Human Being Healthy

Day 33: March 29, 2008

There is no doubt that I am stronger and more flexible due to my Pilates regimen.  Unfortunately I can’t see my new abs of steel through the layer of fat that clings to them.  I haven’t been walking like I had originally planned, so I need stricter eating habits to expedite my fat loss.  Dieting is difficult for me since I love food.  The moment you tell me I can’t have something (like cheese), it is all that I can think of and I’m miserable until I have it. 

I have been trying to eat a Traditional Diet, but have been confused as to what it is I can, and can not have.  Danielle, the owner of Studio Lotus, lent me some books so that I could have a better understanding of the Traditional Diet.

Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon is the first book I picked up.  It states that a diet high in saturated fat is the healthiest and most sensible diet for a human being.  This goes against everything I have ever heard in the past, but after reading the book, I am convinced that the rise in heart disease and obesity in America is the result of low-fat, processed, genetically altered foods.  The book recommends a traditional diet that consists of animal products and organic produce.  In a nutshell it is what you would eat if you lived on a farm- beef from pasture-fed cows, eggs and poultry from pasture-fed chickens, pork from pasture-fed pigs, raw whole milk, raw whole cheese, raw whole butter, lard, etc.

Eat Fat, Lose Fat strongly suggests taking cod liver oil supplements every morning and 1 tbsp of coconut oil 20 minutes before eating.  I found the cod liver oil and coconut oil at Whole Foods.  Trader Joes generally carries coconut oil, but my local TJ does not.  Cod liver oil supposedly boosts your metabolism.  Fine by me.  The coconut oil is another fat that, when eaten throughout the day, tells your body that it doesn’t have to store fat since its getting plenty.  Over time, my body will begin to shed the fat it has been storing, provided I do not overload myself with carbs that would be burned off first. 

I just had my first tsp of cod liver oil and it wasn’t bad at all.  I was expecting a very fishy tasting oil, but instead it had a mild fishy aftertaste.  No biggie.  I also ate a tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil straight off the spoon- yum.  I love coconut, so this was no problem at all.

Life Without Bread by Christian B. Allan, Ph.D. and Wolfgang Lutz, M.D. gives scientific backing to the low-carb diet.  This is a great read for anyone who needs solid evidence before changing their eating habits.  The authors discuss many modern ailments, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, and how a high-carb diet like the FDA’s recommended daily intake, is the reason so many people suffer from these diseases.  This book is more technical, discussing how the human body creates and uses energy, and why certain food products are better suited then others to faciliatate this creation and use.  The provided research and technical aspect of the book was refreshing after reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Friedman and Kim Barbouin.  I would recomment this book to none.

Life Without Bread recommends eating 72 grams or less of carbohydrates daily.  So, now I will be paying close attention to my total daily carb intake as well as total daily sugar intake. 

I will be eating a low-carb, high-fat diet, which is exactly the opposite of the FDA’s food pyramid, which says to consume 8-11 servings of Carbs a day and to use fat sparingly.  Interesting…

What I’ve been eating:
Day 31: March 27, 2008
2 Hard-Boiled Eggs
Carrot
Grapes
Burger with Muenster Cheese (no bun) garlic and onions
Tomato with oil and vinegar
Beer
Fried Plantains
Chili Cheese Tater Tots (just a couple)
Meatball Sliders (Pint and Plate)
More Beers
Total Calories: 3,231

Fat - 38.7% (147 grams) Protein - 18.0% (154 grams) Carbohydrates - 29.1% (249 grams) Alcohol - 14.2% (69 grams) Other - 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake - 3,755 mg Daily Sugar Intake - 62 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake - 844 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 58 grams Daily Fiber Intake - 13 grams

Day 32: March 28, 2008
Hard-boiled Egg
Carrot
Chocolate Chip Cookie
Burger with Muenster Cheese on spelt bread, with garlic, onions
Sauteed Spinach
Cranberry Juice
Tomato with Oil and Vinegar
Avocado with oil and vinegar
Spelt bread with hummus, roasted red peppers and olives
Total Calories: 1,840

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Fat - 50.6% (106 grams) Protein - 17.0% (80 grams) Carbohydrates - 32.4% (153 grams) Alcohol - 0.0% Other - 0.0% Daily Sodium Intake - 1,573 mg Daily Sugar Intake - 58 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake - 415 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 36 grams Daily Fiber Intake - 34 grams

Day 33: March 29, 2008
Cod Liver Oil
Coconut Oil
Hard-boiled Egg
Bacon
Fried Eggs
Buffalo Jerky
Lasagna (recipe)
Coconut Oil
Total Calories: 1,235

Fat - 60.6% (83 grams) Protein - 24.6% (76 grams) Carbohydrates - 13.6% (42 grams) Alcohol - 0.0% Other - 1.2% Daily Sodium Intake - 1,675 mg Daily Sugar Intake - 18 grams Daily Cholesterol Intake - 843 mg Daily Saturated Fat Intake - 43 grams Daily Fiber Intake - 4 grams