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March 31, 2008
The Bet
I have a bet with my best friend that I will reach a certain weight by a certain time. The certain time is somewhat dependent on external events, but we are fairly sure that the certain time is four to six weeks from now. If I win, he takes me to our favorite restaurant. If he wins, I suppose I'm taking him... I haven't even considered the consequences of losing.
I find this bet very motivating. Not that I find the idea of a long, healthy life with my darling MR less than motivating, it's just not quite as immediate as the bragging rights to winning this bet.
So I've been playing with calorie calculators to figure out exactly how many calories I need to eat to make it to my goal by the goal date. It can be done. It's on the higher side of how fast you should lose weight, but not too fast. I really should have paid more attention earlier, then I wouldn't be in catch-up mode, but there's nothing like four to six weeks left to focus one's mind of what it takes to get there.
How funny that with all I know about the science of CR, about nutrition, about how great it feels when I keep my calories low, etc. etc. etc. I am motivated, more than anything, to keep my calories low and my nutrition high, by a bet. I know that I can't keep my calories low without good nutrition because I tried that years ago and I was just too hungry, it's the way to set up for a binge. I can't afford to fall off the CR wagon: I have to win this bet. I mean, I have to live a long and healthy life. But mostly, I need to win this bet.
After this, I'm going to have to make another bet, and then another, and then another, only those will be bets that I can stay exactly where I am calorie-wise, as eventually I won't need to lower calories. These bets are so good for keeping me on track. Who would have thunk it?
Posted by april at March 31, 2008 6:34 AM
Comments
Hey - next bet is mine! We can bet some Amazon thing or another. I want to lose those 5 pounds that I've gained slowly over the last 3 years.
Posted by: Little MR at March 31, 2008 7:09 AM
Good idea. I need to get sleep, too--I like to eat to stay awake, I think, when I am so tired.
Posted by: Sara at March 31, 2008 10:57 AM
Hi April,
I've been wondering for a long time... do you eat any saturated fat? You seem to eat a low fat diet, any reason for cutting fat down to such a low level?
Can you site any studies?
I'm a big fan of Weston A. Price (http://www.westonaprice.org/splash_2.htm) and I'd love to know your personal reasons. I hope it's not just to cut calories.
Thanks, been reading your blog for a few years now and still enjoy it.
Posted by: Louise at April 2, 2008 12:25 AM
Hi Louise,
Thanks for writing!
I actually don't eat a low fat diet. Most of my fat comes from almonds, avocados, olives, flax oil, and olive oil. I eat a whole lot of almonds because they are a good source of fat and also Vitamin E. I eat two teaspoons of flax oil per day. I also eat chicken approximately once a week, and I eat sushi with avocado and salmon or crab about once a week. I try to limit saturated fat, while getting quite a bit of unsaturated fat.
I also try to balance omega 3s with omega 6s, hence the flax oil. I shoot for 30% fat in my diet, which is certainly not a low fat diet.
I just looked up my "new quotidian diet," which is the basic framework onto which I add a bit here and there or switch things a bit, but it's the outline of what I eat most days. It has 29% fat. The things I add onto that to round out the total calories tend to be carbish or protein, like fruit, lowfat cottage cheese, or a whey shake. But when I eat those things, I eat them along with fat, usually almonds. This afternoon when I pick up a decaf skim latte on the road, I'll drink it with ten grams of almonds.
So no, not a lowfat diet. Just a low in saturated fat diet.
a
Posted by: april at April 2, 2008 5:11 AM
Thanks for your swift reply!
OK, so not low fat, but why so low in saturated fat, references? Studies? MR seems to do a lot of research, just wondering if any papers put you off animal and tropical fats.
From all I've read, the body is not efficient in utilizing omega 3s without the presence of saturated fats.
I eat a diet more like 40% fat, 30% carbs, 30% protein.
Louise
Posted by: Louise at April 2, 2008 7:54 PM