I have started my new workout routine. I have stopped doing as many total abdominal reps on a strength machine. I had been doing 200 reps, and had gone down to 140. My trainer told me the total motion was bulking up my shoulder and neck muscles. He suggested I should reduce it further so I'm down to 100 reps. I have added 4 new floor exercises, 3 which I like. The one I don't like seems to strain the same neck muscles that were a problem, so I may drop it. Kept my total routine time the same, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. I enjoy doing these new exercises but I am not sure how effective they will be at improving my posture. Overall I feel I am benefiting a lot from the elliptical. You know the total motion used is similar to running or jogging, which we will talk about in a later post.
Okay, no one has left a comment yet about what's up with no posting number 13. Nobody caught it? I don't think so. Look, buildings don't have a 13th floor. If they did, an elevator wouldn't stop there. Why? Well, there is no number 13 button on elevators. ever seen one? Nope. Ships don't have a 13th deck, most planes don't have a row 13, you don't give your sweetheart 13 roses for valentines, and I don't have a post 13.
Fresh fruit is readily available right now. I have been getting fresh ripe cherries, which like most fruit is packed with antioxidants. I have been eating a lot of fruit the last couple of weeks, especially as light snacks. For some reason I have been getting hungry in between meals. I watched a young lady on the Today program this morning. I believe she was the winner on the Biggest Losers, having lost over 100 pounds. She said something I thought was very good advice to those wanting or needing to lose a lot of weight. When ask how she did it, she said in small individual steps, a little at a time. Her initial challenge or goal was not to lose as much weight as she did. Notice that is a pretty common theme with people who have been successful in losing a lot of weight. I think that is the best advice I could give someone in meeting their weight loss goals. Do it in small consistent stages over a long period of time.
Cindy says I'm spending too much time talking about things in my blog post other than my progress of returning to good cardio health and encouraging others like me to know they can too. I should instill that their health can be even better than before, how I did it, and continue to do it. Maybe she's right. I need to get back on track.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Changing Exercise Routine #14
When I got to the fitness center this morning there were not as many people there as normal. I go around 6:00 am. That is usually a busy time . Mostly lots of working people are there. They begin to finish up exercising around 7:00 am, shower, change, and they are off to the office. Must be as many ladies as guys who follow that pattern. FedEx has 2 training centers which employ around 3,000 nearby, and their corporate headquarters are not much further down the road. I know a lot of our members are FedEx folks. This is a holiday weekend coming up so I quess that explains why not as many were working out this morning. I had a great workout, really felt good afterwards.
Memorial Day weekend has always been one of my favorite holidays. I like car races, any Nascar race, and I don't think I have missed watching on TV, or listening on radio, an Indy 500 for more years than we have been married. When I was 11 years old my Uncle took me to the race. That was back when the drivers wore small white helmets, tee-shirts and no roll cage on the cars. The cars were like supercharged explosive gas cans on 4 wheels. My wife doesn't care much about races, but several years ago I got her to go to the Daytona 500 with me. This 500 turned out to be Jeff Gordon's first Daytona 500 win. I was, and have been a Gordon fan since he drove in the Busch series. Anyway, Cindy went along being a good sport but she had no race interest. The business I was in gave me the opportunity to go to numerous Nascar events, and I always had tickets, hospitality passes, excellent start/finish line high seating, and so on. Cindy wasn't much impressed as we took our seats. However as the cars came around turn 4 for the start of the race, and the engines of 43 cars roared and they thundered by at 200 mph she stood and didn't sit down for the next 20 laps. Every time Jeff Gordon in the 24 car came by she cheered for him. She doesn't watch Nascar, but still ask after a race where Jeff finished.
