And so we begin again. And yes Spider-man is a favourite still. Like the new layout? Remember to visit sponsor sites (e.g. Travel In BC)

Mutant Diet Phase 2 Part 1, Planning

I have never looked forward to a year less than I have 2017.

So it’s with some amusement that I’m actually looking forward to my next dietary challenge. The plan is now to execute Phase 2 of the original Mutant Diet (see here for details).

This week is planning and preparation week. Indulgences were had over Christmas and New Year’s. What I did notice in comparison to the previous year was my strength, which is always tested by the mass of my family’s luggage at the airport. It is really nice to not feel like the least effort or powerful gaseous emission is going to put my back out. Running like a lunatic to Budget Rent a Car before it closed at Pearson was a nice test as well.

Over the holidays, during a discussion of body image with my daughter, I asked her if she knew why I was doing all this fitness and diet stuff. She responded that I wanted to look better. I said, not really. What I was really trying to do was avoid an effing heart attack. White. Male. Overweight. Desk job. Lots of situational stress. The statistics never once said this is a recipe for long term heart health.

The problem is that I feel like I’ve reached the limits of the diet that I’ve been doing. What realistic changes can I make?

1. More strict on carbs. Wheat, corn, rice and potatoes have to be avoided. The data from my own blog entries showed I routinely weakened. Solution: plan better in the evenings when the problems tended to happen.

2. No alcohol for a least the period of January 9 – February 7. I was using wine, primarily, as a pain management technique. That will halt for this period to see if not having it makes a difference.

3. Try to avoid the 2 PM sugar attack. The first step is to avoid Urban Fare across the street. The trick I’m trying is to put the message into my mind that I can’t go in there for any reason. This conscious thought process has to override the craving and power-of-suggestion. I proved to myself on Dec 31 that just thinking about not buying chocolate almonds led me to Urban Fare minutes later. I’m also thinking of booking appointments with anyone at work I can justify a meeting with in order to have something to do during that crucial time slot.

Hey … do you like the improved website? It’s now mobile friendly and easier for me to maintain. Let me know in the comments section if anything is off.