Lighten Your Heaviest Gear: You!

"If we eat too many refined sugar foods and do not "exercise, the high insulin level triggers the liver to produce more Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL), which is a main carrier of triglyceride.
-very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Lipoproteins are differentiated by how much triglyceride they contain such that the more triglyceride that is in these particles, the less dense they are and the more they “float”. Chylomicron contains the most triglyceride, followed by VLDL, LDL, and HDL."
-taken from a diabetes info group
So it is the density of lipoproteins that changes not the triglycerides- that was an unfortunate way to describe it. Still its a bad thing, please don't eat sugars.

Brian, i sort of agree with your post that fats aren't necessarily bad for you. My great grandmother from Ukraine lived to 104 years old. She has survived two world wars, the fall of the two empires, and most importantly the hunger starvation in the 30s. When the doctor performed an autopsy on her, he said she didn't have a single internal decease except for a mini heart attack scar. We remember grandma fell sick one night when she was about 100. So grandma was the healthiest person i've ever known, what did she eat? Whole milk, lots of bread (natural, whole grain rye and wheat), all kinds of meat, especially pork, pork fat (salo), eggs, lots of potatoes, oils, other grain food. She always ate dinner as a two-course meal: soup, and main meal. When she became older and my mom cooked Borsch (Ukrainian soup), she often complained it wasn't very "fulfilling" (read not fat enough).

It seems to me that what's the most important is the holistic, natural way to eating. Whether it's vegetables, meat, milk, eggs or whatnot, the important part is to shop (or better, produce your own) natural ingredients, and cook from the scratch. This is also known as "shop in the perimeter of a supermarket" approach. If you know you might have inherited bad genetics (history of heart decease in the family or diabetes), of course stay away from too much fat and sugars, that's just common sense. As long as you eat natural, home cooked, un-processed food and treat dessert as something that happens rarely (once a week, at minimum), and also observe normal portions, you should be fine. The problem, especially for men, is it is hard to cook, especially for those with busy lives or coming from families where fast food approach was a way of life. In my culture, for instance, women cook all the food, and here in the US one needs to shop around for a woman with some cooking skills…

but the article was good, nevertheless, in pointing out some healthy foods out there.

Welcome to the community Matt!

I read your bio in your profile.

I spent many hours outdoors with my father hunting and fishing. I relish every memory of those moments now that he is gone.

I am sorry to say that I missed that oppotunity with my two boys. They are both young men out on their own and I invite them to go hiking with me whenever the opportunity presents itself. One of these days one or both of them will say yes and I will be a happy man.

Grab every minute outdoors with your son that you can. 24 hour overnite trips are great. Remember that everything doesn't have to go just right. Little mistakes and detours will give you both a lot to talk and laugh about back at home after the trip. It is my earnest hope for you that your son asks you often, "Dad, when can we go again?"

Sincerely,

Newton

Party On ! 2010

Excellent article

What works for me although it drives my wife crazy is I eat the same breakfast and lunch almost every work day. Cup of coffee and bagel with Smart Balance in a.m. Then for lunch either a Cliff bar or Kashi or Mojo. If I take a long walk in cold weather at lunch then I might eat another bar afterwards. For supper I eat whatever I want. I prefer healthy foods.

On weekends I eat two bagels in a.m. because I walk longer. I eat a big lunch or dinner. Usually veggie if I can. During these big meals, I feel like a Viking at a feast. Hmmmm.

During backpacking trips I eat as much as I can. I've always dropped a few pounds after a trip. Burn baby burn.

I've been doing this about five years. Went from 225 lb to 185 and have kept the weight off. I get around 180 after a backpacking trip. If I ever hit 187 (rarely) then I go into warrior mode. Really watch my food for a couple of days and walk faster and longer.

Don't know if my eating habits are a bit OCD but it works. And to my wife, I always reply back to her when she says that she can't believe I can consume the same stuff day after day: well, I've loved the same woman for 33 years and have not had a problem with that either. That works too.

So I have both food and love covered. Now all I need is for everybody to send me money, then I will have solved all three mysteries of the universe.

To the tune of A Day in the Life (my apologies to John and Paul)

I ate some chips today, oh boy.
And then I stood upon my bathroom scale
And though the numbers were quite sad
Well, I just had to laugh
My gut reached to my calf

I blew my diet at McD’s
I didn’t notice that my girth had changed
A crowd of doctors stood and stared
they thought they’d seen it all
now they know how high that i can get my darn cholesterooooooollllllll

I’d love to loooooooooooooooose sooooooooooome weiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Ben,

I agree and disagree with you. I think there are enough resources on the subject, that it is not necessary for a BPL article.

Also on the tasks at home. Most of your solutions will add to a healthier life. But how about we use the time saving methods, and take the time saved for some more serious exercise. Like riding that bike, walking, running etc. To me the biggest problem is TV. Americans spend so much time in front of it, when they could be doing something good for themselves.

Anyway, if someone really wants to be healthy, they just need to go do it, and continue doing it everyday.

GOYBADSAI Plan. Nice! All it takes is a little effort, doesn't it?

Also, I didn't read the whole thread, just bits and pieces, so I hope I'm not being redundant when I say, Don't worry about the calories as much as what's IN your food.

I dropped almost 40 pounds in 2 years by not overeating, eating as naturally as possible, and following John's GOYBADSAI plan. No crazy exercising or diets. Just simple common sense and a little will power now and then.

Seriously, next time you go grocery shopping, look at the ingredients in EVERYTHING you buy. Ignore the calories, but look at ingredients. If you can't pronounce it, or is not natural, or the food has more than 6-8 ingredients, ask yourself if you really need that and try to find something better.

For instance, there is High Fructose Corn Syrup in Claussen pickles. Probably a small amount, but WHY????????? Pickles are cucumbers and vinegar and a few spices. I found another brand that was 100% natural and tasted just as good. Grocery shopping with this mindset is EXACTLY like looking for new UL gear!!!!

May I recommend this series of blog posts, currently in progress, about exercise and weight loss. The whole "Science of Sport" blog is excellent and their current series seems very relevant to this thread.

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/exercise-and-weight-loss.html

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/exercise-and-weight-loss-part-2.html

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/exercise-and-weight-loss-part-2b.html

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2010/01/exercise-and-weight-loss-part-3-fat.html

There will be more parts.

Douglas, I thought that was implied when I mentioned cutting calories. How you cut them (burning via exercise or eating less) doesn't really matter as long as you cut them.

Chris, a "motivated" person will have to either eat less or burn more to achieve the weight loss, preferably both for the best and longest lasting effect. You're right.

Every weight loss diet on the market is steering people in the direction of eating less calories or better calories, with some mentioning increasing exercise. Unless continued motivation exists by either sheer will power, being part of a program like weight watchers, etc, most will stop taking part. People get tired of (lost motivation) one diet and when the next one comes along, their motivation is renewed to try something different to achieve their goal.

No one can deny the benefits of exercise WRT general health (physical and mental), especially for backpackers. However, there is a plethora of research showing that exercise contributes little or nothing to weight loss (though is important to maintaining weight loss). The major determinant of weight loss is always what you put in your mouth. Exercise alone will just make you a fitter fat person.

http://www.healthline.com/sw/clc-calorie-burn-rate-calculator

nm..no sense in commenting on bizarre statements.