I've just finished ordering four books via the internet: "Death by Food Pyramid" by Denise Minger, "Cholesterol Clarity" by Jimmy Moore and Eric Westman, "Deep Nutrition" by Catherine Shanahan and "Challenging Beliefs: Memoirs of a Career" by Tim Noakes. Waiting impatiently for these.
However, I'm really missing Gary Taubes. Alright, I'll admit it, I have a horrific crush on Gary and I can't seem to find him anywhere on the web recently. No blog articles, no references to him, no appearances, no news articles. Probably doing research through the new organization he's involved in. Sigh. Hopefully, something will turn up soon.
I've been watching some Tim Noakes lectures recently and can't get over how wonderful his appearances are. He's as giddy as a schoolboy sometimes which reflects on how great he's feeling with his dietary regimen. Here is one I just watched which is great.
Oh, and, something that I've noticed recently is that under comments or questions on blogs or on videos, people keep asking the same stupid questions about "Blood Type" diets. People, give it a rest already. There is nothing scientific about blood type diets. I'm blood type A positive. All of me is blood type A positive. Supposedly, I can eat carbs and happily be a vegetarian, NOT! I cannot tolerate carbs and my stint at vegetarianism (for 1 year) resulted in horrible health issues. Yes, I've been tested several times and I'm still type A positive. Nothing has changed and I still can't tolerate carbs and cannot be a happy vegetarian. The happiest I've ever been is on an all meat (and egg) diet.
Tuesday 17 December 2013
Thursday 5 December 2013
Do not eat anything with a face debate
Just finished watching the debate with Neal Barnard, somebody Bauer, Cris Masterjohn and Joel Salatin and have one question that I would have asked Neal Barnard in his opening statement.
He stated that he was raised on his farm where his father and grandfather ate meat, potatoes and corn and/or peas daily. He then stated that his father and/or grandfather died at age 65 of heart disease or cancer, whatever it's not important. He blamed the meat. Now I would have asked "oh, he ate an all meat diet? That's why you're blaming the meat?" Well his father could have been eating corn oil, crisco, drinking beer/whiskey, eating tons of bread/potatoes, corn muffins, whatever. But it's the meat that killed him at age 65. Ok, so where is the logic in this?
That's what I keep hearing over and over again. Meat kills. So are all these people who are dropping like flies eating meat exclusively? Or are they eating tons of other bad stuff with the meat? And why is the meat taking the fall for all their ills?
And yet, people look at Neal Barnard like he's a saint and gobble up every word he utters. Give me a fricken break.
Ok, rant over.
He stated that he was raised on his farm where his father and grandfather ate meat, potatoes and corn and/or peas daily. He then stated that his father and/or grandfather died at age 65 of heart disease or cancer, whatever it's not important. He blamed the meat. Now I would have asked "oh, he ate an all meat diet? That's why you're blaming the meat?" Well his father could have been eating corn oil, crisco, drinking beer/whiskey, eating tons of bread/potatoes, corn muffins, whatever. But it's the meat that killed him at age 65. Ok, so where is the logic in this?
That's what I keep hearing over and over again. Meat kills. So are all these people who are dropping like flies eating meat exclusively? Or are they eating tons of other bad stuff with the meat? And why is the meat taking the fall for all their ills?
And yet, people look at Neal Barnard like he's a saint and gobble up every word he utters. Give me a fricken break.
Ok, rant over.
Sunday 17 November 2013
2 month progress
It's been 3 months since I retired but I've only seriously started minding what I eat for 2 months allowing one month before that to settle into retirement. Mid-September to mid-October had me bouncing around with my food choices, cravings, etc. so lost only 5 lbs. Since mid-October until now, I've been pretty strict and have lost an additional 10 lbs, for a total of 15. The object was to get into ketosis and I've been there for a while.
I'm buying cod loins, eggs, free-range skin-on chicken breast, really fatty pork cuts, grass fed fatty cuts of beef, cabbage, green beans, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. I'm going to replace the cruciferous veggies with green beans and peas, as I can tolerate peas better. I sometimes make gravy with the drippings using a teaspoon of coconut flour to give me a bit of variety. I don't tolerate coconut products well and need to find a good source of pastured lard. I make my own tartar sauce for fish using sour cream, diced pickles, pickle juice and horseradish mustard. Every 2nd day or so I have 1/3 cup blueberries with full fat plain yogurt.
So, in essence, all my food is delicious and mouth-watering. What a way to diet. It's usually 16 or 17 hours between supper and brunch so I'm mini-fasting and only eat twice a day. Forbidden foods are not in my house, so no cheating for me, and, now that it's winter with tons of snow on the ground, it's not easy to just jump in the car and get whatever it is I am craving.
Still I do not feel like I'm fully keto-adapted and need to continue with this for a while yet. But 15 lbs is still progress for an old lady who is very metabolically challenged, although the ideal destination for me is eating almost zero-carb and that is my goal.
I'm buying cod loins, eggs, free-range skin-on chicken breast, really fatty pork cuts, grass fed fatty cuts of beef, cabbage, green beans, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. I'm going to replace the cruciferous veggies with green beans and peas, as I can tolerate peas better. I sometimes make gravy with the drippings using a teaspoon of coconut flour to give me a bit of variety. I don't tolerate coconut products well and need to find a good source of pastured lard. I make my own tartar sauce for fish using sour cream, diced pickles, pickle juice and horseradish mustard. Every 2nd day or so I have 1/3 cup blueberries with full fat plain yogurt.
So, in essence, all my food is delicious and mouth-watering. What a way to diet. It's usually 16 or 17 hours between supper and brunch so I'm mini-fasting and only eat twice a day. Forbidden foods are not in my house, so no cheating for me, and, now that it's winter with tons of snow on the ground, it's not easy to just jump in the car and get whatever it is I am craving.
Still I do not feel like I'm fully keto-adapted and need to continue with this for a while yet. But 15 lbs is still progress for an old lady who is very metabolically challenged, although the ideal destination for me is eating almost zero-carb and that is my goal.
Thursday 24 October 2013
Pleasing just one person
Wandering about the blogisphere has made me realize how fortunate I am. Coming from a very small family of 6, two of which have passed on, I have not had much experience with large family gatherings and/or, relatives dropping in from other cities and staying with me. Plus, those of us who are left are pretty independent, with completely different interests and lifestyles, however all of us are committed to eating plans that are zero-carb, ketogenic or atkins-like.
My brother is treating his multiple myeloma with an all meat diet (some eggs) and has successfully been in remission for over 7 years with no toxic medication or chemotherapy. He is an avid cyclist and has no problems entering races (at age 55). He is fully keto-adapted. My sister is doing Atkins and has lost 70 lbs. I'm the one with the weakest will and the most health issues. Can't blame them for undermining my success though.
What I have found since I've retired that has helped me stay on track is the lack of stress and keeping it simple. Not having others at home gives me 100% freedom to prepare whatever foods I desire. For example, today I'm baking liver and onions, to which I will add cauliflower. This will last me for about 3 days. The huge pot of chicken vegetable soup I made on the weekend lasted for 5 days. My daily dessert (if I have one) is 1/3 cup of blueberries with 1/4 cup full fat yogurt. This being in control of what one makes and eats makes a big difference to me. The fact that I'm no longer at work where people are constantly racing past my desk with goodies, smacking their lips and grunting "yummms, ummms" or flagrantly sneaking up behind me with a plate of cake and then yelling "have some, it's home made."
Another thing about this simplicity is that I no longer am hungry or craving anything. I am not looking for replacements for anything like bread or pasta or muffins or whatever. I'm just one of those people who can't do it without the cravings kicking in. I need to stick to those simple, real foods like meat, fish, some dairy, veggies and some fruits. When you are not really hungry what does variety matter when you think about it.
My brother is treating his multiple myeloma with an all meat diet (some eggs) and has successfully been in remission for over 7 years with no toxic medication or chemotherapy. He is an avid cyclist and has no problems entering races (at age 55). He is fully keto-adapted. My sister is doing Atkins and has lost 70 lbs. I'm the one with the weakest will and the most health issues. Can't blame them for undermining my success though.
