Owner: One Man's Battle URL:http://onemansbattle.blogspot.com Join Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:09:50 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: One Man's battle to live healthy in an unhealthy world Site statistics:Click here
Five Month Break 2007-10-15 10:22:23 So what happens when you take a five month break from eating right? Well first hand experience says you climb back from being 205lbs to tipping the scale at 230lbs. Your blood pressure climbs back to 165/118. You feel lousy most of the time. You become depressed because you had been doing so well and now you are right back to where you started from. Why does someone let himself slide? Not sure it is an easy answer. Home life gets goofy, stress at work climbs, the focus on what not to eat, or what to eat, gets old and you don"t feel like being disciplined. Beer looks and tastes really good. I am one who likes to experience life and enjoy all it has to offer. Not eating what you want goes against that philosophy. However, so does dying early. I Read more:Month
, Break
South Beach Diet - Week #5 2007-05-28 00:00:40 Following the SouthBeach
Diet continues to be a learning experience. I have to remind myself over and over that the primary goal is not the weight loss, but healthy living. My desire is to stop my slide towards diabetes, to lower my chance of a heart attack or stroke, to be able to participate in the activities I enjoy well into my old age. Weight loss is just part of moving towards the healthy lifestyle that I want to enjoy for years to come. This last week was full of potential pit falls and my own weak will. On a few occasions I blew it and ate a few things I had been missing. But in each of those cases I readjusted my diet the next day and got back on track. A meeting provided for very few options and I was still able to manage. I Read more:South Beach
Relationship Between Stress and Weight 2007-05-26 09:18:00 I have been thinking a lot lately about the connection between weight management and stress. I know that I can be a stress eater, meaning as the stress increases I tend to go for comfort food to help me get through it. A bowl of ice cream, a snickers bar, a can of Pepsi have all been stand ins for that in the past. What I am wondering is do those who are weight challenged more likely to experience stress, or when stress comes does it have a great negative impact on those of us who are heavier. Each one of us handles stress in a different way, and we all know that the same situation effects two different people in different ways as well. A study by the Department of Public Health Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago found that in African American women fo Read more:Relationship
, Weight
Google Pedometer 2007-05-25 02:57:00 Now that I am trying to be more healthy by doing some exercising I find myself jumping into my car to figure out how far I went. My problem is a lot of my walking or jogging takes place on trails my car can't go. I also find that driving my car around to log mileage is not as practical with gas up above $3.35 a gallon. So leave it to Google
to use add a feature to their map program and create a Gmaps Pedometer. You can record your route, have it determine your distance and calories burned. You can save it, print it, share it, you name it. It even calculates for an out and back route. Now I can figure out where to go on a five mile walk or run. If I am traveling I can figure out a route from my hotel before I even get there. It is very c
Diet Success or Failure? 2007-05-25 02:12:14 I said I would report back regarding my success or failure related to my meeting and the navigation of the dieting nightmare. As I anticipated the room was ripe with temptation. The muffins, the Snickers Bars, Peanut Butter Cups, Pepsi, 7up. To make it worse the bottled water that was present a month ago was completely missing, luckily I had brought in a big bottle of water with me. Bringing a few of my own snacks was a great idea, but the meeting was so slow moving that the snacks were gone before I knew it. I was able to avoid the candy bowls and the Muffins for breakfast. As lunch approached I didn't know what to expect, and as we were told lunch had arrived we were greeted with boxes of Pizza. If you know me you know Pizza is my weakness. Read more:Success
Diet Obstacles 2007-05-23 09:17:00 Today I will need to put all of my tricks to overcoming obstacles to work. Once a month all of the facility managers come together for a regional meeting. Looking at the tables you find a dieters, or healthy person's nightmare. Walking in I will find the morning fare of Costco Muffins - High in Carbs, Fat, Calories, etc... On the tables will be every kind of candy I crave. The cooler will be packed with soft drinks. Lunch will be provided and is out of my control to determine what is purchased. Following work we usually head out to the local bar to unwind, catch up, and debrief over a few stiff drinks. So how can a person navigate? Here are a few things I am in the process of doing, and I'll report back tomorrow on how well it worked. I have
