What Does it Take to Lose Weight?

I titled this blog "What Does it Take to Lose Weight" because that seems to be on the mind of every American that considers themselves overweight of out of shape. It seems like an epidemic. Constantly there are new diets, food products and supplements that fill our store shelves. They come in all sizes and shapes but the vast number of products and ways to "lose weight" has overwhelmed us.

Laughter burns calories

You know what I'm talking about if you have seriously looked at this yourself. The real problem is not finding some way to lose weight but finding the right way to lose weight. There is also the question of "What is the right way for me to lose weight?". Not all diets are the same and not all diets are going to produce the results you may think they will. Our bodies differ in construction and the ways we process food intake. It is a real challenge to find what will work for you. There are some real simple ways to do that and it works like magic.

I am in Africa right now and I wonder if it is the climate, the elevation or just the types of food I eat when I am here that changes my weight gain and digestive processes. What ever it is, it is definitely a switch from the American diet I eat there. I just seem to lose weight and feel so much better.

Today I ate bacon and scrambled eggs with a slice of toast for breakfast and lentils and rice for lunch. It is enough for me to eat as I am not feeling hungry between meals and not feeling stuffed after eating. I have no idea what I weigh because I haven't been on a scale for over a month but, I know I have not gained weight and most likely lost some weight. I know this by the size of my intestinal bulge. When I feel bloated and heavy I am uncomfortable and the intestinal bulge is apparent. When I am maintaining or losing weight the bulge subsides and flattens. I am able to bend straight over without any discomfort. Those have been my indicators for weight loss here. Eat lots of veggies. They are good for you!

Other indicators are the number of notches on my belt I have to move up to,  for keeping my trousers on. My jeans are probably a couple sizes too large for me right now. I bought them a little large so as to have room for bulge but the bulge is not there and my pants are literally falling off if I don't wear a belt. Currently I am on the fourth notch with one to go before I run out of fasten-able belt acreage. I would guesstimate I am about a 36 waist right now, maybe smaller.

I can also tell there is weight gain because of how much I can see of my feet. If the bulge is large I cannot see my feet. If not, I can see most of my feet. I can see all of my feet right now. I also have some smaller dress trousers I brought with me that I can fit into comfortably and I know they are a 38 waist. There is room for me to stuff my hand in the waistband without squeezing it in. Plus the way my shirts hang on me. If there is weight gain there is a distinct overlapping of the fabric and if not, it hangs freely without bunching up.

So, what does it take to lose weight?

My conclusion is you don't have to move to Africa but, if you are going to travel, that might be an assistance to the cause. I feel it is much more in the area of what you eat and how much you eat. It usually comes down to that anyway. Certain environments are just a better place to lose weight. Work environment, nighttime environment, activity levels, metal attitudes and so many other things have a way of contributing to the gain or loss of your body weight. Finding the right mix of exercise and diet are always the major factors for health and fitness.

I'm sorry if this blog has disappointed you with not giving you a magic solution for weight loss but I don't want you illusioned in your thinking there is another way. There really is no other way but to control your weight but to curb urges to eat when you should not eat and choosing to eat healthy foods that will keep you fit. That, coupled with enough exercise to burn more calories than you consume will cause weight loss. The only exceptions to that is medical conditions that do not fit into the normal persons physical makeup. If that is the case then your doctor can prescribe a diet and fitness plan that should help. It may even be that certain drugs may be required to control other physical ailments in conjunction with the inability to lose weight.

The swing that Zach built

Stay away from the fad diets and fast weight loss programs. They are killers of your physical and mental well being. I don't recommend drugs and chemicals. I recommend herbs for dietary supplements and a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and regulated protein intake along with a good exercise program and the proper amount of water each day. Stay active. Eat sensibly. Drink plenty of water. Get a good nights rest. You will feel healthier and in most cases lose weight.



Remember that you must burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight. That is the magic potion of weight loss.

Counting Calories

How many calories are in a radish?

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size  1 large (1" to 1-1/4" dia) (9.0 g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories  1 Calories from Fat  0

% Daily Value*

Total Fat  0.0g 0%

Saturated Fat  0.0g 0%

Cholesterol  0mg 0%

Sodium  4mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates  0.3g 0%

Dietary Fiber  0.1g 1%

Sugars  0.2g

Protein  0.1g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 2% Calcium 0% • Iron 0%

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

So how many radishes can you eat in a day and not explode? Well, that depends on the total amount of mass you carry around. I can tell you for a 215 pound man it is approximately 30-40. However, your breath will be unbearable to others around you. Please don't belch in anyone's direction. They will most likely pass out.

