What NOT To Eat. Nutrition On The Road.

Gentlemen, keep it civil. When debating, the minute you insult, you loose. We need to be above that. I don't think I've seen Brett ever once insult me, and from time to time I may have polar opposite views from him. And I routinely express those views on his site.

He's said things that I strongly disagree with, but debating your position makes for a healthy experience.

At no time in his rebuttal to me did he insult. He stated his opions succinctly and fairly. Now instead of debating facts, we have an insult thrown in the mix. I think it's unwarranted and you owe him an apology, Scott. In all reality, a gripe about the fourm is so out of context on this thread, that it's a head scratcher.

BKs reply was germain to the thread, and although he pointed out some character defects in his opinion, he wasn't insulting. Brett handled it well and wasn't insulting in reply.

It's imperative that we hold a civil discourse.

In regards to the discussion of us being built the same, I would submit that given the evidence that DNA is the building blocks of us, and there are limitless combinations of those building blocks, it would be more accurate to say that we are assembled differently.

In my case, with my metabolism as high as it is, which is a genetic difference, if Brett was to eat my diet, yet both of us were expending the same caloric burn, based on his body type, he would put on weight in the form of fat as well as muscle. In other words, metabolism alone can make a completely different dietary and caloric need. It's undeniable. Protien intake slightly less.

I'd be willing to wager also, that again using us based on the same age and fairly athletic as well as fitness as an example, that if we were to perform the exact same muscle loading tasks, that our muscles would grow at different rates, burn fat at different rates, metabolize the nutrients at different rates, all with the same intake and content of food.

This has been borne out many many times in many studies and real life experiences. Thus the logical conclusion is that we respond to nutrients differently according to our genetics and environmental factors.

In regards to the marathon I mentioned, and motorcycle racing which are both cardio and long endurance muscle loading activities, at one time I did carb loading as many others for a couple nights prior to events. I never had conclusive proof of it benefitting or detracting performance. Hydrating and actually staying away from carbs seemed to help the most because of the reactive hypoglycemia.(a genetic factor).

From what you describe of your eating habits and diet, I actually eat fairly similar to that. Although I'm certainly not as disciplined as I should be and I do eat some carb food such as while grain bread and tortillas. But mostly meat, eggs and milk.

Trigger warning: I eat carbs.

As stated above, pretty much anything sold at the truck stops will pack on the pounds, Love's criminally priced 85 cents bananas not withstanding. Of course, there are the other fruit options, boiled eggs, but that's about all I've found. You can't even find a decent serving size cup of cereal; I went looking for bran flakes and all I found was froot loops, Cap'n Crunch etc.

The longer you stay away from eating fast food and convenience snacks, the less craving you have for them. Try not to snack while driving.

As a recovering snacker, my weakest time of the day is in the evening. I love washing down a chocolate chip cookie, or five, with a quart of milk. If I stick to a pint of milk before bed, my calories in/energy out seems to balance ok. Always parking on the far end of the truck stop for extra steps, and walking a few laps if the weather is good helps, along with hourly stretches I do while driving.

I'm very blessed that my wife sends me out with lots of rice & vegetables, fruit, a little pasta, chicken, some beef and salad greens. The carbs I mentioned don't cause me to get hungry like it does for others, and I am pretty good at eating sensible portions. I keep instant oatmeal and cereal for breakfast most days. I can eat home cooking until about the last day on the road, then I usually treat myself to something hot and greasy.

As an aside, I tried Atkins when it was it came out, but I got all the worst side effects. It wasn't for me.

I keep my snacks down to just fruits and meat sticks that I get from a local meat store. I eat one meal a day in the evening. Usually something like homemade chili or if I go to a restaurant, it's steak or ribs every time. I'm 57 and I'm lean and healthy.

As an observation, I've been driving for almost 2 years now and I can say that truck drivers, as a whole, are some of the most out of shape and overweight people I have ever seen. Not everyone, of course, but sitting at truck stops watching people go in and out is just sad sometimes.

Speaking of observations......Since I moved here to the Philippines, 25 months ago. I've noticed even here now, there are a LOT more FAT Filipinos running around. More so in the big cities, where the Western fast food places have overbuilt.

