Re: finer points of CRON

[Guest guest]

: a very good post IMHO. We're all different. Too extreme CR might

discourage some from practising ANY CR. And some is much better than none.

OTOH, some of our more extreme anal-retentives :-) (as they self-describe

themselves in fact) wouldn't be able to do it any other way.

As for giving up certain foods, I've learned to have my cake and eat it too

(so to speak). Most of my favorite foods are now adapted to CR (CR hot

fudge sundae, pita bread whole wheat pizzas, chinese with sauce on the side)

- most of which are in the archives (search " recipe " ). A little creativity

goes a long way!

on 6/18/2002 1:22 PM, bareynol@... at

bareynol@... wrote:

>

> Hello Trustinit. I will admit also to using butter and salt also; however

> I consider them in the same manner as I would a spice.

>

> When I first read your first email I also shared the opinion that you were

> missing a vital point in CRONism - that of optimizing nutrition as a

> central tenet of the program. Cutting back on calories is not enough, the

> optimization of nutrition at the same time as cutting back, is what

> differentiates us from other " programs. " Many of us use (for me the first

> time) nutrition tracking software to track what we are eating against a

> nominal calorie target. This provided insight into what I was actually

> eating Vs what I though I was eating. I was short on many essential

> nutrients, and long on calories. Over the course of two months, through

> daily tracking, I learned how to optimize calories I chose to consume. I

> also learned the value of lot of fruits and vegetables (finally I would

> make my Mother proud :-))> Lunch now is a cup of no-fat yogurt, a cup or

> so of blueberries, and two oranges. No more s, nor fries with mayo

> <sigh>

>

> As to degrees, alas I think it is an American tendency to want to compete;

> a tendency which I, for one, try and eschew. If someone desires to make

> eating the central pillar of their daily life I wish them well. I believe

> that we are all on an interesting journey, each finding their own way

> through the deluge of sometimes conflicting information. It is rare when

> we can agree (as a group) what the precise course of action is, as such a

> course is driven not by absolute knowledge but rather through opinions

> biased with (hopefully) good and valid information.

>

> Dr. Walford did introduce the term " set point " into our vocabulary but the

> term is, in my opinion, almost meaningless. As an engineer I like clear

> goals and latched on " set point " as a way of establishing a goal. However

> I decided to attach " set point " to weight (as that is easily measured) and

> consequently missed a key point. It is the " degree " of calorie restriction

> which confers benefit. Weight follows calories as a secondary attribute.

> So " set point " should be based on the ad Librium calorie consumption, not

> weight. (The light came one when I carefully read the Labrador Dog studies

> when they mentioned " pairing " the dogs. One dog at AL, and the other ate

> 30% less. Ah! the light came one because the second dog was " 30%

> restricted in calories. " (In retrospect - Well Duh! :-))>

>

> One could measure " degree of calorie restriction " against national norms.

> For example " Food eaten can also be counted as food consumed at home and

> away from home as calories. The government periodically surveys Americans

> to find out what they are eating and the latest results (1994) are 2,095

> calories per day with 50% carbohydrates, 34% fat (12% saturated fats), 15%

> protein and 2% alcohol. " [1] Based on my target of 1800 calories per day I

> am 15% restricted. But I see little value in such a number as it is an

> average and so not applicable for measurement of a single individual except

> in the most general of senses. Better I would have measured my diet for

> several weeks to determine what I was actually consuming - but by the time

> I gained this insight I was already down the road :-))>

>

> (On a side note I will maintain 1800 calories as a target until my weight

> stabilizes - down 20 pounds so far - then I'll probably lower the target

> again so that I'm taking off weight gradually. I see each step as a

> " training period " on how to adjust to a healthy life style. How

> " restricted " am I? Don't care as such benefits will come as will come.)

>

> Welcome to an interesting way of living!

>

> [1] http://www.dietitian.com/calories.html

>

> p.s A CRON life style is rumored to have a bad side of making people highly

> opinionated and intolerant. Marcus Aurelius said in Book Seven:

>

> " When a man has done thee any wrong, immediately consider with what opinion

> about good or evil he has done wrong. For when thou hast seen this, thou

> wilt pity him, and wilt neither wonder nor be angry. For either thou

> thyself thinkest the same thing to be good that he does or another thing of

> the same kind. It is thy duty then to pardon him. But if thou dost not

> think such things to be good or evil, thou wilt more readily be well

> disposed to him who is in error. "

>

> regards,

>

>

>

>

>

>

> " trustinit " <trustinit@...> on 06/16/2002 04:58:27 PM

>

> Please respond to

>

>

> cc:

>

> Subject: [ ] Re: new to list---and comment " not

> CRON? "

>

>

> I wanted to comment on this reponse. This is just my opinion. I

> think " CRON - hood, " if you will, is a matter of progress rather than

> perfection. I also choose to consume small quantities of butter and

> salt. No, this isn't the best CRON choice. However, considering

> degrees, am I more CRON than someone who has coffee and a donut for

> breakfast? You betcha! I am less CRON than you? quite possibly. Even

> Dr. Walford " goes off " the plan every so often (regularly, in fact,

> as I recall). I'm looking forward to longer life. I also want to

> enjoy it and make food choices accordingly. It's an individual thing.

> I wouldn't know who would determine the purity of my (or

> anyone's) " CRON - ness. " I would hope such a practice never exists.

> Everything is relative.

> jmo,

> peace,

> trustinit

> \

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