Alternative methods to change a lifestyle.

[ROBNY]

I have the book and I have read it twice. I have the eating for life book too. Well I thought talking to my wife and making a plan to eat along with the plan would be a start but just turned into another obstacle. Having the support at home would have just helped me instead of against what I wanted to achieve.

I have been to the doctors and IMO they ALL suck (at least the ones I have dealt with). They collect their check and send you on your way. The blood tests show the high cholesterol and triglycerides - the solution they gave me was medicine that creates MORE problems. Tiredness - I have sleep apnea - yes I have the therapy for it but it is what it is. - There is NO cure for that and I do have to learn to say the heck with it and move on. My blood pressure was good 120/80, sugar 90 so no diabetes yet (Matter of time since my parents, grandparents, uncles have it bad). So it is very well possible there are underlying problems but they have not found them and frankly I am sick of the tests. Possibly loosing weight would help. Since I injured my elbow that has been bad pain for over 1.5 years - been through the cortisone shots, physical therapy with only temporary slight relief that comes right back over and over again keeping me awake at night 1/2 the week. When I lifted the weights the pain was strong but I pushed through it to have it ache more. Surgery is an option but do I really want my arm cut open. That would just be another excuse for me not to work out. I ran around the backyard with my daughter yesterday and thought that was it. I could barely breathe from being so out of shape. But at least I tried to run with her and I enjoyed it until I had to stop.

OK I am venting really bad now. Sorry for my rant I am sick of being like this. I know it is ultimately up to ME and only ME. I have to get away from everyone around me for a while until I change. Being around my environment is only keeping me from changing and falling back into the trap. I really want my family to come along with me but that is not happening.

I can look into the journal or making a journal. Or possibly a blog that I can share and get ideas what to change when I am not doing things right. I have to go shop for myself and get foods I need for me. I am thinking of doing this tomorrow since it is suppsed to rain bad all day. Should I set this as goal 1?

My list would be:
chicken breasts
brocolli
carrots
brussel sprouts
whole wheat bread
tomato
egg beaters
salmon
brown rice
cantelope
potatos
ground turkey meat
beans (chilli type)
tuna fish in can/bag

Does this sound good? My problem is this only lists food for about 3 days. Then what do I need? I will need more a variety then grilled dried out chicken breasts (only way I know how to cook them).

[Chris]

I'm curious if this is a list of stuff you will eat, and enjoy eating?

Don't put it on the list if you think it's going to suck. You've got to get excited about what you are going to be eating. I would instead recommend picking out about 6 to 10 recipes in the eating for life book, and then buying the ingredients to make them. Make extra and freeze the leftovers. This will hold you for several days. Then do it again.

But I like your goal number 1. This is a positive step and a good idea in general.

Think about your addiction to your old lifestyle (is it safe to call it this?) like an iceberg. Changing your diet and starting to exercise is only the portion above water. There is waaaaay more to this thing under the water than what you can see. Moving away from the iceberg doesn't make it go away though... it will still be there, blocking you. If you truly want this obstacle out of your way, you must keep chipping at it. I promise it will start to shrink.

[ROBNY]

Those are foods that I would eat. And I am not to fond of grilled chicken more than once in a while.

I do not like earthy/overspiced foods or basic foods with "rubs" on them since in the end it is still dried out grilled chicken. I really dont know what I would be into that is BFL safe.

And I am trying to make this as simple as possible. When I get home at 7-8 at night I dont want to be baking for an hour.

[browneyes]

Way to go on the good blood pressure, and no diabetes, those are two more things that you have going for your body!

Here's an idea, maybe if you post a list of what you do eat or like to eat then we could help you modify those dishes in ways that would contain the BFL approved foods? You may be surprised what some of these creative cooks may come up with! I would love to see the results as well.

[bluexj]

Hey Rob, why dry out your chicken when grilling it. Get a meat thermometer and grill them to 165 degrees and you have much juicier chicken. I cook all my meat with a meat thermometer to avoid over cooking and dryness and to ensure I cook them enough too.

[Rhone]

Here is my approach to the meals, which helps keep me on target without overwhelming me with time in the kitchen:

Meal #1: Protein powder in milk, and a 4oz yogurt -- quick and easy, gulped down right after my workout and before I run off to work/school.

Meal #6: Protein powder in milk with 3 tbsp of ground flaxseed (this meal is lower carb than the others, but makes up for it with a good dose of omega 3 fat from the flax and comes out to my usual calorie target of 300/meal). It's a nice right-before-bed meal and, like meal #1, is quick and effortless. You mentioned you have cholesterol issues, so the ground flaxseed would be especially good for you.

