GJEC
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LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
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DIET
Aug 19, 2012 8:49:10 GMT -5
Post by GJEC on Aug 19, 2012 8:49:10 GMT -5
Now I know there are strong opinions on this, so I'm not trying to start a bun fight ... I recently watched this Horizon program about intermittent fasting. This is not suitable for everyone, but it seems to fly in the face of the old 'eat little and often' theory of keeping your metabolism spinning. In tests the doctor presenting the program (and his GP wife) were pleasantly surprised at the improvement in blood tests on markers linked to heart disease, dementia and cancer. So I'm trying the 5:2 fast days as suggested in their summary as it seems a fairly pain free way of stacking the cards in favour of quality of life in the future. I'm interested in other peoples experiences and ideas. Gary www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549
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Post by MMX on Aug 19, 2012 9:00:34 GMT -5
Interesting. Only because the book Warrior Diet has that same plan. Most of the plan in the diet is to "graze" during the day aka light snacks but no meals and then at dinner you eat a very large portion. There are also times to fast. I am not sold on trying it yet but it was interesting to read.
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DIET
Aug 19, 2012 9:07:49 GMT -5
Post by meguro on Aug 19, 2012 9:07:49 GMT -5
If I watch anything these days it's sodium content. I prepare most of what I eat from scratch so this isn't a problem. On the off chance that I do eat something that's been prepared in an industrial kitchen, I'm usually very thirsty afterwards-it's the salt.
I haven't cut back on the carbs-bread, past, rice, keep them coming. I suppose it's portion control or genetics but my weight is pretty stable.
I'm definitely not a vegetarian, but am trying to cut down the meat consumption. That means more beans in soups and stews. I wish I had a good fish monger nearby.
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curlbroscience
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Testing the waters. Thanks for the forum MMX!
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Aug 19, 2012 17:36:26 GMT -5
Post by curlbroscience on Aug 19, 2012 17:36:26 GMT -5
Have you guys heard about intermittent fasting? I first read about it in Geoff Neupert's kettlebell burn book. There is a FAQ about intermittent fasting that's pretty informative.
We pretty much eat 90% home cooked foods. My wife wants to create meal plans that include meat three days out of the week. Costco sells a pretty inexpensive trio mix of beans that works well in lots of dishes. Veggies, lean meats for dinner.
The hardest part being filipino was giving up rice....
No to low carbohydrate has helped to keep the weight off for us. Fish Oil. Daily Vitamins. Insulin sensitivty supplements: Cinnamon and ACV. We do a veggie/fruit smoothie with a bunch of flax seed and greek yogurt.
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DIET
Aug 20, 2012 2:06:06 GMT -5
Post by Ros on Aug 20, 2012 2:06:06 GMT -5
One of the main things the programme said was that IGF-1 (a growth hormone)is related to age and that reducing it by fasting can prevent cancer and diabetes. However, correlation does not equal causation. Fasting can certainly increase longevity in lab animals - which we already knew. The few people featured who did the fasting also switched to a healthier diet. Maybe the lower calorie intake caused weight loss and a lower risk of diabetes, simply by bringing people's weight and blood sugar down because they were eating more healthily. Their weekly calorie intake was just lower. Eating less is linked with lower risk of diabetes for fairly well-established reasons that don't involve IGF-1. We also already know that there are higher rates of cancer in overweight people who don't have higher IGF-1. I was also a little concerned about the intermittant fasting part which suggested that as long as you had a 500kcalorie day you could eat anything you liked on the other days of the week. Long term effects not known etc... I certainly can't fast as I'm diabetic, but I don't think that eating less for one day a week and following a healthy diet for the rest of the week would do you any harm - I wouldn't put money on it necessarily being beneficial though.
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GJEC
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LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
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Aug 20, 2012 3:31:43 GMT -5
Post by GJEC on Aug 20, 2012 3:31:43 GMT -5
Thanks Ros
Maybe this comes under 'Aggregation of Marginal Gains'. Something that wont change your life on its own but - as you say - in conjunction with a general 'ditch the crap' diet.
I'll try it for a month and see if I feel better. If not, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Gary
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curlbroscience
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Testing the waters. Thanks for the forum MMX!
