I've read a few different discussions or blogs trying to figure out if vaccines are paleo or not. There are people who think eating right will protect them from flu. There are people who believe vaccines are unnatural, and generally an evil seed of fascist government imposing its ideas on free people. There are people who believe vaccines cause autism or other deformations. There are people who simply don't like to see their babies cry of feel miserable for a day so endanger them to diseases that not only can make them miserable for life, but simply can kill them.
I find the anti-vaccine movement selfish and very dangerous. It's one thing to push the big pharma to provide the best, the safest and purest vaccines possible. To push for trials checking the safety of vaccine combinations or best time of vaccine. But to promote no vaccine whatsoever? This is child abuse and selfishness. Vaccines are one of the most amazing achievements of medicine, saving millions of lives. But now there are people who think they know more than the hundreds of professional researches and doctors (hey, I know there are under-educated doctors and biased researchers... but not all of them and not even majority of them!), who can decide about the health and death of not only their own child, but also the health of children around him or her. There needs to be 93% of vaccination in the society for it to protect properly. If it exists, even the not-vaccinated are protected. Saying that the kid is all fine and not sick as a proof for lack of need for vaccine is not just idiotic and ignorant, but also abusive and parasitic.
This article takes on the whooping cough epidemic as one of the signs of dangers of the anti-vaccine movement. Do they really want to go back to the life with polio, measles, small pox and dozens of other horrible diseases?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
spreading the paleo gospel
I found that whenever I tried to somehow open the subject of paleo/primal living, it was a failure. But when I have a chance to share how much my health has improved, I get people's full attention. Of course it doesn't happen that often, I don't like to share my private life and health issues with random folks, but if the subject gets around and it makes sense for me to make a comment, I do. Today I was talking with my boss and a nurse who came to our school to do some flu shots. The boss's daughter has a variety of health issues which are difficult to diagnose. She mentioned that some doctors thought she might have fibromyalgia, because of constant fatigue. So I said that the only thing that helped me was going paleo. Both of them got interested, but the nurse got especially interested and the evolutionary base of it all really made sense to it. She wants to google it to check it out. One by one! :) I really hope she gets interested.
I was thinking also about giving the new Robb Wolff's book (after I finish) to another of my friends, who just recently went through breast cancer operations and treatment. It looks like she recovered fully, but of course she is very health conscious - unfortunately in the main stream low-fat way. She is a smart woman, and quite interested in evolution... so I hope that would be a good way of introducing the paleo to her.
My best friend, who lives in Poland, just recently told me how much she feels better since she made some paleo changes. She's had constant health issues, for years has been fighting with too low body weight, and many painful problems, which the doctors can't even figure out. She said that since she incorporated the changes for the first time in months she stopped having horrible stomach pains. That really convinced her, and she wants to try and go 100% paleo when she gets a chance (now she is in the middle of moving apartments, with 10h long work days). I am really happy about it! At least in Poland it's easier to get really free-range eggs, raw milk and "directly from the milkmaid" products. Meat is probably as processed and stuffed with hormones like everywhere else, though.. It's good EU has pretty strict rulings and Poland has to obey.
In our local Russian store I found a real heavy cream, the kind I remember from Poland - 35% fat. It was expensive - $3.99 for 500ml, but the taste... heaven. It is thick like a sour cream, but is deliciously, naturally sweet. It has no additives whatsoever, pure cream. I think I will be getting it more often :)
I was thinking also about giving the new Robb Wolff's book (after I finish) to another of my friends, who just recently went through breast cancer operations and treatment. It looks like she recovered fully, but of course she is very health conscious - unfortunately in the main stream low-fat way. She is a smart woman, and quite interested in evolution... so I hope that would be a good way of introducing the paleo to her.
My best friend, who lives in Poland, just recently told me how much she feels better since she made some paleo changes. She's had constant health issues, for years has been fighting with too low body weight, and many painful problems, which the doctors can't even figure out. She said that since she incorporated the changes for the first time in months she stopped having horrible stomach pains. That really convinced her, and she wants to try and go 100% paleo when she gets a chance (now she is in the middle of moving apartments, with 10h long work days). I am really happy about it! At least in Poland it's easier to get really free-range eggs, raw milk and "directly from the milkmaid" products. Meat is probably as processed and stuffed with hormones like everywhere else, though.. It's good EU has pretty strict rulings and Poland has to obey.