Of the four meals in between--the ones where I might not be home for--usually two are Myoplex shakes and two are whole-food meals that I cooked ahead of time Sunday afternoon. (If I have more time at home and am not going to be out all day, then instead of using all cooked-ahead meals I might make some things on the spot that are generally quick to make, like turkey burgers or turkey bacon with whole wheat english muffins.) For the meals to cook in advance, flip through the Eating for Life book and find something that looks good to you.

Get a bunch of single-serving plastic containers, cook your meals on Sunday, split them up into the containers, and freeze the ones that you aren't using until later in the week (making sure to move them from freezer to fridge the day befre they'll be used so they can defrost a bit). I'm assuming you have access to a microwave at work; if not then you'll have to stick with stuff that can be eaten cold, but also I still think a turkey or chicken sandwich on wheat bread that you can order from a deli would be acceptable.

This way, the meals that you are preparing on the spot are quick and easy, and Sunday is the only day where you have to do any really time-consuming cooking.

If any of that is unclear or you want more detail, let me know. I'm not claiming that is the perfect meal plan (ideally more whole foods and less liquids would be better--but the convenience of my strategy has been crucial for helping me stick with it).

[ROBNY]

Sundays are for football my friend. (OK - I can cook there)

Foods I like to eat
pasta
hamburgers
pasta
chilli
pasta
fish - basically ALL fish and shell fish (I know they are no good for cholesterol)
steak (once a month)
turkey bugers
turkey meatloaf
potatos, brocolli, cauliflower, brussles sprouts, carrots, corn, esparagus, lettuce hot peppers,
pork chops
roast beef
turkey
ham
chicken parmagianna
did I mention pasta and sauce or and italian type food

Everytime I cook a chicken cutlet is it like cardboard. I was told to cook it until the middle was no longer pink. And when grilled by itself it tastes bland.

Most all of the meats there I prefer some sauce to flavor them up. except for fish where I dont need anything

[KingV]

Originally Posted by ROBNY

Sundays are for football my friend. (OK - I can cook there)

Foods I like to eat
pasta
hamburgers
pasta
chilli
pasta
fish - basically ALL fish and shell fish (I know they are no good for cholesterol)
steak (once a month)
turkey bugers
turkey meatloaf
potatos, brocolli, cauliflower, brussles sprouts, carrots, corn, esparagus, lettuce hot peppers,
pork chops
roast beef
turkey
ham
chicken parmagianna
did I mention pasta and sauce or and italian type food

Everytime I cook a chicken cutlet is it like cardboard. I was told to cook it until the middle was no longer pink. And when grilled by itself it tastes bland.

Most all of the meats there I prefer some sauce to flavor them up. except for fish where I dont need anything

Good news, almost all of those foods are approved on body for life!

Some meals that I eat that include those foods.
Bison Meat Sauce on Whole Wheat Pasta. I just use normal store bought pasta sauce (look for one without much sugar, fat, and low calorie), 1 lb Ground Bison (or leanest ground beef available, or leanest ground turkey available) and whole wheat pasta. Saute the ground meat, add to sauce on the stove, cook some pasta. The Trick is portion control. I like this meal though, because it takes all of 15 minutes and feeds me dinner for 3 or 4 days in a row.

Fish is great on BFL. I often will grill/broil a tuna or swordfish steak, cook a baked potato or some corn and make a salad. That's a meal.

Steak is fine too, but you want to limit portion size and eat leaner cuts (I like top round, which is very lean, and also cheap as hell... some people don't like lean red meat though).

Pork Chops are approved.

White Turkey Breast is approved (I often roast a turkey breast every few weeks and cut a few slices with a tablespoon of cranberry sauce and a piece of fruit to pack for lunch.)

There's a recipe for BFL freindly chicken parm in Eating for life, as well as a recipe for turkey meatloaf. I suspect that if you exercise regularly and are following BFL diet, your cholesterol will drop even if you are eating seafood every meal.

The trick is portion control, moderation, and keeping up with your eating times. I also recommend getting used to the idea of eating cottage cheese and yogurt mixed together. It's healthy, quick, good once you get used to the texture of cottage cheese, and very very cheap. BFL is probably the cheapest I have eaten in a number of years, though it does take time to prepare everything and do the shopping. However, after two weeks or so of it, you'll get a pretty good idea of what you eat and how quickly, making grocery store trips quicker and more automatic.

