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April 2007
The Original Drink is Water
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Often times I am asked, “can I drink anything other than water?”
Of course you can, but should you? First, I want you to understand that I am not a “water only” kind of guy. I do drink a diet soda every now and then, enjoy tea, plus I enjoy a cold beer sometimes.
Still, my primary source of liquid consumption is good-ole water. I find it amazing sometimes that people are resistant to drinking the natural substance. I hear things like, “it has no taste” (which I consider a good thing), “it makes me sick,” and “it makes me feel slushy” (yes, I have heard that one).
As a child, I was very fortunate as the property my family’s house is on has a spring. Till this day, my mother and father drink spring water out of the tap. I understand that most people have not had this pleasure, as water out of the tap can taste bad and might not be good on the digestive system because of compounds to purify it. Still though, you can buy filters (which is the cheapest way) or buy bottled water.
When you look at any other species of life on the planet, they drink water. Rivers are not filled with carbonated water, flavored water, soda, tea, coffee, wine, beer, sports drink, etc. They are filled with water and that’s what animals drink. If they were to drink something else they would probably eventually develop problems.
To do a test on whether you should drink water or not, pour soda, or whatever you want other than water in the radiator of your car. Now, I really don’t think you should do this, but I would be willing to bet if you did it would not operate that well, or at all.
Running a car without radiator fluid is like not drinking “real” water. Your body may function, but it won’t function optimally and might even breakdown. If you don’t like water it is because you made a habit of not liking it. If you were on this planet centuries ago, you wouldn’t know any different. If you’re a habitual non-water drinker and start drinking it, you’ll probably find that you will begin to feel a lot better.
Are you or someone you know a non-water drinker? Have you or someone you know started drinking it more and feel the benefits?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: General Fitness, Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition
Advice is everywhere - How do you know what is right for you?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It amazes me how much information is on the net to read when you are seeking advice on how to live a healthier life. I did a search on msn.com and below is what I found:
• Weight Loss - - 75, 846, 293 pages of internet sites, about 10 sites per page
• Exercise - - 47,338,014 pages
• Healthy Eating - - 612,876 pages
No wonder people who need to lose weight, eat healthier, etc.; have a hard time to start, stay focus and not quit. So what do you do?
Personally I have to take the advice I receive, along with what I read, and what my doctors suggest; as well as what my trainers suggest and create a plan along with goals that I know I can control myself and hopefully succeed.
I had an MRI on my knees and the result is I have severe cartilage lost behind my knee caps. For the next six weeks I will have physical therapy twice a week, exercise to build up my quads, and start back with spin classes to help build up my quads and boxing. I am confident my knees will get better so I will not need surgery.
My current goals are to keep getting off my diabetics meds - I am off one and one has been reduced! YEAH!!! To keep eating healthier! I want to continue to get fit physically, spiritually and emotionally this year. I still have a goal in the future to walk a half marathon but not this year. My other goals are much more important to me as my knees heal.
I appreciate everyone’s support, encouragement that helps me through the challenging times such as my knees or when I become frustrated and want to call it quits. With your continued support and prayers I know I will continue to get healthier. Thank you!
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Laura
Let go … of the denial
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There’s an expression that I’ve always hated, and that is “She has really let herself go.” (Of course, whenever it was said in my presence, it was said about someone else.) I think I hate that expression because it makes me feel so guilty about MYself, like “This is something I did to myself.” Well, guess what? It is. I am not obese because I had health problems or because someone forced food down my throat. This is all my own doing. It didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly wasn’t a conscious decision. But it happened all the same, and I have no one to blame but myself.
However, I was almost always in denial. Denying that the double cheeseburger was really that bad. Denying that there was anything wrong with one more hour in front of the computer instead of getting some exercise. But when I happened to hear someone use that dreaded expression, it always hit home that my fat and poor physical condition was due to ME.
Do you ever have those feelings of denial? I have learned that you must come to terms with that denial and realize that, “Okay, it’s been my doing. So I’m the one that needs to take the steps to un-do this.”
