No Pain, No Grain

Yes, Still Here!

2011-10-02T07:23:00.001-04:00

I keep finding myself running short on time these days and not finding a moment to do a proper post. Hopefully this week will find me catching up with things at work and at home and I can get back to it.

My computer is still down and I am going to have to work out a way to buy a new one because I've resigned myself to that fact that it's just toast now.

My mother had another bypass surgery this past week (another one in her remaining leg). She's still in the hospital. They did find another issue with a blockage in her shoulder area, which means she will be going back under the knife at some point after she recovers from this last surgery.

Me, I'm still plugging away on the low carb/Paleo/Primal eating. I haven't had the time to create any new recipes lately, either. All in good time.

She Didn't Give a Fig!

2011-09-24T09:40:00.000-04:00

As a young girl of 11 my mother married a man who was in the Navy. After her marriage we moved from my native State of Ohio to Pensacola, Florida, where my step-father was stationed. That summer of my 11th year my mother miscarried a pregnancy and I was sent to stay with my then step-father's sister and her daughter, Suzy, in Georgia for a little over a month while mother recuperated. Suzy was a couple years younger than I, but we became fast friends and enjoyed exploring our surroundings together.

It had not escaped me that the flora and fauna of the Deep South was much different than what I was used to in the Midwest. The warmer weather all year round meant that more tropical plants and trees could thrive. Still, it was odd to see so many plants and trees I was only use to seeing in photographs or on television or in an encyclopedia. Being the inquisitive young girl that I was, I asked questions and took it all in.

One day, after exhausting much of what there was to do around the grounds of her plantation-sized country home, Suzy suggested we take a walk around her very small town. As we were walking Suzy suddenly stopped and ventured into a yard and walked up to a tree with some sort of odd-looking fruit hanging from it. She plucked one of the fruits from a branch and handed it to me, then plucked one for herself. "What is it?" I asked. "It's a fig!" she replied, smiling at my not having a clue. We didn't have such things as fig trees in Ohio. I knew my grandmother ate "Fig Newtons" all the time, but I never thought they tasted very good. I was a little hesitant to eat a fig because of that, but I was also taught not to be afraid to try new things.

"Are we allowed to take these?" I asked. She went on to say that the lady who lived there let her eat the figs all the time. Suzy bit into the fruit, and I followed her lead. The light sweetness of the fleshy fruit was delightful, and was made even more-so by the warmth the sun had bestowed upon it. It was the best fresh fruit I had tasted up to that point in my life. I savored each bite, standing there in that strangers front yard.

About that moment the lady who owned the fig tree burst out of her front door yelling at us for stealing her figs. Suzy and I took off running full sprint as the lady chased us down the street. After tasting that one single, solitary fig I could understand why the woman wanted them all for herself. We had finally run far and fast enough that we lost her (or she had given up, satisfied that she put enough fear in us that we wouldn't do that again). When we were sure that the coast was clear, we finally stopped to catch our breath, and I looked at Suzy and said, "I thought you said that lady didn't care if you ate her figs?!" Suzy just smiled, cocked her head, and shrugged. It wasn't the last thing Suzy would fib to me about, but it sure made for an interesting summer.

That fresh fig would turn out to be the last one I would have for 35 years. Until yesterday. Oh, I have had dried figs a few times since then, but they just aren't the same as the fresh ones. But yesterday, as I made a trek to one of only two of our local grocery stores which specialize in the upscale and/or more exotic produce and meats, I happened upon a treasure that I had never before seen in my area (I am back in Ohio, by the way)...fresh figs!! As soon as I spotted them I made a bee line and picked up the container and nearly embraced it like a long lost lover, which was kind of embarrassing since my husband was standing right next to me.

I had already told my husband the fig story, so I didn't have to explain my reaction to him. I just said, "Look, Ray! Fresh FIGS! I'm getting them!"

"I have no doubt you are!" he replied, grinning.

I had often wondered if the fact that the one fresh fig I had tasted was thieved, and therefore magnified my memory of how wonderful it was. As soon as I got those babies in the car I plucked one from its resting place and bit into it. No, it wasn't that the forbidden fruit was illicit that made it so good...it was heavenly!

I have eaten about ten of them since yesterday. Even though I am low carb and rarely eat fruit, I must say that the next time fig season comes around I will be buying more. Our ancestors took full advantage of fruits in season, and as long as I don't make fruit a daily menu item, I am just fine.

Plus, as far as fruits go, I could do much worse. This link gives the nutritional information for figs.

Just having been taken back in those memories was well worth it, anyway. ;-)

There but for the grace of God, go I

2011-09-11T08:49:00.000-04:00

It would be enough to be an Ancestral Diet advocate simply because it has helped me and many others shed excess pounds. And if you look around the Interwebz you don't have to go very far to find many people who have adjusted their eating habits to a more Ancestral way and have healed themselves of Diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides...the list goes on. For myself, I didn't have any diagnosed maladies, other than being obese, when I began low carbing, but that doesn't mean I wasn't headed in that direction. All I need to do to keep myself on the straight and narrow is take a look at my mother; she, a woman in her late 60's who has had several strokes, a heart attack, diagnosed with Atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, Diabetes, and has had a double heart bypass, more than one abdominal and lower limb bypass, and has had a leg amputated below the knee. My mother, off and on throughout her adulthood, followed Atkins. It was, however, more off than on. She was never really very obese, but definitely had the top-heavy apple shape. She would use the low carb approach to shed some extra pounds and then go right back to eating whatever she wanted, until the cycle started all over again, never considering it a lifestyle change. She has paid for that, and dearly. Of course, I am sure that in the scheme of things she had never thought a low carb diet was anything more than a tool to lose some weight when needed, and until now there wasn't the evidence we have that cutting out sugar, grains, and processed carby junk was really good for you.

By the time my mother was the age I am now (47 next month!) she had already been diagnosed with malignant hypertension, and was on a host of medications. At the same time my grandmother, who was also an on again, off again Atkins follower, was also diabetic, had high blood pressure, and was obese. She just couldn't seem to give up her toast and margarine in the mornings. It didn't help that this was at the height of the low fat fad. Grandma's doctor, of course, recommended a low fat diet, and me (being the "cook" of the family) dutifully prepared low fat meals ahead and froze them for her so they would be at the ready for her to eat. I feel pretty guilty for that now, knowing I contributed to her death not long after when she had a massive coronary.

I have counseled with my mother as to what she should be eating, but unfortunately she still seems to think that eating sugar free cookies is okay because they are sugar free and she can always take some insulin to compensate for the way they make her blood glucose rise to dangerous levels. After all, the doctors and dietitians tell her that's what she should be eating. I am making headway with her, and she is allowing me to prepare healthier foods for her, up to and including cookies made from nut flours and coconut flours instead of wheat flour. Her 68th birthday was last week, and today I am baking her a chocolate cake with raspberry glaze, at her request...made from coconut flour, of course. Some would call that a bad thing, "smoking candy cigarettes," but I don't see it that way. At this point, she wants her damned cookies, and if I can provide her with a healthier option, why would anyone say it was a horrible exchange?

It may be too late for her to recover from all the damage that has already been done by eating crap her whole life. But I have to try, and if it prolongs her life even by a little, it's full of WIN. She doesn't want to die yet, she says she has more work to do. I am selfish and want her around for as long as I can have her, and knowing the pain and suffering she has already endured, if it makes the rest of her life a little more tolerable, it will be worth it.

If genetics plays any role in disease (and there is evidence for that in some cases), the deck is stacked against me. I will fight for my health until the end. The only thing I can hope for is that my diet and lifestyle will keep me healthy, and thus far I have seen nothing but positive things health-wise. On a positive genetic note, my great grandparents lived to be almost 100 years old. God love their saturated fat eating hearts!

Having seen all that my mother has been through, it is my motivation for staying the course in this lifestyle. It is also the reason why I continue to champion an Ancestral way of eating, and try to get the word out to other family members, friends, and virtual strangers through this blog. I do care. I would hope we can all live the happiest, healthiest lives possible, and I believe an Ancestral approach to eating is the best and easiest way to do that.

My beautiful mother, in better days.

Low Carb and Zits

2011-09-02T18:14:00.000-04:00

The Low Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore and Friends that I participated in is up, and if you get the opportunity, please take a listen.

Since we only had a half an hour for the podcast I didn't have the opportunity to elaborate on the topic of acne as much as I would have liked, and I really didn't delve too much into my own "Low Carb Story", only enough to tell how I got started down this road to renewed health and vitality. It was probably a good thing Jimmy knows how to keep control of his topics, and rein in the guests should they start to go astray of the main conversation (not that that happened...I kept control of myself, ha ha!). Plus, it gives me material for a blog post. A win-win situation all around!

If you listen to the podcast you know that I stated I had never really had an issue with acne. It's true, I have been blessed with pretty much blemish-free skin, except for a few eruptions here and there since adolescence. Everything I have ever read from people who have had acne and gone on a low carb eating plan has indicated to me that it does indeed help with acne, and many other skin issues. But what happens if you are low carbing, or following a Paleo or Primal lifestyle and you get zits anyway? Could the diet be to blame?

A few months ago, a friend of mine, who had then recently started a Primal lifestyle, messaged me, telling me that she was experiencing acne outbreaks on her forehead, nose and chin, and asked if I thought she should cut back on the copious amounts of saturated fats she had been consuming. My gut instinct told me that it wasn't the fat, but I knew she was worried because one of the things conventional wisdom has beat into our heads over the years is that eating a fatty diet can cause acne.

I replied to her asking how much dairy she had been eating and if she had been eating any fruits that may have caused an allergic reaction. Sometimes allergies manifest themselves by way of skin outbreaks. She replied telling me she wasn't having a whole lot of dairy all the time, and that she hadn't eaten any unusual fruits that she hadn't been eating before her lifestyle change. But I had also remembered that she had mentioned in earlier conversations that she was supplementing with B vitamins, and that made me remember that sometimes when one over-supplements with B12 and/or B6 it can cause acne outbreaks of the tiny little whitehead looking bumps my friend experienced. I messaged her with the information and she also said that in addition to her B vitamin pills, she had been drinking a popular beverage that was also loaded with B vitamins. Like magic, after she stopped the supplementation, the acne disappeared.

