Don Andrew

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Eating On The Road

by Don on April 12, 2010

in Diet, Psychology, Random Musings

I’ve been back from my trip to Scotland now for a week.

It’s taken me that long to recover from the onslaught of cooked foods I subjected my body to while away!

Prior to my trip (which was thoroughly pleasant I should add … and thanks for asking), I had made pretty useful progress with my eating habits. Although not 100% raw as yet, I consider myself to be in the transition phase.

I go from eating totally raw for several days at a stretch, to the odd fall from grace. Nothing serious I might add. The odd omelette, punnet of prawns (shrimp) or can of salmon. Mindless consumption, more out of habit or because my girlfriend still has not entirely bought into the whole idea of raw and I’m trying not to make her feel too uncomfortable.

I’m hoping that the soft touch over time will be more effective in the long run. What I know for sure is that my passion is often misconstrued for evangelism. This is unfortunate as it is the last thing I would want to be.

Anyway, back to our road trip.

It’s been a tradition of mine to eat a Whopper at Burger King every time I drive over 100 miles or so.

Why?

Because for at least half my life I couldn’t buy McDonald’s or BK. So now I have this really screwed up idea that eating there is a “treat”. Not because it’s good food (it’s not!) … and not because I enjoy my meals there (I don’t!).

In fact, the only reason I can think of for this madness and total incongruence with my whole being, is that I can do it.

No other reason! It’s me being rebellious. In some wierd way, the marketing lads have done such a good job that I associate a Whopper with something I need.

And each time I succumb, I ask myself what possible reason could it be. I mean, I could understand it if I absolutely loved it. But I don’t. In fact, it makes me mildly nauseous … and I always regret it.

Until the next time!

Well, that was the story of my entire holiday. I knew the friends we stay with would love us to death with beautifully prepared cooked food (usually a roast washed down with liberal amounts of merlot).

And I knew that once I reached my mum’s house (where we spent the lion’s share of our holiday), we would go out to eat because she hates to cook. My mum is arguably the best cook I know. She can make just about anything taste great.

But she’s at a point in her life where she cooks us one meal to show good faith, then announces that it’s the last we’re getting and we will all have to go out.

So how do I feel about all this?

Well, like any family or social scenario involving great friends, it’s tough. Good friends and family show their love with food. To reject it is to disrespect them … and that’s the last thing I would ever want to do.

I am also known as a prodigious eater!

So, if for any reason I don’t polish off my plate and then consume seconds and thirds … well then, something is quite clearly wrong.

To be honest, I hate all the fuss about food. I hate being under the spotlight. I hate having to explain why at home I eat differently, or why I only want one serving.

So I don’t!

I write off the two weeks, push a magical switch in my head … and vow to indulge without a hint of restraint.

Usually, this is quite pleasurable. Decades of over-eating the wrong foods have led me to a point of relative immunity. The addiction kicks in and I eat until I am stuffed.

And then I eat even more until there is nothing left and everyone can enjoy the performance of the human Hoover.

But here’s what I noticed this time:

I had made not only a psychological shift, but a physiological one too. For me at this point in my slow transition, I actually have no desire for cooked, processed or convenience foods whatsover.

The emotional need is gone!

Strangely enough, so is any physical attraction too. In fact, my body has cleansed itself to a point where it feels positively desecrated by any cooked or artificial foods.

Which leaves me feeling most unnerved.

I actually have become so opposed to putting cooked animal products and otherwise harmful cuisine into my mouth that I have to fight the emotions that arise as a result of just being offered a meal.

And this makes me feel awful. Because I know that my partner, my friends and my family can’t understand (because their bodies are different to mine now) … and because I don’t want to appear either neurotic or ungrateful!

So I’m in a huge quandary!

It took me about 8 days this time before my immune system was so compromised that I got sick. Yes, I actually got a cold!

I never get sick. Okay, occasionally … but I put that down to overtraining or lack of sleep or whatever.

But this time I knew, clear as I’ve ever known anything, that I was getting sick because my system was reacting to being hammered by cooked food.

