Rant and Tip for August 17, 2011

I have a tough time following my own advise sometimes. With my bicep tendonitis I have been very careful not to do any exercise that causes the tendon pain. With that said I so sometimes push the envelope by trying some exercises that my mind tells me not to. I mention this to you all so that maybe I will be a better listener to my body and live by example for you.

I want to address some facts and myths about the Atkins Diet. You have heard me mention that I follow a low carb way of eating. This is in fact the Atkins lifestyle. Historically Atkins has gotten a bad wrap. I remember some 10 years or so ago a friend of mine went on the “Atkins Diet” or what he believed was that Atkins Diet. In fact it was not Atkins at all. Before I go any further let me tell you Atkins does not sponsor my site and has never paid me to endorse them. They did pay for my success story on their site and the entire story is true. You see my friend was under the impression like many people that Atkins was about only eating eggs, meat, fish and cheese. This could not be further from the truth. The Atkins diet is rich in dietary fiber and healthy vegetables. Plenty of leeks, and other green vegetables are cornerstones of the diet. I eat more vegetables now than I did when I was obese. The following is a quote directly from the Atkins site. “After the typical two-week Induction phase, if you choose to start here, the Atkins program allows you to gradually expand your food choices so you can ultimately enjoy a healthy balance of the nutrient-dense foods from a variety of food groups – lean protein, a full array of colorful, fibrous vegetables and fruits, nuts, legumes, and if your metabolism allows, whole grains and good fats – all while reducing levels of refined carbohydrates, refined sugars, and trans fats. When it comes to the four food groups, the Atkins Diet includes a variety of foods from each one. The plan provides helpful guidelines to help select the best options, steering you away from the starchier varieties.” Another myth is that the Atkins diet is unhealthy. This could not be further from the truth and NO Dr. Atkins did not die of a heart attack because of his diet. He slipped and fell on sidewalk that was iced over. Here is the thing and I speak from my own experience, since eating a low carb lifestyle I have gotten my triglicerides in line and my blood pressure is excellent. Both of which I had issues with before adopting this eating lifestyle. So if you are so inclined to adopt a low carb lifestyle feel free to do so. Oh and one more thing. I do not think that lower carbohydrates have affected my performance in the gym. You can be the judge on that though.

Have a great workout!

Tip:
Set realistic goals, don't strive for perfection or an improbable goal that can't be met. Focus instead on increasing healthy behaviors. In other words, don't worry if you can't run a 5K just yet or bench half your weight. Make it a habit to exercise 15 minutes a day and work you way up in intensity and duration from there. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.