Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Required Reading.....

Report: Marathons cause heart damage - LiveScience

"We know that regular exercise reduces cardiovascular risk by a factor of two or three in the long run, but while we're doing vigorous exercise such as marathon running, our cardiac risk increases by seven,"

Why your desk job is slowly killing you - Men'sHealth

"A person may hit the gym every day, but if he's sitting a good deal of the rest of the time, he's probably not leading an overall active life,"



Wednesday, October 20, 2010

More Leptin Magic......

Brain Might Be Key to Leptin's Actions Against Type 1 Diabetes, Researchers Find - ScienceDaily.com

"...research by Dr. Roger Unger, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern, has shown that subcutaneous administration of leptin, a hormone produced by the body's fat cells, can restore terminally ill rodents with type 1 diabetes to full health. The underlying cellular mechanisms that caused that effect, however, have been unclear."



Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Some Recent Headlines

Could Diabetes Be in Your Bones? Link Between Metabolic Disease, Bone Mass; Breakdown of Bone Keeps Blood Sugar in Check - ScienceDaily.com

New Role for Master Regulator in Cell Metabolism, Response to Stress: Clinical Implications for Obesity, Diabetes and Cancer Research - ScienceDaily.com

Mice Essentially 'Cured' of Mild Diabetes With Enzyme - ScienceDaily.com

Low Vitamin D Linked to the Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly People - ScienceDaily.com

When Food Intake Stops, Enzyme Turns Off Production of Fats, Cholesterol - ScienceDaily.com

Gestational Diabetes Linked to Serotonin and Dietary Protein - ScienceDaily.com

Mothers' High Blood Sugar in Pregnancy Is Linked to Children's Reduced Insulin Sensitivity - ScienceDaily.com

Well-Defined Quantity of Antioxidants in Diet Can Improve Insulin Resistance, Study Finds -ScienceDaily.com

Poor Control of Diabetes May Be Linked to Low Vitamin D - ScienceDaily.com

Many People With Diabetes Do Not Know or Heed Dangers of Hot Weather - ScienceDaily.com

Fructose Sugar Makes Maturing Human Fat Cells Fatter, Less Insulin-Sensitive, Study Finds - ScienceDaily.com

Circadian Clock in Pancreas Directly Linked to Diabetes - ScienceDaily.com

Bariatric Surgery in Diabetic Adults Improves Insulin Sensitivity Better Than Diet, Study Finds - ScienceDaily.com

Insulin Peptide May Point to a Solution for Type 1 Diabetes - ScienceDaily.com

Scientists Find Hormone Influences Sensitivity to Sweetness - ScienceDaily.com

Diabetic Potential to Create Own Insulin: Type 1 Diabetes Patients Attempt to Replenish Beta Cells - ScienceDaily.com

New Associations Between Diabetes, Environmental Factors Found by Novel Analytic Technique - ScienceDaily.com


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Still Alive.

I apologize for the lack of posts lately, it's been a busy few weeks. I'm still in the middle of a massive home renovation project that has essentially been taking up all my time outside of work - the good news is 2 more rooms are very close to being finished. I hadn't been working on it much over the past year or so but have gotten the 'bug' once again.

I also attended (and passed) a Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification (HKC) workshop over the weekend taught by Senior RKC Instructor Brett Jones. It was a great workshop with loads of useful information regarding not just kettlebells, but training in general, that I'm excited to apply to both clients and myself. Not to mention the day was a blast! I've had the fortune of knowing Brett for about 6 years now and I can say without hesitation he is one of the most knowledgeable people you will come across in our field - if you get the opportunity to work with him jump on it!

Nothing really to report as far as meals and readings go, as things have been pretty consistent with what you all have been seeing the last 3 months or so.


Friday, June 11, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 146

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 8 oz. broccoli
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 135


Thursday, June 10, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 111

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 19 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 123

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 11 oz. sauteed onion
- 8 oz. tomato
- 2 T butter
- 2 dark chocolate squares
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

90 min: 179

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 2 plates broccoli
- 1 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 147

Meal #4

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 1/4 can coconut milk

6 units lantus


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 109

Meal #1

-6 sausage patties
- 20 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Meal #2

- 5 Coleman hotdogs
- 16 oz. broccoli
- 2 units novalin

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 1/5 plates mixed veggies
- 2 units novalin

Meal #4

- small dish ice cream
- 3 Coleman hotdogs
- 1/4 can coconut milk

8 units lantus


Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 131

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 19 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 161

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 16 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 95

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 2 plates of veggies
- ~ 1 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 134

Meal #4

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 4 dark chocolate squares

6 units lantus


Yesterday's Numbers...

Glucose: 116

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
-1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 127

Meal #2

- 3 chicken sausage links
- ~ 6 oz. tomato
- ~ 8 oz. mixed fruit
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 171

Meal #3 (trained prior)

- 3-4 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 7.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 19 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 squares dark chocolate
- 2 units novalin

Meal #4

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 1/4 can coconut milk

0 units lantus


Sunday, June 6, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 130

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 19 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 137


0 units lantus


Saturday, June 5, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 161

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 161

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 extra large egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 10.5 oz. pan-fired potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 15 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 3 units novalin

Meal #3

- 12 oz. sirloin
- ~8-10 mixed veggies
- 2 units novalin

6 units lantus


Friday, June 4, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 137

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 3 units novalin

90 min: 158

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

90 Min: 130

Meal #3

- 1/3 grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 1/4 can coconut milk

0 units lantus


Thursday, June 3, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 124

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 138

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 13.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 2.5 plates of veggies
- 1-2 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 158

Meal #4

- 4 Coleman hotdogs
- 2 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk

0 units lantus


Yesterday's Numbers...

Glucose: 121

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 139

Meal #2

- 3 chicken sausage links
- 2 plates of green beans
- 1-2 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

Meal #3

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 3/5 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

0 units novalin


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 121

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 139

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 8 oz. pan-fired potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 18 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units lantus

1 Hour: 104

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 16-18 oz. mixed veggies
- ~ 1 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 123

Meal #4

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 3.5 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk

0 units novalin


Monday, May 31, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 140

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23.5 oz. broccoli
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 116

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 13.5 oz. sauteed onions
- 1 T butter
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 156

Meal #3

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 23 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Meal #4

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 3 oz. mozzarella cheese


4 units lantus


Sunday, May 30, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 113

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 146

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 8 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 18 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 99

Meal #3

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 21.5 oz. sauteed onions
- 8 oz. tomato
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 137

Meal #4

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 4 oz. mozzarella
- 1/4 can coconut milk

0 units lantus


Saturday, May 29, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 111

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 23 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 89

Meal #2

- 4 oz. chicken breast
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 1 T butter
- 1 unit novalin

75 min: 112

Meal #3

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 4 oz. mozzarella cheese

0 units lantus


Friday, May 28, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 124

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 134

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 5.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 18 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

75 minutes: 81

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 2 plates of veggies (~32 oz.?)
- ~ 1 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 114

Meal #4

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 3 oz. mozzarella cheese


4 units novalin


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 131

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 131

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 5.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 18 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 88

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 36 oz. mixed veggies
- ~ 1 T mystery oil/fat
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 122

Meal #4

- 3 Coleman hotdogs
- 2.5 oz. mozzarella cheese

7 units lantus


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 122

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 126

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 107

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 2 heaping plates of veggies (mostly broccoli, some asparagus)
- 1 T mystery oil/fat - seemed like butter again :)
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 125

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk

7 units lantus


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 122

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 127

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 8 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 1 lb. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 107

Meal #3

- 6 turkey sausage links
- ~ 4 oz. tomato
- ~ 18 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 9 oz. broccoli
- ~ 7.5 oz. green squash
- ~ 6 oz. yellow squash
- ~ 1 T mystery fat/oil - butter maybe?
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 138*

Similar amounts in terms of ounces with veggies the last 2 days. Seemed to be prepared in butter today - at least to some degree - and my reading afterward seems to agree with that suspicion.