This past month I have been trying my hand at counting calories. It is a work in progress but I think you can safely say that unless you are verrrrrrryyyyy diligent about every calorie you will not see a significant weight.loss.

I downloaded a couple of calorie counting apps for the iPhone and started counting calories for every meal and snack. Now I and my wife are the only two in our house that presently are watching the quality and quantity of consumption. It adds a degree of difficulty in preparing and consuming low-calorie foods. So smaller portions are what becomes the normal. And that makes it harder to live with when your body wants more calories to burn than you are deliberately giving it.

Both MyFitnessPal and MyNetDiary work about the same and gave me an inventory of items, meals and restaurant references to count calories. Some items are not included so both give you a bar code option to scan in the product code. It instantly gives you are the nutrition and calorie information you want. In addition, I found a great app for tracking your walking and running information. Pedometer GPS Free gives you a map of the route you took, calorie burning count, elevation readout, time, speed and many more features. between these three apps I have successfully gained 5 pounds.

Now, I'm not saying these are bad apps or that not useful apps because they are. What I am saying is that I don't seem to have what it takes to count calories correctly and need to take an advanced math class or that I am not diligent enough to stay on track with the tools I have. I really thought that I could do the calorie counting and loose those 20 extra pounds I wanted to loose.

I am looking into the next dietary adventure and will be reporting on what i find soon. There is one that looks at the acidity and alkalinity of foods. Maybe that is a winner. They are telling me that certain foods are more acidic than others. That tends to be better, I think. Then again, maybe chocolate mousse is the answer.

A Plea to You for Earning Money for Rose Creek Village

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters,

This is a re-post of a July 2011 post and I wanted to let all those who are out there that my original post did not result in very much reaction at all. Maybe it is because I have a small following. If you could post this on your blog post once or twice, maybe many more people would be aware and respond to a growing need that we have.

There is a great opportunity for us to help with the financial status of our village and those missions of ours, who are in need of assistance. Please don't miss this.  Shammah has sent this message out at least two different time in the past but I'm not sure people are even using this or not. If you are, Thank you! If you are not, I am offering to help you get set up for FREE on your computers.

What is the GREAT OPPORTUNITY?

FIRST: You can get this set up for FREE.

SECOND:  Rose Creek Village can earn 1 Cent on each and every search we perform from GoodSearch when you have Rose Creek Village selected as your Charitable Foundation. This happens automatically when you are set up correctly. You need to sign up (it's free and takes about 2 minutes to do so) and then download the toolbar for your browser. Everything else will happen when you search. Your searches earn RCV money automatically!

THIRD:  Rose Creek Village can earn a percentage (some percentages are very large), on every item you purchase online, from all of the on-line stores associated with the GoodShop website.  This also happens automatically when you are set up correctly for the GoodSearch and GoodShop toolbars. It no longer includes Amazon or eBay but there are many more websites that do. GoodSearch works just like Amazon in that you type in what you are looking for and it brings back the results of that search in stores that do donate money for your purchase. There are no catches to this. No money to spend. No intrusions of privacy and no danger of viruses or other nasty stuff. It is Covenant Eyes approved.

Every search, every purchase provides an income to Rose Creek Village Ministries which will be able to help out with our expenses and contributions to other mission work we are involved in. Mexico, Kenya, India, and Myanmar missions we support can all utilize this type of income. We can even support needs we have here at home.

PLEASE think about having me set this up for you if you do not already have this installed. If you do have this installed, please check to make sure this is working correctly. You will be doing a great service without doing anything out of the ordinary things you already do on the computer and Internet.

Thanks!


Doug Chamley
doug.rcv@gmail.com

I GoodSearch & GoodShop for Rose Creek Village.
Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch (powered by Yahoo), or shopping online with GoodShop

Diets for Missionaries

I have become aware of the dietary lifestyle of a missionary in some regard while on a mission trip to Kenya this summer. Not that I am an expert, mind you, but I have become aware of some of the things you live through while staying in a foreign country. It is a completely different lifestyle than you live in the United Stated. This may also be true for European countries where the lifestyles are similar to the US in eating habits and (lack of) exercise programs.

