the plan

It's great that folks ask "what have you been doing lately?" just from noticing a change.  It's a great excuse to talk about the Walk and what it means in my life.  It's been a blessing to witness the encouragement brought upon people's attitudes when they hear that kind of story.  And Stan's life and works are fuel for the greatest stories I've ever had the honor to tell


My method to getting healthy is just "the plan." I honestly wish I had the drive to live like this every day... maybe after this summer I will have developed a few good habits.  No amount of research will ever crack the single nut explaining how nutrition definitively affects health and well-being.  I've done it all... vegetarian, farmer's diet, zone, tv dinners, fasting, lots of running, lots of weights, fast food, vitamins, liquid diets, etc


The best advice I've heard repeated from books, practitioners, nutritionists, etc, is to "focus on the lifestyle, not just the diet."  The human body is what it is, so far beyond our understanding, to the extent that multiple evolutionary designs determine the complex environmental and nutritional factors that affect our health and physique.

There are definitely crash diets out there.  Crash fitness programs are also getting popular.  In the past I've tried combining both these mechanisms into a "diet and exercise" regimen that forces the body to achieve a forced metabolic state which burns fat and builds muscle.  All those methods work, if you have the time and energy (and hunger resistance?) to keep up with them.

What I really suspect is the equation that states 'calories in' minus 'calories burned' equals 'net gain/loss,' constantly supported by the establishment and eagerly applied by consumers obsessed with counting, is rearing simple implications at us.  It doesn't explain whether the gain/loss happens in muscle versus fat.  Or whether it is easier for us to control the right side or the left side of the equation.


So what's that all mean, and what the heck is "the plan?"

Seems we have boiled fitness down to a simple science these days.  Eat less, work out more... eating fat makes us fat... eating cholesterol skyrockets our cholesterol... sedentary people are destined to be obese... the food pyramid is gospel (although we occasionally adjust it, thanks to the food lobbies)


There is evidence throughout science, medicine, and everyday experience which counters everything in that last glob of statements.  I think there are civilizations on this planet that have shaped their lifestyles based on empirical evidence and developed healthy habits based on results, rather than analyzing substances and classifying micro-nutrients.


Never stop learning, never stop exploring.  There are beautiful and intriguing methods out there on how to best encompass a holistic approach to nourishing and caring for your body.  They won't agree on a lot of things.  However, there are a few guidelines, which have yielded pleasant results, that I find to be relaxing, low stress, and conducive to high energy and happiness.


1) Find an environment where you are content moving and training your body




I don't like driving to a gym if I don't have to, and I really need to realize that I never will!  Having stuff in the garage, living room, yard, etc is comfortable, easy to access, and has no opening/closing times.


2) Most of the time, all you have to do is move around


- Go hiking, swimming, light jogging, etc... take it easy
- Take the stairs
- Park far away (that one's for you, Liz)
- HANG OUT BAREFOOT
- Stretch
- Get some SUN


3) Every once in a while, really exert yourself


- LIFT heavy things (and learn how to lift correctly)
- run FAST (interval and speed work)
- squat, squat, squat


4) Sleep whenever you absolutely can


5) Live and Love


- Help your neighbors
- Say thanks, often
- Relaxing music is... relaxing
- Play with other people
- Smile
- Look at the bright side, and if you can't, at least try cracking a joke
- Cook, even if it's amateur cooking, and enjoy slow meals with others


6) and speaking of food


- Whether you are a vegan or a carnivore.....
- Eat whole foods
- Stay on the periphery of the grocery store
- Preservatives, industrial processes, the packaging itself.... can be bad news
- Sugar and high fructose CS are the evil of the eating universe... seriously
- Most nuts rock
- Leaves rock even more
- Fish is great if you're looking for a good source of protein AND 'good' fats
- But fish oil is good enough if you are getting protein elsewhere
- Whole protein and essential vitamins are a must... get them in you
- There is no perfect balance between protein/carb/fat
- HOWEVER
- Everybody is DIFFERENT... find what works for you


I've been enjoying Paleo inspired eating (with light dairy).  It limits carbs to natural non-starchy fruits/vegetables and twigs/nuts/berries/leaves, almost eliminates dietary sugar, allows a varied selection of meats, and NEVER LEAVES ME HUNGRY.

And that brings it all back to the "simple" calorie equation.  There are dozens of chemicals and processes that govern digestion, satiety, and nutrient distribution in our bodies.  The research goes in circles. The nutrition books spin these discoveries into fads. But INSULIN is the king, and some would find it hard to believe that this one substance can have such a simple effect on the trends we see in society for "diseases of civilization" such as diabetes.  If we spike our insulin greatly and often (especially by eating refined carbs and simple sugars), we will always be hungry and always store fat... bottom line.  Sugar consumption (in the west, according to some studies) has just about tripled in the last 50 years... interesting

Heard a sugar company rep today on NPR defending soft drinks... said it's our fault for drinking too much of them (and eating too much food) and nothing to do with the sugar in them... reminded me of "Thank you for Smoking"


If we get enough protein and don't allow insulin to peak, we burn fat, we are satiated more quickly when we eat, and we stay that way in between big meals.  This is of course a generalization.  Some folks can handle certain diets better than others... we each have unique metabolisms and that's what makes things fun.


So if WHAT we eat (the relative amount of carbs on your plate) has the potential to control the RIGHT hand side of the equation (the gain/loss of BODY FAT), what controls the left side?

Here's the beautiful part... you don't have to count (and restrict) your calories, and you don't really have to think too much about it


Your body TELLS you how much to eat... with HUNGER.

Wow.

Elegant, easy to follow.... but way too simple to explain an entire body of academics on nutrition, haha.

However, it has been a mindset which has made me happy.  I'm not a great cook... one of my old roommates was a gourmet chef, so I will forever feel unworthy... but I still use the stove, enjoy the fact that I am making my food fresh, and eat A LOT while still burning unnecessary fat.

Salmon and broccoli

Dairy whipped eggs with peppers and herb chicken sausage

Blackened chicken with stir fry veggies

Little scampi soldiers over veggie medley

Frozen veggies and fresh meats make life super easy

As for the rest of "the plan..."

- Yoga (it's not just stretch, balance, core... it's whole body tuning, seriously)

- Long, gorgeous weekend hikes

- P90X/Crossfit/Calisthenics/ET CETERA (there is no right answer here, just do what you enjoy and work those muscles)

- The occasional jog/sprints

- 8-hours of sleep a day... well, gotta try at least

Enjoy your lifestyle.  And remember that today's food economy is not after your best healthy interests.