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk

Totals: 3800 kcals
  • Fat: 277g
  • Carb: 177g
  • Protein: 184g

6 units lantus




Monday, May 24, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 122

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 112

Meal #2

- 6 turkey sausage links
- ~ 2.5 lbs. green beans
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 1-2 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 175*

An apparent 'nother nail in the coffin for processed omega-6 FA. Last week I had approximately half a pound more green beans than today - a meal with >100g carbohydrates overall - which resulted in a much better post-prandial reading of 119.

The difference?

I can't say it is entirely the culprit - but last week my tastes buds told me those green beans were prepared in butter, whereas the taste and consistency of the fat on the plate today strongly lead me to believe they were cooked in a blended canola and/or vegetable oil.

Not even the vegetables are safe in this place!

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 101

Meal #4

- 5 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 can coconut milk

Totals: 3450 kcals

  • Fat: 237g
  • Carb: 193g
  • Protein: 178g

6 units lantus




Sunday, May 23, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 146

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 21 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 158

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 8 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 lb. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 99

Meal #3

- 1/2 slab pork ribs w/ home-made sauce
- 8 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 139

6 units lantus


Saturday, May 22, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 142

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2-3 units novalin

1 Hour: 125

Meal #2

- 5 Coleman hotdogs
- 6 oz. strawberries
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 157

Meal #3

- 1/2 slab pork ribs w/ home-made sauce
- 1 lb. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 94

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1/2 T butter

6 units lantus


Friday, May 21, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 125

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 133

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 lb. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 90

Meal #3

- 1 slab pork ribs w/ home-made sauce
- 1 small baked potato
- ~ 1 lb. asparagus
- 1/2 T butter
- ~ 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

6 units lantus


Thursday, May 20, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 124

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 18 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 141

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 14 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 91

Meal #3

- 6 turkey sausage links
- 4 oz. strawberries
- ~ 3 lb. green beans
- ~ 4 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 3 oz. broccoli
- ~ 2 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 119

Totals: 3000 kcals
  • Fat: 200g
  • Carb: 179g
  • Protein: 143g

6 units lantus




Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Mainstream Catching On..Finally?

From today's Wall Street Journal - Why the Hightop Has One Foot in the Grave.
"These shoe makers are good at selling shoes—science, not so much."

Related post: Piston's Trainer Banishes Nike Hyperize


Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 149

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 128

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 14 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

75 min: 110

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 42 oz. mixed veggies
- ~ 1 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 10 oz. mixed veggies
- 1/2 T butter

Totals: 3900 kcals

  • Fat: 265g
  • Carb: 197g
  • Protein: 198g

6 units lantus




Tuesday, May 18, 2010

At It Again...

I finally got something to ruffle my feathers enough to go for the one of the few papers I haven't been in. From today's Wall Street Journal - A Guilt-Free Hamburger.

My response:

While saturated fat may be believed to be a factor in increased heart disease risk, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true – as the new study from the Harvard School of Public Health, and the meta-analysis by Dr. Krauss are clearly indicating otherwise (A Guilt-Free Hamburger, May 18).

Unfortunately, many of the comments made by medical professionals within the article illustrate the prevailing mindset to continue clinging to such dogmatic beliefs in the face of evidence to the contrary. While Dr. Eckel is encouraged to be cautious in examining the “scientific value” of these and other studies, I wonder where such discerning eyes were with the study that got us to fear saturated fat in the first place. There, Ancels Keys omitted approximately two-thirds of the data in order to fit his pre-conceived hypothesis – saturated fat should have never been vilified in the first place. To date, there have been zero studies proving saturated fat has anything to do with heart disease.

The input from Mr. Hodges of the American Meat Institute is no better, stating the “body of evidence clearly demonstrates that processed meat is a healthy part of a balanced diet.” Is he referring the staggering rates of increase in obesity, diabetes, and a host of other ills plaguing our nation’s health? I suppose we are to ignore the extreme conflict of interest present here. Saying the results conflict with national dietary guidelines is just as laughable of a defense, as those guidelines are often derived from such poor science as the aforementioned Ancel Keys work – they too have had their part in the decline of our health.

While saturated fats are associated with higher levels of cholesterol, the increases are in the “good” HDL, and the harmless “fluffy” large particle LDL – making the point mute. Additionally, dietary cholesterol intake has a negligible effect on blood cholesterol in the majority of people. Cholesterol is actually an essential nutrient, avoiding it is misguided at best. Now that we are seeing there is no basis for outlawing saturated fat, we are going after salt. What happens when we find out salt isn’t the problem either? The science behind salt intake and blood pressure is inconclusive as well. The vilification of unprocessed nutrients like saturated fat and salt that have been a part of various healthy societies since the beginning of time is illogical - while nitrates and other additives new to human consumption barely garner a mention.

Dr. Mozaffarian hits the nail on the head when he says we need to stop “trying to micromanage nutrients and look at the healthy quality of foods.” That means to stop eating processed foods that have been stripped of all their nutritional value – only to be replaced by Franken-gredients not fit for human consumption.

I can only hope the good doctor is just as accurate when he says “Maybe the science is catching up with the intuitive sense.” Our health depends on it.



Today's Numbers...

I lost my meter at some point last week, which is why I haven't posted readings for the past week or so.

Glucose: 152*

* 0 units lantus last night

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 19 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 149

Meal #2

- 4 Coleman hotdogs
- 1 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 19 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

75 min: 116

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 2.5 plates of asparagus
- ~ 2 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 106

Meal #4

- 3 Coleman hotdogs
- 8 oz. mixed veggies
- .5 T butter

Totals: 3900 kcals
  • Fat: 308g
  • Carb: 115g
  • Protein: 157g

6 units lantus




Thursday, May 13, 2010

Unlike Slick Willy, I Inhaled....

My food that is. This is a topic I have been watching closely over the past few weeks which I was reminded of by a recent article at Science Daily - Jurassic Fast Food Was a Key to Giant Dinosaurs.

Like any teenager, I certainly was picky about what I ate. On top of that, my dad was going to culinary school at the time. Suffice it to say I spent many an evening at the dinner table with food on the plate I had no desire to eat. But I did want to go back out and play. Problem was, I couldn't do that until I finished my food. Initially, I stubbornly picked at prodded at these foreign foods on my plate - often taking over an hour to eat a a plate full of food.

