Waiting for the weather to clear up a bit before I head out on my morning walk. I’m using my time reviewing videos from Low Carb Down Under’s conference in Colorado from earlier this year. Learning the latest science on the LCHF/ketogenic diet is a great way to tweak or try different things in the quest to be and stay healthy.
A round-up of health news I discovered this week. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhoto.net and Stuart Miles.
I read a lot on health, fitness and diet. Here are some articles you might want to take a look at if, like me, are focused healthy living.
First up, two pieces this week from the man himself, Gary Taubes, author of Why We Get Fat?
First up: Are You A Carbaholic?There is science behind why giving up carbs is difficult for people.
The second is an article about sugar and nutrition research that he wrote for the New York Times in January (how did I miss this?). I’m reading his The Case Against Sugar now and hope to have a review up soon. Read More
Dietary saturated fats (butter, coconut oil, meat, eggs, cheese, bacon, etc.) are healthy for you provided you are not stuffing your face with processed carbs (breads, grains, pasta) or sugar (including the food industry’s 50+ names for sugar). A diet high in fat AND carbs leads to serious metabolic damage. Read More
Lately I find myself in the kitchen baking. I use to bake a lot in my old life. It helped me cope with stress. I don’t feel stressed out but I’m baking nonetheless. But baking does require using a sweetener at times.
Oh sure I use my go to low carb sweeteners like Stevia or Swerve. I’m even using less of them, as the normal serving size seems too sweet for me these days. Now I’m thinking about kicking them to the curb completely.
Blogging has been far too light lately. That’s due to my schedule. I’ve been on the road for the last couple of weeks visiting family. So to make amends, here is a recipe for crepes and sauteed strawberries. It is tasty, delicious and healthy. What more could you want?
The big action shot of me crossing the finishing line of my first 5K where I ran the entire 3.1 miles. Can’t wait to do the same for my first 10K…and yes, I am still awesome!
Over the last year I’ve tried training for a 10k with no luck. It’s just hard for me to train without an actual deadline. Well now I have one – September 10. That’s when I run 6.2 miles along the Potomac River to Mount Vernon for the George Washington Patriot Run.
While I don’t want to injure myself, I am going to push myself a little with my training schedule. My thinking is my body can handle it since I’m not asking it to do something it hasn’t done before (just more distance and time).
Which means rain or shine, I have to run 3 times a week. It also means adding some non-impact cardio twice a week. My gym is testing a 30-minute speed cycling class this quarter. I might as well give it a go.
My current strength training, walking and yoga sessions provide a nice cross training.
But first thing up? Replacing gear. I’m heading out this morning to replace my running shoes.
I think I’ll also re-watch From Fat to Finish Line this weekend. My training kicks off on Sunday and I’d like to go into it as excited as possible.
Changing up my supplements has helped to boost my energy level and greatly reduce my menopause symptoms.
Besides mixing up my workout routine, over the last month I started changing up my supplements. Between mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia and fatigue something had to give. For now I gave up the generic multivitamin. I just wasn’t sure what a one-size-fits-all approach was doing for me.
That doesn’t mean the multivitamin is gone forever. I’m just waiting until I go in for some hormone testing next month. At that point, the doctor I’m seeing for menopause will make some suggestions on my supplements and exercise routine based on actual data. What a concept!Read More
OK, this video is way longer than my other ones. But the pork is absolutely delicious. While I make 2 slight modifications (1 due to lack of ingredients, the other to add more healthy fat), it isn’t my recipe. I recreated a Gordon Ramsay dish and I have to say the man knows his stuff!
One of the joys of cooking I’ve discovered is using new ingredients. This dish includes two: star anise (which looks like little ninja throwing star!) and cardamom pods. Awesome aromatics that I plan to use again!
My dad use to make stuffed peppers when I was a kid. Green peppers, diced onions, cheese, ground beef, hot sauce and “milk.” Actually I think the milk was really cream of mushroom soup, but it’s not like that’s something you can tell 5 food-fussy kids. A man’s gotta do what he’s gotta do, right?
Anyway here’s a version from The Complete Guide To Fasting by Dr. Jason Fung (yes, a fasting book with recipes!). This recipe replaces ground beef with chicken and tosses in some spices and grape tomatoes.
Easy to make and, like other recipes from the book I’ve tried, very yummy.
An amazing keto cookbook that I’m relying on as I start my 30-Day Keto Challenge, eating up to 80% healthy fats a day.
For the last week I’ve played with my diet to see what works in minimizing my menopause symptoms and it’s looking like a strict ketogenic diet is the way to go. When I say strict, I’m talking about reducing both my carbs and protein intake while increasing healthy dietary fat.
However, there are a few other changes I’m making to my diet and lifestyle that will go into my March 30-Day Keto Challenge. I’ve been easing into those changes in February so it isn’t such a shock to my system, but they are significant.