As for the rest of my low carb story that I didn't talk about...I am thankful to have started my journey on Atkins. It lead me down the path to discover what was really good for my body, mind, and soul. I don't "do Atkins" anymore. I have discovered that a more Paleo template of eating works best for me, gravitating more toward Primal on most days. I keep experimenting all the time with what foods make me feel the best and how I react to them. Since we're all different self-experimentation is the only way to know for sure what you will thrive on. Perhaps in my next post I will explain why this lifestyle change is so important to me personally, and why I want to help spread the word that conventional wisdom about food and health needs a major overhaul.

Coconut Flour Pancakes

2011-08-28T12:41:00.003-04:00

Until today I have never made anything with coconut flour; I have wanted to, but my husband loathes coconut, and I hesitate to make anything that we can't all enjoy. Last weekend I took a trip to the health food store and picked up a bag of coconut flour anyway, just to do some experimenting, figuring if I am the only one who eats what I make with it, well, more for me...although I was pretty sure my two children still at home wouldn't mind some coconut flour treats. I wasn't counting on them both being gone this weekend, however, so whatever I came up with was going to be all mine if my husband wouldn't eat it, or I'd have to freeze some of it for later. No big deal and worth a gamble, especially since a little bit of coconut flour goes a long way.

Today was the first opportunity I had to make something with it, and I wanted to try to make coconut flour pancakes as the almond flour pancakes I made several months ago were disappointing, and occasionally I want a pancake, darn it, but not enough to cave in and eat wheat flour.

I looked up several recipes online for coconut flour pancakes. Most of them called for raw milk (which I don't have access to), or coconut milk, which I did have. I had discussed with my husband that I was making these and that I wanted him to try them, and knowing how much he detests coconut it just seemed like I'd be adding insult to injury by adding coconut milk. What to do? As absorbent of liquids that I'd read coconut flour was I couldn't just leave out the liquid and add more egg (that might have been a rubbery, nasty mess), so I used water. It worked out fine.

I also used my own proportions and didn't follow a recipe online, just to see what I could come up with myself. Longer story a little shorter, my husband thought they were great and didn't think they tasted like coconut. I know he's telling me the truth because there were no dry heaves after he took a bite. He ate the whole plate I served him, three pancakes total*. And me? I thought they were delicious and ate the rest of them. =) There was nothing left over to freeze for later, ha!

Lisa's Coconut Haters Coconut Flour Pancakes

Ingredients:

4 Large eggs

1 1/4 C water

1 t organic vanilla extract

1 t baking soda

1/2 C organic coconut flour

1 t sweetener of choice (I used Xylitol), or omit

1 pinch salt (omit if not using sweetener)

Instructions:

Combine wet ingredients and beat well with a whisk. Whisk in dry ingredients until well combined. Drop 1/4 C dollops (or a little less) on a pre-heated, well greased griddle or in frying pan using a healthy fat (butter, ghee, coconut oil, etc.). Keep the pancakes small for ease of flipping. Flip pancakes when edges look sort of cooked. Cook second side, then serve with your choice of toppings.

Makes approximately 14 smallish pancakes.

Nutritional Information

Entire recipe:

Per Pancake:

Calories: 38

Fat: 2

Carbohydrates: 2.42

Fiber: 1.4

Protein: 2.4

(The alcohol is the vanilla extract)

*I had also made him eggs, just in case he wouldn't eat the pancakes, so he had both. I only had pancakes...I'm not really selfish pig, but I may have to make a double or triple batch of these next time, especially if the kids are home! ;-)

Wheat Belly Sighting

2011-08-27T11:44:00.000-04:00

There are actually a lot of wheat bellies around, but that's not the sighting I am talking about. I noticed the latest edition of Woman's World Magazine has an article featuring Dr. William Davis, of the Heart Scan Blog, whose book Wheat Belly is soon to hit the shelves.

You would think with a blog name like No Pain, No Grain that Dr. Davis would be a man after my own heart, and for all intents and purposes, he is...I just happen to believe there is more to health and weight loss than cutting out the wheat, though it's a pretty good start. Grains are evil.

Do I think you can lose 30 pounds in 30 days by cutting wheat from your diet? Well, it happened to me, so I'd say it's possible, but your mileage may vary. If you cut the wheat and find that you're not losing much you may also try cutting starchy vegetables (like potatoes) and dairy and see how things progress after that. Regardless of any weight lost, you will be doing yourself a favor by not eating wheat. Dr. Davis highlights some of the benefits in the WW article:

I am definitely putting this book on my wish list, it should be a good read.

Oh, Sugar Sugar...

2011-08-21T08:30:00.001-04:00

Lately there seem to be several voices crying in the "healthy eating" wilderness that we need to turn our attention away from simply stating low carb eating is the panacea for all of our health and obesity woes. They are urging us to look beyond what many of us have come to take as gospel: carbohydrates make us fat and sick, and if you reduce your carb intake to a bare minimum you will lose weight and improve many of the diseases of modern civilization you may be afflicted with.

It has been hypothesized that it is simply a matter of too much sugar in our diets that is causing the increase in obesity and diseases of modern civilization, and perhaps the highly processed grains, and maybe the vegetable oils, too. But really, they question, is it the whole of the carbohydrate macronutrient group that we need to be wary of? After all, other groups of natives that have been virtually untouched by Westernized ways of eating do quite well with eating diets very high in carbohydrates, with no ill effects whatsoever (1, 2).

And is it anything to do with insulin resistance, or leptin resistance? Is the jury still out on the whole insulin resistance issue? Many in the upper stratosphere of the Paleo movement would like to argue (and do) that the Carbohydrate Hypothesis is erroneous, and lacking in scientific backing.

It is statements like these which make me scratch my head and say, "Oh really?!"

I absolutely agree that sugar is bad, especially in the abundant quantities in the American diet. I don't eat grains, and I try to avoid vegetable oils at all costs, but are these people serious when they say they think we obese Americans can lose weight just by avoiding sugar alone?

Obviously, any change toward cutting sugar is going to reflect a positive change on the scale and in the tape measure. I have had friends in the past who swore off their favorite sugar laden food and lost weight. But what about those of us who for many years, even decades, bought into the notion that we were supposed to eat low fat, with lots and lots of "healthy" grains and carbohydrates, became obese, then cut our calories and portions, thus starving ourselves to lose pounds, damaging our metabolisms and probably frying our adrenal glands and thyroids in the process? Yeah, and many of us are women. Has it not always been obvious, and a scientific fact, that men typically lose weight faster than women? And, honestly, with the exception of less than a handful of these Paleo scientific experts in the blogosphere, not many of these gentlemen have ever been obese, or even a little overweight.

I have been on so many different weight loss diets in my lifetime. I have lost a significant amount of weight on low calorie, low fat diets, only to gain all the weight back and more because I was starving. The only eating plan that allowed me to lose weight, improve my health, and never feel hungry has been a low carbohydrate eating plan. I lost 60 pounds from my 5' 2" frame, and maintained that for quite some time. It wasn't until I decided to do my own N=1 experiment after reading many Paleo bloggers who believed that we humans were designed to be able to handle carbohydrates like potatoes and rice, that I gained some of that weight back. I am now eating "clean" again, avoiding those Paleo-approved starches, and losing weight.

My take on this is obviously based on my own personal, anecdotal experiences, but my experiences and applications of low carb eating have been backed up by science, so I am counting them as valid. While I believe that people who have never damaged their metabolisms may indeed be able to eat these starchy vegetables and ancient grains without any detrimental effects, I, and so many others in my same boat, may never be able to incorporate these foods into our daily eating plans.

Do I think low carb is a panacea for all the maladies that present themselves in modern civilization? Pretty much, but my definition of low carb may not be everyone's ideal definition, either. We all need to find out for ourselves what our bodies are capable of handling with regard to the damage we've already done.

Mini Rant on the Insanity

2011-08-17T17:06:00.002-04:00

She who shall remain nameless (and linkless) posted a comment in response to someone who commented on her latest post:

"...it would appear that many of the success stories on LC are from folks who have dieted many times -- often extreme diets -- and this finally worked. There are many who report on the disco boards that they have had their gall bladder's removed thus they have reduced fat absorption. This may well be behind what's going on here. They have fewer calories in to the body. I'm not sure this is optimal for health and such folks should probably be consuming more coconut and palm kernel oil."

She doesn't seem to know ANYTHING about human anatomy and physiology, yet there are people who fawn all over her and think she's the greatest thing since sliced white bread.

Just because one has had a cholecystectomy does not mean one cannot absorb (or digest) fat. I guess she doesn't have a clue that after the removal of the gallbladder that a bile duct becomes enlarged and basically compensates for the lost gallbladder. After all, bile is still being produced, so the function of bile is still active in the body's digestion of fat.

Her "theory" doesn't hold water, or bile.

/rant

I just refuse to comment on her blog, and I find her pseudo intellectual B.S. revolting.

That is all.

Egg, Ham and Cheese Take-a-Longs

2011-08-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

I am always looking for new things to make that are portable and low carb. Sunday morning I woke up thinking about making eggs in the oven in cupcake cups or a muffin tin with some low carb throw-ins. They turned out nicely and they are approved by my youngest, Jaden, as being extremely yummy!

I am planning on taking some of these to work with me this week for breakfast, if they last that long. *wink*

I also think this will be an ideal recipe for my daughter, Cat, to try...and anyone else who wants to keep some grab-and-go food on hand!

Egg, Ham and Cheese Take-a-Longs

Ingredients
1 C diced ham
1 dozen large eggs
1 C shredded cheese
salt
pepper
garlic

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line muffin tins with cupcake liners, or grease the tins liberally with bacon grease, lard, or tallow if you do not wish to use the liners.

Instructions:

Place enough diced ham in each liner to cover the bottom.

Break one egg into each cup over the ham.

Season the tops of the eggs with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Top with shredded cheese.

Bake in a 350° F oven for 15 minutes for a less done yolk, 20 minutes for a more solid yolk.

Allow to rest for 3-5 minutes.

These were baked for 20 minutes. Serve warm,
or place in storage bags or containers
to refrigerate or freeze for later !

Change the recipe up a bit by using bacon, sausage, prosciutto, or corned beef instead of ham. Substitute or add seasonings to please your own tastebuds. Most of all, enjoy!

