DRUMMER CAFE

Hi Brent,


Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your son Conner.

This is what has been working for me to get off the extra 25 pounds I gained in college and on the road...<I'm half way there in just a month>My motivation is to get really ripped and lean for my video which I plan to make when my hands are better.


No sugar.  This means splenda in my hot tea and coffee <can't cut out the caffeine yet >, and no prepared foods that are high in sugar, such as certain bbq sauces, ketchups, sodas, canned fruits, syrups, etc.  Also, for me, no fruits during this induction phase due to sugar levels, but will phase them back in slowly after I lose the last 10 pounds.  Also, since I cut out the sugar, I haven't been "crashing" in the afternoons after lunch.

Secondly, no white flour products, or foods high in carbs.  This includes potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, powdered soups, etc.  Its the "refined carbs" that make people gain weight.  The truth is one has to be careful of all the manufactured lab foods.  Even though they may be "low fat", they are often filled with junk.  In my opinion, you're better off counting carbs and eating purer foods.  I've been limiting my carbs to 30g a day, max.  When the body doesn't have carbs to burn for fuel, it will go to the fuel backup, a.k.a. "stored fat" for energy.  

I've been cooking for myself as much as possible.  <i have all kinds of cool recipes I've made up if anyone is interested. >  Being creative and fun is the key, so it doesn't get boring or bland.  Lots of lean protein <i before e except after t?>, grilled veggies, homemade soup...I get a lot of stuff at the Deli, like yummy cheeses <horseradish cheddar--yum> and tasty meats such as peppered turkey breast, etc.  <What I'm trying to figure out is the no nitrate thing, though...is there any ham or bacon that has no nitrates?>

I eat LOTS of green veggies , salad, etc. with every meal.  <While I'm trying to lose the last 10 pounds, I will refrain from a few high carb veggies such as beans <except green beans>, corn, carrots and peas, but will phase them back in slowly and eat them in moderation when I get to my goal weight.  Meanwhile, there are lots of other veggies that are low in carbs that I like.>

No fried foods of course.

Lots of water and exercise.  A minimum of walking at least 20 minutes a day, combined with stretching, ab crunches, etc.  I try to get in a gallon of water a day.  

Use olive oil or Pam for cooking...

I substitute mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes, light heavy cream for milk, low carb wraps <like at subway> for bread.  If I have to do the fast food thing, I take the bun off and get a salad instead of fries.

I also take all kinds of vitamin supplements.

Oh, if you like beer, get Michelob Ultra or Miller Lite if they don't have the low carb beer.  That was hard for me at first because I love darker beers like Shiner Bock and Bass, but I've gotten used to it.  

Darn I miss pizza...and tater tots...and potato chips...and chocolate ice cream....

I was trying to refrain from "titles" due to its controversial nature.  Buy yeah, quicksfoot busted me---it is the Atkins diet.

Now, I was soooo skeptical about this until I read his book.  I started looking at labels and realize now he was right.  I get a lot of crap from people when I tell them I'm on the Atkins diet, <they seem to think this means all you eat is fatty meat all day and clog your arteries, but for me it means 2 things---no sugar, no white flour, period>.  In the book I learned we have just been given a lot of wrong information about our bodies/metabolism,diet, etc. in the past 2 decades.  As he calls it, the "low fat fiasco"...

I bought the South Beach book, which is a "modified Atkins diet", but its not for me due to much of the preparation time required for meals.  I'd rather grab a piece of meat and cheese, roll it up in a ball instead of go through all time it takes to cook the South Beach meals.  But I would recommend checking into it to see if its one that will work for you.  <Okay, the real truth why I can't do the South Beach---no bacon allowed, ever.    True, bacon grease is really gross in a solid state, so I wipe it off really well/soak it with a paper towel before I eat it.>

I used to enjoy a coke once in a while, but now that is strictly off limits.  The amount of carbs in once coke is around 35g, which exceeds a whole day's worth of eating.   And all the sugar, oh my goodness...

The first week I was dying for a coke in the middle of the night--so I popped one open and had 3 sips <ok, chugs> and made myself pour the rest out.  I know, though, that the soda thing would probably be the toughest part for you, being the the soda enthusiast you are  .  On the Atkins diet, one can have unlimited sodas that are 0 Carbs and 0 sugar, such as, yes, Diet Coke.  Well, you're supposed to lay off the caffeine, so if you find one that's caffeine free, that's all the better.  I think there's also some new Sprite drink called Zero...

<Wow, can you guys believe my typing?  Thank the Lord, I think my hands are healing.  >

As far as weight training, which is especially important for us women to tone those thighs and butts, I'm only doing lower body machines and cardio because my hands aren't strong enough yet to hold or support any weights.  Unfortunately, I can't do any push ups yet, either, because its too much weight on the hands, but I'm looking forward to being able to lift weights again.

Sugars and Carbs in ANY form are to be avoided!  Stick with things like flavored Calistoga water, or diet coke (and rum) When you start counting Carbs.  Sugars and Carbo elimination is the key.  You can still eat most of the good stuff you like....but you should p/u the A. book (Xena is right about not naming brands and junk, or Bart and his cronies will nip ya) and read it.  Its sooooo simple, and IT FRIKKEN WORKS-
A good friend of mine did a sort of study on me, and how I weigh the same now at 44 as I did in high school, and I basically have been doing the A. diet all my life!  And dont be an extra cushion on the sofa-EXERCISE and A. diet is how you do it........

I'm hoping to drop a few with diet & exercise.  I've never been much for diet plans.  I try to each smaller portions, more salads, take the stairs, drink more water, and hit the gym a few days a week for treadmill, cardio & some easy weights.  I'm hopng to drop a snare-drum's worth by summer.  
 

Right on Xena-yer cool........thats what friends are for-

Dave: re: your signature and "ultracrepidarians":

Incase anyone is wondering its meaning, I webstered it:  Here's what it says:

Part of Speech:   noun, adjective
Definition:   beyond one's knowledge or province; pertaining to opinions given on matters beyond one's knowledge; also written ultra-crepidarian
Etymology:   from Latin `beyond the sole'

 

I looove that magazine!  Great bedtime reading!

True.  For me, a structured plan is easier to follow. You know what, Moose?  You sound like Plato.  Seriously---he discusses similar "appeals"--intellectual, emotional in his works...