This is one of those things where I'm thinking out loud. Brainstorming. And trying to set a foundation to build on, here. My topic in this blog is food, more than diet, and how much you should or shouldn't eat of what. That's what we're trying to figure out.
I'm not one of those people, who is impressed with the food pyramid. Was that thing silly or what? And they're still trying to salvage that lobbyist crap. Forget it. Your body chemistry can not be put into such a simplistic box, can it? But in my words, right there, is a magic phrase, that most of us ignore; Body Chemistry!
I like to understand factual information. I like the calorie count, and grams of fat, etc. Those actually do make me think. I don't like the guidelines, 6% or whatever. Without testing me in a lab, how do you know that? It's speculation. Now granted there are truths in statistics, as there are lies in statistics. And you can be quite accurate with such predictions, I just don't like it being mixed into my facts, in a way that really doesn't work. The government declared war on FAT, and then didn't distinguish the good fats from the bad, so I got cynical to all their guidelines.
Back to Body Science and Chemistry. The way I see it, food is good! You can do study after study, and come to the same conclusion. Food does this or that- does it now? This is never the issue, and here's why. The real question is; Your Body did what, being fueled with that? Food doesn't do the job, you do the job, through that thing called chemistry! Food does one thing well, it spoils. Which is why I take issue with salt studies.
We need salt enough to have brain enjoys it enough, to seek it out. Why? I believe that it's to slow spoilage, the oldest use of salt, to begin with. You eat salt, to keep from turning into a giant walking cesspool of bacteria. You need bacteria for digestion, and you also need bacteria control. Every doctor has read that there is no difference between no salt, low salt, and unrestricted diets in survivability studies. Yet, the first thing your doctor does with CHF is tell you to limit salt. (Ok reduce it, but I think only a fool tries to eliminate it). Another part of salt is as a bonding agent. "Sodium Whatever", is found in all kinds of things, because whatever was bonded to it. How do you think your fat cells are any different at storing nutrients? Come on, man? Anyway, my questions are not answered by these guideline numbers.
Back on the science. Sorry you fundamentalist, but evolution is a fact, not a theory, and should even be called a law of nature! Your theology is irrelevant here, and that's an issue that makes many people fighting mad. Do you really think God made bananas yellow to attract humans to eat them? Most things that are bright colored are actually poisonous. So there went the theory of bright red tasty cherrys, a gift from God for both eye and stomach? Don't be so goofy, grow up!
The wise councils of faith leadership, all though the ages, has been concocting dietary does and don'ts, forever. Today, we wisely have divided these streams of thought. It's not just the faithful that should possess the secrets of good life, it's a human right to have safe foods. Why Jews don't eat cheese burgers, has little to do with the science of fats and body chemistry. Or eating fish on Friday, or any of these other things. Pigs are fine when handled properly. Shell fish are fine, when taken at the right times. Etc.
These all started from observational studies, and simple science of deductive reasoning mostly. But today with have refrigeration. Chemistry to control bacteria, and even radiation applied to our foods. Age old wisdom, might not any longer apply. Come on, the Church fought against the world being ROUND like a ball. They thought it was round like a coin! Why? Things fall down, and they had no explanation for that, other than observational wisdom. Things fall down. Today we know now that mass draws itself together, more mass, greater gravity, so balls are a natural shape in the cosmos. Pancakes, not so much!
The second that we mention evolution, them hairs on the back of people necks rise in anger. But facts are that we have been around some 600,000 years. Most of our cousins as a species didn't make this far. Point is that, we have developed a 600,000 year database of chemical reactions. I believe that foods are craved, to balance out nutrients that your body wants. For example, I don't really believe that Cherrys in summer are any better than cherries in winter. But your body enjoys the restoration of something it lost in that time, part of the cycle of the human chemistry. And suddenly cherrys are like the gift of God, that you can't get enough of. And maybe they are, and maybe they aren't. I'll let your Church sort that out, I'd rather deal in provable facts.
My point is, that my nutritional requirements in the mountains might be slightly different than those of my cousin's at the beach. Both because of elevation, temperature, etc. My cycles could be different too, such as needing more fat to fight off cold of winter. There is a lot of variables, that simplistic guides don't take into account. That I don't think we are yet addressing in our science any more than our theology?
One size fits all. Does it?