I could just feel it!

No-one could tell me it was because of an unseasonably late cold snap (we had a few inches of snow and sub zero nights in April … not too unusual I’m told). And no-one could tell me that it was because my friend had a cold and my step-dad had a cold.

Okay, I accept, I was exposed to a few germs. So what! Under normal circumstances my body would have had no problem at all.

But a week into the trip and it just surrendered to the inevitable.

Now that I’m back, I am on a mission!

I am eating raw again. Sensible raw, not high fat wretched raw! Fruits, green smoothies, salad greens, berries … and the odd handful of seeds, small avocado or small punnet of olives.

And in two days, my cold is beaten, I’m working out again (hard) and I have my motivation back.

The one thing I’m still struggling with is a touch of lingering depression. But I have an instinctive sense that that too will soon disappear and be replaced with my usual buoyant self.

Funny thing is, I love my family and I love my friends … but I have absolutely no idea how I am going to manage the food and drink thing in the future.

My strategy will be to lose so much weight and get so disgustingly healthy that they cannot help but notice immediately. Then it will be so much easier to gently cut back, or even do without … without ruffling any feathers or making anyone feel awkward.

It is my motivation now. Writing about it is cathartic sure … but it also means I have something very positive to strive towards.

My new strategy … lead by example.

I genuinely have no wish to tell people anything or make anyone feel that “my way” is in any way a “better way”.

But if I can get people whom I care about asking me what it is that I am doing, then maybe, just maybe, I can arrive at the breakthrough I have been waiting for.

Thanks for lending me your ear. If you have similar comments or observations about your own experiences in this most sensitive of areas, please go ahead and comment freely.

I’m sure I am not alone in finding this challenging.

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Why I Like The “Biggest Loser”

by Don on March 26, 2010

in weight loss

Everyone in the fitness community seems to hate the “Biggest Loser”.

Here are the reasons most commonly encountered:

- the program is “only” entertainment

- it raises false expectations by implying that as long as you put in the effort, anyone can lose up to 8% of their body weight each week. This is unrealistic and potentially dangerous … encouraging everything from eating disorders to overtraining and stress fractures.

- it’s not about weight loss, it’s about petty politics and miserable, screwed-up people

- it’s only about weight loss … and should focus more on health

- it focuses too much on results from effort expended, rather than balancing this with the importance of diet

- the diet is not “right”

- the people are too hectic … who cares?

That about sums up all the negative stuff I’ve come across. And I guess at times, sometimes almost always, each one of these criticisms has some validity.

But come on!

It is entertainment, but it does have a fantastic message. If you can be honest about everything that is broken in your life and you are willing to take responsibility and give it your all to fix things … and you have the desire and the courage and the direction to do all this, then anything is possible.

So I thought I’d do a post about what I love about the show. Let’s hope it sticks out amongst all the elitist garbage I keep hearing in my own (fitness) community.

Here goes …

The show shows in raw technicolor how each contestant releases pain, doubt and poisonous emotions like guilt, anger and bitterness. In so doing they grow as people and we start to like and respect them as human beings.

It is inspiring to watch the metamorphosis of people who go from pissing you off and being someone you actively dislike to someone who gains your respect and touch your emotions.

Sure, cynics amongst you will say that that is just the producers tugging on your heart strings. But so what, I like it!

The show underscores the human element … and the importance of family. That’s actually a good thing!

It clearly spreads the word that health is preferable to self-destruction … even though on occasions we might not agree with how that message is delivered.

It is inspiring and uplifting to watch how some people start to “get” that leadership and selflessness is actually more important than “the game”.

The show stresses the importance of choice. That message of taking responsibility and living with consequences is something we all could benefit from every now and again.

Finally, I believe you see a small part of yourself in each character and how they grow and evolve. So the viewer gets to also look in the mirror from time to time.

And that aint a bad thing!

So … to all you fitness “experts” out there, stop banging on about all the negatives and give the viewer at least a little credit for being inspired by all the positives that do exist if you simply start looking for them.

