Health motivators

[Leam]

While the world has not changed greatly, I have had two non M&M days at work, which means four in a row. There's probably a 12 step program for this...

[LCF]

By the way, I don't accept at all that your length or quality of life is set by your genetics. Yes, longevity tends to run in families, and yes, early cardiac risk is higher in certain cohorts . . . but what you do with the body your DNA gives you has a lot to do with the quality and length of your life. And obesity IS bad for you. Metabolic syndrome (hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia) is rampant these days, with its concomitants of increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Joint replacements are commonplace, and a lot of that is wear and tear from carrying too much weight -- and yes, replacing the joint makes things better, but it generally comes after years of pain and stiffness and other treatments.

I know it simply isn't PC in the world today to knock obesity -- and one of the results is the world we live in, where over 30% of Americans are morbidly obese. The hospital I work in had to replace its CT scanner, because its gantry limit was 300 pounds, and we were simply seeing TOO MANY patients over that limit who were having to be sent elsewhere. 300 pounds!

Anyway, rant over -- Leam, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Several M&M-less days is a beginning.

[Leam]

Just an update. I've reduced my M&Ms count to zero, with a few moments of back-sliding. We are moving to a Paleo eating life-style, probably with some more back-sliding here and there. Since my last post I have lost ~14 pounds. Can't tell much as there's still a lot of me left to lose. My goal is 235 by Valentine's Day.

I appreciate the comments, and I *really* appreciate the CDF. Reading some posts when I'm wavering helps firm up my reasons for being in better health.

Leam

[sskasser]

Just an update. I've reduced my M&Ms count to zero, with a few moments of back-sliding. We are moving to a Paleo eating life-style, probably with some more back-sliding here and there. Since my last post I have lost ~14 pounds. Can't tell much as there's still a lot of me left to lose. My goal is 235 by Valentine's Day.

I appreciate the comments, and I *really* appreciate the CDF. Reading some posts when I'm wavering helps firm up my reasons for being in better health.

Leam

Leam,
Good for you and thank you for sharing your mission. You've incited me to take a look at some changes.

Congratulations on your success so far!

Shirley

[FW]

I missed this when it was first posted, because I was out of the country.

Congratulations Leam! Now go caving up there, that will help your "program" more than anything else

[TracyN]

What helps me keep my girlish figure? Exercise, balanced diet, and more exercise which allows me to enjoy sweet chocolately treats such as M&M's more frequently. Also the cake, pie, and other sinful indulgences that keep me sane! I was a little overweight, 130 lbs but I lost 10 lbs with dietary changes alone. Cut out refined sugars and flour and eat foods that are all natural as often as possible.

[WJH]

1/3 of all dive fatalities are related to an acute cardiac event.
Risk is steadily increasing with age.
Divers 50 and older are at 10x the risk than those younger than 50!
Acute MI due to exertion of swimming is most common among dive provoked fatalities
--DAN
Of course, most will be simply reported as "drowning"!
So please, start your fitness (diet & exercise) program today, and consider it a necessary act for survival!

WJH

[Leam]

Agreed! I've been swimming for cardio exercise. Not for speed, but going for longer periods of time to build my ability to sustain a dive with energy. My longest cave dive so far is less than one hour so I'm building up to an hour of continuous swimming. Hopefully as weight goes down that will improve even more. Hoping that cutting out caffeine helps lower my blood pressure as well.

Leam

[speleocrone]

A couple of comments.
1. There have been quite a few well done studies in the last few years that have determined that refined sugars, and fats are actually addictive. Eat more, want more. Vicious cycle. To get the weight off you have to change your diet permanently (not "go on a temporary diet").
2. It is very, very hard to lose weight, and keep it off, without exercising too. As you cut your calories your body goes into "beware starvation" mode and cuts metabolic rate. So you save energy and have increasing trouble losing weight. Exercise keeps the metabolism up.
3. Muscle needs energy to live, so it uses calories. Fat is storage, it doesn't.
4. Motivation? Life is short, what do you want to do with it?

[kensuf]

I am trying to build the case to convince myself that being healthy is more valuable than that bag of peanut M&Ms. As much as I "know" in my head, getting my over-weight body to follow along has been a losing proposition. If you can add to my list of reasons hopefully we can find something that will help me "Just say no".


General Health:

1. Fewer heart issues
2. Fewer stress related issues
3. Smaller dive suits
4. More resistance to weather based illnesses
5. Fewer medications required

Diving Specific:

1. Better gas consumption
2. Decreased risk of DCS
3. Reduced risk of in water cardiac failure
4. Fewer physical "panic stimuli"
5. Better upper body strength to weight ratio for eventual sump diving

Any more ideas? I am currently at 37% BF and targeting 24% as my first big goal.



Thanks!


Leam

This is easy: longer, happier, life.