Thursday, March 29

. . .being happy with my progress!

This year my focus is all about getting healthy.  The last few years have often been out of control because of my disease, and pain levels.  But "I'm tired of being sick and sick of being tired", as the saying goes.

Last week I participated in a discussion about how to drop some weight quickly... that discussion left me questioning my own efforts to drop extra pounds while I get healthy... I think we all want to "be trim"... and I have to CONSTANTLY remind myself that MY quest is not about weight loss it's about getting strong and staying strong so I don't end up back in a wheelchair.  However I have lost some weight and weight loss can be so exciting, and even addicting...  I find myself getting frustrated by small plateaus, and minor set back in my eating habits...

I did a small "study" of all the current "fit" people I know [both men and women in various walks of life ~ who  maintain weight and fitness levels that I would like to achieve].  They are so different in the "jobs" they do, and the body styles they have I can't even being to list them.  I sent 77 text/email messages out asking 2 questions...
1) How do you stay in your optimum weight?
2) What is your primary weight loss choice, when you do need to drop some pounds?

So far I have heard back from 53 of those people and ALL of them say approximately the same thing when it comes to staying trim ~ they all exercise between 3-7 days a week and watch portions.

The other thing most said was if they did need to loose a few pounds they were careful about fad diets and did not drink, while trying to lose weight. [What an easy thing that is for ME, since I don't drink... LOL]  Some mentioned simple carbs being eliminated completely, others mentioned upping their fiber and water, a couple said they stopped eating red meat for a few weeks, one even said he went on a strictly vegan diet for 4 weeks before every weigh-in [he's in the Navy and will be retiring this year, after nearly 35 years ~ WOW].

The one thing that seems to be a trend is that when you are exercising "regularly" and/or strenuously like some of them do [especially the few weight trainers I know], that it's important to have enough complex carbs [like whole grains and veggies,] also some mentioned that they ate only certain fruits, like berries and citrus, because those fruits don't tend to "get stored" in the body when you are already exercising.

One of the weight trainer hubbies that responded with his wife to my question [he's been in the AF for 13 years, and is stationed in Afganistan for another 3 months,] anyway he sent me this link and told me that they met this sports coach randomly while he and his family were all on leave with him in England last year... As a weight trainer he was very interested in this person's approach to fitness, because he had always fought the "battle of the bulge" as a young man, [especially in HS as a football player, and he comes from a family that is "mostly a little plump" ~ as he put it]. One thing that he said that really struck me [so I asked him if I could share it with everyone...] ;-) Is that he had come to the same conclusions this sports coach/trainer had... and HE has not struggled with his weight for 5 years now ~ since he and his family started concentrating on eating whole foods.  His personal food intake balances out at 20/30/50. That is 20% mostly lean proteins like chicken and fish, 30% fats, like avocados, monosaturate oils, and also some of his proteins and fats come from the dairy he eats, and 50% fruits, veggies and whole grains.  He eats approx 3000 cals EVERY day. He is 6'2" tall and weighs 195 lbs with a BMI of 17 [he's absolutely ALL muscle]. He says he feels and preforms far above others in his same field in the AF [a HIGHLY competitive field] that are younger than he is.

That info blew me away... and it really helped me to put to rest in my own mind what my efforts really need to stay focused on. Healthy eating, exercise, rest, and some fun in my life, every single day.!!

I know there are many ways to lose weight and keep it off [pretty much all of them include exercise and a healthy diet... for life....]  I just thought I would also mention that all of these very healthy and trim friends that I have, have the opinion that you can keep any excess weight off by changing your the way you "think" about food.

As a nation we need to look at school cafeterias, which are loaded with starches [white breads, pastries, and potatoes]... and teach children to learn to balance food, and play and retrain all of our brains to love "activity".

I personally have gotten off the processed food train and gotten back to basics.  I feel so much better, and I am losing weight... but that is NOT my first goal ~ and I really need to remind myself EVERY day ~ that my goal is healthier muscles and bones so my body can sustain me for many years to come... I still have another future DILove to get to know ~ someday... and hopefully quite a few more grand babies to love...

Not to mention, I SO very much like being able to "move"...