CR Conference and the CR Society Future

[Dean Pomerleau]

Welcome Back Judy!

 

I definitely remember you from the good old days of the email lists. Sorry to hear about your celiac disease, but at least you've finally gotten to the bottom of it. I love your profile pic. Reminds me of my dog Zoe. I'm looking forward to you contributions to our discussions. As as true back in the day, women are still woefully underrepresented among our midst.

 

--Dean

[Saul]

Hi Judy!

 

Nice hearing from you again -- I hope that the celiac disease will be easily controlled; and look forward to your posts (and maybe to see you at CR10 -- which I'm hoping will be in a yoga retreat).

 

 

  --  Saul

[Saul]

Dean,

 

I agree with you about "the good old days of the List".  I'd love to read a "best of CR" weekly post by you (as long as it wasn't about Dr. Gregor! ).

 

 

  --  Saul

[Dean Pomerleau]

Sal,

 

I'd love to read a "best of CR" weekly post by you (as long as it wasn't about Dr. Gregor!  ).

 

I totally forgot I used to provide that "Best of CR" service. Those were good times.

 

--Dean

[Saul]

Yes.

 

 

  --  Saul

[Judy Reneau]

Saul, my celiac problems are totally controlled. The only time gluten might get in me would be by cross-contamination in a restaurant or someone's home. If that happens I throw up in two minutes. (I wonder why I don't get many invites.)

 

I first joined here around 2002 when I was 61 years old. Now I'm turning 75 in two weeks. I need to find out how to do CR properly at my age. I see we have a lot for me to read here.

[Dean Pomerleau]

Judy,

 

I first joined here around 2002 when I was 61 years old. Now I'm turning 75 in two weeks.

 

Your profile picture is small, but if it is at all recent and undoctored, I must compliment you. You look great for 75! Congratulations - it would appear CR has been working very well for you!

 

I need to find out how to do CR properly at my age. 

 

You're only as old as you feel. But we've talked a lot recently about the best strategy for diet & lifestyle as one enters one's senior years. 

 

The two biggest takeaways seem to be the need to strive for extra nutrition, especially protein, due to reduced absorption, loss of appetite and concern over sarcopenia. The other biggie, perhaps more controversial, is the notion that in later life higher BMIs (at least 22-24 and probably even higher) may be healthier than the rail-thin physique many folks strive for while practicing CR during middle age. If you or anyone would like to learn more and continue the discussion of senior CR, this thread on Optimal Late-Life BMI for Longevity is probably the best place for it.

 

--Dean

[timc]

While I've got your ear, there were several good ideas discussed as action items at the CR Conference, including putting together a list of all current and former CRS member email addresses for a mass mailing. The other was that Michael was going to check with the National Weight Control Registry about starting a collaboration with us. Can you share whether the Board has discussed either of these topics during its meetings since the Conference, and perhaps even confirm that it has had meetings, or at least email exchanges, on these topics?

 

--Dean

There is nothing for me to report on either topic (both are good ideas). We seem to be in dormancy of sorts.

[timc]

No I wasn't. I didn't post anything until I got back. But that question seems like a bit of a non-sequitur. I'm not sure why you ask. Ah - I think I get it. I'm always posting to the forums and I make it overwhelming. Sorry about that.

Little was meant by what I wrote so please disregard.

 

As for the bigger issue, I didn't implement that URL filter. Here is the *current* list (minus one vulgarity that doesn't match that URL) of banned URLs (intended to control spam) of banned URLs:

 