For whatever reason, one day I had an epiphany and realized my Dad was telling the truth - finish the food and I could indeed leave and go back outside. And eat I did. I inhaled. A story he loves to tell - and much better than I - to this day. This newly found practice came long for the ride when I started college.

Again, like any normal college student, I had no desire to get up any earlier than I had to. I would often set the alarm for 45 minutes before my first class. In this time I had to shower, get dressed, get to the dining hall and eat breakfast, and arrive in class on time. This lead to a true refinement of my inhaling ways - something I have carried with me ever since. Just about every woman I have ever dated has commented on the speed at which I devour my meals - probably because I wasn't talking to them at all with being so preoccupied with my food!

So what am I getting at?

From the article above:

"Why were the sauropod dinosaurs able to get so much larger than today's terrestrial animals? A research group led by the University of Bonn seems to have solved this puzzle. According to this research Jurassic fast food culture was a key to gigantism. The giant dinosaurs did not chew their food -- they just gulped it down."

Hmmmm. Sounds familiar - maybe I have a little dinosaur in me? The Paleo crowd gots nothing on me!

The article goes on to explain:

"Chewing helps to digest the food faster. By the grinding process it is broken down and at the same time its surface is enlarged. This way the digestive enzymes are able to attack the food more easily."


Recently however, for whatever reason, I have been making a conscience effort to slow down when I eat. Chew thoroughly. Thoroughly enjoy every bite.

What I have noticed almost every time - better glucose response. Lower numbers eating the same meals. Something I will be continuing to keep an eye on.

But what might the implications of this information be on a larger scale? What about are own fast-food culture? In a recent article in the WSJ - Our Big Problem - the author states that "for much of the population, family meals are a ritual of the past."

No wonder McDonald's has Over One Billion Served.

Many, if not all of us, are aware of the dangers of eating processed foods. However, we obviously are still eating it in super-sized amounts. The common excuse is a lack of time. Always on the run. Do you think these people are taking the time to slow down, chew, and enjoy the poison they are ingesting? What about those on starvation diets and other silliness? When they get those cravings and the ravenous hunger that eventually comes without fail - think they take much time to chew-up?

I commented on the decline in our nation's health over the past two generations here. Many have, and correctly so, layed blame at the foot of the introduction of processed foods and additives like HFCS and the fat-phobia that followed. But are we neglecting one other factor that began occurring in the same general time frame?

The breakdown of the family unit.

And I'm not just talking about the easily targeted single-parent homes. What of that other change coming along with the Industrial Revolution and WWII - the entering into the workforce of the now almost extinct stay-at-home parent. It's almost essential in today's economy that both parents work. You don't find many households where one parent can afford to stay at home.

Whether you have a single-parent home, or one with two that both have to work 50-60+ hours a week - how much difference really is there? It seems apparent to me you get a generation of children raised by TV, computers, and fast-food either way.

Indeed, the sit-down family meal and passing down of family recipes do become dinosaurs in their own right. The author goes on to state:

"...the unemployed and the single parents that I used to visit as a doctor, I would find no evidence of cooking ever having been done there. Fatty take-away meals and ready-prepared foods heated in the microwave were the diet, together with almost constant snacks. There was not even a table to eat at: an absence that was not the consequence of raw poverty, since the flat-screen television would have been large enough, turned horizontal, to serve as a dining table."

An ever growing divergence from an environment which relies on and values REAL foods, to one fueling a dependency on processed and fast-foods. Quick and cheap - at least until you receive your health-care bills. A vicious cycle completed over and over again - one generation to the next.

Meal frequency also interestingly pops up again in both articles as well. The University of Bonn dinosaur research group states "the larger an animal is, the more time it spends eating." While the author from the WSJ comments on the circumstances and effects from an environment in which "children graze or forage." Despite the matter-of-fact recommendation to eat 5-6 small meals per day to "rev up the metabolism " from the health & fitness industry, the science behind it is sketchy at best - as layed out here.

So what can we do? The author from the WSJ goes on to explain the futility of government intervention and prohibition:

"By taking on responsibility for the health consequences of obesity, the government has given itself the locus standi to interfere in many aspects of human existence. If obesity kills, is it not the government's duty to prevent it? He who pays the doctor decides the prophylaxis. Positive encouragement of healthy eating won't work, nor mere printed warnings that some foods are unhealthy (people who are prepared to eat doughnuts with pink and blue icing are unlikely to desist on learning that they contain nothing good for the bowels or any other organ).

As usual, therefore, prohibition beckons. Regulation of the sugar and fat content of ready-prepared and fast foods is likely to be proposed and perhaps eventually accepted, though not without a very fierce rear-guard action by the food industry. If John Doe will not eat his greens, Uncle Sam will make him, if necessary by restricting the availability of other foods."

Instead, he suggests teaching children to cook and eat together. A great idea in my opinion. Indeed, this has been one of the silver linings of my diabetes cloud. Prior to being diagnosed, my most elaborate dishes consisted of things like Kraft Mac N' Cheese. My culinary skills have since improved exponentially - and it's been an enjoyable process to boot!


Friday, May 7, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 135

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 142

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 5.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 12 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 71

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~1 oz. snap peas
- ~4 oz. tomato
- ~4 oz. cauliflower
- ~13 oz. green beans
- 6 slices green squash
- 5 slices yellow squash
- ~1 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 118

Meal #4

- 4 Coleman hotdogs
- 12 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter

Totals: 3800 kcals
  • Fat: 286g
  • Carb: 155g
  • Proetin: 153g




Thursday, May 6, 2010

Counting More Sheep

One Sleepless Night Can Induce Insulin Resistance in Healthy People - ScienceDaily.com

I briefly touched on the subject of sleep and glucose control here. The researchers in this case state that "just one night of short sleep duration can induce insulin resisitance."

The lead author of the study goes on to state:

"Our data indicate that insulin sensitivity is not fixed in healthy subjects, but depends on the duration of sleep in the preceding night," said Donga. "In fact it is tempting to speculate that the negative effects of multiple nights of shortened sleep on glucose tolerance can be reproduced, at least in part, by just one sleepless night."

Just one more piece of the puzzle.

Related reading:

How Much Do You Need to Sleep Every Night to Prevent Weight Gain? - Mercola.com

Too Much Or Too Little Sleep Increases Risk Of Diabetes - ScienceDaily.com


Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 155

Meal #1

- 10 oz. pork ribs w/ excess sauce wiped off
- 12 oz. asparagus
- 1 T olive oil
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 167

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 36 oz. mixed veggies
- ~1 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 134

Meal #3

- 8.5 oz. pork ribs w/ sauce wiped off
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Totals: 2600 kcals

  • Fat: 164g
  • Carb: 88g
  • Protein: 185g

0 units lantus




Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 117

Meal #1

- 6 sausage patties
- 17 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 121

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 26 oz. broccoli
- ~ 1 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

90 min: 148

Meal #3 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 21 asparagus spears
- 5.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 88

Meal #4

- small salad w/ tomatoes & shredded cheese
- basalmic vinegar & olive oil
- ~ 12 fresh asparagus spears
- rack and a half pork ribs w/ home-made sauce 16-18 oz.?
- 1 unit novalin

0 units lantus


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 106

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- ~ 1 oz. beef jerky
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 158

