OK, We've had all other kinds of subjects, so why not one that will actually help us. And it's NOT just for the totals of what we eat each day, but can be ANYTHING associated with nutrition. We'll just see if there is any interest.

I'm not real happy. Today I had

Chol Carbs Prot Cals
233 217.72 79.65 1801

Lot more than I thought it would be.

I found this out by using the website
https://www.fatsecret.com/Diary.aspx?pa=fj&id=22492905&dt=16824

It has a whole range of "Tools" you can use to figure out, track and work on your diet and exercise programs. Give it it a look see. I like it for just the food portion if nothing else.

I'll play. I've developed my own routine. Lost 105 lbs...down from 260 to 155 lbs, and maintaining between 153-156 lbs. 5'10"...BMI 22.4...fat% ~7%. Swam 30 laps, 200 push ups, 200 10 lb sit ups.

fat-46.2 g
carbs- 90.14 g
protein 63.15 g
Cals-1005

I dropped down to very lean last year, but chose to put some caloric reserves back on.

Carrying an extra 10-15 (for a 5'-10" naturally athletically built man) might make you LOOK less Hollywood, but it adds about three weeks of fat reserves for an emergency while not being enough to create diabetic or heart problems.

In my 40's now, and more worried about surviving tomorrow than looking like Ryan Renolds.

If you ever see pics of Delta guys...they don't look "ripped" or "cut" or whatever.

I just thought that the website was a neat one for all the different foods you can find info on and for keeping track of your diet, IF that is your inclination.

Absolutely a good resource! Most of us need to do a better job nutritionally. I wasn't rebutting your thread concept. I did want to point out our societal "image" that isn't totally compatible with self sufficiency / emergency preparedness.

A few pounds are okay. Over 15 pounds is an issue, and should be addressed.

We have a book "calorie counts" that has the nutritional content of every conceivable food. We bought this about four years ago, and it reinforced our dietary habits.

Seeing the hidden calories / fat / cholesterol can help steer people toward healthier lifestyles.

We do NOT consume:

GMO
Sodas
Coffee
Caffeinated Anything
Soy (in any form)
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Food with Dyes
Meat with Added Hormones
Meat treated with Antibiotics
Meat Fed Corn or Soy


We DO eat:

Unlimited Raw Organic Veg
Unlimited Raw Organic Greens
Organic Eggs
Organic Milk
Organic Chicken
Wild Caught Salmon, Swai, Flounder, Etc
Cooked Organic Veg
Organic Beans
Organic Pasta
Organic Rice
Free Range Grass Fed & Finished Beef
Organic or Imported Cheese
Homemade Organic Bread
Etc

A junk food treat we like is All Natural (no PGPR) Chocolate Chips stirred into Organic Peanut Butter.

Never thought you were rebutting it Gary.

I'd say you guys ARE serious.

One thing a lot of us probably do (YUP my finger is pointing at me first) is we eat to fast. I can be finished before Patty is even half done! ONE thing that will help me is to SLOW DOWN and try and actually enjoy my food instead of just shoveling it in my Pie hole.

I HAVE to get this under control or Patty won't have to worry about getting older with me.

Oh talking about food, I just posted a KILLER Curry Broccoli cauliflower and cheddar cheese recipe in the cook book thread.

I think it's a military thing I know I have never been able to slow down since I got out. I lost around 35 lbs this year I am now 6'1" and 205 If I wanted to hollywood I could lose another 10 but I feel great as is and I don't have to watch every calorie as is so I am good.

Slowing down is a good point. You enjoy your food, and can tell when you're full. Stomach "feedback" isn't instantaneous.

We also learned to drink a glass of water a few minutes before a meal. Cuts down on how much you eat.

My wife is healthy food police around these parts, and reads about it all the time. One thing she's read that we found to be true:

Most Americans mistake thirst for hunger. We're also nearly always in some level of dehydration (which causes weight gain since processing food takes a lot of water). If you back off the: tea; coffee; softdrinks and train yourself to drink water. It'll help in more ways than you realize.

I don't drink enough JUST water. Most of mine comes in the form of tea and coffee and some soft drinks.

Those are diuretics.

Yeah I know. A man has to have SOME vices. I don't drink, smoke or run around with strange women (cept those from church)

I'm through for the day. Just need to look up how many carbs are recommended per day.

Chol Carbs Prot Cals
180 155.95 87.06 1210

JUST looked it up. For a diabetic they recommend 130-180 carbs per day, or 45-65 percent of your caloric intake.

