Posts (page 2)
I realized something about a week ago, and I've been wanting to blog about it save that I can't seem to find the right words to tactfully put this:
What makes anyone feel so qualified to tell another person what to put in their bodies?
I'm not talking about people who are merely sharing their way of eating, or people who support the benefits of eating in a certain fashion. If someone wants to tell me that they are a vegetarian and that they've never felt better, well so be it. That's what works for them. If that same someone wants to start a web site extolling the benefits of vegetarianism, that's their right.
What I'm talking about is average, everyday people who are rude enough to tell someone what to eat, without being asked, and without any medical knowledge or knowledge of the individual's medical history. People who criticize another person and/or their eating habits without any qualifications to do so. They've read five diet books and are suddenly an expert on all things weight loss, and feel compelled to share their unprofessional opinion unprompted.
Yes, I realize some people are simply trying to be helpful, but I have been harmed by the advice people have given me. This harm was not only physical, it's psychological sabotage on the way of eating I have chosen and found to be right for my present lifestyle/condition. Although, I suspect that this is so culturally ingrained most people don't realize what they are doing, and how it affects people negatively.
This is part of the reason why I am so upset with the diet plans I've mentioned before in my blog - who are they to tell another person how to lose weight? Are they a doctor? What makes them so capable as to know how the customer's body will react to their diets? Just who do they think they are? Not only are they giving advice they are not qualified to give, they are helping to promote one of the biggest diet fallacies of all time - and charging people money for it!
It is partly because of the "concern" others had for me that my weight went so out of control at an early age. Ever since I could remember my weight was a constant issue, even before I became overweight. The intense focus lead to intense pressure to be thin, but I was not allowed to starve myself. Why, that was wrong! But I do remember being put on at least five different diets before high school, none of which I remember going to the doctor beforehand. Why? Because my mother, my godmother or someone else thought I should go on the diet they chose.
And it didn't stop when I left home. I found that most people were still all to eager to regurgitate their junior high health education to me, but of course they were only suggesting it, out the kindness of their heart (snort). I'm sure that it didn't have anything to do with the fact that they were uncomfortable being around a fat woman. Really I'm sure. *coughs*
My point is, all this pretentiousness has not done me, or anyone else in this nation a lick of good. People are constantly wringing their hands about the "rising obesity epidemic!" yet they keep giving people the same bad, outdated advice that has been given since people started getting fat in the eighties. Wasn't it Albert Einstien the one who said "Repeating an action and expecting different results is the definition of insanity"?!
In order to solve this problem, we collectively need to respect each other more than our need to feel like the big shot. Nobody is ever going to have all the answers. In my experience, even doctors themselves don't have all the answers! Instead, lets encourage each other to find the answers together, and to work together as equals instead of punishing one another for not being thin.
Find an article you are looking for!
Socio-Political - New!
Social Pretentiousness in weight and eating
Why is Everyone Afraid of 30?
Hot or Not - Losing 100lbs+
Anorexia and Media Whoredom
Related to food and nutrition:
Calculating body frame and ideal weight
Pro-Fat Resources
Ketogenic Shopping List
Rabbit Starvation
The Fat Fast Archive
Cancers are sugar junkies
Deceptive Food Labels and Hidden Carbs
Top Ten Things I Learned From Dieting
Top Ten Benefits of LC/Keto Dieting
The Fat Formula - Resurrected, Reversed, Restored
Good Reasons to Eat Fat
Going Easy on Splenda
Hormones, Thyroid, and Weight Loss
Eating Habits and Weight Loss
Related to the Campaign Against Kimkins:
Joining the Campaign Against Kimkins
Links of Campaigners Against Kimkins
Why Say "NO!" to Kimkins
Attention Dieters Everywhere!
