I want to thank KarlGauss & Exapno Mapcase for the excellent help.
I weighed 239.5 lbs; I am only 5’8" and nearing 40. My diet consisted of a lot of McDonald’s, Wendy’s and other junk and a lot of Ice Cream. Breakfast was typically a cheese Danish or bear claw. My exercise level was very low. Both of my parents have had heart attacks.
The Doctor wanted to put me on Cholesterol reducing drugs; I wanted to see if I could do it by diet and exercise. The Doctor agreed to see what I could do over the next 3 months.
Sorry for the long Pre-amble: My new Diet: I have two packets of instant oatmeal every weekday. I have Caramel Popcorn cakes for desperation snacks, 50 Calories and no fat. I bring carrots, celery or Hot Air popped popcorn with no butter. I add either a few pretzels or Pepperidge Farms Goldfish as a treat. Every lunch is either a Salad without dressing or a Turkey Sandwich. For Dinner, I have been trying to eat low fat foods. I eat a lot more Salads or String Beans. For snacks either Popcorn or three pretzel Rods or large leaf Lettuce and Low Calorie Ice Pops at 15 calories and No Fat.
I play Mini Quoits everyday at lunch and at least three days a week I exercise for at least an hour, Biking with my kids, Heavy Yard work or long walks.
Next Result: I have lost 15 pounds and this is following a weekend with 2 BBQs.
I got my total cholesterol reading from the doctor the other day, and it was 4.9 (under 5 being ok). My LDL was a little high. However, I can’t seem to shake the 10 lbs I want to lose. I’m now doing skim milk instead of 2%. I’ve virtually cut pasta from my diet. Do I really have to eat salads? I really don’t like them much. I’ve started power walking 5-6 days per week (2.5 miles in 30-35 minutes) and I try to do weight training a couple days a week.
Someone explain to me, you have to watch your saturated fat intake most of all, but your diet needs to be one you can live with and at least 30 minutes of exercise of some sort is required every day.
I think Salads are optional but roughage does help. Can you stomach Oatmeals several times a week? It is suppose to be a huge help. Find the low fat foods you can eat as a consistent substitute for foods you enjoyed eating in the past that were fatty. I grill very lean hamburgers with “no fat cheese-like” substance and pickles and lettuce to take care of my beef cravings. A lot of ice pops helps me not eat ice cream. I use 1% milk as I cannot stand Skim. Total is the only breakfast cereal I will eat now. I miss omelets, I will need to look into a good substitute for them.
Good job, Jim. I’ve had trouble keeping fit since getting into IT, myself. I was doing pretty good for a while but I’ve put on about 15 lbs since I quit smoking last year. Stupid cigarettes. I want to specifically tell you great job kicking the McDonald’s habit. That shit is straight from Satan’s kitchen, my man.
I’m not big on oat meal, per se, but I love Cheerios. I’m doing those with skim milk. Is this a mark in the “good” column?
I’ll turn 50 next week. The “age” thing isn’t bothering me. I have the same regrets most people do, and I can live with 'em for the most part. For me, the downhill slide of the physical me is the hardest part. I maintained a teen-ager’s body for 45 years and now the years are catching up to me at break-neck speed. It really blows. If I could just ditch these 10 lbs I’d feel so much better.
I rather like salads but dressing is a must for me. I can’t just eat a whole salad without. I can eat raw veggies, but I really prefer them with some sort of flavouring.
Fortunately I found an awesome fat-free, oilless, absurdly low-cal dressing (4-6C per 15ml) with sufficient variety of flavours that has made salads a very welcome part of my current diet. I can’t recall the brand at the moment, but I’ll post it when I pick up another bottle tomorrow. It’s definitely made the diet thing a bit easier.
Thank you; IT is what really put the pounds on. When I was an HVAC mechanic I maintained a weight around 165 lbs. A little overweight but not too bad. Of course, I was also only 25. I admire your ability to quit smoking, a lot tougher than McD’s. By Brother still cannot quit and now he has put on a lot of weight.
I do not know about Cheerios, for me it is all about finding foods without saturated fats and gee it is a wonderful bonus that they all end up being diet food.
I really find the incentive of not having a heart attack in my 50’s to be the motivation I seemed to need. I have wanted to get rid of the weight for years but could not translate that into any discipline.
A fat free, low cal and low oil salad dressing? That would be amazing. I will appreciate it when you can post the brand.
Try some of the flavored vinegars (I like rice vinegar). Some rice vinegar, with a dash of Seseme oil (or Almond Oil) and a bit of soy sauce will perk up any salad.
I just recalled the brand: Chelten House. It’s surprisingly good, though it’s a little on the thin side (water-based, not oil-based) but tangy and flavourful enough that what does stick to the ingredients still gives you a good smack in the chops. I have thus far tried the Italian, Tomato Italian, and Balsamic Vinaigrette, and all have been quite tasty indeed. And the fact that they have no oil, no fat, and almost float on 4-6 Calories per 15ml serving is practically a dieting miracle. Note however that Chelten House do make dressings that use oil and/or contain fat, but their fat-free offerings are boldly labeled as such, and so far as I have seen all of their fat-free dressings are water-based and thus maintain that low-cal standing.
I admire your ability to quit smoking, a lot tougher than McD’s. By Brother still cannot quit and now he has put on a lot of weight.