The Mediterranean Diet

I mentioned last week that I attended the Wisconsin State Alzheimer's Conference. During lunch there has always been a doctor speaking about something to do with the disease. This year, I was pleased to find out that it was food related. Dr. Piero Antuono presented an excellent presentation entitled: "Prevention & Environment in Alzheimer's Disease: The Role of Diet & Nutrition." He started by prefacing the research stating that he was not a dietitian or nutritionist, he just "likes to eat!" Many of the points that he made for preventing Alzheimer's ran along the same lines that the Core menu entails: Fruits, veggies and fish were a common thread throughout his presentation. He cited many studies involving cultures that consume a mostly "Mediterranean Diet." So what is a Mediterranean Diet? It is eating at least 2 meals of fish or seafood per week and limiting processed foods. Sounds like a healthy diet to me. If eating fish and fruits and veggies will help prevent or at least help prevent early symptoms of Alzheimer's, why aren't we all eating this way?

He did mention that some cultures, like our own, do not eat fish regularly. This could be due in part from our environment, which includes price. Fish is expensive and several people do not have the resources to eat fish. He did say that the kind of fish what not as important as the idea that it was fish and included fish oils.

Dr. Antuono also mentioned several super foods in his presentation including all berries, green foods and curry/spices. Eating healthy and staying away from processed foods seems to be the best and easiest way to work towards a healthy memory in the future.

Kitchen Update

8 pictures from the same view...starting from the beginning ending today. Tomorrow, new floor. Thursday, light fixtures and finishing carpentry. I'm amazed at how everything has come together.


















Baby Update
Wife went to the doctor today and she is 2 centimeters dialated. Doctor says anytime after tomorrow. I asked why tomorrow? 37 weeks tomorrow, which is full-term. Wife is hoping it happens this weekend as she is VERY uncomfortable.

Lifetime

Last Week: 188

This Week: 189.6

Starting Weight: 270.2

Total Weight Loss: 80.6

I did it. I've been drinking tons of water and know I drank too much yesterday, so I'm not worried about my 1+ gain. I brought all three of my kids to weigh in last night and found out that my regular leader wasn't there, so I just weighed in, collected my "bling" and left. It was a great feeling! We got home and took these fun pictures. Notice my little guys gut is bigger than mine now. I've gone from a tight size 44 to a loose size 32.

Look What You're Missing

Snow Pictures from this week. The snow is just the right consistency to stick to the trees. Been like this since Friday!

Christmas Recap

Well, Old St. Nick passed on the fruit and went right for the cookies, but luckily he's the one person that should be fat. My kids really got a kick out the plate of fruit left behind. Unfortunately, it backfired as now they think that because Santa didn't eat the fruit, they don't need to either.

I had a great Christmas...starting on the weekend with an extended family Christmas and on Monday with my wife's family. I had to work till 3:00 on Christmas Eve, which saved me from being around Christmas cookies all day. My goal was not to have a cookie or any points for that matter until after dinner. I made it, snacking on carrots and peppers before dinner. After dinner, I did have a few cookies, but stayed within my points for the day. On Christmas Day, we went to my sister's house and the aftermath tells the whole story.



I received several new sweaters and tonight I went to look for a few more since I was waiting till Christmas before raiding the clearance racks. I'll be on the outlook for more bargains in the next few weeks as the clearance racks become stacked with winter clothes.

The one item that really struck me was a simple keychain that I received from one of my sister-in-laws. She had gone to visit another SIL in New York over Thanksgiving and picked up this keychain for me. I get excited over gifts that have a meaning and she was reminded of me when she saw this and got it for me even though she really didn't have to get me anything. I've hung it near my WW magnets and attached to my 10% keychain.

Updated pictures after 50 pounds!

I've reached 50 pounds and I thought this would be a great time to take another picture of myself. Don't see much of a change in the last 15 pounds, but I can tell it in the way I feel and the way my clothes are fitting.

Yahoo! I lost my 6 yr. old

My DD1 turned 6 yrs. old on Sunday. Last week, she went to the doctor and weighed in at 48.0 pounds. It was my goal this week to reach 48 pounds, so I could say I lost as much weight as my daughter weighs. Not only did I reach 48, I passed 50. I reached several goals tonight:

Lost my daughter!!
Lost 50 pounds!!
Lost my second 10%!!
Lost the tag of obese!!

I am now officially overweight and I couldn't feel better. I have noticed several changes in the last few months. First of all, I no longer huff and puff when I climb the stairs at home or at work, in fact, I've started skipping steps to get myself moving faster. I have lost 5 inches around my waist. I started out as a TIGHT 42 inch waist and now I am a very LOOSE 38 inch waist. I have actually started looking forward to exercise. The last week, I have been bummed out because it's been raining and I can't take my evening walks. I've still gotten my lunch walks in, but it's not the same without the evening walks to the park with my kids. We've been feeding the rabbits three baby carrots every night. It's really been a fun little game to play with them, looking for the bunnies on our evening walk. Most importantly, I've noticed that I feel more confident. I walking taller, holding my chest out, and smiling much more. Thank you Weight Watchers and GOAD for helping me reach a major goal in my weight loss journey.

Here's a bad one

Thought I'd throw a really bad picture that my daughter took of me. This should be some motivation to lose. Taken about one month before starting Weight Watchers. At my heaviest, 270.

Week 12

I've been on the Weight Watcher program for a dozen weeks now. I am very pleased with my success. Thought it was time to take a picture of myself. Since I've had a hard time finding a before picture, I'll call it a work in progress picture. Can't post it from home so I'll add it tomorrow.

Week 12: 233.2
Last Week: 235.4
Progress: Down 2.2
Starting Weight: 270.2
Total Weight Loss: 37.0

So far, so good, haven't had a week in which I've lost less than 2.2. Tonight, after my meeting, I went to buy two new pairs of pants. 38x30. Haven't seen the 30's since college 10 years ago. They are a little snug, but I'll grow into them. My 40x30's have done my well for almost two months. I haven't tucked my shirts in for a while either, so it is rather strange to see that as well.

Lost my 3 year old!

I have lost 31.8 pounds so far. That's as much as my 3 year old daughter weighs. No wonder I feel so much better.

Hope to lose much more. Next goal: 219.2

That will be my second 10% and 50 pounds. How about losing my 6 year old too!

Last picture at Halloween?

Last Halloween, I think I ate more candy than all the kids. Will not happen this year.

Pictures from a wedding last November. Where has the time gone and why I am I not in any pictures?

What am I hiding from?

This is the only picture I can find of myself since Halloween. Don't know what I've been hiding from?