What I have found since I've retired that has helped me stay on track is the lack of stress and keeping it simple. Not having others at home gives me 100% freedom to prepare whatever foods I desire. For example, today I'm baking liver and onions, to which I will add cauliflower. This will last me for about 3 days. The huge pot of chicken vegetable soup I made on the weekend lasted for 5 days. My daily dessert (if I have one) is 1/3 cup of blueberries with 1/4 cup full fat yogurt. This being in control of what one makes and eats makes a big difference to me. The fact that I'm no longer at work where people are constantly racing past my desk with goodies, smacking their lips and grunting "yummms, ummms" or flagrantly sneaking up behind me with a plate of cake and then yelling "have some, it's home made."
Another thing about this simplicity is that I no longer am hungry or craving anything. I am not looking for replacements for anything like bread or pasta or muffins or whatever. I'm just one of those people who can't do it without the cravings kicking in. I need to stick to those simple, real foods like meat, fish, some dairy, veggies and some fruits. When you are not really hungry what does variety matter when you think about it.
Tuesday 15 October 2013
Let's freeze off our fat
So in an attempt to lose fat if following conventional dieting wisdom and exercising isn't working, lets just freeze off our fat rather than question conventional dieting wisdom.
Another form of body mutilation in an attempt to lose weight. Sigh!
Another form of body mutilation in an attempt to lose weight. Sigh!
Monday 23 September 2013
Dr. Kendrick is spot on again
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's blog is a favorite of mine and he is spot on again in this article which reminded me, once again, why I avoid doctors of any kind.
Well I have to see my Pulminary Specialist whenever he realizes that I haven't been in to see him for over 5 years, lmao, as was the case last December. In the last ten years I have gone to a doctor (twice) only to have my bloodwork done and it's come back stellar, whatever that means. Not bad for a 63 year old who is still overweight. I prefer to treat myself with diet and although I haven't completely lost all the weight I would like, I have eliminated almost all my health issues. Usually, I don't care what my cholesterol is, what my blood pressure is, or anything else. These numbers have been assigned by people I don't know and who may or may not be qualified to do so. Am I a skeptic? You bet your ass. Above all else, I do not trust any of the medications that are peddled by drug companies and doctors who have been brainwashed to prescribe them. Same goes for nutritionists and dieticians, who peddle garbage information.
My retirement is proceeding well and the time is flying by more quickly than when I was working and it's surprising me. I prefer to just play it by ear and mood and yet I'm never bored. What I am catching up on is sleep, usually around 10 hours a day, but it seems I need it. My diet is easier to follow as I eat only when hungry instead of at predetermined times, so it's usually only twice daily. There are no forbidden foods at home to tempt me which helps.
As an example of damage that doctors can do is exemplified by my friend who is now a drug addict. A perfectly normal individual who trusts her doctor, 70 years of age, taking statins, blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, pain killers, diuretics and those are the ones I know about. She tried to reduce her pain killers and ended up in hospital with severe withdrawals. Death by doctor will be the real cause of death and the tragedy is I can't say anything.
Well I have to see my Pulminary Specialist whenever he realizes that I haven't been in to see him for over 5 years, lmao, as was the case last December. In the last ten years I have gone to a doctor (twice) only to have my bloodwork done and it's come back stellar, whatever that means. Not bad for a 63 year old who is still overweight. I prefer to treat myself with diet and although I haven't completely lost all the weight I would like, I have eliminated almost all my health issues. Usually, I don't care what my cholesterol is, what my blood pressure is, or anything else. These numbers have been assigned by people I don't know and who may or may not be qualified to do so. Am I a skeptic? You bet your ass. Above all else, I do not trust any of the medications that are peddled by drug companies and doctors who have been brainwashed to prescribe them. Same goes for nutritionists and dieticians, who peddle garbage information.
My retirement is proceeding well and the time is flying by more quickly than when I was working and it's surprising me. I prefer to just play it by ear and mood and yet I'm never bored. What I am catching up on is sleep, usually around 10 hours a day, but it seems I need it. My diet is easier to follow as I eat only when hungry instead of at predetermined times, so it's usually only twice daily. There are no forbidden foods at home to tempt me which helps.
As an example of damage that doctors can do is exemplified by my friend who is now a drug addict. A perfectly normal individual who trusts her doctor, 70 years of age, taking statins, blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, pain killers, diuretics and those are the ones I know about. She tried to reduce her pain killers and ended up in hospital with severe withdrawals. Death by doctor will be the real cause of death and the tragedy is I can't say anything.
Monday 12 August 2013
6 Saturdays and a Sunday
Haven't been blogging much because I really don't have anything to blog about and yet much is happening. In essence, just don't feel like writing.
A while back I wrote a post called "only 599 days until retirement." Well that changed as they were trying to get rid of people where I work due to budgetary constraints and offered me a voluntary early retirement severance package. So now I'm officially retired 1 year and 5 months early and they are paying me for the next 43 weeks of retirement enjoyment. I'm still in shock as this happened relatively quickly but I was certainly ready for it.
August 10th was the beginning of my new and carefree life. I think I've spent 50% of the time since then in my jammies, taken several naps and took up a snack that was one of my favorites when I was a kid (and for those who know me, really isn't a surprise): raw garlic. The vehicle for my raw garlic as a child was rye bread, so I started searching for something I could use that was lc friendly. Then I just ate it raw without anything and that worked well. L love garlic so two cloves is not a big deal.
The second thing I wanted to do was dye my hair purple and couldn't find a dye that colour in my cursory inspection when I went shopping. I'll keep at it. Other interests to pursue are a walking regimen and getting my health back. No temptations here at home, eating when truly hungry (maybe twice a day) and more time for cooking healthier meals is another plus.
There is so much to do, however the first few months I will just rest and think about those endless possibilities. My new week is now composed of 6 saturdays and a sunday, lol. I certainly don't need to plan anything if I don't want to.
A while back I wrote a post called "only 599 days until retirement." Well that changed as they were trying to get rid of people where I work due to budgetary constraints and offered me a voluntary early retirement severance package. So now I'm officially retired 1 year and 5 months early and they are paying me for the next 43 weeks of retirement enjoyment. I'm still in shock as this happened relatively quickly but I was certainly ready for it.
August 10th was the beginning of my new and carefree life. I think I've spent 50% of the time since then in my jammies, taken several naps and took up a snack that was one of my favorites when I was a kid (and for those who know me, really isn't a surprise): raw garlic. The vehicle for my raw garlic as a child was rye bread, so I started searching for something I could use that was lc friendly. Then I just ate it raw without anything and that worked well. L love garlic so two cloves is not a big deal.
The second thing I wanted to do was dye my hair purple and couldn't find a dye that colour in my cursory inspection when I went shopping. I'll keep at it. Other interests to pursue are a walking regimen and getting my health back. No temptations here at home, eating when truly hungry (maybe twice a day) and more time for cooking healthier meals is another plus.
There is so much to do, however the first few months I will just rest and think about those endless possibilities. My new week is now composed of 6 saturdays and a sunday, lol. I certainly don't need to plan anything if I don't want to.
Friday 31 May 2013
Diabetes and Cancer in Canada
Just noticed this article on CBC this morning regarding the sky-rocketing increase in diabetes in Chinese Canadians.
"Diabetes incidence rose 15-fold between 1996-2005 among Canadians of Chinese origin despite lower levels of obesity."
So, the advice we are given?
"Dr. Jan Hux stressed the appropriate action is to pursue a healthy diet that includes whole grains rather than refined grains, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and control portion sizes."
Of course, why didn't I think of that?
Another article recently published is that Liver Cancer in Canada has tripled in men and women since the 1970's. Is that when we really actively started the healthy lifestyle, seed oils instead of saturated fat, lower meat consumption, more healthy whole grains, more sugar, more carbs, more exercise? Blaming it exclusively on Hep B or C or whatever shows they haven't a clue.
"Diabetes incidence rose 15-fold between 1996-2005 among Canadians of Chinese origin despite lower levels of obesity."
So, the advice we are given?
"Dr. Jan Hux stressed the appropriate action is to pursue a healthy diet that includes whole grains rather than refined grains, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and control portion sizes."
Of course, why didn't I think of that?
Another article recently published is that Liver Cancer in Canada has tripled in men and women since the 1970's. Is that when we really actively started the healthy lifestyle, seed oils instead of saturated fat, lower meat consumption, more healthy whole grains, more sugar, more carbs, more exercise? Blaming it exclusively on Hep B or C or whatever shows they haven't a clue.
