Walk the Walk

[BalancedExistence]

I've posted a fair bit on these forums over the last couple of days and thrown my opinions around while doing so. I don't think too many people would have a problem with that. This is after all a public forum. I still find it concerning, though, that both Joeschmoe and Rose of Cairo felt that any expression of contrary thinking to what one particular thread starter apparently wanted to hear was untoward in some way. This is supposed to be a forum for personal development for smart people. Personal development isn't easy and often consists of breaking down long held beliefs. Holding onto a belief in the face of evidence to the contrary, even refusing to look into or discus new information, at least until it is posted in another thread, to me is just a little silly.

However, I've been thinking about how I refuse to take advice regarding health and fitness from a doctor, nutritionist or anyone else for that matter who are themselves unhealthy or overweight. Sick people are simply the worst people to be giving advice to other sick people about getting well.

What I figured was - why should anyone here listen to what I have to say about health, fitness, diet or anything else for that matter? Take my opinion on intervals vs. traditional cardio. I haven't been for a run in years nor do I play any sport other then teach boxing and some wrestling with both resembling intervals. So I decided to show the product of my knowledge as it stands. In other words I've talked the talk and now I intend to walk the walk. To that end, check out my latest blog post (see my signature below) for some photos my girlfriend took yesterday of me playing with my complete home gym.


Stephen

[sunshinebabies]

Just went on your blog and really enjoyed the content. You have a lot to offer and provide great value to the health & fintess world. Thanks!

[Angela]

Stephen, this forum is a place where personal experiential experiments are encouraged and supported. Steve Pavlina has done all kinds of 30-day trials and other write-ups of his forays into personal development testing. Many of the people who participate here are interested in the same sort of experience -- that is, personal, anecdotal, experiential results, rather than the necessarily buying into and relying on the "science" of any particular tool -- or the experiences of others.

In that regard, many threads are started in which a member is trying on something challenging, like giving up meat or taking on an exercise program. They often ask for support and encouragement, like "Wish me luck!" and another member piping up with "You should do other than what you're doing" does not fall into the category of support or encouragement. There are plenty of other threads where the relative merits of an approach are discussed, and it would be completely appropriate for you to contribute your contrary thoughts in those threads -- they would be most welcome. But in a trial thread, which the OP declares as a space of support and encouragement, a discouraging or nonsupportive post -- where someone is telling the OP they *should* be or do other than what they're being or doing -- is considered off-topic. It's one thing to talk about your own experiences and what has worked for you, and quite another to tell another member what she should do (in other words, that you're right and she's wrong.)

The members you are concerned about were simply protecting that space of supportive, encouraging experimentation for the OP, so that (s)he can find out what works for herm -- just as you have experimented, apparently quite successfully, by the looks of you! Your input and example are certainly welcome and helpful, as the members you mentioned would be among the first to agree -- as long as you respect the topic declared by the thread's OP. There are more ways than just yours to skin a cat! (sorry, animal lovers )

And if you ever feel like a member is breaking a forum rule and inhibiting free expression, please report that post -- the moderators will pay serious attention to your concerns.

Thanks, and I look forward to reading your posts on fitness.

[BalancedExistence]

sunshinebabies - Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed my blog and I hope you'll find whatever it is you may need on your life journey of wellbeing, if in fact you do need anything

Angela - I understand. I'm very new here so it took me a little bit to get the lay of the land. Now that I have I'll ensure to create a new thread outside of other people's threads to discuss any facts surrounding issues I would like to raise.

I certainly applaud experimentation. It is what I advocate for myself coupled with broad research. I’ve spent the last 10 plus years doing this. I’ve eaten all raw food. Been virtually vegetarian. I’ve faster a number of times using a number of different methods for periods in excess of 14 days. I’ve been on highly restrictive diets due to food allergies, which were the cause of severe migraines. It was through this process that I realized that there is one single best diet for everyone. It just happens to be different for everyone.

What I mean is the diet that is best for each of us to eat so that we feel well, have energy, and are healthy is what our ancient ancestors ate. Our physiology is the same as it was 100,000 years ago. I’m of Irish decent and potatoes have only been in Ireland for 300 years. They were bought back from South America. That is a very small drop in a very large bucket.

This means my digestive system is not adapted to eating potatoes. Nor is it adapted to eating wheat, which does not grow well in Ireland where the climate is so different to the arid climate of the Middle East where cereals originated. My digestive system is made to break down and assimilate beef, which was the main food source in winter when there were very little in terms of vegetables, fruits and grains. In fact the only fruit available in the past in Ireland was apples and wild berries and it comes as no surprise that the highest incidence of gluten intolerance in the world is in Ireland.

