Annoying People To Good Health
I am compelled to keep writing about the writing and thinking of Gary Taubes and Dr. Michael Eades and others -- solid, evidence-based science on diet versus the "science" put out by the government. Eventually, some people reading here think, "What the hell...I'll try this already..." and then I get letters like this one Richard Nikoley published as a blog item in Free The Animal (this woman wrote to me a couple months ago, and I asked her permission to forward her e-mail to Taubes and Eades, which I did).
Here's the blog item -- inspiring -- from Nikoley's "Free The Animal":
PhD Med School Biology Researcher Goes Paleo: Racks up 70 Pound Weight Loss; Gets HotDear Mr. Nikoley,
I know you are a busy guy, so I will keep this e-mail to the point and try not to waste your time. I am another reader of your blog that appreciates your unorthodox approach to sharing insight about the paleo lifestyle. About six months ago I was first introduced to the low carb/paleo movement while reading Amy Alkon's blog. For most of my life I was never overweight, although I always had to closely watch how much I ate. However, after turning thirty and going through two pregnancies (I have a 9 month old and a 4 year old) I was seriously overweight and struggling with losing the excess pounds. It was getting to a point that I thought I might just be fat for the rest of my life --- very depressing. However after reading Amy's posts on how eating meat and fat can actually help you lose weight, I immersed myself in the work of Gary Taubes and Dr. Eades. In addition, I started doing my own literature searches about the effects of modern diet on metabolism. Much to my surprise (since this is not my field of research) these studies were more scientifically sound and made much more rational sense than any of the nutritional studies that we are normally told about through the media.
After this research, it was not a hard decision to cut out all sugar, grains, and processed food from my diet. The results were spectacular. In a period of a little over six months, with very little effort (for example, I never went to the gym during this time -- just hiked and played around with my kids), I was able to lose roughly 70 pounds and am now actually the weight that I was when playing competitive volleyball in college 15 years ago. Of course, this was all without ever going hungry and being able to eat delicious meals filled with lots of meat and buttered vegetables. In addition, this lifestyle is a great example for my kids since we all eat the same meals (versus mom eating a Lean Cuisine) and I now take them for a hike or we go to the park instead of me going to the gym to work out on the elliptical machine for hours at a time. I feel like I am setting them up to have a great relationship with food and their bodies for the rest of their lives.
Pictures of before and after and more at the above link.
By the way, Gregg just laughed at me when we were coming home from the Tucson Festival of Books and he caught a whisp of what I was saying to two TSA screeners at the end of the belt at the Tucson Airport: "carbohydrates..." and "Proteinpower.com..."
Same thing happened in a bathroom recently when we were having dinner with Barb Oakley and Elmore at a Birmingham, Michigan restaurant. Results like this (in Richard's blog item) won't help shut me up!
You realize, I would hope, that diet is of the same ilk as religion. Folks who are eager to share theirs with you are never eager for you to share yours with them.
That could easily qualify you as one of the Rude People you write about. In spite of the fact that your dietary advice is accurate.
Howard at March 21, 2011 7:28 AM
Somehow I have the feeling that Amy shared the comments about carbohydrates with the TSA screeners when asked, and why should she not share her opinions, especially when backed with facts, here on her blog? Anyone wishing to avoid those comments and opinions can easily enough avoid the blog, no?
I have to laugh about the "What the hell, I'll try this already," because that is exactly what happened to me, some 12 years ago. Despite the fact I assumed it was just another fad diet, I was desperate enough to try anything. And anything in this case, was just the right thing.
And oh, about that religion thing. Yes, while people cling to their favorite diet myths much as they do religion, the distinction between low carb dieting and religion is that low carb eating actually has science behind it. Religion? Not so much.
gharkness at March 21, 2011 7:40 AM
Amy, PLEASE keep annoying/inspiring people on this topic.
And I agree that the TSA screeners probably asked how you managed to look so good. God knows many of them look awful--not just overweight, but pasty and bloated.
