MostlyGeek

The reasons so many of us are obese, dying from heart disease and diabetes are simple. We eat crap and we don’t get enough exercise. The solution is just as straightforward. Eat right. Get some exercise. However that is easier said than done because of our westernized lifestyle.

The westernized lifestyle is the most powerful idea ever. It has enabled us to lead increasingly effortless lives. Never before has our needs been met with so little effort. It is also the most dangerous and destructive idea ever. Never before has personal and social accountability been so low. We have been placated by our penchant for convenience and abundance. How we eat is no different. We eat what is most convenient and most abundant. Sadly, that is usually junk.

To change the world we first need to change ourselves.  Understand that our nutrition is controlled by entities with profit as their top priority. That is their nature, blaming them is pointless. Listening and trusting them is our fault. It is time for us to hold ourselves accountable for our health.

This is my declaration of accountability:

1. Make a commitment to excellence. Follow the Path to Greatness.
2. Make healthy food convenient and abundant.
3. Share the knowledge with others.

This is my plan:

What to Eat

1. No sugar. Some fruits. Lots of vegetables. Protein and fats.
2. Avoid processed foods. Breads, grains, candy, sugar based products.
3. Eat more good fats and less bad fats.  Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats = good. Saturated and trans fats (hydrogenated oils) = bad.

How Much To Eat

1. Use the Zone diet proportions as a guideline. You should read Enter The Zone, available at your local bookstore.
2. Tweak protein and fat blocks depending on goals. My goal is to gain muscle so I use the carb blocks as a maximum limit. The protein and fat blocks as my minimum daily limit.
3. Break up Zone blocks evenly throughout the day.

When to Eat

1. Eat breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, snack.
2. Tailor meal times with your schedule. I go to Crossfit 3 to 4 times a week. My performance is best if I don’t eat a large meal 3 to 4 hours before Crossfit. So I need to eat immediately after.
3. Tailor your schedule to your meals. I need to eat a lot so in order to get it all in I need to get up earlier for breakfast.

Making Healthy Food Convenient and Abundant

1. Cook more. Prepare and package your meals a few days in advance.
2. Use tupperware and ziplock bags to enable grab and go.
3. Snacks can be nuts (fat), fruit (carb) and deli meat (protein). These keep for quite a while so make them a week in advance.
4. Commit to excellence, follow the Path to Greatness. Work consistently on making eating healthy more effortless.
5. Share what you learn.

Props:

I owe a lot of the push to change my thinking and actions towards my nutrition to my trainers at Crossfit Vancouver and Skip Chase of Mt. Baker Crossfit. I encourage everybody to go and meet the people at their local Crossfit. One of the most effective ways to improve your life is to improve your environment.

If you ever visit Crossfit Vancouver, look for the Butler (me), or hopefully one day the Governor. Feel free to ask about the nick name…. thanks Sheppy.