On this trip to Kenya, we have been here approximately seven weeks. My body has gone through several changes and discovered several new ways of functioning. I have discovered that exercise is also just as elusive as you desire it to be. Although, there are many more opportunities to get out of the house and be active physically a person must still exercise their free will to do so. That kind of exercise does not cause weight loss or toned muscles directly but it does lead to such if done on a regular basis. See my Eco Wappi George Diet for some good exercise tips.

I want to share just a couple of observations about missionary style lifestyles. First, let me say that there is a vast difference between missionary people. There are those who live the luxuriousness and excessive lifestyles with large homes, expensive pallets and plenty of pampering going on. They are not the ones I am talking about here. I am talking about the ones who either stay and reside in the rural and remote areas of the world or the ones who live in the poor and slum lifestyles of those they are ministering to. Both areas afford you a limited amount of pampering and diets of heavy, rich foods.

Digestion

The first observation I have made is that of digestion. Digestion is not always what we tend to recognize it to be for missionaries. Meals are indigenous and consist of the very simplest forms of food stuffs available to those who live in poor and destitute areas. Yes, there may be an occasional drift from the basic foods used for everyday meals, but for the most part, meals are simple and basic.

A missionaries digestive system takes time to assimilate the new foods and preparations used in a foreign land. Many of the foods are high in carbohydrates, bland and basically "fillers" used to curb the appetite and warm the belly for a while. Take for instance Ugoli. It is basically pulverized maize prepared in a lump which appears like thick and sticky oatmeal but has no specific taste since it has been boiled and most all the nutritional value of it is gone.

Other dishes are prepared versions of whatever might be plenteous and available. Take for instance greens. They could be anything from the grass outside your home, weeds, gardened vegetable matter of curious names and leaves of numerous plant growths about the country. Some are locally grown and sold while others are found and collected. These are shredded, boiled and served with some mild seasoning to accompany the basic filler dishes. My thoughts just went to collecting asparagus in the ditches of South Dakota as a kid. It grew wild and we consumed as much as we could find then because 1. it was free, and 2. it had nutritional value.

Mainly each country has its basic meal dishes that form the core of dietary health, whether that be good or not. It is designed to fill the stomach and provide sustenance for the body. It is taken at most every meal and it becomes the staple of life for that cultural group. So when visiting or residing as a missionary there, you become accustom to those food groups. Your digestive system has to adjust and change. It takes some time for that to happen as you might imagine and your mind and body do not always cooperate.

Bacterial Assumption

The second observation is that of bacterial effects on the digestive system. I say this because my body has decided to assimilate some "not-so-nice" residents and the effect is most unpleasant. Those symptoms are such as stomach and lowers intestinal cramping, lightheadedness, vomiting, diarrhea (they cal it "driving" here in Kenya), and multiple other side effects of those conditions. I have noticed that in the course of assimilating these foreign bodied "bugs" the digestive system tends to eliminate more quickly and thoroughly thereby eliminating weight gain. I'm not sure that is a good things for long term dieters but it is definitely a short term solution to that bulky / heavy feeling you may get.

Without the bacterial passengers that may board your digestive system, there is the lack of fatty foods to eat. This aids in weight loss and helps to keep you trim and fit for your missionary stay. There is one drawback on this lifestyle and that is the fact that as you experience weight loss you must also keep up with your wardrobe changes. Bringing a good belt with extra latching holes is a recommended article of clothing I could not have done without. Don't worry about fashion. Most all of the people you are living with and ministering to wear the same kinds of belts and clothing also.

So if you are a missionary or contemplating being such, remember that US fashion is not fashionable and your eating habits are not the habits of your indigenous friends and neighbors in a foreign country. Don't come expecting hamburgers and pizza, ice cream and cookies, fast food or convenience stores to stock up on your most loved food items. You will be completely depressed and disillusioned in your stay. Be prepared to come armed with, Imodium AD, Pepto-Bismo

Special Note

One note for those of you who know me. There is always a place to find popcorn and everybody I have met so far enjoys a big bowl of it. So, bring your salt and pepper shaker or favorite toppings. You can count on it being the one comfort food that might just make a big difference during your stay.

Eco Wappi George Diet

I am always faced with the challenge to find new and different ways to improve my life by watching the way I eat, the things I eat and the exercise I need but don't ever do. I know, "What in the world am I doing writing on a diet blog?"

Well, the answer to that is simple. I am one of those people, like thousands of others, that start something and find it hard to continue. Especially exercise. So if I can help someone get a better look at themselves and share some things that helped me, I think it is worth the time for me to write and you to read. Maybe something will stick and you and I will be healthier, happier and not burdened with guilt all the time.

