Grabbing Starbucks at LAX and jumping on a plane

Just about to jump on a plane to Las Vegas. We missed our first flight thanks to LA rush hour traffic. So that little turn of events gave me 5 wonderful hours to sit around LAX and sample some different foods. I went to Ruby's Dinette obviously a spawning of Rubys Diner, I had an avocado and Swiss burger sans the bun I have to say it was really really good with an ample serving of avocado. Just about two hours later and 45 minutes until my flight I grabbed a Kobe beef sausage from Jody Marony's. I thought it was amazing....I mean maybe my standard for airport food aren't that high but even my girlfriend who has been known to be picky on occasion thought it was great (she had the bun though). Finally I grabbed my decaf latte from Starbucks and here I am sitting here waiting to board. Well I'm sure I will have lots of yummyness to report from sin city. Happy dieting everyone!!!

Do You Need To Distinguish Between Good And Bad Fats

Just as there are good and bad carbs there are also good and bad fats.  For some of you this may be old news but there may be a reader or two out there who is not familiar with this very important distinction.  I read that the Atkins Diet until recently did not distinguish between good and bad fats which led droves of low carbers to consume huge portions of saturated animals fats (yes thats the type that the doctors warn you against).  In fact if you look at the daily recommendations for the Atkins Diet you will see an average day consisting of everything from slabs of bacon, to fried eggs and rump steak.  Conversely, unsaturated fats are those found in certain, types of fish, vegetables such as avocados, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and nuts such as wall nuts.  Unsaturated fats are the cornerstone of other low carb diets such as The Cheat Day Diet, and The South Beach Diet, and are almost universally endorsed by Dieticians and nutritionists alike.
Okay now this is where things get really confusing!  There is a plethora of articles out there showing that Low Carb Diets even those high in saturated fats such as the Atkins Diet actually help in lowering L.D.L's or bad cholesterol.  Consumption of Saturated Fats To Lower Cholesterol? 
So whats the answer here?  Should you be gorging yourself on bacon, eggs and butter at every meal?  I think the answer to that is an unequivocal no. With that being said it does appear that if you keep your consumption of carbohydrates extremely low the potential increase in your L.D.L's is little if any and it may even lower your L.D.L's.
Take a look at the article and spend some time jumping around the net, I'm sure in no time you will have a great understanding of the distinction amongst fats and be able to tailor your consumption to your specific needs.  Have a great day, happy dieting!

The Importance of Sleep, Leptin Raises Its Head Yet Again

Im chronically short on sleep often sleeping 4-5 hours a night.  I was at the gym the other day speaking with a friend of mine who is a physique athlete and I asked him if he had any specific advice for weight loss and retention of muscle.  He stated that a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep a night is absolutely mandatory for weight loss and optimal health.  I had often heard how important sleep was but the emphasis that my friend put on adequate rest made me rush home and start researching the subject.  It didn't take me long to find articles addressing this subject and before long I was immersed in my study with six windows open between my Ipad and my Powerbook.
Why does sleep help with dieting and weight loss, what is the mechanism by which this works?  I found a great article on Livestrong.com which broke down why you need a minimum of eight hours sleep a night and also the chemicals that were associated with adequate rest.  What surprised me here was Leptin once again popping into the picture.  You may remember a post of mine titled Leptin and the Science Behind The Cheat Day Diet.  This was the first time that I mentioned Leptin and it was one of my most popular posts thus far.  Importance of Sleep
Also, during this research another common theme that I came across was that sleep deprivation caused an increase in the hormone Ghrelin which has been shown to not only reduce energy expenditure but also promote the retention of fat.  Ghrelin and Its Negative Effect On Weight Loss.     
There seemed to be no shortage of information stating how important sleep is to optimum health and effective dieting.  There also seems to be a direct correlation between proper sleep and sleep patterns and testosterone levels.  Sleep and Testosterone Levels  
Take a look at these articles and do a little research of your own.  The Cheat Day Diet is all about maximizing your efforts and your results.  Make sure to get enough shut eye we don't want all that dieting and exercise to be for nought.  Happy dieting everyone, talk soon.

