|
|
By NCN, on June 22nd, 2009%
Hello, my name is NCN, and my body hates me. The feeling, I can assure you, is mutual.
I’ve stopped losing weight. In fact, I’ve gained and re-lost the same 10 pounds, over and over, for the past three months. My body, instead of getting smaller, has entered into a strange stasis, and refuses to change.
I’ve altered a lot of my eating habits, I’m still exercising, and I feel much better than I did this time last year. These are the positives.
It’s VERY hard for me to maintain weight loss, and I seem to gain weight MUCH faster than I lose it. These are the negatives.
I’m still plugging along, trying to eat right, and enjoying my time at the gym. It gets a little frustrating, but I just KNOW, that at some point, the weight loss will pick up, my body will give in to the work I’m doing, and I’ll see some more progress.
Thanks for hanging around. I hope you are all doing well. Rock on.
By NCN, on January 15th, 2009%
What I Eat Now -
Lean Meat -
I eat chicken breast, turkey breast, and lean cuts of beef. I try to buy hormone-free meat, but it can be hard to find. I avoid processed meats, like those from the deli counter, and try to cook as much as I can at home. I stir fry chicken in olive or coconut (yum) oil. I do not use batter or flour. I am not a fan of pork, so I don’t eat it.
Vegetables -
I eat various types of lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli, and spinach. I also eat carrots (on my salad) and various other green leafy vegetables. I avoid legumes (beans), corn, and potatoes.
Fruits -
I eat green apples, strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. I avoid overly sweet foods like watermelon, red apples, and oranges.
Fluids -
I drink water, and that’s it. I haven’t had a soda in 108 days, and I don’t miss the nasty things. Living in the south, it’s almost impossible to avoid Sweet Tea, but so far, I have managed to do so!
Nuts -
I eat a lot of nuts – almonds, walnuts, pecans, and cashews. I try to avoid peanuts. I will buy nuts that have been salted, if that’s all I can find, but I prefer (both the taste and the health benefits of) raw nuts.
Eggs -
I eat eggs, but only occasionally. Why? I’m just not a big fan of eggs. When I do eat them, I scramble them and cook them with olive oil.
Oils -
I cook with olive oil, coconut oil, or grape seed oil.
Vitamins -
I take a mulit-vitamin, psyllium husk (for added fiber), and a pro-biotic.
Diet Plan -
I follow the Phase One diet as outlined in Doug Kaufmann’s book Fungus Link.
I have also incorporated some of Mark Sisson’s ideas from his Primal Eating Plan.
A good friend of mine turned me on to Doug’s work, and I’ve found great success following his plan – which focuses on removing fungus from our bodies and taking pro-biotics. Another friend sent me a link to Mark’s site, and I really like what he has to say.
My goal? I want to move away from processed, unhealthy, gimmick foods – and return to a much more basic, nutritionally rich diet.
I have found that when I eat from the list above, I really don’t have to worry about counting calories. In fact, I haven’t measured a single serving size or worried about portions in over four months – and I’ve managed to lose (at last count) 27.8 pounds.
What I Do Not Eat -
Sugar -
I do not eat products that contain sugar. I do not eat cakes, pies, cookies, or cereals.
Sugar Substitutes -
I do not eat store-bought protein bars. I do not drink diet sodas. If it taste sweet, and it’s not a real fruit, I do not eat it.
Starches -
I do not eat corn, potatoes, bread, or rice. I have considered eating whole grain oats, but I get plenty of fiber from my diet, and I’m not a big fan of oats anyway. Oh, and I don’t eat that southern staple, grits.
Overly Processed Meat -
I try to avoid sandwich meat, deli meat, and any other meat that has had sugar added to it. It’s tough to avoid any processing, but I try to minimize my exposure.
How Much Do I Eat -
I eat when I am hungry and I eat until I am (almost) full. Then, I stop eating. I do not worry about what time of day it is and I do not follow a normal breakfast – lunch – dinner routine. I eat four or five times a day, and most of the time, I’m eating almost the same thing, all day long.