This has been a long rant to say; What should we be watching away? Fat, Salt, Sugar/Carbs, besides just calories? Should we do a statistical analysis of servings, based on facts we know. For example; Lets use our bacon, once it's right here; We add two strips of cooked bacon, and have served 6 people (in the dish). So statistically we have added 70 calories divided by 6, right? (12 calories, rounded up). But there are factors not accounted for by this. For example; Wheat Gluten, which is a protein that is developed by kneading dough. So what you start with, is not what you end up with in a loaf of bread. So statistical really isn't much more accurate than observation, in this case. Things fall down, and therefore the world is flat!
Calories for those of you who don't know, is a measurement of energy that it takes to consume a food item. And it really is a pretty proven yard stick, even though it doesn't take into account, that everything you eat, has a life span in your system, before it's ejected as poop! Meaning, you don't fully process everything that goes in you. But statistically again, it give you a good yard stick measurement, which helps us to understand that we should be limited to 2000 calories or less per day, to be within a healthy weight ratio.
However, I do believe that athleticism, is a side effect of being healthy. And not the other way around, as so many would have you believe. It's another medical fooler! Novelist Douglas Adams died at the gym. No doubt, that we get benefits from some exercise, unless it kills you. But being a good athlete requires a certain amount of good health to begin with, that you may have always been lacking? Just a thought- not a popular one, but I'm use to that!
The point here is to figure out what our diet is doing to us. So I'm doing my homework on what I eat. And trying to learn a bit more about obesity, and how to control it. There is diet that has always worked without fad, it's counting calories, and limiting them!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Walkabout
Ok, for the last two weeks? or so, maybe 3? I've been back to my walking. I can't really call it power walking, because I'm not in that kind of shape, and still adjusting to life with less than a full set of lungs. And I live a mile in sky, on the top of a mountain. Anyway, I'm not nearly walking enough yet, not even close to being in the kind of shape I was before I lost the chunk of lung. But I try to get out there and get in that road work, twice a week at the very least.
I walk down my driveway to the street, turn uphill, and start peddling. By the time I reach the summit, I feel like I'm going to pass out, missing this lung. It's a steep climb, of about a quarter mile. Where it levels out, is back outside my house, ironically. Then there's another climb, maybe a football field in length, then it's down hill for nearly a half a mile. It's an easy walk by this point, then another steep climb about another football field plus in length. Then it mostly levels out back to my house, and up the driveway again. All total, EXACTLY a mile! That's not remarkable if you know anything about civil engineering, it's normally a mile around the block.
What you discover from this, is that all circles you travel have just as much up, as they do down to them (after all it's a closed loop). Mine has the hardest up, at the start. And going that way, is almost a sock to the system at the moment. If I really haven't the time, I'll make it just that short route of about a quarter mile. Feeling that a little road work, is better than none. But I do need to add another day into it, I'm just not comfortable doing that yet. And being in the middle of winter isn't helping.
Frankly, I've never felt so out of shape in my entire life! And doing this only proves it. The weight loss is starting, but it's slow. I'm still eating too many calories per day, honestly. However, I've started moderating my portions of dinner again. Which would work, if I weren't snacking. My brother is to blame. He gets home from work VERY late now, so trying to time that, to dinner, causes snacking, and once you start, it's like a ball rolling down hill, when you're hungry!
I walk down my driveway to the street, turn uphill, and start peddling. By the time I reach the summit, I feel like I'm going to pass out, missing this lung. It's a steep climb, of about a quarter mile. Where it levels out, is back outside my house, ironically. Then there's another climb, maybe a football field in length, then it's down hill for nearly a half a mile. It's an easy walk by this point, then another steep climb about another football field plus in length. Then it mostly levels out back to my house, and up the driveway again. All total, EXACTLY a mile! That's not remarkable if you know anything about civil engineering, it's normally a mile around the block.
What you discover from this, is that all circles you travel have just as much up, as they do down to them (after all it's a closed loop). Mine has the hardest up, at the start. And going that way, is almost a sock to the system at the moment. If I really haven't the time, I'll make it just that short route of about a quarter mile. Feeling that a little road work, is better than none. But I do need to add another day into it, I'm just not comfortable doing that yet. And being in the middle of winter isn't helping.