OK. Enough of that.

The "Eco Wappi George" Diet

I titled this blog "Eco Wappi George Diet" for a very good reason. It has to do with George. (I mentioned that in my other blog.) "Eco Wappi George" is the Swahili phrase for "Where is George?" George is my Christian brother in Kenya, who is hosting me, my wife and the rest of our team, for a total of 3 months, 7 weeks for me and my wife, while we are here helping to equip the saints in Nakuru. Some of us have been here longer and some have returned home but, we are in the habit now of coming every year for the past 4 years.

George was revealed to us 4 years ago when he was driving our team around Africa on the first mission trip we came for. Little did we know what would develop from that trip. (Read the whole story on the RCV site by clicking here.) None the less, George is a great guy and he has some special habits we are adoring of. One of them is the uncanny knack of disappearing, thus the name of the blog post, Eco Wappi George Diet.

When we are traveling around the city of Nakuru with George, we always have a delightful exercise program built into the trip. Some are unorthodoxed and others will take some imagination, but you will have to improvise in order to do this one.

Step one. - Breathe thinner air

Here in Africa the air is much thinner  because of the elevation, so everything you do takes more effort. Just walking or unpacking clothes or showering takes more effort and so burns more calories. Going up and down stairs will take your breath away. You can imagine what it is like to take a hike or walk several blocks at a fast pace. (see step three for more details)
Your challenge here on this step is to find thinner air or maybe breath less air to compensate. Like breathing through a drinking straw or wearing one of those surgical masks with an extra filter layer taped over the top. You could always move to the mountains if possible. The air is much thinner there. If those options are not available then just cut you breathing in half by only taking a breath when you just absolutely have to.

NOTE: My friend Yashana says many people breath too shallow and should take deeper breaths. So if you are a shallow person, breath 1/4 deep breaths instead.

Step two - Ride on bumpy roads

When we go for a trip to the store, church service, a meeting in town or to pick up some parts for the repair of a door, we must travel on roads that were probably constructed out of a footpath and has grown into a road. There are not too many roads leading to downtown that do not have multitudes of pot holes (I mean ones big enough to swallow a Volkswagen), large speed bumps the size of large logs and a never ending stream of traffic that is always stop and go. So slamming on the brakes is a part of the driving experience. This exercise strengthens your lower back and neck muscles while giving your legs and arms a workout holding on.

Your challenge is to find roads that fit that criteria. I would recommend driving on the railroad track ties or driving in a corn field for starters. A cow pasture might suffice in a pinch but make sure there are lots of cows in it to provide a large speed bump experience. This also provides the swerving routine to enhance the workout of abs and shoulders. Remember to only breath when necessary.

Step three - Walk along busy street following someone who walks twice as fast as you.

This one is a little tricky and you must put on your jogging shoes to insure there are no injuries. The ideal person to follow on this one is, a man or a woman in their early thirties with long legs and a long stride. Nakuru has some of the busiest streets I've seen, filled with thousands of people, livestock, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and truck or buses all travelling on the opposite side of the street. We must walk as fast as possible to insure that we stay within at least eyesight of the George as he bolts off and takes off down the street.  We are constantly dodging people, traffic and animal droppings which give you the ultimate workout we are looking for.

Your challenge is finding a place to live that meets all these criteria, so you may need to give up that desk job and relocate to a large city with lots of traffic and people all in one place at one time, like Nakuru, Kenya. An afternoon workout is best since the degree of difficulty increases with more traffic you face. You must also walk on both sides of the street and cross the street several time through traffic, walking only in the streetSee step one)

Step four - Half-portion eating

Eating meals that consist of greens, rice, very tough meat portions, eggs and tea are good ways of reducing the calorie intake and leveling out your triglycerides. Eating those items on plates that are much smaller than usual or eating out of a bowl helps us reduce the amount of the serving size we are used to. Water or tea is the drink of choice and occasional popcorn consumption is allowed. No soft drinks or candy bars.

Your challenge is to live in such a way as it requires a higher level of self control. However, you can supplement that with living in a third world country and not bringing enough money to eat full portion or double portion meals. You must stick to the rules which are: your plate must not exceed 8 inches in diameter and you must use the 6 oz cup size for beverages. You must also use child sized teaspoons and forks to eat with or fingers only. You must also be able to skip a meal every day or so.