Thursday 23 May 2013
I love life
Got home from work, made supper, ate and looked out the window overlooking my balcony. There is a giant evergreen growing 5 feet away, my flower pots are full to overflowing with flowers, there's a bit of a wind, some clouds and the air is wonderful. All of a sudden I choked up, fighting back tears at how wonderful life is (for me) and how much I love life. I still don't like to see the news that shows disasters of nature and the mindless, irrational slaughter of innocent people by people who are crazy, etc. For this moment in time when I look out the window, I feel love, peace, and calm. I love my life regardless of all it's stresses and heartaches.
Besides, I just baked Eddie's flax bread and it's cooling on the counter. Now how much better can life be :)
Besides, I just baked Eddie's flax bread and it's cooling on the counter. Now how much better can life be :)
Monday 20 May 2013
Preparations for a new beginning
Went shopping this weekend for allowed foods: got bacon, eggs, headcheese, blood sausage, wild haddock, wild sole, wild salmon, pork chops, lettuce, avocados, tomatoes, feta cheese, cherries, borshch, sour cream, liverwurst, rye crispbread. No one was selling chicken livers so I'll head to the Chinese Super Market next weekend. They always have them. Also bought flax meal to try making Eddie's flax bread. I have this huge problem in that I love liverwurst but I like it on rye bread or bread or crackers and hopefully the flax bread will hit that particular spot.
Now I'm all set to start all over again. Set up a weight loss ticker (see above). This is only my 67th time that I'm starting over but I'm not going to stop until I've made it.
I eat when I'm bored and the two times I'm bored is when I'm at Bingo or at work. Now Bingo I have control over, I just don't go. But work is another story. I'm not busy enough not to get bored and I'm eating all the time. I even went into ketosis about a month ago, stayed on track for two weeks and still couldn't do it. At my age and the number of times I've gone on and off plan, I'll need at least four to six weeks to get to that great feeling. Two weeks wasn't enough. I was tired, hungry and not feeling great at all. The sleepiness around 2 pm was unbearable, just as if I was eating carbs all day. Plus I still wasn't sleeping, getting up several times a night. So this time, armed with what I know and food that I enjoy, I will try this again.
Now I'm all set to start all over again. Set up a weight loss ticker (see above). This is only my 67th time that I'm starting over but I'm not going to stop until I've made it.
I eat when I'm bored and the two times I'm bored is when I'm at Bingo or at work. Now Bingo I have control over, I just don't go. But work is another story. I'm not busy enough not to get bored and I'm eating all the time. I even went into ketosis about a month ago, stayed on track for two weeks and still couldn't do it. At my age and the number of times I've gone on and off plan, I'll need at least four to six weeks to get to that great feeling. Two weeks wasn't enough. I was tired, hungry and not feeling great at all. The sleepiness around 2 pm was unbearable, just as if I was eating carbs all day. Plus I still wasn't sleeping, getting up several times a night. So this time, armed with what I know and food that I enjoy, I will try this again.
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Only 599 days till retirement
But who's counting. I've been so busy lately at work mostly but these last 599 days are going to kill me I swear.
Last weekend I've titled "Mother's Day Blowout." There was no one to celebrate with so I said, "piss on it, I'm going to spoil myself." Tried two new restaurants here in town. Friday night was Cafe de Sol, Mexican food. Now I was able to creatively not cheat by ordering the pork soup and skewered grilled shrimp. Saturday, was at the Zembaba Ethiopian restaurant and I had the minced beef, spinach, mushrooms and home made cheese, goat stew and green salad. Yummm!!!! Bought myself two huge hanging flower baskets for the balcony. Then played bingo 3 times and am bingoed out for the next year or so. Felt I needed it. Oh, and read a book or two.
Last weekend I've titled "Mother's Day Blowout." There was no one to celebrate with so I said, "piss on it, I'm going to spoil myself." Tried two new restaurants here in town. Friday night was Cafe de Sol, Mexican food. Now I was able to creatively not cheat by ordering the pork soup and skewered grilled shrimp. Saturday, was at the Zembaba Ethiopian restaurant and I had the minced beef, spinach, mushrooms and home made cheese, goat stew and green salad. Yummm!!!! Bought myself two huge hanging flower baskets for the balcony. Then played bingo 3 times and am bingoed out for the next year or so. Felt I needed it. Oh, and read a book or two.
Sunday 5 May 2013
The Significant Other
In my travels in the blogishere, I come across significant others eating garbage/carbage foods in front of their supposed loved one. Now if you are a significant other and see your partner losing weight, regaining their health, being happier, more energetic wouldn't you at least have the courtesy to eat somewhat like them when you are actually eating with them? You could always revert to eating garbage at other times if that is what you prefer to do.
I am a zero tolerance person I'm afraid. If my partner didn't respect my wishes they would know about it. Yes I'm a dictator and maybe that explains why I'm single, lol. But I believe in this way of eating so much that I figure anyone would benefit from eating this way. I can't see myself hooking up with a vegan for example.
Dictatorships aside, it all boils down to respect. If your partner is struggling with weight and health issues, it's only a matter of respecting their choices and not trying to derail them.
I am a zero tolerance person I'm afraid. If my partner didn't respect my wishes they would know about it. Yes I'm a dictator and maybe that explains why I'm single, lol. But I believe in this way of eating so much that I figure anyone would benefit from eating this way. I can't see myself hooking up with a vegan for example.
Dictatorships aside, it all boils down to respect. If your partner is struggling with weight and health issues, it's only a matter of respecting their choices and not trying to derail them.
Saturday 4 May 2013
Weekly progess report #1
Wt lost this week: 3.6 lbs
Average
Cals 1525
Fat 124 gms (72%)
Carbs 25 gms (7%)
Protein 75 gms (21%)
No headaches at all this past week although I've been tired and sleepy. Bought ketone urine sticks yesterday and they showed 4 last night and 1.6 this morning. My appetite has disappeared altogether. The higher calories for the week reflect the stuffing of face during the first few days while getting into ketosis and battling cravings. Now I'm sure I can eat once or twice a day and be perfectly happy. The reason it took me less time to get in the groove is because I've been bouncing in and out of ketosis since the new year, never actually stuffing my face with carbs on a daily basis.
Foods I've been eating: bacon, chicken broth, beef broth, buckwheat and pork sausage, some romaine lettuce, head cheese, eggs, steak, pork chops, chicken, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, coffee, tea, cream, stevia.
I achieved my heaviest weight ever on March 13th of this year. I am now down a total of 6.2 lbs. No more half-hearted attempts. I've been so excited about retirement in 1 year, 8 months, and 21 days, but wasn't sure I'd make it if I didn't smarten up and follow my own dietary advice. I'm fortunate in that I actually know what works for me but am usually too weak-willed to follow through. I feel sorry for those who are following conventional dietary advice and wondering why they are getting heavier and sicker.
Average
Cals 1525
Fat 124 gms (72%)
Carbs 25 gms (7%)
Protein 75 gms (21%)
No headaches at all this past week although I've been tired and sleepy. Bought ketone urine sticks yesterday and they showed 4 last night and 1.6 this morning. My appetite has disappeared altogether. The higher calories for the week reflect the stuffing of face during the first few days while getting into ketosis and battling cravings. Now I'm sure I can eat once or twice a day and be perfectly happy. The reason it took me less time to get in the groove is because I've been bouncing in and out of ketosis since the new year, never actually stuffing my face with carbs on a daily basis.
Foods I've been eating: bacon, chicken broth, beef broth, buckwheat and pork sausage, some romaine lettuce, head cheese, eggs, steak, pork chops, chicken, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, coffee, tea, cream, stevia.
I achieved my heaviest weight ever on March 13th of this year. I am now down a total of 6.2 lbs. No more half-hearted attempts. I've been so excited about retirement in 1 year, 8 months, and 21 days, but wasn't sure I'd make it if I didn't smarten up and follow my own dietary advice. I'm fortunate in that I actually know what works for me but am usually too weak-willed to follow through. I feel sorry for those who are following conventional dietary advice and wondering why they are getting heavier and sicker.
Friday 3 May 2013
Oh Boy, More Pizza
I'm amazed at what makes the news sometimes Take a look at this.
Normally, mozzarella cheese is not what I would call a bad cheese when used responsibly but it seems everyone can't think of a thing other than Pizza when they hear Mozzarella.
The Obesity Epidemic just got a great shot in the arm. However it will be the cheese that gets blamed.
