One More Thread On Losing Weight.

JYK9, how old are you? I thought you were a lot younger than my 66 years.

Here is a summary of my plan: 1) No Starches 2) Minimal carbs 3) Huge increase in water intake. 4) Chicken, beef and fish, almost as much as I want. 5) No pork, no turkey. 6) Celery and dill pickles as snacks. 7) One serving of fruit, one serving of nuts (no peanuts), per day if I want.

The one thing I hate is no avocados, but I cheat on that since I love them.

Also great for fiber which when you do low carb you have to search for fiber sources.

Actually that's been proven to be a misnomer also. I get zero fiber. You don't need it. Fiber literally doesn't even digest in the human body. It passes straight through unused and untouched. I have no idea why so many people keep saying that fiber is important.

In fact, it absorbs water in your digestive tract, the water that would normally keep you from being constipated. So the more fiber you eat the more water you have to drink or the fiber will actually constipate you.

From the Umass site:

Fiber is the part of plant foods that our bodies do not break down during digestion. Because fiber isn't digested, it doesn't give us calories. Foods that contain a lot of fiber may also contain other types of carbohydrates like starch or sugar. While we do not get calories from the fiber in these foods, we do get calories from the sugars and starches they contain.

Now also from that site is the typical baloney you hear about "the need for fiber":

Fiber is important for keeping the digestive tract working smoothly. Since we do not digest it, the fiber in food passes into the intestine and absorbs water. The undigested fiber creates "bulk" so the muscles in the intestine can push waste out of the body.

Why would you need "bulk" in your digestive system???? I thought fiber was supposed to keep you from being constipated? If you're constipated, do you need more bulk? That makes no sense whatsoever.

So in other words, eat a bunch of stuff with no nutritional value so you'll poop in larger quantities. That makes no sense at all.

I get zero fiber and I have zero digestive tract problems whatsoever. Here's a good article from the same guy - Kevin Stock - called Do you need fiber?

I'm 60 and avocados are high in carbs but also high in fat and fiber. And their nutritional value is awesome. My girlfriend has taught me how to use them without them going bad. For years I threw them out because they went Brown in other words oxidized. I eat half an avocado each day. I also downloaded a pedometer on to my phone to track my steps and calories burned. I don't walk as much as I should but things are still working for the better. Brett posted earlier about the carb flu. I have dealt with that. And there are times when I feel that. That's when I load up on protein instead of carbs and it gets me through it.

3) Huge increase in water intake

Drink enough water that you're not thirsty. That's about it. This "need for tons of water" thing is yet another one of those fallacies that I believe comes from two sources:

1) Lazy people who hope drinking tons of water will make them more healthy

2) Companies that produce bottled water, which is nothing more than super expensive tap water

I think the "walking is great exercise" mantra also comes from that same lazy crowd who hope that walking and drinking water will make them healthy. Unfortunately walking on flat ground and drinking water is not going to do squat. Counting steps is another fallacy from that same crowd. There are a lot of people who really hope that being healthy might be super easy. Being the correct weight might be pretty easy through proper eating, but being truly fit takes actual work, some of it hard. There's no way around that.

I really need to write an article about all of the fallacies surrounding eating and exercise.

I also downloaded a pedometer on to my phone to track my steps and calories burned. I don't walk as much as I should but things are still working for the better.

I was writing my "walking and step counting is dumb" speech the same time you were writing that.

Walking uphill is helpful. Walking on flat ground does nothing. Not only that, but your phone has no idea how many calories you're burning.

If you want an accurate idea of whether or not you're getting real exercise, get a heart rate monitor. I wear one for all of my workouts. That's how we track the amount of work I'm doing and which zones I'm working in so we know if I'm mostly burning fats and helping my aerobic capacity or burning carbs and working muscular endurance.

If you're not getting your heart rate up you're not really getting any exercise.

The fiber myth is just that, a myth. Simple studies show that the less 'mass' our digestive systems have to process the more healthy we are. That's one reason fasting is good. Even our digestive systems need a rest. Longevity has been linked to less mass, less bulk in the diet. I know that one method being promoted now by the Rock and Hugh Jackman is the 8/16 practice. You can only eat during an 8 hour period during a 24 hour period. So, you fast for 16 hours, but can drink water as much as you want. Anybody have any comments on if they think the 8/16 is a good idea?

I'm a lot older than you but I know I can do the job that you do with the pallet jacks.

