Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A life-changing book

 



















Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It

The CDC has now declared that pretty much everyone is fat.

And it has just gotten worse since the government introduced the official Food Pyramid guide for the general populace. Who could have seen that coming? The government gets involved in obesity and health care, and things get worse! Imagine that, lol.

Well, I used to follow the Food Pyramid, and wonder why I couldn't significantly lose weight, even with good exercise. Now I know.

And I'll never need to wonder again. And, another lesson on government meaning well, but hurting the people it supposedly wants to help... Edit: A reader has pointed out that the science community led the way on American conventional food wisdom, with the government only following the scientific community down the wrong road. Good point.

If anyone wants to get healthy and lose weight in a good way -- actually, gain a lifestyle that is healthy -- here's a clue. Sharing the wealth!

Enjoy.

p.s. Tip of the cap to Instapundit.

UPDATE: A reader from Instapundit comments:

Instapundit is a regular spot I check most days, and I noted your frequent references to Gary Taubes’ books and decided to put his advice to the test. I cut to drinking only tea, coffee, and (lots and lots of) water while eating very low carbs and sugar over the summer starting in early July. Less than two months later, I have lost over 25 pounds, my BMI has gone from high 27 down to 23ish. I just did my health screening at work, and while we were sitting and waiting for blood results to come back, the screener asked some questions and found out about the diet change. She told me my cholesterol would probably be elevated. I smiled and said, “I guess we’ll see.” It came back a healthy 154. Imagine that. You mean this stuff works?

The diet change and weight loss have actually aided me in waking up better and earlier, as well. I work 60-80+ hours a week as a music teacher, so this has had a huge impact. I’ve been able eat breakfast, study/memorize scripture, pray, organize, and get some much-needed composure before facing the horde of delightful (but sometimes trying) young musicians I interact with every day. I have more energy when I interact with my wife and three young children. Life is still hard: long work days, being patient with students, finding time with my family, etc. But what a help this lifestyle change has been.

So thank you for sharing the information. I had heard/read some of the info before, but it was often distorted, incomplete, and/or confusing. For some reason, catching it on your blog was the tipping point where I looked into it and gave it an honest go.


p.s.s. A helpful link and short video: 5 Foods to NEVER Eat.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

An excellent book, to be sure. Of course, as Taubes points out, it is the SCIENTIFIC community that has led the way on the food pyramid type of thinking; the government has just been following, for many years, the scientific/medical community's lead. So let's not go government bashing for no good reason on this one!

Loy Mershimer said...

Good point! This is more properly a scientific community fault: A reminder that educated consensus can be misguided and wrong... I should save my fire for those times when the government is to blame -- those times when desired outcomes are bought from the scientific community by lure of government dollars and/or subtle threats to influence or tenure, and false consensus is established not from necessary scientific conclusion, but from desire for research grants, contracts and positions, etc.

Good catch and thanks!