Normally, mozzarella cheese is not what I would call a bad cheese when used responsibly but it seems everyone can't think of a thing other than Pizza when they hear Mozzarella.
The Obesity Epidemic just got a great shot in the arm. However it will be the cheese that gets blamed.
Thursday 2 May 2013
Odds and ends and rants
Several rants here:
- The Bran Bud Caper - Got an email from my sister stating she thinks she has IBS, has had diarrhea and stomach cramps for a month and is going to see the doctor as she doesn't know what's going on. She's lost about 60 lbs on a low carb diet and eliminated her acid reflux, migraines, joint pains, etc. However, she's over 50 so it's not my place to be the diet police. After a lot of poking and prodding and squeezing the information out of her it turns out she's been eating "Bran Buds" and after me hitting the roof she finally sent me an email that since she's eliminated the bran buds her problems disappeared. Well imagine that? Seems she was unable to conclude on her own that since she started eating them her digestive problems started. BANG HEAD ON DESK.
- Girl Guide Cookies - Two lovely young girl guides came into my place of work selling girl guide cookies. Now I've always been tempted to tell children who are eating anything with sugar that it will make them fat and ugly like me, today was the day I was able to pull it off. Have you ever seen a deer or a moose in your car headlights? That's what these poor girls looked like. I told them to move along to the next door and a lovely young lady would probably like to buy their cookies as they hurriedly moved along. She eased their confusion and fear by buying a box. Once they had left, she came out and laughed out loud about how funny it was listening in to my conversation with them.
- Wheat Sensitivity - Now here's a CBC story about wheat sensitivity which has given me much hope as to the future of wheat research looking into non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Of course the Dietician they interviewed stated what we all hear so often that had no bearing on the story covered, and spouting all the usual nonsense about gluten free products having no nutrients, etc. (like wheat does?). However, reading some of the comments made me livid. Some babbling dissonance about the uselessness of anecdotal information/cures for one. So, let's say I've got a condition like RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) for example. The doctors tell me there is no hope, no cure and that I will continue to deteriorate and die a slow and painful death even with drugs. Do I just lay down and take their word for it. Not on my life. I start exploring the internet and check out all anecdotal information I can find. If it doesn't kill me outright like hanging by my toenails over Niagara falls (ok that one I made up), then I'll try the ginger root juice cure, the apple cider vinegar and honey cure, the no-grain cure (I actually found these within minutes of googling). What the frig do I have to lose, right? Yet this person is rejecting anecdotal information out of hand. Actually I'll take anecdotal over anything else nowadays.
- Cancer Death - one of our long standing Tech people who was my age died yesterday of brain cancer. He followed his wife's dietary advice (low fat), rode his bike to work and yet seemed to have a paunch. I recall a conversation I had with him about 5 years ago when I was losing weight on a low-carb diet. He told me he had been doing Atkins but his wife put a stop to that basically saying she'd kill him if he continued doing Atkins. Those were his words. Well I'd say she probably had a lot more to do with his death than she knows, however I can't tell anyone about it except you readers. It's so sad. When I think of Vlad I think of our conversation and whether or not he would have gone so soon if he'd continued low-carbing. We will never know. May he rest in peace.
Sunday 28 April 2013
Meat Market
Since I've decided to go all meat and some egg and dairy, went to my favorite meat market yesterday. Since we don't have grass fed year round due to our long and cold winters, this meat market sells the next best thing and closest to organic. It's run by a family who owns a farm in northern Alberta and sells their products along with other products such as eggs from the Hutterite farms which are free run (no free range here due to winters). They also make their own bacon and ham sausage.
So I bought pork chops, chicken, ham sausage, a kilo of bacon, eggs. I'm eastern european and seem to tolerate eggs, chickens and pork well and beef not so well. I will have a good beef steak whenever I crave one at a good restaurant but don't prepare it at home. I've also got some leftover home-made chicken veggie soup and buckwheat and pork sausage. I'm going to finish off whatever's in the fridge that isn't all meat/eggs slowly.
As it turns out I had a cup of cream and my pork and buckwheat sausage yesterday along with an 8 oz steak, caesar salad, greek yogurt and berries and still dropped over a lb. I don't usually eat this much but when I'm getting back on track, whenever I get cravings or feel hungry I reach for fat.
Made bacon and eggs this morning and was surprised that the bacon didn't stick to my frying pan. It was wonderful and it tasted more like pork belly than bacon (I presume because it doesn't contain a lot of sugar and additives). I then fried my eggs in the bacon fat and they didn't stick either. Wow, I'm buying bacon from them from now on.
Also, the pork and buckwheat sausage I had yesterday didn't seem to hurt my weight loss. The problem with all the ethnic foods I eat is that it's hard to figure out on Fit-day what all I'm eating.
So yesterday I ate: chicken soup with veggies (cauliflower, parsnips, brussel sprouts, onions, garlic), coffee, cream, steak, caesar salad, full fat greek yogurt, berries = 1858 cals, 111 gms fat, 60 gms carbs, 144 grams protein. Dropped only 1 lb. However, today I don't have any cravings and will be sticking more to just meat and eggs.
Oh, forgot that I also bought a kilo and a half of beef bones. So now I'm off to make bone broth. I seem to be able to tolerate that.
So I bought pork chops, chicken, ham sausage, a kilo of bacon, eggs. I'm eastern european and seem to tolerate eggs, chickens and pork well and beef not so well. I will have a good beef steak whenever I crave one at a good restaurant but don't prepare it at home. I've also got some leftover home-made chicken veggie soup and buckwheat and pork sausage. I'm going to finish off whatever's in the fridge that isn't all meat/eggs slowly.
As it turns out I had a cup of cream and my pork and buckwheat sausage yesterday along with an 8 oz steak, caesar salad, greek yogurt and berries and still dropped over a lb. I don't usually eat this much but when I'm getting back on track, whenever I get cravings or feel hungry I reach for fat.
Made bacon and eggs this morning and was surprised that the bacon didn't stick to my frying pan. It was wonderful and it tasted more like pork belly than bacon (I presume because it doesn't contain a lot of sugar and additives). I then fried my eggs in the bacon fat and they didn't stick either. Wow, I'm buying bacon from them from now on.
Also, the pork and buckwheat sausage I had yesterday didn't seem to hurt my weight loss. The problem with all the ethnic foods I eat is that it's hard to figure out on Fit-day what all I'm eating.
So yesterday I ate: chicken soup with veggies (cauliflower, parsnips, brussel sprouts, onions, garlic), coffee, cream, steak, caesar salad, full fat greek yogurt, berries = 1858 cals, 111 gms fat, 60 gms carbs, 144 grams protein. Dropped only 1 lb. However, today I don't have any cravings and will be sticking more to just meat and eggs.
Oh, forgot that I also bought a kilo and a half of beef bones. So now I'm off to make bone broth. I seem to be able to tolerate that.
Wednesday 24 April 2013
Fat Head and Primal Body Primal Mind
Yesterday I joined netflix to watch Fat Head. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie because I have a really weird sense of humour and Tom's right up my alley. Then I started going through Tom's blog from the beginning and up to May of 2009. These I am also enjoying immensely.
Tom wrote a short article about Nora T. Gedgaudas' book Primal Body, Primal Mind in which one of his aha moments lead to thoughts about alcoholic addiction and why in his old vegetarian carb loading days he thought he had become an alcoholic due to his desire to consume alcohol in great quantities and reluctantly started going to AA meetings. Once he converted to the true Low Carbish Faith, he found that the appeal of alcohol went away and he can now drink in moderation. He attributed his addiction to alcohol as his body's response to seeking energy like someone who is experiencing a sugar crash and needs a glucose fix right away.
Now Nora's alcoholic message flew past me because I've never liked alcohol and just skimmed through that part probably and thought nothing more about it. However, once I really started thinking about addiction, I realized that shortly after reading Protein Power, seeing the light and embarking on my own journey, within about 1 year I gave up a 35 year, pack and 1/2 per day smoking habit almost effortlessly (well not completely effortlessly). Why I didn't tie in low carbing to the ease of quitting smoking, which I had been trying to do for almost 20 years, I don't know. This is my aha moment. I don't think it's ever easy to quit smoking but I'm sure it was a lot easier once I really got into low-carbing. Don't ask me how this relates to alcohol, fuel and low blood sugar, but I also felt no desire to continue with a low level bingo (gambling) habit. I couldn't miss a night of bingo and the rush that came with winning. Now, I'm thinking, "What was I thinking and why was I doing this?" I have no desire to gamble in any way shape or form anymore. I even forget to buy lotto tickets. Or an alternative theory might be that once I quit smoking there was no reason to go to bingo. Don't know.
