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| Put down the sandwich and read this |
Grain Brain
This book started off strong and offered a lot of information that was easily understandable. Of course, I'm already a believer in the low carb diet as a way to lose weight, so I didn't take much convincing. HS and I dropped a considerable amount of weight back in the day on the Atkins diet and we were surviving on steak, cheese and pork rinds (more or less LOL).
One of my main goals in life is to remain healthy and fit throughout my life. I don't want to be feeble and confined to a rocking chair in my old age. I want to be racing. I want to be the 70 year crossing the finish line to a round of applause from the youngsters. What I hadn't given much thought to was my mental capacity at 70. Reading this book will make you think about it and it will scare the hell out of you!
Rating - "Tired Legs" (see previous post for rating system)
This book started of strong and was very engaging. This may sound odd, but during the early chapters I found it hard to put the book down. I know first hand that too many carbs in my diet gives me a "sugar hangover". I have also suffered from extreme bloating and fatigue from eating more than my fair share of french bread. While I knew all of this was going on, I didn't make the connection to what it was potentially doing to my brain. Grain Brain spells it out for you in clear, understandable language.
Before reading this book, I read Fitness Confidential and had already sworn off sugar and grains. Grain Brain cemented my resolve. After a week without the sugar and grains, I noticed that my belly bloat was gone and that I was also able to focus better at work...like the fog had lifted. I think my noticeable results along with all the fascinating facts I was reading in Grain Brain made the book that much more interesting.
However, the last 25% of the book started to drag on and covered things like meal plans and recipes. I skimmed through this section just to see what they were suggesting...nothing earth shattering in my opinion or much different than how I normally cook. Grilled fish with veggies for dinner? Stop the presses!
Official Summary
Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, MD.
Published Sept. 17, 2013
"The devastating truth about the effects of wheat, sugar, and carbs on the brain, with a 30-day plan to achieve optimum health.
Grain Brain argues that carbohydrates — even so-called healthy ones like whole grains — are a primary driver of dementia, depression, and cognitive decline. Neurologist David Perlmutter makes the case that the brain thrives on fat, not glucose, and offers a 30-day plan to shift your diet accordingly.
Next Book
My daughter's suggestion that I write a triathlon book sent me down a rabbit hole looking at what was already out there. That's how I found Hot Flashes and Half Ironmans by Pamela Fagan Hutchins — and she beat me to it! The book follows a middle-aged woman navigating the intersection of endurance triathlon and the hormonal chaos of perimenopause. Hutchins completed her first triathlon at 39 and her first half IRONMAN at 40, and writes about the experience with humor and honesty. If you're a woman of a certain age wondering if spandex and long-distance racing still belong in your life, this one's for you.
2026 Update: My daughter left a comment on this post in 2014 saying I should write a book about my triathlon experiences. It only took twelve years, but I did — Transitions: Through Hardship to the Stars is finally almost here. She was right. People do like stories."
One of my main goals in life is to remain healthy and fit throughout my life. I don't want to be feeble and confined to a rocking chair in my old age. I want to be racing. I want to be the 70 year crossing the finish line to a round of applause from the youngsters. What I hadn't given much thought to was my mental capacity at 70. Reading this book will make you think about it and it will scare the hell out of you!
Rating - "Tired Legs" (see previous post for rating system)
This book started of strong and was very engaging. This may sound odd, but during the early chapters I found it hard to put the book down. I know first hand that too many carbs in my diet gives me a "sugar hangover". I have also suffered from extreme bloating and fatigue from eating more than my fair share of french bread. While I knew all of this was going on, I didn't make the connection to what it was potentially doing to my brain. Grain Brain spells it out for you in clear, understandable language.
Before reading this book, I read Fitness Confidential and had already sworn off sugar and grains. Grain Brain cemented my resolve. After a week without the sugar and grains, I noticed that my belly bloat was gone and that I was also able to focus better at work...like the fog had lifted. I think my noticeable results along with all the fascinating facts I was reading in Grain Brain made the book that much more interesting.
However, the last 25% of the book started to drag on and covered things like meal plans and recipes. I skimmed through this section just to see what they were suggesting...nothing earth shattering in my opinion or much different than how I normally cook. Grilled fish with veggies for dinner? Stop the presses!
Official Summary
Grain Brain by David Perlmutter, MD.
Published Sept. 17, 2013
"The devastating truth about the effects of wheat, sugar, and carbs on the brain, with a 30-day plan to achieve optimum health.
Grain Brain argues that carbohydrates — even so-called healthy ones like whole grains — are a primary driver of dementia, depression, and cognitive decline. Neurologist David Perlmutter makes the case that the brain thrives on fat, not glucose, and offers a 30-day plan to shift your diet accordingly.
Next Book
Hot Flashes And Half Ironmans (Women's Health and Triathlon) by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
My daughter's suggestion that I write a triathlon book sent me down a rabbit hole looking at what was already out there. That's how I found Hot Flashes and Half Ironmans by Pamela Fagan Hutchins — and she beat me to it! The book follows a middle-aged woman navigating the intersection of endurance triathlon and the hormonal chaos of perimenopause. Hutchins completed her first triathlon at 39 and her first half IRONMAN at 40, and writes about the experience with humor and honesty. If you're a woman of a certain age wondering if spandex and long-distance racing still belong in your life, this one's for you.
__________
People like stories! I still think you should write a book. As someone just getting into triathlons, it's nice to know what to expect!
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