Healthy Eating Questions

[supraman]

So I'm fat. not phat, but fat. Like I weigh 289 lbs and I'm 5'9", do the math, I'm fat. I need to drop some weight, at the very least get down to 250. Realistically I want to be 200. Now I don't exercise a lot and I don't have a lot of disposable income so like a gym membership is out. I could probably toss an exercise bike on a credit and just deal with the debt. I know one of my biggest problems is drinking Pop, I love the shit and I've tried to quit drinking pop but I cannot seem to find an alternative that I like. Plain water gets old really fast. There was some good flavored water I was drinking for awhile but it isn't easy to get in bulk. Any suggestions?



Also I need to low my Cholesterol and I really don't know which foods I can eat and which I can't, can you guys point me in the right direction there?



At this point I'll take any advice because I've ran out of ideas.

 

[Kerfuffle]

Ha! - I have you beat - I'm a slim 300 and 6'1.



Get rid of the regular pop - drink diet. What I did was switch to Crystal light - it takes good, I get my water, and it's almost no calories.



Cholesterol - get on Vytorin. I went from 269 down to 149 in a couple months on that little pill. Worked like a champ.



Now I just need to get back to exercising.

 

[supraman]

Ha! - I have you beat - I'm a slim 300 and 6'1.



Get rid of the regular pop - drink diet. What I did was switch to Crystal light - it takes good, I get my water, and it's almost no calories.



Cholesterol - get on Vytorin. I went from 269 down to 149 in a couple months on that little pill. Worked like a champ.



Now I just need to get back to exercising.

I want to avoid medication for it at all possible.

 

[phranchk]

If you can't shake the pop, switch to diet. Coke zero doesn't taste too much like diet.



Diet and exercise in combination will do the most to help lower your cholesterol.

Don't eat out. If that's too much, make sure you don't get fries when you do. Cutting little things out like that help tremendously.

Eat breakfast. I personally need breakfast with protein in it otherwise I'm hungry again pretty quickly. There's also high protein cereals that will help. Eating breakfast is proven to help lose weight. Eating 5 small meals instead of 3 big ones is also proven to help.

Cut out a little at a time. It will probably be easier that way.



For exercise I would highly suggest p90x. That might be too extreme to start, but I wasn't in the greatest shape when I started it and you don't have to follow it to a T. Just do the best you can to your level and you'll be impressed at the results.

 

[phranchk]

Ha! - I have you beat - I'm a slim 300 and 6'1.



Get rid of the regular pop - drink diet. What I did was switch to Crystal light - it takes good, I get my water, and it's almost no calories.



Cholesterol - get on Vytorin. I went from 269 down to 149 in a couple months on that little pill. Worked like a champ.



Now I just need to get back to exercising.

Vytorin may be helpful in lowering your cholesterol but the way it works it also blocks absortion of good dietary cholesterol. Vytorin is a combination drug. It contains simvastatin and ezetimibe (Zocor and Zetia). Simvastatin by itself has been proven in long term trials to prevent heart attacks and other heart related problems. Zetia and Vytorin have not shown this same protective effect. In fact the trials have showed an increase in death due to heart related issues. Our bodies need dietary cholesterol. It's good for you.

I honestly think that Zocor (simvistatin) by itself is a better option and a hell of a lot cheaper.

Just my opinion based on published literature. If you have a cardiologist ask them about it.

 

[Kerfuffle]

I want to avoid medication for it at all possible.

Sometimes it's genetic and diet change alone won't help you. That's how it was with me.

 

[supraman]

If you can't shake the pop, switch to diet. Coke zero doesn't taste too much like diet.



Diet and exercise in combination will do the most to help lower your cholesterol.

Don't eat out. If that's too much, make sure you don't get fries when you do. Cutting little things out like that help tremendously.

Eat breakfast. I personally need breakfast with protein in it otherwise I'm hungry again pretty quickly. There's also high protein cereals that will help. Eating breakfast is proven to help lose weight. Eating 5 small meals instead of 3 big ones is also proven to help.

Cut out a little at a time. It will probably be easier that way.



For exercise I would highly suggest p90x. That might be too extreme to start, but I wasn't in the greatest shape when I started it and you don't have to follow it to a T. Just do the best you can to your level and you'll be impressed at the results.

I know I need to drop the fast foods and I've really cut back due to being broke. I guess I should go back to getting up early and eating breakfast before work. Right now at the 10:00 I have a cup of Maruchan noodles which isn't helping but man are they affordable.



