Bulletproof Diet?

[squeezyjohn]

I think we are lucky enough to live in an age where you can read any number of conflicting evidence for anything on the internet ... some of which will support views which are convenient to almost any outlook on life!

I have decided to carry on reading it - but not exhaustively - and rely far more on good old-fashioned common sense!

If I were going to attempt any radical diet change (I'm not BTW) - I would go for one based on evidence of what people ate when following a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and get a job which involved constant exercise for at least 8 hours a day. That would mean eating far less carbohydrates and next to no grains, true - but it would also include far less of everything and a high amount and massive variety of fruits and vegetables with the occasional feast on meat. No dairy.

Animals are usually much healthier if they are eating their natural diet - humans have not eaten a natural diet for a very very long time now - but our genetics still has not changed much from those hunter-gatherer times - and our dietary requirements have also not changed.

[Ainkor]

Sounds terrific!! What type of beans are they?

Doesn't really matter too much which kind. I use kidney beans, lentils, lima beans. Heck, sometimes I use a 16 bean soup mix (without the seasoning because of high sodium).

Here is the reality though.... As I've been on my weight loss adventure, the one thing I can say for 100% sure is that EVERYTHING works.

High fat (5 pounds lost on this)
Low fat (15 pounds)
Low carb (10 pounds)
High carb (10 pounds)
Vegetarian (10 pounds)
Meats only (a pound or two :P)
Cave man (5 pounds)
Pop tarts (years ago, but I lost 10 pounds on this one :P)
Meal replacement bars (10 pounds)
Normal diet with extreme exercise (Running daily, P90x daily) Was in conjunction with a few above and did great
15 minute mini circuit every other day (by far the best physical form and stamina results but no weight loss due to no diet change

I'd argue that there is a mental and a "change" aspect to each. I lost 135 pounds years ago by watching my calories and exercising 3 times a week. Drop dead simple but I was committed.

I'll never bash a meal eating plan, only diets. If you want to change, you have to change. Simple as that and it has to be sustainable.

[squeezyjohn]

I'd argue that there is a mental and a "change" aspect to each. I lost 135 pounds years ago by watching my calories and exercising 3 times a week. Drop dead simple but I was committed.

I'll never bash a meal eating plan, only diets. If you want to change, you have to change. Simple as that and it has to be sustainable.

Best post of the thread!

See ... good old fashioned common sense!

[devilock76]

Why do most fad diets work, because in the end they all reduce calories, it is simple physics, calories out > calories in equals weight loss.

Why do they fail, because the way they reduce the calories tends to not be sustainable.

If you look at the low carb approach, well frankly it is hard to not cut calories when you cut simple carbs. Also when people approach it in a "carnivore fashion" it makes them feel full longer as how long it takes our body to digest most meats (and well proteins in general). Also proteins use more water to digest so if they aren't careful about drinking lots of water they can also be losing water weight.

I picked more on low carbs there, but it is true for most fad diets, and there will be new fad diets, because people move on and go to the next fad forgetting how bad the last one turned out.

To the Vegan and Veggie credit they sure have staying power on their diets. Even though the B12 deficit can be a problem. Not going to get on the moral issues of that but it is proven that livestock for consumption is a very un-green practice.

As for low carb. I tend to eat that way these days anyway. Only because my vice food was always potato chips and things like that. But I don't run and hide from good whole wheat bread and I like beans and veggies. I have eaten vegan before and that is fine too. I think I try to keep in mind my intake vs output in a given day. Oh and I tend to try to stay away from heavily processed/packaged foods.

Ken

[Zimobog]

I think watching carbs is simpler than watching calories. So I had spinach and bacon salad for lunch, dry salami and black coffee for breakfast, and a brie and bacon omlette for supper. More water than ever.

Does snus have sugar in it?

[crullers]

I think watching carbs is simpler than watching calories. So I had spinach and bacon salad for lunch, dry salami and black coffee for breakfast, and a brie and bacon omlette for supper. More water than ever.

Does snus have sugar in it?

