CR Conference and the CR Society Future

[Saul]

Hi Dewab!

 

Much better to invite scholars studing Calorie Restriction, rather than advocates of any particular diet (diet "Gurus" -- whether Atkins advocates, South Beach Activists, etc.)   For example, Luigi Fontana, who has been making a study of a subset of us -- testing our biomarkers, in comparison to vegans, vegetarians, SAD, etc.

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Dean Pomerleau]

Mechanism,

 

What has been the customary method / timing to hear back from the board on next ?2017 meeting or group shindig?

 

"Customary method & timing" for interacting with the CRS Board has been to pester them here until one of them happens to notice. Since Michael is pretty much the last Board member who semi-regularly reads these forums, I expect it will (eventually) be him...

 

I can pretty much guarantee this though - there will not be any CRS-organized events in 2017. 

 

--Dean

[TomBAvoider]

[...]

I can pretty much guarantee this though - there will not be any CRS-organized events in 2017. 

 

--Dean

 

Wha...? and miss out on all the good CR-related research out there..?! in mice :)

 

http://www.mcponline.org/content/16/2/243

[BrianMDelaney]

The Chairman of the CRS Board hasn't been heard from in years, and the President is AWOL.

 

"A" indeed, but not quite "WOL".

 

I had (yet another...) family emergency. I should have updated folks here, but there were complciated reasons why it wasn't easy.

 

Board members who might be reading this: I'm trying to organize a board meeting to get things going and move forward. Please check our Yahoo! group and respond at your earliest convenience about a poss. meeting. Thanks!

 

Brian

 

P.S. Random note I now feel compelled to trumpet to everyone I care about: Have a patient advocate whenever you or a loved one is hospitalized. Always. The number of mistakes that otherwise would or could be made is frighteningly high. I sat by my loved one's hospital bed nearly nonstop for a month, and witnessed screw-up after screw-up after screw-up. Most of the mistakes involved meds, but there were many other types of mistakes. Scary.

[BrianMDelaney]

He still hasn't responded. I hope he is alright.

 

I am now alright, and plan to continue to be.

 

Please note something very important. It is possible that email sent over the last eight or so months to any variant of my CR Society email addresses never reached me, without an error message being generated. (The email is on a server somewhere where I should eventually be able to retrieve it.) A change was made to our servers without my being informed. (But I don't think that would have affected email being sent by me: If it appears to have been sent, it should have been sent. But all these new fancy email protocols are still a mystery to me.)

 

Right now, the one CRSI-related email address I know works is president @ the domain name of this site. Others might soon be working too, but are not right now (or, rather, I don't know how to retrieve the email).

[Saul]

Hi Brian!

 

I'm sorry for your loss.  But I'm delighted to see that you're once again involved in leading the CR Society!  I'm very glad that you're trying to arrange a Board meeting.  Possibly that might lead -- after a lot of volunteer work by members of the Board -- to the next meeting of the CR Society.  Some of the newer members, such as Mechanism and Gordo, have been posting to  the Forums about a desire to attend a meeting of the Society.

 

I know that that is handled by David and Robert -- but I'm certain that you have more than a little influence on this.

 

I suggest holding the next meeting at a Yoga resort -- I can't imagine that not being successful.

 

 

 

      --  Saul

[BrianMDelaney]

Hi Saul!

 

First, thanks for your continued posting here to keep things alive. Second: there was no loss! There might have been, had there not been a patient advocate present.... That's how serious the matter is: all hospitalized people need a "patient advocate" (the marginally inaccurate term for someone who keeps tabs on things).

 

 

I suggest holding the next meeting at a Yoga resort -- I can't imagine that not being successful.

 

I've been trying to understand low attendance at our events. I believe the main reason is cost. For that reason, assuming maximizing attendance is important, I think a yoga resort would not be a good place for a big CR Society conference (but for other purposes, absolutely!)

 

Brian

[Saul]

Hi Brian!

 

I don't think that cost is the main problem -- I remember the results of CRONA (at UCLA San Francisco) -- most (but not all) CRONnies have much above average incomes.

 

I think that choosing a location that will be popular and practical is the main factor.

