A note on Supplements

I don’t like to beat a dead horse when it comes to talking about nutrition. First off, I am not a nutritionist. I have a moderate idea of what is good to put into my body, and what to avoid. I have tried different things, and listened to a variety of different people and have modified my diet to follow a primarily Paleo principle. I eat lean meats, vegetables, and nuts, I avoid gluten etc…I realized quickly that the lack of carbohydrates did not provide me with the energy to push through the day, so I added some carbs to my diet, aside from the veggies. Inam currently taking Pro 7 whey protein from Nutrishop… that has a 0 sugar, and 2 g carbs and 34 g protein. I want to build muscle, and have found this to be the best thing for me. I also take BCAA powder with plenty of glutamine, that assists with decreasing muscle fatigue, speeding up recovery and lean muscle building. SFH brand Fish Oil and Multi Vitamins round out my daily routine. Now is this the best combination a person can take into their body? I am not sure..but it works for me, I notice results, and I have never felt better. I see little to no negative effects, so I stick with that until something changes my mind. I see the ads for the expensive supplements, mainly protein, and so far, my opinion on this is as follows: I began Crossfit three years ago, upon joining I saw people consuming a drink out of a shaker immediately following their workout. I inquired what this elixir was, and found out about the benefits of taking protein supplements. I ventured to my local supplement store and was quickly sold on “their best protein ever” a whopping $70. Surely this would get me jacked in no time. Guess what….no dice. I felt better after workouts, that goes without question. The benefit of taking protein immediately following a workout is proven, and I stick by it. But $70?? Do I need this high grade supplement for what I am doing? I found out soon enough that there are different qualities of protein, that is for sure, but I am not training for the Olympics. I just need to get something in my body so that it does not feed on my muscle after a workout. I see so many people put so much thought into buying the expensive protein. ” Oh I would never buy that cheap stuff…not for my body”, yet these are the same people that will throw down a case of beer on the weekend, the same people that eat fast food here and there. That one cheeseburger you had at Mcdonalds or 32oz Dos Equis, as a “cheat day” is worse for you than consuming an entire 4 lb container of that “cheap protein”. Keep that in mind. There is no need to put race fuel in a 2006 Toyota Camry that you won’t even change the oil on. I feel as though people look at supplements as an easy road, a magic pill or powder that will make everything easier….and they might for a little while…….but I am not happy with a little while. My point is, diet is paramount before anything. Focus on eating right, once you have that down, then look to higher quality supplements. Take your vitamins, take your fish oil, and get some sun every now and then. And as always reggae is good for your soul, listen to it., and spread good vibes

Nutrition and Weed

Got your attention didn’t it? Good, let’s talk about food. The new year is here and plenty of you are looking for a change, the most common is a change in diet. I talk a lot about food and nutrition in my daily life and always look for new ideas and information. My diet is, in a nutshell: paleo plus rice and potatoes, I still enjoy a pizza every now and then, I’m not strict, I just chose wisely. Here is a tip for making that nutrition change: Think about your yard, we all get weeds, ….they grow in spots here and there. I have typically been the guy that fires up the mower and blazes them down. Over time though, a weed pops up, then another, then another, soon you are again over run, you need a quick fix so you fire up the mower and blast them again. The problem with this??? You are not trying to get rid of the problem. All you are doing is covering it up for a bit. Look at your pantry. Acting on that New Years resolution, you probably cleared out that pantry, replaced it with organic items, and the like…looks pretty doesn’t it!! You’re fired up! But what did you do really? All you did was take that lawnmower to your pantry, and cleaned it up. But soon, you have a bad week, so some soda ends up in there….no worries it’s just one weed. Then some powdered sugar donuts!! Hey nobody can judge you…you’re under a lot of stress! It’s just two weeds……. You see how this goes. Next thing you know….boom a pantry full of weeds that you now have to completely blast with that mower…..back to the trash can with the junk, and to the store for more quinoa! We have to start looking at developing habits! We need to take the time to pull these weeds up from the roots, so they don’t grow back!! Try a different approach, find your main vices in your diet and begin limiting them slowly but steadily. It’s time to develop habits! Cold turkey is not the best approach for most. Understand that first and you will have a great foundation for this awesome undertaking! Now I know you thought this blog was going to talk about something else, and I’m sorry if I disappointed you. Greens are a gift from God, natural, from the ground and healthy as far as I am concerned, And they are good for your mind, body and soul…..I just chose most of mine to be from kale…. As always take your fish oil, listen to some reggae and have an awesome day.