Do you have carbs listed on all food products in the states? It's required by law here and makes calculating calories and carbs much easier.



I think snus uses artificial sweeter but not 100% sure on that.

[devilock76]

I think watching carbs is simpler than watching calories. So I had spinach and bacon salad for lunch, dry salami and black coffee for breakfast, and a brie and bacon omlette for supper. More water than ever.

Does snus have sugar in it?

And counting carbs will more than likely reduce calories. Aditionally it will make sedentary people feel fuller without affecting their perceived quality of dietary choices.

Man I love spinach salads. I love spinach.

Snus usually has salt in it. American chew and dip is more known for sweeteners. However in my ingredients research I have noticed most dips seem to have artificial sweetners in it. I would say how much they have in it and considering you are not swallowing it that the overall effect of said sweetners is no more than having say a breath mint or some chewing gum. Maybe less.

Ken

[devilock76]

Do you have carbs listed on all food products in the states? It's required by law here and makes calculating calories and carbs much easier.

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I think snus uses artificial sweeter but not 100% sure on that.

Yes, and in fact they list carbs and dietary fiber to allow one to determine true net carbs.

Ken

[truthwolf1]

Why do most fad diets work, because in the end they all reduce calories, it is simple physics, calories out > calories in equals weight loss.

Why do they fail, because the way they reduce the calories tends to not be sustainable.

If you look at the low carb approach, well frankly it is hard to not cut calories when you cut simple carbs. Also when people approach it in a "carnivore fashion" it makes them feel full longer as how long it takes our body to digest most meats (and well proteins in general). Also proteins use more water to digest so if they aren't careful about drinking lots of water they can also be losing water weight.

I picked more on low carbs there, but it is true for most fad diets, and there will be new fad diets, because people move on and go to the next fad forgetting how bad the last one turned out.

To the Vegan and Veggie credit they sure have staying power on their diets. Even though the B12 deficit can be a problem. Not going to get on the moral issues of that but it is proven that livestock for consumption is a very un-green practice.

As for low carb. I tend to eat that way these days anyway. Only because my vice food was always potato chips and things like that. But I don't run and hide from good whole wheat bread and I like beans and veggies. I have eaten vegan before and that is fine too. I think I try to keep in mind my intake vs output in a given day. Oh and I tend to try to stay away from heavily processed/packaged foods.

Ken

The only FAD diet that I tried and failed at was the one recommended by the American Heart Association of lowfat with 3 whole grain servings per day. I could not stop eating the whole grains and was starving all the time!!

I found the advice of counting carbs, calories, fat etc.. also to be a complete failure in my life. Just was not going to happen.

Fully agree that lowcarb cuts calories without having to count.

The way I am eating now keeps me at a more healthy weight and I feel much better then I can ever remember. If this is a FAD to give up wheat and keep low carbing then it is a lifelong commitment for me. Not to mention the studies that make it a heart friendly by keeping cholesterol, blood sugar spikes in check which I have problems with on a lowfat, whole grain diet.

What is scary is what happens if the entire world catches on to this way of eating. It would mean a pretty heavy transition of agriculture moving into low glycemic vegetables and high protein sources. There is no way grass fed animals could sustain everyone.

but then again most people will take a statin, diabetes pill and prilosec and not think twice about it.

[CzechCzar]

+10000

I am sick right now, but I just had my bulletproof coffee, and feel pretty damn good. Not hungry AT ALL thanks to the copious amounts of butter and oil I added to my coffee. I am probably having more than 2000 calories per day at the moment, because I'm stuffing myself every afternoon with all the meat I want. Yesterday my lunch consisted of 3 packs of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, followed by a huge lambchop. It's nice not to have to monitor calories.

The only FAD diet that I tried and failed at was the one recommended by the American Heart Association of lowfat with 3 whole grain servings per day. I could not stop eating the whole grains and was starving all the time!!

I found the advice of counting carbs, calories, fat etc.. also to be a complete failure in my life. Just was not going to happen.

Fully agree that lowcarb cuts calories without having to count.