Out in the province, they work hard as farmers, and don't have the luxury of any fast food nearby. Probably the reason, now days they are getting as fat as many Americans.... Used to be it was rare, to see many fatter Filipinos than it is now. I remember back in 2018, riding in a taxi down a big blvd back to my hotel.

There had to be around 30+, yes 30 Shakey's pizza places along that road. Their delivery driver scooters filling up a big parking lot!!......Anything you wanna order to eat is delivered right to your door (in the city) Mc'D's, Burger King, KFC, etc lol kinda funny actually.

I would submit that given the evidence that DNA is the building blocks of us, and there are limitless combinations of those building blocks, it would be more accurate to say that we are assembled differently.

Yes, but I could say DNA is composed of atoms, and all atoms of a particular substance are identical, so we're all built the same. But these are pointless arguments that prove nothing, which is why I'm trying to get people to focus on experiencing the benefits of eating properly instead of arguing about it.

Once a person feeds their body properly, they will know the truth on a very deep level and no attempt at confusing this person will be effective. Once you've gained that wisdom through experience, you will no longer be led astray by people who are confused because they haven't experienced it for themselves.

I say this to everyone - you simply will not know the truth about nutrition until you experience it. The more time you waste arguing with people instead of taking action for yourself, the longer you will suffer. Be a scientist in your own life and run the experiment. Then you'll know.

I'd be willing to wager also, that again using us based on the same age and fairly athletic as well as fitness as an example, that if we were to perform the exact same muscle loading tasks, that our muscles would grow at different rates, burn fat at different rates, metabolize the nutrients at different rates, all with the same intake and content of food.

This has been borne out many many times in many studies and real life experiences. Thus the logical conclusion is that we respond to nutrients differently according to our genetics and environmental factors.

Caloric demand will fluctuate based on activity level, but the type of nutrition you need will not. Proteins and fats are the building blocks of the human body. That's what we need. It doesn't matter if you're an athlete or a couch potato, your body needs proteins and fats. The athlete will need a larger quantity of fat and protein than the couch potato, but they will not need to eat different foods or have a different nutrition plan.

So an endurance athlete, a powerlifter, and a couch potato will all eat steak and eggs every day, but they'll just eat them in different amounts, depending on their caloric needs. Your body can self-adjust to your caloric demands if you're eating proteins and carbs, so there's no need to count calories or regulate portion size. Everyone can eat a plate full of steak and eggs until they are full every day and they will maintain their proper weight and excellent health.

at one time I did carb loading as many others for a couple nights prior to events. I never had conclusive proof of it benefitting or detracting performance. Hydrating and actually staying away from carbs seemed to help the most because of the reactive hypoglycemia.(a genetic factor).

You admit that you ate a lot of carbs and that you have had sugar problems for a long time, yet you don't seem to realize that the intake of carbs caused the sugar problems. Instead, you seem to think it's because we're all built differently.

I say the excessive carbs caused your sugar problem over the years, and getting off the sugars and carbs will fix it. It has for tons of people. Again, you have to do it very slowly to prevent detoxing too quickly, but once you've made that change, the sugar problems will go away.

Remember, I was given the same bad advice over the years and I went down the carb path many years ago myself. I never felt like I should have and I had problems controlling my weight. Once I went down the correct path of eating proteins and fats, I realized immediately it was the proper way to eat and all of my problems went away. I've never struggled with my performance or my weight ever since, and that was years ago.

Experience it and you will know.

I tried Atkins when it was it came out, but I got all the worst side effects. It wasn't for me.

Low-carb diets are for you. They're for everyone.

The problem is that almost everyone who tries changing to a low-carb diet does it too fast and makes themselves sick. I did it myself several times. They call it the "carb flu" or "carb crash" in nutrition circles, and it's called "bonking" in fitness circles. You feel extremely lethargic. You can hardly get your head off the pillow, and you keep thinking you just need a nap to get your energy back. You can't think straight and you feel so weak you can hardly move.

You're addicted to carbs, like a drug, and your body is detoxing. It's an ugly process if you do it too quickly, just like it is with drugs or alcohol.

Imagine an alcoholic saying they tried going sober but had terrible side effects, so sobriety just isn't for them. You would instantly know they detoxed too quickly is all. Well, the same goes for removing poisonous foods from our body. It takes time. It's a process. If you rush the process, it will be very ugly for a while. Eventually you'll come out the other side, but most people don't stick with it long enough once that happens.