There's nothing more refreshing then a tall glass of ice cold water.

I have a hard time drinking plain water after downing so much of it in the sandbox. I have tried but just can't seem to bring myself to do it.

If I am REALLY thirsty there is NOTHING that will quench my thirst but water, preferably cold.

Grease, have you tried that flavoring stuff you squirt into your water?

I did for quite a while but have heard its bad for you. My favorite thirst quencher is an ice cold grainbelt premium.

I'm personally going for the Ryan Reynolds look

Not.

Furthest from Hollywood here. My mom was diabetic/CHF and passed away from complications of both. My dad had heart disease and passed away from Pneumonia, but was in the hospital for Heart Failure at the time.

I was at 260 lbs and on my way to my inherited problems, but through diet and excercise have got down to 155 lbs. I could still lose 10 to 20 lbs, but am content to maintain where I'm at now. I eat only fruits, vegetables, and chicken or pork...beef once a month. No flour products, no soda or caffeine, and no alcohol at all. Excercise 5 days a week. Never been in better health in my life.

Whiskey is my real vice I am not really interested in giving it up though I just enjoy a good bourbon too much.

Congratulations Luck!

Greaser, Nothing wrong with a drink now and then, as long (of course) as it's not over done.

Well today was a total wash (or as we say WARSH) . Had to take Patty to the Dr. She has Bronchitis or the beginnings of Pneumonia. She got some meds and hopefully will be on the mend.

WE HAD CHINESE!

I was naming off places to eat and Patty said we could do Chinese, BAD mistake. Been on the throne more than a couple times today.

Well now is a different day so time to get back on the wagon and keep on keepin on. I WILL get my weight and sugar level down.

Luck, I wasn't glancing your direction with my comment. It was more of a personal indictment. Last year, I dropped down to 167# and attended a family function. People were quietly asking my wife if I was dying because I was so lean I apparently looked ill. That brought to mind the un-reality of airbrushed magazine cover models and pancake make-up'd "celebrities". I marbled back up some, and people said I looked "healthy" again.

I took a client to dinner last night, and had German food. Between the rye bread, 12" kielbasa, butter drenched white beans and sauerkraut I'm feeling like a bloated tick this morning. The two tall draft Founders Project PAM didn't help.

I enjoy Scotch and craft beer so dark and thick you can chew it.

I don't drink much or frequently, but do salivate at the thought of a heavily peated Scotch or dark malty beer (Porter or Sour or Stout).

I've never used any form of tobacco, don't use drugs (don't even take OTC medicines), eat healthy (most of the time...see the above post), TRY to exercise (my routine walk route is about 7 miles but my work schedule keeps me from it ... often), don't add much salt to my food, etc.

STRESS is going to be my deal breaker.

Gary. For stress relief just picture yourself Walking into a town populated with nothing but Zombies trying to get out and heading straight for Washington, and YOU are the only thing between them.

Oh wait a minute, that would be paradise. Never mind.

OK, picture yourself with the KEY that will release them so they can get to Washington.

Lol Skunk. I have the stress thing too Arch, I try not to let stuff get to me but I often fail.

I knew you weren't, but I was just responding in jest...the screen doesn't translate well. The first thing people ask me if I'm meant to lose weight or if something is wrong. Work place rumor had me gravely ill. I never thought I was a small build person, cause I've always been bigger, but I have found out my natural build is smaller and thinner. There is a negative to losing weight...what the heck do I do with this extra loose skin.

You used the Z word.

Yeah, I should have said the Walking Dead. But then you wouldn't know if I meant the brain eaters or the government!

That's Awesome! First time to see that clip.

Well just got off the tread mill. Third of fourth day for me. Did 14 minutes at 2.5mph with a 6 degree incline. My BP just after was 150/80 and 114bpm. 7 minutes later 130/80 and 74. I feel like I'm doing OK considering this is the most exercise I have done in over 6 months.

I think my food intake is not to bad. Haven't even gotten up over 1350 calories yet and my carbs today were 130.

Thanks for putting up with me guys.

Keep up the good work...It definitely gets easier!

Haha, IF I don't die first!

Good job all around. I'd gotten up to 250 a couple times and decided that was not a good place to be. I'd like to be around 180-190. When I was a younger man, I dropped to 170 and was pretty dang thin. Talked to some recruiter in grad school (seriously glad I didn't go that route--not because the military is a bad thing, but it would have further shredded my joints) and the guy said according to his sheet, I needed to be 150 at the most. I had to laugh--I would be unable to get out of bed if I were 150. My frame is not designed for being less than 170 soaking wet.

