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Q. Your diet reminds me somewhat of the Vince Gironda principles. Ever read up on his philosophies?
A. No, I haven't heard of him, but I'll be sure to check him out. Like most people, I'm mostly interested in reading anything that validates what I already believe.
That's from my bodybuilding.com interview. My flippant answer was my way of saying that once people believe something, it's hard to get them to believe otherwise. We want to believe that what we already know is right, so we search out information that validates what we already know, while disregarding the information that invalidates what we want to believe. No one wants to think that what they believe is wrong.
In a way, the more we believe, the less we learn. Because of this, I try to take an "I don't know" kind of attitude as much as possible. If I believe I don't already have the answers, then I'm going to be more open to learning something new. I don't want to shutoff myself from half a world of knowledge because I think I already know everything. I setup this forum for an open exchange of all ideas; to search for the truth. The paths that people have set forth on in the Challenges are as varied as they could be and I find it all very interesting. Different things work for different people, and the things that work for one person, fail another. Very interesting, indeed.
It took me a while to read about Vince Gironda following that bodybuilding.com interview. I actually wasn't all that interested in reading about someone that I thought similarly to. Especially considering he was in his prime half a century ago. Surely we've learned so much more since his time, right? Instead, I crawled up with many a FLEX magazine and disagreed with 98.4% of what I read, while laughing at the supplement ads. To me, that just seemed like more quality time than reading the Vince Gironda information that was just going to validate what I already believed. I'm less interested in reading about what I already believe, and more interested in trying to find the truth. In some twisted and perverted way, ignoring Gironda while searching out information in FLEX seemed like an endeavor in seeking the truth.
I've searched for the truth in the magazines and the books. I've listened to the consensus in print media and online. I've followed their advice.
Sometime last year, at the prodding of someone else, I began to read more about Gironda and his principles. Most of Gironda's words that have been posted on this forum, I've read before. At the time, what I liked most about Gironda and his story, was that he wasn't willing to sacrifice what he believed even if it meant he would die broke, with most of the modern day consensus thinking he was a nut. Yes, I have a great appreciation for that. Staying true is a virtue greater than popularity.
Reading his words last year had a modest effect on me. It was like,"Yes, yes Vince...whole eggs, low carbs...got it. Thanks." But it's like the seeds that were there, dormant, were being fertilized. I read words that validated what I already knew - which is something I had previously avoided doing. After rereading his words on this forum, it's like those seeds began to sprout. It's providing me a clarity for not only when I read something I disagree with, but for reading his words this time around, too.
"The real scientist is the guy who is trying to discover something that was there all the time (nature), and takes the first step (unscientific) and discovers nature’s secrets. Actually, there is nothing new at all. The facts were always there. I do not subscribe to man’s laws (science). My information comes from a different source." ~V.G.
Science is worthless in absence of observing nature. If you want the answers, you should ask nature before science. This rarely happens in the case of bodybuilding - just look at any magazine or online forum. Science is constantly being quoted while nature is ignored.
"You must stop combining carbohydrates and protein at the same meal." ~V.G.
This had no effect on me the first time I read it after my interview. It wasn't until rereading these words on this forum that I saw it clearly. This goes together perfectly with the quote before this one. He says to not combine carbohydrates and protein at the same meal, but doesn't say why. Then I realized that carbs and proteins don't coexist as the only two macronutrients in any food in nature. It's not natural to eat only carbs and proteins. We take in a carb and protein only meal post workout because science tells us to - not because nature tells us to. Nature refuses to provide it for us. I actually feel foolish for never having realized this before. It was an epiphany.
If you continue to take in a meal that only contains proteins and carbs postworkout or any other time, then you are proving that you believe that God Almighty's Nature is incapable of creating the perfect post workout meal, but Big Supplements can.
"I will put my reputation on the line to prove that steroids are not any better or as good as four dozen fertile eggs, 100 liver tabs, and 100 amino acid tablets per day." ~V.G.
"Increase fats while decreasing overall calorie intake. (Fats aid protein assimilation and can step up metabolic rate)." ~V.G.
"Rather than take steroids I advise bodybuilders in normal robust health to take up to three dozen eggs daily, to push their muscles to a new plateau." ~V.G.
All I see from the consensus are sample meal plans that maybe contain 20% fats; maybe only 0.25grams p/lb of bodyweight - possibly 0.5g p/lb of bodyweight. If eggs are mentioned, it's because one, or possibly two (if they're being daring) egg yolks are being combined with several egg whites to make an omelet. Here is a man in Vince Gironda that trained champion bodybuilders in the pre-steroid era. Maybe he knows a thing or two? Why have I listened to the consensus that promotes the low fat/high carb diet for gaining muscle? All we've done as a country is put on fat by doing that, right? Why should I think I'm any different than anyone else?
I've tried it the consensus way. But the seeds have been fertilized and are taking sprout. I'm returning to what I've known to always be true: Listen to nature over science and eat what nature says; don't worry about being popular or even if people think you're crazy; staying true is its own reward even if it means you die broke.
I've posted elsewhere on this forum the results of my tried consensus way (higher carb, moderate to low fat) for gaining muscle. To gain an appreciable amount of muscle, I had to gain fat. Then I had to spend time taking off the fat while hoping to retain the muscle I put on. This method lies somewhere between "ok" and "madness," in my opinion. I suspect there's a superior alternative.
Over the past few weeks, I've made it my daily goal to consume 8 whole eggs and 3oz of dark chocolate. I hit that goal about 5 days a week. I've had my suspicions about the ultra fast digesting whey proteins in the past (they're absorbed too fast; the body doesn't know what to do so it converts the proteins to sugar. Proteins don't do much good serving as sugar), and am forgoing having them now. I'm content with the slower digesting wheys and am even mixing them with even slower digesting casein containing cottage cheese post workout and...better sit down...even mixing in some fat. My post workout meal is more reminiscent of mother's milk (the stuff we were meant to grow on). Over the course of these past four weeks, I've been eating lower carbs in an effort to lose fat; muscle gain wasn't my current concern. I've added in the extra eggs, extra dark chocolate, and the change to the post workout meal (which is sometimes a breakfast, lunch, or pre workout meal, too). I've eaten less than maintenance, and gained muscle - while losing fat. I've never been more vascular.
I've eaten less than maintenance, and gained muscle - while losing fat. Thought that qualified for repeating.
This has taught me that calories are not anabolic...foods are. And carbs are nothing but calories.
Although I haven't visited them yet, I've found a local farm to buy raw milk, free range non-vegetarian chicken eggs (the chickens eat their natural diet containing bugs), and 100% grass fed, pasture exercised beef. These are foods the way nature intended us to have. They even have colostrum (real colostrum - not the powdered, heat treated kind). I'm going to formulate a diet incorporating these new ingredients that will be a diet that's low carb, high in sat fat (particularly stearic acid - a type of saturated fat), very low in polyunsaturated fat (trading in the natty peanut butter for natty macadamia nut butter), moderately low in fiber, and moderate in protein (just over 1gram p/lb of bodyweight).
It's entirely possible that what I'm experiencing with the change in my diet is just a temporary anomaly. But if I were a betting man, I'd bet that the diet closer to nature and closer to what was preached in the days of ol', is better than the diet that modern day science based consensus has brought me.
Either way, it should be interesting.
Regardless, I'm simply forging my path, not "the" path. I encourage you to find your own path as well. Even if it's completely opposite of what I do. That's where Vince and I are different.
Originally Posted by heyzeus909
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