TXSnowman's Journal, 03 Jan 14

I agree with Bill...we all have to take what the media says with a grain of salt..we are responsible for our own health...we have to do what is better for us...what works for one doesn't always work for others...:O) 

You don't know who to believe any more when it comes to a healthy diet. I have decided to stay away from processed foods and as much sugar as I can, limit the amount of bread I eat, and to not be scared of real butter and oils taken in moderation. Saw a man on Dr. Oz the other day who said that any carb that comes from under the ground is bad, such as potatoes, because of the amount of sugar they store. Like I said, it changes daily. 

You know mueleski, I have had awesome success dropping weight since I gave up grains and starches. Further, my wife saw my success and began following a very similar diet at the beginning of November and has dropped nearly 30 lbs in two months. Better yet, she is incredibly happier, more engaged & enjoying life much more. So, while our experiences may be anecdotal, I am a true believer that the bulk of our success has come from dropping the high-glycemic carbs and increasing the protein intake from meats. 

I always go back to everything in moderation. I try to focus on whole foods that are low on the glycemic scale. Natural is better. But I don't want to go through my life and never get to eat pasta or have a glass of wine or an amazing dessert. You just have to find a healthy balance that works for you. 

Suzi, you are absolutely right. This isn't prison. What would be the point of living to be 100 and hating every day. As you so adroitly point out...all things in moderation. My goodness, if I choose to have some pizza or an adult beverage or some tiramisu, etc, I will most certainly eat some. But unlike my old ravenous days, I shall endeavor to eat a modest portion, and then go back to my usual foodstuffs. I just need to remember not to partake in the non-nutritive foods on a daily basis. I have worked hard to find healthy food choices that I truly enjoy. I can honestly say, that I don't eat anything on my diet that I don't like. This is obviously helped by the fact that I prepare most all of my own meals and cook from scratch. As you say, natural is better. 

Bill, thanks for the tip on the LeanGains site. I'm going to check that out in depth. I've been referencing Marc Perry on the Built Lean website. He provides a lot of really useful information on developing the right amount of body fat vs lean mass. Using the Built Lean "ideal body weight formula" of (Lean Body Mass / (1 - Desired Body Fat Percentage)) I arrive at a target weight of 194 pounds. That works on the assumption that I am going to maintain my lean body mass at the current level. That would put me at 15% body fat. My initial goal was to get under 20%. Once I reach 15%, I'll decide if that's where I want to stay. In the meanwhile, I hope to increase my muscle mass, which will increase my optimum weight...that will be a change...lol! 

Draglist, I agree that way its like a reward for all the hard work we put in! 

Happy Day! Just did my pre-dinner weigh in and hit 199 lb. First time in as long as I can remember my weight starts with a ONE...lol. Tanita says my body fat is 17.7%. Based on these numbers, I'm only about 5 lbs of fat loss from 15% body fat. I'm thinking that I may shoot for something lower than 15%. Perhaps 13%. I'll have to think about it. Draglist, As for your remaining flab; you've lost around 110 lbs. Are you sure that there is much in the way of flab there, or is it mostly excess skin? My abs are firming up nicely and I like my looks as long as I keep the briefs pulled up to cover that excess skin below the navel. I don't know about you, but I'm going to give this until Summer of 2015 to tighten up. If it doesn't improve greatly, I'll have to consider some cosmetic surgery to correct it.