No matter how far gone you think you are, you can take those steps. And I would urge anyone out there reading this, if you are overweight and in an unhealthy state, to look at your eating and exercise habits and come to terms with the fact that they probably need to change. Of course, I have just the person for you, and that’s the trainer who has so graciously helped me get OUT of this denial. Have YOU thought about the benefits of getting a trainer who can tell you WHY that double cheeseburger just isn’t worth it, or HOW that extra hour in front of the computer can be better spent? Yes, it’s an investment - of time, money and effort - but isn’t that investment worth it?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Jennifer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cydnee has chosen to withdraw from the Fit Challenge. We appreciate her encouraging words and hope she continues to work toward her health and fitness goals. Good luck, Cydnee.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Cydnee
Get SMART and Go!!!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week makes the 2 ½ week I have been unable to work out because of my knees. The Specialist believes I have a Meniscal tear and sent me to have a MRI. I meet with him Friday to find out the results.
This indeed has been a set back for me, because working out has become a habit to me. Working out I am glad I can say is a good habit for me to have. My downfall is if one of the steps I have in place breaks I allow the others to start to crumble. Which I realize is not good, but I also realize I can start again as I mentioned in my blog last week.
I have been struggling with getting back on track even if I can’t work out and I found this article in a diabetic magazine. Learn about yourself, so that you can make SMART choices as you go through each day.
S - is for specific. Be clear about exactly what you will do.
M - is for Measurable. Know exactly what you will do and how you can tell if you have done what you wanted.
A - is for Attainable. Choose a goal that you can reach, not something you will never be able to do or will be too hard to do.
R - is for Relevant. Whatever you decide to do should help you reach your overall goal.
T - is for Time-specific. Decide exactly how long you will do what you have said.
SMART made me realize about goals in my life. I have goals that people think I should choose because they are their goals; I have people who wrote goals for me without consulting me. I have people who tell me goals are made to be broken; others who tell me goals are pointless. People who also tell me I have to have goals each day, weekly, monthly, yearly and so on. The bottom line is all the above comments on goals have become very irritating and stressful for me to focus on what I, Laura Kay, want for my goals, goals that only God and I choose for me.
For today I am going to be SMART and start listening to God, my heart and decide what MY GOALS are. Stay tune next week on MY GOALS.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Laura
Really… Diets don’t Work?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the April edition of “American Psychologist,” a new study published states that diets just don’t work for most people (which is an understatement). This comes after just a week or two ago that Atkins is the “best of all diets” talk. So, what does this mean?
Well, simply as it says. Diets don’t work. The reason is quite obvious. You gain the weight back. They also mention in the study not only do you gain the weight back, but you gain more than what you lost.
For years as a fitness consultant I always ask a prospective client the question, “Have you been on a diet?” Of course the answer I get is “Yes.” Then I ask, “Did it work?” Then they will say, “Yes.” Then I ask, “Well, if it worked, then why are you in my office looking to lose weight?” It is at that moment that light-bulb goes off in their brain. As they sit their for a moment they finally laugh and reply, “Well… I guess it really didn’t, did it?”
I give you this illustration to point out that weight loss from diets are temporary. As you may have already learned, much of the “weight” loss is not even fat, but water and muscle.
Other big reasons diets don’t work is that they don’t focus on changing behavior and lifestyle (though they will claim they do). There is no incorporation of a fitness plan to improve metabolism and utilize excess calories. Diets are too strict, so you can’t maintain them and they don’t focus on you (the individual).
Bottom-line is, if you are a dieter, you need to ditch the habit (this is known as Yo-Yo dieting). If you’re planning to go on a diet, don’t do it. Save yourself from the heartache and frustration you feel when you gain it all back. Do the “right” things that you always here about which is supportive nutrition, cardiovascular exercise, and weight training.
Have any thoughts on this subject? Go ahead and share.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: Health, In The News, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Weight Loss
One Day at a Time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s obviously difficult to suddenly stop doing things you’ve been doing for a lifetime. For decades, literally, I have been eating practically whatever I want and not exercising if I didn’t feel like it (which was pretty often!) Okay, so here I am trying to eat right all the time and exercise daily. That’s a huge change. There have been times when I’ve thought to myself, “I just can’t do this.” There was a day earlier this week when I wondered how on earth I could go on with this. Don’t those days just make you want to quit for good?
