EileenG you're in the well.......

kevpants

Eileen, I'm a big fan. I actually think all threads from ladies who come on with their age old questions on toning up and the best way to diet etc should only be opened to the rest of us grunts after you've posted. Really think you give great advice.

To get the ball rolling, tell us your back-story. You're quite mysterious and a bit of a lurker so it'd be great to hear.

Also I'd be wondering, on the topic of your giving good advice, did you ever spend your time wondering what to do fitness and diet wise, latching onto fads etc that you see women doing when they are bombarded by celebrity slimming secrets and quick fix solutions? Ever get caught up in that?

EileenG

I've done every stupid diet out there, right down to trying to catch tape worms! If there's a supplement that is supposed to do anything, you can bet I'll have tried it. None of them worked, or at least, none of them worked once I stopped.

I've always cycled, and always lifted weights, but still weighed about 17 stone for most of my adult life. Did the Maracycle twice at that weight!

I started low carb almost as a joke, just to prove how stupid it was. Couldn't believe how easily I lost weight on it (in retrospect, I was almost certainly heading for type 2 diabetes). But combining low carb with the school run from hell (one bicycle, three children, hills and headwinds) was hard, so I started getting involved in strength training just so I could physically do it without killing myself.

And the rest is history.....

kevpants

What do you do now exercise / diet / lifestyle wise?

Of all the fad diets, which of them do you think actually works? What one do you have the highest regard for?

dioltas

How low carb do you go?
What go you think about cutting out carbs altogether?
Are there any health benefits in saturated fats? If so what are they?
How do you find your energy levels on low carb?

If you were stranded on a desert Island and had a choice of a limitless supply of one type of food / drink (not including water) what would it be?

Am.. Oasis or Blur?

Khannie

Are you in a constant state of keto? If so, I've heard that it makes your breath stinky, is that true? (serious question)

For my own part I'd consider a low carb diet myself, but I just love carbs too much. Just the other night I was discussing how much I love oats with my lovely wife, while she called me a nut job.

itsallaboutheL

What do you actually do?!!

You have to be the single most elusive Batman poster in this forum! your advice is alway spot on, but i don't think anyone has a clue what you do!! (anyone being me!)

EileenG

I'm usually in ketosis, and I like to think I'm not stinky. Generally stinky breath etc lasts for the first week, and if you are drinking water and eating green veg, it disappears after that.

My typical day's diet is mushroom omlette for breakfast, fish and salad/veg for lunch, meat or chicken or whatever is cheap plus a huge pile of veg for dinner. Small whey shake after gym or hard cycle. Nuts or cottage cheese or vegetable soup or sugar-free jelly or 99% chocolate as snacks.

I cycle for transport so I put up a fair milage on my bike, even when I'm being lazy. Normally I do 2-3 sessions a week in the gym, heavy on deadlifts and squats and bench, but right now I'm seeing a physio for knee problems so I'm doing lots of stretches instead.

Saturated fats are GOOD fats. They increase your testosterone levels, boost your immune system and keep your bones strong. In every study carried out on humans, where the type of fat eaten was compared with the outcome, the group eating the sat fats lived longest and were healthiest. The group eating the polyunsaturated fats had the lowest cholesterol levels but were much more likely to have a heart attack or die. In two very large scale studies on older women (one in France, one in Canada), the women who ate the most saturated fats had the longest life expectancy and were least likely to break a bone.

Transfats are the evil ones that will clog your arteries and give you heart disease.

I don't cut out carbs altogether, just refined carbs, sugar, white flour, pasta, etc. I eat far more vegetables now than I did when I was eating a "balanced" diet. I've got kids that whine "If I eat extra spinach, do I have to eat the aubergine too?"

EileenG

dioltas wrote: »

Am.. Oasis or Blur?

Neither. Guns 'n Roses for the win.

the drifter

Mrs G has just moved up another level on my respect ladder!

ragg

Eileen - I use carbs to exercise and thats it.
Which means I'm low carb 4 days a week. My question is do you find the food boring? What are your thoughts on adding condiments like a splash of BBQ sauce\ ketchup etc? I heard they are full of sugar and counter productive - do you agree with this?

Any receipes you can think of that I might benefit from would be great.. :cool:

itsallaboutheL

ragg wrote: »

Eileen - I use carbs to exercise and thats it.
Which means I'm low carb 4 days a week. My question is do you find the food boring? What are your thoughts on adding condiments like a splash of BBQ sauce\ ketchup etc? I heard they are full of sugar and counter productive - do you agree with this?