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Aug 20, 2012 9:24:51 GMT -5
Post by curlbroscience on Aug 20, 2012 9:24:51 GMT -5
Thank you Ros for the information.
I think the funniest thing I have read regarding IF is "It gives your brain the opportunity to take a break from digestion/eating."
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GJEC
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Aug 26, 2012 6:19:55 GMT -5
Post by GJEC on Aug 26, 2012 6:19:55 GMT -5
OK I've had (almost) five 'fasting days' now. Two Wednesdays and today is my third Sunday.
I didn't have blood tests or anything beforehand, just measured my waist and weighed myself. One inch gone and almost two kilo's if my scales are accurate, for very little effort indeed. Normal dinner then skip the next days breakfast and lunch. By the following dinner I'm hungry. REALLY hungry.
But weight and inches lost means nothing. If I felt crap on it or lost strength I'd bin it, but although it's early days yet I find the reverse is true. I normally have lazy days on Sunday/Wednesday, no training, but as the kids are off school they want to be on the go all the time. Swimming/walking/bike rides etc. No problem. No loss of energy or enthusiasm.
I do my weight sessions on a Tuesday (power based) and Friday (strength based). I do speedplay on a Saturday. In the last few sessions I've felt great. I know they're not on a 'fasting' day (I'm not that daft, hard exercise and no food is a recipe for disaster in my opinion. I well remember feelings of near collapse at work when the canteen van didn't show up)
But the fast day followed by a normal day then pushing myself hard on the next one/two seems to suit me just fine. I'm no adonis but I swear clean and jerks with 2x32's seem easier than I remember.
More to follow ...
Gary
PS I AM NOT SUGGESTING ANYONE ELSE TRIES THIS.
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curlbroscience
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Testing the waters. Thanks for the forum MMX!
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Aug 27, 2012 11:06:26 GMT -5
Post by curlbroscience on Aug 27, 2012 11:06:26 GMT -5
The fasting gets much easier in my experience and when I finally get to dinner my mind is not bigger than my stomach.
You know the feeling after a long day and your mind is telling you EAT everything!
In my non-expert observation, perhaps IF is conditioning your mind to stop telling your body it needs more food than it actually does to sustain itself.
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DIET
Aug 27, 2012 11:10:59 GMT -5
Post by MMX on Aug 27, 2012 11:10:59 GMT -5
Sounds good Gary. Please continue to update us on this "experiment"
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GJEC
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LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
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Aug 27, 2012 11:19:30 GMT -5
Post by GJEC on Aug 27, 2012 11:19:30 GMT -5
Will do. I must admit I like the challenge and self-discipline required to NOT raid the fridge. Gary
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DIET
Aug 27, 2012 13:55:50 GMT -5
Post by MMX on Aug 27, 2012 13:55:50 GMT -5
Right.
I love beer. That is well known here as well as with my friends.
I try to only drink on the weekends. Not because I can't handle it.
More for discipline and calories.
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GJEC
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LOUGHBOROUGH ENSHIN
Posts: 3,218
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DIET
Sept 20, 2012 8:16:22 GMT -5
Post by GJEC on Sept 20, 2012 8:16:22 GMT -5
6 weeks in and feeling good. No drama, no real effort. Back to 1981 weight and waist size. I don't want to lose any more than that. Feeling strong, even on IF days. So far, all positive. No obvious downside and easier than weighing portions and/or counting calories etc. (Also worth noting that IF has not seduced me into believing it's OK to eat crap, I still only eat good food) Gary
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DIET
Sept 20, 2012 8:51:21 GMT -5
Post by meguro on Sept 20, 2012 8:51:21 GMT -5
Great results, Gray! Sounds like a plan that can be sustained for a long time.
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curlbroscience
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Testing the waters. Thanks for the forum MMX!
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DIET
Sept 20, 2012 9:55:19 GMT -5
Post by curlbroscience on Sept 20, 2012 9:55:19 GMT -5
So far, all positive. No obvious downside and easier than weighing portions and/or counting calories etc. (Also worth noting that IF has not seduced me into believing it's OK to eat crap, I still only eat good food) Gary That seemed to be the most obvious benefit was that I could eliminate a lot of the science and calculating and timing etc. Good one Gary!
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