I for one, will continue to enjoy the Americans, the Aussies and the Brits, each with their own unique cast of characters. And yes, I do like the trainers … even though at times I think they are a shocking example of what not to do.

But show me a trainer who doesn’t make mistakes and gets it right everytime, with every person. Then show me someone who is so good they have nothing left to learn.

Oh … and the “commando” rocks!

By the way, I must apologize to my loyal readers who have no doubt thought I have taken a hiatus from writing. Sorry … I have been quite slack.

My excuse is that I have been rewriting my book project Optimum Health Blueprint.

That work is now complete and my book has been completely rewritten from scratch … so it is even more awesome than before.

Plus, for a limited time I am selling it for only $27. I will be increasing the price in the not-too-distant future, so if a book on getting healthy appeals to you … now’s the time to grab it!

You can find it here. Go ahead and opt-in and remember to confirm your details and activate your account. That way you can also get my new free book “Take Back Your Life” which is also full of useful information all written by yours truly.

Here is the link for Optimum Health Blueprint.

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“Healthier” Does Not Mean “Healthy”

by Don on February 11, 2010

in Diet

A day hardly goes by when we don’t see some new media report talking about childhood obesity.

Today on BBC Breakfast there was quite a bit of fuss being made about a School Food Trust statistic that three quarters of the kids in 136 primary schools were choosing vegetables and salad as part of their school meal.

That’s great news!

Granted it’s only 136 schools out of more than 23,000 … but at least there’s some level of awareness.

Of course, Breakfast anchors wanted to know if the kids were actually eating it. And it would appear that this is happening because there has been no apparent upswing in recorded waste.

Again, progress!

Rob Rees, a UK chef who is relentlessly trying to instill a healthier food culture in the UK can be applauded for his passion.

He sees the efforts to prevent kids from leaving schools over breaks not as “lock ins” but rather as “stay on site” … a subtle distinction that perhaps illustrates how much a productive direction means to him.

Not only does he believe similar initiatives reduce obesity and improve behaviour, but he attributes such gains in no small part to the school chefs.

And here’s where I start to question the bigger picture.

I’m all for a departure from greasy burgers, fries and soft drinks. And I’m all for more salads and vegetables.

But I still think the program has what I call “Jamie Oliver disease”. What I mean by this is that the message is that cooked lean meats, grains and dairy products are nutritious.

They’re not!

In fact, so successfully have the big food companies brainwashed our population that even our most qualified nutritionists are singing this same song.

Drink your milk. Eat plenty of lean protein. Eat pasta. Pizza’s okay if the cheese is “low fat”. Chocolate is fine if the quantities are nominal.

With respect, none of these practices are “healthy”. Not one. Sorry … cooking destroys valuable nutrients. Animal products are loaded with fat, calories and excessive protein.

And 5-a-day is nowhere near enough … especially if the vegetables are canned or cooked.

Ironically, the view I have just expressed will be dismissed as non-conventional “hippie-speak”, with no scientific basis … by the very same people who call themselves scientists and maintain that everything they say is “evidence-based”.

I beg to differ and I will happily engage in debate with anyone who can give me scientific evidence to substantiate what exactly is healthy about the process of cooking.

Call it what it is … great strides are made when whole grain pasta and cooked brocolli are eaten in preference to french fries.

Please don’t keep telling people that “healthier” is “healthy”. The truth is that it’s only a step in the right direction. We should crawl before we try walking.

But don’t misuse science to pretend that walking is the same as running, or flying.

True nutritional progress starts with simple honesty.

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Fat Loss Diet Myths

by Don on February 2, 2010

in Diet

Most modern diet gurus define three common elements in any successful fat loss program.

First, calories do count … a deficit is necessary for weight loss and you can achieve this by eating less, moving more, or a combination of the two.

Without an energy deficit, your body has no reason to pull on stored energy.

Second, adequate lean protein blunts hunger. A generation ago, bodybuilders were claiming this … and the medical mainstream were dismissing it.

