One track blog

[clevermanka]

Do you think it's super important to eat first thing in the morning? Or after a workout? Are you in the camp that thinks it's better to fast for a certain period of time? How about eating your carbs before noon? Or are you a carb backloading fan? Do you think eating several small meals a day keeps your metabolism up? Or do you think remaining in a constantly-fed state messes up your insulin resistance? Here's a nice article on how none of that is true and all of that is true. Surprise, surprise, these things are all dependent on the individual! So stop listening to the eighty zillion theories and studies out there and start paying attention to what your body wants and needs. Unless it wants doughnuts and pizza all the time, in which case you might want to moderate that shit. Or not! Your life, your choices!

Make your own cold gel packs. Awesome. Hopefully I won't need an ice pack anytime soon because I'm getting even more serious about mobility during my 300 Swings challenge. I'm rolling out for an hour at least twice a week, and I try to roll out at least my quads and glutes every day. Of course, Breaking Muscle came through with an article about yoga poses for posterior chain mobility. Yay!

I've eliminated the vast majority of packaged foods from my diet, but there are still a few things I buy that aren't from the perimeter of the grocery store. I avoid eating a lot of canned foods because BPA and estrogen. BPA exits the body pretty quickly, so I'm not too stressed about the couple times a month I eat tuna or canned olives. But I use coconut milk pretty regularly (several times a week) and I'm wondering if I would benefit from buying it in aseptic packaging. It's just so expensive. And also, from Amazon. *sigh* I dunno. Anyone have thoughts on how dangerous is BPA? Melissa Joulwan posted an NPR story on her blog about how BPA might not be that bad and I was like "what do you think about this?" and she replied "I really don’t know. I mean, at some point, I feel like I have to stop over-thinking and just eat, you know what I mean?" I know, Melissa. I know. But every little bit helps, right? Just...twice as expensive as the canned coconut milk I buy from the mom-and-pop Asian grocery four blocks from my house. You know? BLARGH. Frustrating.

My god, when did this journal become a health and fitness blog? I really need to post about something like FASHION or FANDOM or just...ANYTHING else, really. Sheesh.

Comments

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Here's a nice article on how none of that is true and all of that is true.

I am so glad that somebody out there has pointed out that there is no one solution for everybody. Every body really *is* different, and in ways that matter.

You've got me wondering whether that horrible Pepto-pink kettle bell is still at TJ Maxx...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wooooo KETTLEBELLS FUCK YES!

And yeah, hurray for acknowledgement of individual needs. I wonder how much of the insistence that one size fits all is based on our tendencies to be Judgey McJudgersons and fears that if we can't get everyone on board with what we ourselves our doing that we might be wrong.

Christ, humans are such a mess.

[1-rhiannon-1.livejournal.com]

Unless it wants doughnuts and pizza all the time, in which case you might want to moderate that shit.

Sadly, that seems to be exactly what my body wants. Maybe not all the time, but it's damn sure screaming for a slice right now. I might give it a treat tomorrow.

Hahahahahaha! I know right? My blog is becoming something, but I'm not sure what. Lots of sexy stuff these days. A lot of fandom too. Screw it, I'm going with it.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Sexy stuff and fandom reports is just fine with me, honey. Bring it.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

I have tried doing breakfast, but, honestly, I'm just not awake enough to eat or work out first thing in the morning. I'm essentially useless before 8 whether I wake up at 745 or 345. Cup or two of doctored coffee and, maybe, rarely, instant oatmeal or a mixed scramble with salsa.

I'm strongly in favor of eating after a workout, especially an arduous one, but that's primarily to take advantage of the hormone level fluctuations to drive amino acids into the freshly-damaged muscle fibers to speed repair and growth; that's not always someone's endgame.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm wide awake in the morning, but it takes me several hours to get hungry. Once I'm hungry, I'll eat. But as I mention to miischelle, below, I left the eating-when-not-hungry demon behind a while ago. Not willing to resurrect that relationship.

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this is the kind of packaging (or brand) you're looking for but the price seems not awful if they deliver to your area: https://kc.doortodoororganics.com/shop/products/so-delicious-unsweetened-coconut-milk

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Alas, So Delicious brand isn't actually coconut milk. It's got water and fillers and stabilizers, etc. It should really be called a "coconut milk drink" and doesn't work at all in cooking. It's a lot like almond milk or soy milk. Really watery. =(

Also...

[miischelle.livejournal.com]

I have always hated that "You Must Eat Breakfast!!!" diatribe (word?). I have never been a big breakfast person - at least not until I've been up and about for at least 2 hours. Coffee, tea, water? Great!
Food? No no no no no. My body simply will not tolerate it except on certain special and seemingly random days.

