New Years Resolution

[Andrew MacLean]

In that order, Lou?

[Louise Pembroke]

No particular order Andrew, I just typed it randomly

Also add;

*sort out knicker draw

*sort out papers

*get cholestrol tested

[Andrew MacLean]

*get cholestrol tested

I did that one. amazingly normal, given my size. Still got to lose at least three stone ... any advice?

[Simon Hare]

last year i made a resolution to never make another new years resolution, so far so good

[Louise Pembroke]

Actually Andrew, size is no indicator of health [unless you're 30 stone of course!]. I have so many thin friends with high cholestrol. You can be a 'fat thin person' if you have a lot of fat surrounding main organs. I don't go by size anymore not unless the BMI is severly over/under.
It was shown in one study that when a group of overweight women exercised with little or no change to their diet, their health improved according to blood test measures.
I believe exercise is the key, because when you regularly exercise you naturally eat better and drink more water because it's uncomfortable to exercise on stodge. It also kick starts the metabolism.
It's important to do something which is enjoyable and ideally offers a cardiovascular workout combined with strength/suppleness. If using a treadmill, don't run, walk on an incline and increase it every 2 mins to the highest level then back down down again. 20 mins of that 3 times a week is excellent. A few handweights/resistance machines [not heavy] are good for some overall strength. Local council gyms are cheaper and have a better ambience anyhow, no lycra!
Pilates is one of safest forms of exercise with a good qualified teacher and caters for everyone of any mobility. That's good for abdominal strength which improves posture. If you stand better, you feel better. It's quite deceptive too, when you watch it you think the person is doing nothing but when you try it you realise it's doing a lot. You feel good afterwards as well.
If you walk, walk briskly, walking is a good exercise but you still need something which gets you out of breath.
Basic stretching before/after is important.

As for diet, don't diet, they always fail, have everything, but in moderation. Make breakfast your biggest meal and dinner the smallest. Porridge is good, sweeten it with chopped up banana.

[Andrew MacLean]

Thanks Lou.

I am pretty healthy, just heavy. I walk a lot, although I am not walking as vigorously just now during the first three months post op.

We have a rowing machine and I use it for about 20 minutes a day, we also have a cycling machine and an insturument of torture designed to make one manage sit-ups without putting extra strain on the muscles around ones throat.

I think the moderation thing is the key. I do eat porridge for breakfast, but never sweeten it (a Scottish thing: we put salt in porridge). I was thinking of having weetabix at lunch time and then something delicious but light for an evening meal.

I see that a cereal manufacturere is promising me that if I eat their sweetned breakfast cereal I'll lose weight, but I don't much care for sweetened cereal, so that's not much good.

Anyhow; will let you know how things are going.

Andrew

[Louise Pembroke]

Don't use contraptions for sit ups, the pilates kind of sit-ups are the best - slow, controlled, not coming all the way up and safe for the neck

[Pat A]

Hi all
I've just completed a "Weight loss management course" - not a diet thing but just loads of info on how to eat more healthily and how to read food labels properly (if only I could without a stong magnifying galss!). All of what Louise mentioned was included but lots more besides - haven't got time to write it all down now but it's really good. I've even managed not to put any weight on over Christmas - a first for me!.
But this string led me to ask - why don't those of us with weight to shed (and that includes me - I've got at least a couple of stone to lose) think about a "sponsored weight loss" with any money raised going towards the KC group funds? I know some of my friends/colleagues would sponsor me and I'd be happy to post some more info next week on the info I picked up. We could support each other through the forum. What does anyone else think?


Pat

[Andrew MacLean]

Pat.

that's a good idea. It would add some motivation to those of us with a great deal of weight to lose. (ie ME)