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June 2, 2005
Back Away From the Bagel. Push Away From the Table.
I had lunch today with one of my good friends who isn't into CR but who usually has a clever line or two about food. Today he composed what sounded like a poem:
Back away from the bagel
Push away from the table.
If VLC had been around she would have no doubt composed a CR haiku, as she is an excellent haiku-ist. But alas, she's away at a wedding in Ohio.
That bagel poetry reminded me of how important it's been for me to cut grains out of my every day diet and turn them into a food that I eat as a special treat, not as a staple. When I look at other people's diets, especially people who consider themselves "healthy" eaters, I usually indentify grains as a big source of empty calories. In addition to the lack of nutrient density in most grains, the effects on blood sugar seem to cause extra hunger. I even experience anxiety spikes from eating things like bread or pretzels. It's not worth it.
I got into an interesting conversation yesterday about CR vs. ON. One of the participants was asserting that it was nutrition that really caused the CR effect... a point which has been demonstrated to be false many times. Alas, it's Calories, Calories, Calories. Those rats were fed the nutritional equivalent of Slim Fast. Now I'm not saying we should all go out there and eat Slim Fast -- as you know, MR and I are fanatical about our nutrition (okay, he's more fanatical than I am, but I strive for greater fanaticism in my every day life!) and he's constantly attacking people on the CR list if they have low calorie diets that are devoid of nutrition. But the fact is, simply "eating healthy" and exercising isn't going to extend your life. Go read the RANT again.
The topic came up because I was sharing how I've really gotten to that point in my CR where I feel like I'm finally fighting my body's natural weight and calorie level. Who would have guessed that after an entire lifetime of weighing much more than I do now, I would find that my natural weight, or the one my body seems to cling to, is considered "underweight" on those height and weight charts! Funny funny funny! And I still don't look skinny AT ALL. Tell them, MR's mom! MR may be skinny but I look like the kind of girl who might eat a wasabi pea now and again.
The friend was saying that I shouldn't worry so much about dropping my calories and that I should just keep doing the ultra healthy eating I've been doing. I argued of course that I want to not just avoid obesity, diabetes and a heart attack, but I actually want to slow down my biological aging process. Hard to get this across to people. No wonder... it took forever to get it through my head.
I am gradually dropping my calories, and my weight has started to drop again, though at a pace that would make plate tectonics look fast. I am looking forward to six days of perfectly controlled measured no eating out CR food nirvana in Calgary at mid-month. It's just so easy to do CR when I'm with MR. Everything in my environment actually supports my CR practice, instead of fighting with me and pushing me to have "just one bite." (The "just one bite" rant is working itself out in my head... stay tuned.) Eating really good food at regularly timed intervals with excellent company is such a help to staying on the straight and narrow.
I really don't know how people who are involved with non-CR practitioners do it. Or worse yet, with people who are hostile to CR. Food is so important, and it's so much fun to share good food that noursihes the body and the soul with someone you love. I think we CR folk really enjoy our food much more than the non-CR'd. We're actually hungry by the time we sit down to eat! When no one else is around, we lick our plates to make sure that we aren't leaving any extra calories behind. Okay, chances are most CR practitioners don't do that, but MR got me started when I first visited him and now I do it at home too when I'm by myself. Especially my breakfast dish, which has flax oil mixed with Carolina barbeque sauce left over at the end. Yum! I usually end up with a bit of it on my nose, but it's a small price to pay for the most delicious part of breakfast. Don't worry, we only lick our plates when no one else is around. And what MR and I do in the privacy of our own home is none of anyone else's business!
Posted by april at June 2, 2005 5:01 PM
Comments
"I strive for greater fanaticism in my every day life" is such a great line! I want to have bumper stickers made, and tote bags, and t-shirts, and mugs.
Ok, I had to laugh: as I read this I had JUST finished licking my bowl after eating some yogurt & berries, and probably still had purplish goo all over my face. I eat yogurt out of these rather deep but festive & colorful little polka dot bowls, and it's really a gymnastic feat to clean every last anti-oxidant molecule off the bottom. I think I've got it down to an art. Very satisfying, though thank heavens for privacy.
-Liz
Posted by: Elizabeth at June 2, 2005 2:11 PM