Potato Hack
Stealing a line from the McDougall Forums, I am up for a “potato hack.” I feel this is appropriate as I evaluate the status of my current health. It’s been challenging since the new year began with my wife returning home from major back surgery, followed by a bout with melanoma, followed by two more surgeries and a load of stress. I have let myself lapse, taking those two proverbial two steps back. While my weight has increased about 7 pounds, a portion of that due to the strength gains I have made through Stronglifts (since October) I don’t have that feeling I had a few months back.
I have not changed the way I eat, still following a plant based, whole foods diet with no added oil, dairy and meat. Thankfully I haven’t fallen THAT far. Unfortunately beer has become my crutch once again, while it’s only 92 calories and 2.5 grams of carbohydrates, I do believe it’s having a negative effect on my health, as seen in the weight gain and how I have been feeling. The other factor, a lack of consistency at the gym. I have not been able to put together a full week (3 days) of work outs since February.
A final, possible factor is the lack of tracking my food and weight on a daily basis through Fit Day. While this could be seen as overkill or unnecessary, I do believe it’s another reason why I have seen negative changes. Since changing my way of eating, I have been very good at taking the time to input what I ate each day, not so much to watch total caloric intake, but to see approximately how those calories I was eating were broken down (total calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein). I would also log “exercise” or any activities that would burn calories.
My diet hasn’t changed I am eating much of the same good food I have been for the past 16 months. One change, while not major that could influence the weight gain as been the addition of nuts into my diet. Nearly every time I cook cheese, nuts are a base ingredient (although I just found a recipe on Plant Purity that uses acorn squash of pumpkin pie filling). Unfortunately yellow and green vegetables are still not a big part of my diet.
For the next 2 weeks, possibly 20 days I will challenge myself to thrive on potatoes and vegetables. Ask me 16 months ago if this was possible and I would say it would be crazy. Knowing what I know now, this will be a welcome challenge. It will also get me “back to basics” as it relates to cooking. I’m at a point where the complexity of my cooking is much more than just boiling potatoes or steaming veggies for dinner. It will be a nice break to put together a handful of recipes of just potatoes and vegetables.
As for the fitness portion, I am in the process of setting up a home gym. I had a friend donate 300 pounds of weights, as well as a squat stand. I am now in the market for a bench and a barbell. While it will still take me the better part of a month to get this organized it will benefit me to be able to work out at home, in my garage. I will also save money in the long run by not having to pay the monthly dues I pay now. Until it’s set up, I will still make the commitment to get to the gym 3 days a week.
What do I hope to gain? Better health, obviously. Also as a reminder of all the hard work I have accomplished to this point, to let myself fall back into bad habits, such as drinking beer regularly. In the process I will hopefully drop a few pounds, from 182 to 177 and get back to feeling better and looking better when I stand in front of the mirror.