That day, thanks to something one of the other Fitness Challenge bloggers wrote, I decided “Okay, I’ll just keep with it for today. I’ll just get through TODAY.” Well, I got through that day (maybe not perfectly, but better than quitting), and when I woke up the next day I was still on a roll and got through that day. And then the next and then the next. It was a huge lesson for me - to take it one day at a time and not think to myself “I have to go through this every day for the rest of my life…how can I possibly do that?”
Yesterday, I had a new workout. I like how my trainer, Kelly at Fitness Together in Sandy Springs, changes things up fairly often. That way, I don’t get bored and my muscles don’t get used to what I’m doing. Anyway, it wasn’t an easy work out! But after I was done, I felt great. My body ached a little, but I really felt like I’d accomplished something and that I was definitely on the right track. Thank goodness I didn’t let my feelings from earlier in the week take hold! This is another great thing about having a trainer - when you feel like quitting, like you just want to be lazy, all you have to do is drive to your training appointment. That doesn’t take much energy. At that point, the trainer takes over your brain and you end up working out and working out hard! And just a little while ago, you didn’t feel like doing anything. Would anyone else like to weigh in on the psychological benefits of having a trainer? And for those who haven’t had a trainer, please tell us your tips for keeping up with your routine on those days when you just don’t feel like it.
Anyway, I’ve learned that I never know where I’m going to get my inspiration or where that little ounce of motivation is going to come from. Thanks, Laura; Thanks, Kelly; Thanks to those who are blogging to me; and Thanks to all my friends and family!
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Jennifer
More than a Number
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Being healthy is more than the number your scale reads every morning. However, that is not what you will see when you browse the magazine aisle at the store, or see and hear in advertisements that sell weightloss products. And it’s not what you’ll hear at the office cooler or while eavsdropping in on a conversation between girlfriends.
It is unfortunate that many people associate health with their weight because it puts the focus on an indicator that is not even close to 100% accurate. I know many people who are an ideal weight for their height or underweight and not healthy and people who are 20 pounds overweight and incredibly healthy.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying being overweight is not a health concern. It certainly is! But let’s look at the big picture. Do you exercise 4-6 times a week? Do you eat a balanced diet? Do you manage your stress? Do you get enough sleep? Do you make regular check ups with your physician, dentist, gynecologist, etc? Are you actively and appropriately managing any chronic disease you may have?
If you answered “yes” to all these questions and are 15 pounds overweight you should not be beating yourself up every day when you step on the scale. You should be PROUD of yourself!
Be the healthiest you can be at whatever weight you are and remember health is not determined solely by the number on the scale.
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Do a Run/Walk for the Soul
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m sure you’re familiar with the Peachtree Road Race. I’m also sure you are aware there are many other races that are coming up this spring and summer. What you may not realize is that many of these events are for a good cause. If you’re anything like me, you try to look for things that you can do to contribute to others who are in need.
One race in particular that comes to mind is an event that is going to support one person. His name is Carl Lawson, a Georgia Tech graduate and former running back for the 1990 National Championship team. Carl has a condition called Focal Glomerusclerosis (FGSM), which is a condition that affects the kidneys. Because of his condition, Carl needs a transplant and is only surviving today because of 4-hour long dialysis treatments he is receiving 3 times a week.
On April 29th, 2007, a 5K walk/run has been put together to raise $25,000 to raise money for anti-rejection medications. He will not be able to get the transplant until he has the money. All donations go to the National Foundation for Transplants. This is the link to register for the race- Fitness Together/Terra Sports 5K Run/Walk for Carl. Another event that is coming up is the 5K Run for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at Atlantic Station.
One of the biggest misconceptions about many of these events is that you have to be a fine tuned athlete to do them. You don’t even have to run, you can walk. I don’t advise you to do any of them if you are not at least a moderate exerciser. What I will say is that you don’t have to try to win to participate for something that goes beyond helping heart, but something that can save a life and at the same time, be good for your soul.
What events are you attending this year for a good cause? Let us know about it.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: In The News
You Can Start Again!!!!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each week I have shared my successes and my struggles. I have supporters that help me to succeed and encourage me when I am struggling. I want to thank those people, establishments and restaurants. If you are searching for a healthy life I challenge you just start. Once you start it easier to go the next day and the next. Once in awhile as I do and the other challengers have discussed you can have a bad meal, bad day or a bad week. So what? What you have to do is simple - START AGAIN!!!!