By NCN, on November 18th, 2008%
So far, I’m 50 for 50.
I’ve gone 50 days without eating sugar, flour, potatoes, or bread. I haven’t had a single piece of candy – or gum. I’m completely done with soft drinks and I only drink water.
On September 29, 2008, I finally decided to focus, with all of my energy, on losing weight. I created my Health Optimization Plan and my Weekly Workout Plan – and I’ve (religiously) stuck to them both.
My diet, such as it is, consists primarily of -
Strawberries, almonds, cucumbers, lemons, lettuce, cashews, green apples, grilled chicken, turkey, lean beef, pecans, eggs, and water.
Basically, I’m following a lower-carb diet, as suggested by Doug Kauffman from Know The Cause. For the first four weeks, I was taking several anti-fungal supplements and now I’m taking pro-biotics.
I’m rarely hungry, and when I am, I simply eat one of the foods on the above list. I feel great – I feel better than I have in 5, maybe 10, years! Seriously. I’m exercising (a minimum of) 5 days a week, I’m sleeping better, and I have so much more energy.
I’m going to do this. I am going to reach a healthy, sustainable weight, and I’m going to feel good about myself. This time, unlike any other time in my adult life, I’m absolutely committed to being healthy.
50 days down, a lifetime to go. Rock on!!!
By NCN, on October 16th, 2008%
Okay, here’s where I’m at, as of right now -
I’m trying to combine ALL of the concepts and ideas that I’ve learned – over several years – about losing weight and maintaining focus.
1. I’m going through a bit of a cleansing, following the diet suggest by Doug Kaufmann over at Know The Cause. I’m taking several supplements, and I’m eating a diet of fresh berries, green vegetables, and meat.
2. I’m still eating slowly, and following the I Can Make You Thin and the 4 Golden Rules. But, I have cut out all starches – I’m really concerned about diabetes, and I want control insulin release.
3. I’m working out 3 or 4 times a week. And, I’m not just walking, I’m actually pumping some iron.
4. When I can’t hit the gym, I’m still walking.
5. I’m just weighing in once a week, instead of daily. This helps, psychologically.
6. I’m taking a multivitamin, three times a day.
7. I’m trying to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep a day – and striving for 8.
8. I’m drinking water – and water ONLY. No cokes, no sodas, no juice, no nothing. Water ONLY.
This is what I’m doing, and since September 29, 2008, I’ve been doing these things very, very well.
I’m down to 245.4 – from 252.2 when I started back on September 29. Rock on!
By NCN, on June 13th, 2008%
I went to the dentist Thursday. I’m ashamed to admit, it had been quite awhile since I had been. For years, I wasn’t covered by my wife’s dental plan, so I avoided going. Plus, going to the dentist, in the past, kinda weirded me out. But, my experience yesterday was amazing.
The hygienist who cleaned my teeth was very thorough – both in cleaning my teeth and explaining to me what she was doing. As she was finishing up, she talked to me about the importance of flossing. I’ve been flossing my teeth for year, but I’ve been doing it incorrectly. See, I’ve simply been putting the floss through the gaps in my teeth and moving up and down. But, to really get the full benefits of flossing, I need to put the floss through the gap and then curve the floss to the side and go ‘below’ the gum line.
My explanation is pitiful – so when you finish reading this post, go watch this video which explains how to properly floss your teeth.
Thankfully, my teeth were cavity free – but my gums were a little bit swollen. The dentist suggested that two or three weeks of proper flossing should eliminate the swelling.
Also, I watched a video about the dangers of gum disease. Do you know that proper gum health can add 10 years to your life? Plus, people who maintain healthy teeth dramatically reduce their chances of getting heart disease and diabetes. So, folks, get to brushing and flossing!
Quick update -
One of my goals has been to walk 45 minutes per day. Today, I played golf and while I rode in a cart – because the course was so busy – I did manage to a decent amount of walking. My weight loss has stagnated, but I feel so much better. I haven’t had any soda or caffeine for 12 days, and I don’t miss either!
|
|