Train up a child in the way he should go:

2011-08-14T16:05:00.001-04:00

...and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

Had I known about eating a low carb, ancestral diet when I was young I could have saved myself, and my children, a lot of grief. But I didn't know...even though my grandmother and mother "did Atkins" from time to time when I was young, all that information I was bombarded with when I was a teenager told me that was sure to lead me down the road to cardiovascular disease. Now I know better, and my children have seen the results of their mother's low carb lifestyle, and they hear me talking about it all the time, and see my posts online. I had been hoping that even though this way of eating wasn't something we did since they were babies that some of it was rubbing off on them, and they were learning what to do to be healthy.

At home I cook low carb, high fat, moderate protein meals now, but when my eldest, Cat, was young, I did not. She has paid the price for my ignorance and has become morbidly obese. I have been gently urging her through these last few years to hop on board the low carb bandwagon with me, but there have always been obstacles that seemed pretty insurmountable from her point of view. Her husband doesn't really want to eat low carb, and that's his option, but it does make it difficult at meal time when one has to cook two different meals to satisfy them both. I thought it might not ever happen, and then this past Saturday I saw her status update on Facebook:

(I hate this) fat around my tummy and thighs... I'm not tolerating it any more... I'm going low carb. If it's not meat, I'm not eating it....

Then, one of her Facebook friends replied:

That is really not a good long term solution....but you will see some pretty incredible short term results....good luck.

To which she replied:

lol (name removed), you and my mother, Lisa, should talk some time.. Low carb/high* protein is the kind of diet humans were made to eat. It lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes... among many other things. Healthier hair, nails and skin, more energy. It is a rewarding long term solution, one that will add years to your life. To each their own tho...

I just happened to be at the Low Carb Meet-and-Greet at the time I read this, and shared the exchange with the group, to cheers, after I explained I had wondered whether any of my kids were really hearing me. Obviously, they are! I couldn't be more proud!

Saturday marks the day of the beginning of her low carb journey. I hope to continue to point her in the right direction and support her in this any way I can.

If any of you would like to offer advice, encouragement, links to things you think might be of benefit to her, please leave them in the comments of this post. I really think knowing she has the support of others (in addition to her old mom) will be of benefit to her. Thanks in advance!

*I have since explained to her that the optimal diet for a human is high fat/moderate protein/low carb, but she wasn't too far off!

Meeting Old Friends for the First Time

2011-08-14T12:57:00.000-04:00

Saturday my husband, youngest child and I went to the Low Carb Meet-n-Greet hosted by Dana Carpender and her husband (that nice boy she married), Eric Schmitz. There was fabulous food, great conversation, and I got to meet so many people whom I consider friends online for the very first time in person; a friend from Facebook, Jimmy Moore, Amy Dungan and her husband, John, and others who share the same way of eating. For this low carb lady, it was a dream come true!

Jimmy has contacted me and has asked if I would like to do a Low Carb Conversation with him in the future. I'm game!

I would like to thank Dana and Eric for their hospitality. My family and I enjoyed ourselves very much. I took some photos during our visit, and a few turned out well enough to share. I am already looking forward to next year!

Jimmy Moore and Amy Dungan

Amy, Eric Schmitz, and there's Dana Carpender in the background!

One happy, smiling dog!

Beautiful lilies in front of Dana and Eric's. Surprise Lilies, maybe?

Cock of the Roost in Dana's chicken coop!

Road Trip

2011-08-13T07:33:00.001-04:00

Headed out soon to the Low Carb Meet-N-Greet at Dana Carpender's in
Indiana. Be back later with photos (hopefully) and an update!

--
Lisa Crawford-Geiger

Can You Hear Me From Way Up There?

2011-08-11T19:24:00.001-04:00

The chasm between the Paleo community and the low carb community seems to be growing wider by the day. There has been a lot of flap about Gary Taubes giving a curt smackdown to Stephen Guyenet during the Q&A after Stephan's presentation on "Food Reward." I just watched the video of the incident, and I must say, up till the very end when Taubes made his flippant remark, it sounded like a good debate.

In the comments section of Dr. Guyenet's post about the "drama," many seem to want to equate Taubes' zeal and opinion about low carb with Ancel Keys disastrous advice that low fat diets prevented heart disease.

I think this is a big mistake, and while I don't think Gary Taubes' final statement in his response was necessary, or kind, I can see the point he was trying to make. Should Taubes take a dose of his own medicine? Perhaps, but I can't agree with everything the "big shots" in the Paleo community have come up with, either.

I've said before and I'll say again, I do not follow any particular "group." I am not Paleo, or Primal; I am not a follower of Atkins, and I had hoped that "Ancestral" might have been a good way to describe my way of eating. However...it seems that "Ancestral" is just another term for Paleo in the mind of the Paleoites. And even though, compared to the SAD, Paleo can be considered low carb by default, they rail against "low carbers" as if they were from another planet entirely, and just utterly stupid.

I have gained a lot of knowledge and wisdom from the Paleo movement, just as I have from Primal enthusiasts AND low carbers, but I don't think any of these groups will ever agree on an optimal diet between them. And that's okay. You all keep debating, and railing against one another. I will sit back, observe, and pick the good parts out of the slop you're making by bashing one another over every little detail.

Isn't the vision to be a unified front against the decades of insane advice from the powers that be? Can't we leave the sensitivity at the door and keep the real discussion going? Admit that there is right and wrong on both sides, and move on? Or is this going to be a huge pissing match - - a challenge between Alpha Males?

Some of the Paleoites need to get over themselves and realize that just because someone considers themselves low carb doesn't mean that they are retarded, and just because we consider one of the macronutrient groups to be pretty much verboten, doesn't mean we don't see value in your criticism about certain aspects of our way of life.

And about the Paleo/Primal people being in better shape than general low carbers? Well, I will bet you a dollar to a coconut flour donut that many of those beautiful, well-built people never had a weight problem in their lives. (Jump back, I didn't say ALL!) There are people in every lifestyle who are at different stages of their journey. To judge someones eating choices by ones appearance from seeing them one time does not a valid observation make.

In addition to that, if someone who has wrecked their metabolism for the majority of their life (not someone who is still in their youth - you know, 20s and 30s) discovers a low carb/Paleo/Primal way of living helps them maintain their health and accomplish weight loss, there is nothing saying that they will ever be able to eat the occasional potato or piece of fruit without it being detrimental to their weight or well being. Gary Taubes is right about many things, and so is the low carb movement. By the same token, there is a lot of good science abounding on all sides. I just hope this dies down and the bickering and caterwauling is kept to a minimum.

I realize my thoughts are sort of disjointed and all over the place in this post, but many of these points are in response to the particular blog post I linked above. I prefer to not involve myself in the discussion on Stephen's post directly. I feel more comfortable addressing them on my homefront. So, pardon my scatteredness, please!

Go Big or Go Home?

2011-08-10T08:16:00.002-04:00

We certainly have a lot of fabulous, zealous people in the low carb/paleo/Primal community, ready jump to tell those interested how to eat in a truly healthful way. But do you think it's a better idea to tell those wanting to start one of these lifestyles to ditch the bad stuff cold turkey, or to ease into it? Just wanting some feedback, give me your opinion, and why you feel that way...

Are We Making An Impact?

2011-08-07T19:14:00.001-04:00

Excuse my lack of posting, but my computer is down and I am sharing a computer between myself and three other people in the household. I am at work all day and by the time I get home it doesn't leave me a lot of time to do much of anything, and if someone else "calls" the computer I may as well hang it up for the day.

Anyway, this past week, as I was browsing a new edition of First Magazine I noticed it was chock full of low carb, high fat bits of wisdom. The articles weren't always 100% right, but much closer than what has been touted as being healthy. In interest of time (and so I can relinquish the computer to the next in line), I will post photos I took with my phone of the articles.

Really, I was shocked (in a good way)...do you think the tide is turning? Are we low carb/Paleo/Primal advocates making an impact in the mainstream? (click to enlarge)

A doctor who lost weight low carbing.

The doctors good advice.

The inset on the previous page, talking about the
importance of controlling blood sugar, and how
eating low carb preserves muscle mass.

Good advice about dairy fat. If only they had mentioned
that the best place to get that is from RAW dairy.

Healing a fatty liver. More excellent advice!

Low Carb vs. Low Calorie, Low Fat

2011-07-27T19:06:00.006-04:00

I can't tell you the number of times I have heard, "Well, if you just watch your calories and fat you'll lose weight!" I know, I know, it has been what we've been told for decades now, "Eat less, exercise more...it's all about calories in vs. calories out!"

When I tell others about low carb eating I am often met with comments that include, "I lost all my weight just watching my calories and exercising. It's what works best for me." I can't help but wonder when I hear things like that how long it will be before that person goes face down in the feed bag, because you know, if you've ever lost weight like that yourself, that what is really happening is you're starving. If you have followed a low calorie, low fat diet for any length of time you may have lost weight, but you have also robbed your body of important nutrients, and it may shock you to know that much of the weight you've lost may not necessarily be all fat (or even mostly fat); a low calorie, low fat diet makes it so your body consumes its lean tissue, too. That includes one of the most important of the organs of your body - - the heart.

So, what is the advantage of losing weight and maintaining that weight with low carb eating vs. low fat, low calorie eating?

1. You keep your muscle mass when you eat low carb.
2. You don't really have to count anything on low carb once you learn what foods you can eat.
3. You don't ever have to be hungry.
4. You don't have to exercise until you fall over from exhaustion.
5. You keep your brain healthier and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.
6. You don't feel like you have to take a nap after lunch.
7. Bacon. Real Bacon.
8. If you have suffered from acid reflux it will disappear.
9. If you are diabetic you may be able to reduce your medication intake (with doctors supervision), or completely eliminate the need for it.
10. If you take anti-depressants, you may find you don't need those anymore, either.
11. Butter. Real Butter.
12. Low carb eating lowers blood pressure.
13. A low carb diet lowers triglycerides.
14. Did I mention Bacon? ;-)

And really, this way of eating goes beyond weight loss. The weight loss is a happy side-effect. This is really about good health.

Food Reward

2011-07-17T10:26:00.000-04:00

or, Eating Bland Food To Cure Your Gluttony

Stephan Guyenet has published a series of posts hypothesizing a link between good tasting foods and obesity. That's really an oversimplification, but the basic gist.

