Does ANYONE know what to eat? I mean, really…. ANYONE? Not only in a performance situation, but from a body maintenance standpoint. I’m sure the vegan crowd has their opinion, nutritionists obviously have their own, weightlifters, athletes, doctors, Indian chiefs and everyone in between has their own opinion.
Does anyone ever follow their own plans? Are there special exceptions and or deviations from even their plans? Are there cheat days? Why would that be OK? Is eating about feeling good or fueling your body?
Is there a secret magic formula of the amount of carbs, protein and fat to eat on a daily basis? What if one day you are off slightly or by a lot? Does my 80 year old neighbor have the same or very similar requirements?
Why are some people allergic to certain foods, but other people have no problem with them? Can anyone digest cow’s milk, or do some of us just tolerate it and pass it better than others? Why are some people allergic to gluten, corn and or peanuts? Is the answer up bringing, environmental, genetic or something else?
These are just a few questions that bring up many other questions. I’m not going to attempt to answer any of them for the world. I believe they can only be answered in your own life. How I choose to eat has no bearing on anything anyone else does. How someone else eats has no direct effect on me at all. I can only answer these questions for myself by experimenting, not by asking someone who doesn’t reside in my body. Experiments are the only way to know yourself. Have the guts to experiment with your life.
Experiment 1: No coffee, tea or soft drinks
I haven’t had any of these six for months and have had no known positive (or negative) ramifications. I don’t crave any of them, nor do I even think positively of them. Having any one of them in front of me isn’t even a temptation anymore. I linked up a negative association with them in my mind. Same thing as if someone offered me a cigarette, I don’t even want it near my body.
Experiment 2: No cow’s milk
This one is really tough to avoid unless I make my own food. I opt for almond milk instead. It’s indigestible for humans over the age of three. We don’t have the enzymes to break it down and use it in our body after that. Cow’s milk, so I believe, actually strips the calcium from your bones making you more susceptible to bone problems later in life. I don’t want bone problems, so I’m staying away from milk.
Experiment 3: Limit gluten
Notice I didn’t say No Gluten. It is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to AVOID. I don’t have celiac disease (a person allergic to gluten), but feel that the gluten in food is doing my body harm. I have no evidence of this, so the effects of my over consumption of gluten will only become apparent after I limit it severely, then add it back in abundantly. The negative connection I have about gluten is on par with the connection I have about soda, but yet I tolerate it because I unfortunately don’t have the time or the knowledge to make my food everyday….yet.
Experiment 4: Find alternatives to the alternatives
I don’t want sugar so I definitely don’t want FAKE sugar. I don’t want butter so I definitely don’t want FAKE butter. I don’t mind eggs, but I definitely don’t want FAKE eggs. For sugar, if I want any at all, I use turbinado sugar (natural brown sugar) , agave nectar or local honey. Butter is from cows typically, so if I don’t want milk, I definitely don’t want butter. The butter substitutes are coconut oil or some kind of nut butter. I don’t go near food that is labeled “I can’t believe it’s not…” read the ingredient list and investigate each item and rename it ”I can’t believe it’s edible”. As far as eggs go, I do eat them scrambled in a breakfast sandwich, but in cooking or baking I want an alternative. Nourish restaurant in Scottsdale AZ has an unbelievable menu for the type of eating I aspire to have on a daily basis (more on that later), but for an egg substitute, they use chia seeds. That’s the same chia as in the ch ch ch chia pet. It works wonders and you would never know the recipe is missing eggs. These few alternatives to the alternatives make me feel like I’m eating properly when I have to add them to my recipes.
Experiment 5: It’s not only a matter of what you eat, but also when you eat what you eat.
Nutrient timing takes into account what you eat, when you eat it and why you want to eat it then. There is a great book: called Nutrient Timing. Check it out.
Experiment 6: Create your OWN energy mix
Mine is proprietary but I’ll let you know if you ask nicely.
Experiment 7: Fast
Some days I eat very few calories. Does that slow my metabolism? There’s only one way to find out. I’ve noticed on the days I eat next to nothing, I have an abundant amount of energy. When I over eat, I get really sluggish. Hmmm. Which one slows metabolism? I’m going to keep experimenting. That’s all I need to do.
Experiment 8: Eat constantly
From the time I wake up in the morning till 8PM, I try to eat something every half hour to every hour. I don’t count calories or grams of carbs, fat or protein. I eat something small and natural like fruit, nuts or veggies. I have good energy throughout the day on these days.
Experiment 9: Drink water with a negative ORP and high pH
The lower the ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) the more antioxidant it becomes. Since I drink a lot of water, I might as well drink an antioxidant water. Working out creates lactic acid and free radicals, the antioxidant water eliminates them from my body. A higher pH helps my system further by allowing it to neutralize any acidity in my cells and blood. Our bodies try to maintain a pH level just as it tries to maintain a temperature level. Check out this article : http://www.relfe.com/health_natural/pH_human_body_balance_health_level_1.html I’m here to help my body, not harm it.
Experiment 10: No alcohol
This is easier now that I just got back from Las Vegas.
