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November 28, 2009
Shoot High -- Aim Low (Carb, that is)*
I am flirting with the idea of doing a low carb diet.
Not the lower carb, higher protein, recovering fat phobic diet that I've been doing for years. It's a radical departure from the nearly all-carb low-fat vegan diet I was on for years, but it's not truly low carb. Sorta like "Cooking Light" magazine would be better described as "Cooking Lighter," you could describe my diet as "So much lower carb than I was eating before!!!" Or: "You would die instantly of complications of spontaneously induced type two diabetes if you knew how high carb a diet I was eating six years ago."
Now, I don't eat sugar. The first changes I made when I started CR were:
-- eliminated all added sugar (this from someone who prior to 2004 took the sugar jar at Starbucks and poured it into her coffee for about a five count)
-- eliminated all grains -- no more nachos, bagels with cream cheese, or bread from the ubiquitous bread basket
-- stopped drinking any alcohol besides red wine
Over time, I relaxed all of these rules: occasionally eating bread at restaurants, and I started drinking white wine in the summer. But about two years ago I made the discovery that eating sugar, just like drinking coffee, gives me anxiety attacks. So I put out a memo that at the holidays I hoped friends and family could understand if I passed up all desserts and sweet treats: that I was not depriving myself of pleasure, but rather depriving myself of horrible anxiety. I've barely had any sugar at all since then, and I find that on an empty stomach, even an overdose of fruit (which I eat rarely anyhow, though I do love the occasional berry or melon or banana, and I can do some pretty amazing things with grapefruit) can spike my anxiety levels, which now between yoga and moderate CR, are very low on a quotidian basis.
Most of my carbs, therefore, come from a) veggies b) dairy c) wine. Though my diet is not as high protein as it was when I mainlined a cup of eggwhites every morning before six, it's still relatively high protein. Fat... well, I hit about 25% on a regular basis, between flax oil, olive oil, almonds, avocadoes, and the occasional cheeseburger and fries when I'm out. But it's still quite high carb.
Since Dr. Richard Feinman's presentation at CR Conference (aka GSA, but to me, it was CR with a bunch of other people milling about) I've been wondering if I might find increased benefits from taking my carbs lower. There can be no question that, at least for most people, lowering carbs makes it easier to lower calories as a whole. I call it the Subway Club Effect: why is it that I can be completely satisfied all afternoon from one Subway Club salad, 140 calories, while my quotidian lunch of 100 g (or thereabouts) of kale plus one cup nonfat yogurt plus 10 grams almonds leaves me hungry by 3 or 4, even though it has more calories? The protein itself has a staying power that carbs just don't, and I suspect the low-ish carbness helps.
I've been trying to take my calories lower for awhile now, and coming up against various roadblocks. With my higher level of activity and active yoga muscle, which I'm building every day, it's not possible for me to eat the extremely low calorie levels I ate in early CR when I was completely sedentary. While my body fat percentage has been going down for awhile now, with all that muscle growing, my weight has stayed frustratingly the same. I feel like I need to do something to shake up my body, and my routines.
In the old days I'd resort to extremely low calorie levels or fasting. Something of a specialist in the psycho-active properties of diet, I am very familiar with how fasting can bring about a state of almost ecstatic calm euphoria. CR induced euphoria, it is in the early stages of CR weight loss. I remember it well. I'm sure I will get there again, but with all my yoga, I don't see myself being able to eat 1000 calories a day to make it. I'll a) lose weight too fast b) faint in Jonathan's class c) be tempted to eat the neighbors. And I don't want to immediately lose all the muscle I've worked so hard to build up.
I suspect that a real low carb diet might give me the psycho-active benefits of fasting without the dangers, and with less muscle-loss. And if I could kick-start my CR program, escape this annoying weight plateau, and lower my calories without dramatically increasing my hunger, well... what's not to love?
Well, for starters, I would probably have to give up, at least in the early phases, my nightly glass(es) of wine. ????? My favorite treat, savored the way a choco-o-holic savors that piece of Godiva... no wine? None? Well, just for awhile.
Second, MR has profound reservations about the idea. He's not opposed at all to low carb diets, in fact, he is favorably inclined towards them, and at this point his preferred diet is 20% protein, 40% carb, and 40% fat. He would be thrilled if I got my fat content up, as he has always worried that the seemingly slow pace of my neurological healing (as in my tailbone injury, that plagued me from August 2, 2008 -- my 34th birthday -- until I began studying Iyengar yoga with Jonathan) was in part a result of my low fat diet. If I were to replace some carbs with fat, or even protein, he would be ecstatic.
But attempting to hit the low carb levels in the induction phase of low carb diets: that's too low for him. Even for a week or two. But if I were to really come off the carbs, and get the fasting-like psychological-psychadellic effect, I think it would take that kind of abrupt shift, at least for a short period of time.
Perhaps I will write Dr. Feinman with this question: for someone who is definitely not overweight, but wants to reduce her calories with the intent of eventually eating CR-levels (again, this time with yoga muscle) can a low carb diet be helpful, and if so, should I approach it the same way a normal person would, or should I start at some other point? My main priorities: lowering my total calorie intake, maintaining adequate/optimal nutrition, maintaining the muscle strength and energy necessary for my hardcore yoga practice, and not going insane with hunger. And eventually being able to have a glass of wine at dinner?
Wow, that sounds like a tall order for a short girl.
I am still just flirting with the idea... not at all committed. And definitely wouldn't go low carb during the holiday month, when I have so many parties to attend that it will be a struggle to lose even a pound this month. But come January... might be a nice way to start the year. If I could lower my calories without losing too much muscle and strength, and get the benefits of fasting that I can no longer afford if I want to maintain my yoga practice... it's definitely worth considering.
I've been looking for something for quite some time to shake up my nutritional routines. This might not be a bad idea.
*It is indeed a reference to the "Yes" song I just downloaded onto my Ipod. Are they Canadian?
Posted by april at November 28, 2009 12:10 PM
Comments
VERY happy to hear you're not going to forego the fruit of the vine over the holidays! So MR has veered from The Zone??? Holy moley! As to "Yes", they're Brits.
Posted by: Judith at November 28, 2009 6:14 PM
Since you are still in the flirting stage, have you flirted with what a daily meal plan might look like? I suppose it would include a lot of cruciferous vegetables, very little if any fruit, and what about dairy carbs? I have tried low carb before, but that was before CRON, so I wasn't monitoring my nutrient intake.
I have recently been researching AGEs, and I know that one way to cause serum levels to rise is from hyperglycemia. If I can control my sugar intake, reduce dietary AGE exposure, and supplement properly, I am hoping to mitigate AGE damage.
From this research, I realized I have to eliminate all process and concentrated sugar (not that I was consuming that much, but my bi-monthly carb sessions were not helping my CR progress) in my diet, so hearing your ideas for your low carb may inspire some new meal ideas for me. :-)
Posted by: Sie at November 28, 2009 8:37 PM