Goofy, and about 300 other cyclists many in costume, took a fun 12 mile ride through the east side of Atlanta on Halloween night. This was a great way to have fun while staying in shape as well.
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Weight Loss Thread.
- Thread starter StuartGrant
- Start date
zelio
Elio Addict
That's great! Thanks for sharing. LOL :-) Z
zelio
Elio Addict
Year 2, 3, & 4 by Z - continuation of post #3
Year 2 starts with me 100 pounds down. I have a hot date with a tall dark and handsome man with a very sharp knife - my orthopedic surgeon - on May 5. By that time I am down 125 pounds. The operation goes well and I am in physical therapy rehab for 3 1/2 weeks in Eugene. While there my space is invaded by 3 friends and a stranger - all from the middle east. I was one of the stops on their tour of the West Coast. LOL What a hoot. I was in PT when they arrived. The 3 friends all spoke English the stranger was the cousin of my good friend, Zizo, neither spoke nor understood English. One thing these young men had in common - they were not quiet. It was quite an experience for everyone in the facility.
I started my diet journal over on June 1 and was up 10 1/2 pounds. A lot of this was fluid so I knew it wouldn't take long to get it off again. And in fact, once I was back in charge of my own cooking and eating, I lost 16.7 pounds in 2 months.
One of the issues this second year underscored is that I was not absorbing proteins or calcium properly. In each case my quarterly blood tests showed I was below normal in both of those areas and well within normal range for everything else. At the time I was eating at least 90 - 100g of protein per day. My weight went up slightly at the end of my 6th journal and the beginning of the 7th. This was mainly because I was eating too many prepared foods because I got tired of my own cooking. I was still averaging 90-100g protein per day. My weight for the next 1 1/4 years fluctuated about 10 pounds. Most of the problem seemed to be fluid retention but I was also forcing myself to eat a lot of protein to get my protein levels up. On 3/26/13 my fasting blood test showed a drop in my protein and calcium levels. I realized following the doctor's and the nutritionist's instructions was not working for me so I started doing research on nutrition, gastric bypass and protein absorption issues. I read about gluten intolerance, learned how this can cause poor absorption levels and realized if I tried going gluten free it would be a relatively inexpensive change in my life style. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so on 4/1/13 I went gluten free. On 4/8, I spotted a bag of Hemp Hearts at Costco, read the lable and added Hemp Hearts to my diet starting with 1 tablespoon/per day to make sure I tolerated them. At the end of 5 days I was stunned at how much more energy I had. Not only that, my weight started coming down again. I figured if my September blood tests did not show an improvement then I would have gluten occasionally. The results were both my protein and calcium were well within normal range for the first time in 3 years.
11/25/14 I have continued to use Hemp Hearts as a protein supplement in my food choices to this day. Three tablespoons have 170 calories and that sounds like lot but there is only 3g carbs and 3g fiber and 10g protein. I have found that if my calories are high because of the Hemp it doesn't matter. If they are high because of other carbs it does. I buy a 28 oz. bag at Costco for $14.89. If I don't eat a bag a month then I have not had enough hemp and my blood protein and calcium levels drop. I know because I slacked off early this year and my March 2014 results were back below normal range even though I am still gluten free and eating 80 to 100g protein/day. I also use dark chocolate hemp protein powder (both items are Manitoba Harvest) for protein shakes but they are gritty. I don't mind the grit because I like the taste. I also use Hemp Pro50 powder when I am cooking. I have been cooking low carb for years using Protein Power related cookbooks. They use soy, I no longer use soy and I don't like whey. I combine the Pro50 and quinoa flour 1-1 to replace any soy in the recipes. And it is not unusual for me to throw in extra Hemp Hearts into anything I am eating because I like the crunch. I have tried the Vanilla hemp protein powder but find it not as satisfying as the Dark Chocolate.
My weight today was the lowest it has been in more than 30 years. It fluctuates within a 4 pound range and I don't worry about it because, for whatever reason, I have fluid retention problems so it will go up and down. I don't have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or any of the other so called obesity diseases. But then I did not have them when I was at my highest weight. I swim 3 times per week. I am proud of the fact that I cook and eat nutritious meals most of the time. That means Hemp Hearts every day - usually at least 1 1/2 T, 80 - 100g protein per day, 100g carbs per day, 20g+ fiber per day. I was taught if you don't eat enough carbs the protein will not be absorbed adequately and as long as I don't gain weight at that carb level I do not worry about it. I also know I have to eat a minimum of 1500 calories per day. If I eat less, I start gaining weight. LOL Go figure! Most vegetables are free calories (I do count them for fiber, carb & protein). The exception is white potatoes and corn. Sweet potatoes are calorie free. I only count fat if I use more than one serving in what I am eating. I weigh and measure all my food except fat and record it in my diet journals. I started the 18th journal last week. It is my "support person". One other qwerk I have - I love avocados and consider them a vegetable so they don't count. So far that pattern has not affected my weight at all so it works for me.
