So it's May 1, and it seemed to be a fine day to challenge myself to lose some weight and continue my efforts to get fitter. But which diet plan is best for a middle aged mother of three with a few chronic health issues?
All my life I've been told that grains are good and fat is bad, yet for more than 30 years American's have been following the low-fat paradigm only to watch our collective waistlines continue to increase. After years of reading, research, and a few diets, I'm convinced that fat storage is related to insulin levels and insulin levels are related to carbohydrate intake.
The Primal Diet has caught my attention as an "evolutionary" diet which promotes weight loss through healthy eating from a biological perspective. It focuses on quality protein, fruits and veggies but excludes grains and starchy carbs. I've been observing a gluten-free diet for about 5 years now, but every time I've tried to go grain-free, I have the most trouble giving up potatoes and sweets, specifically chocolate. I suspect that this time will be no different.
In terms of exercise, my new favorite is the non-cardio theory. Going along with the biological theory that are bodies weren't actually designed for cardio, it stresses short intense exercise. For example, I warm up on the elliptical for a few minutes then push myself as hard as I can for 30 seconds to get my heart rate up to the max (kind of like a sprint); then I go slowly for 90 seconds to get my rate back down near normal. Then I repeat the process 5-8 times with a cool down at the end. Like lifting weights, the theory is that this type of exercise regime will strengthen the heart and body more efficiently than cardio. I've been doing it for a few weeks now and really like it!
I don't really expect folks to follow my diet challenge blogging, I'm just trying to find a way to keep myself motivated as well as blog more often. If you want more info about the Primal lifestyle, I really like the resources at http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/.
My update for Day One - not 100% compliance but not bad either...I had water with lemon to drink all day long, too!
Brunch: eggs and corned beef hash; while there were potatoes in the hash, it was a high fat item which lowers the glycemic index.
Early Dinner: ate at the HuHot Mongolian Grill; mostly meat and veggies with a few rice noodles; fresh rice noodles have a lower glycemic index than cooked rice.
Snacks: a handful of peanut M&M's (see, chocolate craving!); a small bowl of bean and meat tomato soup.
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