I made it to Phase 3 already…I knocked out 16lbs of fat and am now ready to re-introduce my pancreas to carbs…but only at a certain time and only once per day…I have to baby it for a couple weeks before moving on to Phase 4/maintenance.

Everyday I am more and more excited about  gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between insulin, glucagon and insulin- sensitivity of organs/tissues. I was a classic case of Syndrome X, like they talk about…I was  the hypoglycemic type who could hold a lot of extra water, on my way to getting a belly. I would say I was the fat-skinny guy.  It seemed impossible get that lean/cut look, in spite of my low calorie, well balanced, organic diet that I struggled to lose fat with since I moved the practice to Boca Raton.  Never mind how many hours I rode the bike and miles I ran or walked…It’s amazing how a simple physiological rule cannot be defeated by hard work.

Another thing about this protocol…it’s easy. There’s nothing hard about it. Just follow the instructions and BAM!…the fat comes off. Sure there was a bit of a struggle in the beginning…I suffered a bit of withdrawal…but it was well worth it.

So now I’m looking at my 40’s as more of a resurgence than a gradual decline…if I only knew then what I know now!

April 28, 2010

Well its been 7 days now and I’m still seeing some progress. Initially it was difficult to calculate the amount of calories I would need to continue with my training while trying to maintain muscle mass and shedding excess fat. I have increased my carb intake on the days I have more training scheduled, while maintaining a significant caloric deficit…this means I can train, but not too hard. Naturally I broke the rule last night and did a group ride on AIA with a slowly deflating tire…so I spent a good 70minutes way above the recommended heart rate zone. So it was a bit risky stressing the system like that and I hope the protein levels maintain my muscle mass (I filled a bottle with the pink lemonade mix and sipped on it the whole time)….at least I never felt that “bonk” feeling like Thursday night! And I had a ton of energy until my head hit the mattress and I was out like a light.

April 23, 2010

Yesterday we started Phase One of the Ideal Protein protocol…well, for me it was actually a modified version of Phase One that is specific to my sport and it’s current intensity…which happens to be bike racing.  The main thing is to make sure I am getting enough of the protein in my system, not hard, and just enough of the right carbs to perform adequately and recover just enough…so the diet is modified everyday according to the level of intensity and duration of training or racing. I want to keep the muscle I have, or else I’ll lose power on the bike…not a good thing. I don’t want the problems associated with too much protein either, another thing I like about this protocol…just enough protein.

I started out at just under 10% body fat and 183 lbs…big for a cyclist! I know that 10% sounds low already, but in the world of bike racing, its a bit much. My goal is to get to 170lbs…still a bit on the big side, but comfortable.

The beauty of the plan is that it’s easy to follow. The “meals” are easy to make and there’s enough variety that I have no problem finding something I like. The process of going into ketosis is different for everyone. It typically takes three days for most people…Day One wasn’t that hard to get through. I was able to complete a hard group training ride with a total of 3 hours of training without getting dropped…but I did feel that “bonking” sensation from the very beginning and even started to cramp toward the end.  Not only do you have to watch your protein intake but it is also important to load up on supplements. I need extra potassium, calcium and magnesium to keep the circuitry firing correctly. I’ll also have to experiment with carbohydrate intake…maybe an extra serving of veggies prior to training.

So even after the ride last night I had a ton of energy, one of the side effects of this diet…so I had difficulty sleeping, plus I dumped tons of water weight right away, which means lots of trips to the bathroom…at least I woke up at 176 pounds this AM. This is primarily the result of burning up my glycogen stores and not adequately restoring them. Glycogen holds water, so no glycogen, no water retention.

Anterior Head Syndrome (AHS) is one of my favorite PRIMARY CONDITIONS to correct because the number of SECONDARY CONDITIONS AHS is capable of generating is greater than most people realize…after all its called Anterior “HEAD” Syndrome… what else can it effect besides the head, neck and upper back?

Well, its a bit more complicated than it seems. First, you need to know a human head can weigh anywhere from 12 to 16 lbs! That’s what a bowling ball weighs.

Second,the body likes to redistribute weight to keep it in balance….so if you shift your head forward (anterior), the body will shift the ribcage backward to keep things balanced. But if the ribcage ends up too far back, the mass of the head is not enough to keep things in balance and therefore the hips will begin to shift forward. Thus the entire spinal structure is effected by a forward shift of the head!

This balancing act can’t go on forever without paying a price.

Just the weight of the head, alone, is enough to accelerated wear and tear on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, bones and the nerves in the neck and upper back, when it is shifted significantly out of place.

To get a feel for it, just take a bowling ball, or similar weight and hold it out in front of you with your arms extended….for 16 hours, 365 days, year in year out…and keep going…Good Luck!

Finally, realize that your lower back and pelvis carry a greater burden than just the weight of the head. Any significant shifting of the spine in these areas, as a result of a forward shifted head, is a recipe for disaster…a list of secondary conditions that seem to have nothing to with the head.

Paying attention to your body’s warning signals (secondary conditions) is the next best thing to a Complete Structural Examination…the best way to diagnose a structural abnormality like AHS.