Our drawback is simplicity. With a 6 and 3 year old at home and us both working full time jobs it's difficult to set aside an hour to cook. Then we end up slacking and eating something "simple" yet "not as healthy". Kids wont touch anything green, so we either have to hide it in there, or work around it.. :rolleyes:

Simple recipe's with simple ingredients would be nice. We aren't chefs, and still learning. Anyone have a recommendations for cookbook or place online (preferably)? Something like Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals, but on the healthy side. lol.


Tonight we are going to attempt to make Tilapia and sauteed squash and zucchini, just not sure exactly how yet (ie. what recipes, ingredients, etc to use).

Albert, I grill 90% of our fish. I simply put the fish on two layers of aluminum foil with a dam around the perimiter. I lubricate the foil with EXTRA Virgin oilive oil. Then Kelli whips up a small bowl of extra virgin olive oil with seasoning of your choice. Baste it on the fish before you put it on the grill and that's it. I usually cook it 15 minutes plus or minus a hair around 400 degrees. It almost always turns out juicy and very tasty. It's really easy clean up as well.

Guys, how are you doing? Let's keep eachother accountable here.

Are you taking things to fast? Work outs you can't do the REST of your life? Remember, a 10 minute stroll around the block is better than nothing.

Have you made the concious decision to educate yourself on nutrition and eat better? That starts with cleaning out your cupboards of the JUNK and buying good food at the store.

Most importantly, you have to be consistent and give it time for results. There is no magic pill or get rich quick scheme.

I hit 185.2 lbs this morning. My body is looking way more defined. I was between 195-200 earlier this year. My goal a month ago was 182.5 or under. That is going to be a cake walk. :D

Good call on the fish... i may just try that!! i know my dad does something similar with Salmon. I've never really cooked fish before, so we'll see how it goes. First time trying squash/Zucchini as well.


And to answer how things are going... pretty good here! I'm signed up on MyFitnessPal and logging everything on my iPhone. my GF just signed up today too. I gave up soda/caffeine a couple years ago, but still drank one here and there. Now I'm more committed and have less than 1 a week (generally just a few sips during lunch if we eat out). Drinking lots of water too. And keeping track of my food intake with the App has been eye opening and helpful. Like i've mentioned to other people about money, you wonder why you have no money then you need to sit down and write down EVERYTHING you buy, and start logging it. then you'll easily see where your money got wasted. Same thing with food. Log it. Eye opening. Easier to "see" the bad stuff.

If anyone wants to "friend" me on myfitnesspal, so we can see each others progress/help motivate, feel free. My screenname is the same as on here.

Also been getting up before work to do 10-12 minutes on the Elliptical each morning. And generally a short walk/bike ride in the evening.

I like the accountability Part.

I was always told to tell people what you are doing, and then you are held to doing it.

The wife and I are walking again today..

Again, I have to watch my salt intake...It seems so much has sodium in it, and i just need to keep an eye on it...

Slowly feeling stronger, but like Todd says, go easy or you will quit..

So, I will keep you posted.:lateral:

yeah.. sodium is in everything.. cheese (bad), bread, all of it.

I started learning to watch sodium from my dad. I dont watch it much for my own intake, but whenever i cook for him i keep it in close mind. he has congestive heart failure so he is limited to a very low amount of salt a day. like 1/5 of a normal person.

Just got back from a killer bike ride. We will be seeing triple digit heat up here today so I needed to get out early. Felt awesome!! Started out morning with stretching then had breakfast.........a toasted wheat bread scrambled egg sandwich with waters.
I've had three Copenhagen dips in two days. So far seems kicking the nicotine habit isn't as tough as I thought it would be but we'll see. Seems I can get away with two dips a day without making me too crazy. Hopefully I'll be down to one a day and then none.
BTW, thanks for the fish tip, wifes away for the week and I'm on my own for dinner.

i logged my food & drink intake for yesterday and was at 2002 calories and i didnt feel starved at all.
i figured thats pretty good considering eating a burger and fries from my kitchen is like 1500:_paranoid

That's one of the amazing things about eating right, you can be full/satisfied and still meet your calorie intake goals and lose weight. Adjust the calorie intake by the scale and mirror.

You can and will quit tobacco. If I can quit what I was doing years ago, you can quit tobacco..

Once you get to just a little bit each day, you will realize how much that you really don't like it anymore, and it was just a habit..

Keep at it...Quitting is HUGE.:thumbsup:

I am amazed...My nutri grain bars are 5% sodium...Doesn't seem like much, but add a few bars and all the other bread, ect...and BOOM, 100% plus...

My wife (Laura) and I are doing something every night, either short ride with my boys (8 & 6), or a long ride ourselves.

I am trying to cut back on my Diet Cokes, and drink more water, watch my portions. We are also eating better dinners, then I am taking the leftovers for lunch, again watching the portions.

I did not weigh myself in the beginning, but will soon, so I can track progress.