*webs.com*

*www.watch*

*ionjeans*

*truerelig*

*shemale*

*calvinklein*

*sexcam*

*newbalance*

*insanitywork*

*plancha*

*let2u.com*

*blinkweb*

*viagra*com*

*.tw/*

*.pl/*

*replica*com*

*redbottom*

*christianlou*

*levitra*com*

*store*.com*

*louis-vuitton*

*louisvuitton*

*dress-black*

*telefon.*

*weebly.com*

*ww.tiffan*

*foamposites*

*cheappropecia*

*genericpropecia*

*.nikeairshop.*

*ray-ban*

*nfl-jersey*

*webnode.com*

*hairstyle*com*

*vaporizer*

*borrow*com*

*prednisone*

*auto-insurance*

*car-insurance*

*www.seiko*

*hoodies.com*

*replica.asp

*timberland*

*nikemerc*

*abercromb*

*online.com*

*raybanz*

*oakley*

*jersey*

*outlet*

*michaelkors*

I'm not in favor of topical censorship (except for spammers, bots or any illegal-activity promotion or something that would not be suitable for a workplace environment ... if that makes any sense as a guideline).

 

As a generality, censorship is counterproductive and not compatible with an open discussion group. Perhaps there is an email or conversation on this topic or board meeting that I missed. I'll post again from a test account since my admin account might permit it.

[Fabricator]

Hi Dean,

 

Tim here with a test account.

 

That URL again ...

 

"Fabricator" is a work thing, not my relation to the truth (most of the time).

 

Posting the URL differently ...

 

http://www.livingthecrway.com

 

Edit - the filter doesn't seem to be in place now.

[timc]

More on filters. The forum software allows a blacklist or a whitelist URL filter. We use a blacklist which I posted above (minus one vulgarity).

 

It is described thusly in the software,

 

"You can specify here links that you explicitely want to disallow. You may use * as a wildcard. One per line."

 

There is also a 'bad words' filter but I saw no evidence of livingthecrway.com there. The 'bad words' filter appears to be empty in the event you feel the need to let one fly. The 'bad words' filter is ... not a great idea IMO. It is distinct from URL or topical censorship. For example, some forums might convert "dumbass" to "*******". Not as big a deal ...

[Dean Pomerleau]

Tim,

 

Thanks for checking into the filter on LivingTheCRWay.com. I too had not had trouble posting link to it in previous posts to the one where I complained. But I'm not making it up.  That was the one and only time I've seen that pop up I posted a screen capture of saying the webmaster had blocked the site I was linking to. And it went away when I obfuscated the link via a URL shortener.

 

Weird. Glad to hear it wasn't you, and that it is gone now.

 

Sorry to hear that the CR Society is pretty much dead-in-the-water as an organization...

 

--Dean

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Thomas G]

Now that I am newly arrived on the east coast, and have nearly a year of CR practice under my belt, I'd love to attend a conference or a meet-up of some kind. I've got a million tiny questions I'd like to chat with people about who have been practicing for a long time, but these questions are too tiny and pesky to really bother people with here on the forum.

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Dean Pomerleau]

Mechanism wrote:

That's great Thomas. I wonder whether any of the CR board members can comment on any plans in 2017 aside from Equador retreat? Is crscociety "closing shop" following the disappointing turnout last meeting? A US-based meeting may be just the kick in the pants our increasingly quiet forum may need. I think the turnout can improve with enough planning / marketing, esp if location works for enough members ( how about Boston, Philly, New York, DC, etc). Connecting & sharing is what we are all about - meeting in person can break the ice and maybe inspire local special interest group(s).

 

Ecuador? What the heck Mechanism? You know the venue for our June retreat is Costa Rica, since you were originally planning to join us!

 

Sadly, it seems to me unlikely that there will ever be another CR conference. There's been no action by the CRS Board on any of the action items we brainstormed at the conference to rejuvenate the organization. The Chairman of the CRS Board hasn't been heard from in years, and the President is AWOL.  If only the real President would do the same...

 

--Dean

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Saul]

Hi Mechanism!

 

The CR Society typically has meetings biannually -- but the last one came approximately 3 years after the one before.  Meetings are arranged by David Stern and Robert Krikorian.  Despite the disappointingly low number of attendees at the last conference, I have little doubt that there will be more -- although, as usual, I have no idea where and when the next one will occur.  We'll all be informed, through the Forums and by personal email, several months prior to the Conference.