Other:
Here's the benefits I have experienced while low carbing. Please remember that this information cannot be used to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Everyone should ask their doctor before beginning any exercise program... yadda yadda, you get the idea. :)
1. Metabolic advantage for faster weight loss
2. Food cravings more managable or completely gone
3. Improved mood
4. Bowel regularity restored (Yes, without ten cups of veggies!)
5. Improved dental condition
6. Delicious menu
7. More muscle mass retained
8. Prohibits cancer growth
9. Improved skin appearance
10. Improved energy levels
I've been dieting since I was fourteen years old. For fifteen years I have gained and lost the same fifty pounds, thanks to learning from a lot of self-inflicted mistakes. Here's a quick compilation of the most important things I've learned along the bumpy way to health and true lifestyle change:
1. The fact that the diet industry exists is proof of it's ineffectualness. The diet industry makes more money from failure than success. The diet industry, in all it's forms, is not your friend. From dubious supplements, caffiene stacks to online pay forums and expensive pre-processed diet menus the chances are high that your failure will only increase their bank accounts.
2. The food industry doesn't care about you either. Food manufacturers will knowingly engineer food to take advantage of the latest fad, and find ways to print their nutrition labels to reflect whatever bandwagon they are riding. Manufacturing food that is filling, healthy, and satisfying is the last thing on their minds - why? Because hungry people consume more food. The more food people buy the richer they get. Remember Ruffles - "bet you can't eat just one?"
3. Corn has literally invaded almost every aspect of American cuisine. This is not necessarily a good thing.
4. High carbohydrate diets cause food cravings. Food cravings lead to binges. Binges lead to self-blame and guilt. Self-blame and guilt leads to hopelessness. Hopelessness leads to inertia. Inertia leads to failure. Failure leads to spending money on useless diet fads and manufactured fad food. Since fad food is usually high in carbohydrates (even the low carb ones), the cycle starts all over. Read. Repeat. Read. Repeat. Ad nauseum.
5. When you diet people might sabotage your efforts in any way they can, even though they will admit you need a diet. Spouses start eating fast food in front of their companions. Co-workers bring a sudden surge of free cookies and candy into the workplace ("I'm sorry, I know you're on a diet... but won't you try some anyway?"). Friends will lie to their friends and say "but you aren't fat, you really don't need a diet." Here's an idea of how to cope:
6. People can also competitive and might not enjoy your success as much as you will. Your spouse may become insecure, your friends may become jealous. Sometimes vicious rumor mongers will spread lies to make up for their own lack of involvement in solving their own problems. Coping mechanism: see above.
7. Nobody should aim to look like a celebrity of any kind. Women usually starve and take drugs, and the men take steroids or human growth hormone. Much of what you see is the result of fortunes being spent on plastic surgery. If someone doesn't like your natural body the way it is; shut them up by asking them if they are footing the bill for your plastic surgeon.
8. If you want to lose weight, you have to give up certain foods. There's just no getting around that.
9. Your long term weight loss success depends more on your lifestyle than any diet you stick to for any amount of time.
Obligatory Disclaimer - Please do not construe anything you see at http://lowcarbmargi.vox.com as any kind of medical or nutritional advice. Everyone should always seek their doctor's approval before beginning any diet or exercise program.
I don't follow any particular sort of low-carb program, but my eating habits are inspired by the ketogenic diet, Atkin's fat fast, and a host of other high-fat, low-carb advocates. Please be aware that the aforementioned diets are known to cause rapid weight loss, and can be dangerous to anyone who does not have serious metabolic resistance.
My daily dietary modification goals are as follows:
- 75-80% fat
- 20-15% protein
- 5% carbohydrates
My daily supplements include:
- 1 multivitamin (I alternate between low iron and regular)
- 1 calcium (plain, no vitamin D or minerals)
- 1 magnesium
- 1 biotin for hair and nails
My potassium sources includes:
- Lettuce, celery, nuts, eggs, and nut butters.
- No Salt, no-sodium Herb-Ox boullionne powder packets for seasoning in cooking.
- I created a super yummy electrolyte broth made out of 1 tsp sodium boillionne, 1 packet no sodium boullionne, and 12 oz hot water. The boullionne can be any flavor, so long as the flavors are kept together.
- On rare occasion, potassium supplements. Please be aware that both too little or too much potassium can be deadly
My frequent shopping list includes:
- Mayonnaise
- Tuna
- Cage Free hen eggs
- Heavy whipping cream
- Nuts
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Full fat sour cream
- Wholly Guaca-Salsa
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 73% fat ground beef
My allowed foods when eating out:
- Fiesta taco salad from Taco Bell, minus beans, shell uneaten
- Surloin steak and salad
- Fajita chicken salad from Petro travel plaza
- more to come!