With that in mind, I'm going to re-read Nora's book again and more thoroughly this time.
Tom wrote a short article about Nora T. Gedgaudas' book Primal Body, Primal Mind in which one of his aha moments lead to thoughts about alcoholic addiction and why in his old vegetarian carb loading days he thought he had become an alcoholic due to his desire to consume alcohol in great quantities and reluctantly started going to AA meetings. Once he converted to the true Low Carbish Faith, he found that the appeal of alcohol went away and he can now drink in moderation. He attributed his addiction to alcohol as his body's response to seeking energy like someone who is experiencing a sugar crash and needs a glucose fix right away.
Now Nora's alcoholic message flew past me because I've never liked alcohol and just skimmed through that part probably and thought nothing more about it. However, once I really started thinking about addiction, I realized that shortly after reading Protein Power, seeing the light and embarking on my own journey, within about 1 year I gave up a 35 year, pack and 1/2 per day smoking habit almost effortlessly (well not completely effortlessly). Why I didn't tie in low carbing to the ease of quitting smoking, which I had been trying to do for almost 20 years, I don't know. This is my aha moment. I don't think it's ever easy to quit smoking but I'm sure it was a lot easier once I really got into low-carbing. Don't ask me how this relates to alcohol, fuel and low blood sugar, but I also felt no desire to continue with a low level bingo (gambling) habit. I couldn't miss a night of bingo and the rush that came with winning. Now, I'm thinking, "What was I thinking and why was I doing this?" I have no desire to gamble in any way shape or form anymore. I even forget to buy lotto tickets. Or an alternative theory might be that once I quit smoking there was no reason to go to bingo. Don't know.
With that in mind, I'm going to re-read Nora's book again and more thoroughly this time.
Tuesday 23 April 2013
lol the Andy Griffith show
I found this clip on another blog (Primal Supper)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ihOi56J17Hw
So meatloaf doesn't make you fat but apple pie does, lmao.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ihOi56J17Hw
So meatloaf doesn't make you fat but apple pie does, lmao.
Wednesday 17 April 2013
Sunday 7 April 2013
Comments on Dr Ede's All Meat Diet Post
Dr. Ede's excellent post can be found here.
I am not an expert but some of those comments I've read on Dr. Ede's post are completely hilarious. I live on the Canadian prairies. I dare you to go out and forage for plants even now in April as we have snow on the ground at the moment. Now going further north by 1500 km to Yellowknife NWT which is as far as public transportation (air not roads) will take you, you will find you're still hundreds of miles south of where some of the Inuit live. So from here to the northern regions is a good 2000 to 2500 km distance. People have no idea how cold and inhospitable the climate is there.
Some of the first nations peoples who live closer to me are able to forage for plants maybe from May to October or November. They pick berries and add them to their pemmican and do a lot of fishing and hunting. The Inuit, however, are bound by ice and snow most of the year and 6 months of that is in almost total darkness. You really think they will be foraging for lichens during that time even if lichen were around which I highly doubt that far north?
Each Inuit area is different but I'm sure that plants play a very, very small role in their diets and if their lives depended on them they would have died out long ago. There is no reason whatsoever to even go into what plants they may have or may not have eaten. They make no difference to the life-giving properties of the meat and fat they usually eat. Wish the plant lovers would just grow up and realize that everything we need, including vitamin C (organ meats) and be found in meat.
The fact that they are questioning the findings of Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who would have no reason to lie, shows me they are threatened in some way by this information.
I am not an expert but some of those comments I've read on Dr. Ede's post are completely hilarious. I live on the Canadian prairies. I dare you to go out and forage for plants even now in April as we have snow on the ground at the moment. Now going further north by 1500 km to Yellowknife NWT which is as far as public transportation (air not roads) will take you, you will find you're still hundreds of miles south of where some of the Inuit live. So from here to the northern regions is a good 2000 to 2500 km distance. People have no idea how cold and inhospitable the climate is there.
Some of the first nations peoples who live closer to me are able to forage for plants maybe from May to October or November. They pick berries and add them to their pemmican and do a lot of fishing and hunting. The Inuit, however, are bound by ice and snow most of the year and 6 months of that is in almost total darkness. You really think they will be foraging for lichens during that time even if lichen were around which I highly doubt that far north?
Each Inuit area is different but I'm sure that plants play a very, very small role in their diets and if their lives depended on them they would have died out long ago. There is no reason whatsoever to even go into what plants they may have or may not have eaten. They make no difference to the life-giving properties of the meat and fat they usually eat. Wish the plant lovers would just grow up and realize that everything we need, including vitamin C (organ meats) and be found in meat.
The fact that they are questioning the findings of Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who would have no reason to lie, shows me they are threatened in some way by this information.
Thursday 28 March 2013
My Ketosis Experiment
Since everyone is relating their experiences, I thought I'd relate mine.
3 years ago when I was 60 years old I finally managed to get on track by getting into ketosis.
Duration: 6 months
Starting weight: 247
Ending weight: 195
Food eaten: coffee, heavy cream, water, pork, beef, chicken, liver (beef and chicken), eggs, fish, seafood, butter, coconut oil, lard, salt, pepper, onion powder (yes, no fruit or vegetables of any kind). Variety doesn't really matter when you don't feel hunger except when you are truly hungry.
Supplements: fish oil and D3 due to living up north where the sun has trouble appearing and when it does it's so weak it has no impact even if you could walk around in shirt sleeves, which you can't 6 months of the year.
Frequency of meals: coffee with cream in morning, dinner at around 6 pm. No snacking.
Excerise: Just walking although I did make excuses to walk more by taking another bus to work that would allow me to walk at least 1 km each way during spring, summer and fall.
What did I count? Nothing. Jumping on the scales every morning is all I did. No strips, monitors, macronutrient component percentages. Zip, nada, nil.
How I felt: I felt better than I did in my early 20's. I had energy to spare. If I had lost some more weight I could have probably done cartwheels. I was happy all the time, my arthritis disappeared with my migraines and depression. AND the biggest thing was no hunger.
Cholesterol tested at around 6 months in: My overall cholesterol was 182, HDL 65, Trigs 104. Ratio around 2.8. We are talking absolutely fantastic for a post-menopausal 60 year old woman who was still overweight at 195 lbs.
What brought me down? Chili powder. We need to keep things simple and I started my first experiment to my utter downfall.
Keeping it simple so that you don't worry and stress out about all those things is the secret. So now I'm starting all over again but at least I know what the key to my success was.
3 years ago when I was 60 years old I finally managed to get on track by getting into ketosis.
Duration: 6 months
Starting weight: 247
Ending weight: 195
Food eaten: coffee, heavy cream, water, pork, beef, chicken, liver (beef and chicken), eggs, fish, seafood, butter, coconut oil, lard, salt, pepper, onion powder (yes, no fruit or vegetables of any kind). Variety doesn't really matter when you don't feel hunger except when you are truly hungry.
Supplements: fish oil and D3 due to living up north where the sun has trouble appearing and when it does it's so weak it has no impact even if you could walk around in shirt sleeves, which you can't 6 months of the year.
Frequency of meals: coffee with cream in morning, dinner at around 6 pm. No snacking.
Excerise: Just walking although I did make excuses to walk more by taking another bus to work that would allow me to walk at least 1 km each way during spring, summer and fall.
What did I count? Nothing. Jumping on the scales every morning is all I did. No strips, monitors, macronutrient component percentages. Zip, nada, nil.
How I felt: I felt better than I did in my early 20's. I had energy to spare. If I had lost some more weight I could have probably done cartwheels. I was happy all the time, my arthritis disappeared with my migraines and depression. AND the biggest thing was no hunger.
Cholesterol tested at around 6 months in: My overall cholesterol was 182, HDL 65, Trigs 104. Ratio around 2.8. We are talking absolutely fantastic for a post-menopausal 60 year old woman who was still overweight at 195 lbs.
What brought me down? Chili powder. We need to keep things simple and I started my first experiment to my utter downfall.
Keeping it simple so that you don't worry and stress out about all those things is the secret. So now I'm starting all over again but at least I know what the key to my success was.
