As I am sitting here working on post processing some GPS data, I thought I would post a couple of health related items. Having read the posts of others for many years, I know that there are others who may be able to use the information.
First off is weight. Over the years, I have slowly gained a little more weight each year. It is amazing how much weight I put on considering my job involves a good deal of walking. Late last year, I actually hit 255 pounds for the first time - I am only 5'11" tall. The medically accepted maximum weight I should be is around 180.
So I resolved to get down to a more reasonable weight. I have been doing so slowly, by losing one pound per week, and am down to 226. I started out by visiting a site called My Fitness Pal. Keeping up with caloric intake really showed how much I was overeating. After a month of logging calories on the website, I just continued with a running total in my head for each day. I would suggest the website as a beginning point as it may be a shocker to some as to exactly how many calories they consume in a day. With the loss so far, my knees thank me.
Second off is blood pressure. Even when I was much lighter (195 pounds), I was always right on the border line of high blood pressure. So I can not attribute the following changes to weight loss alone. I have taken my blood pressure from border line high to squarely in numbers that are fine. I had read an article about hibiscus tea tests showing a possible lowering of blood pressure. Turns out it doesn't taste bad and drinking a couple of cups a day may have been a factor in lower my blood pressure numbers. It is actually quite good steeped with a cinnamon stick and mixed with lemon, lime, or orange. DO NOT DRINK IT IF YOU ARE ON BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION!!!
I wish you the best, I know my weight loss was educational. I would however highly recommend reading a book from Dr. Eades and another from Gary Taubes, as well as watching Fat Head. They all go into what your body is doing with the various foods, and which cause damage and such. Also, lift weights. And squat. Heavy.
Jon, best of luck to ya. I'm in a similar situation, as I think many of us approaching geezerdome are, in that we carry that extra percentage of body mass we don't neccesarily need. Me, I'm 57, 6'2" and finally cracked the 240 lb mark. I even had to buy 40" pants to wear to my daughters college graduation.... very humbling
But going to the doctor is like driving a car and taking it to the shop. They will always find something wrong and will always remedy a repair that needs tending too. Kind of like when your gas guage says empty, you better fill up & drive slower. When you get fat, you better not fill up & then go faster.
My goal is to get back to the 200 range I like, and I now take their stupid blood pressure meds they just put me on. But I still walk my 20-40 miles per week, and keep as active as I can. Plus, he said I consume too much beer so I gotta work on that. (blame that on the Red Wings losing....lol)
I think next time I'm going to the doctor with my mechanic. Kind of a 2 for 1 deal, just get it over with and move on....;-)
About a month and a half ago my wife (again) started one of those "detox" diets, where you can eat all of this "special" soup you want but every day is some oddball combination of foods you are allowed to eat. A little research showed it to be pretty much bunk. Around the same time I heard someone on a podcast mention the iPhone app Loose It! and we started using it immediately. Basically, you give it your stats; height, weight, & desired amount of weight to loose, and it will calculate a calorie budget for the week. You then simply log what you eat and what exercise you get. It has a long list of foods in the database and you can add custom meals and recipes. It will also keep track of nutritional information.
Between watching the calories and walking 5K nearly every night, I have lost about six pounds and she has lost quite a bit more than I. The best thing about this process has been realizing how much junk we had been eating and how well we can eat and still eat healthily.