 

I should point out:  Although attendance was low at the last Conference, the talks were excellent.  There was the special advantage, to those who did attend, to interact more than usually with the speakers.

 

The only problem with the last Conference was the low attendance.  I'm guessing that David and Robert will carefully choose where and when to hold the next one, so as to encourage attendance.

 

I think that your suggestion of a meeting somewhere in the NorthEast is a good idea -- we haven't had a NorthEast meeting yet; although so much of the good research about Calorie Restriction is done in the NE (e.g., Harvard).

 

I've suggested holding a meeting at a Yoga Resort -- e.g., Kripalu, in Western Massachusetts.  My reasoning:  Food at yoga resorts tends to be mostly CR friendly -- and many Society members practice Yoga -- so that locating the Conference at a Yoga resort should attract a large group.

 

David has argued that, at least Kripalu, is too difficult to get to (e.g., no nearby major airports).

 

I personally don't agree -- e.g., there is a shuttle from NYC (I think from Penn Station) -- so it's easy to get to Kripalu from NYC.  And also, AmTrack goes to Pittsfield, MA, a short cab drive from Kripalu.

 

Unfortunately, David hasn't agreed.

 

My general feeling:  Locating the next Conference at a location and time that will have other attractions (whether a Yoga Resort, a Conference by some non-CR group on some relevant aspect of Medicine or Biology, or some other outside attraction popular among CRonnies -- such as the next-to-last meeting) -- might lead to a much larger attendance, than concentrating on nearness of an Airport.

 

  --  Saul

[Mechanism]

Edited

[drewab]

My personal thought (as someone unlikely to attend due to time, financial, and personal barriers) is that hosting the conference with a big name like Dr. Greger, Dr. McDougall, Jeff Novick, Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Klaper, etc., or some of the other plant-based docs would draw a crowd. It would also need to be situated near a metropolis like New York. The reason being is that there is such a large population of people able to drive, that attendance would likely increase. 

 

Now, I know some people may be thinking that non of these docs are CR proponents, but they are more than people realize. By definition, a plant-based diet tends to be very low in calorie density compared to what most people consume on the standard American diet. For example, Dr. McDougall often cites Dr. Kempner's work in which he gives targeted BMI's of 21 to his patients. That's pretty close to what myself (20.7) and what many people around here weigh. 

 

The other thing is that it is CRON, and a diet based largely around optimal nutrition is incredibly important. Maybe even moreso than the CR part (though I think that remains to be answered). 

 

You can bridge the gap of the plant based docs with people like Dr. Fontana and Dr. Longo, who have many overlapping interests (ie. CR, IF, water fasting, etc.). 

 

In summary, create a hybrid conference that looks at CR, fasting, plant-based nutrition, and so on.

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Gordo]

Dr. Gregers speaking fee is $5,000 and he has made several jabs at CR in more than one video, but he could certainly bring a lot more people to a conference.  Then again, he already does talks all over the country, practically non-stop, and many of them are free to the public, so people may not want to pay anything for this...

[Saul]

I am very much opposed to inviting a prejudiced vegan zealot like Dr. Gregor.

 

  --  Saul

[Dean Pomerleau]

Sal,

 

Your repeated objections to Dr. Greger are duly noted.

 

--Dean

[drewab]

I am very much opposed to inviting a prejudiced vegan zealot like Dr. Gregor.

 

  --  Saul

 

 

It's worth noting that Dr. McDougall always invites people he disagrees with to his advanced study weekends.  If you truly believe that Greger's agenda is simply pro-vegan, I assume you would welcome the chance to engage him in an intellectual discussion regarding this belief. And if one truly considers themselves a scholar, they would jump at the opportunity to do so. Sometimes the attitude towards the alleged agenda he has on this board pisses me off. 

 

Quite frankly, he has done more to improve peoples health and the scientific understanding of nutrition than 99.9% of people will ever do. This isn't to elevate him to some deity status, but rather to state this his agenda is to improve peoples health. He isn't perfect, and no one is.