Do Your Research!

I’m sick of writing. Seriously. Before I go any further, let me clarify that this blog doesn’t count as “writing”. No, this is me talking to you via the mystifying power of the interweb. I would do a video blog, but I’m pretty sure everyone would just think the fat kid from the sandlot was trying to make a comeback. Plus, I’m not very funny in person. Instead I’ve decided to put this one sided conversation in paragraph form so it’s easier for you to sit through. But I’m getting off topic.

If you didn’t know, I’m on the downhill side of graduate school. I honestly think it’s a little easier than undergrad for a couple reasons. For instance, you are limited to taking only two classes per term, and, if you do it right, you will finish in two years. Each class only meets once per week, and that’s cool so long as you can stay awake for the eternity of four hours. What isn’t cool is the unbelievable amount of literature reviews, reflections, journals, and responses that are required of every class. If anyone even cares to wonder why I don’t post very often on here it’s because at this point I’ve got carpal tunnel and bleeding fingers, not to mention CHEST TO BARS AND DEADLIFTS CROSSFIT WTF!!! I’m writing at least ten pages a week of the absolute worst kind of literature: peer reviewed, scholarly, 3^rd person, APA formatted… you get the picture. If you don’t, imagine watching C-SPAN in black-and-white on mute and multiply that by soggy bread. It’s the print version of whatever horribly boring product you get from those two factors.

What does any of this have to do with fitness or diet? It’s really simple actually. Over the course of writing these papers I spend countless hours in front of a computer finding, reading, and analyzing scientific studies, journals and research. This is tedious, but there is a lot of very good information out there to find. The same thing is true for figuring whether or not you want to try a diet or exercise program; what are the risks and rewards, what can you expect, does it work for people like you…. There are all very real and very answerable questions. The thing is, you have to be willing to do a little digging. Either that, or trust some trainer, coaches’, or friend’s word who I promise you doesn’t have a full understanding of the scientific concepts they’re preaching (except for me… I don’t know everything, I know ALL OF THE THINGS). I’m sure they know the basics and that their idea “works”, but have you ever asked them why or how it works? Just because they look the part doesn’t make them an expert on the subject. Yes, I know I might be throwing some people under the bus, but I really don’t care. If people are giving nutritional and exercise advice they should absolutely be held accountable for understanding what they are talking about. If they don’t, they should be willing to direct you to resources to get the information they acquired. Then you can make an educated observation on whether or not that information makes sense, or whether you think its garbage wrapped in bologna. You also have to be willing to admit that some things actually need an advanced degree to understand it completely. If the resources you are directed to can’t explain it in plain language it’s either highfalutin or completely BS. And for goodness sake, do not trust anything that markets itself as a “miracle”.

With all of that have been said, here is my offer. I’m going to give you the shortcuts to some of the research I have followed: CrossFit, paleo, intermittent fasting. This isn’t a comprehensive list, nor is it a full scope of everything I have learned. It’s a start. Take this and run. Get out and make some life-changing decisions. AND BE SMART ABOUT IT.

CrossFit

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html

http://www.25idl.army.mil/PT/U.S.%20Army%20CrossFit%20Study.pdf

Paleo

http://robbwolf.com/what-is-the-paleo-diet/

http://thepaleodiet.com/faq

http://thepaleodiet.com/published-research

Intermittent Fasting

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/intermittent-fasting

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/fasting/#axzz1sPgJ4mqs

http://www.leangains.com/search/label/Research

I Am Still Alive!

First off, let me apologize for not posting in over a week.  I would have updated everyone sooner but, you know, life.  That, and my computer got to close to my lunch during a "feast" session last week and I inadvertently ate it.  I'm back now, though, with wonderful tales of joy and woe (mostly woe) from my adventures with intermittent fasting.  It's been just over a week now, and I'm still keeping up.  I've broken down what that first week was like in a list, because everybody loves lists. 

5) THE HUNGER
When I started this deal, I knew I was going to be hungry.  Two or three hours was just about my limit when it came to meal time, so going 16 per day seemed unfathomable.  This is, by far, the oddest thing that I have discovered: I do not get hungry until 11:00am.  The first day I thought it was a fluke.  The second day I chalked it up to excitement.  At about day four I started to realize that this was going to be a lot easier than I though... at least up till 11.  As per my fasting cycle I only get to start eating at 1pm.  That means that for two hours, every single day, I experience the most primal hunger pangs I have ever felt.  I get on edge, irritable, and I'm generally unpleasant to be around.  I went to a BBQ this weekend over my girlfriend's friend's house, and when the grill broke (I am most definitely not making that up) they became genuinely concerned that I would eat one of the other guests. To give you an idea of what it takes to quell this storm of tummy grumbling, here is a list of what I had for my first meal yesterday: 3 hamburger patties, 5 bratwurst, 4 eggs, 1/2 lb. of broccoli, and 6 oz. of guacamole.  This is not a game. Luckily for me, though, my first workout of the day usually happens at noon, so I only have an hour to get through before my mind goes somewhere else.  Unluckily for me I still have to get through the workout....
4) WORKOUTS
My first two workout on an empty stomach sucked. I was terrible. Not only that, but I was in a bad mood before I even started working out. That's a recipe for disaster.  I needed to get my mind right... embrace the suck, if you will. A funny thing started happening on my second workout though (after I had eaten). I would go in to the gym and be in the best mood ever. I was like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde if, instead of science, Jeckyll lifted heavy ass weights and Hyde was less of a beast and more of a whiny brat.  I've pr'd on three different bench marks this week: one lift and two girls. One of those even happened during my first WOD! I don't think that's all the diet, but I do think it's worth pointing out that it's possible to operate at optimum capacity on an empty stomach. I'm not jumping on the bandwagon yet, I'm just saying that it can be doable.
3) RECOVERY
Even with some questionable workouts, it still seams like I'm getting the most out of training. I have been crazy sore all week long, but not in a bad way. It's that special kind of sore where you're sensitive to the touch, but can still get into your workout when properly warmed up. Again, I don't know what this means... but I can't say it's good or bad yet.
2) SLEEP
My sleep has been the same, but on the third night I had a dream that I was at a Sloppy Joe and chili cheese burger buffet. Damn it, now I'm hungry again.
1) RESULTS
I have been dieting long enough to know that you don't see results overnight. I mean, I thoroughly understand the time-frame that I should expect results in and I know it's going to be at the very least a full month. Things take time, you know? But......... that doesn't stop me from checking the mirror to see if it's working yet. That has never stopped, ever. I've lost close to 100 lbs. in my adult life, and I still look at myself and go "man, I wish this thing would work already!" You think I'm joking? Ask anyone who's lost weight and kept it off. It's insane. I'm really sorry if you're one of the people who have heard me bemoan the fact that I'm "not lean enough". I know that seems preposterous, but I do you think Michael Jordan or Jerry Rice were ever like "yep, got that down. Time for a break!"? Absolutely not. But I digress. My whole point is that I don't expect to see a big change in a weeks time, and neither should you if you so choose to take up a diet or learn a new hobby. Even a month seems short in the bigger picture. So if you know somebody going through a lifestyle change, accept the fact that you might not know a lot of the why's and how's and be supportive. And at the very least, please don't be destructive. They have enough to deal with without their friends trying to sabotage their goals. Good luck to everyone walking a similar path right now, and just remember to give it some time.