Just because you slipped doesn’t make you a failure it can make you stronger to stay focus and hold yourself accountable.
If you slip again, so what again, you start again!!!
I have learned from my supporters you can only fail if you talk yourself into failing. You have to set goals, even if it is one goal a day. You have to learn to let others help you. All of these are things on a daily I have to focus on to stay positive along with prayer. I have wonderful supporting family and friends.
Below are a few of the people, establishments and restaurants that help me to be successful by supporting me, giving me a place to come that helps me promote a positive attitude and giving me a chance to eat healthier when I do not want to eat at home. For the record no one asked me to promote the following web sites and people.
www.inspireatlanta.com - - - The staff have donated lots and lots of hours to help me with the AJC Fitness Challenge through PT, Pilates, acupuncture, massage therapy, counseling, and nutrition, Sara, David, Linda, Harry, Therese - THANK YOU!!! www.ffatl.com - - - Fitness Factory my gym, talk to Jerry about special memberships when you mention my name and blog. Fitness classes as well as in house certified trainers; Creed Perry is my trainer and has a knack off making it fun but intense. I love Boxing because of him. www.PRUMC.org - - - Peachtree Road United Methodist Church is my church. A great place to worship with your friends, share your faith and be encouraged. www.seasons52.com - - - Healthy food with delicious low calorie desserts www.docgreens.com - - - Healthy delicious salads at a good price www.weighdown.com - - - Series of books and tapes that shows you to focus on God to loose weight. www.moes.com - - - Healthy tasty salads without the shell and cheap
I greatly appreciate all you comment on my blog by showing support, giving me suggestions and sharing your experiences. Keep them coming I read them daily. For other inspiring blogs click on the names Cyndee and Jennifer my co-challengers they inspire me weekly with their blogs.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Categories: Laura
A novel idea: Cooking and eating at home!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My old eating-out buddies (including my very own family) think I’ve become a boring fuddy-duddy because I never want to go out anymore. I used to love eating out. The food in any restaurant tasted better than anything from my own kitchen. So why do I suddenly want to stay home and cook? I’ts just too difficult to make a healthy balanced meal out of restaurant food.
First, restaurants typically don’t serve whole grains. You don’t see brown rice, whole wheat pasta or whole grain bread on many restaurant tables. Second, have you noticed how much stuff that you wouldn’t put on your food at home is on restaurant food?
I just had fish at a business luncheon (at a very expensive, white-tablecloth restaurant that specializes in seafood). It was coated in sauce, and piled on top were some sort of buttered bread crumbs. Yes, it was quite tasty, but as I let the sauce puddle up on the side of my plate, I noticed it glistening with grease (as were the steamed green beans).
To be honest, a lot of restaurant food seems to be coated in some sort of greasy goodness - I’m not really even sure what it is. But I do know that it makes the food somehow tastier and I believe it’s actually what makes eating out so addictive. What do you think it is about restaurant food that seems to make it taste better than things we cook at home?
l’ll admit that some well-known restaurant chains have healthy choices like a baked chicken breast with broccoli, and maybe even brown rice. I can cook this at home!! What’s the sense in going out just to have something I eat twice a week at my own table? Plus, get me into a restaurant and I immediately want a piece of bread from the basket, a glass of wine, a few french fries off my kid’s plate … well, you get the picture.
I’ve been making some wonderful fresh seafood, serving delicious whole grains, trying new vegetables, and making more salads at home. No wonder my new mantra is “No, let’s just stay home to eat tonight.”
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Jennifer
Arthritis and Exercise
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A recent article published in Arthritis Research and Therapy revealed older women (72-79) who exercised moderately for 2.5 hours/week are likely to prevent arthritis symptoms from appearing. Exercising just 1 hour/week will lessen the chance of developing frequent arthritis symptoms in the next three years for this same group. The researchers from University of Queensland, Austrailia, conclude the more you exercise the more likely you are to prevent the onset of stiff and painful joints.
Arthritis affects over 20% of the US population and is the most prevalent chronic condition for middle and older aged adults.
What better way to manage a chronic disease process than to prevent the onset of its symptoms in the first place? There is an ever growing body of evidence that points to the benefits of exercise for every system in the body. Regular exercise should be part of everyone’s daily routine no matter what your age!