Frankly, I've never felt so out of shape in my entire life! And doing this only proves it. The weight loss is starting, but it's slow. I'm still eating too many calories per day, honestly. However, I've started moderating my portions of dinner again. Which would work, if I weren't snacking. My brother is to blame. He gets home from work VERY late now, so trying to time that, to dinner, causes snacking, and once you start, it's like a ball rolling down hill, when you're hungry!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Whole Grains
One of the things I find most puzzling in any diet, is this insistence that WHOLE GRAINS are somehow better for you? HOW? Here's a hint, look at your poop. I know, I know! There's a point coming; you see those seeds and twigs? Those were things your body had no interest in, it didn't retain them, or process them. Yet somehow, you got the idea that bread with these things, is better for you? Maybe as just empty bulk, perhaps?
And who are you people that have such trouble pooping, that you need to poison yourselves, to feel regular? Your body is expelling this stuff, because it's unhappy with what you've added to it.
One thing I've come to realize is the issue of dehydration, and how good people are at ignoring it. If my lips are chapping, it means I need water! It's not the cold! The cold is stealing that moisture in steam from my breath, or as sweat from a fever, it's not stealing oils from my skin. WATER is key. Drink more fluids, and you stay regular, your lips don't chap much, etc.
Fluids themselves have risks too, in calories, sugar, allergies, etc. So fruit juices may not be a better pick. Besides, these fluids can cause migraines! Water, coffee or tea, unsweetened, are all good things. Try them strait or black! But remember, you can drunk on just water. Too much will make you just as sick as too little.
So, maybe some of you, can explain to me whole grains, and why I would want them? Point is that animals that eat such stuff, also swallow small rocks to help grind that kind of stuff up into something processable- that's true! Eat any rocks lately, other than a multi-vitamin?
There seems to be this rule; If it tastes like shit, it's good for you! Well, maybe it's because you can't eat much of it, because it tastes like shit? Come on, have you ever tried flax seed in anything?
And who are you people that have such trouble pooping, that you need to poison yourselves, to feel regular? Your body is expelling this stuff, because it's unhappy with what you've added to it.
One thing I've come to realize is the issue of dehydration, and how good people are at ignoring it. If my lips are chapping, it means I need water! It's not the cold! The cold is stealing that moisture in steam from my breath, or as sweat from a fever, it's not stealing oils from my skin. WATER is key. Drink more fluids, and you stay regular, your lips don't chap much, etc.
Fluids themselves have risks too, in calories, sugar, allergies, etc. So fruit juices may not be a better pick. Besides, these fluids can cause migraines! Water, coffee or tea, unsweetened, are all good things. Try them strait or black! But remember, you can drunk on just water. Too much will make you just as sick as too little.
So, maybe some of you, can explain to me whole grains, and why I would want them? Point is that animals that eat such stuff, also swallow small rocks to help grind that kind of stuff up into something processable- that's true! Eat any rocks lately, other than a multi-vitamin?
There seems to be this rule; If it tastes like shit, it's good for you! Well, maybe it's because you can't eat much of it, because it tastes like shit? Come on, have you ever tried flax seed in anything?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Less Whine, more wine!
Ok, the holidays are done. My wine recommendation for them was Gewurztraminer, which is white wine from Germany, that actually does taste Bavarian- as strange as that may sound. Gewurz is great for dark meat fowl (particularly duck), sausages, and strong flavors like Chinese food. But, we're done with that remember?
Now, I'm back to a normal diet, again. And frankly a wine that has really gotten my attention lately is Shiraz. You can get Shiraz cheap from Delicato label, that is excellent, don't let the price fool you. Delicato sells for jug wine prices, and I'm fearless, as many of you know! Shiraz is a burgundy wine, red, very rich complex flavor. I sure they describe it as Chocolate, Plum, or something, along those lines? What I like about Shiraz over your normal red (Cabernet) is that it doesn't have that bitter bite to it, of the grape skin. Not that the WHOLE FRUIT flavor isn't present, just not as crisp. However, Shiraz is a strong flavor that lingers quite a bit. So if you don't care flavors that linger (like for example fresh garlic), and frequently I don't, then Shiraz would be a wine to avoid. However, if you really enjoy complex flavors of Red Wine, Shiraz might be just what the doctor ordered.
Shiraz however is not a great dinner wine, because it's flavor is quite strong, and complex. One way to tone down the flavor is add cold. 20 minutes of refrigeration before serving will mute the strong flavor for a while. But last time I served it, was with my rye bread pizza, and as strong a flavor as that is, two sips and the flavor of the pizza was gone, only a memory. So make it for after dinner, or before. It is considered a great cheese wine.