I'm trying some new exercises, and dropping some from my workout routine. My shoulders and neck have been bothering me some, and my posture is getting not so good. I'm beginning to slump my shoulders forward somewhat and have trouble standing completely straight. I have been doing some exercises on strength machines which have worked well in increasing my neck and shoulder muscles, which was not my intent. The intent was to increase blood circulation, increase heart rate, and firm up. It did all of that , but I now have to back off those and do some to help me walk more erect with more relaxed shoulders and neck muscles. Nothing has changed in my cardio core exercises, that all stays the same. I'm going to focus more on my back and sides, and not my shoulders and neck. I have started the new floor exercises. I'll let you know how I do and if they work on improving my posture.
I'm going to try to eat more fish. Hopefully it will improve my HDL. I really need to get it to 50. Considering that I'm eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and chicken the LDL should remain low. I just have not been eating enough fish for the Omega 3, and that is probably holding my good cholesterol down.
This is the weekend I used to always do a cookout for family. Barbequed ribs, chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, slaw, home made ice cream. The only one of these I'll miss is the potato salad. I'm not doing a cookout this year and don't and would not eat anything like this.
Cindy hasn't misplaced her new Droid phone yet, hope she doesn't read this. She bought a protective custom fit cover for her phone, you will never guess what color? That's right and it's bright too.
Memorial Day weekend has always been one of my favorite holidays. I like car races, any Nascar race, and I don't think I have missed watching on TV, or listening on radio, an Indy 500 for more years than we have been married. When I was 11 years old my Uncle took me to the race. That was back when the drivers wore small white helmets, tee-shirts and no roll cage on the cars. The cars were like supercharged explosive gas cans on 4 wheels. My wife doesn't care much about races, but several years ago I got her to go to the Daytona 500 with me. This 500 turned out to be Jeff Gordon's first Daytona 500 win. I was, and have been a Gordon fan since he drove in the Busch series. Anyway, Cindy went along being a good sport but she had no race interest. The business I was in gave me the opportunity to go to numerous Nascar events, and I always had tickets, hospitality passes, excellent start/finish line high seating, and so on. Cindy wasn't much impressed as we took our seats. However as the cars came around turn 4 for the start of the race, and the engines of 43 cars roared and they thundered by at 200 mph she stood and didn't sit down for the next 20 laps. Every time Jeff Gordon in the 24 car came by she cheered for him. She doesn't watch Nascar, but still ask after a race where Jeff finished.
I'm trying some new exercises, and dropping some from my workout routine. My shoulders and neck have been bothering me some, and my posture is getting not so good. I'm beginning to slump my shoulders forward somewhat and have trouble standing completely straight. I have been doing some exercises on strength machines which have worked well in increasing my neck and shoulder muscles, which was not my intent. The intent was to increase blood circulation, increase heart rate, and firm up. It did all of that , but I now have to back off those and do some to help me walk more erect with more relaxed shoulders and neck muscles. Nothing has changed in my cardio core exercises, that all stays the same. I'm going to focus more on my back and sides, and not my shoulders and neck. I have started the new floor exercises. I'll let you know how I do and if they work on improving my posture.
I'm going to try to eat more fish. Hopefully it will improve my HDL. I really need to get it to 50. Considering that I'm eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and chicken the LDL should remain low. I just have not been eating enough fish for the Omega 3, and that is probably holding my good cholesterol down.
This is the weekend I used to always do a cookout for family. Barbequed ribs, chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, slaw, home made ice cream. The only one of these I'll miss is the potato salad. I'm not doing a cookout this year and don't and would not eat anything like this.
Cindy hasn't misplaced her new Droid phone yet, hope she doesn't read this. She bought a protective custom fit cover for her phone, you will never guess what color? That's right and it's bright too.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I Won't Forget Not To Do That Again #12
Had my session with a trainer today. I wanted a few floor exercises I could do without being aided by strength equipment. My cardio workout seems to be improving based on my feeling stronger after each daily session. So well that I am using the elliptical now. I may have already told you that, my memory ability seems to be not as good as once was.
