Day 04

[Justin Credible]

Right, so I am turning 32, I'm a 5 foot tall Asian female (the name is just got a long story to it, so dont let the alias fool you)...who's mom has blood pressure issues and is borderline diabetic, Dad has cholesterol problems and loves the occasional heavy drink...not to mention he has gout...I went home recently and a friend of mine said "Boy, you really are a pretty girl, but you have gained weight! You really shouldnt let yourself go! You are still young!"

OUCH.

So yeah...I thought, well screw him, who does he think he is?

But a month later, after I returned to my part time home where I am reimmersed back into university life...I figured, come on, buy a weighing scale...

And I did...one of those fancy jobs that even measure body fat.

Holy hell! :baby:

57.8 kgs (about 127.5 lbs) and 36.3% body fat! :help:

*SMH* Talk about the Freshman 15, eh? Only thing is, I didnt gain any "weight" upon returning to university, what I did gain was fat! I used to be at a high 30% body fat...so this is really scary! My body still looks the same, so this must all be around my organs!

Oh, I wasnt freaked out or anything, just scared for my present self! And mad that I let me get this far! :gun:

So yeah...I had ordered Eat to Live, this book that I had no idea would be all about going vegan, a while back...it arrived in the mail the same day that I decided I needed to change my eating habits for good. I read the 200+ page book in one night and then the next day went about buying fruit and veg...

Thing is, I am cool with being veg...but its the no salt thing I am having a hard time with. There is another site about the worlds healthiest foods...and they have a more understandable approach to going veg...its more...managable than no olive oil and no salt! I am cutting down on salt, but being in Japan, its tough to find foods without salt and it is tougher still to just eat veggies without even a pinch of flavor!

Anyway, I came here, joined, for moral support. I love veggies, I love to cook, I love fruit...and the truth is, I grew up in a big meat eating family. The cult of meat eating was all about worshiping at the temple of dead animals! I know the deal about how animals are raised and stuff, and I know about the slaughter stuff, and I know about the toxins and parasites in fish (seen it with my own eyes not long ago!) so...this isnt just about loving animals, I have just gone off eating meat, plus I know its not good for my health in the long run...So there...

I started 4 days ago...coupled with swimming and pilates...and have lost 2 lbs and 1.3% body fat. Anyone else have positive stories to share?

[Licence]

Hi, it takes a long time and its hard work, but the results are worth it. There are really 2 things you need to do. Eat properly, and exercise.

Some thoughts which you can read about elsewhere if you're interested.

1. Try eating 5 small meals throughout the day. This keeps your metabolism working properly all day.

2. Cut out ALL snacks. View your perfect diet like a brick wall. One piece of snack food is like removing one brick from your wall. One brick won't bring it down, but a few more and the whole thing will start to come down.

3. Start an exercise regime. You really need to work hard to get the results. The first 6 months is about changing your metabolism, you may not see great results during that initial period, but once you've done the groundwork the results will really start to show. Check out the Fitness forum for advice there too.

I've lost about 35 lbs since I started working out and sorting my diet out, during which time I became a vegetarian too, nearly a year ago. I was getting to be a fat slob but now look in much better shape, and my body fat has gone down to about 15%.

Good luck.

[Justin Credible]

15%??? WOW! Where did you start? My goal is to get to about 20%. Considering I am now at 35%, I dont think thats all too bad a goal, right? Plus, thats healthy. We have a lot of heart disease, diabetes AND cancer on both sides of my family tree, which is why I want to change my habits and cleanse before its too late. One of my cousins died of cancer at 25, another got a heart attack at 29...I am 32...so yeah...I dont want to risk it further. I used to be a smoker, but I quit a year ago, Nov 22 with be my one year smoke free anniversary.

Right now its just cutting out alcohol until I can keep it out for good. My family has a history of alcohol abuse, and its so tiring to watch, really.

I hear what you are saying, and thank you so much for your advice...bricks...its a good way to visualize it, yeah. :o)

Thanks.

I am starting an exercise regime. Jogging and swimming. I am doing all I can to get 1 hour of exercise a day. Once my stamina picks up I know I can get more...winter is coming though, I need to get some warm tracksuits, lol.

[Gita]

Sometimes university have free to low cost gyms for students. An important part of toning down includes some aerobic (running, cycling) and some weight lifting exercises. There are also salt substitutes that you can use at home. For instance, garlic without the salt. I think "no-salt" (a brand) is made with magnesium salt instead of sodium. It tastes a little different, but may help you to transition.