In our local Russian store I found a real heavy cream, the kind I remember from Poland - 35% fat. It was expensive - $3.99 for 500ml, but the taste... heaven. It is thick like a sour cream, but is deliciously, naturally sweet. It has no additives whatsoever, pure cream. I think I will be getting it more often :)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
mhmmm
And I thought it couldn't get better than my recent invention of "hot cocoa" made of vanilla protein powder, cocoa, cinnamon and heat. And a bit cream sometimes.
Well, it can: replace half the water with coconut milk (that's just how much i had in a jar). Add ground cloves.
heaven.
Well, it can: replace half the water with coconut milk (that's just how much i had in a jar). Add ground cloves.
heaven.
Fibromyalgia and Paleo
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about two and a half years ago. Looking back I've had it for at least ten years. So what is it?
From the National Fibromyalgia Association website:
The most common way to diagnose someone with FB is check for tender points. There are up to 18 of them. You need to have at least 11 to be diagnosed. I have 16 I think.
That's very general. I want to focus on what FB looked like in my case. And I must admit, I have a very moderate level of symptoms, nothing like some other persons.
PAIN
All over. Everywhere, but you can't pin point it. Spreads through legs, belly, arms. Sometimes sits in one limb only, sometimes hits everything at once. You try changing positions, lift the legs, not move, move... nothing helps. You can just try to sit as comfortable as possible and wait till the worst is over. Then there is this "I have a flu with no fever" feeling. As if you were bruised on every inch of your body, every touch hurts. Putting on underwear hurts. Using bathroom hurts. Touching hair hurts, because your skin hurts. That usually holds for three days. Then there are joint pains. Sometimes random, sometimes as an outcome of long walk, standing for too long, wrong shoes, too hard surfaces or I don't eve know what.
When I finally started to do some workout over the summer (I am a teacher, so I had more time then), my knees would scream, not only during the workout but even in between. After a few days they were hurting all the time. My doctor told me that it is what it is, gotta get used to it.
FATIGUE
Not just tired... but the absolute physical and mental exhaustion. Too tired to prepare a meal, to clean the house, to make the bed. Too tired to visit friends or invited anyone over. Too tired to do shopping, check out a nice place or keep up with a hobby. Too tired to even begin about working out. Too tired to finish up some documents from work or even answer emails to friends.
I used to come back from work, and was sitting from around 5pm to 10pm in front of my laptop, not being able to do anything. I ate whatever I could find when I was so hungry it overcome the fatigue. I was so tired it was difficult to get up and get prepared for bed. Too tired to understand what I was reading on the internet, so I usually was surfing through home decor blogs - pictures only, easy. I was too tired to focus on a book or even watch a movie. I was vegetating.
SLEEP
I could sleep for ten hours and wake up tired. I wake up multiple times during the night for a split second. My body cannot fall deep enough to get into the most important, restorative phase of the sleep. Sometimes I fall asleep without any problems, sometimes I have a hard time with that. On free days I may also take a nap during a day. I aim for 7.5-8h during a weekday, 9h on weekends. If I sleep less than 6h I feel sick, have bad headache and simply remind a zombie.
OTHER
I did have problems with my bowels, and I am getting bad headaches, with occasional really severe ones. I have had problems with concentration, clear thinking and memory. I still struggle with depression and really bad anxiety.
TREATMENT
My rheumatologist has tried various meds and supplements. Nothing worked. No CoQ10, no lyrica, no other. He suggested stretching, exercising (promising that it was supposed to get better after a while of bad pain), and "healthy diet". To be honest, the only advice he gave me that worked, was getting a body pillow!
So why am I writing most of the symptoms in past tense? Well, because they are things of the past for me. Enter Paleo.
I've been eating low-carb since about January, almost-paleo since March-April. Completely gluten-free since July. Even without cutting all gluten the majority of FM symptoms either lessen or disappeared.
PAIN
I have very rarely the "random" muscle or joint pain. I do still have aches, especially after running long errands and/or having to stand for a longer time. The recovery still takes a while.
I am working out, strength, sprints etc., with no joint pain whatsoever! I do lunges, squats and my knees sing the songs of praise.
I still wake up stiff in the morning sometimes, but it takes less time to get moving.
FATIGUE
Gone. Can you believe it? I am a new woman! I come back from work and I have still energy and will to do stuff. I do workout or cook dinner and/or lunches for work, I clean around the house and whatever else I feel like doing. I am able to read and understand what I am reading even after 6pm. I have my life back. It's unbelievable. I think this part of the recover is the most beneficial. I do cook more on Paleo - but now I have time to do it!