Any receipes you can think of that I might benefit from would be great.. :cool:

Mushroom Ketchup is amazing!! and not full of sugar IIRC

EileenG

Tabasco is the bizz for adding a kick to bland food. I also throw a handful of dried chilies into some extra virgin olive oil and let it infuse, then it makes great salad dressing. You could so the same with garlic or rosemary.

Most herbs or spices are fine for low carb, so throw thyme into omlettes or egg dishes, basil into anything with tomato, paprika into stews, curry spices with chicken, etc.

I've been low carbing for over eight years now, and I'm not bored yet. To be honest, all that brown rice and wholegrain pasta (I used to live the food pyaramid) was the stuff I had to wade through to get to the interesting bits of the meal. If I never eat another rice cake, I'll die happy.

ragg

Thanks, Agreed Rice Cakes are utter toilet

One last thing - do you supplemet fibre?

I was looking at the low carb muffins and I see they are practically all fibre - they might be a tasty way to get fibre in..

EileenG

Generally don't need to, all that broccoli and spinach etc has tons. Not to mention rhubarb which would get a stone statue ****ting. But you can often use bran or psyllium in recipes instead of flour.

ragg

Ok really last question...

Is psyllium in its powder form tastless?

Assets Model

EileenG wrote: »

Generally don't need to, all that broccoli and spinach etc has tons. Not to mention rhubarb which would get a stone statue ****ting. But you can often use bran or psyllium in recipes instead of flour.

Would using bran instead of flour not increase em 'regularity' to kind of an excessive extent?

EileenG

Pretty much. I use it as a thickener in a lot of things, and I don't notice any taste. You might taste something if you just added it to water, but I never do.

EileenG

Assets Model wrote: »

Would using bran instead of flour not increase em 'regularity' to kind of an excessive extent?

If you are not constipated to start with, it can't shift excess amounts.

dioltas

On food labels fat is usually listed, sometimes saturated and unsaturated are specified, but I don't think I've ever seen trans fats listed though. How do you know? Do you just avoid packaged / processed food in general? What are the worst foods for them, i'm guessing take aways?

Davei141

dioltas wrote: »

On food labels fat is usually listed, sometimes saturated and unsaturated are specified, but I don't think I've ever seen trans fats listed though. How do you know? Do you just avoid packaged / processed food in general? What are the worst foods for them, i'm guessing take aways?

I could be wrong but i think its also known as hydrogenated vegetable fat. Seen it on a small few items, microwavable popcorn n cheapo hot choc etc.

EileenG

dioltas wrote: »

On food labels fat is usually listed, sometimes saturated and unsaturated are specified, but I don't think I've ever seen trans fats listed though. How do you know? Do you just avoid packaged / processed food in general? What are the worst foods for them, i'm guessing take aways?

Do the maths. Add up the sat, mono and poly fats, subtract from the total and whatever is left is transfat. Or just read the labels. Anything with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable fats are transfats.

You get them mostly in processed foods, margarine and baked good and fast food.

I try to avoid processed food in general.

Actually, that's one of the biggest difference now that I eat low carb. Back when I was trying to stay low fat, it seemed that everything I ate had a long long list of ingredients, most of them things I couldn't pronounce. Now most of my food comes from the local organic farmer's market.

baybike

I second the kudos to Eileen G. Both herself and G'em are pretty good inspiration to us ladies, who are often afraid to post here in fear of being shot down!!:p

Wrt the psyllium powder - if I threw it into a watery stew/tomato suace it would make it thicker? Could I do this to a family meal? What's the parp factor like afterwards?:eek:

EileenG

I'd say it would thicken it fairly well. Try a little and see what happens.

It's a nice fibre to use, because it does work, but doesn't feel as if it is scouring out your insides as it goes.

Macha

EileenG - what are your thoughts on measured vs intuitive eating?

Do you measure anything that you eat (eg weighing food/calculating calories/carbs) or do you feel that you're at the stage where you know what and how much you should be eating?

And do you think that tracking food intake very closely can sometimes have a negative impact on the individual?

Thanks

floggg

What is your proudest fitness related achivement?

What is your ultimate fitness goal?

Are your family/other half into fitness, and what do they think about your training/diet?

Is the whole family low carb now?

StormWarrior

Eileen, don't you find it hard to do a tough workout without any carbs? Don't you have low energy levels? Do you eat fruit, if so how much? What do you think of the advice that people must eat complex carbs for energy, and must eat complex carbs before and after a workout?

