Food bars

[SpinBob]

An interesting article in the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/01/14/style/20090115-GEARTEST_index.html?emc=eta3

[lah62]

An interesting article in the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/01/14/style/20090115-GEARTEST_index.html?emc=eta3

Be careful with them now - I just had to throw away a box of Clif bars and another of the Builder's Protein bars because of the peanut scare.

[NWCycle]

Bringing this thread back up because I just discovered Kind bars - De-Licious. Any feedback on those and other "food" bars like Lara (which I despise but stomach in my quest to stay gluten-free)?

[Todd S]

I usually stick with whatever products Cliff makes.

Haven't had any stinkers from them next so I just stick with what seems to work.

[NWCycle]

Yeah, Todd, I love Clif products too but am trying to stay gluten-free, at least for a few weeks, to see if it makes a difference in how I feel. I've been following the Paleo or Primal plan. Lean meats, nuts, fruits, veggies. No grains, legumes, dairy, or processed anything. 3 weeks in and so far I'm totally miserable. Thinking I am not cut out to be a caveman. <sigh>

[veespin]

Yeah, Todd, I love Clif products too but am trying to stay gluten-free, at least for a few weeks, to see if it makes a difference in how I feel. I've been following the Paleo or Primal plan. Lean meats, nuts, fruits, veggies. No grains, legumes, dairy, or processed anything. 3 weeks in and so far I'm totally miserable. Thinking I am not cut out to be a caveman. <sigh>

Yeah....that's why you don't see them around anymore.

They actually wanted to evolve (not that they were necessarily eating what Loren Cordain'd have you believe)

Vivienne

[NWCycle]

Wasn't their life expectancy something like 30 years? They can keep their nuts and berries. I'm moving on.

I liked the idea though - I'm hitting my mid-40's and finding a little layer of fat I never had before. The Paleo diet (in conjunction with exercise) was supposed to make the fat melt away. I was totally prepared to buy in if it worked. But...ummmm...nope. Didn't quite work that way. I can understand reducing the amount of starchy carbs and processed foods. That makes sense. But I'm back to believing in "everything in moderation". And it's also been good to cut out the liquor. But, omitting it this past month hasn't seemed to make a difference...at least externally.

[Todd S]

Have you tried a food/exercise diary like the software on fitday.com or equivalent? Takes some discipline and a bit of an anal (disciplined) personality, but it works for some. Kind of shows the importance of portion control and the need to back off on the food on the days when you're not as active.

[NWCycle]

Yes. I've kept a food diary and I'm careful about portion control. I'm not trying to lose weight, just lower body fat. I'm considering meeting with a nutritionist. Also starting more "organized" strength and conditioning workouts in conjunction with the 4 spin classes I teach a week. I coach CrossFit but rarely do the workouts myself so maybe that's where the disconnect is.

All of this could also be nature's way of telling me I'm old.

Which sucks, by the way.

[veespin]

There's nothing magical about altering body composition......regardless of what the diet gurus'd have you believe. All the claims about eating to eliminate body fat exclusively are nothing more than marketing hype, for the most part. A nutritionist isn't going to tell you anything you don't know already.

The way to lower body fat% is either gain muscle or lose fat. Either way it's hard work especially as you get a bit older just because of different hormone levels. It's called the andropause in men.

It's not impossible mind. I'm even older, post menopausal and if I left my body to its own devices I'd be the picture of Slow Twitch Woman. I work really hard on the weights and I'm disciplined about what I eat.....not so much that I'm orthorexic or anything, just a creature of habit. I'm stronger and carry more muscle than in my 20's.

Vivienne

[Todd S]

All of this could also be nature's way of telling me I'm old.

Which sucks, by the way.

It's not impossible to stay lean when you get older, but it's harder.

The relatively high volume of endurance exercise, regular strength training, and slight caloric deficit are tougher to maintain as our recovery ability decreases with age.

I remember when dropping 10 pounds seemed as easy as skipping lunch a couple of days in a row.

[NWCycle]

It's not impossible to stay lean when you get older, but it's harder.

The relatively high volume of endurance exercise, regular strength training, and slight caloric deficit are tougher to maintain as our recovery ability decreases with age.

I remember when dropping 10 pounds seemed as easy as skipping lunch a couple of days in a row.

Yep - so true. I'll be curious to see what stepping up the strength training will do over the course of the next few months.

All this talk about aging and how hard you have to work to just maintain makes me hungry for a piece of chocolate cake and a nice glass of single-malt scotch. Is that bad? ;)

[veespin]

Yep - so true. I'll be curious to see what stepping up the strength training will do over the course of the next few months.

All this talk about aging and how hard you have to work to just maintain makes me hungry for a piece of chocolate cake and a nice glass of single-malt scotch. Is that bad? ;)

Well a "piece" of cake or "nice" glass aren't very size specific so the answer is.....it depends. My husband (who specialises in liver disease) has a picture in his office of a drunk sitting at a table with a brandy snifter the size of a big goldfish bowl in front of him and the caption "......my doctor says I can have one drink a day"

Interesting this talk about aging and weight management and whatnot. For all the recognised physiological changes that happen with age I fancy that at least 50% of what you see in most folk is disuse atrophy and lack of accountability in what goes into the mouth.