[Lostone44]

I have never read the book 'Eat to Live', and thus don't really know what it says about salt, but the majority of people who have a problem with table salt are strongly in favor of sea salt. And I have to personally say that sea salt tastes soo much better!!

[Justin Credible]

Sea Salt, yeah. Problem is they say "no salt", lol. Which is tough, Lostone. I will make sure to get some Sea Salt though, good call!

Gita, Oooh, now you are going into foreign territory. I am a foreigner in Japan, lol. I can barely read the labels here, and plus, its so tough to find health food stores that have all these options. Hell, I havent FOUND a health food store yet! I will be on the look out though.

I am doing pretty good so far though. With Tofu and natto on my side, how wrong can it go, right?

My hair had been falling out a fair bit, and I could just be paranoid, but I looked it up and it said possible hypothyroidism! Hmm...but this of course, can be reversed with loads of veg and tofu...so I am already on the right track...and wanna know something weird? When I washed my hair today I didnt lose more than 10 or so hairs (not that I was counting), but seriously for months its been alarming to see me shed like a german shepherd! *SMH*

[BC4WRK]

I identify with your story. It's tough when you start out, and there will be slip ups... but don't let it get you down. Find the strength to recover.

For your salt cravings sea salt is great, or you can also buy Morton's Lite Salt Mixture when you are trying to get off salt. It's got about half the Sodium as table salt, and it is Iodized. It's was surprising how salty things taste once you make the change. Processed foods have tricked our taste buds!

Careful if you drink soft drinks because there is a lot of hidden salt in those suckers! Plain teas and coffee with soy for creamer is good. Remember no sugar or sugar free.

For snacks I keep fruit or granola (unprocessed, the real thing) on me at all times. Especially when I'm traveling or driving somewhere. I grab for my snacks now instead of buying on the street. That's helped big time. I think the key is making your own food and actually eating what you bring!

I'm not sure if you are like me, but I've got a big food addiction. I was raised in the south and my family eats a lot! Food was life. Being 25 yrs old at 5'11", I was 180 lbs before turning veggie. I dread to think what my fat % was. The 180 lbs was a huge shock for me because 4 years ago in college was 135 lbs (I was very active). Something had to be done.

Making the change has been hard. I've cut out all dairy and all meat & eggs, and in a week and a half I have lost 6 lbs without strenuous exercise. Most of which is from the colon and water weight, I'm sure.

The veggies board are most helpful. Keep up the good work!

[Justin Credible]

Yeah, thanks for sharing. Yes, I am on Day 08 now and I just got back from getting a blood test at the doctors to find out if I suffer from hypothyroid disorder or not (the horrible hairloss thing is still going strong...I must have last written on a good day, lol). So we'll see what they have to say in about a week.

I have managed to stay pretty much on the ball, still having miso soup though...which I know has salt in it, but I am not really having anything else in the day that is salty. I am sticking to salads, fruits and tofu of all kinds. I am also getting exercise in. I have been doing my best to ignore the weighing scale in the corner as I promised myself I wouldnt weigh myself except for once a week...so it kinda forces me to be good. :rockon:

I am also trying to get ample sleep every day, but its not easy. I think I am going to give Yoga a go!

I am actually very lucky that I am not one to snack. I don't really like chips and stuff...so in that department, I have never been one to snack on junk. I cant handle icecream because I am mildly lactose intolerant (asian genes, what can I say!)..and I have never been one for butter, although I brave cheese occasionally...of course, thats all off now, at least while I lose weight.

Out here in Japan I find the yummiest snack is chestnuts. The Japanese are big on chestnuts...roasted. I can get packaged organic chestnuts...high in nutrition and very low in fat, perfect! To be honest I ended up eating sashimi the other day because, as a group, we ended up going to the largest fish market in Tokyo, there are loads of restaurants all around it, but all sell sushi and sashimi...it being lunchtime...we stopped to eat, but of course, there was no choice of veggies, lol. So yep...it being super fresh, I said...when in rome! I guess that was a gentle roll off the wagon, but I am back on to the pure veg. As you said, starting out is tough..to fit in and not be a social outcast in social situations, I will have to learn how to figure out how I go about it all.

[Justin Credible]

Oh, and I always eat what I bring...the food at my university cafeteria is not healthy at all. Its fine for 18 and 19 year olds, lol...but not for those in their 30's! Lol.

[KHADIJAH]

Just wanted to say good luck ,JC and welcome to the VB