I'm curious as to whether or not you ever incorporate any intermittent fasting?
Casey at March 21, 2011 8:06 AM
I wasn't asked, but I have a good sense of people, and I have yet to tell anybody about this stuff and have them not gush with gratitude. Basically, when I hear people saying stuff about how they're going to go to the gym for six hours to work off that donut, I say, "Actually, you don't have to do that..." And then they pretty much beg me to tell them why not.
The ladies in the bathroom in Michigan asked me to write down the name of Eades' site and Taubes' book for them.
People are thrilled to have this information. I'm not selling anything, and I'm rail thin from eating this way.
It's like telling somebody the winning lotto numbers. No, maybe they haven't asked for them, but I think there's a good chance they'd be happy to have them if you mention that you'd be more than happy to give them out.
Amy Alkon at March 21, 2011 8:09 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/21/annoying_people.html#comment-1946814">comment from CaseyThanks, Casey!
I'm curious as to whether or not you ever incorporate any intermittent fasting?
No way! This is the 21st Century, and I'm lucky enough to live in America and have a refrigerator filled with food (except when I don't go to the grocery store or Costco). Why go hungry? I just eat enough fat that I'm not hungry and don't eat carbs, which are what lead to all that "emotional" eating people talk about. You're not going to eat six cheeseburgers because you're depressed.
Amy Alkon at March 21, 2011 8:20 AM
Keep these posts coming - it's like a support group!!
Today's eating:
Bfast: Two eggs fried in butter w/ a little cheddar
Snack: 6 or 7 salami "nuggets" (little slices but not paper thin) and a little more cheddar (that's my cheese limit for the day per Atkins)
Lunch: Can of tuna w/ two tbl mayo
Snack: green beans, microwaved w/ butter and red pepper flakes
Dinner: Romaine lettuce, chicken breasts (they're skinless so I make sure to load them up with olive oil...which is what I'll use until it's gone) and Newman's Own Caesar dressing
Down 1.5 lbs. since last week, which isn't too great except at least the numbers are going down (cut out the low-carb Pepperidge farm bread and totally cut the serving/day of berries). It's fighting me, though. I feel like I am rebuilding my metabolism or something and my husband thinks I'm certifiable as I throw a pat of butter in my fry pan for eggs and he reaches for the PAM for his, not smugly but definitely with a raised eyebrow in my direction.
Gretchen at March 21, 2011 8:37 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/21/annoying_people.html#comment-1946975">comment from GretchenSmart, Gretchen. Also, consider coconut oil. You can read up on it at Weston A. Price. PAM is probably made of the unhealthiest oils! And it's really important, as lovelysoul pointed out, to eat enough fat. I don't count calories at all because I don't eat carbs. It's possible dairy may not work well for some people, but I am not one of those people (although I suggested to Gregg that he cut back a little because he can look at a cracker and put on two pounds, and cheese may not be helping him).
Amy Alkon at March 21, 2011 9:25 AM
I may have already left this comment on your site so please forgive if I'm repeating myself.
I used my business card composer software to make "business cards" that have the name of the book, "By Gary Taubes" and an image of the book. When people ask about my weight loss (about 60 lbs since late Nov. with December not counting for much as I really got going in the new year), I hand them a card and say, "Read this book. It explains everything."
If they don't bother to follow up on that, I figure they're not serious and don't need to waste my time.
I am so glad Taubes decided to write the new book. I firmly believe his reporting is saving my life.
BlogDog at March 21, 2011 11:38 AM
I am kind of wondering, though: there has to be a difference between people who (low-fat, low-calorie) dieted themselves up to obesity (me), and those, like you, Amy, who have likely never been overweight.
I suspect that the experience is way different for the two sorts of folks, and I have certainly seen that in my observations of many, many low carbers. Even though low carb is the appropriate diet for mankind, I think that once the metabolism has been compromised, it is more difficult for those who have ever been obese to return to a "normal" state.
