to stuff my cat into my old school backpack to bring him to the vet's for his shots.

My hunger/appetite has decreased a bit, maybe I'm getting a little bored with the foods I've been eating. Or it could just be that my stomach has shrunk and the food that I eat just keeps me fuller for longer. I try to rotate my daily staples every week. Last week I had a couple ounces of roasted pecans with dried cranberries every day, the week before I was having macadamia nuts. Now I'm having 2 servings of dried dates each day and will find something else to change it with when the bag is gone. Tuna, chicken, eggs, pork tenderloin, beef-- I try to vary my proteins.

All I had to eat today was 2 fried eggs, 2 thick strips of bacon, and 2 pumpkin/cranberry muffins with lingonberry sauce for breakfast around 11am. Forgot to eat lunch, and was nearly shaking with hunger by 5pm. Then I cleared a whole rack of baby back ribs, sweet potato fries and a bowl of applesauce for dinner.

This doesn't include veggies. Should I count them too?

Definitely include vegetables in the journal.

Kim, don't waste away...  Also, don't forget to eat. Maybe eat small bits more often.  I know it is a pain to carry around stuff to eat but...it really helps.  Almonds and pecans are great in a pinch...