SLEEP
Still working to get it better.
OTHER
Can't remember when was the last time I had any GI issues. My focus, ability to concentrate on a task and general mental ability improved dramatically. Anxiety and depression got better, but they need more time for full recovery. I take medicine for both of them.
All of it only thanks to cutting grain, sugar, processed foods, vegetable oils and other crap of that kind. I eat a lot of animal protein of many varieties, fish, good fats like coconut oil and butter, a little bit of cream or cheese, some green veggies and occasional fruit or chocolate. That's it. That's all the medicine I needed!
This post is part of "Paleo Rodeo" @ Modern Paleo!
From the National Fibromyalgia Association website:
Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.
Fibromyalgia, which has also been referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis and fibrositis, is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and often psychological distress. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities.
The most common way to diagnose someone with FB is check for tender points. There are up to 18 of them. You need to have at least 11 to be diagnosed. I have 16 I think.
That's very general. I want to focus on what FB looked like in my case. And I must admit, I have a very moderate level of symptoms, nothing like some other persons.
PAIN
All over. Everywhere, but you can't pin point it. Spreads through legs, belly, arms. Sometimes sits in one limb only, sometimes hits everything at once. You try changing positions, lift the legs, not move, move... nothing helps. You can just try to sit as comfortable as possible and wait till the worst is over. Then there is this "I have a flu with no fever" feeling. As if you were bruised on every inch of your body, every touch hurts. Putting on underwear hurts. Using bathroom hurts. Touching hair hurts, because your skin hurts. That usually holds for three days. Then there are joint pains. Sometimes random, sometimes as an outcome of long walk, standing for too long, wrong shoes, too hard surfaces or I don't eve know what.
When I finally started to do some workout over the summer (I am a teacher, so I had more time then), my knees would scream, not only during the workout but even in between. After a few days they were hurting all the time. My doctor told me that it is what it is, gotta get used to it.
FATIGUE
Not just tired... but the absolute physical and mental exhaustion. Too tired to prepare a meal, to clean the house, to make the bed. Too tired to visit friends or invited anyone over. Too tired to do shopping, check out a nice place or keep up with a hobby. Too tired to even begin about working out. Too tired to finish up some documents from work or even answer emails to friends.
I used to come back from work, and was sitting from around 5pm to 10pm in front of my laptop, not being able to do anything. I ate whatever I could find when I was so hungry it overcome the fatigue. I was so tired it was difficult to get up and get prepared for bed. Too tired to understand what I was reading on the internet, so I usually was surfing through home decor blogs - pictures only, easy. I was too tired to focus on a book or even watch a movie. I was vegetating.
SLEEP
I could sleep for ten hours and wake up tired. I wake up multiple times during the night for a split second. My body cannot fall deep enough to get into the most important, restorative phase of the sleep. Sometimes I fall asleep without any problems, sometimes I have a hard time with that. On free days I may also take a nap during a day. I aim for 7.5-8h during a weekday, 9h on weekends. If I sleep less than 6h I feel sick, have bad headache and simply remind a zombie.
OTHER
I did have problems with my bowels, and I am getting bad headaches, with occasional really severe ones. I have had problems with concentration, clear thinking and memory. I still struggle with depression and really bad anxiety.
TREATMENT
My rheumatologist has tried various meds and supplements. Nothing worked. No CoQ10, no lyrica, no other. He suggested stretching, exercising (promising that it was supposed to get better after a while of bad pain), and "healthy diet". To be honest, the only advice he gave me that worked, was getting a body pillow!
So why am I writing most of the symptoms in past tense? Well, because they are things of the past for me. Enter Paleo.
I've been eating low-carb since about January, almost-paleo since March-April. Completely gluten-free since July. Even without cutting all gluten the majority of FM symptoms either lessen or disappeared.
PAIN
I have very rarely the "random" muscle or joint pain. I do still have aches, especially after running long errands and/or having to stand for a longer time. The recovery still takes a while.
I am working out, strength, sprints etc., with no joint pain whatsoever! I do lunges, squats and my knees sing the songs of praise.
I still wake up stiff in the morning sometimes, but it takes less time to get moving.