Saturday 23 March 2013
I'm so happy and lucky
Guess what I've been craving lately? Not wheat, not sugar, not pizza, not lasagna, not cookies or donuts. I've been craving steak!!!! The problem for me is that I don't have the proper equipment for grilling a proper steak and cooking steak at home is always a disaster. I've spent money on different types of grills, the Nu-wave, George Foreman's, some other brand, and they just don't do the trick for me and I can't tolerate the smell of beef cooking. I need to go out for steak. Unfortunately, trying to find a place that has a good steak and where I don't have to put up my car as collateral for a loan so I can afford this good steak, I'm at a loss to figure out how to proceed. I'm also trying out different restaurants here in town and we do have a Brazilian here which I have yet to check out. I keep hoping I'll find a reasonably priced place that serve a good steak without bankrupting me.
No suggestions please about grilling on the balcony. It's minus 15 degrees outside and there's snow out there as well. I don't want to restrict my steak eating to only a few months in the summer :P
No suggestions please about grilling on the balcony. It's minus 15 degrees outside and there's snow out there as well. I don't want to restrict my steak eating to only a few months in the summer :P
Tuesday 19 March 2013
So, let me get this straight!
A whole lot of nastiness going on in the bloggersphere. My thoughts are:
I blog about diet and authors and books. Since those are important to me, I can say whatever I want on my blog. People can agree or disagree that is also their choice. Also, bear in mind that English is not my first language.
My blog list remains as it is until I find someone I enjoy reading and feel I can gain insight, entertainment and knowledge to my own life from reading their blogs. I have also been known to remove people whose opinions have changed and I no longer feel they have something to contribute to my knowledge or they are going against my values or opinions (S.G. and K.H. to name a few). They are still free to say anything they want on their blog, I just don't go there anymore.
I don't like podcasts so if you do podcasts exclusively it's not that I don't like what you are saying I just don't have you on my blog list.
All this business is starting to get out of hand somewhat like religion which is something I never discuss. However my son adopted a new religion and he tried several times to enlighten me until I told him that I was happy that he found something that made him as happy as I felt with my beliefs. I'm an agnostic leaning towards atheism. That seemed to work and he hasn't touched upon the subject since.
If certain bloggers are going out of their way to harrass others by email or on other's blogs, then it should be made public/known in a dignified fashion even if it is to just say "Fuck Off, " then leave it at that. Stooping to their level by dragging it out does not endear me to anyone using these tactics.
Personally, I don't mind a "wee" bit of drama but it's over the top now.
For those who want to be grammatically correct, Ukraine is a country. It's not "the" Ukraine. It's just Ukraine.
I blog about diet and authors and books. Since those are important to me, I can say whatever I want on my blog. People can agree or disagree that is also their choice. Also, bear in mind that English is not my first language.
My blog list remains as it is until I find someone I enjoy reading and feel I can gain insight, entertainment and knowledge to my own life from reading their blogs. I have also been known to remove people whose opinions have changed and I no longer feel they have something to contribute to my knowledge or they are going against my values or opinions (S.G. and K.H. to name a few). They are still free to say anything they want on their blog, I just don't go there anymore.
I don't like podcasts so if you do podcasts exclusively it's not that I don't like what you are saying I just don't have you on my blog list.
All this business is starting to get out of hand somewhat like religion which is something I never discuss. However my son adopted a new religion and he tried several times to enlighten me until I told him that I was happy that he found something that made him as happy as I felt with my beliefs. I'm an agnostic leaning towards atheism. That seemed to work and he hasn't touched upon the subject since.
If certain bloggers are going out of their way to harrass others by email or on other's blogs, then it should be made public/known in a dignified fashion even if it is to just say "Fuck Off, " then leave it at that. Stooping to their level by dragging it out does not endear me to anyone using these tactics.
Personally, I don't mind a "wee" bit of drama but it's over the top now.
For those who want to be grammatically correct, Ukraine is a country. It's not "the" Ukraine. It's just Ukraine.
Wednesday 13 March 2013
A Joe Barley Mystery
I have discovered a
new Canadian author that I felt it my duty to comment upon.:
Title of book: The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn, A Joe Barley Mystery
Author: Eric Wright, former Professor, Chair of English Department and Dean of Arts
Main character: Joe
Barley, English Language Arts Sessional Instructor and Part-time
Detective (to supplement his meagre Sessional Instructor pay)
Joe Barley's live-in
girlfriend Carole: Loves to read and works her entire life, career and
social life around her reading and how it relates to her reading (sounds
a lot like me)
Joe's militant sessional-instructor activist colleague: Richard
Not to mention that the work is short and extremely funny. You don't have to work in academia to love this book. I am now reading two of his other books and he's written many.
Monday 11 March 2013
Ancient Egyptians ate a heart healthy diet of grains
The media seems to think that our modern lifestyle may not be entirely to blame for all our health concerns because ancient egyptian mummies had clogged arteries. Think again.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/03/11/mummies-heart-disease.html
According to wikipedia
"The cuisine of ancient Egypt covers a span of over three thousand years, but still retained many consistent traits well into Greco-roman times. The staples of both poor and wealthy Egyptians were bread and beer, often accompanied by green-shooted onions, other vegetables and to a lesser extent meat, game and fish."
So it looks like the ancient egyptian diet was heavy in grains, medium in veggies and low in meat. Plus they liked their beer. Sounds like a modern lifestyle to me.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/03/11/mummies-heart-disease.html
According to wikipedia
"The cuisine of ancient Egypt covers a span of over three thousand years, but still retained many consistent traits well into Greco-roman times. The staples of both poor and wealthy Egyptians were bread and beer, often accompanied by green-shooted onions, other vegetables and to a lesser extent meat, game and fish."
So it looks like the ancient egyptian diet was heavy in grains, medium in veggies and low in meat. Plus they liked their beer. Sounds like a modern lifestyle to me.
Friday 8 March 2013
The truth is filtering through slowly
A must read:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/03/08/f-vp-crowe-big-sugar.html
I'm glad this is finally coming out, a little late maybe but welcome.
Sugar Industry Secret Documents unearthed. The 1st or 2nd nail in the coffin.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/03/08/f-vp-crowe-big-sugar.html
I'm glad this is finally coming out, a little late maybe but welcome.
Sugar Industry Secret Documents unearthed. The 1st or 2nd nail in the coffin.
Friday 22 February 2013
There's not enough starch in the potatoes
A bit late posting this but went out for breakfast with Sis last Sunday. Was asking the waitress if they put flour in their scrambled eggs. She asked if I was celiac. I said yes for simplicity sake. She responded that I better not have the hash browns because they were dusted with flour. DUSTED WITH FLOUR. OMG. It's probably because there isn't enough starch in potatoes already. So if you are a typical, naive, breakfaster, you're getting your sugars and starches in your omelets, toast, jam, hash browns, etc. Hey why don't we just eat bowlfuls of sugar? But when you talk to people you hear them saying, "I hardly ever eat sugar." Oh yes you do, you just don't know it.
So when I now order breakfast, it's 3 poached eggs accompanied by 6 slices of bacon or steak :P Maybe a couple of slices of tomato if I feel daring.
So when I now order breakfast, it's 3 poached eggs accompanied by 6 slices of bacon or steak :P Maybe a couple of slices of tomato if I feel daring.
Wednesday 20 February 2013
Feast or Famine
One of the things that gives me panic attacks is not having at least a hundred books waiting to be read. Ok I'm exaggerating perhpas 60 or so. Right now I'm on a roll. I have tons of books waiting to be read but everything is getting held up by the book I am now reading.
Forget plot, forget information, forget anything else. My gauge for rating a book is: If I want to continue reading, then it's a good book. If I want to continue reading and find the material fascinating then that's a bonus. If I want to continue reading and the material is fascinating and the writing style superb then I'm in heaven.
So getting back to the book I am now reading by Dr. Robert H. Lustig called "Fat Chance." I'm on page 58. This book is great and meets all the criteria outlined above. Dr. Lustig has a great writing style and I'm sure I'll learn a lot and really enjoy myself. I'm finding the section on fast food is making me hungry so I need to get through that part really fast. lol
I'm not a scholar but this book should be read by everyone whether or not they are interested in nutrition and obesity.
Forget plot, forget information, forget anything else. My gauge for rating a book is: If I want to continue reading, then it's a good book. If I want to continue reading and find the material fascinating then that's a bonus. If I want to continue reading and the material is fascinating and the writing style superb then I'm in heaven.
