Any other books I should be looking at?
(40 posts) (24 voices)-
I am in amazon.com right now, poised to purchase The Primal Blueprint. Are there any other books I should consider before I hit the purchase button? Someone mentioned Good Calories, Bad Calories in another thread- is that one worth it? Any others?
Posted 5 months ago # -
maba
MemberI checked out GCBC from the library yesterday, it will be my inflight reading book tomorrow (going on vacation). Another book I want to read is Primal Body- Primal Mind by Nora Gedgaudas, went to Barnes & Nobles, they didn't have it. I plan to buy it after I return from my vacation next month. Get the movie Fathead by Tom Naughton - I haven't watched it yet but have seen the trailer on you tube whose link I just posted on the Food Inc Movie thread.
Btw, here's an article that the author of GCBC, Gary Taubes, wrote for NYT way back in 2002. It's a long one, but do read it. That should give you an idea whether or not to buy GCBC.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html?sec=health
Posted 5 months ago # -
Dollface
MemberI've ordered GCBC from the library, they are getting it in for me especially. From what I understand the article he wrote back in 2002 he has said in an interview that he has changed his stance on a few things, I guess he's done a ton more research since then. Protein Power is a good book too. And I highly recommended Fat Head, it's a great movie/documentary, great for skeptical family also :)
Posted 5 months ago # -
Maba, that article is awesome! The 80's are what did me in with the low fat way. It's a hard mentality to change. Thanks for sharing that. Have a great vacation!
Dollface, I've got Protein Power- it's a good one. Definitely will check out Fat Head- thanks for the recommendation.
Posted 5 months ago # -
chmcclellan
Member"Body by Science" by Dr. Doug McGuff and John Little is great for the "lift heavy things once in a while". While not primal per se, they use a lot of science to reach the conclusion that infrequent but extremely high intensity challenges are the best for building strength. Very good at explaining the science and citing actual supporting studies.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Here are some of my top recommendations:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-book/references/suggested-reading/
Posted 5 months ago # -
Oh, and thanks for buying my book!
Posted 5 months ago # -
tman
Member@Mark-thanks for the list of books-I always love to read well researched, well thought out theories that can influence my thinking-this looks like a pretty good list of books to dive into (I actually have three of them already). I like your book too-and appreciate your passion.
@chmcclellan-body by science is a very good book and Dr. McGuff's explanations seem sound. Our traditional chronic exercise routines (yes, i do them) are definitely not primal-It would have been dangerous to expend the limited energy on constant muscle recovery and glycogen reloading. As we don't live in times of limited resources, this isn't a problem although I often question the health benefits of chronic physical over-stress (although I still do it). Dr. McGuff's ideas (very much a Mike Mentzer philosophy-not new) resolve this-consistent hard but non frequent training. I do a big 5 (often a big 8) workout in my weekly routine along with two other less intense free weight workouts. Is is too much-I don't know. Maybe I'll give the every 7 day training a try here soon.
Posted 5 months ago # -
madMUHHH
Member@tman: Pretty much the same here. I'm into the 4th chapter of BBS and I think everything in the book makes a lot of sense. But I simply cannot swith over to only going to the gym once a week. It just doesn't feel right, but it probably IS right.
This is probably the single biggest concern people have with the book.Posted 5 months ago # -
tman
Member@madMUHHH-I just did a Big 5 workout today (ok, it was a big 11) and it really is a satisfying way to work out. I think if I were to do one Big (5-11) and one barbell workout per week I could probably be ok. I met with a fellow named Ben bocchicchio (a very nice guy who was glad to meet with me and answer questions)who happens to be one of the creators of the super slow way of training in the 70's (before Hutchins). He said he has gotten great results with clients doing 2 high intensity, slow rep cadence total body workouts per week. He typically would have them do a Monday and a Friday workout. That was good to hear, as one time per week is just too much sit time for me. Anyway, for what it's worth.
Posted 5 months ago # -
tman
MemberserialSinner-According to Dr. McGuff, once a week is preferred. But I've been indoctrinated for so long with the virtues of chronic exercise, I psychologically have a hard time with it. Actually, I still don't think once a week is enough for serious weight loss or serious muscle gain. But, for those who want to get stronger and be more functional with the least time investment-I think it's great.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Miriam
MemberI just went mad on Fishpond today (bit like amazon but Australian) and ordered the following via recommendations (thanks Mark and Ecala):
Primal Body-Primal Mind: Empower Your Total Health the Way Evolution Intended (...and Didn't)
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health
Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes (no recommendation for this one just liked the title)
Now just have to wait for them to be delivered!
With regards to going to the gym just once a week this is something that I do quiet often, either one or two times per week and no cardio apart from every day walking around and a sprint every now and then if I feel up to it and I have been getting fantastic results in terms of fat loss and muscle development (as opposed to chronic cardio and training at the gym 6 days a week - that is so overrated!).
Posted 5 months ago # -
chmcclellan
Member@TMAN Growing up coaches always taught me the same - 3-5 sets of at least 6 reps, divided into Bis&Back, Tris&Chest, Shoulders&Legs. It has been great getting into a big 5 convenience wise, but for the first time I actually crave more exercise (once a week is so infrequently!).
My plan is to try to add a few more "functional" workouts to supplement the HIT strength day. Maybe an all bodyweight day, I'm trying to teach myself Parkour on my short high intensity runs, and am considering taking some yoga on the side. How have you found your recovery from the Big 8 when you add other workouts?
