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Food Combining

I'm always tweaking my diet.

As I grow older, my body changes, my energy requirements change, and as I observe the effect that certain foods have on my body, I tweak things.

For instance, I never use dairy products - except on occasional cheat days.

They make me bloated.

I feel horrible after eating that Friday night ice cream (cheat day).

Why do I do it, then?

For mental piece of mind.  And because it tastes good.

But I don't enjoy the bloat that I usually get following that cheat meal.

I get tired.

I lose energy.

But I get the ice cream desire out of my system for a week or 2 and get back on track with my nutrition the next day.

Lately, I've been studying "food combining".

This is nothing new...it's been around a lo-o-o-o-o-ng time and it makes perfect sense.

Here's an excerpt from the book, "Atomic Fitness".

"In order to avoid the unpleasant discomforts of eating the wrong food combinations, it is important to adhere to the principles of combining foods properly.

There are sound physiological reasons for eating foods in compatible combinations.  Some foods will cause digestive distress if mixed together in the digestive system.

The principles of food combining are dictated by digestive chemistry.

Different foods require different mediums for digestion.  Starch foods, for example, require an alkaline environment for digestion, which is initially supplied in the mouth by the enzyme ptyalin.

Protein, on the other hand, requires an acidic medium, such as hydrochloric acid, for proper digestion.

As anyone with a basic knowledge of chemistry can tell you, acids and alkalis neutralize each other.

If you eat a starch with a protein, digestion will be impaired, if not completely arrested.

The food then remains undigested and can cause various digestive problems by becoming a breeding ground for bacteria, which ferment and decompose the food, resulting in a toxic byproduct (yuck).

  To further illustrate this principle, take the All - American hamburger.  The bun is a carbohydrate and the meat is a protein.

You consume them together, and they enter the stomach simultaneously.  Enzymes turn the food into fluids, and the stomach becomes a holding tank.

At this point, it is decided which food will be digested.

The body, in a desperate attempt digest this combination, will leave some undigested food to rot in your stomach, causing bloating, gas, and a swollen lower abdominal region (yuck).

The common complaint, particularly among women, is that no matter how much fat that they lose, their stomach is still in a bloated state, causing discomfort and looking unfashionable.

This is because they have created a constant state of irritable bowel syndrome in their lower tract due to inefficient eating habits.

No amount of exercise will ever flatten a bloated stomach.

The reason is that the internal pressure pushing out from the stomach is greater than the strength of even the strongest abdominal muscles.

In order to avoid this unpleasant condition, it is important to adhere to the following rules of proper food combining:

1) Eat acids (fruits) and starches (pasta, rice, potatoes) separately.  Acids neutralize the alkaline environment required for the digestion of starch and result in fermentation and indigestion.

2) Eat proteins and carbohydrates at separate meals.  Proteins require an acidic environment for digestion.

3) Do not eat more than one type of protein per meal.

4) Eat proteins and acidic foods at separate meals.  Acidic foods inhibit the secretion of the digestive acids required for protein digestion.  Undigested protein putrefies in bacterial decomposition and produces some potent poisons.

5) Eat fats and proteins at separate meals.  Fats slow down the digestive process.  Some foods, especially nuts with over 50 percent fat, require hours for complete digestion.

6) Eat sugars (fruits) and proteins at separate meals.

7) Eat sugars (fruits) and starchy foods at separate meals.  Fruits require no digestion in the stomach and are held up if they are eaten with foods requiring digestion.

8) Eat melons alone.  They combine with almost no other food.

9) Skip the deserts.  They lie heavy in the stomach, require no digestion, and simply ferment (yuck)."

There is a ton of research on this subject.

I am experimenting with food combining because I want to see if digestion improves following this way of eating.

My gut (no pun intended) tells me that I will have improved digestion, more energy and better overall health as a result of properly combining my foods.

My only concern is practicality.

How practical is this to follow?

Of course, if I still keep my Friday cheat day (always will) and the book "Atomic Fitness" recommends it, then maybe it becomes more practical.

The other concern I have is getting enough protein.

I'll have to do more research in this area because I know that my body responds best with a 1 gram of protein to 1 pound of bodyweight ratio.

Bottom line:  If you feel lethargic, if you aren't getting the results that you're after, if you get bloated/indigestion after eating,  you may want to look more into combining your foods.

source:  "Atomic Fitness" - by Steve Michalik, Mr USA/Mr America/Mr Universe
Basic Health Publications

"Punch It Out and Lose Inches Fast!"

"Add boxing to your cardio routine.  When you throw punches with weights or at a fast pace, you're working  your core in a way that that helps to flatten  your midsection.

You must engage your core to throw punches, and twisting your torso works all of the ab muscles.

Boxing also gives you a cardio workout that burns extra calories." - Michael Olajide Jr., Aerospace High Performance Center in NYC.

I can attest to this.

We've added MMA gloves to our toolbox and I have a new respect for boxing style workouts.

We mix it up and use boxing (focus mitts, heavy bag), strength training, sprinting, jogging, bodyweight exercises and more to create the "Perfect Workout".

It's a blend of strength, agility, cardio - it's fast and furious - it's never the same.

We've got 2 spots left for Session 53 which starts on June 7th!

Register at www.fullforcefitness.net or call Scott at 512.233.0756

note - you will need mma opened fingered gloves.  Cost is around $18 - $20.  See pic below as an example.

Try These Carbs For A Better Body!

Negative Energy

"Every time you violate what you know, or do what you know you shouldn't, you build negative energy in the subconcious. And this negative energy will exert its influence on you every time you try to achieve a goal, in this case, exercising to your maximum potential." - Steve Michalik - Mr USA, Mr America, Mr World

"You were born to do great things, don't fail yourself."

"Thought travels FASTER than light, and light allows you to perceive your reality. So if you think it, and believe it, and make it your reality, it will be there waiting for you."

"Pain originates in the brain and manifests in the area contacted. Overcome the origin and conquer the pain."

"In order to BE something, you must DO something."

World Class Performer

"The world-class performer is like a jet dashing toward a destination. Always monitoring progress, clarifying direction, and moving back on course quickly and efficiently. There's no mystery about where to land or the goal to reach. Confidence is high and there's minimal confusion along the way. It's only a matter of executing and correcting course as necessary. The plane runs on fuel, the performer on passion. Eventually the pilot executes a smooth landing and the performer manifests his or her vision. No fanfare. No parade. Just victory." -


--Steve Siebold

PAIN

"Pain is a lie your brain tells your body ‘cause it’s scared and doesn’t want to keep working. Once you know it’s fear, you learn to gut past it, and that’s where the big gains are."

–Derek Poundstone

Great workout this morning, everyone! I was definitely in some pain (good) but now it's 2pm and I've got energy to burn!

I think we are to something with our new 'box' workout!

Pictures Of People In The Gym

"On second thought, I'll think I'll just workout at home."

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