I am a firm believer everyone has to find a method and eating pattern that works for them. I recommend not considering it a diet but a life style change. I have changed my life style at least twice in the past 4 years. If what you are doing is only livable for a temporary period of time you have less of a chance of succeeding. I attend a support group in Medford once a month. That is a 4 hour round trip. That, my swim and Y membership, and a monthly therapeutic massage to help with my fluid retention issues are my "I love me" gifts to myself every month. Like the Elio I will be getting next year, I feel I am well worth the expense. I "pay" for each of these items first and then the rest of my expenses follow.
Z
Year 2 starts with me 100 pounds down. I have a hot date with a tall dark and handsome man with a very sharp knife - my orthopedic surgeon - on May 5. By that time I am down 125 pounds. The operation goes well and I am in physical therapy rehab for 3 1/2 weeks in Eugene. While there my space is invaded by 3 friends and a stranger - all from the middle east. I was one of the stops on their tour of the West Coast. LOL What a hoot. I was in PT when they arrived. The 3 friends all spoke English the stranger was the cousin of my good friend, Zizo, neither spoke nor understood English. One thing these young men had in common - they were not quiet. It was quite an experience for everyone in the facility.
I started my diet journal over on June 1 and was up 10 1/2 pounds. A lot of this was fluid so I knew it wouldn't take long to get it off again. And in fact, once I was back in charge of my own cooking and eating, I lost 16.7 pounds in 2 months.
One of the issues this second year underscored is that I was not absorbing proteins or calcium properly. In each case my quarterly blood tests showed I was below normal in both of those areas and well within normal range for everything else. At the time I was eating at least 90 - 100g of protein per day. My weight went up slightly at the end of my 6th journal and the beginning of the 7th. This was mainly because I was eating too many prepared foods because I got tired of my own cooking. I was still averaging 90-100g protein per day. My weight for the next 1 1/4 years fluctuated about 10 pounds. Most of the problem seemed to be fluid retention but I was also forcing myself to eat a lot of protein to get my protein levels up. On 3/26/13 my fasting blood test showed a drop in my protein and calcium levels. I realized following the doctor's and the nutritionist's instructions was not working for me so I started doing research on nutrition, gastric bypass and protein absorption issues. I read about gluten intolerance, learned how this can cause poor absorption levels and realized if I tried going gluten free it would be a relatively inexpensive change in my life style. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so on 4/1/13 I went gluten free. On 4/8, I spotted a bag of Hemp Hearts at Costco, read the lable and added Hemp Hearts to my diet starting with 1 tablespoon/per day to make sure I tolerated them. At the end of 5 days I was stunned at how much more energy I had. Not only that, my weight started coming down again. I figured if my September blood tests did not show an improvement then I would have gluten occasionally. The results were both my protein and calcium were well within normal range for the first time in 3 years.
11/25/14 I have continued to use Hemp Hearts as a protein supplement in my food choices to this day. Three tablespoons have 170 calories and that sounds like lot but there is only 3g carbs and 3g fiber and 10g protein. I have found that if my calories are high because of the Hemp it doesn't matter. If they are high because of other carbs it does. I buy a 28 oz. bag at Costco for $14.89. If I don't eat a bag a month then I have not had enough hemp and my blood protein and calcium levels drop. I know because I slacked off early this year and my March 2014 results were back below normal range even though I am still gluten free and eating 80 to 100g protein/day. I also use dark chocolate hemp protein powder (both items are Manitoba Harvest) for protein shakes but they are gritty. I don't mind the grit because I like the taste. I also use Hemp Pro50 powder when I am cooking. I have been cooking low carb for years using Protein Power related cookbooks. They use soy, I no longer use soy and I don't like whey. I combine the Pro50 and quinoa flour 1-1 to replace any soy in the recipes. And it is not unusual for me to throw in extra Hemp Hearts into anything I am eating because I like the crunch. I have tried the Vanilla hemp protein powder but find it not as satisfying as the Dark Chocolate.
My weight today was the lowest it has been in more than 30 years. It fluctuates within a 4 pound range and I don't worry about it because, for whatever reason, I have fluid retention problems so it will go up and down. I don't have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or any of the other so called obesity diseases. But then I did not have them when I was at my highest weight. I swim 3 times per week. I am proud of the fact that I cook and eat nutritious meals most of the time. That means Hemp Hearts every day - usually at least 1 1/2 T, 80 - 100g protein per day, 100g carbs per day, 20g+ fiber per day. I was taught if you don't eat enough carbs the protein will not be absorbed adequately and as long as I don't gain weight at that carb level I do not worry about it. I also know I have to eat a minimum of 1500 calories per day. If I eat less, I start gaining weight. LOL Go figure! Most vegetables are free calories (I do count them for fiber, carb & protein). The exception is white potatoes and corn. Sweet potatoes are calorie free. I only count fat if I use more than one serving in what I am eating. I weigh and measure all my food except fat and record it in my diet journals. I started the 18th journal last week. It is my "support person". One other qwerk I have - I love avocados and consider them a vegetable so they don't count. So far that pattern has not affected my weight at all so it works for me.
