About book The Calorie Myth: How To Eat More And Exercise Less With The Smarter Science Of Slim (2013)
Kind of frustrated that there are a million different opinions/suggestions/guidelines/restrictions for health out there. All conveniently backed by science, too.There were some things in this book that I'm skeptical about (using artificial sweeteners and protein powders, having a narrow list of "best" (he calls them SANE) foods, etc.) but I did get some helpful takeaways. These are coming from where I'm at right now.*I like vegetables so that usually isn't a challenge for me, but I shouldn't be so afraid of protein and healthy fats.*I eat too much sugar. I try to enjoy in moderation but what I eat is still too much. I should also consider starchy foods as one step away from sugar.*Less but more efficient exercise is better, yay because I hate exercise! I've always preferred interval-type workouts, but I want to look into what he calls "eccentric" workouts.The last couple days I've tried to follow his guidelines with how much protein to eat at each meal, and it isn't working for me right now. It gives me heartburn and makes me feel icky. I'm not sure if I need to get used to it or adjust. But I absolutely do not get hungry!Generally, I agree with his premise that we need to eat food that nourishes our body, and that if we eat high quality food we don't need to obsess about calories. I also agree that "calories in-calories out" is oversimplified since there are other biological processes happening in our bodies that affect how food is used and how fat is burned. I think reading this book is going to point me to some healthier habits in my life, but I'm not going to completely subscribe to his program. Sarah Clement's review articulates everything there is to be said about this book, but I'll add twocents. It's an interesting-enough read, espousing some basic tenets of any healthy lifestyle, but it's hardly groundbreaking. The nutritional information runs parallel to just about every current fad-diet out there, but for me it was the fitness routine being advocated that really brought the book's thrust into doubt. With fitness, Bailor argues for better health by doing fewer/limited workouts, down to a workout once or (maybe) twice per week. Exercise is made to sound *scary*! It is a thing to be avoided, except for this 20-min block when Saturn and Uranus are in alignment. He omits the point that our general level of *activity,* not exercise, has become the problem over time. People used to walk places, bike places, etc. This is why you see cities (where people walk blocks to the grocery store or to catch public transport) boasting a better general level of personal health/fitness than rural or small-town areas where people drive everywhere. We have become sedentary. *That* is the real problem, and 20-30min of "smart exercise" each week isn't going to solve the issue. When did I get fat for the first time in my life? When I left DC and bought a car. A year later, while eating according to the basic tenets of SANE dieting, I've gained over 10lbs. Lovely. Here's how you get fit: commute under your own power as often as possible, take the stairs, garden and other outdoor hobbies, etc., like your lean grandparents used to do. With regard to diet, you're encouraged to drink water. And tea. And a LOT of it. Why? To make you feel full and to discourage you from eating, of course. Almost as if consuming too many calories was a concern. Go figure. Lastly, the recipes. I wanted to find some really nice ones to add to my routine outside of my Mastering The Art of French Cooking, but alas, most were somewhat sad/frightening, and were lacking in inspiration and excitement. Conclusion: more snake oil.Solution: eat healthy real foods, drink an appropriate amount of water, and increase your daily level of activity. Maybe join a club sport so you can play the way our ancestors used to.
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I learned some new things, agreed with part of it, disagreed with part of it.
—anthony
