I noticed on a friend's facebook page that she was really excited about sticking to her diet. The quote: "I try not to eat junk food, too much fat, or any candy." Two out of three is not bad! Yes, I am pretty sure we can all agree that fast food and candy are two things you should definitely avoid. The debate begins when you start talking about fat.
By rule of thumb, the "American" low fat diet means avoid food with fat. It's a carb heavy diet. It's pretty much why America is the most obese country in the world. It's old school thinking. You have to realize that the fat in your food has not caused the fat that is hanging over your waistband or the fat that you are lugging around in your jeans. Scientist are embracing paleo diets or ketogenic diets. Doctors and nutritionists are still arguing that low fat diets are best.
So who do you believe? Science is science. Most doctors know jack shit about nutrition (or exercise). Many nutritionist stick to one protocol and explore no other. I'll stick with the scientists.....
Still not a believer that the paleo or ketogeninc diets don't work? Alex sent me this story of a friend he served with in the Marines:
"We sure got our money’s worth when my dad took me to a buffet as a child. “Man, you can eat like a horse”. Eating huge quantities was a matter of pride for me. I was in sports and becoming fat was never even a consideration.
After high school I served proudly in the Marine Corps as an infantryman and usually scored perfect on our physical fitness test (3 mile run 20 pull-ups, and 100 crunches in two minutes). I taught martial arts for the Corps, and I was heavily active in other sports. I transitioned out of the Corps in 2004 at a svelte 205 on my 5' 9" frame.
I was proud of what I had accomplished in the Marines but threw myself completely into being a “professional”, blending that with a being a single father. I worked long hours, went to school at night, and played with my son in my spare time, feeling guilty for not spending more time with him.
Like many adults I didn’t make the choice to take the time to go to the gym, workout, or do anything physical. I always made excuses. The idea of curbing how much I ate or dieting, forget about it. It shames me to write, but I remember taking clients out for dinner and getting another dinner to go that I knew I would be eating later that same night.
It’s weird what we accept. 215,225,230.... No problem- I know how to work out hard and tomorrow I will get back on it and tame this beast. Tomorrow never became convenient. 240. 250. 280. 305.
Me at 305.
I skipped out on going to reunions. I didn’t make an effort to see old friends who were in town. I felt horrible about what I had let myself becomeand yet still I ate. I was attempting to play soccer with my son in 2009. I couldn’t run 15 yards without being winded, and my five year old son said “Dad it’s okay you can’t run because you are fat but I love you anyway." The honesty of a child sparked something inside me and I made an instant decision: 'This ends now."
The next morning I went to the gym for the first time in over five years. Prior to this, the last time I had ran on a treadmill I was comfortable doing a 6 minute mile pace for several miles. Now I was at 2.0 miles per hour walking pace and struggling after 5 minutes. I knew if I gave up I would never try again, so I stayed the course. I had found my will again and incorporated swimming, cardio, and heavy weight workouts almost every day.
I knew that working out was only half the equation and wanted to incorporate a healthy diet that fit my style. I tried a few different diets, but always felt hungry and more importantly like I was missing out. My company had done well and I could now afford a nice steak or lobster if I felt like it, but here I was eating salad and apples or oatmeal. Although "healthy", I didn’t like that stuff, and knew I couldn’t sustain it. I stumbled across a low carb lifestyle and found my nirvana. I could eat steaks, lobsters, eggs, cook things in butter, have cheeses.... This is what I was looking for. I stayed below 20 grams of carbs a day for all of 2010. I was 85 pounds lighter one year from that fateful soccer game with my son.
Me at 220
My friends joked that I was the disappearing man and I was proud that I had done it without surgery, no trainers, no cheats. It was just hard work and a little discipline. I added some more vegetables and the occasional fruit over the next year. I stayed on track and kept losing weight although not at the ridiculous pace that I had. I have maintained my low carb lifestyle and now am proud to say that I am healthy, happy and most importantly, a good role model for my son in regards to exercise habits and eating.
Today I hit a goal that I have had for years- weighing 185 pounds.
I bench over 350-and and run 3 miles in around 22 minutes and the best is yet to come. I shared my success with my good friend Alex Cardenas. Alex is a constant source of low carb tips, One World workouts, and overall inspiration and friendship. He asked that I share my story about living low carb so I have.