Meal #2

- 5 Coleman hotdogs
- 8 oz. tomatoes
- 6 asparagus spears
- 2 oz. strawberries
- 1 T butter
- 1/2 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 83

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 44 oz. broccoli
- 3 pieces cauliflower
- ~1 T mystery ooil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 119

Meal #4

- 2 Coleman hotdogs
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter

Totals: 3600 kcals
  • Fat: 256g
  • Carb: 159g
  • Protein: 169

0 units lantus




Monday, May 3, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Glucose: 101

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 1 oz. beef jerky
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 125

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~12 oz. broccoli
- ~12 oz. cauliflower
- 3 oz. strawberries
- ~1 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #3

- 1 Coleman hotdog
- 1 marinated chicken breast
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- mixed greens salad w/ shredded mexican cheese
- 1T olive oil and balsamic vinegar
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 117

Totals: 2400 kcals
  • Fat: 167g
  • Carb: 125g
  • Protein: 125g

0 units lantus




Sunday, May 2, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.7
Glucose: 112

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 1 oz. beef jerky
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 126

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 12 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 1 oz. beef jerky
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 92

Meal #3

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 8 oz. tomato
- 13 asparagus spears
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 oz. beef jerky
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 103

Totals: 3200 kcals

  • Fat: 243g
  • Carb: 120g
  • Protein: 150g

0 units lantus




Saturday, May 1, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98
Glucose: 100

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

85 min: 103

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 13 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 11 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 71

Meal #3

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 8 oz. tomato
- 10 asparagus spears
- 1.75 oz beef jerky
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 91

Totals: 2900 kcals
  • Fat: 204g
  • Carb: 114g
  • Protein: 158g

0 units lantus




Friday, April 30, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.9
Glucose: 103

Meal #1

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 125

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 2 T coconut oil
- 6 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 18 asparagus spears
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/2 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 85

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 4 oz. tomato
- ~ 4 oz. strawberries
- ~ 3 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 20 oz. broccoli
- ~ 20 oz. squash
- ~2 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

Force-fed myself a bit here and ate little too much; I feel like I'm on fire. Sweating as I type this.

1 Hour: 94

Totals: 2800 kcals
  • Fat: 177g
  • Carb: 180g
  • Protein: 158g

5 units lantus




Thursday, April 29, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.9
Glucose: 130

Meal #1

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 26 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 154

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 4 oz. strawberries
- ~ 3 plates vegetables
- ~ 2 T mystery oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 107

Totals: 1600 kcals
  • Fat: 77g
  • Carb: 139g
  • Protein: 116g

6 units lantus




Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98
Glucose: 144

Meal #1

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 23 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 174

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz, mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 16 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T butter
- 8 oz. tomato
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 115

Meal #3

- 2 chicken sausage links
- ~ 14 oz. tomato
- ~ 1 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 89

Totals: 2300 kcals
  • Fat: 147g
  • Carb: 130g
  • Protein: 129g

7 units lantus




Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 143

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 25 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 3 units novalin

80 Min: 165

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 103

Meal #3 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 2 T coconut oil
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 8 oz. tomato
- 18 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 128

Meal #4

- 1.75 oz. beef jerky
- 17.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 7 units lantus

Totals: 3700 kcals
  • Fat: 285g
  • Carb: 169g
  • Protein: 150g



Monday, April 26, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98.1
Glucose: 99

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 21.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 134

Meal #2

- 2 chicken sausage links
- 16 oz. tomato
- 20 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Meal #3 (retaurant)

- rack and a half ribs (YUM!)
- broccoli
- green beans
- 2 units novalin

7 units lantus


Sunday, April 25, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98.1
Glucose: 124

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 148

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 19 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 76

Meal #3

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 15 oz. broccoli
- 8 oz. tomato
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 1 T butter
- 1/2 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

Totals: 3000 kcals
  • Fat: 218g
  • Carb: 154g
  • Protein: 141g

5 units lantus




Saturday, April 24, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98.1
Glucose: 117

Meal #1

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 109

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass-fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 21 asparagus spears
- 12.5 oz. broccoli
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T butter
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 98

Meal #3

- 1 pkg. Coleman bacon
- 14 oz. sauteed onion
- 7 oz. tomato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

Totals: 2200 kcals
  • Fat: 135g
  • Carb: 133g
  • Protein: 137g

5 units lantus




Friday, April 23, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 116

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 123

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 18 asparagus spears
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 4.5 oz. strawberries
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 T coconut oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 81

Meal #3

- 4.5 oz. kielbasa
- 4.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 heaping plates mixed veggies
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 139

Totals: 3200 kcals
  • Fat: 230g
  • Carb: 182g
  • Protein: 124g

5 units lantus




Thursday, April 22, 2010

More Musings...

Update: This piece was also published in the USAToday on April, 26th, found here.

The piece I submitted to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that I originally previewed here, was published, and can be found here - albeit slightly edited. Today I will include the text for another piece submitted to the USAToday and currently under consideration.

RE: Do Food Stamps Feed Obesity? - USAToday

While I can’t say with certainty that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Do Food Stamps Feed Obesity? April, 20) is necessarily feeding obesity, like those organizations charged with recommending our dietary guidelines – it isn’t helping.

Getting kids to eat healthier is indeed a very important long-term goal. The impact on healthcare costs from doing so effectively would be enormous. However, the assertion that school lunches already have to meet “reasonable standards” is laughable. French-fries bathed in vegetable/canola oil counting as vegetables, and flavored milk containing more sugar than soda are not “reasonable” – they are incompetent. We can’t feed kids pizza and chicken patties everyday for twelve years and not expect them to later develop health issues or obesity.

Similar negligence also emanates from organizations like the FDA, American Heart Association, and American Diabetes Association - among others. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, these folks still cling to dogma which vilifies something as harmless as saturated fat, while extolling the benefits of toxic substances like canola oil and margarine. Such misinformation then infiltrates our curriculums that, absent critical thinking and a self-emphasis on continuing education, produce a nation full of MDs and RDs that dispense outdated and inaccurate nutritional information.

SNAP, like many others, needs reform. Even as a 16 year-old grocery clerk, I could see the lunacy of the Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) program providing for 64 oz. cans of JuicyJuice and sugar-laden breakfast cereals. But unless the reform is based on good science with an emphasis on real, unprocessed food - the war on obesity will be about as successful as the war on drugs.



Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 128

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 132

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 16 asparagus spears
- 11 oz. broccoli
- 1.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 111

Meal #3

- 1/2 lb. hamburger
- ~ 7 oz. tomato
- ~14 oz. broccoli
- ~5.5 oz. cauliflower
- 3.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 108

Meal #4

- 19 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 5 units lantus

Totals: 3700 kcals
  • Fat: 264g
  • Carb: 210g
  • Protein: 169g



Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Wu-Tang Is For The Children!

Well ODB, I don't know if Wu-Tang is for the children, but the rest of us should be - how will you?

From MSN - Obesity Epidemic May Cut Life Spans of Young Adults

...The study authors report that one in five people born between 1966 and 1985 became obese -- a step above merely overweight -- when they were between 20 and 29 years old.

By contrast, those who were born from 1946 to 1955 didn't reach the level of obesity until they were in their 30s. And those who were born between 1936 and 1945 didn't get to that weight category until their 40s ...


