Healthy Living 101

[SSLance]

I figure an update is due on this...

It has now been a bit over 4 months on this journey and we've learned SO MUCH about food and how our bodies actually work. The wife is also going through some health issues and has been seeing a Holistic Doc trying to get her tuned up. She basically was in Adrenal Fatigue, most of her digestive system wasn't working properly and almost all of the nutrients she was trying to healthily eat were just passing right through without her body absorbing much. Through many rounds of detoxing, chelation, intensive food sensitivity tests and just plain old life style changes, we now have her pointed in the right direction as well.

About 90% of what she was ingesting, her body was rejecting...it's REALLY cramped her style but what we are hoping is once she finishes the chelation treatments she can slowly start adding things back into her diet to get good nutrients back into her system and restoring her strength. She's down to about 95#s from around 110# or so but her color is MUCH better and her digestive system is back in working order once again. Leaky gut and the issues that come with it are so prevalent in today's world yet so misunderstood and left untreated...I see it VERY clearly now. And I am now reading ingredient labels at the grocery store...whodathunk?

In other news...we joined a Fitness Center. It's been over 20 years since we've belonged to any sort of a gym but we have a brand new Lifetime Fitness 1 mile from the house and it is super convenient and a very nice facility. The weather here mid summer makes it pretty difficult to exercise outside so we figured this was a good way to get back into shape and build some strength up. Part of the orientation includes a body scan which I'll share my results below. It was pretty interesting and really helps to develop a plan going forward to build back muscle and intake the appropriate nutrients and fuel needed to accomplish the goal.

Still not sure what the goal is yet, but I know that I'd like to replace some of the 25#s I've dropped in fat with some muscle.

Anyway, hope everyone's summer is going well...

[Vegas69]

Lance, the results of your lifestyle change speak for themselves! The blood results and now your ideal body fat results. Personally, I think 13% body fat is ideal for a healthy male adult that wishes to maintain their lifestyle and feel well. If you get much below that, the dietary restrictions will be a challenge and it won't be much fun. Sure, you can start to see your abs at 10%, but it's not sustainable long term in my mind.

Just keep in mind that if you want to build muscle, you will need to add calories into your diet. Personally, I like to set some goals when I chase fitness. Run in X time, squat X amount, ring muscle up, etc... It keeps you focused in the gym and feeling like you are progressing.

I'm on a two month sabattical with over 3 weeks of travel and I just had a minor surgery which has sidelined me. Fitness has become such a ritual for me that I miss it immediately. I know that when I'm eating well and fit, it cascades into every area of my life and helps me be at my best. I look forward to getting back after it!!!!! Great job, man!

[SSLance]

Thanks Todd! The Personal Trainer looked a bit astonished at both mine and my wife's body analysis stats and said, "Well, looks like we can skip right past the weight loss part of our programs..." I don't think he gets to say that very often to knew clients.

My workout yesterday was much better. I'm 4 workouts in now and the recovery times are getting much shorter and I'm able to do the exercises with much more control...the first few were pretty wobbly for sure. I'm looking forward to getting on a roll with them. My main goal for now is to strengthen my core up, I can tell for sure that is by far my weakest area. The PT has several resistance band exercises in my 2 programs aimed at working my core and most of the rest of the free weight stuff involves some sort of core stability as well.

The wife got the go-ahead to add avocadoes back into her diet and she's SO happy about that. We are going out to our favorite scratch kitchen Mexican place tonight and she's getting their Plantain and Guac appetizer as her meal...

[Vegas69]

There are so many options that work multiple muscle groups vs. the machines that isolate that will work your core. I tend to go for exercises that give me bang for the buck. A deadlift, rings, bear crawls, farmer's walks, overhead barbell press with no bench, dumbbell snatch, plank, toes to bar, and the list goes on and on. I still personally prefer a high intensity interval training or Crossfit type workout over the old gym mentality of machine to machine or exercise to exercise. I just feel better post workout and I push harder against a clock or in a social environment. Some specific strength training is a good idea additionally for any areas you feel are a weakness or of interest. I still like to run and jog especially off road, but I know it's not really that healthy compared to high intensity interval training workout. With a HIIT workout, we can work on strength and cardio. I recall when I was in peak Crossfit shape at 41, I ran a 6:05 mile with almost no running training! I couldn't believe it. Lifetime is a gorgeous facility. I was a member there for many years as well.

[SSLance]

Little update...

Feb-21 Jun-21 Oct-21
Cholesterol / HDL Ratio 8.3 5.3 4.3
HDL 31 37 43
LDL 165 133 122
Non-HDL Cholesterol 227 159 142
Total Cholesterol 258 196 185
Triglyceride 312 133 86
VLDL 62 26 20
Glucose (Blood) 102 97 97
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 22 43.2
Weight 190 159 159
Skeletal Muscle Mass 77.6 79.8
Body Fat mass 21.8 17.9
BMI 21.6 21.6
Percent Body Fat 13.7 11.3
Visceral Fat Level 4 3

I'm pretty happy with that...

[Vegas69]

But, how do you feel?

[SSLance]

Pretty damn good really. I haven't taken a pain reliever in 6 months, my stomach issues are completely gone and I'm stronger and have more torso core muscle strength than I ever had before, evah...

Took a short trip out of town and missed 7 days at the gym, today was first day back. Was off a bit but I'm sure it'll all come back after a few more days.

Eating well while traveling is tough, especially when in a third world country like New Mexico with a bunch of cousins at a reunion...but we made it..