Amongst my son’s pictures on my fridge I have a note scrawled under a fat picture of me that says:
“The Human Body is the only machine in the world that the harder you work it the stronger it becomes”
Train hard. Live Well. Love one another.
Robert Urban
CEO
PaperBoat Media"
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WORKOUT 2/8/2012
Complete the following for time:
- 5 muscle-ups
- 15 box jumps (M:24"/W:20")
- 15 kettlebell swings (M:53#/W:35#)
- 4 muscle-ups
- 15 box jumps (M:24"/W:20")
- 15 kettlebell swings (M:53#/W:35#)
- 3 muscle-ups
- 15 box jumps (M:24"/W:20")
- 15 kettlebell swings (M:53#/W:35#)
- 2 muscle-ups
- 15 box jumps (M:24"/W:20")
- 15 kettlebell swings (M:53#/W:35#)
- 1 muscle-up
- 15 box jumps (M:24"/W:20")
- 15 kettlebell swings (M:53#/W:35#)
POWER HOUR 2/8/2012
- 3/3/3/3 Overhead Squat
- On the minute for 10 minutes: 2 strict pull-ups/3 kipping pull-ups
*******************************************************
This is awesome, true healthcare and an amazing friend working hard losing a shit ton of work... This made my day...... GBO
Posted by: alex | February 07, 2012 at 19:41
wow I'm speechless, excellent post Freddy, and thanks for sharing Alex. I need to drag my ass to OW more often, and take this more seriously. What excuse do I have!? Other than being a sloth.
Posted by: Sina | February 07, 2012 at 20:37
AMAZING STORY!!! ALEX, YOU'RE SUCH AN AWESOME FRIEND. I AM SO HONORED YOU'RE ONE OF MINE!!! :)
Posted by: CHYNA CHO | February 07, 2012 at 21:43
GBO!
Posted by: Lancaster | February 07, 2012 at 22:09
Alex thanks for sharing your buddy's story,very inspirational.Food has been my biggest weakness my entire life,i had been poisoning myself the whole time,and some of you at OW was unfortunately there to see me eat a meal and wondered why is he doing that to himself? i'm not going to get into that but I've forgoten how hard the Marine Corps took a whole 110 lbs from me.I realised that all times and under all circumstances,we have the power to transform the quality of our lives.So tonight i decided enough is enough,i'm cutting down on my heavy carb diet.I just weighted myself at 291 lbs.my goal is 200 lbs by the end of this year!this time i'm doing it for myself.Semper Fi.
Posted by: Big Tony | February 07, 2012 at 22:47
Good post. A scientist would say this is only one anecdote though.
Posted by: Jahed | February 07, 2012 at 23:16
I cried when reading this and was so proud of this guy's journey and ultimate triumph. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Jennifer Stevens | February 08, 2012 at 03:49
The best part of One World is the healthy culture and positive peer pressure. Emulating our peer who are having successes and helping others who are getting started. GBO!
Posted by: Large Goose | February 08, 2012 at 07:47
Thanks for sharing your story! You're a true inspiration to many people. I've learned something myself, too. Keep it up!
Posted by: Joe Nepo | February 08, 2012 at 09:00
Very inspirational story!
Posted by: angela | February 08, 2012 at 12:03
Holy FUCKING SHIT!!!!! I didn't know Urban had ballooned up to 300+ Fucking hell!! So proud of him to regain control!! Seriously! That's a commitment!
If you see this Urban, great work, bro! Just fucking badass!!
Posted by: John | February 08, 2012 at 19:39
It wasn't exactly something that I emailed all of my old friends to update them and tell them that I had become fat. I was ashamed-there are no excuses, never should have let myself become like that but life is more about how you get up and knock the dust off after you fail than the reason you fell in the first place. I appreciate all of the kind comments from strangers and the oneworld community and hope that my story made a positive impact on someone-perhaps reminded someone that you can't create a new beginning but you can always change the endings.
Posted by: Robert Urban | February 09, 2012 at 00:32
I LOVE this post! Reading this would inspire even the laziest person who lost their will after years of failing with fad diets and exercise, proving it can easily be done; the right way. What a great story! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Amy | February 10, 2012 at 06:23