Let the games begin

Knowing that today would be the first day of my weight loss for life plan, I enjoyed a bacon cheeseburger and fries at "Five Guys" yesterday as my last unhealthy meal.  Oh, and a few desserts and beverages.

Last week was final week at school.  For extra credit in my "Total Body Fitness" class we were asked to read an interesting article on obesity in America, "Obesity -- How We Grew So Big," by Michael D. Lemonick.  It was written in 2004 and is still applicable today.  The article talks about how eating habits have changed over the years and what is contributing to obesity.  I'm sure you can guess.  The last paragraph talks about how successful campaigns against smoking and drunk driving have been in raising "national consciousness about these public-health issues...There is no reason to think an anti-obesity campaign can't do so as well..."  I agree.

The article speaks about a loss of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as a result of a diet of cultivated grains and a higher fat content in domesticated animals than the wild animals consumed in the past.  With the invention of agriculture food became abundant and inexpensive.  Portion sizes must not have been the problem they are today in 2004 because the article doesn't mention that.

Which brings me to supplements.  Today, they are necessary, because of toxins in our air, preservatives in our food, and as mentioned in the article diets high in cultivated grains.  One of the best resources I've found that explains supplements, spices, and topical anti-aging products is The Perricone Promise, by Nicholas Perricone, MD.  On page 137 there is a helpful supplemental chart broken down by their benefits.  Dr. Perricone explains that inflammation in the body is a major cause of health problems.  In the past, I had taken a multi-vitamin.  After reading this book, I decided I wanted to take a more targeted approach.  I made a decision to focus on anti-inflammatory supplements, along with foods, spices, vitamins and minerals that would help my individual symptoms.  Since reading The Perricone Promise I have added Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA), Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), CoQ10, and Omega-3 Fish Oil.  According to Perricone, ALA has multiple benefits including cell protection and cellular energy.  CLA has many benefits, including anti-cancer/anti-obesity effects.  CoQ10 has antioxidant and energy benefits, plus more.  One of the benefits of Omega 3 Fish oil is it help for the brain and heart.  I also take a B-Complex vitamin that helps convert food into energy and a calcium/zinc/magnesium supplement.  Calcium is best absorbed when taken in this combination. Vitamin C and Vitamin D are others I would recommend.  This may not be what you need personally.  Vitamin C, D, Calcium, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids can help everyone.  The others I take because they are anti-inflammatory and they resonated with symptoms I have.  It is very important that you research recommended dosages and know whether or not a vitamin/mineral is water or fat soluble.  Taking too much of a fat soluble supplement can be harmful to your health.  Consult your doctor before beginning any diet or exercise routine and ensure that your doctor is aware of which supplements you are taking to avoid any drug interactions when prescribing medications.

Other resources available to you are the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website, where you can find food pyramids.  (Note:  Ironically, the article referenced at the beginning of this post says the invention of agriculture was the "humanities worst mistake."  Also be aware that the USDA website does not speak highly of the use of supplements.  That is the rub.  There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and scams.)  Dr. Oz's website has great recipes, information on supplements and a different tracking tool called, "Personal Health Plan".  He also has a page dedicated to various health challenges.  Find the techniques and tools that are right for you.  The main thing is that it must be sustainable, not extreme, or unhealthy.  A simple thing to keep in mind when shopping for food is to shop on the outer section of the store where the fresh and frozen foods are.  Highly processed foods are located on the interior shelves. 

In summary, there are various resources and techniques we can use to reach our healthy eating plan goals.  Supplements are necessary to combat the lack of nutrients and preservatives in our over processed foods, and various toxins in the modern world.  For the first day of my journey, I used My Health Tracker to list what foods I ate, included my measurements, starting weight, and focused on increasing water intake.  The foods I chose were fresh fruit and egg whites for breakfast, a can of tuna with garlic powder and pepper for lunch, and frozen vegetables for dinner.  Before bed I will eat an apple.  In total I ate less than 1,000 calories.  I was probably consuming closer to 2,000 the past few weeks.  I weighed myself this morning and logged it in my notebook.  The key here is to have some sort of plan in place. 

I am on a journey to help stop obesity - in myself. 

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."
Mohandas Gandhi

Have you been inspired to set your own healthy eating plan goals?