Posted 5 months ago # -
tman
Member@chmcclellan-I think it is good to crave exercise to a degree (stay hungry, as Arnold would say)-it's much better than burning out. I haven't been doing the Big 8-10 long enough to determine recovery. I do get sore from it but not overly so, which is good. I actually get more sore from my free weight workouts where I do more sets but do not train to failure. I can say this-my legs are always sore, but they have been progressing. So, so far so good. If I start to feel overworked, I'll drop one of the workouts. My other 2 workouts are periodized, mostly free weights and always total body work (squats, presses, rows, etc.). I have pretty much sworn off the body part split stuff-and have been progressing better than ever. So, obviously, recover is always a potential issue when you train the whole body 3 times per week. If you want to do functional stuff, try the basics-squats, presses, and rows-Its all very functional! Get Starting Strength by Mark Ripetoe to learn technique. These are such complex moves (esp. the squat)it is good to have guidance. Anyway, happy trainig.
Posted 5 months ago # -
mseibel
MemberI've read GCBC and it is probably the most important book I've read. If you are not %100 convinced that conventional nutritional advice is flawed, you will be after reading this book. It is a tough read, but stick with it. I have also read An Omnivore's Dilemma, and if your not convinced organic is the way to go, you will be after reading it. I am a quarter of the way through reading The Primal Blueprint: great book!
Posted 5 months ago # -
Jessica
MemberGCBC is a must. Here is a talk he gave this month that goes into the topic of the book. But trust me on this, he barely scratches the surface. It is a life changer!
http://www.dhslides.org/mgr/mgr060509f/f.htmPosted 5 months ago # -
The Whole Soy Story by Dr. Kaayla T. Daniels. AMAZING!
(Really wish she'd redo her site b/c it looks terrible.)
http://www.wholesoystory.com/Posted 5 months ago # -
Jessica
MemberRegarding Marks' list: my boyfriend saw that list and bought me The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton for Christmas. I was really happy to have read that as I feel it set me up to better understand much of what I read about gene expression after that.
I would highly recommend it to anyone as a primer on the science of epigenetics. It will help you have a broader understanding of what it means to maximize or alter gene expression through diet.Posted 5 months ago # -
maranne
MemberAnother good book talking about sugar is
http://www.sweetpoison.com.au/I can highly recommend it!
MxPosted 5 months ago # -
whitecap
MemberMaranne, thanks so much for the Sweet Poison recommendation. Gillespie's really done his homework, hasn't he? Not to mention some impressive self-experimentation, losing 40 kg. Listened to his interview with Jimmy Moore last night. Fascinating stuff on the drug industry's big investments into fructose research in the 90s:
http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/david-gillespie-talks-sweet-poison-sugar-episode-219/I also discovered Gillespie's blog via Jimmy's site. Really worth a visit:
http://www.raisin-hell.com/There are also some interesting, if indirect, exchanges between Richard Johnson, University of Florida researcher and author of another new book on fructose, and Gary Taubes on Jimmy Moore's site. Debating the place of fructose in the modern metabolic plague:
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/?p=2513
http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/?p=2748Ryan Koch and Stephan Guyenet of Whole Health Source also thrash out the question of whether or not fructose alone is to blame in the comments at the end of this post of Ryan's:
http://ryan-koch.blogspot.com/2009/03/can-high-carb-low-fat-be-healthy.htmlPosted 5 months ago # -
maba
MemberI'm reading GCBC now - it's fascinating book to say the least. My husband, a physician, just laughs at all the things I've been telling him from reading the book. He even quoted some New England Journal or some other article that was released 2 weeks ago in which studies have shown eating red meat increases risk of stroke. Unfortunately, the rest of the family trusts his words and thinks I'm just following a fad diet. I'm desperate for my over-weight mother who's on statins to try this diet but unfortunately she believes what my husband says. How do I get people to take me and diet seriously before it's too late? Sorry for digressing.
Posted 5 months ago # -
Tarlach
MemberMaybe your husband should read all of documents cited at the end of GCBC (there are 150 pages of references, so it might take him a couple of years) and then see if he talks the same old story...
At the end of the day the best proof is the results you get. My parents watched me eat 2lb of meat for dinner (whenever they had dinner with me) and lose weight.
Any woman on statins is INSANE. Read 'The Great Cholesterol Con' (Kendrick). I think that was the book that has a lot of info on statins and their lack of benefits and risk for harm (esp. for women).
Also, good sources of mind changing advice for muggles are the doco/films 'King Corn' and 'Fat Head'. Well worth a watch. 'Food Inc' looks like it might be good also.
* and on the red meat thing. The Masia eat pretty much just all red meat and do not get strokes like the 'civilised' folk eating fish and chicken.
Posted 5 months ago # -
maba
MemberTarlach, my mother is merely following what her cardiologist advised her. She does all the "right" things - exercises everyday, avoids natural fats like the plague, takes statins as advised by her doctor. If anything, she has only put on more weight. There was a time when we ate all the butter and eggs we wanted and she had the highest HDL amount in the family. Thanks to the all the medical advice, her health has only gotten worse in the recent years. I feel so helpless. My brother-in-law is a cardiologist as well and his advice is no different either. So, whatever I, a person with a non-biological-science background, say goes against deaf ears. I've been topping meat with butter when eating with my husband just to prove my point and his mantra is "Everything in moderation." And he says, you will see the after-effects of your diet in a few years. My family does not have the time or inclination to read GCBC, but knowing what I know, I feel helpless and am saddened that they are ruining their health when they could be improving it. I apologize to all the posters on this thread for the digression.
Do you have links to any article on the statin con?
Posted 5 months ago # -
Miriam
MemberI got my copy of GCBC yesterday and showed my partner and he was impressed with the research that had gone into it and was actually interested in reading it as it has a scientific background!
Maranne, Sweet Poison is next on my list to buy – thanks for the recommendation.
Posted 5 months ago #
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