Matt Metzgar

Siesta

I have been taking a little break from blogging.  The weather is nice, and I'd rather be outdoors than in front of the computer.

Until later...

Today's Workout 04/26/09

I only felt like doing a short workout today:

• Deadlifts - 3 sets of 10 reps
• Sprints - 3 30-second sprints with long rests

That's it!

Happy Earth Day 2009!

 

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Busy Bee II

I have been busy with work.  I hope to get to some blogging soon.

Running Bias

I thought this was an interesting post on Crossfit Endurance the other day.  It links to a discussion in a Slowtwitch forum about the value of long, slow distance (LSD) running.  The Slowtwitch people think the Crossfit Endurance stuff is nonsense, while the Crossfit Endurance people think the Slowtwitch people are all stuck in the past.

More than anything, I think this type of pseudo-argument shows the massive amount of bias that people have.  Everyone gets accustomed to looking at things through their own lens, and then easily rejects other people's views.

Here's an idea: isn't it possible that elements of both philosophies are correct?  I thought of this when I read a recommendation from the Diet Evolution book:

"If you run or walk long, go slow; if you run or walk short, go fast."

In other words, maybe a balanced program of high-intensity and low-intensity runs is best.  For example, all of Crossfit Endurance's long runs are done at a high intensity.  This strikes me as incorrect.  A long, hard run signals to your genes that the food procurement situation is getting desparate.  Of course, you can also look at the top marathoners and see what all their high-intensity long runs have done to their bodies.

A more balanced program is what has been suggested by top coaches such as Arthur Lydiard and others for decades.  Of course, "balanced" really doesn't sell too well.  You need something new and controversial to generate attention and sales.  It also helps if you polarize people into two opposing groups (Atkins vs Ornish, etc.). 

It's too bad none of this posturing helps anyone live a healthier life.

Born Allergic

Here's a new study on the roots of allergy.  Researchers found that lower cholesterol in infants lead to higher rates of allergy over the following 20 years.  The effect wasn't due to early childhood or infant diet, because cholesterol was measured right at birth.  Instead, the effect was due to genetics and/or maternal diet.

This is why progressive doctors now have preganant women supplementing with omega-3 fish oil throughout pregnancy.  This type of "preventive medicine" can help put a child on a healthy trajectory.

Fat and Skin Cancer

Speaking of fat, here's a study that looks at dietary fat and incidence of skin cancer.  After adjusting for sun exposure and other things, researchers found that a higher fat intake actually reduced the risk of skin cancer.

Another study looks at the role of omega-3 fats in preventing skin cancer, mostly through lowering inflammation.  One other obvious connection is that dietary fat leads to more Vitamin D consumption, which could protect against skin cancer. 

King Fat

Just for fun, yesterday I followed the plan in Diet Evolution exactly as laid out in the book.  The plan is focused on green vegetables and lean meat only.  Overall, this doesn't lead to much of anything - some protein, few carbs, and lower fat.

Today I woke up feeling like I was about 80 years old.  I also measured my waist and found that it had increased!  As with any diet book, it says to give it six weeks and you'll see the results.  I reject this type of thinking.  If you are giving your body what it needs, why would it take six weeks to see a positive response?  Unless you are detoxing from massive amounts of caffeine or sugar, I don't see why there should be a long period of adaptation.

I have also been thinking more about the role of dietary fat.  I think there is a large genetic component involved.  I know some people do well on a lower or moderate fat plan.  Conversely, I seem to be able to eat a good amount of fat with no problem.  Sometimes it seems as if eating more fat actually leads to a lower weight on the scale for me, even though I am not trying to lose weight.

I wonder if a person's skin color is connected to preferred dietary fat levels.  I am more pale-skinned, which would place my ancestors in northern latitudes.  Naturally, there is less plant food available in northern latitudes and more reliance on animal products.  I'm not sure if there has been any research done on skin color and dietary fat preference. 

Diet Evolution

I have been reading Dr. Gundry's Diet Evolution, a book that is based on Paleo diet principles.  I didn't have any expectations for the book, but it really has some unique and inovative ideas.  The book looks at many things from the perspective of our genes, saying that while something may be good for our genes (in terms of reproduction), it is not very good for us as individuals.  For example, our genes may direct us to sugar, fat, and salt.  These things may help us reproduce while young but may hasten our exit from the planet.

The dietary plan is problematic in my view.  The initial "Teardown Phase" might as well be a starvation phase.  You eat only green vegetables along with mostly lean meat.  Looking at the sample menu, a person would be lucky to get 1,000 calories a day with this plan.  Of course a person will initially lose weight with this type of setup, but so what!  1,000 calories is simply not enough.  The long-term maintenance plan has a person phasing out meat in favor of even more vegetables.  This is not because meat is "bad", but precisely because meat is "good" in an evolutionary sense.  He reasons that the foods that may help you reproduce are not the same foods that will increase longevity.

There is a neat section on hormesis in the book.  Gundry lists a few of the intermittent stressors that may increase longevity - exposure to hot and cold, fasting, etc.  He also points out how vitamin dosage might be related to hormesis - vitamins are helpful in lower doses but become toxic in higher doses.

Overall, I recommend this book, not because I agree with all of it, but because the book contributes a number of unique ideas.  As with any book, a person should take what is useful and leave the rest.  I think any reader will find a useful idea or two in this book.

Heart Rate Dynamics

In a state of health, the heartbeat normally has a fractal-like pattern to it - not a steady metronome-like pattern.  Disease is generally associated with a loss of this fractal pattern in the heartbeat.  I have written about this in my e-book, "Stone Age Power".

This new study looks at the effect of resistance training on heart rate dynamics.  The abstract is pretty wordy, but the conclusion is that resistance training improves the fractal pattern of the heartbeat.