 

It's hard to find something to appeal more to health conscious people than the food at a yoga resort.  I've been to two such sites (Pura Vida in Costa Rica, and Kripalu, in Stockbridge, MA (in the Berkshires)).  Both of them had fabulous CR-friendly food.  I don't recommend a site in another country -- pleasant as is Costa Rica.  But Kripalu -- or Pura Vida in Georgia -- or any of many others -- would be great.  CR friendly meals, mostly vegan, buffet style.  (I'm going to Kripalu this coming Friday, returning Monday (I have two math courses to teach on Tuesday) -- the weekend plus one day stay will cost me $509 -- much less than plane fare to some of the sites where the last few, not so well attended, CR Society meetings were held.  Hotel fare alone at most sites also cost more then $509.  My stay will of course include all meals and my room -- and I'll enjoy yoga, twice daily, as well as an activity called "Kripalu Yoga Dance", and many workshops, as I choose to attend.  (There will be an interesting workshop on Tibetan meditation; previously, I've attended one lecture at Kripalu given by an American who studied directly under the Dali Lama for twenty years.))

 

Many members of the CR Society practice yoga -- a nice yoga resort will, I'm nearly sure, be popular with a large crowd.  (And unlike all previous CR Society meetings, there will be no problem obtaining CR-friendly food for meals other than the ones provided by the CR Society.)

 

A really cheap (but not as good) alternative: A yoga Ashram.  (I once went to "Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch", in the Catskills.  I don't recommend it -- but they do have a nice cat. .)

 

  --  Saul

[Mechanism]

Edited

[Mechanism]

Edited

[BrianMDelaney]

Welcome back Brian! I love my job but there is no question that my loved ones including family is #1 in my life. I can only imagine how scary it was... Thank goodness your loved one is well now.

 

M, thanks! I keep knocking on wood.... (For the record: being prez here isn't my job, it's an unpaid position. Not sure if that's what you were referring to.)

 

Saul: I think you're wrong about potential attendees' finances. The CRONA group wasn't representative.

 

As for the next (big) CR Society Conference, I really think the first step should be simply this: let David and Robert decide. Then we can take it from there. A future conf. is on the agenda for the next board meeting, which should take place within 1–3 weeks.

 

But I like the idea suggested by Mechanism and others (including me) over the years of less big-dealish get-togethers on a more local scale. Even just someone saying: "I can meet anytime in the Boston area April 1 or 2, would love to talk about Longo's FMD" or "I have a total of 6 beds or couches available at my place in Pittsburgh (and a driveway for people like Brian who are turning their cars into microcampers). Let's have a weekend seminar on the philosophical merits of life-extension in an uncertain age."

 

Brian

[Saul]

Hi Brian!

 

You may be right about the average wealth of CR Society members -- I don't know.  Aside from CRONA, is there any relevant information on average Cronnie wealth?  I certainly don't know.

 

About simply holding the next CR Conference at Kripalu (or some other yoga resort):  The CR Society would present a program at, e.g. Kripalu, titled something like:  "Calorie Restriction for Health Extension and Life Extension".

 

The cost of the program would be whatever the CR Society Board would decide.  This would, of course, include all three buffet meals, and a room.

 

That's how these yoga resorts work -- all programs, including our CR Society Conference, receive wide publicity by the Yoga Resort.  Program presenters always walk away with a profit for their endeavor.

 

The sort of people that go to yoga resorts are very health conscious -- a program such as the one we would present -- emphasizing I suggest "health extension and life extension" -- would be very much noticed, and probably would drag in a lot of attendees that have never had anything to do with the CR Society -- it potentially could be the best attended event that we've ever hosted -- and we'd probably get new members -- potentially a lot of them.

 

Concerning Kripalu specifically:  It is the largest (meaning best attended) yoga resort in the Western Hemisphere.

 

Anyway, I'm very glad to see you back at the helm of the CR Society, and look forward to see you at the next CR Conference, wherever David and Robert decide to hold it.

 

 

  --  Saul

[Saul]

Hi Mechanism!

 

Looking forward to seeing you and Edith on Saturday!

 

BTW, you are right: A day pass does include all meals -- and it also includes all R&R activities (it's essentially the same as doing R&R, but without the room).

