Do you ever tire of trying to eat less—dare I say, “diet?”
Have you ever dared consider how you might eat more—a lot more and lose bodyfat? Or have you too bought in to the mass media hypnosis that you are certain there is but one way?
Diets are all about limiting your food intake—they’re about “less.”
When you’re dieting to lose weight you must eliminate all excess calories, especially hidden sugars which are every where. The line between losing fat, cannibalizing muscle or adding fat is much finer than most will ever understand. It’s like trying to thread a needle at 100 mph!
During my ten hours of contemplation on my bike, as I watched hundreds of fit, thin cyclists pound down sugar like a kid on Halloween, it occurred to me that it’s not what people eat that make them fat but what they are NOT doing.
When you’re on a bike for 8 or 9 hours, your heart rate in zone 4, climbing mountains you need the quick-hitting carbs that sugar delivers. I found myself eating things so sweet they made my tongue itch, even stopping to jam down some heavily frosted cupcakes with the birthday boy, Randy, himself (see photo).
And I did so with zero guilt. For in this instance the dreaded sugar-devil won’t make you fat—it’s vital energy for the next hill.
Hence the origin of the word “energy” abused on so many packaged foods. Under the right physical demands, carbohydrates are a source of vital energy but the problem with this form of “energy” for most people is that they’ve exceeded their daily requirements for carbohydrates by 10 am. And taking in more carbs does everything but give you more energy.
As I say in Strength for Life, “Your body is an amazingly adaptive machine. Ask it to be stronger and stronger you will be. Challenge it to go further and further you will go. Coax it to be more limber and more limber it will be. Allow it to mold into the seat of a recliner and, you got it, a recliner seat it will become. Stretch it, push it, pull it; your body is like cellular Play-Doh waiting for you to be the sculptor.”
If you’re ready to make a real and lasting change, if you’re tired of the struggle of dieting, it’s time to make a Lifestyle 180: Rather than focusing on less; less food, less energy, less you choose more—more activity, more challenge, more success, more freedom, more time, more life and more energy!
However you choose to fuel your greatness, I urge you to “eat better, not less.”
Until Next Week,
Stay Strong,
Shawn
Follow Me: /Twitter/shawn_phillips
22. September 2009 at 9:31 am
Shawn, this is one of my favorite quotes from your book, the reminder to focus on more; more challenge, freedom and life, rather than on less–less food, less energy and less you… the fact that we are “cellular play-doh” and are, in essence, the sculptor of our own lives and bodies. We have the power–and the responsibility–to create active, strong bodies and minds. It’s such a reminder that our lives are in our own hands. Thanks!
22. September 2009 at 10:15 am
Yes Thanks Shawn for sharing More is More. Even at 57 years old I have found your program to be the best ever. Thanks Shawn….
22. September 2009 at 10:48 am
It’s ok Shawn. I like cupcakes too
LOL
22. September 2009 at 11:18 am
Shawn, this makes A LOT of sense! It explains why I was able to eat 4 Big Cup Reeses Peanut Butter Cups with Mixed Nuts per day, every day, two years ago while on a four week motorcycle trip and still maintain 6 pack abs…..because although I was on vacation, I would always feel so guilty about taking in all that fat and sugar, that I would immediately do leg lifts for MILES and MILES while riding my bike down the road! I must have literally burned off the calories right after I ate those things!
22. September 2009 at 11:25 am
Shawn,
I began riding my bike 3 or 4 months ago eating a diet of carbs the night before I knew I would be riding distance the next morning[for me at 74 yrs old].
I have lost 56 lbs and now holding at that weight. What you say has proved true for me. Currently I find I am riding less distance, but I am maintaing my 264 lbs by riding around the small town in which I live,
and using less fuel in my truck by letting it remain parked.
Thanks again for your audio news letter.
22. September 2009 at 9:11 pm
A great tip today Shawn. I read/listened to it earlier today and kept that in mind as I cooked dinner for tonight. I thought of it as fuel for my body for the activity I had planned later (racquetball). I wanted to make sure I gave myself something for quality energy, not artificial.
Thanks again.