I needed some information of the fattest food I could buy for my ketogenic challenge, and found a LOT of great info from Back Across the Line by BamaGal of LCF. Be sure to read the rest of her blog, it's awesome!
Here in America we often hear about the horrors of Islamic extremism - honor killings, rapes that often go without judicial recourse, domestic imprisonment and abuse, and suicide bombing. But we are almost never exposed to the people who are in these countries fighting for a more secular society. Fouad Alfarhan is one of them. I am showing my support by posting this graphic, to honor his efforts of forming a more balanced society in the country he lives in:
This courtesy of Dave from lowcarbdiscussion.com's Zero Carb Diet thread:
Eat Fat And Grow Slim by Richard Mackarness, M.B.,B.S. (1958)
http://www.ourcivilisation.com/fat/index.htm
The Bear's thread on Active Low Carbers. "The real human diet is a totally carnivorous one."
http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=287013
Adventures in Diet - By Vilhjalmur Stefansson
Harper's Monthly Magazine, November 1935
http://magicbus.myfreeforum.org/about65.html
Also Adventure in diet, free to download here: http://www.lulu.com/content/271170
With the New Year coming up quickly, I know many of you are seeking a diet that is effective and safe. If you haven't chosen your diet already, it is crucial for you to make your choices from the position of being informed, not desperate. There are countless numbers of diets and I cannot possibly warn you about the dangers from all of them, but there are a few I would like to take special exception to.
These diets are touting the latest fad in low carbing - low calorie/low carb/low fat. The most popular ones online are Kimkins, Magic Chicken Diet and CampCarbAway. All of them charge for membership to their online forum, and offer some variant form low calorie/carb/fat diet plan. They justify this cost by offering food lists, clothes swap, sample menus, recipe library, and online journal - but you can actually find these same things at no cost on free forums such as LowCarbFriends, Jimmy Moore's LowCarbDiscussion, and Eating Low With Amy. I have personally been to all these forums and would recommend them to anyone.
The option of learning about Kimkins, CampCarbAway, and Magic Chicken Diet outside of the online forums is unavailable. So instead of spending ten dollars on a book and following the plan on your own, you are essentially forced to cough up upwards of seventy dollars even if you just wanted to review the eating plan.
Also consider the fact that many Ex-Kimkins members were banned from the message board with no refund for merely questioning the diet or pointing out inconsistencies in the Kimkins plan. I have not seen any terms of service available at any of these sites that outlines what a person can be banned for - so it is likely that people who sign up may inadvertantly lose all their money if they aren't careful about what they say. Is that worth twenty, sixty or seventy dollars to you?
In addition to being practically inaccessible, these low calorie/carb/fat diet plans are not healthy at all. Former members of Kimkins experienced many adverse effects of this sort of diet, such as heart palpitations, bone loss, and hair loss to name just a few. In another blog post, I wrote about the phenomenon of Rabbit Starvation which is caused by eating only lean protein. This way of eating is what Kimkins has been reported to recommend to others, leading people to complain of health problems afterwards. While I know that Magic Chicken Diet and CampCarbaway do not strictly promote eating no carb/lean protein like Kimkins did, by advocating low-fat they are perpetuating the myth that fat is bad for weight loss. In fact, I compiled a Fat Fast Archive to help dispell these myths.
As if the diet itself being unhealthy and unavailable to follow alone without an online forum is enough to make you think twice before buying these diet programs, Heidi Diaz, the owner of Kimkins has just been exposed as a fraud. My blog posts Why Say No to Kimkins?, Links to Campaign Against Kimkins, and Joining the Campaign Against Kimkins are filled with resources to learn about the fraud and how to take action if you are motivated to.
The Magic Chicken Diet owner, Bonnie Louper, does not appear to be a fraud, and is probably a true weight loss success story. She's also probably a very nice lady but this does not change the fact that she is promoting a diet that appears to be simply a variant of Kimkins, which has been shown to be a fancy form of rabbit starvation.
