Showing posts with label Wheat Belly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wheat Belly. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

In Need Of A Good Read? 4 Books To Reaffirm Your Heathy Diet

Starting a list of great reads to help inspire your low carb or keto diet. These books are great when you need a little proof that you're not crazy and that how you are eating is more than just a fad.

If you have any suggestions please add them in the comments section.


1. 'Wheat Belly' by Dr. William Davis is a great resource to help you get started with cutting carbs. It specifically talks about the problems associated with wheat in our diets and gives lots of anecdotal evidence from Davis's own practice. 

I like this book because it uses common language and is easily accessible for the average person who just wants to know more about foods in their diet. 

I think everyone in my family has now read Wheat Belly. I would pass this book on to anyone looking for more information about losing weight, so many people can benefit from this book and cutting wheat from their diets. 

Wheat was the starting point for me, once I stopped consuming breads and pastas I saw a huge change in my body and my personality. As I read Wheat Belly I recognized things that had changed that were similar to Davis's patients in the book. It really opened my eyes and reaffirmed my choice to be more selective about the foods that I put into my body. 


2. 'Salt Sugar Fat : How The Food Giants Hooked Us' by Michael Moss is an informative look at three giants that determine what and how we eat food. I really like this book because it reveals some of the common sense reasons why we want to eat the food we crave. It talks about how the processed and junk food industries develop customers from people who need to eat to live; to large lusters who desire their next caloric fix. "Mouthfeel", "bliss point" and other key terms take us inside our own minds and connect why we want these conveniences foods and how we became hooked on them.

Now, this read isn't keto/low carb bible. But, I think it sheds light on important points to consider no matter what diet you are on. The summer that I decided to cut carbs and go keto I lost 45lbs. I ate McDonald's twice a day (I worked for McDonalds... no buns, no fries, no pop), did it work? Yes. Was it good for me? Not so much. I had worked for McDonald's the previous summer and ate it at least once a day (bun, fries and many lattes). Just because things work, doesn't mean they are the best for your health overall. 

This book takes you inside the minds of the food industry titans and makes you reevaluate your super market purchases. It is a wise read that will make you rethink every commercial you see geared towards children, happiness and low costs. 

3. 'Good Calories, Bad Calories' and 'Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It' by Gary Taubes are great reads, but are very heavy. You will put your book down and think about what you have read and then want to immerse yourself again. These are two big books that pack a lot of punches, their information is intricate and detailed. I wouldn't recommend starting your nutritional education with one of these books because they are so heavy. Start with something like 'Wheat Belly' and then move into these books once you have a foundation of knowledge about diet.

With that being said, these books are of a different breed than 'Wheat Belly'; they provide more statistical information and are at a deeper level than just anecdotal evidence. I think if you are going to sit and read either of these books there is a good chance that you have already seriously committed to knix-ing problem parts of your diet. To me, these books are preaching to the converted. I wouldn't buy it for someone who was not already involved in the keto or low-carb scene.




Thursday, January 17, 2013

How To Start A Keto Lifestyle

I thought my boyfriend was crazy when he cut the carbs. My university roommate was a nutrition major and she also did not recommend eliminating carbs. After watching him drop weight quickly I changed my mind. 

1. I cut carbs completely. When I changed my eating habits I did not ease into it as some people do. The main reason I made the clean cut was because I know some people go through withdraw and have cravings if they continue to eat carby foods (even if they eat smaller portions). 

2. Throw out (or give away) all sugary, gluten packed foods. The basic (and I mean very basic) conversion I started to live by was subtracting fibre from carbs. I lived by on the notion that fibre carbs are good carbs, stay away from sugar and other avoid sweeteners. I aimed to stick under 20 grams of carb everyday, without any exercise. 





3. Check out the nutrition info on everything you buy. Some things vary in carb content. Chicken wings are a good example of a food that change depending on the brand. Honey ham may also surprise you, depending on the brand. Fresh meat is always better than processed meats. Go to the grocery store with a list of theses key items:
-Eggs
-Unsweetened Almond Milk
-Nuts, I prefer almonds (they are perfect to grab by the handful for a snack.
-Heavy cream
-Cheese
-Boston lettuce (you can use this instead a bun)
-Your favourite fresh meats: chicken, pork, beef, turkey
 -Favourite specialty meats: bacon, sausage, certain chicken wings
-Salad Dressings
-Mustard (a core part of my first few weeks of keto)

4. Treat yourself. Find recipes online for things that match your cravings. Jump in, learn new keto recipes and keto treats you can eat from Day 1. Don't deprive yourself. Set your carb limit per day and then stick within it, eat as much as you want of foods with little to no carbs. If you want ice cream, make it. If you want cake, figure it out. There are a tonne of great resources online to help you make something that will satisfy your dessert cravings.

5. Pack your lunch everyday. Have one special lunch a week. This will save you money. Pack leftovers in your lunch from the supper you make the night before. This way you control what you have to eat, the temptation to grab a slice of pizza won't be there.  

Another thing I did when I started keto was drop breakfast. I make a protein shake in its place and have two big meals. I eat "breakfast foods" (eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, omelettes) as main courses now. I make meals now, not just food. I don't scramble to eat the quickest, easiest foods now and put love into the meals I make. 


I think it would be interesting to see how other people got started and what they recommend for newcomers, please comment below and let me know what you did to get started and any tips for newcomers. Let me know what your thoughts are! 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

My New Years Resolutions



2012 was an amazing year for me.

You caught me, I love Toy Story. 
And, interesting hats.
I got my start working in the radio industry. I started my final year of post-secandary education (for a long time). I celebrated 2 years of dating my wonderful boyfriend. I traveled across Canada (well, Calgary - Halifax) twice. And, I lost 40lbs.

If you have not read any of my other blog posts you can find out more about my keto lifestyle change in earlier posts. I now have more energy, I feel well and I am more productive than ever. No more naps, no more sugar dependancy. 

When December 31 rolled around I was not really ready to set my New Years resolutions. I usually never really follow through with all them but last year I managed to cross one of my list. The weight loss the one I had been trying to tackle for years. At 200 lbs, I really couldn't let it go another year. 

It took me a while, I really wanted to put thought and effort into making my list this year. Its a big year. 2013 I will be starting my career and leaving school hopefully forever. My boyfriend and I have some big trips we are about to tackle and finding a permanent home somewhere in this country will also come to play. 

That is why I staggered my goals this year, most have unique timeframes (for the first time I am free from the dreaded weight loss/gym routine):

-Refresh my Spanish for our trip to San Diego
-Finish my radio major project before my 24th birthday
-Be the best student possible (go to all remaining classes)

I usually refresh my goals after a couple months to see what is working and what isn't. This is also important for celebrating completed goals. For me, short term goal making works better than the full year. 

Over my Christmas Vacation from school I read Wheat Belly by William Davis. It really made me re-afirm how important it is (for me) to live a low-carb lifestyle. Though I miss sour candies, being able to pop a pizza in the oven and donuts; I am so happy in my own skin now. I did not include this in my resolutions because for me this change in diet is a lifestyle change. 

After Christmas, I was shocked. I weighed in my lightest weight yet. I hadn't checked in a few months but I expected to put on a few pounds while living at home with carb-lovers, instead I weighed in at my lowest point yet: 159lbs. 

Good luck with your New Years goals!