FATIGUE
Gone. Can you believe it? I am a new woman! I come back from work and I have still energy and will to do stuff. I do workout or cook dinner and/or lunches for work, I clean around the house and whatever else I feel like doing. I am able to read and understand what I am reading even after 6pm. I have my life back. It's unbelievable. I think this part of the recover is the most beneficial. I do cook more on Paleo - but now I have time to do it!
SLEEP
Still working to get it better.
OTHER
Can't remember when was the last time I had any GI issues. My focus, ability to concentrate on a task and general mental ability improved dramatically. Anxiety and depression got better, but they need more time for full recovery. I take medicine for both of them.
All of it only thanks to cutting grain, sugar, processed foods, vegetable oils and other crap of that kind. I eat a lot of animal protein of many varieties, fish, good fats like coconut oil and butter, a little bit of cream or cheese, some green veggies and occasional fruit or chocolate. That's it. That's all the medicine I needed!
This post is part of "Paleo Rodeo" @ Modern Paleo!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Fasting and paleo
When I was on my old way of eating (high-carb), I had extremely difficult time with any kind of fasting. When I tried to fast a whole day (for religious reasons, like Yom Kippur), it was a nightmare. Very soon after waking up I would already start to feel bad. A few hours later I would have no energy, had problems with moving my legs fast, my head would feel as if made of lead with pounding pain. Toward the end of the day I would be lightheaded, dizzy and sometimes close to fainting. I thought it was just my nature...
On Monday we had "Back to School Night" about which I completely forgot. It meant that instead of going home before 5pm I made it at 9pm. With no extra food, on some eggs, coffee with cream and protein shake. Hardly any hunger, no headache, energy and full mental attention.
I used to say how I simply couldn't not eat a breakfast. I would be sick and nauseated with this deep, painful need to eat at that right moment. Nothing like that anymore - when I am hungry, it's a normal signal, no attack from inside. It's fascinating to me how all of that has changed.
Yesterday I did my "refeed" dinner. And I had too much. I see on other blogs how people make these humongous meals, sometimes calling them variations of "refeeds". How do they do it? I tried three beef sausages, three eggs with two extra yolks and a bit of veggies (broccoli, green beans, mushrooms). I felt full one third in. I wasn't sure if I should just stop or try and force to eat more. I decided to try and it more, because I don't want my body to think I am starving it, so it would go into starvation mode or something.
Each day this week I came back late from work, so no workout yet. And tomorrow I will be even later... Friday it will be, then. And maybe Saturday as well. I have to do a good strength workout and practice more on pull up bar. I am beginning to being able to do pull up! I have big problems with that... I try with support, and it gets better. chin ups get better as well, now I can do 3-4, and same with parallel chin ups.
On Monday we had "Back to School Night" about which I completely forgot. It meant that instead of going home before 5pm I made it at 9pm. With no extra food, on some eggs, coffee with cream and protein shake. Hardly any hunger, no headache, energy and full mental attention.
I used to say how I simply couldn't not eat a breakfast. I would be sick and nauseated with this deep, painful need to eat at that right moment. Nothing like that anymore - when I am hungry, it's a normal signal, no attack from inside. It's fascinating to me how all of that has changed.
Yesterday I did my "refeed" dinner. And I had too much. I see on other blogs how people make these humongous meals, sometimes calling them variations of "refeeds". How do they do it? I tried three beef sausages, three eggs with two extra yolks and a bit of veggies (broccoli, green beans, mushrooms). I felt full one third in. I wasn't sure if I should just stop or try and force to eat more. I decided to try and it more, because I don't want my body to think I am starving it, so it would go into starvation mode or something.
Each day this week I came back late from work, so no workout yet. And tomorrow I will be even later... Friday it will be, then. And maybe Saturday as well. I have to do a good strength workout and practice more on pull up bar. I am beginning to being able to do pull up! I have big problems with that... I try with support, and it gets better. chin ups get better as well, now I can do 3-4, and same with parallel chin ups.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Perfect timing
A friend linked me to an article, which included the following short movie:
I still can't believe that there is so much sanity, reason and positive attitude coming from Surgeon General of the US. Instead of shaming the fattis into lean bodies, pressuring masses to take on risky fad diets, there is a message that we can be healthy at any size.
you go girl!