It really is all personal - like everything else. Sad that it's taking people so long to realize that...

Re: Also...

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

*fistbump*

I'm the exact same way. In fact, I'm just now getting around to eating my breakfast (it's 12:01pm). That's later than usual--I usually eat it around 10am--but eat breakfast within an hour of eating? Ugh. I'm just not hungry then. And I've come too far in regards to only eating when I'm hungry to force myself to do otherwise because some arbitrary "science" tells me to do so. No, thanks.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

The fact that I've GOTTA eat in the morning to have a healthful and balanced diet has been drilled into me since forEVER. But I can't eat in the morning. It's ew.

I eat some canned foods, but not much. Helps to have a CSA.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Rebel against that "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" paradigm! I'm half-convinced that shit was manufactured by breakfast cereal companies, anyway.

[fairgoldberry.livejournal.com]

I tried to explain to my perennially and unhappily dieting boss (he's been shifting in and out of different diets the last few years, and is actually down a bit and looking healthier, but still warring against his body) the whole concept of 'feeding your body what it wants' and he looked at me like I'd grown a new head.

Then I explained that there was a translation skill involved. That "GOD I WANT A FUCKING DONUT RIGHT NOW OR I WILL CUT YOU" (I probably phrased that differently) is body-speak for "I am having an emotionally difficult day. I'm craving fat and sugar because I feel worn down and need a quick 'bump' and I really want to medicate my emotional response with the dopamine hit of chocolate frosting. Instead I'll step away from my desk for a bit, get a fresh perspective, and eat a mint or a few dark chocolate chips to ease the craving." That "PULL OVER RIGHT NOW AND ORDER ALL THE THINGS AT THE DRIVE THRU" means "I'm low on protein and iron and probably salt and trace minerals, plus I'm exhausted and drained from a long day at work so I should probably have a nice lean steak and a potato with some penzey's Shallot Pepper on it for dinner, along with some b-containing veggies for better energy tomorrow." When I said that it was all about figuring out what the cravings were actually for instead of ignoring them or finding the easiest way to feed them, it was like I'd shown him fire. Suspicion, but interest. Maybe it'll take and help him shift to working with his body instead of against it.

For me, the whole concept of listening to my body began with understanding the language I'd already taught it to use in communicating with me.

Much love,
Rowan

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

PREACH.

Working with my body has been the biggest boon to my life in general--not just in regards to diet and exercise. It's also aided in my quest to accept myself as I am right now even though I'll never quit striving to be better-faster-stronger. It's important for me to remember that working with my body doesn't mean being defined by it.

Also, Penzey's Shallot Pepper is the bomb. I discovered their Muskogee Seasoning thanks to a freebie in my latest order and I'm a huge fan of that, now, too. It's like the best lemon pepper blend EVAR and then some.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

It is important for me to drink coffee and eat at intervals.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[seascribe.livejournal.com]

Wait, I did not know about estrogen in canned foods, what is up with that?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Almost all canned foods have BPA in the lining of the can. BPA is a synthetic estrogen. Reports on the dangers are varied, but I prefer to err on the side of caution. Here (http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/bisphenol-a.html) is an article that presents the two sides somewhat fairly. It talks about the dangers but doesn't hype them.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I'm not worried about the BPA in tins of coconut milk, since coconut milk isn't acidic like tomatoes, although I've also read about the fatty foods, too. Seems it's more dangerous to babies and young children.

Wonder how making our own compares? I found it interesting that Tropical Traditions doesn't sell it and put up this video on making your own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpxPoizVT9c&hd=1

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to stress about it too much, because as Melissa said, at some point I just gotta EAT.

If I had the choice between making my own coconut milk and never having coconut milk again I'd choose the latter. I already spend about 10 hours a week on food prep. I mean, unless I win the lottery and can quit my job...

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

I've never been big on breakfasts - I always seemed to be less hungry if I skipped it in the mornings before school, than when I ate. If I ate something I'd be hungry-ravenous again by 10am.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yep. Of course when I was eating breakfast before school, I was eating things like cold cereal or toast. No wonder it didn't agree with me. =/

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Good point - eating sugary or starchy stuff for breakfast (hello, Sugar Frosted Chocolate Bombs!) made me HUNGRY in an hour. Don't miss that.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

My god, when did this journal become a health and fitness blog? I really need to post about something like FASHION or FANDOM or just...ANYTHING else, really. Sheesh.


Uh, since you started posting interesting personal experiences, thoughts, and links to more info?

Health and fitness and fashion and fandom, fuck yeah!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Uh, since you started posting interesting personal experiences, thoughts, and links to more info?

Ha ha ha ha ha! GOOD POINT.