I am a firm believer everyone has to find a method and eating pattern that works for them. I recommend not considering it a diet but a life style change. I have changed my life style at least twice in the past 4 years. If what you are doing is only livable for a temporary period of time you have less of a chance of succeeding. I attend a support group in Medford once a month. That is a 4 hour round trip. That, my swim and Y membership, and a monthly therapeutic massage to help with my fluid retention issues are my "I love me" gifts to myself every month. Like the Elio I will be getting next year, I feel I am well worth the expense. I "pay" for each of these items first and then the rest of my expenses follow.
Z
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OctoberGlory
Elio Addict
Thanks for posting your journey to healthy living Z - it was a very interesting read. Lots of good nuggets of information in there and I'm tempted to quote many, but I picked just one. I've spent my whole life dieting. In support of your statement I'll tell you I did 60 pounds total with the Weight Watchers program - the 30 pounds I lost during the program + the 30 pounds I put back on when I stopped going = 60 pounds! o_O This is but one example of my MANY failed diets over the years.
My turning point came when I visited my doctor a few years back for a routine physical exam. She noticed my weight was up again and so began the discussion. I told her I didn't think I ate so much. Then she asked what I had for breakfast that day. When I told her a steak, egg and cheese bagel with hash browns and a large coffee with 2 sugars and 4 creams from the drive-through she just stared at me in mild shock for a moment. When she did speak it was my turn to be in mild shock at her words. She told me that she thinks about every bite of food before she eats it. Every bite!
Her statement resonated with me and soon after I began making small incremental changes. First I eliminated virtually all fast food - especially the drive-through. Then I bought an insanely expensive blender to make healthy smoothies. Within 3 months I'd stopped putting junk food in my grocery cart and began thinking about what went into my cart before it went into the cart. No more mindless eating and no more mindless grocery shopping. That combined with an increase in physical activity and I'm feeling great.
In a nutshell that’s what's worked for me these past few years and I don't see that changing. As you say it’s not a diet, but a lifestyle. Do I slip sometimes - you know I do, but I get right back to it. I think about every bite of food before I eat it.
Thanks again Z. I send you my best wishes for continued success with your lifestyle and I send you much happiness.
Be safe. Be happy.
I agree, it's more about changing our life styles, than anything else. We all know what we're suppose to do, ( we hear it every day on TV ) eat a healthy, well balanced diet and exercise 30 minutes every day. Right! You betcha! Got it under control! I'll do it! ..........starting tomorrow! LOL! I know from experience that "roads are paved with good intentions", but reality is, you gotta, wanta do it, period! It doesn't matter what we intend to do, it matters what we really do! We are "in charge" of what happens to our bodies, and we get out, what we put in! Every journey begins with the first step or in our case, the first mouth full so........make it a healthy choice or not, it's up to you and you alone!
Okay, I'm off the soap box, sometimes my mouth, over rides my brain! Maybe it's just my pre Thanksgiving pep talk to myself. So on that note.........fa....."HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !"
Okay, I'm off the soap box, sometimes my mouth, over rides my brain! Maybe it's just my pre Thanksgiving pep talk to myself. So on that note.........fa....."HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !"
zelio
Elio Addict
That is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. You also have a wonderful doctor. I wish I had access to her but not enough to be willing to move. In addition to enjoying the challenge of using and developing new recipes for my food choices I also insist on doing exercise I love. That means swimming for me. My decision to move here was based on the YMCA swimming pools that are available to me. Eugene also has appropriate pools for my needs but. . . . I can't rent a closet for what I currently pay in rent for an 800 sq. ft. 2 bedroom apartment. Choices are so important in our lives and the more conscious they are the better will be the end result. Succes to you and happiness and congratulations on your results. :-) Z
EastCoastCentralFla
Elio Aficionado
I'm a seriously FAT man! When I started "this" diet I weighed 338 pounds. That was about 7 months ago. Last Monday I weighed 292. I'm watching my calories and am trying to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in each day, (not always successful in one or the other or both). The way I'm staying consistent is - and I hope I'm not breaking any rules by suggesting another site - Sparkpeople.com. It's free and they keep track of nutrition and exercise.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/landing_...NiUNPdj_Xcgvk8hDreGSbEiSnzRm6w00dPxoC05Pw_wcB.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/landing_...NiUNPdj_Xcgvk8hDreGSbEiSnzRm6w00dPxoC05Pw_wcB.
zelio
Elio Addict
Congratulations on your success. Keep up the good work. :-) Z