Cindy and I were talking yesterday about what is the one most glaring results of aging that has affected me more than any other. Being a heart attack survivor, has that prohibited me from returning to a normal active life? No, having a heart attack pushed me to changing my life..... for the better. You all know, I'm going to say we, meaning you and me. We have worked hard not to be a victim, not to whine and lay around, say I'm never going to be the same, I can't to do this, or I can't do that. No, we are as active as before, in my case I think I'm more active, enjoying life more, enjoying my grandchildren. What has affected me more than I want to admit, short term memory loss. Yeah, you too huh. I can be in my office, think of something I need to do, walk downstairs to tell Cindy, and can't remember. I don't tell her I forgot what I'm here for. I just say I'm going up to my office, I get there and kind of go into instant replay mode of what I was doing before I went downstairs. You still with me? I try to remember by re-enacting the last couple of minutes. Now this is not a once a week thing, it's like maybe every day occurrence.
Cindy bought me a spiral note book to make notes in when I have something to do later, so when I go to do whatever it is and I have forgotten, just check my notes, so she says. So here I go, back downstairs and I'm looking around, and around, she says lost " your note book, right?" Yep, forgot where I laid it.
You guys know, never, ever, indicate to your wife, or ever acknowledge, that she has had a memory loss moment. You have to ignore it and just become oblivious to their lapses in memory. If not, the consequences can be bad, unforgiving. It's like telling them "you're getting old". A couple of weeks ago, Cindy's cell phone stopped working. She was always misplacing it. She was worse about her cell phone than I was about losing my note book, the one about things not to forget. She says, " what kind of phone do you think I need?" Like a big dummy I say "get one about the size of a gallon of milk, fluorescent orange colored, with a homing beacon on top of it". Wow, I won't forget not to do that again. She now has the most expensive Droid cell phone she could find, compliments of my American Express Card.
Cindy and I were talking yesterday about what is the one most glaring results of aging that has affected me more than any other. Being a heart attack survivor, has that prohibited me from returning to a normal active life? No, having a heart attack pushed me to changing my life..... for the better. You all know, I'm going to say we, meaning you and me. We have worked hard not to be a victim, not to whine and lay around, say I'm never going to be the same, I can't to do this, or I can't do that. No, we are as active as before, in my case I think I'm more active, enjoying life more, enjoying my grandchildren. What has affected me more than I want to admit, short term memory loss. Yeah, you too huh. I can be in my office, think of something I need to do, walk downstairs to tell Cindy, and can't remember. I don't tell her I forgot what I'm here for. I just say I'm going up to my office, I get there and kind of go into instant replay mode of what I was doing before I went downstairs. You still with me? I try to remember by re-enacting the last couple of minutes. Now this is not a once a week thing, it's like maybe every day occurrence.
Cindy bought me a spiral note book to make notes in when I have something to do later, so when I go to do whatever it is and I have forgotten, just check my notes, so she says. So here I go, back downstairs and I'm looking around, and around, she says lost " your note book, right?" Yep, forgot where I laid it.
You guys know, never, ever, indicate to your wife, or ever acknowledge, that she has had a memory loss moment. You have to ignore it and just become oblivious to their lapses in memory. If not, the consequences can be bad, unforgiving. It's like telling them "you're getting old". A couple of weeks ago, Cindy's cell phone stopped working. She was always misplacing it. She was worse about her cell phone than I was about losing my note book, the one about things not to forget. She says, " what kind of phone do you think I need?" Like a big dummy I say "get one about the size of a gallon of milk, fluorescent orange colored, with a homing beacon on top of it". Wow, I won't forget not to do that again. She now has the most expensive Droid cell phone she could find, compliments of my American Express Card.
Monday, May 23, 2011
In Control Of Your Health #11
The things you can control, that no doctor can do for you: healthy diet, weight loss, weight control, exercise, avoiding stress, blood pressure control is in your hands. Your doctors can provide proper health care and medication, but being a heart attack survivor, you are in control of regaining and improving your health. Having strong support, as I did, helps in many ways. Knowing that my wife and family not only cared, but encouraged my efforts to change, made it easier for me. I was fortunate to have a wife who made the sacrifices necessary on her part to support me. Preparing different foods, and meals other than those we had been accustomed to. My dropping a lot of foods from my diet was a challenge for her also. Foods she had enjoyed, she no longer cooked or ate because I no longer did. We did not go out to eat to the same places as before, or go out as often.
