Comments on: The Two Okinawan Diet Rules (or How I’m Getting Leaner During the Holidays) http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/ Simple Productivity Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:06:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jeremy Tymes » Blog Archive » 6 Ways To Stay Active in the Winter http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-54589 Jeremy Tymes » Blog Archive » 6 Ways To Stay Active in the Winter Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:25:52 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-54589 [...] that we need it the most, with all the holidays and being on break for those of us in school. Some have already been preparing for handling the food and the activity. But most have not. So [...] [...] that we need it the most, with all the holidays and being on break for those of us in school. Some have already been preparing for handling the food and the activity. But most have not. So [...]

]]> By: Marcelo http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-54219 Marcelo Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:48:01 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-54219 Hi, Leo! Nice post, but I'm going to disagree with it a thing or two. - Okinawans eat a lot of pork. Really. A lot. It is a staple of their diet. And they cook their most of their dishes in lard. So if you don't eat pork or something cook in lard a couple of times a week, you aren't really going Okinawan... Actually, one hipothesis for their longevity lies in their high intake of fat, but try to talk about in a room full of people that believe fat is evil... - Zone is not a low-carb diet, it is 40% carbs... that's definetly not low. Oh, before I forget, I got interested in your met-con circuit. Would you mind describing your strenght training routine? Thank you! Hi, Leo! Nice post, but I’m going to disagree with it a thing or two.
- Okinawans eat a lot of pork. Really. A lot. It is a staple of their diet. And they cook their most of their dishes in lard. So if you don’t eat pork or something cook in lard a couple of times a week, you aren’t really going Okinawan…
Actually, one hipothesis for their longevity lies in their high intake of fat, but try to talk about in a room full of people that believe fat is evil…
- Zone is not a low-carb diet, it is 40% carbs… that’s definetly not low.

Oh, before I forget, I got interested in your met-con circuit. Would you mind describing your strenght training routine?

Thank you!

]]> By: daniel Bassett http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53868 daniel Bassett Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:00:17 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53868 It is not anti Paleo at all. Eating mostly fish and lots of vegetables and fruits completely fits in with the Paleo Diet. Its a choice not to eat red meats, you can, but if you choose to eat predominantly fish then that is fine as many coastal hunter gatherers probably did do. It is not anti Paleo at all. Eating mostly fish and lots of vegetables and fruits completely fits in with the Paleo Diet. Its a choice not to eat red meats, you can, but if you choose to eat predominantly fish then that is fine as many coastal hunter gatherers probably did do.

]]> By: Chris http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53846 Chris Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:37:11 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53846 A few thoughts. At 40% of calories from Cabs, the zone if most certainly NOT a low carb despite, despite whatever other complaints there may be with it. I do think that the author's science is pretty murky - but I hate seeing this diet lumped in with things like Atkins. I'd also argue that eating mostly plants makes low carb difficult. Most vegetables are not calorically dense at all. I'd challenge anyone to overeat on squash or chard. I suspect your jaw will get tired before you get overly full. It's also worth noting that Pigs (i.e. pork) is the mainstay of the Okinawan diet. http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/pork.html However, what their diet IS very low in, is process crap, and excessive grains. They eat tons of vegetables, fish and (naturally raised) meat. A few thoughts.
At 40% of calories from Cabs, the zone if most certainly NOT a low carb despite, despite whatever other complaints there may be with it. I do think that the author’s science is pretty murky – but I hate seeing this diet lumped in with things like Atkins.

I’d also argue that eating mostly plants makes low carb difficult.

Most vegetables are not calorically dense at all. I’d challenge anyone to overeat on squash or chard. I suspect your jaw will get tired before you get overly full.

It’s also worth noting that Pigs (i.e. pork) is the mainstay of the Okinawan diet.
http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/pork.html

However, what their diet IS very low in, is process crap, and excessive grains. They eat tons of vegetables, fish and (naturally raised) meat.

