Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Louis VI]

Thanks for the video. That Fat Head (2009) documentary has some great political historical analyses of the development of fat-is-unhealthy thinking as well as food for thought regarding cholesterol. The best parts come in the middle and latter half. I found a stream for it here: http://ganjavideo.com/fat-head-2009_11336.html

I'm now wondering if I should have a second yolk a day. I presently have one yolk and three whites. But I also have some meat, milk and a little cheese daily as well as a handful of nuts, so I could probably pass on the second yolk.

[CtotheB]

Yolks don't have any carbs and therefore have no bearing on weight loss. Go wild.

[goniff]

i don't want to egg you on
but the "yolks" on you

[Louis VI]

Nearly two weeks into this new way of eating and I've decided to do away with the one food that now seems so sweet to my palate: I've decided to cut out the cup of plain yogurt from my yearlong project menu. I had included it for its many nutritional benefits: protein, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium and Zinc, and a very good source of Riboflavin, Calcium and Phosphorus. But I've researched each of them and found I have enough other sources of those things without the many grams of sugar in even the plainest of yogurt.

The yogurt and my daily glass of milk was one of the six minimeals of my day, an early morning starter. I'll have to think of a substitute. Maybe I'll bump the eggs earlier in the day, and/or the handful of almonds.

Now, the only sugary food I'm consuming daily is bell peppers and man do they seem sweet! I like the taste but can do without it I think, so I'll probably start limiting the quantity and add more of the hot peppers to my menu.

Oh wait, onions I just noticed has a lot of carbs and so while I'll still consume it daily, it'll be on the to-be-limited list.

My daily unlimited veggie consumption list is: celery, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, lettuce and other green leafs, red cabbage, hot peppers, mushrooms (not technically a veggie). Daily limited now: garlic, onions, bell peppers. Asparagus I have once a week in a soup.

[Zyzyfer]

Good luck but if you're banning things like onions and proper plain yogurt (that Dannon crap is yes sweet, but Denmark produces a very sour yogurt) then I'm a bit concerned. Nothing I can say to defend this viewpoint but meh.

Actually, I'd be keen to hear some of those recipes you're whipping up.

[jlb]

My first time chiming in with this thread, although I've been following it from the start.

I would caution against restricting certain vegetables like onions, garlic and bell peppers. They are extremely healthy, even considered "super-foods" in most circles. And they are basic for adding nice flavor to almost anything that you cook.

Basically, it will be easier to maintain your diet if there is a bit of variety in it. If you restrict yourself so much, it will require a gargantuan amount of willpower to maintain it.

All vegetables are healthy (with the exception of avocados, which have a lot of fat and should be eaten in moderation), so just eat a variety and enjoy. And one serving of fruit/day won't hurt you either, even though it does have a bit of sugar.

Anyway, well done so far! Keep it up! I'm coming to Jeju for a couple months in the summer and hope to see you around. Go for a hike or something.

[Louis VI]

[silkhighway]

Hey Louis,

I wish you the best of luck, but I'll just chime in a bit. I lost quite a bit of weight just watching what I ate and exercising more. I also definitely noticed my body tightening up and looking better, and I hardly "dieted" at all which really just meant cutting out processed foods, fast foods, and especially junk food. I'm still slightly hefty but my BMI is within reason now whereas I was borderline obese before.

I think you're making a huge mistake by cutting out fruit and vegetables from your diet. Nobody ever got fat off eating carrot sticks and celery, although the dips and cream sauces and whatever they added to them may not have helped. Eating food first and foremost needs to remain a pleasurable affair. I think at the very least you should consult a physician before taking on such an extreme diet. Nutritional science is wacky and inexact and whatever study you present to me supporting whatever view, I can probably find five studies that contradict it. Two books I really liked on this subject are by Michael Pollan The Omnivore's Dillema and In Defense of Food. These aren't dieting books but they are valuable books to read about attitudes towards food and thinking about where our food comes from and how we consume it. The key is you have to be in it for the longterm and that means maintaing healthy attitudes about food and focusing on what is fundamental to a good lifestyle.

[T-Bone]

I just want to say good luck to you. I hope you are as committed and enthusiastic 3, 6, and 12 months from now as you are today. I have struggled with weight issues all my life and I find that long-term commitment is the hardest thing to maintain.

Also, whatever works for you, go with it. Everyone has advice about what to eat, what to exercise, etc. And it's all good advice and well-intentioned, of course. But seriously, if what you are doing works, just keep doing it. A friend of mine who is a doctor told me that all weight-loss plans are effective, whether it's low-carb, low-fat, or whatever, as long as you stick to the plan . That's all there is to it.

So pllllllease, stick with it, and if you do have a day or two where you binge eat, get lazy, get drunk or otherwise fall from the program, just get back on the horse as soon as possible and keep your long term focus in mind.

[Louis VI]

[Louis VI]

END OF WEEK 2 UPDATE: weight 136.9 kg, waist 129 cm

I lost only 1.2 kg (2.5 pounds) and my waist only went down by two centimeters (not even an inch). Yet my face looks thinner, I'm getting compliments and I feel stronger. Can I assume that muscle growth is the culprit? I certainly was all flabby from a sedentary lifestyle before. Now my body is feeling firmer all over.

Possibly

(a) I need to kick up the exercise. No more leisurely walks on flat roads. That was effort last week, but it's time to tackle the hills, and doubletime! I must sweat.

(b) My metabolism isn't tricked by the six low carb minimeals and has reduced its rate, thinking the body is starving. This is less likely, but I'll have to re-investigate. I thought my insulin levels were reduced by the absence of sugars in the food I consume. I have a hard time believing that the small cup of yogurt and all the onions I consume upset the process, but maybe I ought to calculate the content of those foods and see if in fact it does. I'll have to do more research about that.

I am disappointed. But I do feel great physically. I even forget I have a stomach sometimes, something I haven't been able to do for quite a while. For the sake of my progress, it's time I shift the focus from what I eat to what I do. I thought it would be a month before I'd need to increase the exercise level. But oh well. Here we go! Excuse me, I have a hill to climb.

[Dev]

Funny about the timing of this thread.

There's a new documentary coming to cinemas in the U.S. & Canada called Forks Over Knives. It advocates less meat & dairy and more veges.
http://youtu.be/O7ijukNzlUg

*for those teachers living elsewhere, you may want to visit your favorite download site in a few months.

Bill Clinton lost 24 pounds by switching to a vegan diet.
http://youtu.be/R3ied_AD4iE

[mmstyle]

Louis, it is completely normal to level off, and find that you have lost fewer cm than before. However, you will continue to look physically different. Changes may be more subtle as your body adjusts. Do not lose heart over this. Think of it this way, there are still many internal, healthful changes going on in your body. Do NOT think of the scale or the tape measure as the end all be all measure of your success. At this point, you should be feeling more energized, you may be noticing improvements in your skin (a healthful diet is so good for your skin, and as a woman, this means a lot to me). As others have said, and I agree, you need to ensure that you have enough variety in your diet. You will find it easier. IF you start to struggle, consider this.

Be well, feel good and take care of yourself! If you want to, order yogurt starter off the internet, and make your own yogurt (only milk and starter needed!) I am making a batch as I write!

[DorkothyParker]

[Zyzyfer]