Wow. Startling trend huh? We now manage to become obese ~20 years quicker than we did just two generations ago - and we aren't slowing down. The current generation of children will become the first to have a life expectancy shorter than their own parents! Take a moment to let that marinate a bit.

This generation of children will become the first to have a life expectancy shorter than their own parents!

If you have children - or are planning to have children - that has to concern you. Might even piss you off. I know it pisses me off, and I don't even want children. But I do have two younger brothers, ages 16 and 12. I am concerned for them - they don't know any better. I hope they never know what it's like to have prick their finger after every meal, or become so skilled with a syringe that they could moonlight as phlebotomists. Unfortunately, the statistics suggest they likely will.

But not if there is anything I can do about it.

The staggering increases in the rates of obesity and diabetes in children have been well documented. If you are indeed Smarter Than a 5th Grader, it's also not hard to comprehend the ENORMOUS impact these numbers have on health care costs. Ahhh the costs - one of the largest arguments against the most recent health care bill. Who is going to pay for all of this? A question that does need to be asked, but one that is well out of the scope of this post.

Indeed, the costs are staggering. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't think lowering health care costs is a huge positive. But what costs exactly have everyone so up in arms? Treatment costs right? Seems to me as though someone has forgot equations have two sides.

Couldn't costs be also substantially lowered through prevention? If there is nothing to treat, there is no cost! Seems like a logical approach to me. Are we saying - "Oh we tried that and it didn't work?" It's almost as if the FDA, USDA, AHA, ADA, etc. have all collectively thrown their hands up in the air and shouted - NO MAS! I am the only one that hears no one talking about prevention anymore?

The above statistics seem to suggest that the preventative strategies we have implemented that were recommended by the above agencies have been an utter and colossal failure - and indeed they have been! But WHY? Instead of giving up on prevention, why are we not questioning the methods with which we have been using with ZERO success?

How can we possibly say we have tried prevention when we look at our nation's school lunch programs? Pizza for breakfast and lunch? French fries as vegetables? We don't truly expect people to eat well or be healthy after feeding them crap for 2/3's of the day for 12-16 years of their life do we? They don't even know how! Large masses of "experts" still operating under the fallacies of healthy canola oil and dangerous saturated fat is bad enough - but french fries counting as vegetables? Who is making guidelines like those? What are their qualifications? Are they obese? All fair questions in my opinion.

The appointment of Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin - who is obese - was justifiably criticized due to her weight. Her response was that she understands "what it's like to be overweight" and that she would help us become a healthier nation. Lot's of people understand what it's like to be overweight - about 67% of the population at last check - that doesn't make you qualified to do anything about it. If you haven't been able to help yourself, how are you going to help anyone else? By no means does she need to look like a figure competitor - that would most likely be just as bad as being obese - but she is a posterchild for that 67%. If the message is that we just have to keep trying harder - using the same tired methods we have been - our ever declining health will continue.

We need to get back to real, nutrient-dense, unprocessed food. We need to get back to using good science - not what passes for good science (or is it a good headline?) these days. These changes need to happen not only in our homes, but in our schools, and perhaps most of all....in academia. A stronger emphasis on continuing education for our medical and health professionals is in order as well. Only then will we begin to reverse the dangerous downward spriral we have been in for the past 2 generations.


Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 117

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #2

- 1/3 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1T butter
- 1/2 can coconut milk
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 101

Meal #3

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 3 oz. strawberries
- ~ 14 oz. toamtoes
- ~ 7 oz. cucumber
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 116

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 5 units lantus

Totals: 3500 kcals
  • Fat: 246g
  • Carb: 180g
  • Protein: 175g



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

If They Were Really Interested in Reducing Deaths....

Washington Post - FDA takes aim at salt content in processed food:Regulator says limits will reduce deaths, but many fear taste will suffer

"...Most salt eaten by Americans -- 77 percent -- comes from processed foods ..."


Assuming that "excess" sodium is harmful - the science is far from clear on that - the above statistic seems to suggest it would make more sense to target processed foods than simply attacking the amount of salt within them.

But I guess if we got rid of processed foods we wouldn't need the FDA anymore - and when is the last time you saw the government get smaller?

Time will tell if this is yet another misguided attempt at "saving" us.

Like...

- eggs are bad for you.
- saturated fat causes heart disease.
- red meat kills.
- butter is bad, have margarine instead!

But these are perfectly ok for you...

- high fructose corn syrup
- partially hydrogenated corn/soybean oils
- sodium nitrates/-ites

Whew! Sure glad I have Big Brother looking out for my health - aren't you?


Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98.1
Glucose: 130

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2.5 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 168

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 2 T coconut oil
- 17 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 66

Meal #3

- 3 oz. kielbasa
- ~ 8 oz. tomato
- 4 oz. strawberries
- ~ 2.5 oz. broccoli
- ~ 2 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 14 oz. green beans
- ~ 1 T mystery fat/oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #4

- 1/3 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 17 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 5 units lantus

Totals: 3400 kcals
  • Fat: 234g
  • Carb: 198g
  • Protein: 154g



Monday, April 19, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 126*

* Normally I get up on my own between 7-7:30 AM, but this is now the third day in a row of being awoken by alarm 3-4 hours earlier due to my changing work schedule - and I'm feeling it today. I can speculate that may be having a small role in the slightly increased fasted readings the last two mornings. Also, 2 of the 3 days I have awoken with a glucose reading >100 in the past week and a half I had in excess of 160-170g of protein the day prior - all other days less.

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 127

Meal #2

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- ~ 20 oz. tomatoes
- ~ 5 oz. cucumber
- 1 banana
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 120

Meal #3

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 1 T coconut oil
- 18 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 146

5 units lantus

Totals: 2900 kcals
  • Fat: 206g
  • Carb: 166g
  • Protein: 120g



Sunday, April 18, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 111

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 20 asaparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 130

Meal #2

- 2.5 oz. kielbasa
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 105

Meal #3 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 1 T coconut oil
- 16 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 6.5 oz. red potatoes
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 100

Meal #4

- 16 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 5 units lantus

Totals: 2800 kcals
  • Fat: 186g
  • Carb: 161g
  • Protein: 154g



Saturday, April 17, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 90

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 18 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 126

Meal #2

- 5 sausage patties
- 12 oz. broccoli
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1/2 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 104

Meal #3

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 12 oz. broccoli
- 8 oz. tomato
- 1/2 T butter
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 114

Meal #4 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 6.5 oz. red potatoes
- 16 asparagus spears
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 .5 T olive oil
- 1 unit novalin

Meal #5

- 16 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 5 units lantus

Totals: 4000 kcals
  • Fat: 302g
  • Carb: 168g
  • Protein: 184g



Friday, April 16, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 81

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 12 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 19 asparagus spears
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 103

Meal #2

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 18 asparagus spears
- 8 oz. tomato
- 3 oz. pickles
- 1/4 can coconut milk
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 88

Meal #3

- 4 oz. kielbasa
- 3 brussel sprouts
- ~12 oz. tomato
- 3 pcs. cauliflower
- ~14 oz. green beans
- ~ 1 T unknown fat
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 124

Totals: 2400 kcals
  • Fat: 149g
  • Carb: 118g
  • Protein: 161g

6 units lantus




Thursday, April 15, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.7
Glucose: 93

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 28 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 89

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 5 oz. pan-fried potatoes
- 19 asparagus spears
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 96

Meal #3

- 5 oz. kielbasa
- ~ 17 oz. tomato
- ~ 15 oz. green beans
- ~ 1 T of unknown fat
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 115

Meal #4

- 2 oz. kielbasa
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 7 units lantus

Totals: 3500 kcals
  • Fat: 256g
  • Carb: 195g
  • Protein: 134g



Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dancing With the Devil

Recently the facility I work at entered into an agreement to push GNC products - due in large part that one of our members holds one of the alphabet soup positions for GNC.



