Hungry for Change

After a busy and fun day at work Saturday, I came home and just wanted to veg.  It felt great.  And I actually didn't have feelings of guilt like I often do when I'm being "unproductive".  It was a needed time to relax and just be mindless.

I watched a movie, Blue Valentine, because, well lets be honest, Ryan Gosling is in it; and I needed a mindless chick flick.  But after that, I decided to watch a documentary that I have heard a lot about at work from a coworker - Hungry for Change.  It was great, frightening, and inspiring all at the same time.  Hungry for Change "exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight loss, and food industry don't want you to know about.  Deceptive strategies designed to keep you craving more and more.  Could the foods we are eating actually be keeping us stuck in the diet trap?"

Here is just a list of general ideas/facts/topics that it revealed:

*As a nation, we are overfed and under nourished.  We are starving on a nutritional basis at the cellular level.

*We take in food (nutritionally empty foods), and our bodies are still starved from a nutritional stand point.  So our bodies tell us to keep eating to solve that problem, but we continually feed our bodies nutritionally void foods.  Which causes a perpetual cycle, and the obesity epidemic we are drowning in.

*We live in a world of ease, (think technology, fast food, instant gratification) and in a indoor world - these factors combined, too add to the epidemic that we do not utilize our bodies (or minds) to their full capacity   This in turn causes people to turn to doctors, who can only actually prescribe medication to band aid the symptoms of our issues.

*Culturally, we understand that drugs (cocaine, nicotine, alcohol) are addictive, but we need to realize that so much of our "food" sources today are actually engineered the same way; engineered to be addictive.

*In the example of cigarettes, companies KNOWINGLY added more nicotine to MAKE them more addictive.  Food companies do this SAME thing with their food products.  Why is that not also deemed WRONG.  Why should this be any different than handing out cocaine?

*There was a brief clip from Jamie Olivers TED talk, revealing just how much sugar children consume these days.  Long story short, he compared feeding and shoving sugar laden foods at our children the same as rolling up their arm and shooting them up with heroine.  Now, dramatic...maybe, but sugar IS a drug.  It has the same physiological responses in our bodies.  So, with that said, perhaps feeding our children these chemeically engineered and sugary foods, is actually child abuse. (I know many people who read that will shrug it off as too extreme, but I do think we need to change the paradigm and adopt this as true.)

*MSG (monosodium glutamate).  Whoa, interesting stuff there.  In the science field there is a term called "MSG induced mice".  This is the process that they use to make mice fat.  And yet MSG is found in everything from soups, salad dressings, meats, even baby food and infant formula; statistically in 80% of all modified foods.  Why do we think that should be okay to consume and be present in our foods?

*Side effects of MSG don't just stop at "fattening mice" and humans.  MSG is linked to Alzheimers,  damaging of nerve cells, headaches, depression, and other neurological issues.  In regards to nerve damage, MSG is considered an Excitotoxin.  Meaning it excites our cells to the point of damage and death.  Which is actually an incredibly addictive process itself; as we experience a momentary phase of elation and joy.

*This excitotoxin experience is also what fuels the giant, billion dollar beverage industry - the soda industry.  In addition to MSG, caffeine and aspartame is found in soda.  This chemical potion kills our cells, specifically our brain cells, but with excitement.  *ahem*SameAsCocaine*ahem*.

*While on the note of DIET sodas, lets discuss artificial sweeteners.  They cause Carbohydrate cravings.  Simple as that.

*"But the FDA approved x,y, z to be produced based on studies conducted.."  Well, those studies are funded and conducted by the food and beverage companies that create the products.  Why WOULDN'T they create studies that support their products?  And on that note, marketing LIES.

*Marketing Lies, an example.  The cereal, "Blueberry Pomegranate Total.  Contains NO actual blueberries or pomegranates.  It actually contains propylene glycol; which is also can be used to winterize RV's, and is what is used to clean out your GI track before a colonoscopy.  But sure, lets put it in cereal.  NOM NOM.

*We are constantly berated by over 75,000 synthetic chemicals in our environment.  Gross.  and.  Wrong. And we wonder why we are obese, depressed, and hopeless as a nation when it comes to health (and many other things).