Wines:
85 calories for 3.5 oz serving (which is a small wine glass these days, but ironically what I use)
2.8g in Carbs.
Nutritional Facts
Now, I'm back to a normal diet, again. And frankly a wine that has really gotten my attention lately is Shiraz. You can get Shiraz cheap from Delicato label, that is excellent, don't let the price fool you. Delicato sells for jug wine prices, and I'm fearless, as many of you know! Shiraz is a burgundy wine, red, very rich complex flavor. I sure they describe it as Chocolate, Plum, or something, along those lines? What I like about Shiraz over your normal red (Cabernet) is that it doesn't have that bitter bite to it, of the grape skin. Not that the WHOLE FRUIT flavor isn't present, just not as crisp. However, Shiraz is a strong flavor that lingers quite a bit. So if you don't care flavors that linger (like for example fresh garlic), and frequently I don't, then Shiraz would be a wine to avoid. However, if you really enjoy complex flavors of Red Wine, Shiraz might be just what the doctor ordered.
Shiraz however is not a great dinner wine, because it's flavor is quite strong, and complex. One way to tone down the flavor is add cold. 20 minutes of refrigeration before serving will mute the strong flavor for a while. But last time I served it, was with my rye bread pizza, and as strong a flavor as that is, two sips and the flavor of the pizza was gone, only a memory. So make it for after dinner, or before. It is considered a great cheese wine.
Wines:
85 calories for 3.5 oz serving (which is a small wine glass these days, but ironically what I use)
2.8g in Carbs.
Nutritional Facts
Saturday, January 3, 2009
2009 the official year of Bacon!!!
I don't care if it's the year of the pig or not! Me and my dog have decided that it's the Official Year of Bacon! Yes, I asked my bitch, and she agreed: Bacon! Now, I'm not even suppose to think about such things, without apologizing to my doctor for wasting his time, and at the very least popping 3 more Lipitors, and promising nothing but greens and a half hour of jogging, tomorrow.
Still, I gotta know: How do you bacon?
Suddenly the 6 slices you had with Brunch is 210 Calories (maybe not as bad as you thought?). And your hamburger is had 120 Calories added to it, with them thick slices! Now was it worth it, that's another question? But let's be honest, for the Burger, maybe not so much, just a little salt could have saved a lot of calories being added. So we need to moderate, maybe think of bacon more as a condiment or spice. So how much is enough?
The point here is to deal with the facts about food. And to tweak recipes, to be healthier, by maybe replacing three slices of bacon, for one thick one, based on salt, or fat adjustments, that you might desire. I believe that with just little tweaks, we can shed a lot of calories over the coarse of a year.
Still, I gotta know: How do you bacon?
| Item | serving | Cal | C.Fat | Fat g | S mg | Chl mg |
| Regular Slice | 2 | 70 | 45 | 5 | 280 | 15 |
| Thick Slice | 1 | 60 | 35 | 4 | 210 | 10 |
Suddenly the 6 slices you had with Brunch is 210 Calories (maybe not as bad as you thought?). And your hamburger is had 120 Calories added to it, with them thick slices! Now was it worth it, that's another question? But let's be honest, for the Burger, maybe not so much, just a little salt could have saved a lot of calories being added. So we need to moderate, maybe think of bacon more as a condiment or spice. So how much is enough?
The point here is to deal with the facts about food. And to tweak recipes, to be healthier, by maybe replacing three slices of bacon, for one thick one, based on salt, or fat adjustments, that you might desire. I believe that with just little tweaks, we can shed a lot of calories over the coarse of a year.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Welcome
Listen up! I'm your standard 40 something, pushin 50 (hard) guy, who has maintained his weight to like a 10 pound window for the last decade. BUT I'M FAT! My blood glucose is rising, and already having heart problems, that's scary! So... I need to change my lifestyle. But where do we start?
What's fact and what's fiction?
See, I'm NOT one of those guys who believes you eat blue berries, and you don't get cancer! I eat blues', and guess what I had? It's nonsense, cancers are caused by environmental contamination- that's been proven over and over! And most diet things, seem to be more fad than fact. I want to see facts people!
For example, lately I'm drinking more wine. No, not getting drunk, just two glasses. One with dinner, and as I relax afterwords, about 3 nights a week. Which is suppose to do all these wonderful things for you, particularly when you look at the French, and how they eat. So, why suddenly has my blood glucose spiked up- so MUCH? I think there must be more to the French lifestyle, than drying out the bottom of wine bottles? Like maybe, regular bicycling or something?