Weight Loss and Self Esteem 2007-05-21 01:03:57 An interesting thing has been happening as I lose weight on my diet. Not only is my blood pressure decreasing and my blood chemistry coming back in line, I have found I am feeling better about myself. I always felt I had a good self esteem, but looking back I realize I was becoming disgusted with how I looked and felt it reflected on who I was. I was also becoming increasingly frustrated about not being able to participate in activities that I normally found enjoyable, like soccer with my kids, running, and even hiking. However, with the loss in weight I am finding my attitude about myself is changing. I feel like I am able to be in control of things that have controlled me in the past. I like looking in the mirror and seeing progress towards how I want to loo Read more:Weight
, Weight Loss
Reducing Blood Pressure Without Medication 2007-05-20 11:02:34 Once again I am seeing the results of living Healthy in a reduction in BloodPressure
. I have just finished my third week of a eating live style change (diet) that is focused on weight loss, and changing my blood chemistry. As mentioned earlier I have high cholesterol, triglycerides, am pre-diabetic and my blood pressure has crept up beyond acceptable limits. My goal through a change in my eating habits is to change each of these problem areas and bring them back into control. In addition I have added mild forms of exercise back into my life. Walking the dog, hikes in the mountains and along the local rivers. I have cut way back on alcohol use and after three weeks am seeing the results. I take my blood pressure first thing in the morning to keep the ti Read more:Reducing
, Medication
Simple Ways to Increase Stress 2007-05-20 11:02:34 At work we just completed a very stressful stretch of time. In the Long Term Care industry we are evaluated constantly by a variety of outside agencies regarding our quality of care, documentation, floor practice, etc... Jobs are lost as a result of state surveys, fines are levied, and reputations made or destroyed. Our annual survey was last week and the stress level went through the ceiling. This process made me think about all the other thing in life that can cause stress so I thought I would share a few from my life, in hopes that I won't allow them to affect me so greatly the next time I face them. Starting a conversation about home finances with your wife, 10 minutes before leaving for work Being late to a social engagement Paying Bills A/R review meetings Firing e Read more:Simple
, Simple Ways
Blood Pressure - What to Do 2007-05-20 11:02:34 For years I watched my dad struggle with High BloodPressure
. Expensive medications, attempts to be physically active, moodiness, where all apart of his life as a result of his elevated Blood Pressure
. I remember as a kid vowing to never get it. Fast forward 30 years. I am now 43, and have been told by my doctor I have High Blood Pressure. Research would say that those who are over weight or obese, those who are inactive, those who have poor diets, high in salt and cholesterol, are at increased risk for High Blood Pressure. Experts differ on what is High Blood Pressure. Some say anything 0ver 120/88, yet others say 140/90. All I know is that I have it. So not wanting to go on medications I have been reading on what can reduce Blood Pressure, and while ea
Lower Blood Pressure Through Food 2007-05-20 11:02:34 Struggling with lowering High BloodPressure
? The DASH approach might be for you. DASH is a simple acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. I came across it recently in a Long Term Care Nursing Facility. This approach has been shown to help prevent, or help reduce, High Blood Pressure. It is very similar to what is found in the South Beach Diet I am on. The DASH approach is big on vegetables and fruits, encourages low fat milk and cheeses, watches or limits foods regarding saturated fat and cholesterol, and stresses a reduction in salt and sodium. Dash for Health is a Web Site that will create menus and assist you in getting started on this diet. The creators of the diet claim you will see reductions in your blood pressure i Read more:Lower
Dealing with Diet Setbacks 2007-05-20 11:02:04 It was a gorgeous day Sunday. Friends were coming over for a barbeque, the grill was ready to go, and the first guest to arrive comes in with a wonderful cheese cake for desert. Each guest to follow brought something equally off my diet like chips, rolls, you name it all the foods showed up calling my name. Earlier in the day I had developed a plan on how to have just one beer, stay away from using a bun, stay with the veggies and not the chips. It was all going well until I noticed I was drinking beer number three and the party was still young. As you can guess, with the resolve broken soon the chips and fries were on my plate, a brownie and who could pass on the cheese cake. That night I felt like a loser, taken out of my game, I had blown it. So now what? M Read more:Setbacks