I'm going to leave this post at that.  So just let all that seep in.  Think about it.  I'll post again about some other more hopeful topics that "Hungry For Change" presented.  If you get a chance, watch Hungry for Change (it's on Netflix right now)...its well worth your time.

Do What Works.

"The Best Plan is the one that works for you."

This is still one of the most beneficial and profound statements made from my friend, trainer, and boss-lady.  She said it probably 3 years ago, but it still holds true in so many circumstances.  I often have clients who follow plans that aren't exactly what I or LifeTime would recommend, but truly if it's what works for you, then its what needs to be done.

We often lose sight of this approach, but in recent conversation we talked about the importance and validity of simply doing what works for you.  Since I've struggled quite a bit over the last half a year in my health & fitness goals (I'll leave out the excuses), I thought it would be a good time for me to really think back to what works for me.

I feel best when I am strong, and am lifting heavy, but at a higher intensity (Cardivascularly speaking).  On a regular schedule.  With a program design vs. spur of moment whatever I feel like that day.

I feel best when I am feeling strong, sturdy, dense, and lean.  When my clothes fit.  And by clothes I do not mean sweats, yoga pants, and items with no waist line.

I feel best when I incorporate running into my regime.  Mid distances 2-3 times a week, outside.  Soaking up Rays and SWEATING, rocking out to tunes.

I feel best when I have adequate time for my workouts/lifts and don't feel rushed.  However, I am more focused on my runs when I have a small window of time to fit them in (plus then I run faster/harder.)

I feel best when I use a pre-workout supplement, as well as BCAA's, and glutamine.  I was on my no caffeine kick for a while, but I caved about 3 weeks short of my 90 Day goal.  I don't feel like I need caffeine to get through my day, but right now I need caffeine to get jacked and a better pump from my workout.  I'm not proud of that, but it just is what it is.  Do what works, right.

I feel best when I go to bed by 9:00pm.  Now, I usually won't fall asleep at 9, but I at least start the wind down process by then.  During the week I usually beat my alarm clock by a few minutes and start waking up around 4:58am, am feet on the floor by 5:12am, and to work by 5:55am.  Which then goes into the next bullet point.

I feel best when I am prepared.  This means have my lunch organized for the next day, my clothes laid out or set aside, my workout clothes in my gym bag, and a general game plan for the day set (for work, workout, and nutrition).  If I leave things up to chance they either won't get done, I'll make poor decisions in the mix of things, and I'll usually be disappointed with myself at the end of the day.  No likey.

I feel best when my house is clean.  Not JUST picked up, but CLEAN.  I hate coming home to house out of order and out of sorts, and especially dirty dishes in the sink.

I feel best when I have a little time to myself each week.  Like today.  I get to do what I want, on my own timeline, I get time to enjoy my workouts, and catch up on the little things (like blogging and studying).

I feel best when I go to church every Sunday.  I enjoy the opportunity to grow in my faith, the time to express gratitude for the many blessings in my life, and the opportunity to be contemplative.

I feel best when I keep processed and inflammatory foods out of my diet.  Including Dairy.  But I'm not giving up my eggs.

I feel best when I get one 'cheat meal' each week.  Usually a breakfast of Paleo Waffles (made with Almond and Coconut Flour) - YUM.   In addition, I feel best when I include controlled complex carbohydrates in my nutrition plan.  Lately it's been sweet potatoes or rice cakes (processed, but minimally).  I'm thinking about incorporating Oatmeal (GF) back in.  It was an ENJOYED staple when I was most successful in my health/fitness goals.

I'm sure I'll come up with some more things that I feel best doing...but for now, that's pretty much my list.

Scratch that.  One more.  And its kind of simple and stupid.  But, I feel best when I shower daily at the gym, and maintain shaved legs and arms.  Its kind of one of those "look sharp - play sharp things".  If I feel clean and smooth, I'll act and live clean.  This one is hard to maintain when living on the go, as well as in the winter.

I'm looking forward to asking others or hearing from others, what their "I feel best" items are.  Time to hit the pavement and rock out some miles.  Be good.