Read the series of posts following these links:

Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part I
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part II
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part III
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part IV
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part V
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part VI
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part VII
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part VIII
Simple Food: Thoughts on Practicality

Yes, there is a lot there, and if you're brave enough to take a gander (or at least skim through) do not miss the comments to these posts.

Of all the commenters I find myself agreeing with ItsTheWooo2 more times than not. I remember her from many years back in a low carb forum I frequented. She's very outspoken, sometimes brash, but usually accurate in her assessments. She takes a lot of crap from her detractors, but remains undeterred in her quest to educate others on what she has found to be true. More power to her, I say. I wish she blogged, but a quick Google of her online persona gives plenty of reading material and a good take on her stance where low carb eating is concerned. Here is a link to her story.

I have found a lot of valuable information on Stephan's blog in the past. I just happen to think he's barking up the wrong tree on this one.

And yeah, I am thinking of starting an ItsTheWooo2 fan club.

I am not thinking of starting any fan clubs any time soon for CarbSane. She has a blog I refuse to link to, but if you're that curious you can find it. A more pseudo-intellectual person one will never find. She's just so off base with her assertions, it's not funny. It's not funny, either, that Stephan Guyenet seems to be in agreement with her about certain things. It certainly gives one pause. I try to keep an open mind when I am reading and researching, but I am beginning to have problems doing that when I read either one of them anymore.

The Case of the Disappearing Eyebrows

2011-07-10T18:43:00.001-04:00

or, Could I Possibly Be Hypothyroid?

Yesterday as I was sitting outside chatting with my daughter and her friend, my daughter cocked her head and said, "You need to start using eyebrow pencil. Your eyebrows are gone on the ends."

I had been noticing them thinning over the years, even before I started low carb (so don't even start to tell me low carb caused this issue, I won't ever believe that). My mother, and her mother before her, had thyroid issues, and were on medications (Synthroid) for Hypothyroidism. I had read somewhere that the thinning of the outer ends of the eyebrows can be a sign of Hypothyroidism. I guess that would explain why it was never odd for me to see my mom and grandmother draw their eyebrows on with eyebrow pencil my whole life.

What I should do is go to the doctor and have him order tests. The only problem with this being I have no health insurance, and no extra money to pay out of pocket for a doctors visit and lab work, nor for prescriptions.

For now I am going to work under the assumption that I am more than likely Hypothyroid, and research and learn what I can do without prescribed thyroid hormone replacement medications.

I have done a few Google searches, and skimmed some symptoms, treatments, foods to avoid, and some supplements that are recommended to help with this condition.

Of the symptoms, the bolded ones that follow in the list are the ones I have:

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism include: (From this site)

Early symptoms

Poor muscle tone (muscle hypotonia)
Fatigue
Cold intolerance, increased sensitivity to cold
Depression
Muscle cramps and joint pain
Arthritis
Goiter
Thin, brittle fingernails
Thin, brittle hair
Paleness
Dry, itchy skin (from time to time)
Weight gain and water retention.
Bradycardia (low heart rate: less than sixty beats per minute)
Constipation

Late symptoms

Slow speech and a hoarse, breaking voice. Deepening of the voice can also be noticed.
Dry puffy skin, especially on the face
Thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows. (Sign of Hertoghe)
Abnormal menstrual cycles (had those until an endometrial ablation several years ago)
Low basal body temperature

On another site I also found other symptoms that are less common but still associated with hypothyroidism that I have including premature graying of the hair, migraines, and increased need for sleep.

I don't think I even need a test to tell me the signs point to hypothyroidism.

The bummer part is that many foods I love to eat are on the list of foods that can be associated with decreasing thyroid function:

Foods that depress thyroid activity are broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, spinach, turnips, soy, beans, and mustard greens.

I don't eat soy, or beans, and I don't like kale and turnips, so those aren't an issue. I absolutely adore Brussels sprouts, and really like broccoli and cauliflower. It looks like I am going to have to eliminate those from my diet for a while, though, to see if it helps.

Oh, and another thing that is associated with Hypothyroidism is carpal tunnel syndrome. I have had issues with that for years.

So I am reading that coconut oil can help (I am out at the moment), and Dana Carpender has stated that tyrosine, selenium, and iodine may be effective to improve thyroid function.

If anyone has any input on this subject, I am all ears.

I Just Wish We Still Had Milkmen

2011-07-03T14:04:00.001-04:00

I have run across several articles and posts recently that talk about “hiding” things like vegetables and liver in certain recipes so kids will eat them. Having three children of my own, I realize that some kids are pickier than others, and they all have their particular (and sometime peculiar) likes and dislikes. I guess I am fortunate that all of my children love vegetables and liver, although I can’t help but think that they like these foods because they were exposed to them fairly early in life, with no prejudice, and no one making “yuck” faces at them while they were trying something new (that I may not have liked). I made sure, too, that they tried a variety of new foods whenever the opportunity presented itself.

I can’t say, though, that they always ate food that was good and wholesome. It wasn’t until my oldest was an adult that I (re)discovered what “good and wholesome” food was, and found out that it wasn’t what I had been led to believe for so long.

This topic has made me think back, not just to my kids eating habits growing up, but to my own as a child, and how things changed from my infancy through my adulthood.

I was born in 1964 (I am not ashamed, I look and feel good for my age!), ten years before McGovern’s committee fouled up U.S. nutrition. Before that fateful year of 1974, “we the people” were unafraid of lard and tallow, and eggs were incredible and edible and nutritious. My grandmother often fed me egg yolks for my “baby food.” We had real butter and whole milk (though even then it was pasteurized, although not illegal to buy or sell raw milk). I remember the skin on roasted chicken or turkey being the best, and more times than not I would sneak some skin while the bird was resting before it was carved. We kept a jar of bacon grease in the Frigidaire®, ready to be used for frying eggs, or anything else that required grease with a high smoke point. Meals were made at home, for the most part. “TV Dinners” that were invented in the 1950s were available, but a frozen “pre-fab” dinner was not the norm; those were only occasionally consumed, perhaps once every few months. Soda pops were a treat, not a staple beverage. Pies, cakes, and other baked treats were usually reserved for holidays and special occasions, not an after-every-meal necessity.

I remember my mother telling me when she was young that she would eat butter by the stick, and await the arrival of the milkman so she could drink the cream off the top of the bottle.

Yes, Virginia, there was a time when good, wholesome food was celebrated and eaten without guilt or remorse.

My children didn’t have that advantage, because by the time they were born all of the good food had been demonized, and I bought it, hook, line and sinker. I still have two at home, though, and we’ve established the fact that saturated fat is good for them, and the processed, high carb, sugary stuff is not food. They love liver and onions, heavy cream, real butter, and their veggies. I don’t hide anything, but I don’t hold it against those who do…we have to get our children eating the good stuff somehow, and I know that with the way things stand in our world today it is not an easy task.

I am curious: what are the favorite foods from your childhood that you remember with fondness? Do you remember being drawn to “good, whole foods” as a child, and do you think the era you grew up in had anything to do with your preferences?

Is There a (Low Carb) Doctor In The House?

2011-06-26T08:01:00.000-04:00

Okay, so, in one of my previous posts I mentioned a co-worker telling me that she had been to a dentist, and...well, turns out I misunderstood her...it was her DOCTOR who was recommending a low carb diet. Don't know how I got dentist out of the conversation, but she had been talking about her teeth. Anyhow...

I asked her his name, thinking perhaps at some point I would contact him to see if he would like inclusion on Jimmy Moore's Low Carb Doctors List, since the closest doc to me on said list is about an hour away. I may do that at some point, but for anyone in my area who is curious in the meantime, his name is Dr. Thomas R. Dixon, and he's located in Kettering, OH.

Myself, I don't typically have need for a doctor, since I have been eating a healthy low carb diet. My immunity has been given a boost, my blood pressure is great, my weight is not an issue, etc....but if I should need a doctor for any reason, I will check this guy out.

Sean Interviews Gary

2011-06-20T15:38:00.001-04:00

How did I miss this? Two of my favorite people in the whole world, together in one very informative interview video. Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness interviews Gary Taubes. Enjoy:

Guinea Pigs, Unite! (Or Not)

2011-06-18T09:45:00.001-04:00

Obviously, doing a low carb way of eating has done a lot of good for me. I have struggled for a while to find an appropriate "label" to describe my way of living/eating, and have come to the conclusion that I am just not going to find one; at least not one that already exists. Perhaps that is not a bad thing. I have never really liked being labeled anyway, why do it now?

Recently a high profile Paleo blogger has abandoned ship, renouncing what he has touted as an optimal way of eating in favor of a more pesce-vegetarian, low fat diet with underpinnings of Chinese medical and religious philosophies (or, that's what I can gather out of it, at least). I find this all rather peculiar, since he has only fairly recently mentioned any issues he has had with the Paleo diet he has followed for 14 years, but he is obviously having some health issues (whether those issues are primarily related to what he believes they are related to is an entirely different story).

Paleo, Primal, Low Carb, Archevore, Atkins, Weston Price, Whole Food...what have I left out? All of these philosophies have contributed to the way I eat today. For the most part I shun grass grains and sugar, and most starches, though occasionally I will have some potatoes fried in lard or tallow, or some white rice. My way of eating is actually changing all the time. Changing, but not really diverting from a high fat, moderate protein, low carb model of eating. Some things I eat may or may not work for someone else. Why is that? Simply, we've all walked different roads, and the damage I have done to my body over the years with whatever toxins or "mal-nutrients" I have ingested has effected my particular genetic makeup in its own individual way. I have done a lot of damage, I am sure. I did eat low fat/low calorie for extended periods of time, and was anorexic during certain points in my life. I also ingested a bunch of processed foods and vegetable oils. Who knows what lasting effects that will have on my mortal body in the long run? Only time will tell, but right now, as I live in the present, I know that I feel better and perform better with very few carbohydrates and little processed foods.

I do believe everyone has to find their own best diet. I will not, however, ever believe that there is any good in Veg*ism, Low Fat or Low Calorie eating.

I will continue to read, research, and glean information about what could be beneficial to add and/or delete from my way of eating. I am a self-made guinea pig for my own well-being.

More Than the Tooth...errr, Truth!

