“I think it’s worth looking at industries which a lot of people think are impossible, or think you can’t succeed at. That’s usually where there’s opportunity. If everyone thinks you can succeed in an industry, they’re probably diving in.”
Elon Musk, CEO Tesla Motors and SpaceX (from Big Think Edge pitch video)
I’m at the beginning of Day 3 and things are getting easier – less foggy and less lethargic.
On a fullness per calorie basis, microwaved broccoli is by far the stand out – 1 spear of broccoli delivers on 10 calories but leaves one feeling stuffed.
As such, 3 meals a day of 1 serve of sardines/smoked salmon (about 100 calories per serve) with a spear of broccoli will leave me more than satisfied and with a fair amount of wiggle room for snacks like tomatos or cucumber.
I’m going to take advantage of the flight on Wednesday to extend the fast through to when I land in Hong Kong and start feasting.
So finally had a clear weekend to give fasting a go. Not real fasting, but less than 500 calories, referred to as very low calorie diets (VLCDs). I’m winging it a little after absorbing the gist of Michael Moseley’s 5:2 ideas (2 non-consecutive VLCD days per week) and a recent presentation I saw at University of Sydney by Amanda Salis (fast for as long as you wish because accumulated ketones drive hunger suppression after 4 days and you may as well take advantage of that rather than falling back into normal eating again – her suggestion: 2-4 wks on, 2-4 wks off). I’ll also be sprinkling it with elements of what I picked up from 4 Hour Body.
The idea is basically to radically reduce caloric intake to drive rapid weight loss, maintaining protein consumption at 1g/kg to prevent loss of lean body weight (i.e. muscle). On the plate, it looks like this over a day, with most of it consumed earlier in the day.
1. Quarter to half tin of refried beans (complex carbs, protein)
2. Two – three tins of sardines (protein)
3. 100g smoked salmon (protein)
4. One broccoli or cauliflower (fibre, protein)
5. Tomatoes/cucumbers (no nutritional value but take the edge off)
6. One or two punnets of blueberries (antioxidants, carbs)
7. Lots of water/soda water (hydration)
After one and a half days, it’s been entirely tolerable, and if anything, I’ve enjoyed indulging in a slightly snarly attitude, at least more so than my Mum’s dog for whom I’ve had very little tolerance. I’ve also felt some how sharper minded, though slower and more cautious when driving.
At this point, I suspect I could get used to this, at least a whole lot more than anyone at close quarters to me. I won’t be able to carry it off this week due to conferences, meetings and travel, but look forward to integrating into my less busy times on as frequent a basis as possible.
Will see how we go!
I received this email on Thursday from my local supermarket. Not my local supermarket chain. My local supermarket. It featured personalised in-store specials for what I like to buy.
And so it begins.
Prompted by this development, I just searched for Coles and Health Insurance and came up with this media release from June 2013 announcing a partnership between Medibank Private and Coles whereby you get double flybuy points for buying fruit and vegetables.
And so it has already begun. Sure it is Vitality-lite, but you have to start somewhere. Awesome.
content of personalised flybuys email (PDF)
Coles and Medibank Reward Customers for Better Health (PDF)
Generation Better Triple Flybuys TVC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftq2i9f6PBo
This is a decent blog post about the frailties of paying for performance, providing interesting observations on the disabling impact of financial incentives associated with intrinsic motivation in nuanced professional jobs (a la Dan Pink).
It also gives some interesting insights into how the structure of incentives to address cognitive biases like loss aversion to deliver greater impact e.g. paying up front for quality with the possibility of a refund on those payments if the measures are not met.
From the last paragraph: “While health care providers want to help the patient in front of them, they may not feel obligated (or have the incentive) to solve system-level problems stemming from factors they feel are outside their control. One potential solution lies in broader health reform, such as global payment for populations rather than piece-rate bonuses for individual patients. Coupled with public quality reporting, global payment reform has the potential to expand the scope of provider accountability, take advantage of providers’ intrinsic motivation, and improve population health. Such efforts may hold more promise for value improvement in US health care than attempts to exploit providers’ extrinsic motivation through tweaks to fee-for-service payment.”
I think we need to fire up both the clinician’s and patient’s intrinsic motivations to drive real improvements in health. Some sort of clinician involved version of the Vitality Group program.
What better way to commence a personal blog than with a reference to a Guardian review of a book on the daily rituals of great minds – an interesting book that I’ll almost certainly never read, but am happy exists?
Key observations:
1. Get over yourself… there is no perfect environment for success – just work hard and apply your gifts [in progress]
2. William James’ belief in routine’s ability to unleash creativity [tick]
3. Benjamin Franklin’s morning ‘air baths’ i.e. naked morning loitering [tick]
4. Ernest Hemmingway’s early rising with the sun [tick]
5. Pare away unnecessary decisions from the day like meal selection [in progress]
6. Walking in natural settings, presumably clothed [in progress]
7. Strategic stimulant abuse [will investigate]
At this stage in life, it seems entirely feasible to integrate these principles, supplemented by sound nutrition, intense, intermittent training and regular social contact.
Will endeavour to keep myself posted on progress.
Rise and shine_ the daily routines of history’s most creative minds _ Science _ The Guardian (PDF)