The way I am eating now keeps me at a more healthy weight and I feel much better then I can ever remember. If this is a FAD to give up wheat and keep low carbing then it is a lifelong commitment for me. Not to mention the studies that make it a heart friendly by keeping cholesterol, blood sugar spikes in check which I have problems with on a lowfat, whole grain diet.

What is scary is what happens if the entire world catches on to this way of eating. It would mean a pretty heavy transition of agriculture moving into low glycemic vegetables and high protein sources. There is no way grass fed animals could sustain everyone.

but then again most people will take a statin, diabetes pill and prilosec and not think twice about it.

[devilock76]

The only FAD diet that I tried and failed at was the one recommended by the American Heart Association of lowfat with 3 whole grain servings per day. I could not stop eating the whole grains and was starving all the time!!

I found the advice of counting carbs, calories, fat etc.. also to be a complete failure in my life. Just was not going to happen.

Fully agree that lowcarb cuts calories without having to count.

The way I am eating now keeps me at a more healthy weight and I feel much better then I can ever remember. If this is a FAD to give up wheat and keep low carbing then it is a lifelong commitment for me. Not to mention the studies that make it a heart friendly by keeping cholesterol, blood sugar spikes in check which I have problems with on a lowfat, whole grain diet.

What is scary is what happens if the entire world catches on to this way of eating. It would mean a pretty heavy transition of agriculture moving into low glycemic vegetables and high protein sources. There is no way grass fed animals could sustain everyone.

but then again most people will take a statin, diabetes pill and prilosec and not think twice about it.

Keep in mind I am not exactly calling low carb a fad, although I think my post makes that unclear. But we have low carb and then every fad low carb copy. There was atkins, and then south beach, and then paleo, etc on and on.

Meanwhile many bodybuilders already did highly watch their carb intake before these fads started.

I am not trying to get in a lipid hypothesis debate. I tend to eat low carb, but more as a means of watching my vices. I also tend to eat less land based animal stuff. Again just preference and works for me. But in the end it REALLY is about calories in vs calories out, whether you count them or not...

Ken

[truthwolf1]

+10000

I am sick right now, but I just had my bulletproof coffee, and feel pretty damn good. Not hungry AT ALL thanks to the copious amounts of butter and oil I added to my coffee. I am probably having more than 2000 calories per day at the moment, because I'm stuffing myself every afternoon with all the meat I want. Yesterday my lunch consisted of 3 packs of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, followed by a huge lambchop. It's nice not to have to monitor calories.

Right on! Gyro salad today for me.

I have probably eaten more berries in the past two years then I have in my entire lifetime.

[truthwolf1]

Keep in mind I am not exactly calling low carb a fad, although I think my post makes that unclear. But we have low carb and then every fad low carb copy. There was atkins, and then south beach, and then paleo, etc on and on.

Meanwhile many bodybuilders already did highly watch their carb intake before these fads started.

I am not trying to get in a lipid hypothesis debate. I tend to eat low carb, but more as a means of watching my vices. I also tend to eat less land based animal stuff. Again just preference and works for me. But in the end it REALLY is about calories in vs calories out, whether you count them or not...

Ken

Okay. I hear you and agree on both points.

However, as with anything you always learn something new from the last time they came around. Some things like gluten, omega 3's, grass fed meat, fish oil etc.. We are learning as we go and possibly making some mistakes.

[Frankie Reloaded]

Eat smart fellas, hit the cardio, and lose some poundage.

Cardio is overrated for losing fat. I did very thorough cardio for several years (ordered by my doctor - either this or beta-blockers), my pulse went down by a lot (from 100+ to 70+, maybe 80+ now when I am getting sloppy/tired of endless cycling), but I did not lose weight. I am still as overweight I was before starting working out. Only my heart benefited.

[Zimobog]

So far changing the old carb diet out for fats and protein has been pretty easy. Since i love red meat, bacon and eggs, and eating what I catch and kill.

This summer, I can see I need to pick more berries than usual. Berries cost like $6 a handful in Alaska in the winter. I am eating three or four berries when I crave a sweet.