Week 13: How Much of This Are you Doing?

While I do not agree with all of this video that I embed below, I think it is a good starting place to begin again my blog series on health after my vacation. (If you are curious, I already am back to my pre-vacation weight.)

My disagreements focus on two areas.

First, I am more open to supplementation, especially in the short term as one experiments on oneself to decide what works best for you. I do agree that it is important to actually measure vitamin D levels in your blood if you are going to supplement. How else would you know if it is needed or if it is working? In addition I would recommend that one also take magnesium and K-2 if you are taking vitamin D... well, even if you are not. Our modern foods are very low on these items, and they work together with vitamin D. I do not recommend calcium for men. I discussed this in week 5.

Second, the mania for increased grain consumption is not good for a substantial subset of the population. Actually, the difference between whole grain and processed grain is not large in one important area. Both are converted to sugar by the body rather rapidly. We talked about the Glycemic Index in week 9.  Some people think they have had their vegetables if they had French fries for lunch and rice for dinner. No, no you have not. Ketchup is not a vegetable either! I suggest you limit all starches to a large degree. If you are going to eat them, and I do, include them in the grain category. I will be talking about starches and grains next week.

Since the video is a general video I thought it might be time to review what we have talked about. In week 1 I encouraged you to write down everything you eat. With modern iDevices this is actually not as difficult as one would think. It is extremely helpful to actually know, not just think you know, what you eat. 

While I do occasionally drink a diet soda when I am traveling, I have mostly eliminated them from my diet. It is helpful for everyone to do so. Fat people drink diet drinks. 

In week six I point out that one must reduce calories. This is not good news, but it is obviously true. 

Yes, moving your body is necessary. I gave some fun ways to do exactly that in week 7.

Are you eating your vegetables? In week 8 I suggest a very modest 1 cup of cooked vegetables, and an occasional salad, one that you make yourself to control what is in the salad dressing. Not at all difficult, yet many of us don't do it.  

In week 10 we talked about sugar and the dangers it gives to those that eat it. I am not talking about an occasional slice of birthday cake. I am talking about those daily donuts on the way to work. We are just sabotaging our health when we eat too much sugar, especially fructose. 

If we are cnstantly bombarded by food ads, it makes it difficult to avoid eating these foods, usually without even thinking about it. in week 11 we explored advertising and ways to avoid it. 

Restuarants, as much as you can, should be avoided. In week 12 I offer some suggests about how to reduce your eating out.  

We are overweight for a multitude of reasons. I will continue to explore these reasons and suggest ways for gradual improvement.

But in any event this presentation is quite good and helpful and is your "homework" for this week.