Current research appears to vindicate this theory. And of course, if you can put a rein on your hunger, then you’ll eat less which is more conducive to achieving a calorie deficit.

Finally, the miracle of fish oils and their essential fatty acids. Every cell in our body needs some of the right kind of fat. Omega-3’s “may” modulate  appetite … and “appear” to improve fat loss “a little”.

Research scientists love hedging their bets.

The theory is that EFA’s decrease fat storage enzymes, while increasing fat mobilization enzymes. Everyone whose anyone in the world of “fat speak” subscribes to this as gospel.

Aside from these three “sacred cows” it would seem that everything else “depends” … on an infinite number of variables.

No single approach can be appropriate for all people, all of the time. The more active you are, the more carbs you would appear to need.

Okay.

And a successful diet must be satisfying … so recommendations are usually in the 20-25% range for calories from dietary fat.

For taste and fulfillment, of course. As fat is relatively tasteless (at least in my experience) I’m guessing that satiety is probably what they mean.

As a result of misinterpreting this conventional wisdom we have a vast number of people who live in fear of protein deficiency. Even vegans hold the mistaken belief that nuts, for example, are a “protein food” and must be eaten in order to prevent muscle atrophy.

Or … you could exercise. Novel concept, but I digress.

I am constantly asked where I get my protein from if I only eat meat very occasionally. Shouldn’t I be worried?

In short, no!

It is a myth that people can suffer from a lack of protein.

Well before this is even a remote theoretical possibility, they will first show visible signs of malnutrition. In fact, our bodies are clever and recycle protein … something which is not commonly acknowledged, perhaps because its impact is hard to measure.

I accept that the protein in raw plants may not necessarily be as immediately digestible as that from animal products … but in a calorically-adequate diet, that is largely irrelevant.

Further, does anyone consider what happens to animal protein when it is cooked?

The proteins become denatured and this renders their component amino acids largely indigestible. The degree to which this is a factor depends on how long something is cooked and at what temperature.

So does cooked meat, eggs and pateurized dairy facilitate, or hamper, the healing process?

Or, are animal products really just a well-marketed, gratuitous source of excess dietary fat?

Saturated fat. The kind that clogs your arteries and screws up your cholesterol!

And causes inflammation!

And doesn’t excess protein from a diet rich in animal products also result in calcium being leached from bones and teeth and lost in urine?

That’s not a trick question. It does!

Which makes most conventional diets, no matter how temporarily effective, a losing proposition over the long haul.

Instead, we should learn how to consume far more fresh, raw, organic fruit and vegetables. And “sufficient” rather than “excessive” nuts, seeds, olives, avocados and other sources of “good” fat.

A diet that supplies no more than 10% of its calories from fat (and the same from protein) will have lasting benefits … regardless of metabolic type, ancestral origin or even genotype.

Such a diet will predominate in fresh, seasonal fruit and raw, tender greens … meaning of course that the lion’s share of your calories will come from carbohydrates.

Few things can be more satisfying to a healthy, active person than fresh, sweet fruit.

And few things will make you feel better than genuine freedom from addiction to cooked and refined foods … and to the condiments that are added to intensify taste.

In matters of diet, simple is always better.

Humans were designed to eat plants, not hunt animals. Can you imagine a lion picking a berry?

Being omnivorous is a survival mechanism … but also a compromise.

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Obesity Surgeons Hit In the Stomach!

by Don on January 21, 2010

in Insights

The Royal College of Physicians has lashed out at the NHS, saying its policy to fund bariatric (gastric bands or bypass) surgery is “inconsistent and unethical”.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!

NICE guidelines suggest that anyone with a body mass index over 40 is sufficiently at risk from related health complications to warrant referral for this type of stomach surgery.

Only problem is that primary care trusts are moving the goal posts and only 2% of surgeries are actually taking place. Apparently they have to balance the conflicting concerns of a limited budget and competing ailments … which means that only the “extremely ill” are getting referred.