I'm your pusher!
Today it was time to stock up on product - or re-up as they used to say in the 'hood. So one of our employees returns with the usual assortment of fish oil, multi-vitamin and glucosamine-chondroitin - only to be accompanied by the latest and greatest supplement about to XPLODE....
Coconut Water


Apparently the stuff is the "new" Gatorade. Yippee do dah. With only one ingredient, at least it's not as processed as the "old" Gatorade- but really, nothing remarkable about it. No protein. No fat. Incomplete at best.

The scene that followed it's arrival however, was nothing short of disturbing. Supposedly educated health & fitness professionals with years of experience clamoring all over the stuff and the rest of the goodies like we were filming our on Christmas Story re-make. Unfortunately there was no Red Rider BB-Gun to shoot my eyes out, as it was a somewhat desireable outcome at the time.

But this is Pittsburgh, and Sidney Crosby is purported to be a fan of this magical water, so I really shouldn't be surprised. But surely as a surprise to most of you, I was able to withstand Sid the Kid's charm and not partake in the devouring of this precious coconut water. I guess I just felt I hadn't sufficiently depleted my glycogen stores with my HITT* session, and therefore wasn't worthy.

If this weren't enough to test my resolve we were also treated with GNC's latest issue of their Muscle & Body publication. Oh boy. The signs of the coming apocalyspe are plentiful today. Right on the cover is the nice big headline -


6 Top Supplements for Teens


Really?

Teens?

Going the route of the tabacco companies with the Get 'em while they're young approach I guess. It's bad enough pushing the stuff on unsuspecting schmucks trying to re-live their high school glory days, but preying on teenagers kinda crosses a line somewhere in the ethical desert no? I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to make money, but c'mon man.

Excuse me while I go grab a shower - I feel dirty.



*( High Intensity Interval Typing)



Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 83

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 21.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 105

Meal #2

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 5 oz. pan fried potatoes
- 1 T coconut oil
- 1/2 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 84

Meal #3

- 3 oz. kielbasa
- ~ 7 oz. tomato
- handful of blueberries
- ~ 4 oz. strawberries
- ~ 5-6 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 unit novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #4

- 2.5 oz. kielbasa
- 18.5 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 8 unitsd lantus

Totals: 2700 kcals
  • Fat: 158g
  • Carb: 177g
  • Protein: 168g




Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Bang Head Here -------> X

Two gems (note:sarcasm) from today's Wall Street Journal.....

First, A New Way to Lose Weight? discusses the latest red herring in obesity research - brown fat. While Regulators to Review New Drugs to Curb Appetite previews the possible FDA approval of 3 new "anti-obesity" drugs.

In regards to the former, researchers think they may have "one solution to curbing obesity". So what might this possibly amazing new discovery be?


Wait for it.... Wait for it.....


Essentially, turn down the thermostat. The belief is that by exposing people to colder temperatures that it will prompt our bodies to generate more heat by up-regulation of brown fat. Brown fat is a substance previously thought to only exist in humans as babies and then "shed" as we grew older. Brown fat is purported to use energy as opposed to traditional white fat's role of storing it.

Are you WOW'd yet? Yeah, me neither. Seriously, didn't we kinda go over this thing already in a way with that whole drink ice water thing a few years back?

Surprisingly, no they did not recommend just having fatter babies so that it takes longer to shed the magical brown fat - but give it time. Of course, we are already doing that yet the rates of obesity and diabetes are still going through the roof - maybe the researchers noticed this.

Bruce Spiegelman, professor of cell biology and medicine at Harvard's Dana-Farber Cancer Center is quoted as saying "We're not trying to replace diet and exercise, but frequently they're not enough or not effective."

Well duh! Not when the dietary guidelines handed down to us by the lovely folks at the USDA, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, etc. are akin to - oh I don't know....HORSESHIT*! Sorry, never said this was a kid friendly show.

*(Actually, horse-poopie may be more healthy than current guidelines - especially if the horse is grass-fed! )

These are the the same people that still believe saturated fat causes heart disease. Or that canola/vegetable oils and margarine are "heart-healthy" - or healthy at all for that matter. They can also be seen extolling the virtues of low/no fat dairy products.

What's worse, the archaic dogma these organizations are repeatedly shoving down our throats heavily influences the cirriculums in our institutions of higher learning - producing a nation of RD's, MD's, and RN's full of that same......... horse-poopie when it comes to Nutritional Advice*.

*(N/A for short. Which is what you should write over the nutritional scripts given by many of these folks. As in Not Applicable in this case - the human case.)

Later on, the article finally gets to the gut of the matter - "However, whether we lose weight or not depends on whether we overcompensate by eating more food." And how or what does brown fat influence in any way, shape, or form in that regard? Well good luck with that then!

However, the true beneficiaries of such research were revealed much earlier, as the discovery of brown fat in adults "spawned hope among scientists and drug developers"! Scientists because the drug developers gave them money and something to do, and drug developers because of the boat loads of cash they may possibly bring in with their latest weight-loss panacea. $150M boat loads in US sales of ALLI just last year to be specific. You know, the one where you need to bring a change of clothes with you in case you experience a sudden case of EXPLOSIVE diarrhea!*

*(Or the Hershey Squirts as my family has always affectionately referred to them.)

You have to love the logic ( or is it arrogance?) to sell people on a cure for something you don't fully comprehend the cause of in the first place - which is probably in part because they waste so much time on studies on brown fat and the development of magical weight-loss pills in the first place. The fact that people will spend $150M for a chance to lose weight knowing full well they will probably need their diaper changed at some point in the process only further underscores the utter failure of our nutritional governing bodies - and possibly the "over-medicating" of the country in general.


I bought a weight-loss pill, and all I got was a crappy pair of Fruit of the Looms.


Now there is a way to bump up that $150M figure, can't ever have too many t-shirts!

But maybe I'm wrong, maybe they are on to something? After all, when you think about it - horse-poopie, explosive diarrhea, and brown fat are all the same colo.......ah nevermind.



More on Meal Frequency

Does Eating More Frequent Meals Really Rev Up Your Metabolism? - Mercola.com

According to the study above, published in the British Journal of Nutrition at the end of last year, increasing meal frequency from three meals a day to three meals plus three additional snacks did not promote greater weight loss.

Both groups consumed an equal amount of calories (2931 kJ/day) and both groups ended up losing a little less than five percent of body weight after eight weeks.

