Healthy Living 101

[James OLC]

During One Lap you inspired me to try although I didn't "get around to it" until mid summer (when a family loss punctuated the need to be doing something). Started in early July with "just" diet and exercise. Initially I tried radically cutting out everything that I perceived to be unhealthy (real or interpreted) - coffee, booze, anything snack-food-ish - but was provided with some very sage advice: if you plan on dropping weight and keeping it off don't do anything that you can't commit to for the rest of your life. There is a balance that you have to find or you'll end up on a roller coaster.

[Denvervet]

I have followed this thread somewhat and thus not sure what's all been discussed but will contribute that I've learned professionally as well as through a fair amount of reading/personal research.
Omega FA supplementation is legit toward helping with lots of medial issues i.e. cardivascular disease, weight reduction, inflammatory disorders,etc

Eat equal amounts of protein to carbs at every meal or snack.
The protein helps downregulate ( reduce) insulin response to ingested carbs.

Fats don't make one fat....carbs do. Insulin response to carbs is what stores fat....not ingesting fat. In fact fact ingestion in fact slows down stomach emptying and thus carb digestion/absorption. Therefore, understand that eating fat free carbs like potatoe chips is more fattening than regular ones..I'm just saying.. Fiber is another way to accomplish this which is why green veggies are helpful.

A glycemic index of foods was determined for diabetic patients to help with their blood glucose control and they found out it had added benefits like reduced body fat & reduced blood pressure. There are plenty of sources of this by googling it. For instance one will find that carrots really aren't that good of an alternative to some other carb sources. It just gives an educated way of determing which foods are best to choose when we do eat carbs. You'll be suprised to find out that whole wheat bread is worse than chocolate...love it

I drink whey protein drinks in the morning because I don't want to eat cottage cheese or meats so much then. And if they taste much better than the ones back in the day...I always make extra in the blender and keep in the fridge so I don't have to make every day. Blender is the key to get them to not be clumpy.
I do eat quite a bit of cottage cheese with lunch to give me added protein as well as it is a great type of protein..easily digested, reduced ammonia by- product of digestion, etc. Is great for people and pets with kidney disorders.

As am sure has been already discussed ..its about balance and being informed.

One good book on the subject is a little old now but does explain the basics "The Zone Diet"

Still got to excercise...as a minimun be physically active.