Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes

Thanks for the encouragement, from you and Coyote both. I just want to see if this discussion helps me change things just because I get ideas from it, because I don't have the motivation it takes to give up foods I'm addicted to for others that are better for me, so I'm focusing on adding rather than substituting. Maybe I could experiment with omelettes as you suggest Coyote, but that isn't going to happen right now.Right now it would be super hard to give up the sourdough hamburger because it's so easy and I like it so much. Also hard to give up the heavy cream in my coffee, which wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't also eating carbs but is a big problem added to carbs. I started the heavy cream because of the low carb influence, but now I would have a very hard time giving it up even though I'm also eating carbs. I'm sure this combo is one big reason I've gained weight over the last three years.I also have a condition called fatty liver, a step on the way to cirrhosis even if you never drink alcohol. My doctor wasn't very clear about the condition or what to do about it except lose weight, so I've been reading up on it and decided I have to do something. I found out what foods are good for the liver and am increasing them in my diet. Except for green tea I like all the liver-friendly foods, and I think I can make myself have one item I don't like much, the tea. Maybe I could drink it often enough to displace some of the cream-heavy coffee. It's on my next shopping list.I've also been having an email discussion about healthy eating that may help motivate me. One subject has been tart cherry juice for its ability to reduce inflammation and the pain of arthritis. My sister who has bad arthritis in her hands says it has made a big difference in the pain. So I tried it and love the stuff. Guess why. It's got a lot of natural sugar in it -- that word "tart" doesn't really mean really tart. Sigh. My email friends don't have a problem with blood sugar but I do. So can I find a way to have it with fiber which may reduce the blood sugar problem? I'm working on it.I'm just doing what I can manage to do without making a big project of it, the aim being to improve my health if possible and not worry about the weight for now. It's hard to give up stuff so I'm focusing on adding stuff I like, and maybe eventually it will displace the bad stuff. Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

You mention heavy cream--if you get raw organic heavy cream that's a very good source of fats, which the low carb diet is supposed to rely on.So, don't give up the heavy cream in the coffee, but give up some form of carbs instead.One of the problems with carbs and sugars is they feed the insulin cycle, and you're trying to substitute fats instead, which is the opposite of the food pyramid that has ruined so many people these past 50 years.

One suggestion Faith is a rowing machine. Most gyms have one and it is a great way to get both a cardio and resistance workout without placing too much strain on lower joints like knees and hips. There are many home versions as well that can be purchased. Another suggestion is swimming exercises. Good for cardio and less strain and impact on joints.Regarding diets, I know many have already chimed in, but the real key is to focus more on cooking your own food and knowing what you buy. As you stated, try to avoid heavily processed foods and starches. Don't be overly concerned about fat intake; that can be simply mitigated by reducing the consumption of red meat and instead, stick to poultry and fish. Fish especially have the good kinds of fats along with Omega-3s.From my own perspective, being Greek, I have primarily subsisted on a mediterranean diet which has lots of fruits and vegetables and only uses olive oil for cooking. Although even I like a cheese burger now and again.

Cheese burgers are no problem, just use grass-fed beef, organic mayo, and leave off the bun.

make that sugars and starches and that covers the potatoes. (but I love corn)Enjoy

I'm impressed with all the disciplined eaters here but I'm not there yet and don't know how far I'll be able to go in that direction.Don't need to be motivated you said, just cut out all the stuff I love to eat. Ha ha ha. I can cut back at least, when I add in other things that are better. I can cut back on the potatoes if I up the veggies for instance. That's really all I'm capable of right now. Potatoes are a comfort food, dieting is not comforting no matter how much the plan happens to suit me overall.I know the drill, I know you skip the bun, in my case the sourdough bread, but it isn't going to happen right now. I'm also not in a position to go looking for grass fed beef and organic cream or mayo. I can make my own mayo if it comes to that but I don't see why it would. I'm dependent on a volunteer organization (and one beleaguered friend I try to spare as much as possible) to drive me to the market and it would be a pain to try to set up extra trips somewhere else. I have at least added more chicken and fish to my shopping trip and cut back on the beef (oops the low carb diet doesn't care about that; I've got too many different frames of reference going on here), as well as increasing all those liver-friendly veggies. Hey every little change helps I figure. Or I'm hoping, because as I keep saying I am NOT up to a fullscale diet plan right now.I am also not up to doing anything to increase exercise. Just not, sorry. I'm a bystander on these threads, just hoping maybe some of it will rub off on me, and it has, as a matter of fact, in the small changes I've been making lately. So far so good, I figure, though it's far from ideal.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

It's strange, isn't it? The answer is so simple. An average of 15 minutes strenuous exercise a day. Don't over-excercise; don't under-excercise. That's about it. You can eat or drink everything you would like. Just get off your behind for at least 15 minutes a day.

In my experience, what and how much I eat is just as important as what and how much I exercise.15 minutes seems too low to say you can eat "everything".

That's what bothers me about diets like the Paleo Diet. Ooh, it's soooo natural. Sure, it may be what our bodies have evolved to run on but those paleo-people had to go out and hunt and gather their food. Today's health nut wants to sit in front of his computer and order his perfect diet to be delivered to his front door, then go for a mind-numbingly boring workout once a week.Personally, I would rather die of a heart attack yesterday than spend an hour on a treadmill. You need to find something you enjoy doing, something you wish you had more time to do.

Lots of exercises/sports are more entertaining than a treadmill. You just have to find what suits you.I do sabre fencing, and get to beat people on the head! Lots of fun!

That's what I'm saying.

Having a ball to chase around with some friends certainly helps, but I've found myself enjoying just running - even if it is on a treadmill. It is better outside tho.

I had an idea for combining a treadmill with Google Earth Street View.

I've been on a stationary bike that has something like that - you could pick from bike trails all over the world. The speed in simulation was tied to how fast you peddled and the resistance was tied to the hills in the simulation. It was pretty cool - I rode on some mountainous trail in Australia and another time it was some town in Morocco, iirc.

Now do it with 3-d virtual reality with sounds ...Enjoy