Martin P Wilson's Blog

Posted by Martin P Wilson

Recently I was discussing with a colleague and friend,Hugh Rees, the need for project health checks for a paper I was writing for my web site.

We were exploring what such project reviews needed to cover and when project health checks should be undertaken. Hugh, a very experienced project and programme manager came out with four quick thoughts on the common theme as to how and why projects go bad:

• Most projects are sicker than people admit or are prepared to face
• People only admit there are problems when there is no other alternative - a case of hoping that something will turn up in Mr Micawber style.
• Under-communication costs confidence. Shows up the project manager hows when the client or boss is embarrased by hearing project news from outsiders, often suppliers..
• Most things that go wrong are the real basics; and they go wrong repeatedly
• Paralysis by Analysis - people worry about the detail and the big stuff gets forgotten

These are so to the point that they had to be shared.

Hugh is a very experienced project and programme manager and has run some very large and complex, mostly IT and telecommunications related, assignments. He has turned round more problems than he would care to admit and so often the causes of failure are predictable and can be avoided.

Posted by Martin P Wilson

In The Diet Delusion, Gary Taubes analyses the science of nutrition and the impact on obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other disease of the modern world. he comes to the conclusion that the science is flawed and the public recommendations positively counter-productive.

Having read The Diet Delusion I decided that what he had written made eminent sense and decided I would do a small experiment on myself (albeit not scientifically rigorous). I have cut out refined carbohydrate (white flour, rice and products made from them) and refined sugars.I did not set out to reduce my fat or calorie intake and I was not going to leave myself feeling hungry. Indeed my fat intake has probably increased slightly.

Living What I Had Written -

I started at the beginning of February when I weighed 200lb. I am six feet tall, 58 years old and in generally good health. I was beginning to feel a bit heavy and felt that my fighting weight should be a little under 180lb and my target is to reach that before I hit the beach in June.

However I am on a course of Isotretinoin (for acne) so I have regular blood tests as it can affect liver function and increase blood fats especially triglycerides. This has given me the chance to monitor not only my weight but the changes to the fat in my blood.

After 9 weeks - my weight has reduced by 12lbs, I have taken up several notches on my belt and initial blood fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) have fallen despite the higher proportion of fat in my diet and the medication. I will continue to monitor them over the remaining 2 months of my medical treatment.

Changed Eating Habits

The change in my diet has been pretty easy. I have eliminated white bread; most pastry, noodles and pasta but do eat potatoes; beetroot, carrots and other vegetables. I generally avoid ready meals (I didn't eat many anyway) and eat a lot of pulses (beans, peas) in salads with pork pie, scotch eggs. I still eat roast dinners once or twice a week.

The traditional English Breakfast of bacon, eggs, fried bread has figured quite strongly as an easy lunch especially at weekends. Eggs make a quick and tasty lunch when at home. A snack meal would be buttered wholemeal crackers and 2-3ounces of cheese - eaten slowly. As I have an early start but have to have something before taking my medicine I eat a handful of nuts (high fat) for breakfast and for the occasional snack.

Although it is similar to the Atkins diet I am not being as prescriptive as I want to enjoy my food.

So the Experiment Continues

The main downside is that getting a quick lunch when out and about is difficult as most easy options are bread based. However I do eat wholemeal bread occasionally and even take the odd glass of wine.

I do not go hungry. Interestingly, I tend feel hungrier after I have had something sweet or made from refined carbohydrate. I also seem to be able to go longer between meals without feeling hungry. This seems to fit with the conclusion that I draw from The Diet Delusion that it is the insulin reaction triggered by the unnaturally rapid absorption of carbohydrate and sugars that is upsetting the body's metabolic control mechanisms. As result the fat is stored rather than burnt.

I will provide a further update in due course. In the meantime I will have to go and buy some new trousers and belts!