EileenG

StormWarrior wrote: »

Eileen, don't you find it hard to do a tough workout without any carbs? Don't you have low energy levels? Do you eat fruit, if so how much? What do you think of the advice that people must eat complex carbs for energy, and must eat complex carbs before and after a workout?

No. Can't say I love squats, but I do love deadlifts, and I always have the energy for them. I find I have steady energy. No inclination to run a marathon, but I finish whatever I start, without having to stop for breaks.

I eat some fruit, usually whatever is wild or homegrown. At the moment, I'm eating a lot of rhubarb and the strawberries amd cherries are just coming in. Gooseberries are starting to look good. And in autumn, I'll pig out on crab apples, elderberries and blackberries. Don't eat bananas.

You get energy from calories, not from any specific food.

EileenG

floggg wrote: »

What is your proudest fitness related achivement?

What is your ultimate fitness goal?

Are your family/other half into fitness, and what do they think about your training/diet?

Is the whole family low carb now?

My family are quite proud of having a "strong" mother. Occasionally, I'm told to wear a tank top to school things to show off my muscles. More often, they tell me not to wear those awful cycling leggings where their friends might see me. The whole family skis, and the children all do tae kwon do and are good.

I cook mostly low carb, but there is higher carb food available it they want it. They are all pretty knowledgable about nutrition. One of them them told her teacher the flaws in the food pyramid, and why you should eat a protein meal after working out.

EileenG

taconnol wrote: »

EileenG - what are your thoughts on measured vs intuitive eating?

Do you measure anything that you eat (eg weighing food/calculating calories/carbs) or do you feel that you're at the stage where you know what and how much you should be eating?

And do you think that tracking food intake very closely can sometimes have a negative impact on the individual?

Thanks

I don't like tracking calories, I think you should be able to eat according to hunger, but it's so easy to get derailed and end up eating far more than you want just because it's there, and smells great, or even just because you are bored.

No-one eats chocolate because she is hungry and needs the calories. You eat it because it tastes so wonderful.

I try not to make an issue of counting cals or weighing food because I have impressionable children, but by now, I'm pretty accurate at judging most food just by looking.

itsallaboutheL

EileenG wrote: »

My family are quite proud of having a "strong" mother. Occasionally, I'm told to wear a tank top to school things to show off my muscles. More often, they tell me not to wear those awful cycling leggings where their friends might see me. The whole family skis, and the children all do tae kwon do and are good.

I cook mostly low carb, but there is higher carb food available it they want it. They are all pretty knowledgable about nutrition. One of them them told her teacher the flaws in the food pyramid, and why you should eat a protein meal after working out.

How do you earn your "crust"!!?

What's you favorite "cheat" meal??

EileenG

Officially, I'm at home with the children, but I do a fair bit of writing and other bits and pieces to earn money. Right now, I'm writing a book for teenagers about a space vampire.

It's not really a cheat meal. My favourite meal is a huge steak with broccoli and dripping with garlic butter.

floggg

EileenG wrote: »

My family are quite proud of having a "strong" mother. Occasionally, I'm told to wear a tank top to school things to show off my muscles. More often, they tell me not to wear those awful cycling leggings where their friends might see me. The whole family skis, and the children all do tae kwon do and are good.

I cook mostly low carb, but there is higher carb food available it they want it. They are all pretty knowledgable about nutrition. One of them them told her teacher the flaws in the food pyramid, and why you should eat a protein meal after working out.

i don't know if you say my little rant in the "you're fat and its all your fault" thread, buy i have to say, its great to see a parent's eating and exercise habit having such a positive influence on their child's life. Well done!

floggg

If you were Minister for Education, what changes would be the three changes you would make in Irish schools to encourage better health and fitness amongst children?

EileenG

floggg wrote: »

i don't know if you say my little rant in the "you're fat and its all your fault" thread, buy i have to say, its great to see a parent's eating and exercise habit having such a positive influence on their child's life. Well done!

The local children have a game called "Eileen's fridge". They come over to my house, and try to identify some of the vegetables in the fridge. Most of them recognise broccoli and onions and carrots, but get stumped by scallions, kale, brussel sprouts, even cabbage. And you can forget about aubergine or courgettes.

StormWarrior

EileenG wrote: »

No. Can't say I love squats and no inclination to run a marathon

Is that because you don't have the kind of energy required for those sports without complex carbs? How do you think someone would fare doing aerobics or kickboxing or taebo on your diet?