I just started on Why We Get Fat so I will be curious to see his take on this. In the meantime, keep sharing. You never know who you are going to influence and/or help, and you have a wider audience than many.
gharkness at March 21, 2011 11:53 AM
I used to be a vegetarian. More because I didn't like the taste of meat than anything else. Well, after a kid in my 30's I started gaining (now in the past I could not gain weight to save my life!! always rail thin no matter what I ate). I started about 6 months ago eating meat and leaving most carbs behind. I cook with real butter. I am in so much better shape now than 6 months ago! I actually have not lost any weight, adding muscle weight (I do love to work out) but the fat on my body is almost completely gone!! Love it love it. I don't feel hungry and most of the time have to remember to eat!
I never could eat in the morning when I first wake so I am now doing protein shake and spoon of peanut butter in the morn. Never hungry until after noon!!
Melody at March 21, 2011 12:20 PM
Oh and just FYI...I was working out before the change of diet. But, could not lose the fat!!!!
Melody at March 21, 2011 12:21 PM
Ditto me too it has only been about 3 months for and I am down in belt sizes. About 6 months ago I was worried I was going to have to buy a new longer belt. Now I have to buy a shorter belt. How much I lost I do not know but wow! I am not really following any plan or diet little mistakes here and there (hidden sugars, eating fruit, not cheating) and getting into the groove. Just started with cutting out sugar, breads, starchy vegetables, and other bad carbs. Just cooked at home and went from their. Later looked at the last few pages of Gary Taubes new book and started following that. Sometimes I wonder that I eating a bit too rich (steaks often) but it doing wonders.
Learning more everyday. Like yesterday learned a Korean word that practically no Korean English Dictionary know for Sugar.
Also got pleasantly surprised yesterday. Local grocery store had a special on steaks/beef. Down from about 6 bucks (US) for a hundred grams to 2 bucks. Stocked up a bit! Bit rare in this country as meat prices can be pretty high at times. Might check again tonight!
John Paulson at March 21, 2011 8:09 PM
Here's what I don't get. I eat loads of carbs. I love pasta, I bake bread twice a week or more (though not the horrible, white, wheat-only bread you find in burger buns), I'm not that big on fatty foods, even though I don't mind them. And I'm lean.
At 38 my weight is fine - I don't have a hard time keeping the weight of and I only excercise because I like it. I enjoy riding my bike to work (a staggering 1½ miles), I love playing squash once a month on average and I do a bit of excercise at home because I like the feeling of staying strong.
I'm not saying the science is wrong. I'm big on science and low carb is clearly a good way for many to loose weight. But why don't I get fat? I have pasta twice a week, at least, grains for breakfast, bread for lunch; I should be flappy, at least. I can get fat and did about 13 years ago but decided I didn't want to, lost the weight and never strayed more than a few pounds from my favorite weight. Except for during my divorse, when I dropped nearly 20 pounds.
Jesper at March 22, 2011 3:03 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/21/annoying_people.html#comment-1950293">comment from JesperNot all people are the same, Jesper. Some people can eat carbs and not gain weight; some can not gain as much weight.
Amy Alkon at March 22, 2011 5:45 AM
Thanks for that clarifier Amy. I agree that some people don't need to avoid carbs, but it's obviously the more healthy option.
Myself, I don't actively avoid carbs, and I love my pasta, but I always get plenty of meat in my diet (about 3 times the "recommended" amount)and lots of fat. I use real butter, and cook with heavy whipping cream, as opposed to the nonfat milk most modern recipes call for.
I've never had a problem with my weight either. If I ever did have a problem, though, I know I'd go with the low-carb diet as opposed to another diet. I've told my vegetarian friend for years that I'd love to stop eating meat, if it wasn't so delicious.
Jazzhands at March 22, 2011 11:15 AM
Well done to Jennifer Aniston making a comeback with her new movie Horrible Bosses - can't keep a great actress down!
The Tested Child at July 21, 2011 4:49 PM
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