I did the South Beach Diet for a few years. Started in China where access to cheap fresh vegs was easy. I'd come home from the market with 50 lbs of fresh produce for $20. I had time to cook and had the drive to make it work. It took a lot of will to get me off the strict phase and introduce some fruit and whole grain back in. I dropped down to 185 and felt amazing.

Then, after being stateside for a couple years, it was harder to buy fresh fruits and vegs. Time dried up, as I got busier with work and more responsibilities. When we added our fourth kid, it became harder and harder to cook for myself so I ate whatever the rest of the family ate. I redeveloped a taste for sugar. Got back up to 238. My efforts to get back on the train were rewarded with 5 knee surgeries and a shoulder surgery as I added exercise back in and found I had a genetic problem that has all-but destroyed the cartilage in virtually all of my joints.

Recently decided I dont want the diabetes, heart disease, or other weight-related issues that plague both sides of the families (my dad is the first male in his direct family to live past 50). So, while there is little I can do about exercise--I will never run a marathon or swim the English Channel--80% of your weight is made in the kitchen. I've decided I need to make healthy eating a priority again.

Cutting out refined sugar has been hard, and on the weekends I don't make it a strict rule. Making breakfast something easy has been key--peppers or a piece of cheese or something raw and tasty. Giant salad with a little dressing and some protein--roast chicken, sauteed beef chunks etc.--for lunch, and something small for dinner--protein and vegetables--has made a difference. And making sure I get plenty of cruciferous vegs, cold water fish, wild game (high in omega 3s vice the 6s of corn-fed animals), and eating dry figs, prunes or pears to help with regularity has also helped.

Today I weighed in at 226--even after helping my younger son perfect an odtmeal cookie recipe three times over the snow-shut down. I can't count calories long-term. I can't do complicated things--I lack the interest and attention. If it works for you, then by all means do it, I just know I can't. But if I can eat as much vegetation as I please, keep the protein moderate, and ensure I eat a little fruit, its simple enough for me to stick to for the long run. Simple and easy. If it's not that I can't do it.

The whole "two track" cooking system may be my undoing, since time still doesnt favor me, but the more I can bring that to a one track system, the more success I'll have in the end. Good luck to everyone and congrats to those that have succeeded with getting to their happy place

Pretty sure they already made it there decades ago....

Good Post DT (the one about eating).

Found a copy of an OLD dictionary from way back in the 1800's. In it there was a listing for Washington.

Washington DC= name of the U.S. Capitol, (DC stands for Dead Cerebellum.

Good job Randy. Hang in there, and stay positive.

Arch

You stated that only eat organic eggs.

Do you have your own chickens or ducks? The wife and I currently buy fresh eggs from a neighbor (less than 2 days old) but with our move next month, that source will no longer be viable.

We where thinking of raising our own chickens at our new house but we aren't sure if the it would be worth the effort especially if we could find a new "fresh" source.

Well went to the Dr yesterday and I'm down (On his scales) to 255. Not as much as I would like, but it beats 268! Slow and steady wins the race, but it sure is discouraging. But at least i am getting used to eating less and less often. I'm working on the dietitians recommendations of eating three meals a day and about a 100 calorie snack between. SO far it's working, but we will see.

Randy,
You inspired me to drop a few pounds. I've lost six pounds since Thursday.

Don't get discouraged. It takes time.

Be sure to change out your diet at irregular times. This stimulates your metabolism. If you eat three small meals and snacks between your body will get use to this, and adjust your metabolic rate downwards....and you'll burn less calories.

Been a while since I've checked the forums. Good to see you guys discussing nutrition.

I am, like Greaser, a bourbon drinker. Yet, i maintain a slim build. I don't eat enough carbs, mostly because I drink them. I really like beer too. I run in the morning and go to the gym at lunch to burn off the excess calories. Not really the best way to do it. I assume the best way would be to not consume those empty calories/alcohol, but ... The best die young.

The special operations guys I am friends with try to stay at about 7-8 percent body fat. Any leaner and they tire quickly. Any heavier and they aren't as fast. They eat like pigs though. They also PT like meth heads looking for their next fix.

I am turning 40 soon and make sure I consume lots of fiber to keep my cholesterol down. It helps according to my last blood work. I eat lots of beans and veggies and MEAT. But, I limit my red meat/beef.

Good to hear from you JJ. I am going at it slowly and hopefully that will allow me to develop a HABIT of doing the food and exercise thing right. Doc wants me on the treadmill 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. I've been off it for the last three days now due to my "Trick" hip. It was a lot better tonight so hopefully it's on the mend again, until next time...

