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  • Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 4

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 4


    I needed a lot of Spider-people today. It’s warmer in St. John’s than in Vancouver.

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 4
    Yesterday’s calorie count doesn’t seem right. It seems low. But when you skip nuts, it works. I also did a weird thing. I broke the “you must eat what’s on your plate” conditioning and saved some meat from dinner for my 8 PM snack.

    I have figured out dieting. I.e. Why it’s impossible and what has to happen for it to work.

    If you are trying to lose weight and you buy that 2500 calories is the amount for slow weight loss, you have a problem. If you figure you should eat vegetables, meat and carbs (e.g. bread) you may only pick two. From my analysis you can’t have all three (in any satisfying amount) and stay within the calorie limit. Supplements are required so that you take some vitamin C and other stuff that fruit might provide.

    That only took two years to figure this out. I found a diagram of a “standard” plate and made the necessary changes.

    How long can any of us last without carbs? Physically, forever. Emotionally? Everyone for themselves!

  • Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 3

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 3


    This is a nice gallery of heroes. .

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 3
    Wow. This week throws challenges. I came back at noon yesterday from my workout and, right next to where I sit, there was a pizza party. The smell nearly overpowered me. I quickly heated up my chicken and ate it with salad so that I could join the social event. This removed the temptation to eat the free pizza. Amazingly.

    Based on the estimates, the calorie count is a little higher but this is a guideline so I am not going to obsess. I will tune as I go. However, it occurred to me that I’m struggling with keeping in the 2500 calorie range with no bread or potato at all. How on earth do people on more typical diets keep to that?!?

  • Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 2

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 2


    I am looking forward to Spider-man and Dr. Strange scenes in Avengers Infinity War. Check out some cool pictures from The Vancouver Aquarium.

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 2

    Day 1 was a success in that I did what I said I was going to do.

    How easy do you think it is to measure calories? It’s much harder than it looks and it’s not as definitive as it sounds. I see why Weight Watchers went to a points system a while back.

    For example, chicken thighs. To determine the calories, do you consider precooked weight? Bone-in weight? Is it with or without skin? What kind of seasoning did you use? Was it fried or baked? These matter to the calorie count.

    As you will see in the chart below I had to make some assumptions and I used multiple sources to try to figure out what was worth what.

    I also looked up what my calorie intake should be. I found a site that told me that I should be able to lose weight with 2500 calories per day. My estimated total from yesterday? 2508.

    I am hoping that if I can keep to 2500 calories, maintain my fitness regime and avoid refined carbs and sugars, I might finally make progress.

    This Mutant Diet has not gone the way I expected yet, so forgive me if I moderate my hopes.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 1

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 1


    I actually scanned this one myself from a comic advertising comics. Check out the Museum of Vancouver.

    Mutant Diet Phase 7 Day 1
    Day 1 of Phase 7 (which goes to June 29) is off to an interesting start. I forgot to grab my step counter, so some data will be missing. I did prep my breakfast and ate it before a free breakfast was offered at the office due to a milestone that was reached. It does work if you are full before being offered treats.

    I am struggling with allergies and that’s not helping at all. I know for example that my face will fall off itching if I walk home.

    I am unsure what keeps me going in the face of not losing any meaningful amount of weight for over two years. I’m hoping to measure the calories of this phase to see what’s happening. There are a lot of calorie calculators out there and it’s a mess. I have found a PDF that helps with basics.

    I don’t agree with all these 10 rules that Freedhoff in the “Diet Fix” book says, but some I am focusing on as new to this process, i.e. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 5

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 5


    I found this odd section of a Batwoman comic. Once my daughter is finished writing, there’ll be a new addition to the Vancouver travel articles.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 5
    Today I went off the diet because I wanted to and I declare the experiment a success.

    So, Phase 7 will start Monday, after the chocolate Jesus bunny weekend.

    Key Features are

    • Ultra low carb. I.e. no carbs from sugar, wheat, rice, corn or potato
    • Smaller meals, all planned, spread out
    • No food past the final snack, which should not be planned past 8 PM
    • As much fitness as I can eat. Please lord let the weather change for decent riding

      • Enjoy the weekend!

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 4

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 4


    I found this image and it’s only a sample of large super hero collage. Let’s try Wolfville Nova Scotia some day.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 4
    Day 2 of the 3-day-test was a success in that no sugar/carb combos were consumed. But the reduction in meat I was planning did not happen. Interestingly I went to the store to by corn chips for family members I managed to bring them home, open them and not eat them. Amazingly.

    So, what happened to not reduce the meat? I had to break lunch into pieces because of a trainer session. I could not go on empty, but if I ate my whole lunch it would have been uncomfortable. When I came back from the workout, I was too hungry and said screw it. Three pieces not two.