South Beach Week 3 2007-05-20 11:02:04 Another week down and a few more pounds dropped. This week allowed for the reintroduction of fruits and carbs back into the diet. I have to admit, with the first two weeks calling foods high in sugar bad, it was almost scary to add them back in. I have been very limited in how much fruit and bread I eat as I try to figure this part of the diet out. I went mostly with a piece of 8 grain toast and red grapes. The toughest part of the week was a party at our house last weekend. Chips, pasta salads, french fries, cheese cake, brownies, more chips, beer, wine, and hamburger buns, made it hard to find the vegetables and chicken. They were there but you had to look hard. Yes, I had a brownie, and a couple of chips. The real problem was the beer, after two Read more:South
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, South Beach
South Beach Diet Success - Week #4 2007-05-20 11:02:04 Another week of my life style change and still moving in the right direction. And while the real purpose of my life style change is to avoid becoming diabetic, to reduce blood pressure without medication, and to live past 56 (when my Dad died), I find that the loss of weight is becoming almost an obsession. Each morning I get up and head right to the scale. My mood for the day is determined by what the dial reads (I hate the control that scale has on my life). I spend a lot of time thinking about combinations of foods,their affect on digestion and fat retention. Gone are the days of sitting down and just simply enjoying the taste of a steak or piece of Salmon. A glass of wine is no longer thought of as a Shiraz or Merlot, or talked about regarding its quality, inste Read more:South
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South Beach Diet - Week 2 2007-05-06 11:51:24 I have just stepped off the scale at the end of week #2 on the SouthBeach
Diet. The first two weeks are the strict phase where you cut out the high carb, high sugar items. Translated that means no bread, cereal, fruit, candy, pop, alcohol, chips, tortillas, etc..... (you know, all the things that used to make up my diet). The purpose of this strict phase is to change you blood chemistry, change your metabolism, and to reduce cravings for the wrong types of food. Obviously, the byproduct of those three things happening should show up in weight loss result and the claimed reduced inches around the middle. Those who know I am on the diet have asked a number of questions, so let me list a few answers here before giving the results from the week. I am on the diet because my D Read more:South Beach
Stress Reduction Tips 2007-05-05 11:46:21 Everyone experiences stress at some level in their lives. In many ways, stress is a red flag to tell us that something is effecting us. These things are not always bad. That butterfly feeling you have before you run in a track meet, or speak in front of a crowd, is alerting every part of your body that something big is going to happen, and to be ready. The stress/anxiety you feel before meeting with your boss, tells your body it needs to be ready to think fast, impress, or maybe protect itself emotionally. For me lately, the stress has been related to my children, and it simply reminds me I need to keep my defenses up, and be ready to respond quickly to the issues they are bringing up. While stress isn't necessarily bad by itself, it can have a negative affect
Winning at Weight Loss 2007-05-05 11:46:01 I found myself getting a little discourage with my attempt to lose 45 pounds this last week. Obviously I would like to see it melt off instantly, but as I have mentioned in earlier posts sustained weight loss usually occurs in those who have changed their lifestyle and reached their goal slowly over time. So to get myself out of the funk I was in I started to ask myself the same questions I ask when I run into similar feelings with my plans/strategies at work. Is the goal specific - Have I really defined what I am shooting for? In my case the goal is bigger then weight loss, it is about brining my metabolism back on line, changing my blood chemistry, and living healthy. Is the goal attainable - Can I really make it happen? If the goal is to drop 20 pounds by tomorr Read more:Weight
, Weight Loss
, Winning
Effects of Weight Loss on Blood Pressure 2007-04-29 11:32:33 Over the last few weeks I have been very interested in finding non pharmaceutical ways to control my blood pressure. Without to much surprise, weight loss through proper nutrition seems to be the number one thing you can do for yourself. A 10 pound weight loss is said my some experts to reduce your BP by 8 points. Eating the right types of food can also have a dramatic impact on your blood pressure. Most of us resign to the using of medications to control blood pressure because it means we don't have to change our live style. However, I would rather spend the $50 - $100 a month I would have to pay for medications, on a gym membership, a mountain bike, healthier foods, etc.... This last week I was able to lose 9 pounds following a diet plan. While this Read more:Weight
, Weight Loss
, Blood
, Pressure
, Blood Pressure
, Effects