A habit indeed. I am hyperactive and puting a dip in my mouth is something else to do(believe it or not). I feel major effects to the brain without it so cold turkey will definitely not work.
I find myself wanting to eat more now that I am not chewing as much.......I'll attribute that to Newtons law. Life is a never ending battle but I've always been a fighter. Best for me to kick this habit while I still have the fight in me :thumbsup:
Thanks for the support :cheers:

Snack on something healthy like carrots, raw nuts, low fat cottage cheese, etc.

Try out the KIND (brand) "bars" -- nuts and cherries and honey etc... they look small but are filling and tasty!

Sounds good....took your advise and went to the store last night for dessert. Sliced up some kiwi fruit and bananas in a bowl. I'll hit the store again today to see what low calorie healthy snacks I can pick up. Going to see what sea food to go with for dinner tonight also.

As a two pack a day smoker -- I quit "cold turkey" one day when I discovered I had opened a pack of smokes on the way into the bar - and needed to open another one about 4 hours later. As I was opening it - I'm hacking and coughing up nasty azz "stuff".... I looked at the pack and said -- AM I NUTS OR WHAT? I never had another cigarette.

The key -- it's WAR -- And I'm not letting some stupid little thing kick my ass - no sir - ain't happening'. I'm winning and that's that. :cheers:

A great baste for any kind of fish, especially salmon, is equal parts lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I add a little Lawrys and garlic salt to it because I don't really pay attention to salt like I should. It's great with just the baste though, try it.

So who's going to be the first one to change their avatar to a pic of their abs? :rofl:

nutrigrain is the devils work, with most of Kellogs products the box it came in is a better bet than the contents.

Remember he intorduced cornflakes as a way of reducing unnatural urges in young men...I like my urges where they are. Eggs are the breakfast of superheros

great advice, if it has a list of ingredients with more than one ingredient, don't eat it

every day you can build health or disease...

Boy are you right..You would not think so, until you start reading the contents....

I mean they are healthy ? Nope they aren't....Boy was I sucked into theri marketing...

Not any more.

I couldn't wait till dinner for my first attempt at grilling salmon. I picked up a 6 oz Atlantic Salmon. I double layered and walled the foil, lubed the foil up with some extra virgin olive oil, took a teaspoon of Old Bay lemon and herb seasoning and mixed it with a tablespoon of olive oil and then basted the salmon. I couldn't get the grill below 450 and grilled it for 15 minutes on the top rack. Side dish is cut up mango. man was it delicious!!

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ndinner003.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...ndinner001.jpg

The word "Decision", is to decide...It is cutting off all other options..

You just decide you are going to stop and you are going to win...

I have been through smoking, drinking, and drugs...It has been 30 years since cigarettes, and 10 years for drugs. Yes, I was a DAMN FOOL.

You just decide that you have had enough.. I finally had enough...I was a fool, but never again..

At 30 I was at the peak of health...After a bitter divorce , I turned to bad things that I won't mention.

Now, I am very clean and sober..I just need more exercise, and to get my diet in order. I am on this thread to be accountable for my actions.

I changed my life and anyone can...We just have to decide and cut off all other options...

Your an animal Greg. Cold turkey isn't going to happen here but I currently feel I have a hold of the situation.

Thanks for the support :cheers:

I like the way you think. :thumbsup:

That looks GOOOOOD.:D Just make sure you aren't buying the farm stuff even if it says Atlantic. WILD and we have determined from Alaska is the best source.

One of the topics in the Compound Effect book is the process of ridding yourself of your bad habits. Some of us are wired to stop things cold turkey, while others need a gradual slide. It can depend on the habit as well.

For instance, I've tried to quit drinking cold turkey. Didn't work at that time. Now I drink only on Friday/Saturday nights in moderation.(A few) I think I could quit cold turkey now.

When I quit chewing, I quit cold turkey. I had a hot sugar momma that motivated me.

Which leads me down my next road. You need a reason WHY to quit a bad habit or obtain a goal. My motivation to go down this thread road had multiple why's. I wanted more energy, a physique from my past, a more successful business, and better relationships. That's all....:lol:

I can't believe what I'm reading, you guys are all crazy. In a good way of course. I joined this forum thinking it was cars this & cars that, never would I have thought I'd be able to watch my health and get investment tips to better my life. I've been on plenty of forums and eventually just either lost interest or got burnt out on the content and some of the dummies behind the content. I check this place religiously, first for the investment thread, now the health thread & if theres still some time left I will check out the automotive side of things.

When I come here, I feel as if I'm hanging out with my brothers, or I'm visiting family when I read some of your posts. I have never met a lot of you but I have been in the presence of quite a few of you at various events. I'm really shy and quiet which would explain why I have yet to walk up and introduce myself. I just want to thank you all for starting threads like this and for making Lat-g such an outstanding forum to be on.

Three years ago I quit drinking cold turkey, just decided I had enough. Now I'm at the point where I am focusing on my weight and health. Turning 35 at the end of this month has made me realize how fast time flies and I don't want to end up with crippling health issues as I get older. I've had my fair share of hospital visits whether I wanted to go or not. So any advice/tips I can pick up from some of you to aid in my quest for better health I look forward to reading about here.

