Subject: bananas,
cross training, dragon boating
Submitted by:
Evelyn Bravata,
Seattle, WA
I’m wondering about our ancestors’ (prehistoric modern man and woman)
eating style especially with regard to such foods as bananas given that
bananas are a high source of carbohydrates and my assumption that they
would have been a favored food when available. Perhaps banana season
made up their carbo load days!
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I have little doubt that when
bananas were available, prehistoric man and woman devoured them
without a second thought. Bananas are higher in carbohydrate
than most fruits, which have higher fiber and water content. And
given that fruit was the highest-carbohydrate-type food in their
diet (compared with other plants, roots, legumes, and meat
including fish and marine mammals in coastal populations) and as
fruits go gram-for-gram bananas are in the upper most echelon of
carbohydrate content, your analogy to the carb-load is apt.
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Bananas are
higher in carbohydrate than most fruits, which
have higher fiber and water content. |
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I am a
dragon boater. This is a paddling sport that is growing in
popularity. While our practices vary both in length and content
particularly comparing the winter and racing seasons, we usually
practice for about 45 minutes. Would you agree that I should
count this as a cardio workout? Also I do a crossfit workout
once a week. Would this also be considered a cardio workout? (www.crossfit.com
Note: I am assuming that you are somewhat familiar with the
philosophy particularly since your books are highly recommended
there)
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This raises the issue of applying the
instructions of hormonally intelligent exercise to forms of
exercise not specified in HIE. It illustrates one way in which
writing about exercise is different from diet. With diet you’re
essentially dealing with three variables: protein, carbohydrate,
and fat. All food can be described in terms of the relative
presence or absence of each of these three macronutrients. In
contrast, with exercise you’re dealing with innumerable
variations of what can be termed “exercise.” With diet, a
certain degree of compliance is assured – everyone is going to
eat, guaranteed. With exercise there is no guarantee that those
who read the book are going to exercise. And among those who
exercise, there’s no guarantee that they’ll do the exercises –
and only the exercises – explicitly discussed in HIE. Many
activities, and sports especially, qualify as exercise. And
above all else, HIE is pro-exercise and opposed to no-exercise.
To answer your question: yes, you should count it as a
cardio workout. I’m sure HIE’s emphasis on the positive
potential of sports as an exercise vehicle is well-received at
crossfit, and I'm grateful for the many referrals we’ve
gotten from them.
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With diet,
a certain degree of compliance is assured –
everyone is going to eat, guaranteed. |
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And above all
else, HIE is pro-exercise and opposed to
no-exercise. |
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If I cheat and consume a carb meal a day
earlier than the prescribed 3-4 schedule, is it best to:
a) keep to the usual
carb load days (ie Mondays and Thursdays), but that week
have a 2-5 interval carbing on Sunday and Thursday, or
b) shift the schedule
(i.e. now to Sundays and Wednesdays), or
c) start over on the 7
day shift?
There's
information about cheating on Ask Rob. You can avoid having to
read it by not cheating.
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