in the name of science–translation: figuring your sh*# out

Use your body as a science experiment, because truthfully, what have you got to lose?

Have you ever done any experiments? Obviously, we all have done some type of experiments when we were kids or when we were in school. But, I’m talking about now, as an adult. Even more specifically, what I am talking about is nutrition and fitness experiments on yourself. WTF?

By experimenting, I mean diets or certain ways of eating. You know you have done that. Most of us have tried some type of diet at some point in our lives. Ever hear, “I’ve tried every diet in the world?” Ummmm, yeah, that would be an experiment. We try something, stick to it for a while and then gauge the outcome. An experiment. Interesting, don’t you think?

I think we all should experiment with our nutrition. We need to find what works for us and what doesn’t. Will paleo work for me? Will ketogenic work for me? What about the Standard American Diet? What about unprocessed foods? My point being, what have you got to lose? Some time maybe, but I promise it will be worth it. What have you got to gain? A huge insight into how your body handles different types of foods and how your body functions on different diets. But, how do you know how your body handles food? Keep track of this shit. Seriously. You will gain powerful insight into how your body functions.

I have learned over time that my body does not like dairy, as in the form of heavy cream for my coffee. I love it though. But I don’t like how my body handles it. I like trying things to see how my body responds. If I eat oatmeal and I don’t have protein with it, I can tell you that 30 minutes later I seriously want to take a nice long nap. However, if I eat protein with my oatmeal, I feel much better and don’t get that terrible sluggishness and crash. Soooooo, duh, I am better off if I eat protein with my oatmeal. That wasn’t so hard now, was it?

Some symptoms of food intolerances are kind of subtle, but you should definitely pay attention to these and document them. They can include gas, bloating, stuffy nose and general abdominal discomfort. Some food intolerances can mess with our hormones and cause much bigger problems to our overall health. Some of the most common food intolerances in adults are dairy, seafood/shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. Do you notice problems when you consume any of these foods?

Other symptoms can be a depressed immune system. Are you getting sick more than usual? Your sleeping may suffer. Your workouts may suffer. Just some things to look for and to pay attention to.

Try keeping a food journal for three or four days and include how you feel an hour or so after you eat something. And even the next day document how you feel. Write that shit down. It is invaluable information for you. I bet you will be surprised. It truly is an eye-opening experiment. Experiment away and let me know how things go for you. I would love to hear from you.