Most everyone I know (husband included) gripes about how they could eat what they wanted when they were younger etc. etc.....without stopping to think if it's actually true and even if it is, how different their lives were then. Well, mine was.

Just walking/running to and from school with a heavy satchel and the up and down stairs between lessons probably was more activity than most gym members put in during their gym time.....and that doesn't include hockey/tennis/track practice (didn't actually train as such back then) Mum was a frugal cook, we never dines out and I sure didn't have a gin and tonic before meals in the evening.

I'm sure there are heaps more folk whose circumstances have changed as dramatically as mine and if, truth be told, they went back to the activity level and more modest eating habits of their youth, it'd be easier to stay in shape.

Interesting thing about building muscle and maintenancee though.....once you've built something tangible, it's not such a slog to maintain. I consider myself a "novice" weight trainer......not because of lack of experience etc. but being more of an endurance athlete I find I'm a bit ADD where the weights are concerned. Weight training is no fun, so I don't achieve the level of fitness in that area as running, for example. I did the BodyPump training over a year ago now and scored well in my assessment in every area but *role model wight* usage. So, I set about improving that for my final video. Well, the dedication I needed to increase the weights and, even worse, learn the routines was enough to get me in really noticable shape over the 2 months or so I stuck with it (and I wasn't exactly schlumpy in the first place) Gave up on ever being able to learn the choreography and have backed off a bit but I'm managing to keep the muscle without much more than the occasional B-P class and specific focus on weights and big lifts......push-ups, pull-ups, squats, deadlifts and clean& press. Oh and kettlebells (see what I mean about ADD?)

**Having said that, there's almost always somewhere that's sore or aches...

Vivienne

[EuroD]

Viv, I think you're as that's exactly what we did in school and never thought anything of it. Growing up in Europe there was usually either a walk to school or to the nearest bus stop, and of course when the bus doesn't arrive you start to walk. I rarely remember a time when I had a ride to or from school.

I think it's a generational mindset. What we learnt some of us chose to keep living it, and as we can tell from this discussion it pays off. Sure we get the tweaks of pain now and again but we acknowledge it and move on rather than dwell on it and make it our excuse not to do anything.

Food habits I think have dramatically changed and I know that I'm guilty from time to time, as I do like my glass or two of wine on the weekend. I feel I deserve it. I'm not a fast food outlet person and always cook dinner each night - fresh veggie soup (things that have sat for a few days) and a salad with all kinds of grains and legumes, what can be faster and more healthy.

I do fall down on my weight training, like you Viv, I get bored and have to motivate myself and stay off the bike or the rower. I need to step that up as that little layer that seems to be creeping up might just stay, and I can't deal with that. I've been thinking of working with one of our personal trainers, particularly with the TRX. I'm certified with kettle-bells so I will do that on my own and find that has helped somewhat.

Maybe we can motivate each other on here folks just by doing what we're doing - checking in and talking.

[NWCycle]

Maybe we can motivate each other on here folks just by doing what we're doing - checking in and talking.
Yes, indeed. I think that's a great idea.

And just a quick check-in - I started a body-weight strength training class this week, M, W, F, and a kettlebell class once a week. I can already see the difference, and that's with no modification in my diet (I dropped Paleo and am back to my old "healthy choices in appropriate portions" plan) or cycle training. I've learned that I'm not good at motivating myself so I need a class to attend at a set time, otherwise I'll make up a thousand excuses not to get my behind to the gym.

Staying away from the chocolate cake and Scotch...at least for now. :)

[veespin]

Here's another.....plate sizes.

I still have 3 dinner plates left from the everyday dinner service we had shipped over with our stuff in 1986. Comparing them with regular "American" sized plates, I'd say they're maybe 3/4-7/8th the size.....plus they have a decorative rim. By the time my patents first came to visit us years ago, I'd gotten some new dinnerware and, first time my mum helped me lay the table she spent ages looking for my "regular" sized plates, thinking that the half dozen or so plates stacked in my cupboard were serving dishes.

Anyhoo.....periodically, I'll fetch these 3 old plates up from the basement to use for a day or two and, sure enough, even with my perceived self disciplne, I'll find that there's been a trend upwards in the amount of food I've been putting onto the plates. Another habit I've kept from my youth, BTW.......for everyday meals I put the food onto the plates in the kitchen rather than from serving dishes on the table "family style" That way, should either of us want seconds, we have to make a point of getting up and being "accountable" rather than just picking at what's left in the serving dish or finishing it off "just because"

Vivienne

[veespin]

So......just for the heck of it, after the last post, I fetched my 3 "English" plates up from the basement to do my self test.

Sho 'nuff, my serving size had started to creep up on my plain IKEA plates. Also, our fridge is on the fritz and there's not enough room for a bottle of while wine or tonic water in our little mini fridge in the basement so no drinkies in the evening.

Hopped on the scales this morning and down 2 lbs from my usual.

If I needed to lose weight, I know what I'd have to do.

Vivienne

[like2bike]

I eat better now that I've "matured." But I drink wine. A lot. If I wanted to drop a few, I would cut out the vino.

[veespin]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392076/Ernestine-Shepherd-Guinness-oldest-female-bodybuilder-74.html

Vivienne