And the dorms are the cheapest on site accomodations.

 

I did that once -- but I like the semi-private room (two person occupancy) better. These rooms have a sink, but no

bathroom -- there are hall bathrooms. I find that adequate.

 

-- Saul

[BrianMDelaney]

 

As for the next (big) CR Society Conference, I really think the first step should be simply this: let David and Robert decide. Then we can take it from there. A future conf. is on the agenda for the next board meeting, which should take place within 1–3 weeks.

 

Quick update: We had a brief board meeting yesterday. The main point was to get reaquainted, fire up our individual and collective engines in preparation for big decisions about the future of the Society in an age when far fewer people than a decade ago are excited about CR per se (as opposed to regimens derived from it). We never got, directly, to the topic of a future conference, but one thing became clear: there won't be a conference in the style of our past big conferences any time soon, for the simple reason that we've lost too much money on the recent ones.

 

Brian

[Saul]

Hi Brian!

 

Thanks for sending us the update.

 

I'll repeat my suggestion, that I couldn't imagine not bringing in a profit to the CR Society: The CR Society

Board, or David and Robert, could contact Kripalu (kripalu.org), and arrange to present a program at Kripalu,

entitled something like "Practicing Calorie Restriction, for Health Extension and Life Extension". This would

drag in new people who are health conscious and had never heard of the CR Society previously. Who to invite to speak,

and what to emphasize in the program, would of course be done by David and Robert.

 

I should note that Kripalu has about 500,000 visitors per year; and all of their programs are given prominence on their website.

 

-- Saul

[Miraenda]

I'm new to this site and forum, and I realize the decision was made in this post not to have a conference this year for the society, but I wondered if there's a possibility for knowing if anyone is in Texas or the Houston area who would like to have weekly or monthly meetings? Possibly, having even online meetings between members interested in doing so would increase attendance and possibly membership.

 

Because I'm a new member, I am interested primarily at the moment in learning how CRON would work practically in conjunction with the optimal nutrition portion. I have a list of foods that would meet the majority of the RDA daily value intake requirements, but that list includes dairy and animal proteins (mainly salmon and boiled eggs) and this appears to be contrary to CRON possibly, and being new, I'm not entirely certain if I'm going about things the right way.

 

Of note, the company for whom I work has a building where other groups meet once a week, and it's possible that we could setup a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meeting here for the group. If anyone is even in Houston besides me, though! Thanks for your time :)

[Gordo]

It's not too late to attend the big CR² conference in Costa Rica, it's next month and there is big momentum so far with at least 2 members going, haha. Its super close to Texas too.

 

As far was what constitutes CRON, that seems to be a controversial topic.  I'd guess most here eat a mainly plant based whole food diet, many eat salmon though as well, some (one?) are even into the wacky fad diet paleo/ketogenic way (not very convincing as 'optimal').  

 

I think most agree that the more phytonutrients/phenols (quantity and diversity) one consumes, the better.  Time restricted feeding also seems popular.  To give you one example, today I ate broccoli, mushrooms, adzuki beans, black beans, pinto beans, sweet potato, asparagus, raw beets, chia seed, flax seed, inulin FOS, turmeric, black pepper, oregano, herb mix, hot sauce, a lime, a whole avocado, spinach (both raw and steamed), dandelion greens, arugula, raw redskin peanuts (pressure cooked), red onion, a kiwi, high phenol extra virgin olive oil, 3 bananas, mixed nuts, a tomato, prunes, raisins, a little dark chocolate and some tart cherries.  Supplements were B12 and DHA.  Got my vitamin D via direct bare skin sun exposure.

 

-Gordo

[BrianMDelaney]

Miraenda, welcome! We do have a couple members in your area and I hope they see your message and respond. I will try to contact them separately.

 

(Very impressive website, by the way. Good luck!)

 

Brian

[Gordo]

(Very impressive website, by the way. Good luck!)

 

 

I hadn't seen that before but just checked it out.  I looked at your last food log, which says you weigh nearly 300 lbs and you ate cheese that day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, capping the day off with wings and pizza from pizza hut?