Really the job is pretty easy. I'm not too big on the cedar rapid stores because most are tighter to get into and you can make it back before needing a 30 min break (no $$) but overall it's not too bad. If grocery delivery is something you're interested in we're based in Ankeny off Delaware and Oralabor behind old Chicago strip mall. We dont share the same name as the Grocery store (not fareway) but we're owned by them and follow many of the same policies. Everyone starts on the Friday-Monday shift and pays $30 an hour for all hours (no ot pay) due to working sundays. Expect to do weekends a few years it's really rare anyone quits but if you dont work sundays pay is $21.50 I believe with 50 cent raise every 6 months until top pay is reached which I believe is currently $27 hr and pays OT. Routes are bid daily on seniority so you wont know where you're going or what time you start until about 3pm the day before. Could be 10pm for Mankato MN or Fitchburg/Madison WI or as late as 330am for Omaha. We cover iowa and 7 surrounding states with a total of about 250 stores I believe. ton of stuff to Minneapolis, Kansas city, Omaha, Quad Cities. Nearly all routes are home daily. Not sure if we're currently hiring but they also take people on as part-time you only need to be available for dispatch once per month as a way of getting your foot in the door which you dont need to give them certain days. you will receive a text anytime they're short drivers and to call if you can help. I had to go through a physical capabilities test where I had to lift at minimum 90 pounds repeatedly. It's rare to lift heavy boxes it's usually due to pallet being too tall to fit in coolers which usually just means downstacking maybe 5 cases of lunchmeat cheese or yogurt which only weigh maybe 10 pounds. Made us lift 90 in the off chance a meat pallet is stacked too high or falls over. Several of our guys are in their 60s and I believe even 70s so age isn't a factor. We don't offer a sign on bonus but in my 4 days a week I average 48-50 hours and make roughly 1500 gross a week before any quarterly bonuses which usually is 10-15%of your earnings for that quarter due to being "employee owned". If it's something you're interested in I can keep an eye on job openings and let you know if anything opens. I'd be willing to put in a good word for you. Looking at the preview I sure feel like a recruiter now jeez! I'm not looking for a referral just genuinely love where I work. Otherwise it's a bit of a drive but Fareway in Boone has been hiring quite a bit.

I also downloaded a pedometer on to my phone to track my steps and calories burned. I don't walk as much as I should but things are still working for the better.

I was writing my "walking and step counting is dumb" speech the same time you were writing that.

Brett you're not at my age yet. Totally get what you're saying but downloading the pedometer gets you to look at what you're doing instead of sitting in your truck all day. I love the truck stops that are on a hill and make you walk to at least access the services. When you start doing this baby steps are better than no steps. I'm never going to run a 5k. But I might walk one someday.

Anybody have any comments on if they think the 8/16 is a good idea?

I don't think it's a bad idea but I don't think it's important, either. The two best times to eat are:

1) Just before bed - this helps you sleep well and allows your body to focus on digestion. Ever notice you get real tired after eating a lot? That's because your body is telling you it would like you to rest so it can focus on digestion. Ever try to sleep on an empty stomach? You'll lay there staring at the ceiling for two hours.

2) Immediately after exercise - this is when your body goes into recovery mode and can best utilize the nutrients

Otherwise it doesn't matter too much. Once your body adapts to burning fats you'll find you can go very long periods of time without eating and it won't bother you at all.

I do all of my long runs and big hill climbs in the morning in a fasted state. I never eat before doing aerobic exercise, which is lower heart rate stuff. If I'm going to do strength training I'll eat some carbs about an hour before the workout to fuel that type of workout. I'll usually eat a Clif bar for that.

I'm a lot older than you but I know I can do the job that you do with the pallet jacks.

Really the job is pretty easy. I'm not too big on the cedar rapid stores because most are tighter to get into and you can make it back before needing a 30 min break (no $$) but overall it's not too bad. If grocery delivery is something you're interested in we're based in Ankeny off Delaware and Oralabor behind old Chicago strip mall. We dont share the same name as the Grocery store (not fareway) but we're owned by them and follow many of the same policies. Everyone starts on the Friday-Monday shift and pays $30 an hour for all hours (no ot pay) due to working sundays. Expect to do weekends a few years it's really rare anyone quits but if you dont work sundays pay is $21.50 I believe with 50 cent raise every 6 months until top pay is reached which I believe is currently $27 hr and pays OT. Routes are bid daily on seniority so you wont know where you're going or what time you start until about 3pm the day before. Could be 10pm for Mankato MN or Fitchburg/Madison WI or as late as 330am for Omaha. We cover iowa and 7 surrounding states with a total of about 250 stores I believe. ton of stuff to Minneapolis, Kansas city, Omaha, Quad Cities. Nearly all routes are home daily. Not sure if we're currently hiring but they also take people on as part-time you only need to be available for dispatch once per month as a way of getting your foot in the door which you dont need to give them certain days. you will receive a text anytime they're short drivers and to call if you can help. I had to go through a physical capabilities test where I had to lift at minimum 90 pounds repeatedly. It's rare to lift heavy boxes it's usually due to pallet being too tall to fit in coolers which usually just means downstacking maybe 5 cases of lunchmeat cheese or yogurt which only weigh maybe 10 pounds. Made us lift 90 in the off chance a meat pallet is stacked too high or falls over. Several of our guys are in their 60s and I believe even 70s so age isn't a factor. We don't offer a sign on bonus but in my 4 days a week I average 48-50 hours and make roughly 1500 gross a week before any quarterly bonuses which usually is 10-15%of your earnings for that quarter due to being "employee owned". If it's something you're interested in I can keep an eye on job openings and let you know if anything opens. I'd be willing to put in a good word for you. Looking at the preview I sure feel like a recruiter now jeez! I'm not looking for a referral just genuinely love where I work. Otherwise it's a bit of a drive but Fareway in Boone has been hiring quite a bit.

When I get my full year in I'll let you know brother. It's crazy because I've checked out a few jobs didn't even put in my information and I get nothing but call after call. Guess I don't understand the internet. They glean every single bit of information and use it