    At dinner it was a case of having left it late. I used up all my will power just to avoid the corn chips. But I did notice that I did put too much meat on my plate. Should I have saved it? Yes. I should have eaten it cold later.

    It’s interesting that no creative problem solving happens in your head when you are hungry or craving something.

    An additional factor in all this is the spring allergies. It’s a tough season this year (see image) and that’s not helping. When I was a kid I used to eat for comfort when allergy season hit. Which in Ontario was about half the year.

    The real question about my test is: Can I try this method for an extended run? I think the answer is yes, but with the cheat day concept added. But compared to previous cheat days this will not be a triple scoop of ice cream but a little bit of rice in sushi.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 3

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 3


    Spider-man and Deadpool are always fun. I wonder about a movie. Work is being done to upgrade the listings on the Kingston Ontario page.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 3
    Amazingly I did the first day of the 3-day diet test correctly. I did have a risk where I waited for my family before eating dinner. I prepared them pasta and the good smells were nearly overpowering and nearly led the cook to taste the food. Nearly.

    I think the small test timeframe and the explicit preplanning (see chart below) helps focus the mind on what to do. I find thinking about doing something off the plan leads to the mistake. If you can somehow get it out of your mind, I think that helps.

    We shall see. But I always said that thinking about anxiety normally makes you more anxious.

    Today is a personal trainer session and I think I made the right call not doing a full on session yesterday.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 2

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 2


    I needed some retro Spider-man today. My mini vacation was at The Harrison Hot Springs Resort.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 2
    I have to write my blog entry early today because I have a 3-day experiment before things go sideways schedule wise.

    While on a mini vacation, eating M&Ms, I was reading the book The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work by a guy named Freedhoff. I was trying to see what was different about this approach and whether anything could be applied in my case. I also needed some focus on food that was achievable and might teach me something. I have been off the rails food-wise for a number of weeks now.

    Freedhoff’s approach is really a way to limit the impact of cravings on our people’s overall will power, which a number of sources I’ve read have cited as a scarce commodity. He’s also a calorie-watcher and admits there’s no real way to know person by person which calories are bioavailable. In my thinking food is converted to body fat, dumped out the wazoo or used to maintain body systems.

    He’s thinking is eat small meals with protein throughout the day and try to limit the cravings that lead to mistakes. It’s also a plan ahead method.

    My plan is to

    • Cut back at each of my three meals
    • Add a small bag of nuts at each mid-point (i.e. 10:30 AM, 2 PM and 7:30 PM)
    • Don’t eat late or drink wine after 7:30.

    Only for three days. I can do three days. I can do three days. It’s only three days. The Easter Bunny will come soon enough.

    I’m also hoping I’ve repaired the ab muscles I trashed (frightenly around the hernia repair zone) from last week. A tough yoga class last night did not make things feel too bad.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 1

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 1


    This Wonder Woman cover cost $30 at the comic book store on Saturday. Original cover price 12¢. I wonder if the pollen count is better in Tofino.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6a Post 1
    This is my first random post during Phase 6a, the prequel to the soon-to-be-legendary Phase 7.

    I’m writing this as I’m eating a mini cupcake. Despite prescription eye drops, my eyes wants to jump off my face. The pollen count report supports my sensations. Slutty trees.

    My abdominal area around where the hernia was repaired is still sore from last week’s workouts and stretch classes. It was twitching like a crazy eel on Saturday and scared my pants off. I need another hernia repair like I need a bullet in the head.

    So at with the personal trainer today, it was boxing training. I think my arms feel like limp towels.

    I had hoped to have eating under control but it isn’t there.

  • Mutant Diet Phase 6 Finale

    Mutant Diet Phase 6 Finale


    A famous silver age cover. I wanted to complain about Vancouver pollen, but then I looked at Halifax‘s weather and thought better of it.

    Mutant Diet Phase 6 Finale
    Welcome to the most lack-lustre finale of a phase yet. All I have to show for it are sore muscles and a sugar/carb addiction that would crush most people’s imaginations.

    March Break has started and the normal family schedule that I rely on to anchor my diet and fitness is now disrupted. But maybe this is the time to focus on my mental health. The tough aspects of January and February are clearly not helping the food control. I have some books to read and ideas for Phase 7. I will document Phase 6a over the break and see if I can stay in the realm of sensible.

    One thing I noticed is that I’m increasing the fitness level and the weather is almost at a point where I can ride the bike. I’m looking forward to this. I figured out that every time I do a workout, I feel stronger. There’s an immediate positive change, despite the tight leg muscles and other aches. They are the aches of progress, not the aches of injury.

    I’m convinced that the more I can increase strength and cardio, the more overall strength I will have to do battle with the diet.