30 Day Holiday Health Challenge: Week 1

Last week I put a challenge to myself. I decided to take on my health during the month of December. Some may say it’s crazy to do this before Christmas. Some may say it’s impossible. I say it’s neither.

The challenge includes:

1.       I cannot eat out during the work week.

2.       I must work out at least once a week.

3.       I cannot indulge in any candies, cookies, etc. during the work days.

4.       I must drink one Herbalife shake daily during the week.

To read the rationale behind these, see my blog “30 Holiday Health Challenge.” These rules apply specifically to me and aren’t guaranteed to provide weight loss. They were created to attack the weaknesses I have.

So after one week down, how did I do? Im happy to report that all challenge qualifications were met in the first week! 

The Third Day

In my opinion, the third day of any change is the worst! Days 1 and 2 are kinda new and fun. On day three, I woke up wanting a Chik-fil-A spicy chicken biscuit with no butter and a fruit cup for breakfast, a clear violation of rule number 1. But I resisted! I had a tasty Herbalife shake instead and met rule #4. If you can make it passed days 3 and 4, you can finish what you have started.

The Good Stuff

There are several things to be proud of in just the first week. I lost one pound! Very exciting considering it wasn’t my goal to lose weight. I made it to body pump and was sore for the next 3 days. I set out to accomplish something and for 7 days, I did it.

What’s the bigger picture?

But seriously, why do this? For me, it goes beyond my health during the month of December. I greatly desire to be more disciplined. I wouldn’t say I am a flake; I commit to others and perform what I say I will do for them. But more often than I would like, I am undisciplined in my own initiatives. I easily let myself down.

Someone who is disciplined will follow the path regardless of distraction or deterrence. Someone who is disciplined will complete the task despite others who may say it’s crazy or not possible to complete. Paul encourages self-discipline by comparing it to running a race.  

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27.

So you see the greater objective is to become a better runner, one that finishes races to gain the ultimate prize. If I am able to complete this self-induced, discipline forming challenge, I will be better for it. I will be more equipped to deal with situations that attempt to grab my attention away from God. And of course, there is the increased ability to say no in the presence of queso.

Today’s verse: “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize,” 1 Corinthians 9:27.

To Medicate or Not to Medicate?

That is the question.

Dietitians are...um…opinionated. Armed with a stack of controversial and repudiated facts, we will debate any nutrition idea. You can think of it in terms of liberal vs. conservative. (I hate to use the terms democrat vs. republican as these terms hold little meaning anymore as to which stands for what.) There are the "idealist” dietitians, or those who push for organic eating, farm-to-market principles, and who would like to see everyone with their own compost bin.  And then there are the dietitians who sit back and say, “That’s great but probably not happening in this lifetime.” We can call these dietitians “realists.”

I park myself in the realist camp. I would love to live in a world where produce is local and affordable. I would love for everyone to eat a low fat lifestyle while increasing servings of lean fish. I would love for everyone to cook at home and rarely eat out. But I live in this world where even I have to drag myself to the kitchen to cook during the week. I like to teach people how to eat in today’s world while meeting their health goals. For the record, the idealists are a necessary part of the dietetics field and I would secretly like to be a little bit more like them.

Now, the argument of artificial sweeteners continues to cause such emotional reactions in people.  We have yet to find a link between artificial sweeteners and cancer.  (I mean a scientific link with trials, studies and paid researchers. Not the latest yahoo article.) Yet we do know there is a strong link between obesity and cancer. According to Cancer.gov, obesity can be linked to esophagus, pancreas, colon, breast, endometrium, kidney, thyroid, and gallbladder cancers. It is estimated obesity can account for as much as 40% of these cancers. So if I am trying to help decrease someone’s waistline and they need the aid of artificial sweeteners to get them through the day, then so be it!

The FDA banned Ephedra,
 in 2004 due to reported
deaths and heart complications
 

Which brings me to today’s topic. Recently the FDA approvedtwo new drugs for weight loss called Qysmia and Belviq. Qysmia uses an appetite suppressant, phentermine and a drug for epilepsy called topiramate. Belviq works with the brain to reduce hunger signals. I personally am terrified to use a drug that alters my brain chemistry without a clinic diagnosis of anything wrong with my brain chemistry. But to each his own. Both drugs are designed to be used long term so that the individual is able to lose and maintain weight. Both drugs are designed to be aids.

Is it appropriate to use medication for weight loss? My quick response is no. What can medication do to change behaviors and set that individual up for long term weight loss maintenance? But upon further reflection I would say, “it depends.” It depends on that individual’s view of the drug and its role in their weight loss success. A study based on participants in the National Weight Control Registry found that only 4.3% of people used medications for weight loss.* However 20% used liquid formulas and 55% used a program or professional assistance. Meaning that approximately 80% of individuals used some sort of aid to lose and maintain their weight. But what these participants realized is that these were just aids, not solutions. They still had to reduce caloric intake and increase exercise to meet and keep the weight off.  

Now I’m a realist. While I prefer that people lose weight without the use of medications, I’m a realist. We may need aids to lose weight and the benefits of being at a long term healthy weight may be well worth the side effects of drugs.**  In fact, I have been known to use a liquid formula to maintain weight. It’s an aid, not the solution. But again, Im a realist. You absolutely can lose weight without aids, but should you decide to add them make sure and keep perspective. It’s an aid, not the solution.

*Also, this study occurred in 1997, when there fewer drugs available for weight loss.

**Side effects of these drugs are tingling of hands and feet (paresthesia), dizziness, altered taste sensation, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth. Enjoy! J

 

Today’s Verse:  “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” Romans 2:18.