These are the things you control and they should become a routine of maintenance. Probably a healthy diet is first, and that leads to weight loss. Exercise aids weight loss and blood pressure. After a strenuous work out, my blood pressure will normally be 10-15 points lower than before. Exercise has enabled me to feel and see the benefits I've gained in my health. You can not only feel it but see it. Just as we previously talked about, feeling your strength and stamina improving, you can see when you look in a mirror the reduced waistline, your arm and leg muscles look tighter, hips beginning to slim down from all of the walking and exercise. You feel getting stronger when you begin to increase the number of reps or increase the weight you're using on certain exercises. When maybe you're doing 70 pounds for 10 reps on leg extensions and it really pushed you 2 months ago. Now it has become not such a challenge, and you need to move up. More weight, reps, or number of sets. Working out will become an important part of your total recovery and health maintenance.
You know, I think in my case exercise and healthy diet were the two most important things for me to do. They made weight loss a lot easier, and have contributed greatly to controlling my weight. The exercise, weight loss, and healthy diet have helped lower and improve my cholesterol levels. It makes you feel good when you see yourself as a person you didn't know was there a couple of years ago. I think joining a fitness center was, and is, the biggest reason of me continuing to improve my health. All the other things I have mentioned, have benefited from my exercising. The increased strength and stamina have improved my quality of life. Being active lets me to do the things I enjoy and spend time with my family.
Today I am meeting with a trainer to learn some new exercises to add to my routine. I will let you know what they are and how I feel about them next time.
These are the things you control and they should become a routine of maintenance. Probably a healthy diet is first, and that leads to weight loss. Exercise aids weight loss and blood pressure. After a strenuous work out, my blood pressure will normally be 10-15 points lower than before. Exercise has enabled me to feel and see the benefits I've gained in my health. You can not only feel it but see it. Just as we previously talked about, feeling your strength and stamina improving, you can see when you look in a mirror the reduced waistline, your arm and leg muscles look tighter, hips beginning to slim down from all of the walking and exercise. You feel getting stronger when you begin to increase the number of reps or increase the weight you're using on certain exercises. When maybe you're doing 70 pounds for 10 reps on leg extensions and it really pushed you 2 months ago. Now it has become not such a challenge, and you need to move up. More weight, reps, or number of sets. Working out will become an important part of your total recovery and health maintenance.
You know, I think in my case exercise and healthy diet were the two most important things for me to do. They made weight loss a lot easier, and have contributed greatly to controlling my weight. The exercise, weight loss, and healthy diet have helped lower and improve my cholesterol levels. It makes you feel good when you see yourself as a person you didn't know was there a couple of years ago. I think joining a fitness center was, and is, the biggest reason of me continuing to improve my health. All the other things I have mentioned, have benefited from my exercising. The increased strength and stamina have improved my quality of life. Being active lets me to do the things I enjoy and spend time with my family.
Today I am meeting with a trainer to learn some new exercises to add to my routine. I will let you know what they are and how I feel about them next time.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Strength, Stamina, Goodtimes, #10
I have a check up scheduled with my cardiologist in a few weeks. Again I am looking forward to having my test results showing continued improvements. I have been diligent in exercising on a regular basis. I have controlled my weight, eaten a healthy diet, and have what my cardiologist regards as a healthy cholesterol level. I remain motivated to continue improving all of these factors for a couple of reasons. I want my blood pressure, strength, and stamina to return to normal. I have done everything my doctors have ask of me in order to return to what I consider to be normal activity. My stamina has not improved as quickly as I hoped it would. Yesterday I decided to hand wash and clean my wife's vehicle. This was about 3 hours doing at a slow enjoyable pace. Afterwards I basically had to rest for a while. Same thing the day before. Doing some yard work which I enjoy. This was not strenuous. Some trimming with a weed eater, and rode a lawn tractor for about an hour. Same result, had to rest afterwards. I am in to my second year of exercising, working out, and have made significant gains in strength and stamina. But the past few weeks I seem to be getting tired easily. I have regained much of my strength, and some stamina. You know it's kind of like I use to could lift 100 pounds 20 times, and I can still lift it but only 5 times, and it tires me out for a few hours. When I walk up the stairs in our home I pause at the top, being a little winded. And some of my being tired is progressing to feeling exhausted. I think the reality is my strength and stamina may not be what they once were. Exercising and working out is going to be important cardio health maintenance, and a continuing to rebuild strength and stamina to prior levels.