Likewise, a previous study mentioned in the article above found no difference in energy balance between groups of people consuming either one meal or five meals in a two-week change-over trial.

So does that mean this is just another myth gone bust?



...a French study published in the journal Forum of Nutrition in 2003 found that people whose habitual diet pattern included a fourth meal – the so-called "goûter” or snack commonly eaten at 4 pm in France – had demonstrable benefits on Body Mass Index and metabolic profile, even though their total energy intake for the day is not greater than those who skip this meal.


The study states:

“The "goûter", commonly eaten in the afternoon in France by most children and many adults, has the biological characteristics of a meal because it is eaten in response to hunger. Suppressing the "goûter" in "habitual fourth meal eaters" soon leads to an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI).

Further, people who are regular "goûter" eaters have a higher carbohydrate intake and better metabolic profile than other adults, even though their total energy intake is not greater.

Increased feeding frequency leads to a reduction in the total secretion of insulin, an improvement in insulin resistance and a better blood glucose control, as well as an improvement in the blood lipid profile.


My thoughts are summed up nicely by this passage...

In the end, perhaps the most prudent recommendation is to simply let your hunger dictate when to eat. An important caveat here though is to remember that WHAT you eat is essential.

If your body gets the nutrients it needs, your hunger will be a reliable indicator for when you need to eat. However, many people today are in fact undernourished, despite being overweight.

Consuming junk food and fast food that does not feed your body the nutrients it needs will often lead to eating far more calories than you need simply because your insulin- and other hormonal balances are out of whack.


Eat REAL food. Eat when hungry. Seems pretty simple to me. Ties nicely right into the DUH! post from earlier this week.
In doing so, I have found I do go longer between meals, as well as have fewer meals per day - not to mention improved glucose control.


Today's Numbers...

Temp: 98
Glucose: 91

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 124

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 1.5 T coconut oil
- 16 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 6.5 oz. baked potato
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 86

Meal #3

- 5 oz. kielbasa
- ~ 16 oz. asparagus
- ~ 10 oz. tomato
- 1 unit novalin

75 minutes: 121

Meal #4

- 2.5 oz. kielbasa
- 15 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 10 units lantus

Totals: 3500 kcals
  • Fat: 248g
  • Carb: 192g
  • Protein: 132g



Monday, April 12, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 82

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 15 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 112

Meal #2

- .48 lb. natural casing weiners
- ~ 42 oz. mixed veggies
- ~ 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 141

Meal #3 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 1.5 T coconut oil
- 6.5 oz. red potatoes
- 17 asparagus spears
- 2 T olive oil
- 3 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 75

Meal #4

- 19 oz. mixed veggies
- 1 T butter
- 2 oz. kielbasa
- 10 units lantus

Totals: 3700 kcals
  • Fat: 268g
  • Carb: 205g
  • Protein: 154g



Sunday, April 11, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 101

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 25 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 120

Meal #2

- 10 oz. round steak
- 19 asparagus spears
- 1 ear corn on cob
- 5 oz. strawberries
- 1/2 T butter
- 1/2 T coconut oil
- 1 T olive oil
-2 units novalin

1 Hour: 130

Meal #3 (restaurant)

- seared salmon salad w/ oil & vinegar dressing
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 96

10 units lantus


Saturday, April 10, 2010

Duh!

Low-Cal Diets May Make You Gain Weight - MSN




..."For the first time in humans, we are finding out that cutting your calories increases cortisol," said lead researcher A. Janet Tomiyama, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar at the University of California, San Francisco.

..."The term 'dieting' brings to mind deprivation, starvation, being miserable and uncomfortable and ultimately failing in weight-loss efforts," said Samantha Heller, a dietitian, nutritionist and exercise physiologist who is familiar with the study.

...Burning more calories than you consume is how your body loses weight, she said. "However, severe calorie restriction, diet fads, pills and potions, detox cleanses and other quacky approaches to weight loss only contribute to people's diet failures and, in fact, may increase the likelihood of regaining even more weight than what was lost—if any," Heller added.

..."By eating foods of higher overall nutritional quality, fullness can generally be achieved on fewer calories, eliminating the need for deprivation," Katz said. "In addition, physical activity can accelerate weight loss, promote health and alleviate stress in the bargain."

That's because your body isn't interested in calories - it's interested in nutrients! It's not interested in carbs, fats, or proteins so much as what's contained in them - magnesium, potassium and all the other essential vitamins and minerals that exist. Less calories=less nutrients. Anyone surprised that would be a recipe for failure? Part of the reason processed food is so harmful is because the nutrients are stripped away - the other part being the franken-gredients that replace said nutrients.

How do you know if you are eating processed, nutrient-naked food? Well, if it has a food label on it - chances are you've been had. Think about it. I don't see any labels in the produce section. Hmmm, don't see any in the meat dept. either. Or the farmers market - or farm in my case. Kinda makes all the confusion and emphasis on understanding and policing food labels kinda silly eh? There are a few exceptions of course - store bought eggs come to mind - so another clue could be if your ingredient list is longer than say, 2 items - or contains any ingredients that would get you a triple word score in Scrabble.

While processed and refined carbohydrates have been getting their just villification as of late, care must be taken to not ignore processed fats and proteins as well. The increased consumption of vegetable/canola oils and nitrate laced meats role in our ever declining health cannot be understated.

On the other end of the spectrum are those that are somehow under the impression that nutrients operate in a vacuum. You know, all those nutjob RD's out there telling you to gulp up all that FAT-FREE dairy to get your vitamin D & K. Problem is, those are fat soluble vitamins. No fat=no absorption. Oops.

Speaking of fat-free dairy... Full-fat Dairy for Cardiovascular Health. Double Oops.


Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.7
Glucose: 83

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 25 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 129

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 2 T coconut oil
- 19 asparagus spears
- 6.5 oz. red potatoes
- 2 T olive oil
- 2 units novalin

90 min: 95

Meal #3

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 16 asparagus spears
- 1 ear corn on cob
- 1 T butter
- 1 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2.5 oz. kielbasa
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 160

Totals: 3200 kcals
  • Fat: 214g
  • Carb: 145g
  • Protein: 191g

15 units lantus




Friday, April 9, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.6
Glucose: 67

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 112

Meal #2

- 6 turkey sausage links
- ~ 8 oz. red potatoes
- ~ 8 oz. asparagus
- ~ 12 oz. broccoli
- ~ 12 oz. zucchini
- ~ 8 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 8 oz. squash
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 195*

* I got hungry but still had to wait about an hour for the dining area to open up. Could be a similar phenomenon as in the mornings if I don't eat right away my BS spikes like 50 points even without eating anything. I also still am not sure what they use to saute vegetables/starches here at work.

Meal #3

- 5 sausage patties
- 16 oz. tomato
- 2 units novalin

Totals: 3200 kcals

  • Fat: 227g
  • Carb: 181g
  • Protein: 137g

15 units lantus




Thursday, April 8, 2010

More on Leptin and extras....

Scientists Unravel Brain-Hormone Circuit That Helps Police Diabetes, Female Fertility - ScienceDaily.com


Although diabetes and obesity often go hand in hand, Dr. Elmquist said the new findings indicate that a group of brain cells called pro-opiomelanocortin, or POMC, neurons help regulate glucose and insulin independent of food intake and body weight. POMC neurons, found in the hypothalamus, a small region of the brain, previously have been shown to play an important role in suppressing appetite and inducing weight loss.

