Changing Body Composition - Find And Listen To An Expert
I remember thinking when I heard about JFK Jr. crashing his plane ”why do people think lawyers can fly?” It was sad, because he was young, and two other people died along with him. But it wasn’t that surprising to me, because he was a lawyer. He was a hobby pilot at best, and frankly, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go flying with hobby pilots. If you want to fly, get an expert pilot to fly the plane.
I hold the same opinion when it comes to changing body composition. When I need to change something about the way my body looks; I ask an expert for their advice. I then follow their advice until I look the way I want to, or I realize that their advice doesn’t apply to me. It’s pretty simple. If I don’t look the way I want to it is because I don’t know how to make myself look that way. If I did know I would be doing what I needed to make it happen.
When I was a trainer at GoodLife it became obvious that almost everyone THINKS they know how to eat in order to change the way they look IN SPITE of the fact that they don’t already look the way they want to. When I asked them why they hadn’t achieved their fitness goals yet, their answers were all basically the same – it was due to a lack of effort and not a lack of knowledge. Hearing these excuses day in and day out was the main reason I made the decision to stop training people, and focus most of my energies on my own fitness and health related goals.
I give a lot of nutrition presentations to parents of young athletes, and I find it remarkable that so many sceptical people trust their children’s training to us, but don’t believe me when I offer them guidance concerning optimal nutrition for athletes. Sure there are some who agree with everything I say, and there are others who agree, but admit that it’s difficult and expensive to eat that way. But I’m baffled by the people who continue to tell me that fat is bad; that human beings need lots of grain; that too much protein will destroy the kidneys, and that supplements shouldn’t be given to young people. When I ask them how they know these things; they say that they don’t know how they know; they just know that they know. I don’t try to convince them, because my role is to educate, and people can only be educated when they are open to new information.
I try to win them over by saying that what they have been doing is not bad or dangerous because they are still alive. I suggest that it is just not optimal. I inject some science into what has traditionally been taught by parents. Serving size and food choices are perfect examples of this – we tend to eat the same foods and similar amounts of food that our parents feed us. In talking to these people, I try to make them doubt the scientific basis of their knowledge in an attempt to get them to open their minds a little. Over time, some of what I say may get in and make a difference at a later date - an approach that has worked with a number of my peers and clients. Those who are receptive to what I say begin to make the changes they have always wanted while those who remain sceptical tend to remain on the same path they have been on most of their lives.
I do consider myself an expert on nutrition; at least as it applies to body composition, because I have done everything that I recommend. I have also been a heavy guy who needed to learn the right way to eat, because my food choices were making me fat. It took a long time to figure it out, but once I did, I was able to bring about the changes I needed in order to improve the quality of my life, and to make my body look the way I had always wanted it to. But I only gained my knowledge because I remained open to what experts had to say about nutrition, and the results came only because I listened to their advice.
If you want to change the way you look, chances are that you are not an expert. Your first step is to accept that you don’t know how to make it happen. Your second step is to find someone who does know. And your final step is to follow their advice COMPLETELY. It’s very simple, the best people get the best results EVERY TIME.
December 22nd, 2007 09:55
too much protein can cause kidney damage…
Protein is made up of essential and non essential ammino acids. Essential being threonine, valine, tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, methionine and histidine. ALL 9 of these must be present in order for the molecular structure of the branched chain amino acid to form properly and if not then the body destroys it and will not consume any of it and it turns to waste to the kidney. These are found in pill forms, protein shakes and bars. These forms are often missing one or two of the nine essential amino acids and the body will descerte it as waste. When the body rids it as waste often an individual will experience gas frequently or discolored feces. Therefore the output of protein is higher than the intake if all 9 are not present equaling a negative nitrogen balance, placing too much output on the kidneys and increased urea production which is toxic to the body. Increased uric acid in the body will contribute to kidney damage (failure), renal stones and even gout. Note also that too much protein intake causes the excess protein to be converted to fat during a positive energy balance.
Non essential amino acids that the body makes and therefore does not reject are alanine, arginine, aspartic acxid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, cysteine, and tyrosine. Not all need to be present for a branched chain amino acid to form properly as the body makes it itself and breaks it down.
Protein quality is dependant upon both by the amino acid content and the digestibility of the food. For essential amino acids, all nine MUST be present to form a branched chain amino acid and the correct ratio as well. Meat is the most complete source of all nine, whether its red meat or chicken. Plant proteins are only 70-90% digestible for humans whereas meats and refined grains are 95% digestible. A greater intake of well portioned amino acids (that include all 9) and less output will result in a positive nitrogen balance where the protein will be utilized properly for cellular repair and energy systems for bodily function.
Talk to me later about how to access for protein need (ie tracer method). Protein digestion, absorption and utilization.
December 22nd, 2007 12:12
>too much protein can cause kidney damage…
I’m not splitting hairs with you here when I say that it isn’t protein that is bad for the kidneys, it is having too high an acid level in your body that causes the problem - the kidneys have to work harder to remove the toxic components from the blood stream.
HOWEVER, one can lower the PH level of their body if they consume a lot of fresh vegetables; as veggies are more basic.
If someone ate nothing but protein, they would lean out very quickly and then become sick. But if they eat a balanced diet they will be fine if they increase their protein consumption, even a dramatic increase will have no ill effects on a healthy individual.
I would never advocate for someone to eat NOTHING but protein, I advocate for a balance diet with lots of vegetables. The problem is, when I give the talk, people grab onto the too much protein being bad for you argument in an attempt to discredit what the science actually has to say about nutrition - that body composition changes to increase the amount of lean body mass that you have when you increase your protein intake.
December 31st, 2007 09:44
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