Hit the pool. I really like swimming, but you need a heated pool this time of year if you are not here in Okinawa

.

The only pool around is about 15 miles away and it is an OUTDOOR POOL! Plus it is a municipal not conducive to swimming for exercise. Oh and it IS NOT Olympic size.

Oh hey, any word on your next billit?

About 4 months ago my blood sugar (A1C level from 6.8 to 9.1!) decided to jump from a managable 130-140 up to over 500! I now in addition to my oral medication am on a weekly shot. It's back down in the 120's now and HOPEFULLY will stay that way and I can get off all these meds.

I envy you. Swimming is great exercise, but I HATE swimming. I'm one of the people that sinks like a lead ingot.

About the time I turned 40 my metabolism slowed, and my energy levels dropped. You'll also want to start having your PSA and Testosterone tested regularly.

I enjoy Scotch, red wine (actual health benefits when drank with moderation), and the occasional super-rich Stout / Sour / Porter beer. Scotch is lower in calories than many other "hard drinks". I extremely heavily restrict alcohol consumption. Most of the time I'd rather eat my calories.

We eat raw vegetables every day (I have at least one "dry" ... no dressing ... salad a day and typically 2-3 cooked veg with entrees). People drench their salads with "dressing" which harbors enormous fat and calories. I use a little fresh cracked black pepper or organic salsa (when we add avocado and limit veg like broccoli and cauliflower) as a "dressing" .

I've been trying to reduce my meat intake. Strict 4oz (or less) beef portions and 4-6oz chicken or fish. My wife hates fish, but I've been forcing it on her for 11+ years so she's gradually hating it less.

ETA: We also use almost zero "processed" products. 99% of what we eat is organic, and unprocessed. This can make a big difference.

I enjoy vinager on my salads.

Don't know if I am eating more than I realize or what (haven't been able to get on the treadmill for about 4 days) but I have been stuck at 254-255 for about 5 days now.

That happens Skunk don't let it discourage you.

Yeah I know but it still is discouraging.

Lost 2 pounds yesterday. It was an 850 calorie day, because I'm trying to recover from over endulging on the first vacation I took in four years. I gained 5 pounds last week :0

I don't THINK I have over eaten, but on our home scales I weigh 254. Haven't given up yet.

Back to bread and water!

I was re-reading the beginnings of this thread and saw you talking about the book "Calorie counts" I have looked and looked and can't find it (at least not by that name). Do you have a source for it?

We gave our copy away when we moved or I'd send it to you. I'll ask my wife the exact title and if she remembers anything else.

We downloaded free apps to our iPhones - does the same thing for you...plus much more.

The app is called "My Fitness Pal".

Tracks, weight, food (calories, fat, etc), exercise, and more. Charts progress.

I usually add some weight for winter (calories are harder to find in winter if an emergency occurs so I store some "onboard"). This year I added way too much. The combined effects of moving to town, starting a new division in a new company, access to crap foods (use to live about 30 mins from anything) and the resultant stress added an extra 15 to the 10 I like to carry thru winter.

The result is I want to lose 25 pounds for spring/summer/fall.

My goal is to be at my target weight by mid June.

I've lost 6.8 pounds since last Monday (7 day cycle) when we started our diets.

ETA: 18.2 pounds to go.

I am not sure exactly what my goal is, I just want to loose weight. I would like to be down below 200, but just don't think that is gonna happen, so I will just continue to try and loose and see what happens.

Today I weighed 260. That is down from an all time high of 288 several months ago.

Oh and thanks Gary for the app info. I'll check it out.

Keep up your faith and determination.

We need you around here. Who else are we going to tease?

GREAT! Now even the civilians are picking on the old retired Chairman.

I haven't given up, and I DO want to succeed. I might not be able too get down to 185 again but I can at least get down to less than I am now.

I think I am doing pretty good on the whole weight loss TRYING to eat better thing. I plan on weighing once a week and an still motivated.

I'm down 7.4 pounds from 1.6 weeks ago.

I weigh daily to monitor how my nutritional plan is working. Adjust accordingly.

I weighed again yesterday, now down to a solid 258. As I've said earlier, I've still got a ways to go but over all trend is still downward.

Maybe I need to cut down to just one box of Twinkies a day.

Good going, Randy. Slow and steady is good. But maybe you should cut out the Fruit Loops too.

NO FRUIT LOOPS! That would be like going to the Hot Place!