..."There seems to be what I call a functional redundancy in these neurons as it relates to blood sugar regulation," said Dr. Elmquist. "We don't know if the same neurons respond to both leptin and insulin, but it is clear that functionally leptin can compensate for a lack of insulin and vice versa."


Novel Nanoparticle Vaccine Cures Type 1 Diabetes in Mice - ScienceDaily.com

Using a sophisticated nanotechnology-based "vaccine," researchers were able to successfully cure mice with type 1 diabetes and slow the onset of the disease in mice at risk for the disease. The study, co-funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, provides new and important insights into understanding how to stop the immune attack that causes type 1 diabetes, and could even have implications for other autoimmune diseases.






Recent Musings...

Figured I would post a couple of rants I have submitted to local newspapers recently in response to articles they ran. The first was published, the other I'm awaiting word on.

First, submitted to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

In response to Dr. Quinlin’s letter from Sunday’s PG (“Obese people generally don't have a choice,” Nov. 23), as a health & fitness professional with 10+ years of experience; I must respectfully disagree.

The original article ("Fat and Fact," Nov. 22) finally brought to light the elephant in the room. While people may not choose to be fat, they do “alone decide how much they eat and how much they exercise (or how little).” It’s not necessarily laziness; it also stems from a lack of education on effective ways to do so. Folks may be surprised to know that the size and scope of their primary care physician’s education on the subjects of nutrition and exercise is extremely small. Even the American Diabetes Association, up until very recent years, was giving dietary recommendations that were actually compounding the problems and symptoms of those following it. These, combined with the large disconnect between medical professionals and health & fitness professionals; are largely contributing to our failure to sufficiently address the obesity and diabetes epidemics.

While I agree with the doctor that genetics play a large role, and that we know very little about the subject as a whole; there is science supporting specific dietary and physical protocols that have significant success. The idea that obesity cannot be controlled or managed any more than eye and skin color is simply not accurate. The responsibility of the individual cannot be understated.

While the obese population may “wish for a solution far more than any policy wonk”, do they know how to go about it and are they willing to make the necessary changes to do so? The multi-billion dollar sales of the supplement industry and FDA approved drugs such as ALLI, combined with the staggering rate of increase in obesity and diabetes in both adults and children suggests that the answer is no.


And most recently for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

RE: School districts expand healthy menu options - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

While the increased attention that the systematic poisoning of our children at the hands of our nation’s school lunch program has been receiving lately due to the efforts of Jamie Oliver and subsequent articles such as Thursday’s “School districts expand healthy menu options” excites me, the content and comments contained within suggest while meaning well and on the right path – we still have far to go.

I applaud the removal of the fryers - and more importantly the harmful canola/vegetable oil contained within them - in the Moon Area School District. But I decry the idea that by offering kids “baked chips, SunChips or pretzels” that it is somehow healthier. It’s not. It’s still processed junk. Why are we even offering snacks in the first place? A school is a place for learning; students need nutrients in order to do so - those snack choices offer no nutrients to speak of, rendering there availability illogical.

The allocation of more funds via legislation like the Health, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is good on the surface, but to “enable the secretary of agriculture to establish national nutrition standards” is not necessarily helpful. Not if that person decides, such as the case in Huntington, WV, that french fries count as a vegetable. Or that canola oil is healthy (it’s not). Or that saturated fat is somehow unhealthy (it’s not).

Again, I do believe that Ms. Lazzaro, and many others, “have the kid’s best interests at heart”. I do. But it’s not enough. Our educators need educated. The idea that “fat-free pudding and reduced-fat cottage cheese” is “cutting edge” – or healthy for that matter – is laughable. One would have thought the fat-phobia phase went out in the ‘80s right with Olivia Newton John. Those products are anything but healthy once you look at all the chemicals and additives that are poured into them to make them palatable. Not to mention many of our most vital nutrients and vitamins are fat soluble; remove the fat and you absorb nothing. Nutrients don’t function in isolation.

There is nothing inherently wrong with carbs, fat, or protein. The devil is in the refinement and processing of each of them. The solution is simple on the surface – eat REAL, nutrient dense foods. For all of the fuss about food labels, if what you are buying has a food label – chances are you shouldn’t be eating it in the first place.

The deeper issue is captured beautifully by Michelle Tejchman of Moon Middle School – “I’m a junk-food person.” Judging by the alarming rate of increase in obesity and diabetes – in our children – she is far from alone. But WHY is she a junk-food person? We can throw money at this problem just as we have at education in general. But it won’t be enough. Until there is a fundamental shift in the home - and America as a whole, the nation’s health will continue to decline right along with its intellect.

Jamie has done something beautiful. Hopefully it’s the beginning of a new movement, one which I intend to be a part of. The question is….

“Who’s coming with me?” – Jerry McGuire



Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.7
Glucose: 101

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 114

Meal #2

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 2 T coconut oil
- 14 asparagus spears
- 6.5 oz. red potatoes
- 2 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour:

Meal #3

- ~ 6 oz. chicken breast
- ~ 2 oz. hamburger
- ~ 9 oz. broccoli
- ~ 8 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 8 oz. green beans
- ~ 3 oz. tomato
- ~ 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

* Forgot my testing strips so no readings for the past 2 meals.

Totals: 3000 kcals
  • Fat: 188g
  • Carb: 154g
  • Protein: 195g

15 units lantus




Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Articles of Interest...

Some Cells in Pancreas Can Spontaneously Change Into Insulin-Producing Cells, Diabetes Researchers Show - ScienceDaily.com

What Insulin (and Leptin) Say to the Brain - ScienceDaily.com


Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.7
Glucose: 130

Meal #1

- 1/2 lb. grass fed beef
- 1 oz. provolone cheese
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 153

Meal #2 (trained prior)

- 3 egg omelet
- 2 oz. mexican cheese
- 2 T coconut oil
- 8.5 oz. red potatoes
- 19 asparagus spears
- 2 T olive oil
- 4 oz. strawberries
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 69

Meal #3

- 6 sausage links
- 3 oz. mozzarella cheese
- ~ 27 oz. broccoli
- ~ 5 oz. tomato
- ~ 1 T butter
- 2 units novalin

1 Hour: 126

Totals: 3000 kcals
  • Fat: 187g
  • Carb: 181g
  • Protein: 187g

15 units lantus




Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Today's Numbers...

Temp: 97.8
Glucose: 176*

* day 4 of 0 units lantus

Meal #1

- 5 sausage patties
- 24 oz. broccoli
- 1 T butter
- 1.5 oz. mozzarella cheese
- 1.5 oz. strawberries
- 3 units novalin

1 Hour: 199

Meal #2

- 6 sausage links
- ~ 22.5 oz. cauliflower
- ~ 22.5 oz. broccoli
- ~ 8 oz. baked potato
- 4.5 pats of butter + another ~ 2 T butter on veggies
- 2 units novalin

90 min: 185

Totals: 2500 kcals

  • Fat: 168g
  • Carb: 166g
  • Protein: 114g

15 units lantus