2011-06-12T21:24:00.000-04:00

A co-worker of mine told me last week that she had recently gone to the dentist, and had a less than stellar check-up. She also told me that he had recommended a low carb diet to help prevent tooth decay, and then she said, “I told him I have a friend at work who can tell me all about that!” Obviously I am not meek about my lifestyle…I like to share, when I am able. I told her I’d be happy to tell her anything she wanted to know.

Better dental/mouth health is but one of the things that a low carb diet is good for, and our little exchange got me thinking about all of the benefits.

I have often said that the weight loss that is enjoyed by eating a low carb diet is just a happy side effect; the best benefits are improvements that can mean the difference between a good quality, healthy life, and a life of illnesses and disease. For some it can mean the difference between life and death.

So, what are the benefits of eating low carb? I will list a few, but this is in no way exhaustive. There is also more information about these listed items than what links I am posting, but this should give you a good starting point if you’d like to do your own research.

1. Weight loss – Obviously this is a big one for a lot of people when they start to eat low carb. Weight seems to melt off rather effortlessly on low carb, and it’s a fact it is much healthier for you than a low calorie, low fat diet. http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2011/05/low-carb-beats-low-fat-for-weight-loss.html

2. Prevention, Maintenance of Diabetes Mellitus – A low carb diet is a safe, effective, low cost way to prevent and reverse the occurrence of Type II Diabetes. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570767/

3. Increased Energy, Stamina – Have you ever been on a low calorie/low fat diet and just didn’t feel like moving? Good reason for that…it’s not the fuel your body needs to run efficiently. On low carb you will find your energy goes through the roof. If you ever had to huff and puff to get up a staircase before low carb, it won’t be long after you start low carb that you can take that staircase with ease. http://www.ergo-log.com/lowcarbendurance.html

4. Strengthened Immune System – Sugar and carbohydrates (which are converted to sugar in the body once ingested) are immune system depressants. Eliminating carbs and sugars from your diet give your immune system a huge boost. The low carb diet coupled with increased Vitamin D, whether in supplement form or from sunlight exposure, is a sure way to better fight off the nasties all year long. http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/sugar.htm and http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

5. Clearer Skin – Most low carbers enjoy the clearing of acne, psoriasis, dry skin, and other rashes. http://www.drbriffa.com/2007/07/09/low-carb-diet-found-to-be-effective-for-acne/ and http://paleohacks.com/questions/1581/does-your-psoriasis-improve-on-a-paleo-diet#axzz1P75VGm61

6. Easing Joint Pain and Inflammation throughout the Body – It’s just a fact: a low carb diet reduces inflammation in the body. Many arthritic low carbers report that their arthritis symptoms have improved. Another benefit of reducing inflammation is a healthier cardiovascular system. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203091236.htm and http://healthnewsreport.blogspot.com/2010/01/low-carb-diet-reduces-pain-and.html and http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/cardiovascular-disease/inflammation-and-diet/ and http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/08/health/webmd/main2164981.shtml

7. Lower Blood Pressure – Many low carb eaters who have been taking prescription medication for high blood pressure have found that they need their dosage adjusted, or can completely eliminate the need for blood pressure medication altogether. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20100125/low-carb-diet-lowers-blood-pressure and http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/01/26/us-low-carb-idUSTRE60P6HG20100126

Here is a link with some anecdotal benefits from low carb dieters: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Special-Diets-768/low-carb-diet-health.htm

With just these benefits alone, can you understand how excited I get about sharing this information with everyone who will listen? I will tell you, though, most people really don’t want to listen, but I keep trying…

This is only a test...

2011-06-08T16:35:00.002-04:00

Testing posting from my cell...

Percentages on the Plate

2011-06-06T09:08:00.004-04:00

@livinlowcarbman Tried my hand at redesigning the MyPlate gra... on Twitpic

This is actually a good representation of the percentages of macronutrients you should be eating at every meal. Just make sure the protein comes from an animal source for the most part, and the carbs are mostly from a plant source.

Of Accountability, Disclosure, and Haters

2011-06-05T19:08:00.003-04:00

It is not new news that there is a hater in our “low carb” midst; someone who has set themselves up as an expert, a scientist, an authority, the ultimate in critical thinking skills. This person, however, will not disclose their name, though they have posted a proud list of credentials, and a profile photo on their blog that appears to have been taken some years ago. They seem to "diss" every figurehead of the low carb community with glee, even adding cutsie little $ymbols to some names to signify their disdain with those who they see as cashing in on people’s stupidity.

Personally, I have no problem with differing opinions; I take in all information and analyze and research to form my own conclusions, as I am sure many others do, as well. Those who feel strongly about their own stance where low carb scientific information is concerned, especially when their reputation is threatened, have every right to stand up for themselves and not take disrespect or erroneous information lying down. What is a little odd is the one who has taken it upon themselves to create a persona of authority, and then peer down from their wobbly, lofty pedestal to bash everyone whom they accuse of shunning them and their ideas.

This person admits that they have lost weight on low carb, yet finds fault at every turn with advice doled out by several true experts in the field. They also admit that they have not shed all the weight they would like to, and that they are still overweight. And still, even with that, they post photos of those in the limelight of the community, the ones who have had some stumbles, or health issues that caused them to put on additional pounds, to ridicule them, and to cast doubt on their authority…or on the low carb way of life itself.

I don’t know this person, obviously (and does anyone, really? Is that person in the photo even them?), but their posts and comments strike me as someone who is a true Sociopath, or in less archaic terms, has Antisocial Personality Disorder. I am not a doctor, nor a Psychologist, but I am educated, and have a background in psychology, science and biological studies. I am also a real person, with a name, who is not afraid to be accountable for what I say and what I believe in.

Then again, if I were this person, I wouldn’t be very proud to attach my name to any of the nastiness that has been spewed by this person on their blog.

MyPlate, Big Fail

2011-06-05T09:49:00.000-04:00

Big fail, USDA, with the MyPlate update to what you are recommending America eats. Way to continue promoting the cash crops that only benefit the government. The recommendations like "Enjoy your food, but eat less," won't help anyone stay healthy, especially when you are recommending things like "Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk," and "Make at least half your grains whole grains." Sugar and poison. Good job.

For anyone concerned with their health, or their weight, I suggest you make your plate look something like this:

This doesn't even give the whole picture of what is healthy to eat, but it's a far cry better than the USDA plate.

Time Flies

2011-06-05T00:35:00.000-04:00

So, it's been over a year since I last posted, and so much has happened in that span of time...and a few things I was afraid were going to happen, didn't.

I was married to the love of my life last May. It has been the most blissful year of marriage ever, even though other things around us weren't so wonderful. My mother, whom I talk about in this post, survived her ordeal, and after many struggles with MRSA and VRE, had her left leg amputated below the knee. She is better, but still recovering.

I definitely got off track where low carb eating was concerned during that time, and ended up gaining a bit of weight. Thank goodness I didn't get hideously sidetracked and gain back what I had lost and more. No, I had changed my eating habits enough that this has been the most minor of setbacks, and I have been back on track and the excess baggage is coming off quite nicely. I just want to make it clear that low carb hasn't failed me...I failed IT for a while.

While I haven't kept up with my blog, I have kept up with some of my favorite bloggers/low carb community peeps, and the latest studies on health and diet. I have been pleased to see a move in the mainstream way of thinking away from low fat eating, even if it is ever-so-slight.

It is my hope that I won't lose the momentum this time, and I will be blogging on a fairly regular basis again. It won't be daily, but weekly or bi-weekly, unless I can eke out some extra writing time here and there. Sometimes my job and family take up all my available time, and they do come first! I want to get back to it, though... I have some things I want to say and share.

Meeting Low Carb Rock Stars

2010-05-17T22:16:00.000-04:00

Picture meeting Elvis when he was still alive and The King of Rock and Roll. That's what it was like for me this evening when I had the honor to meet Drs. Mike and Mary Dan Eades, low carb/Protein Power Rock Stars in my eyes.

They were at a local upscale market/cooking school with Chef Richard Blais of Top Chef fame, giving a class on cooking with the Sous Vide Supreme. I tried to get tickets to attend the class, but alas, it was sold out. But, how could I let an opportunity like having the Drs. Eades in my neck of the woods pass without giving it a shot to meet them? I couldn't. So, I trotted myself up to the class location and waited for an opportunity to crash the party. ;-)

I let myself in the door as soon as the class was over, and who should be standing next to me upon my entrance than Dr. Mary Dan Eades herself! I introduced myself to her, explained that I was there to meet her and Dr. Mike, and that I had lost 60 pounds on Protein Power...and wondered if they could sign my copy of The 6 Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle. She was so gracious and told me that they would be glad to, and she marched me right over to Dr. Mike where she explained my success on their Protein Power plan.

As you can tell by the picture I was all smiles (so much so, in fact, that you can barely see that I have eyes because I am grinning so wide! And sorry, Dr. Mary Dan, I only got one shot and your eyes were closed). Dr. Mike kept asking me, "Sixty pounds? You lost 60 pounds?" Ha ha! Yes, I did. And yes, they signed my book. I will treasure that, and this evening, always. Thank you both Dr. Mike and Dr. Mary Dan for treating me like a rock star, too.

And I promise I won't have the photo of us painted on black velvet. ;-)

AWOL

2010-05-08T08:35:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the recent lack of posts and updates. My work and family schedule has prohibited me from updating. I hope to be back at it soon, Lord willing, and the creek don't rise. ;-)

A Delicate Balance...and Boobs

2010-04-25T18:36:00.003-04:00

There has been a lot of discussion in the Paleo/LowCarb/Primal community about the wisdom or insanity of including potatoes in ones diet. Richard Nickoley committed obvious heresy according some of his Paleo community followers by suggesting that there was nothing wrong with eating some taters with his grass fed meats. Tom Naughton did his own little self experiment with the dreaded white potato and sweet potatoes, posting about his blood glucose reactions to the two different kinds of spuds.

I have done my own little experiments regarding potatoes, both white and sweet, though not quite as scientific as Tom, and thankfully under less scrutiny of my peers than Richard. I'm not Paleo - - don't claim to be, am not a reenactor, don't really care whether potatoes were eaten by theoretical cavemen or not, so my experiment is merely about how my body reacts to them, basically as Tom was trying to discover about his own reaction. Except mine was done without the BG readings on a glucometer. I am pretty much in tune with what is going on with my body these days, and I know from the way my heart races when I eat something that makes my BG levels go crazy high that I should avoid whatever made it happen.

