Log My Loss

The Diet

I am on a low-glycemic index diet.  I have chosen a low-glycemic index diet because I think there is substantial evidence that diets which have a lower impact on your blood sugar are healthier for you and promote weight loss because of the simple fact that spikes in your blood sugar tend to make you want to eat more, which creates a vicious cycle.  I hesitate to use the word diet because I look at this so differently than that.  It is truly a lifestyle change for me.  Now with this eating style I eat almost any and all vegetables that I want, except for the high starch vegetables like potatoes and corn.  I also eat fruit on a daily basis.  While I occasionally eat grains, I tend to avoid them as I think they cause addictive behavior in me.  I try to eat lean meats, but I don’t stick to this strictly.  I do tend to avoid the really fatty stuff though.  I also try to drink plenty of water – usually more than 100 ounces a day.  This is something else I don’t get too hung up on.  The only other drink I typically have is black coffee, although I do sometimes use flavored Splenda.  I am taking an Omega 3 Fatty Acid supplements, as well as a Cinnamon supplement (for blood sugar), but I also try to incorporate as many natural sources of Omega 3 and cinnamon as I can.

The generally follow the South Beach Diet.  I say generally because there are some differences.  I believe it is the best description of what I do though.  I first learned about this diet from the South Beach Heart Program book, which honestly changed my outlook on things.  Contrary to popular belief, this is not a low-carb diet (although I am not opposed to low-carb diets and have had great personal success on the Atkins diet, I am just not committed enough to follow it right now).  It is a healthy carb and healthy fat diet.  I encourage you to read the book, you will probably learn something.

The Exercise

I have also decided that I cannot become healthy and live a long, healthy life without getting in shape.  I know my body needs this, so I am focused on it.  I walk almost every day between 2-4 miles, although I have walked as many as ten.  I am also do planks and a Tabata routine quite regularly.  In the past I was doing the hundred push ups program, but I have lightened up on the push ups because of an arm injury.   I also want to add pull ups, but the arm injury is preventing that.  At some point in the future I would like to begin the Couch to 5K Running Plan but I am not committed enough yet.  I will probably start this in the Spring 2010.

The Medicine

I take medicine for several things, all of which I think can be controlled by losing weight and getting fit.  Currently I take Diovan HCT (320/25MG) HCT (25mg) for high blood pressure (update: this is now being cut into fourths), Metroprolol (50 MG) because my heart felt like it was skipping beats.  My doctor did a EKG and said it was no big deal, but prescribed Metroprolol to control it. I also take an aspirin a day (325 MG) because of the studies which say it is good for heart attack prevention, Lipitor (20 MG) Symvastatin (20 MG) for high cholesterol, and I also take Allopurinol (100 MG daily) for gout.  Gout is the only condition I am afraid I will have to continue taking medicine for.  It sure is painful, so I don’t want to play around with it. My doctor recently told me that it was worth testing how I do without the medicine, as my gout could have been entirely a result of being overweight.  As of November 2009 I am also taking 500 MG of Niaspan.  I attribute much of the positive changes in my bloodwork to Niaspan, of course accompanied by healthy eating and exercise.