ANOTHER NOTE: Since the first posting of this diet, many people have suggested that reading this  may be another way of helping to firm up the muscles in the abdominal regions. They have also noted that laughter is good medicine for depression and other ailments of the mind.

Last but not least, you will need to follow this regime for at least 7 weeks for the full effect to take place. You can go for a longer period to get deeper results; say 3 months or so. When you are done you will find you are in much better shape, thinner and you will have much better stamina during physically stimulating activities. Best of all you will have a much better appreciation for the life you are now living in leisure and comfort.

Please check with your physician before undertaking this rigorous diet program.

Juice Diets

The other night we watched a movie about a man from Australia who was overweight, miserable and on the verge of killing himself with food. It occurred to me that most Americans are in the same boat and don't even realize it. Our American way of living (eating habits) has propelled us into a philosophy of unhealthy, processed, fast food consumption.

For those of you that have maintained a much more healthier way of eating I tip my hat. Congratulations! You are some of the few who want to be healthier and live a more stabilized life style.Your will power to pass by those fast food restaurant signs and pictures of processed food confections is strong and stable. Keep up the good work.

For those of us that succumb to the temptations of TV commercials and road signs that lure us into those fine dining (sic) establishments, watch the movie "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". It will certainly help you put some reality to those frequent trips to the fast food restaurants, convenience foods and unhealthy lifestyles you may be living. Spend some time looking at yourself in the mirror (turn sideways, and do not suck in your gut) and acknowledge the condition your body is in before it is too late.

Now, think about what you would feel like without all that extra hanging on the front and back of you. While you are thinking about that, take a look at the "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" website and visit the "Reboot" website as well. There are lots of great ideas, recipes and opportunities to talk with others who have been or are struggling with their life styles as well.

The thought that keeps coming into my mind is this. "Why do we put off the obvious and struggle through  unreality when we know the inevitable is upon us?" Do we really think we are immune to the consequences of out lifestyles? Wake up! Do something! Do something different than what you are now! It is insane to think that you can continue to do the same thing, day after day, and avoid the results of unhealthy eating and living the rest of your life. Or maybe you don't care to be in reality? Maybe you are one of those who has tried and tried but continually fail to stick with anything?

There is a way to overcome that.

Watch the movie and let me know what you think.

Cleaning Up

This is a re-post from the original post I had on my other blog. I thought it would fit on this side as well and there are different followers of this post as well. Forgive me for any duplication on the part of those that follow my other blog. 

We have 8 days till we leave for Africa. (Today we now are on our last day here in the US. Leaving at 9am for the airport tomorrow.) It's not quite registering yet but the fact still remains we are leaving. We have our bags packed, we're ready to go, we're standing here, outside the door of the restaurant ( you thought Peter, Paul and Mary, right?) feeling really bloated.

Why do we do that?

Why do we go out to eat and stuff ourselves?

Is there some unwritten rule that says we have to eat everything that is set in front of us? I mean every last morsel of food on the plate?

Growing up, my mother harped at me to eat everything on my plate because of the starving children over seas. It didn't make sense to me that mother would make me eat all the food when she could send it to those starving children instead. None-the-less I ate it all. She would demand I "clean up" my plate.

Maybe it was that early training for cleaning up my plate that prepared me for my eating habits today. (I'm thinking that psychologically it was. Readers, beware!) I would hate to think that my mother only wanted me to do that so she didn't need to scrape food into the waste can. I just can't seem to help myself though. I must eat whatever is on my plate.

It doesn't matter how much is on my plate, I have got to finish everything. Heaven forbid that I would waste a single bite of food. I must set a good example for my kids as well. How would it look to them if I left food on my plate and they were expected to clean up their plates?

I can eat a huge helping of food even if I think I can't possibly eat it. Why? Because somewhere out there my mother is watching, saying "I'll bet those starving children overseas would love to have that food to eat!" and so I bow my head, pick up my fork and continue to shovel it in. Moaning afterwards, "ooooooohhhhhh, why did I eat so much food?"

So, as I was saying earlier; our bellies are packed, we're ready to go. We're standing here, outside the restaurant door ..... (music in the background) low moaning drifting off into the distance....

Dave says "it's just the right sized portion". Aaron says, "it the America sized portions we are served", Shalom says "the plate sizes are much too large these days". Tara says, "you get a to go box, ya know? Save the extra for lunch tomorrow." Her mother never told her the starving foreign children stories.

I just hear my mother telling me to clean up that food.