Source: “Relationship between physical activity and stiff or painful joints in mid-aged and older women: a 3 year prospective study” Heesch et al. Arthritis Research and Therapy
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Fallacies and untruths — Uncovered!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Winning the Fitness Challenge has been one of the greatest things in my life. (Okay, besides meeting my husband, having kids, buying a home and wonderful milestones like that.) Why? you ask. My answer is two-pronged: 1) My need to have my eyes opened to the fact that I CAN DO THIS. 2) The fact that I need help and couldn’t do it alone.
Frankly, I didn’t think I could ever get healthy. I had pretty much thrown in the towel on having a normal body. I truly thought I was “too far gone.” I was too set in my ways, too flabby, too out of shape to do anything. Too in love with food to change my eating habits. This experience has taught me that all of those things were actually huge fallacies. I know they were UNTRUTHS because I am, in fact, “doing it”!!
A few more fallacies I held dear: Personal trainers are jocks who work with jocks. A personal trainer would laugh in my face. Again, I have found the total opposite to be true. The trainers I have met and worked with at Fitness Together in Sandy Springs — Kelly and his crew including Kevin, Andrew and Candice — have been incredibly supportive, helpful and caring. Yes, they are in great shape, but they don’t look down on people. Many of their clients are, well, not in the best shape. So they are used to working with people like me; they saw me as just a regular person and not some horrid fat lazy slob. (It was a relief, actually. I was pretty afraid to go at first.) They want me to do well. What a great team to have on my side!
I’ve noticed the two other Fitness Challenge winners have about a million people each supporting them and pulling for them to succeed. But all of us AJC readers who are trying to get healthy don’t necessarily have a huge support system. So if you don’t have tons of people supporting you every day and helping keep you positive and feeling good, what do you do? I’m embarrassed to admit that I like to flex my new arm muscle (I actually now HAVE a muscle in my arm!) and feel how hard it is — that helps keep me excited about this process! Does anyone have any other advice for people who don’t have a huge network or support system?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Jennifer
Keep It Movin’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I say this all the time to clients, “move it or lose it.” But it really is true. Just about every system in our body will atrophy, decline, wither, weaken, or become inefficient if it is not regularly challenged and/or utilized.
The definition of this decline in the skeletal muscle system (the type of muscles that move your body) is called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a greek word meaning “poverty of flesh.” Sarcopenia is a universal part of the aging process. The process of gradual muscle loss starts in your thirties and becomes significant in your fifties. At age 80 more than 50% of people will have clinically determined sarcopenia that is defined as 2 standard deviations below the mean of the average healthy population.
The impact on this loss of muscle mass is enormous. It decreases your ability to recovery from injury, illness, or disease because muscle mass stores nitrogen and amino acids that are essential for our autoimmune system to function. And it decreases your ability to function by decreasing your strength, balance and endurance. Sarcopenia costs our country $18.1 BILLION dollars each year in healthcare expenditures.
The really wonderful thing is that sarcopenia is preventable through regular resistance/strength training. Just as regular cardiovascular exercise is important to keep our heart and lungs in good shape and prevent disease as we age, resistance exercise helps to keep our muscular system from wasting and strength from declining. And don’t think you can’t build muscle/strength if you are over a certain age. Studies have shown that men and women in their nineties can build muscle mass and strength with resistance exercise.
Does anyone have creative ways they make sure they incorporate strength training into their workouts?
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Beating the Odds
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the benefits of my profession (executive recruiting) is that I can work from anywhere. As long as I have access to the Internet and my cell, I’m in business. Last week my boyfriend, Rob, invited me to Vegas for four days to keep him company while he taught a seminar. Uh oh, Vegas, sin city, buffets laden with fattening foods, decadent cocktails - not exactly the place for woman who is losing weight in the public eye. But hey, just because I’m shrinking my body doesn’t mean I have to shrink my horizons. So, with just a little trepidation, I rolled the figurative dice and boarded Delta Tuesday night.
There was no scale in our room, so I didn’t know how I was doing while away. Upon return Saturday night, I rushed to the scale and …drum roll please … I lost TWO pounds! So even Vegas can be part of a diet regime! How, you ask in stupefied wonder? Here’s how:
• Do aerobic exercise at least 45 minutes every day.