The verdict? I will probably never be able to eat white potatoes ever again. Well, I won't say never, because there may be those occasions when I just want a BG rush and then to fall into a deep coma-like sleep, but we'll see. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, seem to have very little effect on my BG, much like Tom discovered.

I don't really miss potatoes anyway. I have too many other wonderful, satisfying things I include in my lifestyle of eating that worrying about whether or not I can eat a potato is of no concern. I just know it's not good for me. It may be fine for someone else, like Richard. More power to him for discovering what is good and right for him.

______________________________________

Mark Sisson posted an interesting link to Paleo Princess' post on the Paleo Alphabet. All of her alphabet points rang true for me, though I don't follow exactly the same lifestyle as she...but I found her "B" point to be most interesting, and true for myself, as well:

"B is for Boobs! Big boobs! I was never a small chested woman, but I went from a 34-C to a 34-D on a paleo diet, even though I lost twenty-eight pounds. I’m not complaining!"

I went from a C to D cup while eating low carb/Primal. It was noticeable...so noticeable that my ex-husband asked me if I had had breast augmentation surgery. I thought, up until her post, that I was the only one who that happened to, but now I know I am not! Anyone else had the same thing happen? I wonder why it happens? Anyone have a clue? Not that I am complaining, either!

Breaking a Plateau

2010-04-15T23:11:00.001-04:00

I began my low carb journey on July 6, 2007. I lost 25 pounds in the first four months of low carb eating and posted about it in my personal blog, here. I had mentioned in that post that I would continue to eat in this manner even if I never lost another pound because it made me feel so good. I never would have guessed how prophetic those words of mine were...because I didn't lose another pound for about 12 months after that. I did feel great, but there was more excess baggage I was wanting to lose. I was not satisfied with the way I looked.

I frequented some Low Carb forums, attempting to come to a better understanding of why this stall was happening. Some of the reasons people gave were the following:

1. Thyroid Dysfunction
2. Not eating enough vegetables.
3. Eating too much dairy.
4. Eating too many vegetables.
5. Not taking the proper supplements.
6. Eating too many calories.
7. Eating too much fat.
8. Eating low carb "frankenfoods."

I'm sure I missed a few, but those were the most common.

I fiddled around with the composition of my diet for a while. I ate more veggies...no change. I cut out what little dairy I was eating...no difference. I wondered about the thyroid thing, but not having health coverage made it cost prohibitive for me to have any tests done. I took recommended supplements (CLA and another, I can't remember what it was now). Nada.

I resisted cutting fats down too much because I knew it was the fats that were helping to make me feel satisfied, and really made me feel all around good.

I had learned early on that the low carb frankenfoods stalled my weight loss, so I wasn't really indulging in those things at that point. I was, however, eating some other processed foods (albeit low carb ones), and still eating vegetable oils. Upon researching outside of the low carb forums I came to the conclusion that I just needed to eat non-processed, whole low carb foods, and completely eliminate vegetable oils from my diet.

That is where the turnaround came for me. I cut out eating pepperoni and cheesy metts. I stopped eating things like the burger patties out of a McD's double cheeseburger, and stopped eating the processed American cheese that I would allow myself on occasion. It made all the difference, just those few little changes.

I also started doing some Intermittent Fasting, sort of on accident at first. I just wasn't always hungry after I cut those things out of my diet. These changes allowed me to shed another 20 to 25 pounds. I still have a bit more adipose I would like to get rid of, and it is coming off slowly, but ever so surely.

Have you ever hit a plateau? What did you do to break through a stalled weight loss?

Quick Morning Breakfast

2010-04-03T10:26:00.004-04:00

No time this morning to cook something for breakfast, as I am heading out the door very soon for work. I threw together a breakfast eggnog (I know, 'tis not the season anymore, but it sounded good to me). One half pint of heavy cream, some freshly ground nutmeg, a touch of a Stevia based sweetener...and one raw egg. I know, the risk of Salmonella...blah, blah, blah...I don't fear Salmonella, Salmonella fears me. I'll let you know if I die later. ;-)

I have to have some good quantity of saturated fat in the morning to get me through my day. I crave it sometimes when I wake up...heavy cream, egg yolks...I want to do a post on those fat cravings and what I think they mean. But, that will have to wait. Out the door...home this evening. Wild caught Alaskan Pollock for dinner tonight, yum!

UPDATE: I didn't die. Felt great and the breakfast egg nog held my hunger at bay until lunch. Matter of fact, I wasn't very hungry at all come lunch time, but I ate anyway. =)

Walking in Joy

2010-04-02T11:05:00.002-04:00

This post is a departure from my usual theme here at No Pain, No Grain. Well, sort of a departure.

My mother has been in the hospital for almost three months today, having had a heart attack, multiple stent placements, and multiple bypasses in her heart arteries and leg arteries. Through all this she was found to be allergic to a common blood thinner and nearly bled out and died during one of the procedures. The latest procedure was a bypass in one of her leg arteries. That incision became infected with E. coli.. She underwent her second debridement on the incision area day before yesterday. She is now lying in a hospital bed in a lot of pain. She has never made any great steps forward in recovery. We have said our goodbyes just in case she doesn't recover, but I live in hope.

My mother has atherosclerosis, though she wasn't aware of this until her heart attack. It is this scenario that I am trying to avoid for myself, and my children, by eating in a Primal/Paleo/Low Carb way. I do not want this to be the future for any of us, and I wish I had a way to turn back time and eat and live the way we have been in the last few years. Hindsight, as they say...

So today, after speaking with my mother on the phone, I stumbled upon (by chance) a note she had given me some time ago, long forgotten. It was given to me during a sad and tumultuous time in my life, before my divorce. My mother and I have a very close relationship, and I had been telling her that I had no joy anymore...I was depressed and just going through the motions of living, but not really living. This note was her gift to me. She is a woman of great faith.

As we approach Resurrection Day this Sunday, I thought sharing this now couldn't be more appropriate. My mother may be going "home" soon, but I know her legacy of love and joy will live on. Excuse the typos (Mom is not much of a typist). The mistakes didn't matter to me, as this was a personal note between she and I...but it is too good not to let others see it. So, without further adieu...(click to enlarge)

"You look tough!"

2010-03-29T23:33:00.000-04:00

As I've stated previously, I work in a grocery store. It's a smaller, privately owned grocery that gets a fair amount of traffic through it for its size. I often have customers who come through my line who remark about the "Low Carb" sticker I wear on my name tag. There are also a fair share of male customers who are none too shy about making flirtatious overtures to me. Today a customer (a middle aged man a bit older than myself) was the first to remark about my physique, and not in a way that was a come-on.

I was scanning his groceries, lifting some heavier items out of his cart and on to the conveyor belt when he said, "Wow, your arms look...do you lift weights? They look like you lift weights..." To which I responded, "Uhm, no...not really...but I do a lot of heavy lifting while I'm working. It's really the only workout I do." And he said, "Well, you look tough!"

"Thanks," I said, sort of blushing by now, "I eat a low carb type of diet, and that has a lot to do with it."

"It's working well for you, that's for sure!" and I finished scanning his groceries and he departed. I thought it was interesting since I was wearing a form fitting long sleeved hoodie (it was a bit cold here in my part of the Midwest today), and I wondered how he could really tell what my arms looked like. It's probably a good thing they weren't bare. I'm not sure he would be so impressed, as I am not really that defined. There's definitely muscle there, though.

I had my daughter snap a quick shot of my arm this evening. It has me wondering about how they might look if I seriously started lifting.

I'm thinking about it. Obviously it's not the arm of a bodybuilder, but it's not too bad for a little 45 year old woman, huh? Those 40 pound bags of rock salt, cases of beer, and 20 to 30 pound bags of dog food that I lift all day are doing some good, I guess. But really, it's a wonderful thing that eating in an inherently low carb manner, such as eating Primal, is very sparing of muscle.

I am kind of stoked that someone noticed the guns. ;-)

So, what do you think...should I start pumping some iron, or is that overkill?

Soon...

2010-03-29T07:52:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to get a few new posts up but I have been working a lot of hours and dealing with my mother being in the hospital since before the first of the year (heart attack, multiple bypasses, atherosclerosis, e. coli infection in her incision...not a great prognosis here, folks). I am also having some problems with my computer that I am trying to sort out in my "spare" time. So, hopefully I can find a few minutes in the next day or two, barring anything unforeseen, to knock out a post or two. This all work and no play stuff sure is making Lisa a dull girl. *Sigh* Here's to brighter days ahead...

Barefooting Update

2010-03-21T10:15:00.002-04:00

UPDATE at bottom!

I wore my VFF's to work yesterday. I was sure that one of my co-workers would notice and comment first, as she is very observant, and I was right. "What in the hell is on your feet??" was the statement that came out of her mouth first, which roused the curiosity of several other co-workers. One co-worker knew what they were, and I explained to the others all about VFF's.

Several customers noticed, though not quite as many as I thought would. Maybe a handful of people through my checkout commented (BTW, I am a grocery store cashier/trainer). One young couple who came through my line were staring at my feet and smiling as I was helping the customer ahead of them. When it was finally their turn I greeted them, smiled and asked, "Are you staring at my monkey shoes?" They laughed and said yes, they were, and that they had a friend who ran track for our state university who wore VFF's. I thought that was cool.

One customer asked if they were socks or sandals, and I said, "Oh, no, they are shoes," and lifted up my foot to show him the sole. He just shook his head. Another customer chided me about them and said he was going to get a pair himself. He wasn't serious, though...he thought they looked ridiculous.

None of the managers noticed. The true test of that will come today, as the main manager wasn't there yesterday. He will be today, however, and will get to work about the same time I will. I am considering not wearing them today, not because I am afraid of the managers reaction, but because it is rather chilly today, and I didn't buy any toe socks and my feet might freeze. Eh, I may still go for it...they were comfortable and my back thanked me after being on my feet for nearly 8 straight hours.