South Beach Diet Excitement 2007-04-29 11:32:33 I have just stepped off the scale after 7 days on the south beach diet. I have stayed away from weighing myself because in the past I had trouble emotionally handling the 2 pounds lost, one pound gained cycle I typically find myself in. So here are some quick facts about my past week. I started the week at 230 pounds and my goal is to be at 178-175lbs I started by going to the store and buying the food I would need to be successful I kept a jar of unsalted penults at work for quick snacks and always had a glass of water close by I made one mistake, I without thinking grabbed a piece of taffy out of a bowl in one of my employees offices without thinking. I tried very hard to anticipate situations that might mess up my diet attempts I have a very support Read more:South
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Remember your youth 2007-04-28 20:33:02 Today I found myself outside watching my 14 year olds semi-final soccer match. It is said that in a soccer game the midfielder's can easily run 5+ miles. What struck me was how they were running without appearing that they were affected in anyway by the effort they were exerting. Perhaps it was the almost 70 matches they have played this year, or the fact that not one of them had an ounce of extra body fat on them. These soon to be men, boys are the picture of healthy. Bodies utilizing their fuel to produce the energy needed to complete the task assigned. Not to long ago (well longer then I want to admit) I too was able to run from dawn to dusk, place super human demands on my body, and accomplish almost every physical task I undertook. What a change whe Read more:Remember
, youth
What Keeps Me From Living Healthy 2007-04-27 09:38:41 I have been asking myself the last few days, what keeps me from living Healthy. By Healthy I mean, physically, emotionally, and socially. A few months ago I was ignorant of what healthy living might look like and entail. However, waking up, looking in the mirror, and being dissatisfied, I decided to start educating myself. There is a wealth of knowledge out there in books and on the web. The trick I've found is sifting through it and determining what applies to you and your life style, as opposed to just adopting whatever someone else says. So...... back to what keeps me from living healthy.It takes work to live healthy - The planning of meals, the buying of good food, making time to work out and then actually doing it. I come home after working all day and am tired, now I need to wo Read more:Living
South Beach Diet - Obstacles to Success 2007-04-27 09:38:05 I am officially on the SouthBeach
Diet, Day 4 is just beginning. I notice I woke up less hungry than the first few days, and after eating I am full. This is great, because during the first few days I almost had to tie myself down to keep from heading to the fridge, convenience store, or fast food restaurant. There were a few things I didn't anticipate or have a plan for going in, that you might want to be aware of as you start out on your diet, South Beach
or other type):Co-Workers Candy Jars - Many offices where I work have candy jars. Some full of taffy, others M&M's. Prior to my diet I would take a few whenever I was in one of those offices. On day one I, without thinking, picked up a piece of taffy and popped it in my mouth. You need a plan to deal with your environment.The Mother Read more:Success
Pre Diabetes 2007-04-23 22:48:32 At my most recent visit to the Doctors office, he ordered the normal labs to ensure that everything is working properly in my body. Going over the results he stated, "looks like you have Pre-Diabetes
." Thoughts raced through my head. Will I have to give myself shots? will I lose a toe or foot? does that explain my vision getting worse? All of course are things that can occur with Diabetes.Going home I did a little research, and found that 54 million people in the USA with Pre-Diabetes. That didn't make me feel a whole lot better, but it was enough to show it is an issue that many people deal with. Even less comforting was the fact that most type 2 diabetics started with pre-diabetes. The definition of pre-diabetes in its simplest form is - your blood sugar (glucose) is higher than nor
Picking the South Beach Diet 2007-04-23 22:47:19 I have been researching diets for sometime now, looking for one that isn't just hype, but makes sense. There were a number that stated I could lose 20 pounds in 30 days. Others promised I could eat whatever I wanted and lose weight at the same time. I figured that the diet I chose needed to address the health issues that are beginning to creep up on me. Those issues are:Obesity - In my research a few weeks back I discovered that my height and weight but my Body Mass Index just into the range of Obesity.Diabetes - My last visit to the doctor I was informed that I am pre-diabetic and need to make some changes before I become diabetic.Family History of Coronary Heart Disease - May Grandfather died of a Heart Attach, my Dad had open heart surgery.High Blood Pressure - My BP has crawled up Read more:South
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Seasonal Weight Loss 2008-05-10 14:18:00 Just like the earth goes through its round of seasons each year, I have found that we as people do as well. Living in the Pacific Northwest, many go through cycles of depression due to the dark rainy weather. As the sun shines more moods become brighter as well. For me, there is something about spring that triggers a desire to focus on my health, to get outside and be activ Read more:Weight
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