Hats off to you sir!! As I stated, I quit drugs cold turkey many years ago and never looked back. As far as cigarettes, I am up to a pack and a half - 2 packs a day right now. I have tried quiting many times over the years but it just draws me back

Man I wish you well..That is just too many cigarettes.

You sound like a great guy, and we do not want to lose you..

You quit drugs, you can do this..

I quit meth 10 years ago, cold turkey...Never to look back...

How can we help you quit smoking ? Any Ideas guys ???

Can you try to put each cigarette off for a while so you get down to 20 a day. Then 15 a day.. Then 10 a day.

That is how I quit smoking, and by the time i got down to less than 5 a day, I started hating the taste and the smell. I had to go slow stopping smoking, but meth was one day, cold turkey..

Nicotine is a mean drug..

My sister-in-law is a Professor at the University of Southern California. She has her PhD in something I can’t pronounce, but her specialty is designing the drugs and delivery systems for the control of diabetes. She's a happy bubbly gal, and you would not know how hilariously smart she is until one starts to notice the technical books she reads. I can't pronounce them either. Todd mentions surrounding yourself with good people.......

We got on the subject of weight loss and sugars at a family gathering last year. In her educated opinion, as well as every Doctor out there, being overweight, having a poor diet, and not exercising is the onset to other severe health problems (like diabetes). Duh.

Sugar substitutes were another topic. I've never been wild about them, but in the quest to keep calories/sugars down during the diet war, I asked her opinion. Sugar substitutes are out for kids, but some are better than others for adults. Unlike others, according to her Splenda is the best one out there since it is not absorbed by the body. I have a sweet tooth, so it was nice to hear that there was something to help fill that void. It's not the same as the real deal, but I'm now used to it and only need it in the occasional coffee. Even grapefruit is sans sweetener now.

Off topic. The delivery systems conversation was great. The most effective way for an oral drug to work is to be able to deliver it to the organ in question in the form as it was made in the factory. That does not happen in the body since it's a chemical soup and hence changes the drug chemically before it reaches the target. Imagine wrapping the drug in a closely woven spherical net containing the drug, but does not allow bodily fluids to pass through. The net maintains shape until it reaches the intended organ. That organ emits a unique chemical that makes the net expand, making the spacing between the net lacings larger, hence allowing the virgin drug to be delivered. Wow. How cool is that?

Very true. Abt 10 mos ago I realized, upon thinking about how old I will be when my kids (now 2.5 and 6) are in their most "challenging" years, and decided that I had better change my ways (diet and exercise), pronto, if I am going to be around for them AND be able to keep up with them. And now that I am seeing results it is even more motivation to keep at it.

As Greg said of smoking, it's WAR.

I'll give that a try and thanks for the kind words

Force of habit, just like chewing. Smoking for you is probably like chewing for me....something to do. You can cut down.

Sadly --- I quit smoking at 21 and took up drinking.... Quit that at 31....

Now I'm perfect in every way.

Here's what kills guys like me and Todd.... We are control freaks. Once you understand that about yourself...it's okay. It's just what it is. BUT.... that's where I use that "control" to turn things around for myself.

My big battle with cigs was --- "are you really going to let them control your life"? Like when you're down to just a few --- you'll go out of your way - do anything - modify your whole day - just to make sure you get some more cigs... That is when THEY are in control.... and that's just not the way we work.

Just like drinking - or any other addiction.... when that is in control is when we have a problem regardless of what "it" is. Gambling - cheating - smoking - drugs - cars - whatever... Gotta ask yourself -- who is in control here? Me or "it". I choose ME. :woot:

My ex crew chief pointed out that I used to smoke way more when I was at the race track racing, then when I was at home. Now I smoke way more at home. Hmmm? I think you have a point there G

Except with a Gopro camera :unibrow:




That makes total sense and 100% correct. I have gone to the store at 3am because I've woken up and realized i was out of smokes, I didn't even need one rt then just had to know it was there on the table.. Thing is I am not in anyway a control freak though

Just be ready to start having the urge to eat more when you cut down. I've been to Safeway 3 times today. :rolleyes: Even though the extra foods I'm eating are healthy I'm definitely going to have to step up my work out program to lose the extra calorie intake.

I'm with Greg, I don't like anything having a neuce around my neck in life. Smoking is really a life or death decision. I really think you need to figure out WHY you want to quit. If it's not for you, what about family? Do you still have goals you want to accomplish? Once you figure that out, then you need to find a suitable new habit to start weaning yourself off. A mint, gum, toothpick, sunflower seeds, etc...

You need the mental strength to quit as well. Excercise and eating right will move you up a couple rungs upstairs. You have to want it and believe in it.

Weird but I heard sunflower seeds help with quiting smoking. Keeps your hands and mouth busy and the oil in the seeds could take place of the nicotine craving (I would imagine only slightly as from what I understand quitting smoking is harder than quitting herion).

If seeds work, i would go low sodium ones ...

One creedo I try to live by is if you can unwrapp it, it has too many preservatives...

I'm thinking about ordering this cook book. How long have you been using it and what recipes are you using?

how bout for every cig you smoke you eat one too.:lol: that will work quick.

right at 1500 today. fish,turkey,fruit,vegi,and yorgurt