The only time I noticed a little discomfort was when I took the VFF's off. They seemed to have been a bit tight and compressed my foot enough to make some marks in my feet that didn't go away for quite some time. They sort of pinched my skin in spots. I don't know if this is a typical experience or not. Obviously they are made to fit ones foot like a glove. Mine are definitely the right size for me toe-wise, but maybe they are a bit too form fitting? I don't know, maybe they loosen up a bit after a while? We shall see.

I am not one to relish drawing attention to myself, but these VFF's are an attention magnet. I also don't care much what other people think, even if they tease me about my choice of footwear. I just don't want to be told I can't wear these if I choose...I really don't like not having a choice. So, more updates after I wear them to work today.

UPDATE: We had a meeting at work last night. After the meeting I asked the boss about wearing the shoes at work, since he made comments about attire and footwear but never directly told me I couldn't wear the VFF's. The answer is NO, I can't wear them at work. I'm bummed, but I'll deal with it. I am definitely going to have to find some more comfortable shoes than the ones I have and am able to wear at work. I'll keep you posted...

Finally Barefooting!

2010-03-19T16:15:00.002-04:00

I needed new shoes and finally bit the bullet and invested in a pair of Vibram Five Fingers KSO's this morning! This is my first pair, but I've coveted these shoes for a long time. Okay, well really, this is my second pair of VFF's...second pair in one day - - the first pair had some stitching missing from the heel pull, and I took them back to exchange them for a perfect pair. I was fortunate they had another pair in my size, as I was informed that if they had to be ordered they could take two months to come in. The store where I bought them is the only one who carries them within a 50 mile radius of where I live.

The instructions that come with the shoes say to put them on and wear them for a couple of hours a day at a time to grow accustomed to them. I wore them out of the store and have not taken them off since. I am not having any problem becoming accustomed to them. Probably because my favorite thing has always been going barefoot. I was fortunate that while I was growing up that my guardians never made a big deal out of my not wanting to wear shoes. I had my share of bee stings (and I am allergic), but never had any other major issues going barefoot until I was older. Yes, of course I wore shoes to school and if I was in a public place, but at all other times my shoes were off.

I remember an interesting day my 6th grade year in Phys Ed. I attended a small private school in Florida, and our Phys Ed instructor was also the football coach, Coach Luker (I can't believe I remember his name after all these years, lol). Typically we would do things like play kickball, or basketball, but this day we were going to run some relays and sprints, and do some other activities outside. Before the start of the first race I asked the coach if I could take off my shoes to run. He looked at me and said, "Sure, I guess. Don't get hurt now." I told him I wouldn't, it was just how I felt best running. The first sprint I ran was up against a boy who was pretty fast, and I beat him, handily. The second and third races were the same result, and now my classmates were getting ticked because they couldn't out-sprint me. Several asked if they could take off their shoes, as well. The class was turning into a "let's see if anyone can beat Lisa" class. I raced every single one of my classmates, several times each, and no one ever beat me. That was all we got done in class that day. I ended up with an award at the end of the year in Phys Ed from Coach Luker. All he could do was smile and shake his head that day during class, and when I was running he was cheering me on. Oh, and I remember him recounting a story about some football player who kicked barefoot. He was duly impressed.

I don't know if I could have ran as fast with shoes on or not, but I knew barefoot just felt better to me. It still does. I still shun shoes when I am able. Tomorrow I am going to wear my Vibram's to work. I am taking a backup pair of regular shoes just in case my boss flips out, even though our handbook merely states that we are not allowed to wear open toed, open heeled shoes, or sandals, none of which the VFF's are...but they are not very traditional looking, to say the least! So far I love them. They will be the next best thing to being able to go barefoot at work, if I can pull it off without protest from the upper management! I'll update and let you know after I get home tomorrow.

Can I Get An Amen?

2010-03-16T18:08:00.002-04:00

(Taken from an I.Q. test for blonds. Sorry, I just had to!)

A few days ago this article was published on CNN.com about how those who scored highest on an I.Q. test were atheist, liberal, and if male, sexually exclusive.

It was no surprise that Richard Nickoley (FreeTheAnimal) posted about it, seeing as that he himself is atheist, intelligent, and has been in a committed relationship (married) for nine years. I have no bone to pick with Mr. Nickoley for posting such a story...I subscribe to his blog and comments because I generally find a lot of good information there, and I like Richard's candor. To be fair, if the headline was, "Christian, Fairly Liberal, Women Who Are Monogamous Score Higher on I.Q. Tests," I'd have jumped right on that!

The caption on the photo that accompanies the story reads, "The I.Q. differences are statistically significant, but experts say the data shouldn't be used to stereotype or make assumptions." I can't help but feel that the assumption and stereotype have already been firmly planted, and now "backed up" by this study, to "confirm" to all atheists that they are more intelligent than those who do believe in a Creator.

I've not hidden the fact that I am a Creationist. To be completely frank, I am a born again believer in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. I consider myself spiritual, but not religious. I do not attend church, but fellowship with like-minded individuals. Some other facts about me are that I lean toward Libertarianism politically, I have been married more than once (though I am a monogamist when in a relationship), and that I have had my I.Q. tested several times, each time testing far above average and within the genius range. I have qualified for MENSA membership. That and a buck something will get me a small cup of coffee at the corner convenience store. I have never put much stock in I.Q. scores, because as I understand it, all it measures is the ability to learn in school. Well, learn I have...

Dean's list in college, straight A's in my classes including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Biology. I really "get" all the science behind why this way of living/eating works and his healthy. (An aside - I haven't completed my degree because my discovery of the truth about CW made me decide that I couldn't practice conventional Western medicine in any capacity. I am considering studying to become a Naturopathic Doctor, which would require a move to the "left coast." My mother is gravely ill, though, and my plans for that are on hold at the moment.)

I wanted to comment on Richard's post, but thought better of it as I don't have any intention of getting in a pissing match with anyone about religion, politics, nor intelligence. His blog caters to his audience, and I know that I am in a minority being a Christian who follows a "Primal" way of eating. I know, I know, it's kind of humorous, actually. And I don't mind being laughed at. I just would prefer not to have my ideas dismissed because others think they are superior. No, it hasn't happened yet. It may, though...but I am prepared for that eventuality.

I am interested to know, however, if there are any other Primal-type eaters who are believers like I am? If you're out there, give me a shout out. It feels kind of lonely over here sometimes! ;-)

Low Carb Home Economics

2010-03-12T12:19:00.006-05:00

I was at the hospital while my mother was having surgery and was people watching, which prompted me to post this status update on my Facebook that said,

"So many obese people, all around...wish I could tell each and every one of them that there is a good and healthy way to remedy their situation...but I know most wouldn't listen, too afraid to go against conventional wisdom."

I had a couple of friends respond that, while they agreed low carb eating was good, it was very difficult, and too expensive. One responder was a single lady who has older, independent children living outside the home, and the other is a mom of kids still too young to leave the nest; but both with necessary budget constraints.

As a mother myself, of three splendid children (one of whom has flown the coop), I know all about eating low carb and healthy on a budget, so I thought I'd share what I do to keep food on the table for the family. Keep in mind, too, that I also work outside the home, and have the same unexpected things come up that make one deviate from the set routine, just like everybody else. Sometimes things flow splendidly, sometimes I have to get more creative to get things done, but somehow we all survive...thrive, even!

So, in no particular order of importance, here are the things that help me do low carb on an extremely limited budget:

Eliminate all processed and packaged foods from your grocery list.

Yes, even if you have kids who think it is their right to have a bag of chips or lunch-quick packaged junk. That frozen "lean meal" box of chemicals isn't low carb, and it has a lot of additives that are detrimental to everyone's health, no matter if "Heart Healthy" is printed on the package. It's not heart healthy, it'll kill you - - and it's expensive. If convenience and time is an issue when you are making the decision to buy these items, then set aside an hour or two one evening and make a few meals ahead. Freeze some things in portion sizes that you can reheat when you really don't have the time to cook, or to take to work for lunch (another money saver). Freeze leftovers from dinner instead of letting them rot until you can finally get around to cleaning out the fridge.

For good protein buys, look at the grocery store sale fliers, and buy the cheapest cuts of meat.

I believe, ideally, that we should all be eating grass fed beef for optimal health, and to not support government subsidized farming. However, it is too expensive for me to do with what money I have coming in and the mouths I have to feed. At some point I hope to be able to buy and eat all grass fed, but until then I buy what is in my grocery meat case. I like the fatty cuts of meat with all its flavor and good saturated fat, and it seems like the leaner cuts are more expensive, tough, and flavorless. I usually get whole chickens, sometimes for less than a dollar a pound, and cut them into pieces myself if I want them that way. I buy bone in chicken, with the skin on, if I ever do buy the pre-cut pieces. I typically buy dark meat pieces, which I find are more moist and juicy than the breasts, and they are usually much less expensive. I love finding a good pork butt on sale and throwing it in the crock pot before I head to work. Sometimes I'll do the same with chicken. Cheap meat, virtually cooking by itself = little time and money invested, and ready to eat when you get home. WIN!

Eggs, lots of eggs.

The incredible edible egg. Ignoring the faulty science behind the whole "don't eat too many eggs because they contain a lot of cholesterol," is wise. Eggs are good for you, and packed with a lot of nutritional bang for your buck, and they are so versatile. I eat eggs daily, and happily. I've heard complaints that eating eggs all the time gets boring, but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of low carb egg recipes out there. Besides frying some up for breakfast in some bacon grease (which I save in a Mason jar in my refrigerator every time I make some bacon), my favorite things to make with eggs are omelets, crustless quiche, and deviled eggs (made with homemade mayo), just to name a few. And you don't really have to save eggs for breakfast time...having eggs for lunch or dinner is really quite satisfying and delicious!

Shop the perimeter.

Where is all the real food located in the grocery? The perimeter of the store, that's where. Produce, meat, dairy (well, certain dairy items that some low carbers eat). Whole foods, good foods, not the packaged stuff in the center aisles of the store. You'd be surprised at how low the grocery bill is when this one simple rule is applied.

There are certain foods I will not compromise on, and some things I do to supplement and enhance the food I am eating.

Because I eat grain fed meats I supplement, and try to adjust my Omega 6 and Omega 3 ratio, with a couple of teaspoons of Cod Liver Oil each day. Cod Liver Oil isn't that expensive, and I don't feel as bad about not being able to eat grass fed beef.