I still can't believe that there is so much sanity, reason and positive attitude coming from Surgeon General of the US. Instead of shaming the fattis into lean bodies, pressuring masses to take on risky fad diets, there is a message that we can be healthy at any size.
you go girl!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
body image, modern society and paleo
I won't pretend I don't want to "look good naked". I want to have athletic body (well, not like real athletes, but on the sporty side), firm, strong and healthy. With the emphasis on "healthy". Sometimes I think there is a cult of athletic, ripped body in paleo world. I see the dehumanizing pictures of obese decapitated individuals (as if being obese is so horrible we don't want to humiliate them by showing their faces) next to many entries.
Many people come to paleo being obese or overweight. I really understand that they might want and need to reduce their body fat. But too many times I see people in panic because they paused in their weight loose, as if bodies were machines.
We know about the term "skinny fat" - often common to people who are skinny, but still have quite surprisingly high body fat, their body work is really bad, they eat crap, they hardly exercise and have any muscle strength... but they are still perceived as more "healthy" than a bigger, fatter person. We tend to watch what fat people eat assuming they are lazy gluttons, and somehow looking for proof that we are "right", they they brought it all on themselves. When we see the skinny junk food eating instead of worrying about their triglyceride levels we are jealous, and the person is made to believe she/he somehow reached some kind of moral achievement.
We need more acceptance of various body types, with emphasis on health, performance, satisfaction. I want to see more photos of ladies looking like that being the models for us and young girls:
just look at these muscles! I am pretty sure she would do as well running around woods or escaping some nasty critter as she does on court!
Now that's my look goal, I would love to work my back and arms to look that way (more push ups in my future!). But I do realize that it's as well, the result of modern society's body image, even if healthier than the skinny one.
And especially as we age, we should work on accepting our changing bodies. These ladies, for example, are called "The strong women's choir".
Not only by... meat you live. Evolutionary psychology and sociology.
I love the idea of paleolithic diet, I buy into the evolutionary arguments and modern scientific explanation. I have never been a big science fan, I like to know the basic and understand how things work, but it's not my thing. What does interest me more is the social and psychological aspect of everything. I believe that what we eat is only one part of the picture, and the way we live, react and interact with others are extremely important parts of the mosaic.
I have had a discussion some time ago about what is actually "healthy" for our psyche from evolutionary point of view.
Modern life and expectations push us to have hundreds of friends (Facebook anyone?), to be relaxed and enthusiastic when encountering strangers, to run extremely busy and stressful lives. We should be ready for any challenge, and ready to face it alone in many cases. Our familial ties relax very early on, and most of what we learn, we do from strangers at various institutions.
What is anxiety? What is social phobia? Are these disorders or maybe natural responses of our paleolithic psyches not prepared for the neolithic societies? Do hunter-gatherers suffer from anxiety or depression? Food disorders? Schizophrenia?
Our ancestors lived in small groups. A clan made of a few dozens people, never more than a 100 individuals. That made sense - the nature can support you, you are able to support each other, you can easily move to another location, and you can have groups of people with variety of skills, knowledge and life experience. Children learned naturally, almost by osmosis, always among their own. We are told by modern researchers (as opposed to biased anthropologists from extremely sexist and patriarchal society in the beginning of such studies) that members of these early communities were quite equal to each other in terms of gender. Each one was bringing important skills and probably all were contributing in making decisions. Age might have been much more respected than gender. We, as species, evolved with the ability of speech and high intellectual capabilities. The nurturing, supportive clans were extremely important in developing these.
So are my anxiety and social phobia so unnatural? Or maybe my psyche warns me against something unnatural? How often did a caveman interact with strangers? Had to make a speech? Had a stressful job interview? Had to spend most of early life away from family in an institution run by strangers?
I don't think we can go back to the paleolithic reality. But maybe we should go easy on ourselves when we don't exactly fit the expectations of our society. Psychologists that humans cannot create meaningful relationships with more than 300 people. We are flooded by people over the years of our lives. With how many are we really close? Close enough to nurture and support? To teach and to learn from each other's experiences?
After these kind of musings I feel better about being shy, often anxious and stressed about meeting new people. My psyche simply tries to protect each other from unnatural, neolithic reality.
This post is part of Fight Back Friday @Food Renegade.
I have had a discussion some time ago about what is actually "healthy" for our psyche from evolutionary point of view.
Modern life and expectations push us to have hundreds of friends (Facebook anyone?), to be relaxed and enthusiastic when encountering strangers, to run extremely busy and stressful lives. We should be ready for any challenge, and ready to face it alone in many cases. Our familial ties relax very early on, and most of what we learn, we do from strangers at various institutions.
