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Diet
Topic Started: Apr 7 2010, 08:50 AM (138 Views)
ampatriot
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Last Wednesday (March 31st) I changed my diet up to eating purely whole foods, nothing processed or refined. My carbohydrates are coming from brown rice, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes and only in the first half of the day. The second half of the day my carbohydrates are coming only from vegetables, leafy greens. Protein coming from egg whites, fishes, chicken, and protein shake supplements. Fat intake is so low I am required to get olive oil and flaxseed oil which is the healthiest type of fat you can get.

So that is the summary, and with my same exact workout routines, I have lost 6.5 lbs already. Some of this is certainly water due to reduced sodium intake and thus subcutaneous water, but damn, the weight is falling off. The thing is, I am eating a ton more food since I no longer have empty calories from sugars and sauces. I am using Mrs. Dash to season and other natural herbs and spices and I seem to be always full. My caloric intake is exactly the same as it was prior.

I am however cycling carb levels with a three day rotation. A high carb day (160g), followed by a medium carb day (100g), and then finally a low carb day (50g). This seems to be keeping my body guessing and allows it to tap into the old fat stores for energy on reduced carb days but doesn't limit the carbs so much to induce an energy crash or turn on survival mode and thus fat saving mode.

Either way, even if you are not tracking calories or macronutrients, switching your diet away from processed foods is a huge plus. All of the unnecessary ingredients to preserve the product an unnaturally long time, cheaper and less nutritious substitutes, ingredients for texture, flavor, and everything in between, have an effect on your long term health and metabolism.

Another side effect is a huge increase in overall wellness and energy. Much better mood and I am feeling wired right out of bed in the morning.

I'm liking it.
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Antibabylon
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Administrator
cool.. what was the percentage of increase to the food budget?
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ampatriot
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Haven't done a cost analysis just yet but anecdotally it feels a lot cheaper. I am still eating out of a small bag of wild rice that cost a couple of bucks. Bulk potatoes and frozen veggies are also very reasonably priced and can go a long way. Spices are cheap.

The only real cost comes from the chicken and eggs, fish used more sparingly the most expensive. Again, buying frozen in bulk doesn't seem too bad. I'll have to break down the average cost per meal.

Oh yeah, classic natural 100% oats in the morning.
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jesse
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just fyi, when i was researching what people need in terms of how the body uses food to make energy, i found that fat is a necessary and important part. up to 30% of calories should come in the form of fats and oils. its what the body needs. whole foods are a very important too, along with organic or non chemical grown. also your body needs certain types of sugars, found in, on the plant ripened foods. which eliminates most fruits you can get at the store. just food for thought ;-)
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Charlie Lima

That sounds really good, It's alot of work to eat like that.
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nailbender
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When I eat low carb I lose weight no matter how much fat I eat.
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ampatriot
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Yeah, fat is good for you, from the right sources. I am by no means on a low fat diet, just clean eating which results in a low fat content. Then you have to supplement with quality fats from natural clean sources like flaxseed oil, olive oil, nuts, the occasional whole egg, etc.

Fats from animals should be consumed sparingly, fats from sources like avocados, nuts, oils, etc have mono and poly instead of saturated which are the healthy fats that keep your pipes clean and flexible (arteries / veins), provides high energy and feelings of well being, and brain power. I get about 45 to 60g a day which does work out to about 30% of my calories.

As far as sugar intake (and the same goes with sodium), you can get what your body requires through eating clean organics; from a few blueberries in your oatmeal, organic corn, starchy sweet potatoes, etc. If you are on a serious clean eating kick (which I am finding wholly sustainable) then you don't ever need any food product that has sugar added to it.

Here is a recent study that is pretty interesting and I think I can attest to it in my own life.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7533668/Junk-food-as-addictive-as-heroin-and-smoking.html

I think the article reinforces my belief that every effort should be made to provide kids with home cooked natural meals instead of processed and manufactured foods, snacks, and fast foods until they are at the age that they can then make their own choices. It is nearly a long term death sentence (at least a reduction in healthy years of life) to let loose your child into their adult world with an addiction to sweets, fats, and high calorie choices and an aversion to quality nutritious foods.

Kind of like hooking them to cigarettes or other drug before adulthood, they will continue the habit most likely without sustained education and a drive for self improvement, even then it is an uphill battle to quit. I have recently slain the nicotine dragon as of September 09 and am a risk for life of returning to it.

It reminds me of driving around with my aunt and her newborn back in 98'. She was hungry, we got McDonald's drive through. The kid was still a tiny infant, barely learning to chew and she was feeding him single french fries, just what he could barely handle being so young. Holy cow, why would a mother do that? The baby had no idea "what it was missing" and frankly wouldn't be missing anything if it didn't develop that addiction.

Okay, now I'm on a self righteous rant! I'm done... for now ;D
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