So getting back to the book I am now reading by Dr. Robert H. Lustig called "Fat Chance." I'm on page 58. This book is great and meets all the criteria outlined above. Dr. Lustig has a great writing style and I'm sure I'll learn a lot and really enjoy myself. I'm finding the section on fast food is making me hungry so I need to get through that part really fast. lol
I'm not a scholar but this book should be read by everyone whether or not they are interested in nutrition and obesity.
Sunday 17 February 2013
Laugh Out Loud
Reading up on Ashton Kutcher's experiences with a raw fruit diet that had him hospitalized, I came across a comment made on a raw fruit forum. There's a very simple explanation and here it is according to the vegans,
His symptoms were classic detox symptoms! It seems really obvious to me. I had similar symptoms in some of the early stages, especially the pain in my liver and pancreas and stomach when my glands were being swamped by all the toxins my cells were releasing. You can read about it from anyone that has an understanding of how powerful a fruit detox is! I have no idea what he did to prepare for it, if he went from a heavy cooked diet which included dairy and meat and grains I'm not surprised his body went into detox shock. Maybe I'm being too simplistic but this seems like a no brainer to me.So there you have it in a nutshell. If you get sick on a vegan diet, it's your body detoxing from all the poisonous food you were eating before. Don't even think it could possibly be anything else.
Saturday 16 February 2013
At my age, it's about health
What I keep forgetting is that no matter how much or little weight I lose, as long as I'm eating clean low carb my lipids and blood pressure are great and I feel great. Whatever mickey mouse doctor I have at the time drops their jaw at my lipid results because "fat person" and "perfect lipids" just don't jive. The obsession with weight loss seems to cast everything else aside and we tend to forget how great we feel.
How many times have we given up because weight loss has been low to non-existent? It seems like a good excuse at the time but we need to consider how we feel and how healthy we are. Perhaps if we regain that great feeling and stop obsessing about the amount of weight we lost we may be able to continue. How many times have I heard, "Low carb just doesn't work for me?" Really?
When I was doing the low fat thing, it took me a whole year to lose 17 lbs. Sure it was progress of a sort weight-wise but my deteriorating health as in arthritic pain, increased depression and and constant migraines made me reconsider this way of eating.
So taking pressure off myself a tad, initially I'm going to just eat good stuff that I'm allowed to eat, as much as I want, and not worry about calories, weight or anything else. At my age, health is what really matters.
How many times have we given up because weight loss has been low to non-existent? It seems like a good excuse at the time but we need to consider how we feel and how healthy we are. Perhaps if we regain that great feeling and stop obsessing about the amount of weight we lost we may be able to continue. How many times have I heard, "Low carb just doesn't work for me?" Really?
When I was doing the low fat thing, it took me a whole year to lose 17 lbs. Sure it was progress of a sort weight-wise but my deteriorating health as in arthritic pain, increased depression and and constant migraines made me reconsider this way of eating.
So taking pressure off myself a tad, initially I'm going to just eat good stuff that I'm allowed to eat, as much as I want, and not worry about calories, weight or anything else. At my age, health is what really matters.
Thursday 14 February 2013
Snap, Crackle, Pop
I have a desk job and I get up often to flex my lower body and walk around a bit. Today when I got up a thought came to me and I rolled around the floor laughing. Thinking of the old commercial for Rice Crispies, my body is starting to make those snap, crackle, pop type of sounds more and more.
Monday 11 February 2013
The case of the missing data
Well, well, well, CBC finally came out with it.
The case of the missing data here
and
Heart Healthy Oil Claims Reconsidered here
Took them a while but at least Health Canada is looking into the matter and not dismissing it out of hand.
I've yet to see anything on BBC.
Finished reading the Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill. What a fantastic book but now I'll have to order the entire set because the library has a sporadic supply and not all of the published works, dammit. Also, finished reading all of the Detective Zhong Fong books by David Rotenberg. Another very worthwhile endeavour. David Rotenberg's new book is called the Placebo Effect and is also very good.
The case of the missing data here
and
Heart Healthy Oil Claims Reconsidered here
Took them a while but at least Health Canada is looking into the matter and not dismissing it out of hand.
I've yet to see anything on BBC.
Finished reading the Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill. What a fantastic book but now I'll have to order the entire set because the library has a sporadic supply and not all of the published works, dammit. Also, finished reading all of the Detective Zhong Fong books by David Rotenberg. Another very worthwhile endeavour. David Rotenberg's new book is called the Placebo Effect and is also very good.
Saturday 9 February 2013
Memories of how great I felt
Reading the latest Woo articles here, got me thinking about something very important to me personally, well not for the first time but this particular time I feel like commenting in my space. I will quote the part where she says:
My experience was exactly like Woo's and I wasn't even at my ideal weight. Heat and sunlight didn't bother me, I didn't need sunglasses, I slept well, nothing hurt, no migraines, I felt euphoric all the time, happy, energetic. I ate once a day usually. No cravings.
I know what happened to make me fall off the wagon which I have not been able to securely get back on. Food allergies are my nemesis and even though I was on a meat only diet I made the mistake of making beanless all meat chili. The chili powder and spices were the culprits. Plus my lack of willpower to immediately get back on track after. But I'm still working on it and thinking about how great I felt, being reminded is helping.
When one has spent large chunks of their life feeling poorly for whatever reason, it's quite easy to meditate upon the simple pleasure of being alive, happy and healthy; the strength in your body, how it radiates glorious heat, so on. I can sit in my car in 30 degree weather and keep the windows down and the sun roof down, my breath can fog the air and I feel warm. My body is a fortress. This is because I eat, I eat a lot of dirty hedonistic gluttonous calories. I no longer weigh myself. I eat if I'm hungry. The only dietary rule I have is to alway elect at least a mildly ketogenic diet. I've never felt better.Two years ago I lost 50 lbs doing an all meat ketogenic diet. From 245+ lbs to 195 lbs. This was monumental at 60 years of age where it was so difficult for me to lose weight for over a decade. I had lost some weight earlier just doing Atkins, but all meat worked perfectly for me with a lot more success. I've since regained all that weight but still remember how I felt. The difficulty has been to do it again, but I've been working on it.
My experience was exactly like Woo's and I wasn't even at my ideal weight. Heat and sunlight didn't bother me, I didn't need sunglasses, I slept well, nothing hurt, no migraines, I felt euphoric all the time, happy, energetic. I ate once a day usually. No cravings.
I know what happened to make me fall off the wagon which I have not been able to securely get back on. Food allergies are my nemesis and even though I was on a meat only diet I made the mistake of making beanless all meat chili. The chili powder and spices were the culprits. Plus my lack of willpower to immediately get back on track after. But I'm still working on it and thinking about how great I felt, being reminded is helping.
Thursday 7 February 2013
This really must stop
A study recently updated with material analyzed recently (data lost for over 40 years) is discussed here on Fat Head's site and here on Dr. Briffa's site. I am amazed that no main stream media picked up on this, as I check CBC and BBC news on the net several times a day. Nowhere have I seen this information except on low carbish/paleoish blogs. Now why is that? This is earth shattering news that should be broadcast from all media outlets. Of course we already know all this as we have been swimming upstream for quite some time but the people who should immediately have this information are those who need it the most: doctors, dieticians, nutritionists, the Heart Association, etc. Yet there is this wall of silence out there. Some vegan has a thought that "red meat kills" and it's plastered everywhere you look. This really must stop.
Monday 28 January 2013
Glucosamine Experience
Reading up on the Cooling Inflammation site, I decided to take the supplements Dr. Ayers recommends. Bought top of the line glucosamine and vitamin C on Saturday. Took both Saturday night before going to bed and again Sunday at around dinner time. After dinner I started itching something awful. It was almost unbearable. Went to the bathroom and noticed my skin around my neck was beet red. Took off my house dress and noticed hives and red skin everywhere. Took a couple of antihistamines immediately. By about 10 am this morning almost all the redness and rash were gone.
Soooooooooo, maybe it's the shellfish? The sulfate? The Vitamin C (I doubt that)? Maybe I should try the synthetic version of glucosamine? And I didn't even take the 750 mg Dr. Ayers recommended. I got the 500 mg size. Maybe it was the red cooking wine I used when making my beef stew? Who the hell knows? I took the Vitamin C today with no problems. I'll try the stew tomorrow. If that doesn't cause problems, then it's the glucosamine.