Jimmy Moore's Livin la Vida Low-Carb

While doing my daily research I came across this blog. Apparently I must have been living under a rock to not have seen this blog as everyone else in the world has. Well check it out if you haven't already it truly is a wealth of low carb information and will definitely become a source of information for The Cheat Day Diet.

Just How Low Carb Should a Low Carb Diet Be??

So I have received a couple of questions lately regarding the amount of carbs that can be consumed and will still constitute a low carb diet.  I started doing some research on this question and suffice to say the opinions are varied.  Lets start with the obvious 0 net carbs is probably not only impossible but sounds like it could be dangerous.  Now that we have ruled 0 out; is the magic number 20, 50, or even 100.
I have personally tried daily variations ranging from 20-100 grams and I have found that even with the small amount of net carbs in my favorite vegetables 40-50 grams has allowed me to eat what I consider to be a healthy balanced diet and also maintain my weight loss and maintenance goals.
I have read a number of different diet programs and articles that are also quite varied in their recommendations.
While the Atkins diet may recommend a daily intake of as little as 20 grams a day, the zone diet may suggest that 30% of your daily consumption be in the form of complex carbohydrates.  I also came across a number of articles stating that on account of every ones unique hormonal and chemical makeup there is no real number that be applied across the general public.   I wanted to supply  a number of links so that you can better educate yourself as I believe there is a lot of merit in the notion that every ones body reacts differently. Wiki Article
I also think that we have to remain focused on not only the weight loss and management goals but also the primary purpose of any diet regiment which is to attain and maintain overall health.  With that being said the consumption of adequate nutrients and phytonutrients are of paramount importance.  Adequate Nutrients on Low Carb Diet.  
I think that the key is to get started and monitor closely not only your weight loss but also your overall well being.  After a short time you will be able to tailor your carb consumption to your specific body requirements.  I hope this helps to answer the question and thanks again to everyone for following The Cheat Day Diet.  Happy dieting everyone.

 

Do Low Carb Diets Impair Brain Function

Today I spent the majority of the day running around Orange County looking at new locations for Stout Burgers and Beers and also locations for another potential project.  I was sitting at Starbucks enjoying my Decaf Americano (second of the day) when I got a text from my friend who is following a version of The Cheat Day Diet.  He asked me how I can function on such low carb consumption and was curious if I "spaced out all the time".  I told him that I had heard of people getting a little discombobulated especially in the beginning of the diet but that I had never really had that effect.
This question made me curious as to the exact effects of low carbs on the brain specifically can a low carb diet restrict glucose from your brain essentially starving your brain.  I found myself searching the Internet and as usual there was multiple articles with varied opinions on the subject matter.
I found an interesting article in Readers Digest which stated that low carb diets would have a negative impact on not only health as a whole but specifically brain function and that a minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates were required daily to keep the brain functioning at optimal levels.  While the article agreed that we do indeed eat too many carbohydrates it also stated emphatically that carbohydrate restricted diets may not be healthy for you for a variety of reason.  Readers Digest Article
I continued to research the subject and came across a number of articles that again emphasized the health benefits of a low carb diet.
Both of the articles I included address specifically the effects of the low carb diet on cognitive function and attempt to disprove the notion that low carb diets may be bad for the brain.  Low Carb Diets Health Benefits and Low Carb Diets Not Bad For The Brain I would welcome you to read both of these article and also the Readers Digest Article mentioned above.  I  feel more confident after my research that The Cheat Day Diet is not only extremely effective but also safe for that lump of grey matter housed between your ears.  Let me know your thoughts after you have checked out the aforementioned articles.  Talk to you guys tomorrow, happy dieting.

Bariatric Medicine Type 2 Diabetes and Low Carb Diets

Bariatric Medicine: The treatment of obesity, and methods of weight loss. Bariatric physicians can be certified by the American Board of Bariatric Medicine.

Some bariatric physicians are surgeons specializing in surgery to promote weight loss, while others use diet and other lifestyle changes to treat obesity.