Okay stop, right here, I had some really good stuff a full paragraph or two, and Blogger had a malfunction, not the part you see but where you go to write and publish, anyway it all got lost, and I'm trying to remember the good parts that were lost. I was writing and listening to the opening Odd Couple movie theme music and credits on YouTube. It shows a bustling New York City at night, all lit up, back in the late 60's with the Odd Couple music theme playing in the back ground. My wife and I had been married maybe 2 months when we saw the movie. Whenever it's on TV I try to watch it. Not that I think it is the greatest movie ever. It brings back a pleasant time in our lives, jobs, and marriage I sometimes think about. I guess sometimes you think about how great it use to be and not about the not so good stuff back then. And 50 years from now I'll look back and say "honey when we were 65, those were the good times." And she'll say can't you just be satisfied with being a 115 year old heart attack survivor................
Okay stop, right here, I had some really good stuff a full paragraph or two, and Blogger had a malfunction, not the part you see but where you go to write and publish, anyway it all got lost, and I'm trying to remember the good parts that were lost. I was writing and listening to the opening Odd Couple movie theme music and credits on YouTube. It shows a bustling New York City at night, all lit up, back in the late 60's with the Odd Couple music theme playing in the back ground. My wife and I had been married maybe 2 months when we saw the movie. Whenever it's on TV I try to watch it. Not that I think it is the greatest movie ever. It brings back a pleasant time in our lives, jobs, and marriage I sometimes think about. I guess sometimes you think about how great it use to be and not about the not so good stuff back then. And 50 years from now I'll look back and say "honey when we were 65, those were the good times." And she'll say can't you just be satisfied with being a 115 year old heart attack survivor................
Friday, May 13, 2011
You've Got Legs #9
Exercising, working out, walking, any of these done on a regular daily basis are some important things we do to improve and maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Working out has become something I enjoy and look forward to doing. But exercising can become boring if I don't change my routine occasionally. Which type of strength machines, how many repetitions, how often I do certain exercises. In which order I do them. I change a few at intervals, just to keep exercising from becoming a boring duty, rather than something to look forward to. I even change the times of day I go.
It is easy to get bored on the treadmill, so I will watch music videos (several TV' screens along the walls) people watch, or listen to my iPod. I always try to pick out a treadmill where I can see the front entrance and can watch whose coming and going. After the treadmill I'll begin strength training exercises. Usually doing 100 rep's on the total abdominal machine. If you're losing weight you'll want to do some exercises to tighten up those soft and flabby muscles......I do some leg extensions, this should help your leg muscles and circulation. I then do some weight lifting about 70 lbs. and about 40 reps. It's then back to the abdominal for another 40 reps, I'm then doing some back rows, and finish up by doing 50 reps on an abdominal crunch machine. All of these are vigorous exercises, increasing my heart rate, training muscles, and hopefully improving my strength and heart health.
You'll see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes working out. Not many true athletes, just folks like you and me wanting to take care of their health and bodies. That's not to say everyone is there strictly for coronary health. Some are working on strength, building more muscle, toning their bodies. Runners and cyclers are usually slender and physically fit, they're working on building leg strength and stamina. Again the vast majority are like the rest of us. Working on general fitness.