My idea behind the exercise bike is I can hop on it for say an 45-60 minutes a day and just watch tv and pedal so I'm not thinking about it constantly and it aint boring me to death.

 

[phranchk]

I know I need to drop the fast foods and I've really cut back due to being broke. I guess I should go back to getting up early and eating breakfast before work. Right now at the 10:00 I have a cup of Maruchan noodles which isn't helping but man are they affordable.



My idea behind the exercise bike is I can hop on it for say an 45-60 minutes a day and just watch tv and pedal so I'm not thinking about it constantly and it aint boring me to death.

Yeah, 45-60 minutes on the bike is definitely helpful. Make sure you don't make it too easy though. It's easy to cruise on a bike and not get a work out at all. Make sure you get your heart rate up. It will help you burn calories faster and it's good for your heart health.

 

[TSD]

Have you thought of drinking diet pop? Im trained on it and prefer it to regular, once it was invented diet pop was the only kind my mom ever bought.



As far as healthy eating, you just need to have a very large amount of will power the first couple weeks, and then it actually becomes easy.



Ive been successfully on a health kick the past 3 weeks, and I am already over the fattening food hump. My mom dropped off some hjalphabet in my fridge yesterday when I was at work (some slovak, most likely common to all eastern europe dish) that is meatballs and rice seasoned rolled in cabbage and saurkraut, I grabbed it and dumped it down the damn garbage disposal. If you dont keep bad shit in your house, you wont eat it.



Basically all ive been eating is lean cuisine meals, 2 a day, and some fruit and vegatables, and if I get a snack attack i have lowfat popcorn.

Also, pushup/situp pyramid before i go to bed.



Get a scale, I cant stress that enough. when you lose weight its seriously, almost impossible to notice unless you compare yourself to an earlier photo or something. When I got out of basic training, I didnt think I looked any different, untill I saw a picture with my shirt off right before I went in and after and I was all russell crowe from gladiator.



So for wieght thats where the scale comes in, Ive dropped 15lbs in 3 weeks, it motivates you to see that weight coming off even if from your perspective you dont see it in the mirror.



and i drink diet pop like a damn fish and i still drink beer on the weekends and im doin alright. So you should be ok if you can acclimate to that.

 

[bri]

I know I need to drop the fast foods and I've really cut back due to being broke. I guess I should go back to getting up early and eating breakfast before work. Right now at the 10:00 I have a cup of Maruchan noodles which isn't helping but man are they affordable.



My idea behind the exercise bike is I can hop on it for say an 45-60 minutes a day and just watch tv and pedal so I'm not thinking about it constantly and it aint boring me to death.

You can't cut down on going to Wing Dings or you won't get one of those waitresses you are so hot for. I'm sure you could still go and get a salad or something healthier than the wings.



If you want to diet there are a zillion different books out there. Go to your local library and check some of them out. It will give you an idea of what kind you can adapt to your lifestyle.



Also try to find exercise or a workout that you enjoy so you'll want to do it instead of avoiding it.

 

[Tater]

Have you thought of drinking diet pop? Im trained on it and prefer it to regular, once it was invented diet pop was the only kind my mom ever bought.



As far as healthy eating, you just need to have a very large amount of will power the first couple weeks, and then it actually becomes easy.



Ive been successfully on a health kick the past 3 weeks, and I am already over the fattening food hump. My mom dropped off some hjalphabet in my fridge yesterday when I was at work (some slovak, most likely common to all eastern europe dish) that is meatballs and rice seasoned rolled in cabbage and saurkraut, I grabbed it and dumped it down the damn garbage disposal. If you dont keep bad shit in your house, you wont eat it.



Basically all ive been eating is lean cuisine meals, 2 a day, and some fruit and vegatables, and if I get a snack attack i have lowfat popcorn.

Also, pushup/situp pyramid before i go to bed.



Get a scale, I cant stress that enough. when you lose weight its seriously, almost impossible to notice unless you compare yourself to an earlier photo or something. When I got out of basic training, I didnt think I looked any different, untill I saw a picture with my shirt off right before I went in and after and I was all russell crowe from gladiator.



So for wieght thats where the scale comes in, Ive dropped 15lbs in 3 weeks, it motivates you to see that weight coming off even if from your perspective you dont see it in the mirror.



and i drink diet pop like a damn fish and i still drink beer on the weekends and im doin alright. So you should be ok if you can acclimate to that.