If you have a carb crash, throw a baked potato in the microwave for four minutes and before you even finish it you'll feel like a million bucks again. Then go back to eating a small amount of carbs with your meals and wean yourself away slowly.

I'm 57 and I'm lean and healthy

I love it! Man, I love to hear that!

I keep my snacks down to just fruits and meat sticks that I get from a local meat store

Remember, though, that fruits are not good for you. For instance:

Coca Cola: A standard 12-ounce (355 ml) can of Coca-Cola contains about 39 grams of sugar.

Orange Juice: A 12-ounce serving of 100% pure orange juice (unsweetened) typically contains around 28-33 grams of sugar, depending on the brand and type (with or without pulp).

So that "healthy" orange juice has the same amount of sugar as Coca-Cola. Of course, "nutritional experts" (they're advertisers for the orange juice industry in reality) will tell you they're "natural sugars" so it's ok.

Baloney

If I was babysitting someone's children and I gave them a Coca-Cola for breakfast, the parents would have me arrested. Then they would give their kid a glass of orange juice instead, with that same criminal level of sugar in it, but feel really good about themselves.

Sorry folks, but we've been lied to for generations. "Eat your vegetables" and "healthy fruits" are two of the biggest lies ever told. These are advertising gimmicks, not the science of nutrition.

I've noticed even here now, there are a LOT more FAT Filipinos running around. More so in the big cities, where the Western fast food places have overbuilt.

I've seen stories about that, how populations all over the world are growing fatter as Western food becomes more commonplace in their society.

Brett, I think we generally agree on most items and I probably eat about 75 percent of your diet.

You mentioned the couch potato and the athlete as an example. I agree that they can all use a steak and eggs meal for fuel. I also agree that they will require different amounts based on their activities. But, and it's not something that your grasping, their genetics will determine how their individual bodies burn the fats, store them, where they store them and how much they synthesize the protien. It will also determine just how much muscle fiber they grow within the context of hypertrophy. The simple fact is that their bodies will process nutrients in different manners and at different rates.

Again, two people doing the same work, same sleep, eating the same foods, the same in all conditions will process foods differently based on their genetics.

It's a technical distinction, but an important one. In general, I concur with you about eating meat and eggs. Breakfast this morning was two eggs over medium and 12 pieces of thick bacon, large glass of milk.

In regards to your assumption of the carbs leading to issues with hypoglycemia, the reactive hypoglycemia is a condition I had since I was a child. Its genetic, i was born with it. The two are unrelated save that if I take in sugar without enough long lasting carbs and protien, my blood sugar will rise slightly to 90 or so and then rapidly fall below the normal range of 70 to 120. It's very easy to keep from happening by eating protien based meals, and staying away from high sugar foods as well as quick burning carbs. Slow burning carbs such as rice and pasta don't adversity effect me. Physical labor and heat can exacerbate the condition as we burn more fuel in those conditions.

Davy,

Thank you for explaining to Brett about genetics are the basis for how we as humans will process what we eat. No 2 of us are the same and even siblings have different body styles.

I am 75 years old and I weigh the same now as I did in high school, 210 and I am 6'1" but the only difference is I have had ulcerative colitis and Crohns Disease since I was about 30.

I have a hard time maintaining my weight and twice I have had weight loss of over 50 lbs. in a month's time along with the uncomfortable symptoms associated with these diseases.

I drove for 44 years and it was a challenge to eat properly and watch for problems that are associated with my issues. That tv commercial with the flatbed driver having to run to the mens room is no joke. I can attest to that.

I too follow a meat diet out of choice, no vegetables, few fruits, milk and water. I visit my doctor twice a year for blood work and check ups and all my numbers are within recommendations. I also have had surgery for removal of diseased small bowel and my diet does not seem to affect my Disease one way or another.

Bottom line is that even though we are all humans we vary by genetics and personal choice of how and what we eat. Brett's choices benefit him and mine for me given my personal situation. No one is perfect so let this post go to sleep as TT is supposed to aid new drivers not diagnose the way we should eat.

Thanks and sorry for the lengthy response.

Why would we let a post like this "go to sleep?"

It's engaging and informative. I love seeing these side discussions. Truckers need a lot of advice when it comes to eating choices and consequences.