 

I commend you for being enthusiastic about improving your health but I'm concerned that you won't be successful with your current methods.  Have you considered a serious fast?  Maybe talk to your doc about it?

https://youtu.be/E484qiQXxzM

When I first started my own CRON journey, the very first thing I did was a long water only fast.  It was life changing.  It seems to "reprogram" your taste buds so you don't crave junk food or sugar anymore, but start to appreciate healthy foods more, something that will continue as you progressively eliminate the crack foods that are killing you.  Fasting will also rebuild your immune system.

 

If that's too extreme for you, you should consider the methods described in this newly published study:

https://youtu.be/w38dtSezN78

I have been considering organizing a group like the one described there, in my area, I think its a great idea and a way to help a lot of people.

I would love to follow your progress and look forward to updates.  You can do it!  Be sure to take before and after pictures, time lapse series would be even cooler.

 

Regards!

[mccoy]

Welcome to the forum Miraenda,

 

from your posted meals you seem to follow a low-calorie, ketogenic diet. 

 

That will probably cause some conspicuos weightloss, but may not be sustainable on the long run and you may hit a plateau (though some don't).

 

My advise is to add more vegetables. Some veggies like lettuce have extremely low calories/carb content and their fibre provides more benefits.

 

You may go on with your diet until you reach your first weight target and in the meanwhile perhaps contemplating to switch to an healthier one. If I wanted to loose weight with an healthy, calorie-restricted regimen, I'd choose no doubt Dr. Joel Fuhrman's diet.

[Miraenda]

Thanks for the welcome!

 

As for the daily food log, Pizza Hut isn't on my acceptable food list and there will be times I stray from my plan.

 

I have to be honest on what I ate for the day if I have any hope of improving, which is the point of the log. There are other days where I ate salmon and spinach and boiled eggs for lunch and 4 oz sirloin or ribeye for dinner.

 

I've lost 7.3 pounds since May 1 which is more weight than I've lost in the past 2 years, but I obviously have a long way to go and I've just started.

 

Thanks for checking out the site and all the recommendations. It's much appreciated!

[Todd Allen]

Welcome Miraenda!

 

I'm one of the oddballs here following a ketogenic diet both for weight loss, dropped from roughly 40% bf to roughly 18% bf in the past year, and unlike many here I believe it is the healthiest diet for those like myself who suffered from insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome / type 2 diabetes.  I've been thriving on keto with massive improvement in my bio markers of health.

 

I'm doing a somewhat unusual version of a keto diet in that I've been eating quite a bit more carbs then is typical such as big salads with lots of spinach, kale, lettuce and mushrooms, along with modest amounts of peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. and of course lots of fat from evoo, avocados and nuts with a moderate amount of protein from fish, eggs and cheese.  Through careful tracking of my ketone level I've found I don't need to be nearly as strict on low glycemic high fiber carbs as many suggest.  Especially when I'm restricting protein which helps knock insulin way down making higher ketone levels easy.  In addition to the typical urine and blood testing strips, I've been using a ~$5 breath alcohol meter which doesn't distinguish between alcohol and acetone.  The breath meter is by far the most useful as it is easy to use frequently.  I target 0.04% BAC on my breath meter which typically means I'm between 0.5 and 1.5 mmol on a blood test strip.  When I go above my target I can indulge in more carbs and protein and if I fall below I'll skip a meal or just eat something that is nearly pure fat with only incidental carbs or protein such as from flavorings like cocoa or cinnamon.

[Miraenda]

Thanks for the welcome, Todd!

 

That information is very useful, since I also have type 2 diabetes. I do try to have spinach frequently, but I will look into adding more of the green leafy vegetables you've noted along with some other vegetables. Avocados and nuts were also on my list for foods to add into the diet.

 

Have you tried eating blueberries and/or adding any cinnamon into the diet? I'm considering adding both components due to good things I've heard about them, but I don't know how blueberries might impact a diabetic (cinnamon should likely be helpful, though).

 

Thanks again :)

[Gordo]

Cold exposure can also have a great impact toward weight loss and blood sugar control.  You should research cinnamon toxicity, you may not want to go down that road. Ceylon cinnamon may be OK, but doesn't have the health benefits attributed to standard cinnamon (particularly with regard to blood sugar control benefits).