What is anxiety? What is social phobia? Are these disorders or maybe natural responses of our paleolithic psyches not prepared for the neolithic societies? Do hunter-gatherers suffer from anxiety or depression? Food disorders? Schizophrenia?
Our ancestors lived in small groups. A clan made of a few dozens people, never more than a 100 individuals. That made sense - the nature can support you, you are able to support each other, you can easily move to another location, and you can have groups of people with variety of skills, knowledge and life experience. Children learned naturally, almost by osmosis, always among their own. We are told by modern researchers (as opposed to biased anthropologists from extremely sexist and patriarchal society in the beginning of such studies) that members of these early communities were quite equal to each other in terms of gender. Each one was bringing important skills and probably all were contributing in making decisions. Age might have been much more respected than gender. We, as species, evolved with the ability of speech and high intellectual capabilities. The nurturing, supportive clans were extremely important in developing these.
So are my anxiety and social phobia so unnatural? Or maybe my psyche warns me against something unnatural? How often did a caveman interact with strangers? Had to make a speech? Had a stressful job interview? Had to spend most of early life away from family in an institution run by strangers?
I don't think we can go back to the paleolithic reality. But maybe we should go easy on ourselves when we don't exactly fit the expectations of our society. Psychologists that humans cannot create meaningful relationships with more than 300 people. We are flooded by people over the years of our lives. With how many are we really close? Close enough to nurture and support? To teach and to learn from each other's experiences?
After these kind of musings I feel better about being shy, often anxious and stressed about meeting new people. My psyche simply tries to protect each other from unnatural, neolithic reality.
This post is part of Fight Back Friday @Food Renegade.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Delicious hot cocoa/protein shake
I just made myself a delicious protein shake. I was getting tired of the taste ("gourmet vanilla"), I don't like very sweet things. I was generally diluting it with much more water than asked for, but my body started to rebel.
So just now I decided to add some cocoa and cinnamon. It was very hard to mix it, so I warmed it up in the microwave a bit. To make it just perfect I added about one tablespoon of heavy cream. It's delicious!
I am planning on doing a few push ups just to remind my body I need all the protein I eat, so it will (hopefully) keep burning body fat. I am cooking now some chicken quarters (without skin) for the next few days. I can't switch to white meat, never liked it. It's just too dry! I was a passionate chicken leg eater since my early toddlerhood, so it should stay that way. I think it's very low on fat anyway (I can't believe I am actually saying this!).
So just now I decided to add some cocoa and cinnamon. It was very hard to mix it, so I warmed it up in the microwave a bit. To make it just perfect I added about one tablespoon of heavy cream. It's delicious!
I am planning on doing a few push ups just to remind my body I need all the protein I eat, so it will (hopefully) keep burning body fat. I am cooking now some chicken quarters (without skin) for the next few days. I can't switch to white meat, never liked it. It's just too dry! I was a passionate chicken leg eater since my early toddlerhood, so it should stay that way. I think it's very low on fat anyway (I can't believe I am actually saying this!).
Friday, October 1, 2010
PSMF
I continue on the PSMF track. I try some variety, so I won't get bored or tired of the routine. My biggest challenge isn't hunger, it's the fact that I simply love eating. I also have difficulties with social gatherings, especially where there are people whom I don't know that well.
I generally eat only in the evening with small snack (2 boiled eggs for example) during the day. I also drink one protein shake.
Today to change the routine a bit, I mixed two hard boiled eggs with a can of water-packed sardines for brunch. I really want to include sardines more, as they are not only packed with Omega-3 like many other seafood, but also are great source of calcium and other beneficial nutrients. They are also, similarly to other small fish, much less polluted with heavy metals. Because the sardines were in water and not oil, the mixture was very dry. I decided that adding some sour cream shouldn't be that bad. Two spoons of sour cream later I had really tasty dish. I think I will make it more often to take it with me to work.
I haven't done any measurements yet, I am leaving it for Sunday. I don't see any big changes yet, but I feel good and I know I need to be patient.
In terms of supplements, I take Krill Oil in the morning, magnesium in the late afternoon and D3 (5k) every other or every three days.
I am running low on my magnesium and so I need to replenish. I found in Trader Joe's magnesium together with calcium and zinc. Isn't that wrong? I think calcium negates the magnesium, that it prevents its proper absorption? I am also conflicted on the kind of magnesium that's best for the body. The one I had till now is "oxidate" which I thought was the best form, but recently I read somewhere that oxide is useless. I am really confused and have to make some research.
