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March 22, 2007
Appetite and Exercise, Resveratrol
Just a quick one before I dash into another meeting.
Short answer on resveratrol: MR isn't convinced that just the resveratrol in wine is what gives it its health benefits. He is convinced of the very good epidemiology on red wine, so we drink it. But he's not convinced that resveratrol itself is responsible, in the absence of other ingredients. The recent study on overweight animals and resveratrol doesn't help us out much as we're not overweight. Can't extrapolate to CR people. MR is very conservative about what we take, so until he's quite convinced, we don't take the stuff. He has a very open mind about resveratrol and is following the evidence as it comes in, but as yet, we're not taking it. I'll let you know if that changes. Like all supplement decisions, all factors including diet and lifestyle must be taken into consideration.
I'm sure MR will write in if I've screwed that explanation up somehow... I haven't run it by him, so until he gives the final okay, keep in mind that I may have gotten something wrong.
In other news, I have definitely increased my calories since increasing my exercise. I am averaging more like 1500 these days I think, since my quotidian days are 1300 or so and I've been out to eat quite a few times. I notice that on days when I take Pilates, I am much, much hungrier than on days when I don't. And the difference between 20 minutes on the treadmill and 40 minutes on the treadmill really is about 100 calories worth of appetite. A few days last week when I didn't go to the gym I noticed that my appetite went back to normal, and that I was easily eating 1200 calorie days. But those workouts up my calorie requirement! That's just common sense, but those of you starting an exercise program or veteran exercisers need to think about it as you decide on target calorie levels. We must avoid setting ourselves up for excess hunger, binges, or overly quick weight loss by setting calorie targets that make sense. Even those of you who are very active outside of a formal exercise program (active jobs, hiking, walking to work or biking, etc.) should think about how many calories you need to eat to sustain your activity. All of us need exercise, preferably the bone building kind as well as cardio and flexibility. So we have to plan for it!
Once I stabilize a bit I'm going to gradually lower my calories again, but for now I'm focusing on making exercise a consistent part of my life and keeping my calories stable, as low as possible while avoiding hunger freak outs, and my nutrition high.
More soon on my bad kid friend week upcoming. Sara will understand my mixture of gleeful anticipation and terror as I contemplate not one, not two, but three days out of town with my wine wonk friend. I do adore the guy, but he keeps refilling my glass and I've got to find a way to deal!
Meanwhile, the good kids are coming to town! SOOOO excited re: our CR weekend!!!
Posted by april at March 22, 2007 7:53 AM
Comments
I have no doubt you will exercise the restraint with the wine that I do not. :-)
Posted by: Sara at March 22, 2007 8:26 AM
Michael has a great post on the resveratrol topic. You can see it here
Resveratrol: Still High-Risk Gambling
http://www.methuselahfoundation.org/forums/showthread.php?t=123
Posted by: Matt - uk at March 22, 2007 10:47 AM
Oh, I wish I could come to your CR weekend! :(
I know you all will have a great time.
Posted by: Nenette at March 22, 2007 2:25 PM