If you’ve been reading Nµ30, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of the phrase, metabolic manipulation. Though it might sound obvious, it occurs to me that many of you don’t know what I mean by that term.
During my long and arduous journey back from the old and infirm, I kept one image foremost in my mind. That image helped me to accomplish what I did.
When I was about 26, I was a tournament martial artist and a full time bike messenger. Essentially, I was working out all day, every day. I’d wake up at 6:00AM, run a mile, ride to work, ride all day – for work, and then go to Wah Lum in Chinatown, and train from 6 – 8 at night. When I got home, I’d lift for an hour or so. I’d eat a full pint of Hagen Dazs before bed, because – believe it or not – I only weighed 125 pounds, and I actually wanted to gain weight.
One day, I was in Cambridge, and I had to wait for a package to be ready for pick-up. Now we rarely had downtime, and I found myself wondering what I would do with the 15 minutes or so, I needed to kill. It’s these times, when one is most likely to do a stomach check to ascertain whether one is hungry. I was, but in those days, I was always hungry. I had three things working, which insured that condition. First, as I say, I was always moving – always exercising. Second, I had the metabolism of a twenty something. Finally, of course, I was dirt poor. Eating was not only a necessity, but also a luxury.
I decided a Milky Way was in order. I jumped on my Chro-Moly war pony, and headed for where I knew there to be a vending machine.
Now, here’s the important part. I’ve only experienced this once in my life, but I never forgot the sensation, and it’s remained as a guidepost for me in my athletic life.
As I ate that candy bar, I could literally feel my body digesting it, and greedily assimilating the calories, instantly.
Let me see if I can explain that statement more clearly. It’s as if, the food wasn’t even making it into my stomach. I actually felt like my body was absorbing the sugars and questionable nutrients without passing through the gastric stage, at all – like my starved muscles were sucking energy directly out of that gooey confection. That junk-food bar was hitting my empty stomach like spit on a hot grille.
I remember making a mental note about this eerie experience. I called it the furnace – and I’ve chased after it, ever since.
It’s not hunger. It’s something way beyond hunger.
When you begin a diet and exercise program, assuming it’s intense enough, the first stage you undergo is called ketosis. During this phase, your body begins metabolizing the fat that’s been stored around your liver, and in the fatty deposits on your hips, glutes, and abs. In the advanced stages of ketosis, you begin to utilize the fat that’s been stored between the individual muscle fibers.
When all that fat’s gone, you undergo the second phase. This is called glyconeogenesis. During this phase, your metabolism attempts to make glucose out of the protein in your diet. At a certain point, you actually begin to manipulate your own metabolism – hence the term, metabolic manipulation. Here’s where you can begin turning the clock back. Here’s where you can say goodbye to the old sick you, and hello to the teenager inside.
Now quite honestly, this isn’t going to happen if you drop down to 2000 Kcal, and walk around a mall for 20 minutes a day. You’re going to have to quit eating simple carbohydrates all together. You’re going to have to force yourself to get by on something like 1200 calories per day, and above all, you’re going to have to start an intensive exercise program – at a gym, and with a good trainer. Exercise is my medicine.
It’s costly and time consuming. It’s difficult. It requires making extensive changes to your schedule, your social life, and your entire lifestyle. You’ll fight with your spouse. Your friends won’t get it. Your boss will feel put out.
You’ll start shopping at different stores, wearing different clothes and seeking out alternatives to everything. You’ll find yourself taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking at the far end of the lot and biking – or walking – instead of driving.
But, the payout! Oh, my God! The payout is phenomenal. You’ll feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life. You won’t be all drag-assed at 2:30 in the afternoon, anymore. You’ll be able to say goodbye to the annual cold. Depression? So long. In short, like I say, you’ll be like a kid, again. It’s a long road to tread, but believe me; it’s worth every step.
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