The Diet And Fitness Battle - Orchid Board

GreggC · #1 01-08-2009, 11:08 AM

Nobody said that this would be easy, and believe me, it isn't. As many of you know, I have been working out trying to get myself in better shape and trying to eat right. When you have had a kidney transplant, it makes it tougher, because you cannot eat some of the things that the fitness magazines tell you that you should eat. There is no eating large amounts of protein in order to help your muscles recover quicker, nor is there the massive carbohydrate intake that some prescribe to give you fuel to do your workouts. Couple that with the fact that I want to lose more weight, and it becomes harder yet. I am trying to get on track to average about 1800-1900 calories per day and keep my carbohydrates and protein where they need to be. Protein in larger amounts will harm the kidney, and because of the medication regimen that I have to follow, I need to keep a close eye on how many carbohydrates I ingest because of the fear of developing diabetes.

Last night, while waiting for the wife to come home from her weight training session, I thought I would chew my arm off because I was so hungry. Hopefully, this won't last too much longer.

Becca · #2 01-08-2009, 11:40 AM

Hi Gregg! While I am not in the same situation as you, I too am trying to get back into shape and eat better. I decided to give the South Beach Diet since my Dad and his late wife did so well on it and made it sound so easy. Fat free cottage cheese (excuse me while I barf), Fat free cheese (that isn't cheese so excuse me while I puke again...lol...and fat free or 1% milk looks like water!). I can live with turkey bacon...but I can only eat scrambled eggs so many days in a row for breakfast! I want food that taste good, is healthy, and fast to make! I don't want to be slaving in the kitchen for a weeks worth of lunches! I keep telling myself the hard part is only for two weeks! I am having my doubts already! I am also trying to make it to the gym more them twice a week. I wish I could hire a trainer! I can only imagine how hard it is for you Gregg!

christina waines · #3 01-08-2009, 11:59 AM

I don't know if this helps or not but here goes... years ago when I was pregnant with my son I was very close to becoming diabetic if not actually already diabetic. I had to watch what I ate very closely because I didn't want to go on medication.After doing some research I discovered the only food I could eat without worry how it would affect my blood sugar was ..... Broccoli. So when I was starving I ate broccoli like it was going out of style plus watched my protein and carbs like a hawk. Being able to have broccoli when ever I wanted helped out a lot against the other cravings I was fighting. Don't know if this applies in your case but just my

ps I only gained 20 pounds during my pregnancy and it was all the kid. Today he's 6'1" and still growing

I wonder if it was the broccoli that did it

Becca · #4 01-08-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christina waines

I don't know if this helps or not but here goes... years ago when I was pregnant with my son I was very close to becoming diabetic if not actually already diabetic. I had to watch what I ate very closely because I didn't want to go on medication.After doing some research I discovered the only food I could eat without worry how it would affect my blood sugar was ..... Broccoli. So when I was starving I ate broccoli like it was going out of style plus watched my protein and carbs like a hawk. Being able to have broccoli when ever I wanted helped out a lot against the other cravings I was fighting. Don't know if this applies in your case but just my

ps I only gained 20 pounds during my pregnancy and it was all the kid. Today he's 6'1" and still growing

I wonder if it was the broccoli that did it

Didn't you get sick and tired of eating broccoli! Sometimes if I eat something to often it will make me want to puke if I take another bite!

GreggC · #5 01-08-2009, 12:05 PM

And I push myself as hard as I possibly can as far as the cardio stuff is concerned. I think that this is where I have lost the most weight, but a combination is probably better. I do have a lot of fitness equipment at my disposal other than the gym--lat machine, weight bench, leg press/hack squat machine, adjustable dumbbell weights, bosu ball, ball for ball squats and treadmill so I can work out on my own if I need to. I am going twice a week to the gym and have seen a lot of improvement. Since March 1, 2008, I have lost 30#, but I would still like to lose another 25# and that is what I am working on now. It also helps me to better manage my blood sugar levels.

Becca · #6 01-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Keep up the hard work Gregg! You can do it!

christina waines · #7 01-08-2009, 12:10 PM

I did get sick and tired of it but when you have the munchies and know that anything else will hurt you or the baby the choice was a little easier.

christina waines · #8 01-08-2009, 12:11 PM

yes Gregg you can

cb977 · #9 01-08-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becca

Hi Gregg! While I am not in the same situation as you, I too am trying to get back into shape and eat better. I decided to give the South Beach Diet since my Dad and his late wife did so well on it and made it sound so easy. Fat free cottage cheese (excuse me while I barf), Fat free cheese (that isn't cheese so excuse me while I puke again...lol...and fat free or 1% milk looks like water!). I can live with turkey bacon...but I can only eat scrambled eggs so many days in a row for breakfast! I want food that taste good, is healthy, and fast to make! I don't want to be slaving in the kitchen for a weeks worth of lunches! I keep telling myself the hard part is only for two weeks! I am having my doubts already! I am also trying to make it to the gym more them twice a week. I wish I could hire a trainer! I can only imagine how hard it is for you Gregg!

Becca,

A few years ago, we did the South Beach diet and I can tell you...it really works, and it's not hard to do. The recipes they have in the book are recipes I still make even though we're no longer on the diet for now.

When we went back to eating regular stuff, we did gain weight but that was just stupidity on our part :duh

I plan on breaking out the book and getting back into it.

The choice to do the SBD wasn't actually a weight loss thing (although it should have been

)...I saw somebody talking about it on TV and they were saying their blood sugar numbers and blood pressure were all back in check...and they were able to reduce or eliminate their medications for those terrible things. My husband has both (on meds but not insulin for the diabetes) and my MIL has been diabetic for years. I bought the book originally for her, as a diabetic health option but I read through it first and as I was reading it, all the bells and whistles were going off in my head, it just makes sense.

You can do it..and when I start...we'll be doing it together and can exchange ideas and information if you'd like.

Maybe we can get a Orchidboard/South Beach Diet club going

cb977 · #10 01-08-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreggC

And I push myself as hard as I possibly can as far as the cardio stuff is concerned. I think that this is where I have lost the most weight, but a combination is probably better. I do have a lot of fitness equipment at my disposal other than the gym--lat machine, weight bench, leg press/hack squat machine, adjustable dumbbell weights, bosu ball, ball for ball squats and treadmill so I can work out on my own if I need to. I am going twice a week to the gym and have seen a lot of improvement. Since March 1, 2008, I have lost 30#, but I would still like to lose another 25# and that is what I am working on now. It also helps me to better manage my blood sugar levels.

Gregg, you will accomplish this! It's just a matter of time...I know you have the power to get where you want to be