How many people do you know who have had heart attacks? Did they change their lifestyles like us to improve their health? I know 2 guys who were like me. Not eating right, not exercising, overweight, one was a smoker and still is. Neither has changed eating, or exercising habits. Are we overreacting by radically changing our lifestyle and focusing on health and exercise? If you are in your 50's or 60's why would you not at least try to become healthier after a heart attack? I would like to know the statistic's of this. Of those who had heart attacks, and heart surgery, how many had to have heart surgery again at a later time? I've had 2 cardiologists tell me that it is rather common, and people like you and I are more uncommon, those that actually make the changes to better health.
While working out the other day a lady came up and told me I had great legs. And yes, the first thing I did when I got home was tell my wife. She didn't seem too concerned ???? Apparently she is not that impressed with my legs.
It is easy to get bored on the treadmill, so I will watch music videos (several TV' screens along the walls) people watch, or listen to my iPod. I always try to pick out a treadmill where I can see the front entrance and can watch whose coming and going. After the treadmill I'll begin strength training exercises. Usually doing 100 rep's on the total abdominal machine. If you're losing weight you'll want to do some exercises to tighten up those soft and flabby muscles......I do some leg extensions, this should help your leg muscles and circulation. I then do some weight lifting about 70 lbs. and about 40 reps. It's then back to the abdominal for another 40 reps, I'm then doing some back rows, and finish up by doing 50 reps on an abdominal crunch machine. All of these are vigorous exercises, increasing my heart rate, training muscles, and hopefully improving my strength and heart health.
You'll see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes working out. Not many true athletes, just folks like you and me wanting to take care of their health and bodies. That's not to say everyone is there strictly for coronary health. Some are working on strength, building more muscle, toning their bodies. Runners and cyclers are usually slender and physically fit, they're working on building leg strength and stamina. Again the vast majority are like the rest of us. Working on general fitness.
How many people do you know who have had heart attacks? Did they change their lifestyles like us to improve their health? I know 2 guys who were like me. Not eating right, not exercising, overweight, one was a smoker and still is. Neither has changed eating, or exercising habits. Are we overreacting by radically changing our lifestyle and focusing on health and exercise? If you are in your 50's or 60's why would you not at least try to become healthier after a heart attack? I would like to know the statistic's of this. Of those who had heart attacks, and heart surgery, how many had to have heart surgery again at a later time? I've had 2 cardiologists tell me that it is rather common, and people like you and I are more uncommon, those that actually make the changes to better health.
While working out the other day a lady came up and told me I had great legs. And yes, the first thing I did when I got home was tell my wife. She didn't seem too concerned ???? Apparently she is not that impressed with my legs.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Cholesterol, Foods, Weight Control #8
There are certain foods I eat for good health and weight loss. These foods are important for us who are cardiac patients and must improve our cholesterol, in particular LDL. Oatmeal is one of those foods. If you have been reading me, you know not only do I eat a lot of oatmeal, I enjoy the taste and eating it. Sometimes I also will have it for lunch and dinner. I have eaten at least one large serving of oatmeal every day for the last 18 months. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber which helps remove bad cholesterol from your body. In addition, it helps improve your good cholesterol. It has 150 calories for one serving and satisfies my appetite. I eat it plain, not adding milk, sugar, butter, or margarine. I attribute eating oatmeal as being one of the factors of my cholestrol levels improving so greatly that my cardiologist has reduced my cholesterol medications by 50%.
Strawberries are another food that can not only help you lose weight but is healthy for you. It can help in weight loss by replacing sweets, chips, and other snack foods. I eat a 2 pound container of fresh plain strawberries in about 3 days. I eat them between meals as a snack and appetite suppressor. I do not eat candy, candy bars, chips, or drink any kind of soft drinks, diet or regular. I add strawberries to salads along with walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seed kernels. Strawberries are very high in vitamin C and contain vitamin B2, B3, Omega 3 and potent antioxidants. They also contain ellagitannin which is associated with decreased rates of cancers. Strawberries are thought to help prevent age related vision loss.