• Walk around the casinos and the strip - wear comfortable shoes. Not the hooker heels sold in every store.
• Restrict yourself to one alcoholic drink and don’t make it a frozen one! (I had vodka on ice, which courtesy of the heavy handed bartender at Pierro’s was more like THREE drinks.)
• Avoid the all-you-can-eat buffets and try to make most of your meals vegetarian.
• Don’t order rich dishes for yourself. Instead, sample a bite off the plate of others! I enjoyed the tastes of Fettuccini Alfredo and Osso Bucco thanks to Rob and the guy at the next table. I do suggest introducing yourself before diving your fork into strangers’ plates.
• Eat three meals a day, snack on fruit or Pria bars (the 110 calorie version) between lunch and dinner and drink lots of water to prevent the attack of the ravenous.
• Go clothes shopping to remind you of your body and how much fun the new spring dresses are.
• Keep your food journal and keep it honest…even in Vegas.
The bottom line for me is its worth rolling the dice on occasion. As long as you are conscientious of what you eat and do, you can enjoy lots of different excursions and not be ‘grounded.’ Life is worth living and there are lots of places to do it. Even if I had gained a few pounds, it would have been ok as I got to experience KA (a Cirque du Soleil production), the Hoover Damn, the Strip, the Wynn, the discount malls, The Atomic Testing Museum and four extra days with Rob. Oh, and I only lost one dollar. How rich is that?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Jennifer
Metabolic Disorders, Part 2
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week, I wrote about the metabolic disorders of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and metabolic syndrome. This week is the sencond part:
3. Hypothyroidism- Hypothyroidism is usually caused by a disease that directly attacks the thyroid. The most common disease is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which actually destroys thyroid tissue. When this happens, you will produce less thyroid hormone, which has an impact on many functions in your body.
Symptoms associated with hypothyroidism are sluggishness, thinning hair, brittle nails, inability to tolerate cold, and weight gain. When it comes to hypothyroidism, the symptoms may occur slowly. If you suffer from this condition and you try to exercise, not only will you find it difficult to lose weight, you’ll find it difficult to muster the energy.
The most common treatment of hypothyroidism is using Synthroid to replace the needed thyroid hormone. Though you may be told that you can get your weight back under control using Synthroid, it is slow coming. However, it is not impossible if the right components are in place. Hypothyroidism — Topic Overview
4. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT’s) and Other Drugs- Before I start talking about medically supervised drug therapies, I have to say that I am in no way suggesting that you should stop using prescribed medications. What I will tell you without getting into a lot of detail is that certain drugs make it difficult for you to lose weight.
The most common drug classification are HRT’s. An HRT is an estrogen-progesterin combination usually used for women after menopause. Besides headaches and nausea, taken an HRT can cause you to gain weight and makes it even more difficult for you to lose weight. You see, estrogen is a fat-“causing” hormone. As with most natural processes in your body, there is something that is stimulated by the production of a hormone. In the case of taking a hormone externally, that process does not work as well.
To make things worse, a lot of times HRT’s are combined with mood altering drugs like Prozac. Interestingly, antidepressants like Prozac are also associated to weight gain. Antidepressants alter the hormone serotonin, which in turn can have an impact on other hormones. And, if you are like a lot of the American population today, you could be taking high blood pressure medication or other medications that cause water retention.
When you start to combine all of these medications together, you have one big elixir of weight loss inhibiting drugs. However, I’m not telling you not to take the drugs. What I will tell you is three things.
1. Educate yourself about ALL of the side effects of your medications. Your doctor will mention side effects, but they rarely mention weight gain or weight loss difficulty.
2. If you do have to take these medications, then you need to focus on health verses weight loss. Remember, weight is nothing more than gravity pulling an object toward Earth and it is not a measure your self worth or health.
3. When you are involved in exercise and nutrition programming, inform your doctor. Let them know your intentions to lose weight and get healthy by exercise and proper nutrition. You will see that your doctor will probably be ecstatic, however, they don’t talk about it much because most patients don’t display any interest.
If you want more information about any of the topics I mentioned, I highly suggest going to WebMD.com and other resources to learn more. Interestingly, you will find that proper nutrition and an exercise program consisting of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise is always suggested.
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