EileenG

I've got the same problem with both squats and running - flat feet. Leads to a lot of knee problems when I run far, and to form problems with squatting. I spend a fortune on insoles to try to correct the problem, but I don't consider either a fun activity. I'm quite happy to deadlift like a champ, and I'll cycle all day without any carbs.

I used to do taekwondo, and I ate a small carb meal beforehand, about 20-30g of carbs. But my tkd class was really high intensity, they always seemed to be training for the next European or world championship.

floggg

StormWarrior wrote: »

Is that because you don't have the kind of energy required for those sports without complex carbs? How do you think someone would fare doing aerobics or kickboxing or taebo on your diet?

Obviously not marathon standard, but i have often run 10k plus on a relatively empty stomach after work, maybe a banana two hours before, but often not. Once you train your body, it can do many things.

Transform

Liked this well

Respect to eileen and love your answers - clear, direct and pulling more women away from the whole fat is bad theory (you have been looking at mary enig and sally fallon please tell me???)

EileenG

Total revelation. Sound be required reading for anyone interested in good health.

Actually, I love the way medical experts will keep a perfectly straight face as they tell you to eat salmon and oily fish, eggs, almonds and other nuts, fresh red meat, dark chocolate, olive oil and cheese "As part of your healthy low-fat diet".

Transform

yes i have been fighting this for years and the funny thing is that i hear trainers AND nutritionists recommend higher carb diets and most of these people do not deal with enough people or get enough good results to know that there is a better way to not only drop fat but more importantly live healthy

Khannie

EileenG wrote: »

Right now, I'm writing a book for teenagers about a space vampire.

That's cool!

So what's this that should be required reading?

dudara

StormWarrior wrote: »

Is that because you don't have the kind of energy required for those sports without complex carbs? How do you think someone would fare doing aerobics or kickboxing or taebo on your diet?

Just fine in my experience. I ate very low carb for over a year, and was doing 3-4 taekwondo sessions along with weight training during that. Never had a problem with energy, in fact I felt less sluggish and fitter.

kevpants

EileenG wrote: »

space vampire.

Awesome...

StormWarrior

dudara wrote: »

Just fine in my experience. I ate very low carb for over a year, and was doing 3-4 taekwondo sessions along with weight training during that. Never had a problem with energy, in fact I felt less sluggish and fitter.

Do you still eat low-carb?

I really want to try eating low-carb but I'm paranoid it will adversely affect my energy levels. Like for breakfast I usually have porridge and eggs. When I tried having eggs with veg only, I felt less energised.

dudara

StormWarrior wrote: »

Do you still eat low-carb?

I really want to try eating low-carb but I'm paranoid it will adversely affect my energy levels. Like for breakfast I usually have porridge and eggs. When I tried having eggs with veg only, I felt less energised.

I've been on and off low-carb for a while now, but I'm recently after starting again.

Bizarrely I have a weird love/hate relationship with eggs. Some days I love them, other days I can't stand them. I find the easiest way for me to eat eggs is to make pastry-less mini-quiche type things. Two of these in the morning makes for a great breakfast.

EileenG

StormWarrior wrote: »

Do you still eat low-carb?

I really want to try eating low-carb but I'm paranoid it will adversely affect my energy levels. Like for breakfast I usually have porridge and eggs. When I tried having eggs with veg only, I felt less energised.

The first couple of days of low carb can be a bit odd. I'd suggest switch to low carb on a Friday so you have the weekend to adapt, and should start the new week with plenty of energy.

Of course, most veg has a lot less cals than porridge.

EileenG

kevpants wrote: »

Awesome...

She meets a bodybuilder and decides there's lots of good eating on him, so she keeps him.

Hanley

EileenG wrote: »

She meets a bodybuilder and decides there's lots of good eating on him, so she keeps him.

So it's a love story??

Hanley

Eileen, we know you're a bit of a nutritional guru and a good one for a holistic lifestyle, but what does a typical training week look like for you?

Like what would ya do;
1) In the gym - re: weights
2) In the gym - re: cardio
3) Out of the gym - re: resistance and cardio

I know ya said ya can't really squat, but like to deadlift. I'd be interested to see what you're doing from a weight training perspective!! The more detail the better!!

Thanks!

EileenG

Hanley wrote: »

So it's a love story??

Well, sort of. Trouble is, her species doesn't mate one male to one female.....

amacachi

EileenG wrote: »

Well, sort of. Trouble is, her species doesn't mate one male to one female.....

Can't be worse than any of Stephenie Meyer's stuff. :P