Couldn’t see that one coming!

It’s been a long time since something has stirred up such a reaction in me. Let me attempt to explain why.

First, bariatric surgery is a lot like closing the door after the horse has long since bolted.

But we live in a culture that gives way too much credibility to twisted medical logic. We are brainwashed into believing that the only “solution” to obesity is either drugs or diet … poison, or deprivation!

What do either have to do with “healthy consumption”?

Then when people succumb even further to their addiction, they are told they need drastic surgery to save their lives, or at least improve the quality of their lives!

Highly qualified medical experts sit there and tell us that we are living longer and getting fatter and so demand for their services is growing and we should embrace this, not resist it.

And gastric surgery doesn’t come cheap, running anywhere from 6,000 pounds to over 10,000 pounds!

Not one of these “authorities” suggest that the real solution to the problem should be happening a long time before people eat themselves to a BMI of 40!

Their hands are tied. They can only deal with the sad reality. What’s a poor surgeon to do?

We hang on their every word. Our culture embraces their wisdom. Our entire health care system (including people working in the fitness industry) is set up to bring them customers.

All justified by the mitigation of reasonable risk, which of course is hard to argue against, especially for the unqualified masses.

And no-one seems to see anything wrong with what’s happening!

In fact, when they nod their heads sagely and point to “new UK research” that suggests responsibility for 75% of the problem can be attributed to our genes, we actually buy this stuff … hook, line and sinker.

“I knew it … it’s not my fault! I am absolved and now someone else can fund me out of this self-imposed nightmare”.

In spite of the fact that someone has died from complications arising from this type of surgery!

“You can’t possibly appreciate just what a burden this is to me”.

People are getting sicker because we’re eating too much of the wrong stuff. The “victims” (there’s no shortage of these) feel that if the fallout from other lifestyle choices like smoking, alcohol and drug addiction can be funded by the NHS, then why not food addiction?

Funnily enough, I actually see no flaw in this logic.

In fact, food addiction is perhaps even more insidious because you cannot quit eating “cold turkey”, so you have no choice but to exercise restraint and apply intelligence.

Only problem is the “intelligence” is not coming from the “intelligent”!

That’s why we think that sugery, drugs and dieting are the only solutions.

Because we’re told they are! That’s why bogus diets are one of the biggest industries known to mankind … and why any doctor or individual with a few letters after their name can write a book about controlled deprivation and make millions.

We let them. Atkins, et al. What did we learn from them? That carbohydrate restriction doesn’t work?

That’s precisely my point. We learn nothing!

And that’s precisely why we will not solve the problem by continuing to embrace this neanderthal mentality. In our headlong, phobia-based rush to rout out “quacks”, we have succeeded in creating a good old boys club that writes its own pay cheques with absolute impunity.

In a culture that hangs on its every word out of nothing but insecurity.

Because, quite frankly, that’s the best we got!

And these “economic geniuses’ (sorry, did I say that?) have succeeded in turning “health” into “medical”.

Don’t believe me?

Google anything with “health” in your search query. Do you see stuff about drinking clean water and eating more fruit and vegetables?

Occasionally.

But ninety nine times out of ten (settle down boys, deliberate error), you’ll see either someone trying to hock supplements, or information about ailments and disease.

We have succeeded in making “health” entirely about managing a “lack of health”.

What a beautiful business model!

All based on fear and desperation … and the knowledge that people will pay just about anything for relief, but can be counted upon to ignore all the signs, even as they court their addictions like a drunken teenager hoping to get lucky.

Now all we have to do is battle amongst ourselves to see which of us get the lion’s share of the NHS pie.

Oh … and keep trotting out important-sounding stuff about “evidence-based” research, so that the average working schill will continue to fund the gravy train and not ask too many awkward questions.

Bariatric surgery … 35 compensation claims in the UK since 2003.

21 in the last two years alone!

1 death.

When will someone wake up and realize that our most capable resources should be channeled into prevention rather than another highly profitable cure?

My guess?

No time soon.

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