New diet
by chris
Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever heard something a hundred times and only thought vaguely about it, and then the 101st time you think, “yeah! he’s right, I should!”? Well that’s what happened to me and food.
I have heard innumerable times about how important a good diet is, and I have heard several good diets. I’m not talking about Atkins, I’m taking about simple, healthy, still tasty diets. I have (mostly) given up processed foods, white bread and meat.
The trigger for this life change was the video “What’s Wrong with What We Eat”, from TED.com, which I recommend you watch here. I knew many of the things he talked about, but it made me realise that I should start eating more healthy. I go to the gym (started going about a month ago with the other King), I don’t smoke or drink (almost never, anyway), why shouldn’t I start eating right? I don’t know about you, but I plan to live to 100!
The other reason I decided to all but give up on meat (I’m not stopping entirely, just cutting down to maybe one small portion a day, which makes it easier than giving it up entirely) is when I learned, from the same video, the enormous hazard livestock poses to the environment. I had no idea that those cute little cows, pigs and chickens actually pollute more than transportation. The biggest sources of pollution in the world are, in order, energy production, livestock, transportation. I was mind boggled. When countries develop, in general, they eat more meat (and who can blame them, it’s delicious). With the rise of countries like China, Brazil and Russia (India is mostly vegetarian), we can expect more and more livestock production, and more and more cow farts. With all the energy I already consume, I can at least reduce the amount slightly while doing something good for myself.
A change in diet, if I keep it up, is a good way to be healthier now and in the future, and to do a small part to reduce my effect on the environment.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hey, congratulations on changing to a healthier way of eating! My nutritional journey has been long indeed; when I first moved out on my own and started cooking for myself, I paid attention only to macronutrients. I figured I could nourish myself using only staple foods (bread, pasta, etc) and meat. After my strength at rock-climbing and in the gym disappeared, I figured out that something was missing, and started getting servings of fruit and veggies.
I am still planning how I will eat in Shanghai this coming year, as I won’t have access to cooking facilities. What are you using as sources of protein besides meat?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I drink a lot of milk and yogurt, plus there is protein in vegetables and soy. Besides, I haven’t eliminated meat, just cut down a lot. Feels good so far and my weight lifting regimen hasn’t suffered (as far as I know).
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 am
My ‘this in China’ moment for the day: “I drink a lot of…yogurt.”
I actually love the little yogurt drinks you can get in convenience stores in Taiwan, though I didn’t look very hard for them in the mainland.
Sounds like you have a good mix of sources there. Remember to get some simple sugars in your post-workout meal along with bioavailable protein to restore the glycogen levels in your muscles. I actually mix protein powder and sugar with water in a bottle and sip it during my workout. It’s awful for the teeth, but it lets me keep my energy and power up over longer workouts.
Keep lifting, and keep studying Chinese~ If you have enough nutritional info on stuff to calculate, try to get 1 g of protein per lb of bodyweight, or around 2 g / kg, each day. 0.5g protein / kg is considered ‘maintenance’ level, so you need to get more so you have the materials to build and repair your muscles.
If you can stand melodramatic Chinese-language TV, lately I’ve been enjoying Taiwan’s 《命中注定我爱你》.