The Biggest LOOSER -- running weight loss thread

5.4 a1c level - suck it, diabetes!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Outstanding. That's dramatic, man. Congrats.

 

thank you. still want to drop 50 more pounds and get the a1c under 5.0 but i'll take the results so far.

 

Stepped on this morning at 267.6, or an official 104 pounds off.

Usually, I just see myself as a less-fat version of myself, but as I was putting on my jeans today I actually thought "Hey, you look kind of good." I've thought that in little spurts, yes, but this is the first time I've said it and had it really stick with me. Lately I've noticed I have a little more swagger in my walk and I DO feel more confident overall.

I still have my self-deprecating moments - one person said I looked great and I said "Well, I've gone from the build of Chris Farley to one of his less-funny brothers." - but overall I do have a new set of confidence and it shows.

Water has been my best friend as of late. I've noticed that most of my "plateaus" are me not drinking enough water or getting on the track/medicine ball/push-up handles and can be broken through pretty quickly. Knowing that has helped take away something that could hinder my confidence and, again, gives me more positivity.

Oh, and that Astros jersey I talked about in my first post? Wore it this past Saturday against the Diamondbacks, and before the game in a picture with my girlfriend (yeah, THAT even happened) and Justin Maxwell. Great success.

But that's a brief update from WaffleWorld. How is everyone else been?

 

Waffle --- that's AWESOME! I'm still stalled at 90 lbs down but agree that water seems to be a big difference maker.

 

I'm at -28 pounds this morning. Walking 1.5 miles a day, eating every meal with the purpose of doing something healthy for myself. Diet Coke has been a part of my past history since the day I started.

And it hasn't been painful. I honestly believe this time I might be able to just make this my lifestyle.

 

This is a great post. The lifestyle changes that you can make pretty seamlessly, I think, are the ones with the best chances of sticking. Good for you and keep it up.

Waffle, congrats to you, too. That's some terrific work.

 

Hate to dredge up an old topic, especially at a dinner party I haven't visited too much before, but...

...had my eyes opened to the ill effects of diet soda lately. Namely, that the chemicals involved create long-chained amino acids that lead directly to leaky gut.

I've gotten into the Paleo/Ancestral Health movement recently and I feel like a converted Jehovah's Witness, I can't stop learning about it. Anyway, when it comes to diet soda, there's a ton of information in the Paleo world about how terrible it is for us.

Here's a taste:

http://robbwolf.com/2012/04/20/additive-effect-artificial-intelligent/

This thinking has led her to explore the effect that today’s food additives have on fat, liver and pancreatic beta cell tissues. And hold onto your cape Batman!! It seems that there is more to the development of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity than ‘fast foodification’ and ’butt – couch adhesion’. So far the research has identified monoglycerides (emulsifiers found in cereal, ice cream, nut butters, and baked foods) and saccharin (an artificial, calorie free sweetener - Sweet n’ Low) as being potential contributors to ‘Diabesity’.

We know that the beta cells in the pancreas secrete insulin in response to an increase in blood glucose levels. Under ‘normal’ circumstances (and this is the highly simplified, cut to the chase version) in the beta cells, voltage-gated calcium channels are activated in response to an increased ATP:ADP ratio and the closing of ATP-gated potassium channels. The activated calcium channels let calcium into the cells. This triggers the production and export of insulin. When the beta cells are ‘working’ they also require more oxygen in order to function. That was a BRIEF and SIMPLE explanation of what ‘normally’ occurs. Now, let’s see what happens when monoglycerides and saccharin ‘storm the fort’. Instead of the ‘normal’ activation of calcium channels, increased oxygen consumption and release of insulin, the beta cells seem to get a little ‘loopy’ (like too much weed or something), they start releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have been linked to inflammation, cell damage, cancer and obesity. All this craziness because of two FDA ‘generally regarded as safe’ (GRAS) additives are present. Things the make you go hmmm…

To learn more about Paleo/Ancestral Health or about leaky gut and diet soda, use those search terms at the two leading health websites:

http://robbwolf.com/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/#axzz25HYdymdk

There is a ton of eye-opening information on those two links.

 

I've found the secret solution to spicing up the third, fourth, fifth glass of water of the day. This stuff:



I also use it in my water bottles on my bike ride. Just a squirt adds a great flavor that's equal to the aspartame-infused water I used to buy at TJ's.

You can get Nellie & Joe's Famous Key Lime Juice at Cost Plus World Market, and at your finer grocery stories. Well worth a trip!

http://www.keylimejuice.com/

 

If I grab anything other than a straight water bottle these days, the first thing I do is look for aspartame in the label. If it's there, I put it back.

I was surprised to see Diet Snapple had it.

The best thing I've found at this point is Propel, especially the Mandarin Orange.

 

Shouldn't we drink beverages like Red Juice or drinks having juices from several fruits and vegetables? I just think that would have been a better drink than water while running or exercising since you wouldn't get tired of the taste. But yeah we still need water since it is the best thirst quencher available.