Diets, Disney and Dudley Do-Right

                                                  Diets, Disney and Dudley Do-Right?

     Do diets work?  Of course they do!  If by work you mean that you can lose weight on a particular diet.  I've lost weight on virtually every diet I have ever tried, as long as I followed it accurately and stuck with it for some length of time.  I do remember several diets that I started on Monday am that ended around Monday noon, but the ones that I managed to stick with allowed me to lose varying degrees of weight.  Is that your experience?  I bet it is.  So if virtually every diet works, why are you sitting there, pushed back from the table with your pants unfastened?  That's because, though virtually every diet will allow you to lose weight, they aren't sustainable over the long haul, not to mention that some are extremely unhealthy, so we revert back to our regular diet and the cycle begins again.
     If you've ever been to the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World, upon entering, everyone is escorted to a round room and asked to step to its "dead center", it then begins to expand upward revealing a number of gruesomely funny, family portraits.  You remember, don't you?  It's at that point, the ghostly host calls to your attention that the room has no windows and no doors, which he says, "leaves you with this thrilling challenge:  To find a way out!"  We too, have a conundrum.  If diets don't work over the long term, and eating the way I normally eat is likely to lead to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and a number of other quite undesirable outcomes, what the hell is a guy (or gal) to do?  %$@# it!!  Let's eat!!
     No! NO! No!  Believe me, I know the feeling, and, as Dudley Do-Right would say, "I have come to save the day!" (Youtube it, if your clueless.)

I have found some great ideas, tips and a way of eating which is easy, convenient, and healthy.  These are some things  that are working for me, and I believe they will work for you too. I've even found a way to still have those things that aren't great for my waistline, but that I love and didn't want to live without the rest of my life.  Sound good?  By the way, none of these ideas are original with me. I've been influenced by Bill Phillips, Dr. Myron Wentz and the scientists at USANA Health Sciences, the Sanoviv Health Institute, the University of Sydney, as well as many others.
     Space does not allow me to get into the specifics here, but I will give you some tips and some of the basic principles that, for me, had to be true of anything that was going to work for the rest of my life.
     However, before I go any further, let me talk briefly about what my real goal is with all of this.  My ultimate goal is not really to lose weight.  My ultimate goal is optimal health for me, the ones I love, and any others with whom I may be blessed to have influence.  Part of that is maintaining a healthy weight, but it is only a part.  Optimal health is something that I have become passionate about and therefore something I wish to share with others, so let's get with it.  I have found that there are four areas that have to each be in place for me to have success with reaching and maintaining my weight goals and for optimal health.
                     Here are some tips and principles I use in each of those areas to help me in my health journey.....
Food:
1.  Follow a clean eating and/or low glycemic diet.  (Get details by joining my team.)
2.  Find a way for most meals to be easy and convenient.  (Don't decide what to eat when you are hungry.)
3.  Eat small meals every 2-3 hours. (Don't allow yourself to get "really" hungry.)
4.  Easy portion control?  Protein the size of your palm, healthy carbs the size of your fist. All the veggies you want.
4.  Eat slowly and savor your food.  (enjoy the look, smell and tastes of your food)
5.  Try new things.
6.  Try not to eat after 8:00.  (There is disagreement among experts on this, but works well for me. I have a nice tea.)
7.  Have 1 "free" day per week.  (There's actually science behind this, and for me, this is the key for long term viability.)
8.  Don't beat yourself up when you "cheat".  Review what caused it, and get back on track immediately.

Exercise:
1.  At a minimum, take a walk every day.  (I have a goal for myself of 10,000 steps each day. Get a Fitbit or other tracking device for motivation.)
2.  Pump some Iron!  (This will help to maintain ideal weight over the long haul.)
3.  Find someone who will exercise with you regularly.
4.  Find fun activities that involve physical exertion. (5k's, biking/hiking trails, sex, "wink,wink, nod,nod")
5.  Take the worst parking spaces.  (Gives you more steps and it's less stressful. Make sure you smile at the lady waiting with her turn signal on as you walk in the store.)
5.  Change it up, don't get stuck in a rut.


Accountability:
1.  Make a commitment to yourself!
2.  Let your family and/or friends know what you are doing.
3.  Join my team for accountability and encouragement.
4.  Weigh yourself every day, first thing in the morning.  (Experts differ on this, but works for me.)

Nutritional Support:  (often neglected, but vital for short and long term success)
1.  High Quality Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement
2.  Fish Oil Supplement
3.  Fiber Supplement
4.  Probiotics

These are some general things that are working for me.  If you would like specifics on my eating plan, nutritional support or any other questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me, and don't forget to join my team by giving me your email. I'm working on some exciting things that I know will help us all.   I won't ever tell you what you have to do, I'll share what's working for me and help encourage you on your own journey.  Deal?  Deal!