Weight Gain Pat in North Carolina

[Guest guest]

I have been wheelchair bound 4 years this January. One of my biggest

challenges was to not gain excessive weight. I could see it coming and had

been duly warned. As of today, I weight a few pounds less than when I went

in the chair. I too was very active and burned lots of calories with daily

activities and exercise. My methodology to maintain and not gain is as

follows:

1. Common sense when eating. You know what food is heavy in saturated fats

and calories.

2. Go ahead and eat what you want, just eat a third or so of it. We are

conditioned to eat all we are served, WRONG.

3. Eat very slowly and take small bites and enjoy the food, eat and talk,

if you have someone to eat with of course.

4. Do not eat and watch television, your brain and stomach have trouble

communicating when it is focused on TV.

5. Eat 4 or 5 small meals during the day in lieu of 3 bigger ones as I was

conditioned to do.

6. Obviously, drink some water, a little more than you probably do. Most

people I know really don't like water, myself included.

7. When I drink a diet caffenine free coke I add an equal amount of water.

Sounds bad, but over time you get used to it and a straight coke will seem

very strong.

8. Limit consumption amounts of any food that is WHITE, complex carbs,

potatoes and pasta are my enemies. I know now why marathon runners consume

massive quantities of pasta days before the race or as they say " carbing

up. " Without the race you will gain weight.

9. I have grown to love apples, bananas, plums, grapes, etc. Really good

food and I can eat ALL I WANT!!

10. Green vegies are awsome, asparagus, fresh green beans, I like brussel

sprouts and cabbage also.

11. A few don'ts from a wise doctor I know that is a cardiologist that he

lives by:

A. Don't eat anything from a package that has been processed.

B. Don't eat anything from a " fast food restaurant. "

C. Don't eat animal fat. You will get plenty of fat while trying to not

eat fat. We are all weak. You need some fat obviously and you will get it

as you will break down and eat some bacon or steak occassionally. Just try

to stay away from it and you will eat less. That's the point.

12. Never eat in bed. Unless of course you are bedridden.

13. And last but not least, pay close attention to what goes in your mouth

after 5 in the PM. Snacking is a killer. My snack is hot air popcorn.

I am not a dietician but I have read and studied all the current applicable

material and have reached the conclusion that we, Americans, are out of

control in our eating. We are bombarded daily with food advertising.

Cooking shows on TV, fastfood on every corner, prepared food in the grocery

store, look around, I see more overweight people by the day, including

children, some 8 year olds weigh more than me. Amazing. We are the land of

plenty and brother we are taking advantage of it I believe. God help us

with our health system as this eating craze turns into the diseases it

ultimately will.

My tips work for me, hopefully some will be helpful to you. It is a

struggle but it can be done. EAT TO LIVE DON'T LIVE TO EAT!!

Helpfully,

Steve

Steve

3712 S. Orange Circle

Broken Arrow, OK 74011

steve@...

GO SOONERS!!!! BIG 12 CHAMPS!!!!