The Downside of Being Smarter Than Everyone Else

I have a this terrible habit of, when I don't know something, going and learning about it. Sometimes, if it strikes my fancy, I become an information gobbling machine and can't stop hitting myself in the face with knowledge and more knowledge.

The reason this is a terrible habit is because: I don't understand why everyone doesn't do this.

It's getting to the point where I may be becoming a bit of a radical - especially in terms of food and fitness. I find myself constantly "correcting" people - "No, you really should be focusing on strength training if your goal is fat loss. Too much cardio can actually make your body retain fat more efficiently and therefore stall weight loss. Let me quote the 7 books I've read in the last 4 months on the subject." "No, you really shouldn't be focusing on low-fat. Your body needs fat. New research suggests that saturated fats may actually be good for you." "No, you shouldn't worry about the number on the scale. Muscle takes up less space than fat, therefore the more muscle you have the skinnier you are but the more you weigh. Take your measurements and focus on building strength."

These are just some examples of my everyday bossiness. It probably helps that I have lots of people around me who seem to like it when I tell them what to do.

I said in a recent post that I was going to be reading Dr. William Clower's "The French Don't Diet" book. It's been really great so far, I'm almost half-way through. The concept is very simple: Eat whole foods. Even if they are full fat, full carb, full sugar (in moderation on this last one - also notice I said "sugar", not "high-fructose corn syrup"). In fact, speaking on fat specifically: full fat foods are actually better for you because they possess more nutrients which in turn keep your body fueled and satisfied longer, which in the long-run means you are actually consuming less. It is so simple. Sounds like an amazing "experiment" to me. Once I finish the book I'm going to work on implementing this simple ideas into my current diet and lifestyle.

But here's the thing: I say that. But will I actually do it?

This is the downside of being smarter than everyone else... I'm a big, fat hypocrite. I'll dole out my free (and sometimes unsolicited lol!) advice to anyone who is dumb enough to broach the subject in my presence, but just know that I do not always live my life to the healthiest as I know (all too well, thanks to my addiction to education) I should. I still indulge in fast-food, faux food, and all the chemically and genetically modified foods offered at every turn in this the great U.S. of A... I try to limit my indulgences, but I certainly do not eat the amount of fresh foods that I should be.

One thing I can say for myself: I have not eaten McDonald's in more than 6 months.

...but that doesn't mean I haven't fed it to my eldest child... *hangs head in shame*

It's hard to know how much fake, chemical crap is in the foods I consume on a regular basis... and to know that these foods are stalling my weight loss and ruining my health in general... but to really not quite have reached the point of having the willpower to say, "No. I will NOT eat Taco Bell anymore. I WILL buy local produce at my local farmer's market, I WILL purchase grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, I WILL buy all organic dairy! AS GOD AS MY WITNESS!!!"

...okay, that got a little dramatic. I will get there. Just like I'm slowly getting there with being more active - daily walks, etc. I keep waiting for that magical "I'm fed up" moment. And I know it's coming. I can feel it. My youngest son will soon be 1, and will stop eating baby food that is organic and nicely prepared in easy jar-form... this will probably be my wake up call to say, "I will NOT let my baby know the delicious poison that is McDonald's french fries!! I will NOT feed my already giant child milk pumped full of chemicals and hormones!". I'm just going to leave it at saying: I was too young and dumb to do this with my oldest. This was when I thought I would never be overweight, so why should I learn about the food I eat? HA! Just because you are skinny, does not mean you are healthy.

Oh, it's a long hard road ahead, folks. I'm trying incredibly hard not to become a completely insane "food freedom" radical in the process of learning all these scary things about the food we eat. (ps - food freedom is something I came up with. I don't know if this is like an actual movement or anything, but I feel like it sounds good.) More importantly, I'm going to try not to be such a damn hypocrite anymore.

Speaking of hypocrites... my food for the last few days: