My Lifestyle Change

I always considered myself a rather healthy individual. I exercised, walked for miles, ate good most of the time, and thought that for the most part I was doing everything right. How wrong I was!

I was actually overweight, with a belly just over 40 inches. My maximum weight was 280 lbs., my least at the time 235 lbs. My height is 5 feet 11 inches. These numbers aren't really ideal for a healthy individual. I was going to see my doctor about a variety of ailments many times a year.

I've seen many of my co-workers die of various cancers, strokes and heart attacks. I did not want to become a statistic. Since I did exercise at the gym and my job requires walking and at times lifting, it had to be my diet. I began changing what I ate, when I ate, and how to prepare for any downfall.

Changing What I Ate

I started changing by eliminating the enriched flour products, and replacing them with whole wheat products. I quickly found whole wheat pasta and bread. I even found an Italian bread whole wheat version of the enriched flour variety. Enriched rice was also substituted for the whole grain version.

I began drinking club soda and seltzer to replace the real killer-soda. My last sugar drink was my coffee. I would add 3-5 teaspoons of sugar in each cup of coffee. Now I drink it black or half a teaspoon.

I eliminated processed lunch and deli meats. I try to avoid pork products as much as possible.

Meantime, I increased the good foods as much as possible. It's not a diet, nor do you eat everything everyday. It's a lifestyle change.

I eat more vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, fish, chicken, bison, etc., and some may surprise you.

When I Eat

I try to eat every two hours. A couple of large portions and the rest smaller portions. I'll start with yogurt, first thing. Then I'll either have shredded wheat or oatmeal with blueberries, or a couple of eggs. Next comes my daily fruits-apple, banana and orange. Whole wheat pasta with a vegetable salad and oil and vinegar dressing. Piece of dark chocolate that contains at least 60% cacao. Walnuts, pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. Salmon cooked.

You get the picture, and in the future I will talk about other foods.

When I Fall

There will be times when I fall. Either overeat or eat junk. If you go back to the healthy lifestyle, the body will heal itself immediately. I've experienced this a few times and as long as I continue to eat the right foods, I can lose what I gain.

Today I weigh 195 lbs. and my belly is almost 36 inches. That's pretty good and I look and feel like a new person. And except for my yearly physical, my doctor's office visits are non-existent.

This is the health side to this blog, and in the future I will give advice on living a healthy lifestyle.