So I've started reading a diet book that was recommended to me: "The Dark Side of Fat Loss: Lessons from the Underground."
I haven't finished the book as yet, but it has an interesting theory behind it. At it's most basic level it challenges the whole calories in vs calories out weight loss plan. A little difficult for me, since that's the whole strategy I'm basing this challenge on. The basic concept seems to be that the key to fat loss is the foods you're eating rather than the calories you're bringing in. The book gets a little holistic as well, focusing on organic foods, grass fed meats, and largely avoiding grains and oils altogether. The author calls it his "Just Eat Real Food" strategy. Primarily this means eating the types of food that would have been available before the rise of agriculture.
I'm not sure how much I believe it. The book makes its case by focusing on the science of human body chemistry. I don't know enough about that subject to make an objective opinion of the science they're using. I can say that I lost 50 pounds on a diet based on calorie counting and exercise in the past, so calorie counting can work. Whether it would work as well as this strategy I don't know.
I think I'm going to give it a try when my current groceries run short. I'm still going to count the calories and earn points using my system, but I may see how this new strategy interacts. I'll let you know how I did.
No real breakfast today. For lunch I had a grilled cheese (500 calories), for dinner it was Chicken Tenders with Fries at Ikea (1000 calories).
Today's Results:
Daily Food Total: 1500 calories
Exercise: 0
Points Earned: 1500
Total Points Earned: 4300
Points to go: 195700
I like to think of a middle-ground between these two theories (calories in/calories out and JERF). I think you DO need to watch your calories and exercise amounts, but it's also good to think about eating healthy food with balance (so perhaps some more VEGETABLES). I do think limiting processed foods will help with both goals -- they have really high calories, salt, and fat levels relatively.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand -- I had frozen pizza for dinner. So take that as you will. :-)
I think the middle ground is probably the correct answer as well. The JERF model is intriguing, but I'm not really convinced by the argument. I may give it a try in the next couple weeks though so...
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