Damn!!! Send that food my way, it sounds really good to me. I need to put on some weight.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Biggest thing I can say is portion control. And unfortunately, you have to exercise more.....as much as you may hate it, you have to get your metabolism going. The whole breakfast/snack/lunch/snack/dinner routine does work, you just have to seriously watch your portions.



i'm 5'10" and float from about 185 to 200. Supposedly, in accordance with Navy standards, my optimum weight is between 175 and 184.

 

[E Runs]

Or you can become obssevive about the scale and drive yourself insane. Weigh yourself one a week, tops.



Do you have insurance? Take advantage of your doctor's recomendations as far as how to lower your cholesteral.



Fight your craving for "bad" food and they'll most likely go away after 3 weeks.



What your talking about is a complete lifestyle change, not pop in a DVD and viola, 4 weeks later you're a new man. It will take sacrafice and comittment. You'll have set backs, expect them. Don't be discouraged by them.

 

[bri]

Damn!!! Send that food my way, it sounds really good to me. I need to put on some weight.

Hun, has it become that bad that you are like the Cratchets?

 

[TSD]

and again I cant stress it enough that if you can keep up healthy eating for a couple weeks, its nuthin to say no to fast food, pizza, etc etc. If you can make it that far, tell me im wrong.



The biggest thing to avoid falling into is becoming satisfied with yourself. I intend to to try to an extent to keep this up for the remainder of my life, not to the extreme I am now or else I would end up looking like an auchwitz victim, I'll start eating more at some point, but I dont really want to change what im eating.



and I have very good reason to do this, My grandfather and mother have both had heart surgery and neither of them are even fat. So the last thing I need is genetic heart disease as well as being unhealthy. My mom had heart surgery at 44, thats only 15 years from my age now, and that freaks me the hell out.

 

[supraman]

You can't cut down on going to Wing Dings or you won't get one of those waitresses you are so hot for. I'm sure you could still go and get a salad or something healthier than the wings.



If you want to diet there are a zillion different books out there. Go to your local library and check some of them out. It will give you an idea of what kind you can adapt to your lifestyle.



Also try to find exercise or a workout that you enjoy so you'll want to do it instead of avoiding it.

I actually hate wings. Too much work for little reward when I go to Winghouse I usually get a smoke house turkey wrap since it is damn good.

 

[supraman]

and again I cant stress it enough that if you can keep up healthy eating for a couple weeks, its nuthin to say no to fast food, pizza, etc etc. If you can make it that far, tell me im wrong.



The biggest thing to avoid falling into is becoming satisfied with yourself. I intend to to try to an extent to keep this up for the remainder of my life, not to the extreme I am now or else I would end up looking like an auchwitz victim, I'll start eating more at some point, but I dont really want to change what im eating.

My BIG problem is I love Chicago food. Pizza and beef sandwiches. That's a HUGE hurdle for me...**** a pizza sounds good....SEE!!!

 

[phranchk]

My BIG problem is I love Chicago food. Pizza and beef sandwiches. That's a HUGE hurdle for me...**** a pizza sounds good....SEE!!!

Some people will give themself a cheat day once a weak. It helps ease the transition. Just don't abuse and stuff your face with as much as you can eat.

 

[TSD]

My BIG problem is I love Chicago food. Pizza and beef sandwiches. That's a HUGE hurdle for me...**** a pizza sounds good....SEE!!!

Im telling you from the voice of experience, if you can go 2 weeks operating only on healthy foods. Yes it will take a massive amount of willpower and yes, you will need to occupy yourself not to think about it, and yes you will be hungry. Your stomache will shrink, your body will get used to that diet of food, and the shitty food simply wont have that draw it did only 2 weeks prior. Your body actually becomes addicted to those types of foods. You need to let it run out of your system.



and really, i am eating the lean cuisine dishes as my primary source of meals, and they are actually very good.





Believe me up until 3 weeks ago my freezer was stocked with frozen pizzas, chicken wings, chicken nuggets/strips, burgers etc.



rotate between that and fast food, depending on whether I felt like cooking anything that night.

 

[bri]

They have all kinds of individual drink packets that you add to a bottle of water now. You should buy a bunch of different flavors and keep them in your desk. Most have very few calories. If you buy them at Dollar Tree or other discount store, it is very inexpensive.