When you look at today's American food, what doesn't have CORN in it? And what does corn do besides fatten up cattle for market? I'm actually puzzled on how to reduce carbs, because of of this? You have corn oil, corn starch, corn syrup, high fluctose corn syrup, and xanith gum- it's all corn!!!
We all seem to be getting fatter by the moment. And I read labels, and eat a balanced diet. Still though, 220ish pounds, when I should be 190 TOPS. Fit is most likely a ridiculous 170 or something? And granted I need to get a lot more exorcise, that has to be schedule in, but I can do it. But with winter, and living in the mountains, it's cold, and it's hard!
Then there is also that topic of portion control. Basic rule of thumb (they say) is nothing that doesn't fit in the palm of your hand. Even that single serving of Potato Chips, what do you think it's based on? The palm of your hand. Problem is, that nobody can eat just one!
Now I am a cheese fiend. I just love that sour, salty, creamy, smokey, complex flavor! Can't go a day without a slice of cheese. That's why I take Lipitor! No really it is!
So I don't need to tell you how hard it is to diet. We all know that to be true. This an issue of lifestyle, and choices. I'm not some tiny little gym rat of a girl, who has appearance issues, I'm a fat old man, who already has too many health issues, to continue on this coarse. If you want to live long, you have to work at it. So, your welcome to explore these issues with me. Let's discover the facts about nutrition, diet, and exorcise. I want to hear from people loosing or have lost weight, this is a network for lazy, unmotivated, skeptical bubble butts, like myself.
This is not about looking thin, it's about being healthy(er).
BTW: New Years has nothing to do with this, that just irony of timing at the moment. I feel that my weight is in the way of the lifestyle, I want to maintain. I'm getting older, and I'm starting to feel like I'm living inside a barrel. Maybe it's just fighting off aging, it could be that too, but what's wrong with that anyhow?
What's fact and what's fiction?
See, I'm NOT one of those guys who believes you eat blue berries, and you don't get cancer! I eat blues', and guess what I had? It's nonsense, cancers are caused by environmental contamination- that's been proven over and over! And most diet things, seem to be more fad than fact. I want to see facts people!
For example, lately I'm drinking more wine. No, not getting drunk, just two glasses. One with dinner, and as I relax afterwords, about 3 nights a week. Which is suppose to do all these wonderful things for you, particularly when you look at the French, and how they eat. So, why suddenly has my blood glucose spiked up- so MUCH? I think there must be more to the French lifestyle, than drying out the bottom of wine bottles? Like maybe, regular bicycling or something?
When you look at today's American food, what doesn't have CORN in it? And what does corn do besides fatten up cattle for market? I'm actually puzzled on how to reduce carbs, because of of this? You have corn oil, corn starch, corn syrup, high fluctose corn syrup, and xanith gum- it's all corn!!!
We all seem to be getting fatter by the moment. And I read labels, and eat a balanced diet. Still though, 220ish pounds, when I should be 190 TOPS. Fit is most likely a ridiculous 170 or something? And granted I need to get a lot more exorcise, that has to be schedule in, but I can do it. But with winter, and living in the mountains, it's cold, and it's hard!
Then there is also that topic of portion control. Basic rule of thumb (they say) is nothing that doesn't fit in the palm of your hand. Even that single serving of Potato Chips, what do you think it's based on? The palm of your hand. Problem is, that nobody can eat just one!
Now I am a cheese fiend. I just love that sour, salty, creamy, smokey, complex flavor! Can't go a day without a slice of cheese. That's why I take Lipitor! No really it is!
So I don't need to tell you how hard it is to diet. We all know that to be true. This an issue of lifestyle, and choices. I'm not some tiny little gym rat of a girl, who has appearance issues, I'm a fat old man, who already has too many health issues, to continue on this coarse. If you want to live long, you have to work at it. So, your welcome to explore these issues with me. Let's discover the facts about nutrition, diet, and exorcise. I want to hear from people loosing or have lost weight, this is a network for lazy, unmotivated, skeptical bubble butts, like myself.
This is not about looking thin, it's about being healthy(er).
BTW: New Years has nothing to do with this, that just irony of timing at the moment. I feel that my weight is in the way of the lifestyle, I want to maintain. I'm getting older, and I'm starting to feel like I'm living inside a barrel. Maybe it's just fighting off aging, it could be that too, but what's wrong with that anyhow?
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