]]> By: Weekend Link Love http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53792 Weekend Link Love Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:56:36 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53792 [...] Habits uses the Okinawa Diet Rules as a guide to keeping the holidays [...] [...] Habits uses the Okinawa Diet Rules as a guide to keeping the holidays [...]

]]> By: Weekend Link Love | Mark's Daily Apple http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53749 Weekend Link Love | Mark's Daily Apple Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:10:12 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53749 [...] Habits uses the Okinawa Diet Rules as a guide to keeping the holidays [...] [...] Habits uses the Okinawa Diet Rules as a guide to keeping the holidays [...]

]]> By: Mary http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53401 Mary Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:48:39 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53401 Loved the blog, will link it to mine in fact. I WONDER though about your fitness routine: do your arms straiten out all the way? I am curious about this when there is a lot of weight training and running and no yoga. Maybe you could had some down dogs and yoga reaching to keep your energy clear. Permanently bent elbows are going to obstruct something somewhere. I am not being judgmental, not what I want to sound like, its not where I am coming from. I teach a lot of yoga, and pilates too, and see a lot of bodies like that on men clients with the same routine as you have described. It is just curiosity. Loved the blog, will link it to mine in fact. I WONDER though about your fitness routine: do your arms straiten out all the way? I am curious about this when there is a lot of weight training and running and no yoga. Maybe you could had some down dogs and yoga reaching to keep your energy clear. Permanently bent elbows are going to obstruct something somewhere. I am not being judgmental, not what I want to sound like, its not where I am coming from. I teach a lot of yoga, and pilates too, and see a lot of bodies like that on men clients with the same routine as you have described. It is just curiosity.

]]> By: John http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53231 John Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:01:14 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53231 Great post! A friend who recommends Pollan also suggested this one about One Bowl, which can help with conscious eating. I applaud you for conscious eating, because the same conscious approach can be applied in any area of life. http://www.amazon.com/One-Bowl-Guide-Eating-Spirit/dp/1569246270 Great post! A friend who recommends Pollan also suggested this one about One Bowl, which can help with conscious eating. I applaud you for conscious eating, because the same conscious approach can be applied in any area of life.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Bowl-Guide-Eating-Spirit/dp/1569246270

]]> By: Dan http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53216 Dan Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:42:34 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53216 Most people over-rate exercise in weight loss and under-estimate calorie reduction.... then are frustrated when the going is slow. Your approach makes more sense, for physical activity do what you like, for food choices... never diet, change the way you look at food. It's fuel and it's only fuel. Bad fuel, bad engine, good food, good engine. Nice post, thanks. Most people over-rate exercise in weight loss and under-estimate calorie reduction…. then are frustrated when the going is slow.

Your approach makes more sense, for physical activity do what you like, for food choices… never diet, change the way you look at food. It’s fuel and it’s only fuel. Bad fuel, bad engine, good food, good engine.

Nice post, thanks.

]]> By: Elements Fitness http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/the-two-okinawan-diet-rules-or-how-im-getting-leaner-during-the-holidays/#comment-53177 Elements Fitness Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:05:37 +0000 http://zenhabits.net/?p=1852#comment-53177 Nice post Leo. I take a slightly different approach during the holiday season. Knowing that I'm going to eat more during this time of year I've worked the extra calories into my yearly training cycle. So instead of fighting it, I make use of the fact that I'll be eating more and simply start a functional mass gain cycle every December. By the end of January I've leaned up again (combining running your own fitness studio with intense training and a good diet really burns of that extra fat) but I've usually gained 1 or 2 kilos of muscle to play with. Nice post Leo.
I take a slightly different approach during the holiday season. Knowing that I’m going to eat more during this time of year I’ve worked the extra calories into my yearly training cycle. So instead of fighting it, I make use of the fact that I’ll be eating more and simply start a functional mass gain cycle every December.

By the end of January I’ve leaned up again (combining running your own fitness studio with intense training and a good diet really burns of that extra fat) but I’ve usually gained 1 or 2 kilos of muscle to play with.

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