Killing Joke have been a part of my genetic makeup for the past 30 years or so. It was great to be able to see them perform live once again (my 6th or 7th gathering) this week at Cafe Campus in Montreal. I brought my camera along with me this time around. Check out my photography section for some shots I took of the show.
I had a conversation with a nutritionist a few weeks ago, she pointed out that my breakfast bagel and coffee habit was a pretty horrendous way to start my day. The discussion about spikes and crashes in insulin due to wheat consumption got me thinking about a lot of my not so great eating habits. I always knew there would come a time I would need to smarten up regarding nutrition and my time is now.
Looking to make some big changes I've opted for a life without wheat, processed foods, sugar, pop, most red meats and an have put an emphasis on raw foods like vegetables, legumes, fruits and nuts. I'm also limiting my meat intake to lean ones like chicken and salmon. Red meat intake will be limited to a couple of times a month. We also try to purchase only organic products when possible.
Essentially I'm taking on a Mediterranean diet minus wheat consumption.
After two weeks and a drop of 12 pounds I can't believe how much better I've begun to feel. I still have 40 pounds to go but I like where my new lifestyle is taking me in such a short amount of time. I've already said goodbye to acid reflux and hello to extra energy. I do realize my initial weight loss is mainly due to water loss but i'm confident it will continue at a slower but positive pace moving forward.
One of my big nutritional bad boys was my love of Diet Coke. My daily intake was beginning to slowly kill me. Who knew consuming an acid beverage daily could harm my stomach lining. Denial is a powerful emotion while enjoying a Diet Coke caffeine buzz.
I've been told detoxifying my body of all the Aspartame I've consumed over the years may take up to 12-18 months. I'm just hoping there's been no permanent damage inflicted by my former fizzy addiction.
Getting back to breakfast...
The nutritionist suggested I start my days by drinking a nutrious berry protein smoothie. I thought I would share my recipe here in case anyone else reading this wants to jump on the health train with me. I'm more than happy to share some of my learnings.
I've grown tired of finding out most of the foods at our grocery store are now void of nutrients and full of genetic modifications (GMOs) and preservatives. It's no wonder everyone is getting sick around us... This guy included.
So here's my daily smoothie:
We have a Magic Bullet here at home which is perfect to make quick smoothies in the morning with minimal cleaning afterwards. Trust me, I hate cleaning these things. 30 seconds and my post rinse is done. Easy, even for a lazy bugger like myself.
Here are the ingredients and steps:
Put in one medium sized banana cut in half. Put one scoop of protein powder. I've chosen Vega berry smoothie powder made of hemp and pea protein. Whey protein is also excellent but made from milk and I'm trying to cut down on lactose consumption as well.
Put in two handfuls of frozen mixed berries. We buy the organic ones from Loblaws. Buy organic when possible.
Put some ice cubes or crushed ice to the top of your Magic Bullet.
Fill in the rest of your Magic Bullet with unsweetened organic Almond milk. Trust me, it tastes better than it sounds and it's full of Magnesium which is great for a healthy mind.
Mix your berry smoothie for about 30 seconds to a minute. You'll be able to see through the clear plastic container when your drink is fully mixed properly and complete. I take my smoothie on the run and enjoy it on my ride in to work. This keeps me nice and full until my lunch hour kicks in at noon.
Did I mention the better poops you'll have as a result? Now who doesn't like good poops?
If you're on the fence about taking on a healthier lifestyle check out some of these excellent documentaries I've listed below. They've provided me with both a lot of knowledge and inspiration to get the ball rolling in my own life. I've included links to their respective websites. All of them are available on Netflix except Genetic Roulette which can be found on YouTube.
Forks over Knives
Food Inc.
Food Matters
Hungry for Change
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
Also worthy is a book called "Wheat Belly" written by cardiologist Dr. William Davis. His book details the negative effects the consumption of modern wheat is having on our bodies. It's a controversial book filled with interesting ideas for anyone with an open mind.
My wife is embarking upon this journey along with me. Try to find yourself a partner in crime who is looking to make a change as well, it'll make the process far easier. Sharing the struggles and successes with that partner will make the journey that much more rewarding.
We all have one life to live. Make sure to fill up your tank with good quality gas. You don't want to kill your engine before reaching the end of the race.
It's been quite the draining week indeed. Bombings in Boston, death and destruction in Texas, shoot outs in Cambridge and a traditional and social media overdose of negativety that has been impossible to escape. It seems every where I looked this week a cloud of doom was engulfing the world we live in.
In desperate need of caffeine this morning I took a trip to my local Tim Hortons drive thru to pick up a quick cup of Java. As I went to pay the cashier she informed me that there was no charge, the older lady in the car in front of me (a complete stranger) had paid for my cup of coffee.
I have a little more hope for the human race this morning. It's amazing how such a small gesture can go such a long way. I plan on relaunching this happiness bomb to a stranger driving behind me next time I visit my local drive thru.
Thank you complete stranger.
You made my day.
It was time. It was time to get out of 2005 and redesign my little hole on the interweb. If you have any problems with my new site design please let me know. I've done some testing but may have forgotten a thing here and there. New on the site is a photography section. I splurged recently and bought myself a new Canon DSLR camera. It's something I've always wanted to do but never got around to until now. I plan to add some sets of photos periodically so don't be a stranger and pop by from time to time to check them out. I'm looking to improve so any constuctive criticism from other photobugs is more than welcome.
I'm planning to add a video section and shoot some short documentaries as well. I'm in a mulling over ideas mode right now and waiting for the Canadian winter that surrounds me presently to subside. It can't happen soon enough. Thanks for visiting!