I eat almonds, walnuts, sunflower seed kernels, and some peanuts. All are a little high in calories, however, they contain Omega 3, and reduce unhealthy cholesterol in your body. I eat them unsalted.
I have mentioned before that daily I eat many different kinds of fruits, depending on their availability.
Fruits are a healthy source of vitamins and antioxidants. I also think that even though fruits can be high in sugar content and calories, those sugars and calories produced naturally, are better for you than those manufactured for taste in candy, soft drinks, and other snack foods. Eating chicken provides me with protein and it is almost completely fat free.
I take my blood pressure 3 times daily and record it. This provides my cardiologist with an accurate record when reviewing and prescribing medication for controlling my blood pressure. A realistic health goal is through diet, weight loss and exercise, to reduce the amounts and kinds of medication I take to control my blood pressure. My cholesterol has been checked every 6 months since my heart attack and has shown steady and significant improvements. My last cholesterol test revealed my LDL level was below 20. My HDL was 38, and triglycerides were 84. I need to continue to eat foods high in Omega 3, exercise, and control my weight to improve my HDL. Foods that I eat regularly and consist of my normal diet are leafy salads, tomatos, carrots, various green vegetables, soups, chilis, baked potatoes, tuna fish, chicken, skim milk, cornflakes, oatmeal, orange juice, and about any sort of fresh fruit available. I have made fresh fruit the foundation of my daily diet. How good or bad is that? I don't know, but I would like to hear some of your thoughts about it. Do you eat store brands or name brands when choosing your favorite foods? When picking out my favorite, oatmeal (I use the 1 minute kind), I always go with my reliable name brand. I have tried the various store brand oatmeals. I'll tell you about it later.
Strawberries are another food that can not only help you lose weight but is healthy for you. It can help in weight loss by replacing sweets, chips, and other snack foods. I eat a 2 pound container of fresh plain strawberries in about 3 days. I eat them between meals as a snack and appetite suppressor. I do not eat candy, candy bars, chips, or drink any kind of soft drinks, diet or regular. I add strawberries to salads along with walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seed kernels. Strawberries are very high in vitamin C and contain vitamin B2, B3, Omega 3 and potent antioxidants. They also contain ellagitannin which is associated with decreased rates of cancers. Strawberries are thought to help prevent age related vision loss.
I eat almonds, walnuts, sunflower seed kernels, and some peanuts. All are a little high in calories, however, they contain Omega 3, and reduce unhealthy cholesterol in your body. I eat them unsalted.
I have mentioned before that daily I eat many different kinds of fruits, depending on their availability.
Fruits are a healthy source of vitamins and antioxidants. I also think that even though fruits can be high in sugar content and calories, those sugars and calories produced naturally, are better for you than those manufactured for taste in candy, soft drinks, and other snack foods. Eating chicken provides me with protein and it is almost completely fat free.
I take my blood pressure 3 times daily and record it. This provides my cardiologist with an accurate record when reviewing and prescribing medication for controlling my blood pressure. A realistic health goal is through diet, weight loss and exercise, to reduce the amounts and kinds of medication I take to control my blood pressure. My cholesterol has been checked every 6 months since my heart attack and has shown steady and significant improvements. My last cholesterol test revealed my LDL level was below 20. My HDL was 38, and triglycerides were 84. I need to continue to eat foods high in Omega 3, exercise, and control my weight to improve my HDL. Foods that I eat regularly and consist of my normal diet are leafy salads, tomatos, carrots, various green vegetables, soups, chilis, baked potatoes, tuna fish, chicken, skim milk, cornflakes, oatmeal, orange juice, and about any sort of fresh fruit available. I have made fresh fruit the foundation of my daily diet. How good or bad is that? I don't know, but I would like to hear some of your thoughts about it. Do you eat store brands or name brands when choosing your favorite foods? When picking out my favorite, oatmeal (I use the 1 minute kind), I always go with my reliable name brand. I have tried the various store brand oatmeals. I'll tell you about it later.
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