I highly recommend cutting drinking down to 1 night a week too, I struggle with the after work beers myself and trust me, I know how difficult it is when you've made that part of your routine. But that alone will cut a significant amount of calories out of your diet and you'll feel better all day long, as well.

[ROBNY]

Thanks All. I figured out what the problem is. It is called depression. I was OK today and just got let down again on a trip I was supposed to take and I feel the same way as usual. Until I get that under control nothing is going to change. It is what it is.

[browneyes]

I’m very sorry that you are depressed but am glad that you think you have figured out the problem. I believe that a condition like depression is just as "real" as something like cancer and that its nothing to be ashamed of. I think you should talk to your doctor. A lot of things can alter the chemicals in your brain and because you said you are on several medications its possible that depression is a side effect of one of them. I wish you all the best and hope that you get it under control so that you can make the things that you want to happen in your life a reality.

[yakubu]

Originally Posted by ROBNY

Thanks All. I figured out what the problem is. It is called depression. I was OK today and just got let down again on a trip I was supposed to take and I feel the same way as usual. Until I get that under control nothing is going to change. It is what it is.

thinkrightnow have a depression cd, u'll feel better in just days after listening to it

[Chris]

my mother struggles with depression. I completely understand your frustration. Talking to a doctor may really help. Most of the time depression meds are only needed for a short time. Often, they get you over the hump, and then you can do the rest on your own. It's worth a shot.

[yakubu]

stear clear of meds:

1) they are not the solution and never will be. they cannot cure depression
2)potentially they can f@ck u up

[ROBNY]

yakubu Thanks for the recommendations. I am not sure I want to try those tapes at this point. I read the site and it all sounds good - but if it sounds to good to be true it might be.

I guess a good point is the doctors again but I think this is something that will either haunt me to the end or I need to fight it. Hopefully fighting it will win but after allot of attempts to change have failed there are no guarantees.

[GregCP]

With depression, you cannot count on making it on your own...there is no tape, no self help books, meds....to get you through this. You need the people around you- your wife, your kids, friends, and a professional. Reach out to them, so that you can help them help you. Most importantly, you have to be honest with yourself and with others if you really want to change. Let go of your fears, your insecurities, and lay everything out on the table...and I mean EVERYTHING. You want to get through this, you want a better life....and so do the people around you..you not only owe it to yourself...but you owe it to your wife and kids to have a husband and father that is strong willed, honest, happy, and confident. Let your family and professionals know that you are struggling...and that you dont want to steer off track this time....this time, you want to change for the better....and never go back to that dark hole again.

Once you get through this, everything else will fall into place....you will see the light and excell in everything you do...your job, family, and health. I promise you that.

[sshultz]

Just a small contribution... try marinating your meats (chicken, steak, whatever) in something like light italian dressing or dill pickle brine. It helps keep the meat moist and adds a lot of flavor.

Funny thing I didn't even notice until someone pointed it out. I have become more confident and outgoing since losing some of my weight. And I'm not done yet, I still have a way to go. I just feel better about myself already.

[ROBNY]

I tired reaching out to my wife with no luck. I gave up on the doctors as well. I must find a way to beat this myself or let it destroy whatever is left of me. I am not that close to my friends and don't expect them to be around when I need them anyways. Other times when I needed them no one showed. Things are very "foggy" about what to do and nothing may ever change. I will keep attempting to change though and hopefully something will stick. I thought about starting the exercise program again but can not seem to get myself to do it. At least not yet. I do want to feel happiness like when my kids were born or when good events happen but they are far and few. I will keep trying.

All of this and I got a call that my uncle (low 50's) may be passing on soon. He has BAD diabetes (sugar over 500) and high blood pressure. He is in the hospital with kidney failure and is now getting dialysis to see if that will save him. This same thing happened to my Grandmother 5 years ago. This in itself should be enough to get me off of my ass to do something but I just won't do it.

I can vision myself going home and getting on the bench lifting the weights, feeling nausceous and passing out but when I get home I know I will not touch the weights at all. Last night I wanted to go for a walk around the neighborhood with my daughter in her wagon but again when I got home I did nothing. Was going to go shopping for clean food last weekend and guess what - I did not because I said to myself - What's the point I am not going to change.

My recommendations to you all is: Don't let your mind get in your way of life or let it control yours like I have.

When I go back and read these posts I sound like a miserable human being.