I generally eat only in the evening with small snack (2 boiled eggs for example) during the day. I also drink one protein shake.
Today to change the routine a bit, I mixed two hard boiled eggs with a can of water-packed sardines for brunch. I really want to include sardines more, as they are not only packed with Omega-3 like many other seafood, but also are great source of calcium and other beneficial nutrients. They are also, similarly to other small fish, much less polluted with heavy metals. Because the sardines were in water and not oil, the mixture was very dry. I decided that adding some sour cream shouldn't be that bad. Two spoons of sour cream later I had really tasty dish. I think I will make it more often to take it with me to work.
I haven't done any measurements yet, I am leaving it for Sunday. I don't see any big changes yet, but I feel good and I know I need to be patient.
In terms of supplements, I take Krill Oil in the morning, magnesium in the late afternoon and D3 (5k) every other or every three days.
I am running low on my magnesium and so I need to replenish. I found in Trader Joe's magnesium together with calcium and zinc. Isn't that wrong? I think calcium negates the magnesium, that it prevents its proper absorption? I am also conflicted on the kind of magnesium that's best for the body. The one I had till now is "oxidate" which I thought was the best form, but recently I read somewhere that oxide is useless. I am really confused and have to make some research.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
struggles
Yesterday I went for a holiday dinner. There was a number of people present, some of them I didn't know. And because I felt it would look bad to not eat at all, I decided it would be my "refeed" day. I have to have them anyway once in a while. Well, I ate too much. And the wrong stuff - rice, for example. I did resist the deliciously smelling challah and didn't eat the lentil soup. But I ate definitely too much. And as much as I am glad I didn't touch the brownies (gluten-free, but with peanuts and sugar), I took a few pieces of fruit. And either the slices of apples, peaches or orange-spice tea caused my stomach to hurt suddenly, the way it hurts after almonds. I read it as allergy reaction. I had sometimes light allergy reactions to apples and once to a fruit-herbal tea.
Anyway, with all of that I felt miserable yesterday night. I feel better today, and will be back on the PSMF track. I just hope that it didn't erase the efforts of three previous days!
I was talking a couple of days ago with a friend who said that a common friend of ours was diagnosed with fibromyalgia recently. She is also depressed and have issues with anxiety. I told her how great I feel after switching to paleo, how my fibromyalgia's symptoms become very mild and some completely disappeared. She will put her in touch with me. I hope I will be able to convince her to give paleo a try. The other friend was also interested, she struggled with weight for a long time, lost quite a lot of weight watchers, but can't move on beyond what she is now despite all the effort and serious exercises. Maybe I will be able to get her out from the low-fat low-calories no-way-out rout.
Anyway, with all of that I felt miserable yesterday night. I feel better today, and will be back on the PSMF track. I just hope that it didn't erase the efforts of three previous days!
I was talking a couple of days ago with a friend who said that a common friend of ours was diagnosed with fibromyalgia recently. She is also depressed and have issues with anxiety. I told her how great I feel after switching to paleo, how my fibromyalgia's symptoms become very mild and some completely disappeared. She will put her in touch with me. I hope I will be able to convince her to give paleo a try. The other friend was also interested, she struggled with weight for a long time, lost quite a lot of weight watchers, but can't move on beyond what she is now despite all the effort and serious exercises. Maybe I will be able to get her out from the low-fat low-calories no-way-out rout.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
"healthy" knish
In the faculty lounge during lunch we often comment on each other's choices of food, exchanging ideas and sharing struggles (a few people try to lose weight). Today the hero of the hour (well, 20min) was home made knish. It looked very good, had no crust and according to the maker was also delicious. The person got the recipe from cardiologist which in the opinion of all present gave it a stamp of approval. Everyone assumed it must be healthy... I said nothing when I started to hear the ingredients... Apart from spinach and spices I wouldn't touch anything else in it. Egg beaters? Tofu? fat free mozzarella? Sad. I didn't say anything because I knew it was pointless. Between weight watcher, newborn conventional (fat is evil) healthy eater, cancer survivor on low-fat "healthy" diet and a couple others SADers* there was no point. It would only upset everyone, especially that most of them really think they know best. Obviously I also think I know best :) The only reason I feel better is that I have been researching nutrition and evolutionary science for quite a while now and don't take my health advice from color magazines.