I was reading up on the Warrior Diet. I'll have to get the book from the library. When I dropped 50 lbs 2 years ago, I was fasting for 18 hours each day and only eating in a 6 hour window. The warrior diet seems to fit into that scenario and I can get my coffee in during the day. I'll see where that gets me.
Soooooooooo, maybe it's the shellfish? The sulfate? The Vitamin C (I doubt that)? Maybe I should try the synthetic version of glucosamine? And I didn't even take the 750 mg Dr. Ayers recommended. I got the 500 mg size. Maybe it was the red cooking wine I used when making my beef stew? Who the hell knows? I took the Vitamin C today with no problems. I'll try the stew tomorrow. If that doesn't cause problems, then it's the glucosamine.
I was reading up on the Warrior Diet. I'll have to get the book from the library. When I dropped 50 lbs 2 years ago, I was fasting for 18 hours each day and only eating in a 6 hour window. The warrior diet seems to fit into that scenario and I can get my coffee in during the day. I'll see where that gets me.
Saturday 26 January 2013
Imagine that!
Everyone is pooh poohing Dr. Kruse for his stance on cold therapy, me included to a degree (no pun intended). The reason I mention this now is that I was spending a lot of time reading Dr. Ayers site "Cooling Inflammation" the last couple of days looking for some answers to several of my health issues and because I love him and too bad he's married (but I digress) and came across this in one of the comments sections. Someone had asked what should be done to stimulate the vagus nerve.
His response in part was:
Just a thought!
His response in part was:
There are numerous ways to stimulate the Vagus nerve in general including:Sooooo, maybe cold therapy can be useful to a degree and let's not throw the concept out entirely.
- the Valsalva maneuver
- joga relaxation exercises (shavasana)
- immersing the face in cold water
Just a thought!
Friday 11 January 2013
Knowledge is great but experience greater
I am constantly seeking new knowledge as to how things work, why, when, how, where, etc. However, certain things I happen to know are true due to my experiences, especially when it comes to diet. That's why I've stopped reading a number of blogs where "youngsters (those under 60)" start babbling about "safe" starches.
Take for example the holidays, which also happen to include my birthday. Lot's of going out and celebrating and a perceived license to "cheat." If starches, in moderation, were safe (at my age) I would not have put on almost 10 lbs because they definitely were in moderation. A bit of rice there, a little bit of potato there and voila, 10 lbs. No starches in one day, I'm down 2 lbs quickly.
So it is true that what happens to work for "some" definitely does't work for "others." Basically, I have to do a bare bones, an almost all animal products type of diet to lose weight. I can get by low-carbing, (veggies, berries, full fat yogurt, fish, meat, eggs, cheese) to improve my health markers but to actually lose weight it's animal products mostly, with no vegetation and definitely no starches.
I can eat animal products and not count calories and still lose weight. I can drink heavy whipping cream and still lose weight without hunger even at my age as long as I stick to animal products. There's where Woo is right. Keep the calories higher so your body doesn't think it's starving and give it nutrient-dense nourishment (what could be more nutrient dense than animals) and you'll lose weight. Show me one vegetable or fruit ounce for ounce that can beat a pork chop or beef liver or eggs in nutrients. Don't even ask me if steamed rice contains any nutrients or even taste. No thanks, I think I'll pass.
Take for example the holidays, which also happen to include my birthday. Lot's of going out and celebrating and a perceived license to "cheat." If starches, in moderation, were safe (at my age) I would not have put on almost 10 lbs because they definitely were in moderation. A bit of rice there, a little bit of potato there and voila, 10 lbs. No starches in one day, I'm down 2 lbs quickly.
So it is true that what happens to work for "some" definitely does't work for "others." Basically, I have to do a bare bones, an almost all animal products type of diet to lose weight. I can get by low-carbing, (veggies, berries, full fat yogurt, fish, meat, eggs, cheese) to improve my health markers but to actually lose weight it's animal products mostly, with no vegetation and definitely no starches.
I can eat animal products and not count calories and still lose weight. I can drink heavy whipping cream and still lose weight without hunger even at my age as long as I stick to animal products. There's where Woo is right. Keep the calories higher so your body doesn't think it's starving and give it nutrient-dense nourishment (what could be more nutrient dense than animals) and you'll lose weight. Show me one vegetable or fruit ounce for ounce that can beat a pork chop or beef liver or eggs in nutrients. Don't even ask me if steamed rice contains any nutrients or even taste. No thanks, I think I'll pass.
Thursday 3 January 2013
Stooping to new lows in the new year
It is mind boggling how low some of us LC/Paleo folks are falling. I'm still in shock. However, it has been interesting and amusing and sad. It has also provided much insight into different personalities and shown me just how petty some can be and how others try to maintain some semblance of civility.
I have a short wish list for the new year. Here it is:
I have a short wish list for the new year. Here it is:
- more articles written by Dr. Ayers of "Cooling Inflammation"
- less sex scenes in novels (you know you're getting old when you skim over sex scenes deeming them a waste of your precious time which could be better spent in laying out clues and solving crimes)
- thicker books by favorite authors
- more books written by Patrick Rothfuss
- more books written by Ian Rankin
- good health
- success with my diet
Tuesday 1 January 2013
Retirement Planning
So most people when they use the term "Retirement Planning" always mean "Retirement Financial Planning." In my case nothing could be further from the truth. I don't give a shit about finances. Can finances buy you happiness, contentment and health? Probably not. I've managed to save a little bit but it's not over 30k and I'll be drawing a good pension that I've worked since 1964 to earn. My tastes are very simple and my spending has always been at bare minimum because I never had any money and have always lived within my means. Enough of this money talk. Retirement planning is now my primary focus even though I still have 2 years to grind out before I retire.
I've been discussing this with a dear old friend of mine who is my age and we've known each other since we were 18 and worked our first job at the "Army and Navy" store. We've been fast friends ever since even though we haven't lived in the same city for quite some time. We have decided upon a more temperate climate here in Canada and we are moving there, she in May of this year and me in May of 2015. We will keep separate apartments as she is the "Felix" to my "Oscar". I have pets, she doesn't. She irons her socks. What else can I say?
We have picked out the place and have friends scouting it out for rentable apartments we can afford.
So we've decided that we want to:
Try our hand at golf and laugh ourselves silly (I think the last time my friend played golf she knocked out and killed a wild goose)
Try fishing
Do some gardening
Definitely take long hikes daily
Join the reading club (not me as I already know what I like to read and am inflexible)
Take some courses (not me, I'm concentrating on hiking and leaving the heavy thinking to my friend)
Take jaunts to our favorite city, rent rooms on the beach and stroll through the parks
Take an Alaskan Cruise
Go to other cities in the area on shopping sprees (not me, I'll go sightseeing instead)
We've decided that we will maintain our health so that we can enjoy ourselves. I have started my diet a few days ago, couldn't even wait for the 1st of January. Dropped 2 lbs already.
It's amazing what a joy planning a retirement can be. I can hardly wait and it has lifted my mood significantly.
I've been discussing this with a dear old friend of mine who is my age and we've known each other since we were 18 and worked our first job at the "Army and Navy" store. We've been fast friends ever since even though we haven't lived in the same city for quite some time. We have decided upon a more temperate climate here in Canada and we are moving there, she in May of this year and me in May of 2015. We will keep separate apartments as she is the "Felix" to my "Oscar". I have pets, she doesn't. She irons her socks. What else can I say?
We have picked out the place and have friends scouting it out for rentable apartments we can afford.
So we've decided that we want to:
Try our hand at golf and laugh ourselves silly (I think the last time my friend played golf she knocked out and killed a wild goose)
Try fishing
Do some gardening
Definitely take long hikes daily
Join the reading club (not me as I already know what I like to read and am inflexible)
Take some courses (not me, I'm concentrating on hiking and leaving the heavy thinking to my friend)
Take jaunts to our favorite city, rent rooms on the beach and stroll through the parks
Take an Alaskan Cruise
Go to other cities in the area on shopping sprees (not me, I'll go sightseeing instead)
We've decided that we will maintain our health so that we can enjoy ourselves. I have started my diet a few days ago, couldn't even wait for the 1st of January. Dropped 2 lbs already.
It's amazing what a joy planning a retirement can be. I can hardly wait and it has lifted my mood significantly.
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