I don't eat industrial oils (no vegetable, bean, or seed oils), and do not use them for cooking. I do, as I mentioned above, save bacon grease to cook some things in, and sometimes cook with coconut oil, which is rather expensive, but worth it. I use olive oil for low heat or no heat recipes, and to make homemade mayo. I don't eat mayo off the shelf because it contains industrial oils and is usually soybean oil based, even the kind that says it's made with olive oil. Also, I am careful now to read labels on canned and packaged fish (tuna, salmon, sardines) now, as I've noticed that sometimes soybean oil is what they are canned or packaged in. I tend to buy water packed cans, and not the pouches, which tend to be a little more expensive than the oil packed variety.

I buy butter made from grass fed cows milk. Kerrygold butter, to be exact. The flavor is unmatched, and it is very nutritionally dense. Definitely more expensive than butter in the grocery store dairy cooler, but oh so worth it!

I take Vitamin D3 daily. It makes me feel good and seems to even boost my energy and mood.

In a nutshell, those are the things I do to save some bucks low carb food-wise. If I can think of anything else, I'll post.

Do you do anything else to save money on your low carb food bill? Comment and let me know!

Another Trip Down The Primrose Path

2010-03-02T07:07:00.004-05:00

I was perusing my local TV station website this morning and came upon an interesting headline, Can Aspirin Blur Line Between Fat, Healthy? Seems the NIH is testing a "cousin" of aspirin to see if it can reduce inflammation in obese and Type II diabetics, thereby creating healthier, non-inflamed fat people.

Typical of modern science these days - - find some drug to treat some symptoms while ignoring the cause completely.

You, too, can be as fat as you want and still be healthy! Here, just take these...Ha.

Carbohydrates (especially the processed crap in every packaged food on the shelves) cause inflammation, folks...as does the overabundance of Omega-6 fatty acids in our government suggested (and subsidized) "healthy" diet.

This is my favorite part of the article (emphasis mine):

"If fat cells functioned perfectly, you could be as obese as you want and not have heart disease," says Dr. Carey Lumeng of the University of Michigan. "It's something we don't understand, why some people are more susceptible and others are not so susceptible."

Solving that mystery could point to more targeted treatments for obesity's threats than today's effective but hard-to-follow advice to lose weight.

Effective? I'm laughing out loud! Hard to follow? You betcha!

The story was a complete roll of the eyes for me, but it is frightening to think that a lot of people are going to follow the suggestions born of this study. More prescriptions to be written, more money for Big Pharma, more health care costs for the average fat Joe...I see it in my crystal ball. Yes, I do.

Chicken of the Gov't Subsidized Farm Crops

2010-02-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

I didn't have time to pack my lunch before I left for work today. I usually take leftovers from dinner the night before, but there weren't any this morning. Since I work in a grocery store there is food available, though much of it I choose not to eat. I wracked my brain trying to think of what would be acceptable off the shelf for a quick lunch.

I try to stay away from processed foods, as much as I am able. I also try to avoid vegetable oils and anything with HFCS and soybean derivatives. In this day and age it is very difficult to find anything in the grocery that meets that criteria. I thought about the pouches of salmon in the canned meat aisle. Surely, I thought, it's just salmon - - and since I've been eating a lot of grain fed beef lately, fish would be a good thing to eat to try to balance out my Omega 3's and 6's.

I grabbed a pouch and headed for the checkout, hurriedly since I only have a very short time for my lunch break. The front of the package proclaimed it was a good source of Omega 3, and that the salmon was wild caught. Awesome! I sat down, tore open the package, and started to dig in. It tasted pretty good. I thought I'd read the ingredients on the back of the package, just for the sake of curiosity...Salmon and vegetable broth...cool...(including SOYBEANS). Damn it! I was lulled into a false sense of security by the "good" stuff listed on the front of the pouch. Silly me, I didn't read the ingredients before I jumped right in. I know better, but time was of the essence.

I ate about 3/4 of the package anyway. I was hungry.

Oh well, next time I don't have time to pack a lunch before work I may just skip it. I won't starve, and I won't be ingesting any surprise ingredients that I'd rather take a pass on.

Nutrition Myths February 2010

2010-02-20T08:17:00.001-05:00

Nutrition Myths February 2010

Good post...read it!

Cold Weather Low Carb Comfort

2010-02-14T16:43:00.007-05:00

It is cold and snowy here in the Midwest, and only due to get colder, and snowier. When I awoke this morning I was chilled and craving fat and chocolate. What better way to sate the craving, and warm ones bones, than with some low carb hot cocoa!

It's so rich and creamy. Very satisfying. So satisfying, in fact, it was breakfast for me today. It filled me for hours!

Lisa's Low Carb Hot Cocoa

1 T Powdered Cocoa (not Dutch processed)

2 T Sweetener of your choice, equal to 2 T of sugar (I use 4 packets Truvia)

4 oz. Heavy Cream

2 oz. Water

Mix the cocoa and sweetener with a couple Tablespoons of heavy cream in a mug (there will be lumps of cocoa still. These will dissolve when heated) When mixed add the rest of the cream and water. Heat for approximately 2 minutes in microwave. Stir, and enjoy! For those of you who would rather not use a microwave you may heat on low to medium low heat on the stove in a saucepan.

Last night I made some awesome Pulled Chicken Barbecue (another recipe for another post), and saved the broth to make some Egg Drop Soup.

The broth seems to be very rich in protein and other good for you stuff as evidenced by how gelatinous it was out of the container. I also left some good chicken fat in the broth.

I'm not sure how much broth was there, as I didn't measure it, but made everything by sight. I added some green onion and ginger as the broth warmed:

Next, I beat a couple of eggs, and when the broth started just to boil I slowly poured the eggs into the broth while stirring. I also added some salt at this point. Some like to add soy sauce, but personally I avoid soy products, so I left that out.

And voilà! Nice, warm, low carb Egg Drop Soup!

When I Say "Primal"

2010-02-10T20:46:00.000-05:00

I have really learned a lot from the informative posts and comments on Mark's Daily Apple. I value the information there and incorporate what I can into my life and diet. I have never commented there myself, however, because there is one major point that I disagree with - - I am a Creationist. That's right, I believe that God created Adam and Eve in a human form that fully resembles our human form of today. I do not believe we evolved from apes or monkeys at all. I believe Darwin's Theory of Evolution is just that - - a theory.

So, then, why do I think that the ideologies behind the Primal Blueprint, not to mention the PāNu philosophy (Dr. Kurt G. Harris, MD), are based in sound science if I can't agree that we evolved from a "Grok" kind of man? The answer is not all that complicated, though it may be as controversial as the high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet itself.

It is my theory that the grains that are available to us today have been so genetically altered that they bear no resemblance to the grains that were consumed in Biblical times, and humankind (not to mention animal-kind) is unable to biologically process them in our bodies without dire consequences. It is not that I am eating to emulate the "pre-agricultural primal man," but that I cannot eat what pass as grains today (corn, wheat, barley, etc.) because they cause obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, damage the intestinal tract, and cause or contribute to many (if not all) the diseases of modern civilization, and at the very least lower the immune system to dangerous, life and health compromising levels.

I am not very comfortable using "Primal" to describe my way of life/eating, and "Low Carb" doesn't describe it entirely, either. I am going to have to come up with another term myself, I suppose. Any input on that is welcome.

As for those of you who do consider yourselves to be "Primal," or "Paleo," I have no desire to change your way of thinking in regard to the evolutionary theory you believe in, because other than our differences in how mankind originated, we are pretty much on the same page on everything else. So peace, okay?

In future posts I intend to outline what it is I do and don't eat, and why. I also intend to give some Bible references, along with scientific references, to back up my reasoning. I hope to stir some intelligent debate, perhaps educate, and learn as well. Please come back and visit, all are welcome.

Me, Before and After Low Carb

2010-02-07T21:12:00.006-05:00

For the naysayers that claim low carb doesn’t work and is unhealthy…

The photo on the right is of me yesterday (02-01-2010). I cut off my head in the larger shot because I had no makeup on and I’m vain! The small inset photo proves it’s me (just don’t enlarge it too much, okay?).

The photo on the left is of me and my elementary school chum, Paul, about 3 years ago. It was Paul who had suggested I give low carb a shot, as he had lost a significant amount of weight himself doing Atkins. I had been depressed for some time, and had also been on several rounds of Prednisolone for inflammation in my lungs (I suffered from chronic asthmatic bronchitis). The combination of being ill and taking the steroid treatments did nothing good for my weight. Getting fatter and fatter did nothing good for my depression. I craved carbohydrates constantly. I had hypoglycemia so bad that in the afternoons after lunch I had to lie down for a nap because I could not stay conscious.

To make a long story short, I took Paul’s suggestion to heart and started Atkins the day after that photo was taken. I don’t really know what my starting weight was (I could not bring myself to step on a scale), but I estimate I was close to 190 pounds, and I am only 5’ 2”.

I lost a significant amount of weight in only 2 weeks, and after that the fat came off more slowly, but it was steady and I never gained. Not too long into things I started to incorporate some dietary ideas from Protein Power as well (Dr's Eades' plan). As time wore on I started feeling better and better, and the weight loss became an afterthought as I basked in the feeling of good health and a boosted immune system. I no longer had to use a bronchodialator as I had on almost a daily basis for years. I could be in a house full of sick people and not get sick myself. For me, that was simply amazing.

I transitioned at some point to a more Primal way of eating, and still eat that way to this day.

I eat meat and saturated fat on a daily basis, and also nuts, berries, and the occasional glass of wine. Sometimes I have heavy cream on those berries I mentioned, and I am fond of cheese and the darkest of chocolates. I do eat some fibrous vegetables, but not always. I have no problems with constipation as a result of not eating a lot of fiber…my diet is high in fat and it takes care of things quite nicely, thank you. I am never hungry, and sometimes I go for long periods of time without eating and without any hunger pangs or effect on my blood glucose.

I have no idea what I weigh now as I quit weighing myself a long time ago, and just judge by the way my clothes fit and the way I look. I don’t really care about that number on the scale. I just know I’m not fat anymore.

I am not skin and bones. I still have the womanly curves that I am supposed to have, and I’m glad for that. I can sprint and play like I could as a young child. I am 45 years old and have never felt better.