Been too busy or too tired to post to this thread but I am tuned in.

I haven't committed to all of it yet but I'm making some changes to my diet that will include much more "organic" foods. And after years of just not drinking milk I finally decided to give almond milk a try. I like it and it'll be in my cart on a regular basis. I also picked up a tub of something called Vega which is some sort of protein supplement. Mainly becuaee lately I don't eat like I'm supposed and tend to go without eating anything for longer than I should. I just need to make sure I'm getting some sort of nutrition if I decided to leave the snack machines alone for good. Another reason I wanted to go ahead and snag a edc pack is so I could get used to having some sort of health snack close by. I have to distance myself from the snack machines and quickie marts like I did with fast foods.

I also spent $100 at the grocercy store versus the $80 I normally spend with not a scrap of meat in the cart. I'm not about to do the vegetarian thing but I'm definitely cutting back on the meats enough that some folks would thing I'm being a weirdo. But I think I'll just start being more selective of the meats I eat rather than eating it all of time. Along with the sous vide thing I bought it should be interesting.

A lot of times I just get a hankerin for veggies and don't want any meat at all, and that is NOT like me. I'm a Carny Vore! But I am trying to get more fruit and veggies in my diet.

Oh and Good for you lazi!

Ever think about getting a juicer? More nutrition without the bulk.

We had thought about it but it would probably be a fad with us.

But on a good note, I am now down to 254.2 pounds! But I HATE being sick just to loose weight. However I will take it any way I can get it.

We started eating "certified organic" foods over ten years ago. In the beginning, it was just milk, eggs, beans, etc. We suffered from the sticker shock and difficulty in finding a reliable source for organic products.

About eight years ago, we started moving toward "all certified organic".

During the past six years, I'd say about 99% of what we eat is certified organic. The biggest exception is some of our cheese and beef. About 50% of the cheese we eat is from Ireland (certified to be GMO, Hormone, Antibiotic, etc free)...the other 50% is organic. We eat organic chicken (exclusively), and wild caught fish (exclusively..no farm raised / GMO fed). Our beef is about 50/50...

50% organic (usually ground beef)
50% non-organic but 100% grass fed / pasture raised / no-gmo feed / no-hormones / no-antibiotics.

Our annual food budget is very high compared to what it costs to eat at McDonald's or buying budget foods. I fully understand some people's budgets require them to make quality sacrifices, but most of us can afford to eat healthy foods. It does take extra effort to seek out the best source (best price and consistent availability) for your organic: peanut butter; milk; eggs; bread (we usually just make our own); butter; cheese; cereal; vegetables; fruit; meat; etc.

However, even WalMart and Sam's Club carry MANY organic products now.

One of the easiest ways to improve our diets is to:

1) Cut down or eliminate "processed foods". These are those easy to prepare products like "Rice A Roni".

2) Read ingredient labels. If you can't pronounce it...you probably don't want to eat it. There are some exceptions that sound heinous, but are actually just vitamins.

Once you ween off of (deadly) MSG laden foods (MSG makes you taste-blind by overwhelming your ability to taste what food is really about by artificially enhancing flavors) you can start eating simpler foods.

The products used to "cure" or "preserve" most prepared meats is just as bad. Nitrates and Nitrides are also killers.

Avoid any food with:

- MSG
- Nitrides or Nitrates
- HIGH fructose corn syrup (corn syrup is mostly okay...but HIGH fructose is awful)
- Refined sugar
- Aspartame
- Artificial colors
- Artificial flavors (except perhaps vanillin in LIMITED quantities)
- Soybean
- Corn (unless its labeled NON-GMO or Organic)

The list goes on, but you're already thinking I'm a food-geek and everything you're currently eating is trying to kill you.




















It is, by the way.

OK, once again Patty says she thinks we should maybe invest in one of the long term “survival food” kits, or shell out the big bucks (but we don’t have Tom’s kind of money)

Any of Y’all got any recommendations? We’re probably looking at a month’s worth for 2 people.

EmergencyEssentials.com

I was looking at them. Thanks Tom.

Just received an order from Emergency Essentials ; their email is BePrepared.com .

Wow those look cool ! I just had a second to glance over the in home kit but the nutrient totals they condense in that pail are very impressive . Wich kit did you get ?

I just ordered some peaches and blueberries to add to the fruit supply. Their "classic" bucket offers some good entrees.

I also ordered six cans of hash brown potatoes.

Very nice. Thanks for posting about it all !

I think they are great for emergency preparedness.