CampCarbAway's owner is Jeannie Baitinger, former PR of Kimkins itself. She staunchly defended the diet on national television, and from what I've read on blogs, she quit Kimkins around the time when Heidi Diaz's assets were frozen pending the class action lawsuit. She subsequently started Camp Carb Away, which I've been told encourages a low-carb version of calorie cycling between Kimkins and Atkins. Although you can still find information about that in the above forums I listed above for free.
In conclusion, I emphatically implore anyone who is considering joining these paid forums to think carefully before forking their hard earned cash. There is real help, real support out there - genuine people who really care about others and don't carry a price tag for their friendly support and knowledge. They won't put your health at risk, either, to make a couple bucks. All you have to do is seek them out. In whatever you decide, I wish you good luck and good health!
Recommended reading:
Metropolitan Height/Weight chart can be found below.
This courtesy of LADiet Plan:
MALE AND FEMALE - Frame Size Chart
Small Frame, Medium Frame, Large Frame? What are you? In order to refine and define theoretical weights, researchers added frame size as a factor. The sizes are categorized into three categories:- Small frame, medium frame and large frame. The reason for this is that obviously bone structures vary in size and density from person to person. Equally obviously men and women have different structures. Bone mass and muscle mass all play a part in determining your optimal weight. Large boned people. There are two simple methods of determining frame size:-
- Measuring the circumference of your wrist. This is by far the most straight forward.
- Measuring the breadth of your elbow. This is a little more complex but provides a greater results range for the purposes of accuracy.
In order to do this:-
Stand up. Extend your arm forward so that it is horizontal and parallel to the ground. Turn your hand so your palm is uppermost. Bend your elbow so your forearm is at 90º to the ground. Use the forefinger and thumb of your other hand to locate the narrow part of your elbow joint. Use your same forefinger and thumb as a guage to determine your elbow breadth by measuring the gap between them with with a ruler or tape measure. Compare the value with the tables below.
Female Wrist Measurements
Height less than 5' 2"
(Less than 155cms)Height 5' 2" - 5' 5"
(155cms - 163cms)Height more than 5' 5"
(More than 163cms)Small Less than 5.5"
(140mm)Less than 6.0"
(152mm)Less than 6.25"
(159mm)Medium 5.5" - 5.75"
(140 - 146mm)6" - 6.25"
(152 - 159mms)6.25" - 6.5"
(159 - 165mm)Large More than 5.75"
(146mm)More than 6.25"
(159mm)More than 6.5"
(165mm)
Female Elbow Measurements
(If your elbow breadth is less than those in the table for a specific height, you are small framed. Similarly, if your elbow breadth is bigger than those in the table, you are large framed)
Medium FrameHeight Ft and In Elbow Breadth Inches Height cms Elbow Breadth mm 4' 10" - 4' 11" 21/4" - 21/2" 146 - 148 57 - 64 5' 0" - 5' 3" 21/4" - 21/2" 150 - 158 57 - 64 5' 4" - 5' 7" 23/8" - 25/8" 160 - 168 60 - 67 5' 8" - 5' 11" 23/8" - 25/8" 170 - 178 60 - 67 6' 0" - 6' 4" 21/2" - 23/4" 180 - 190 63 - 70
Male Wrist Measurements
Height more than 5' 5"
(More than 163cms)Small 5.5" - 6.5"
(140 - 165mm)Medium 6.5" - 7.5"
(165 - 191mm)Large More than 7.5"
(191mm)
Male Elbow Measurements
Medium FrameHeight Ft and In Elbow Breadth Inches Height cms Elbow Breadth mm 5' 2" - 5' 3" 21/2" - 27/8" 155 - 158 64 - 73 5' 4" - 5' 7" 25/8" - 27/8" 160 - 168 67 - 73 5' 8" - 5' 11" 23/4" - 3" 170 - 178 70 - 75 6' 0" - 6' 3" 23/4" - 31/8" 180 - 188 70 - 79 6' 4" - 6' 7" 27/8" - 31/4" 190 - 198 73 - 83