I came across the term Bariatric Medicine while researching the effects of a low carb diet on Type 2 Diabetes.  This led me to a wealth of articles focused on insulin and fat storage. One of the articles that I found of particular interest was on the site About.com and concerning a Bariatric Physician by the name of Mary Vernon, M.D. Mary Vernon MD Link

This article addresses the myths of low carb dieting and also the scientific effect of low carb diets on the metabolism and weight loss.  There was a Q&A session with Dr. Vernon that addressed a number of very common questions a would provide an excellent roadmap for anyone interested in starting a diet of this type.  

There was also an interesting article on livestrong.com.  If you have not visited this site you need to it really is a wealth of information very well organized and structured to allow for easy browsing.  This particular article states that the American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes get between 45 and 60 grams of carbohydrates at each meal but then goes on to explain why some people with diabetes who follow a low carb or restricted carb diet are finding that their blood sugar levels improve significantly. Live Stong Article

While I cant speak from personal experience on diabetes I have always had a problem with low blood sugar and I can say without a doubt switching to a low carb diet has allowed me to control any of the blood sugar fluctuations that used to plague me.  I can also say that contrary to other widely held beliefs I have never experienced low energy levels or felt lethargic while on this regiment (well other than when I get two hours sleep multiple nights in a row.)

I think the key here is to research this subject as much as possible.  With websites such as livestrong.com at your disposal there is no reason that you cant be extremely well informed on all subjects pertaining to your health.  As for me, I'm sticking to The Cheat Day Diet...I'm going to finish my American at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and walk over to our new Stout Burgers and Beers under construction (finally) in Santa Monica.  Ill fill you guys in on my daily eats as the day progresses, happy dieting.  

Just came across this article on About.com Nutrition

Just came across this nice little article on About.com Nutrition regarding low carb diets.  Its probably not going to tell you too much that you have not already read but its got some informative hyperlinks and is worth the read.

http://nutrition.about.com/od/diets/a/lowcarbdianafaq.htm

The Question is...Can you build muscle on a low carb diet?

Its a question I hear on a daily basis and for good reason.  Can I build muscle on a low carb diet? Its a long held belief that you need to consume big carbs to get big muscle.  Most weight gainers are filled with simple and complex carbs.  So whats the skinny on this question.....Click on the link below and let me know your thoughts. /

Muscle on a low carb diet

Great Low Carb Article From The University Of Connecticut

Its always good to find scientifically grounded articles supporting low carb diets which is the foundation of The Cheat Day Diet. This article covers not only the history of the low carb movement but also The effects of carbohydrates on insulin response. Take a few moments and check it out, I would love to hear your thoughts.

uconn.edu/blog/2011/08/new-book-explores-science-behind-a-low-carbohydrate-diet/

Enjoying Northern Cal the birthplace of Peet's Coffee and Tea and looking for our San Francisco Stout

Im just concluding my Northern California trip and I have to say that I'm truly starting to love this area. There is such a diversity of people, cultures and foods in a relatively small area. Our weekend took us through San Francisco! Oakland and Berkeley the birth place of Peet's Coffee and Tea. We tried a few different restaurants but the one that was truly memorable was Chez Pannise in Berkeley. I have to say that this was one of the best meals I can ever remember having. I often hear people say they can taste the freshness of food but this was probably the first time I felt I truly could say that. Everything about this meal was spectacular, service perfect and the halibut entree and goat cheese salad appetizer worked perfectly for my low carb diet. I can't recommend this place strongly enough. We found a couple of very interesting locations for our Northern Stout Burgers and Beers location but I think we have narrowed it down to two potential San Francisco locations. Berkeley was indeed a lovely city also and enjoying a decaf coffee at the birthplace of Peet's was wonderful. Well it's almost time to jump back on a plane to LaLa land. I'll throw up a more detailed report on my cheat day later but thus far it has included hamburgers, a wide variety of fruit, cookies, mango lassi, and some ice cream. Hope everyone is wonderful and happy dieting.