So, I put forth that unless your ancient ancestors originated somewhere close to the equator you’re body quite simply is not made to be anywhere close to vegetarian. Think about it - if your ancestors originated from somewhere where hell freezes over each winter, as it does in many places around the world, and you were a vegetarian you would die before the vegetables and fruits returned. Thus over a million or so years of progressive adaptation your digestive system and the rest of your physiology is made to handle a particular diet. The one that was available, pre globe spanning shipping, cold storage, commercial farming, or any farming for that matter. Farming has only existed in the world for around 6,000 years.

The best example, and probably the most extreme, is the Eskimos. I think Eskimo means red man who eats meat. Their traditional diet is meat and fat and little else. And yet they have survived in one of the harshest places on earth. Their physiology has adapted. So all I’m suggesting is eat what your physiology has adapted to and you will be well. It’s both logical and simple. If that means eating meat then eat (organic) meat. If that means eating mainly (organic) fruit and vegetables then eat that. But do what is right for your body. This may not necessarily be what is right for "you" in the ego sense. It may be contrary to what you have an emotional investment in.


Stephen

[BalancedExistence]

It is interesting that there has been no response, particularly from the vegetarians amoung us, to my take on what constitutes a healthy diet.

No matter. I just posted a new article on my blog (see the link in my signature) regarding the misperceptions and misinformation surrounding meat. Check it out and feel free to leave a comment, whatever your opinion.


Stephen

[sbdiane]

It's gonna be really hard for me to find reindeer at the market. I understand what you are saying, though. But how far back is far enough to find the optimum dient? 300 years not far enough? 1000? How about 1 million? Is an eskimo diet appropriate if you don't live in the arctic? Would a tropical diet be more appropriate if you live in the tropics, or should an eskimo living in Florida eat blubber and whale?

[Calculusaurus]

Originally Posted by sbdiane

It's gonna be really hard for me to find reindeer at the market. I understand what you are saying, though. But how far back is far enough to find the optimum dient? 300 years not far enough? 1000? How about 1 million? Is an eskimo diet appropriate if you don't live in the arctic? Would a tropical diet be more appropriate if you live in the tropics, or should an eskimo living in Florida eat blubber and whale?

Our genetics are identical to our ancestors of 20,000 or 40,000 years ago (or so I've read). The idea that we should eat the diet of our ancestors stems from the fact that evolution chose certain genes to fit a certain diet. From that argument then 20,000 years back would be the "ideal" paleoithic diet.

This means (surprise surprise!) no wheat or any other grains (yes, including such "healthy" staples like brown rice, perhaps the most nutritionally overrated food), no dairy, legumes, and certainly no refined sugars!

The localization issue is another story. I myself haven't looked into the dietary variance across different regions.

[BalancedExistence]

Yes, perhaps I should be a little clearer. When I say eat what your ancient ancestors ate I don’t intend for say someone who’s ancestors who ate whale meat and blubber to try to find and eat that exact same food. Instead what I’m suggesting is that we eat the same proportions of protein, fat and carbohydrates in our diets as our ancient ancestors did. You can also find the closest analogue that is available to the traditional foods.

In terms of how far back to look – for me I went as far back as I needed to before I struck what was the standard diet based upon food availability in tune with the changing seasons that had remained relatively unchanged for a long time. This is going to be different for different peoples. Even if you only go back to early farming in the land of your heritage that is a good start as they would have begun cultivation with the foods that were already at hand.

Obviously to do the above takes time and effort in terms of research and thinking for yourself. It’s a bit more involved then buying some diet book (of which there are thousands, many conflicting) and read about a diet that worked for the author or a specific set of test subjects. If all those diet books worked for everyone obesity would be a thing of the past. Instead the opposite is obviously happening.

As far as an Eskimo living in Florida – that person may have flown in a modern airplane or caught buses and trains to get where they are. Their body is not going to change because they moved location in the span of a day or two. Adaptation takes many generations. So they should eat what their body is made to eat. If they want to be healthy that is.


Stephen

[BalancedExistence]

For those interested I've since posted articles on my blog that go a little deeper into what I'm talking about in this thread in terms of proper diet. I've also recently posted about the decomposition of meat in the intestines, why drinking fruit juice can increase your chances of diabetes and a long article regarding the role of meditation in Buddhism - method, effects and purpose.

For those who haven't checked out this thread before you might like to look at the article on my blog - talk the talk, walk the walk - which has photos of myself playing with my complete home gym. I did this because it is important for me to show others the product of what I'm saying about diet and exercise looks like. Otherwise why would you bother listening to me?


Stephen