I have decided to give PSMF** a try. Even though I didn't get into paleo in order to lose weight, I do want to shed the waist and legs/buttocks fat that I put on about a year ago. I switched then to a new anti-anxiety medicine and it caused enormous carbs cravings, no control in eating sweets and cakes, and made me 30Ibs heavier a month and a half later. I would like to get back to my wardrobe from the days before that.
I let myself eat too much of healthy and paleo foods. I forgot that paleo means also eating according to the body's needs. Which means I should eat when I am hungry and enough to be satiated, not because I feel like it would be fun to eat a bowl of sour cream with coconut and banana. I think it is clear what I am talking about ;-)
So for a few days I am trying to keep on the low carbs but also cut on fat, with the minimum protein that is needed per day. This way the body is not starved, receives enough necessary nutrients but also is prompted to kick in serious fat burning. I will let you know how it goes - it's only day two.
*SAD - Standard American Diet.
**PSMF - Protein Sparing Modified Fast
I have decided to give PSMF** a try. Even though I didn't get into paleo in order to lose weight, I do want to shed the waist and legs/buttocks fat that I put on about a year ago. I switched then to a new anti-anxiety medicine and it caused enormous carbs cravings, no control in eating sweets and cakes, and made me 30Ibs heavier a month and a half later. I would like to get back to my wardrobe from the days before that.
I let myself eat too much of healthy and paleo foods. I forgot that paleo means also eating according to the body's needs. Which means I should eat when I am hungry and enough to be satiated, not because I feel like it would be fun to eat a bowl of sour cream with coconut and banana. I think it is clear what I am talking about ;-)
So for a few days I am trying to keep on the low carbs but also cut on fat, with the minimum protein that is needed per day. This way the body is not starved, receives enough necessary nutrients but also is prompted to kick in serious fat burning. I will let you know how it goes - it's only day two.
*SAD - Standard American Diet.
**PSMF - Protein Sparing Modified Fast
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Some good medical/diet/health links
Over at Evolutionary Psychiatry a good and simple explanation on why our brains need Omega-3. I have started to take supplements (Krill Oil) a while ago realizing that I just dont' eat enough fish. I don't have the access to fresh fish, I don't cook much out of frozen, and I don't want to rely on cans only. I wan't to make sure I get enough essential fatty acids.
Interesting discussion on the need of calorie counting if someone wants to lose weight.
Since going paleo I stopped counting anything other than paying attention to carbs. I found that I let myself eat too much of the good. I love cream too much, and I think I really eat too much of protein and fat sometimes. I am not in paleo to loose weight, I want to be healthy and strong. BUT I do want to look good naked. I always loved athletic bodies, I find female athletes much more sexy than some skinny celebrities. Give me strong arms and a six pack and I am drooling all right ;-) So yeah, I would like to lose a bit of the fat around my waist, esp. that it's the risky fat as it's often a sing of fattening of inner organs. I am exercising and do strength training, and I feel that I do have muscles.. but I would like them to be properly seen :) So I want to uncover them from the cushion of fat. I won't suddenly change much, but I will cut on fat a bit and stop overeating. I am interested in doing PSMF just to start the system. And I still want to make my muscles stronger and bigger (esp. arms). We will see.
Here is one of many articles criticizing the China Study and why it is not scientifically sound. This one comes from dr. Mercola.
this kid is on a roll!
I wish more kids were thinking the way he does. Heck, I wish more adults were thinking that way!
Friday, September 24, 2010
another example how women are pressured to feel guilty about eating.
It's a commercial of a yogurt that is supposed to make you feel "fuller for longer". It is full of tortured women eating celery sticks (well, I would look tortured as well, 'cause I hate that stuff), rice cakes, lettuce ... you would think it should be contrasted with real food. Instead it is contrasted with the "solution": fat-free yogurt which looks very thick, which means you are "satisfying" yourself with thickeners and preservatives and artificial colorants. Women are still not allowed to eat normal food.
And I won't even comment on the mechanization, as if women were brainless robots, repeating everything others do, suffering taken as normal and necessary to be slim and "attractive". And are there really only white slim women in Australia? (ok, one Asian).
And I won't even comment on the mechanization, as if women were brainless robots, repeating everything others do, suffering taken as normal and necessary to be slim and "attractive". And are there really only white slim women in Australia? (ok, one Asian).
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