This week was a very difficult week for me personally, every day I believe more and more that the connection between mental health and nutrition (What you eat) is directly connected. I went to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy a weight scale that utilizes a sync function between app on an iPhone or Android phone, the internet record system and the scale itself. When I tried it failed at all the expectations that I wanted, however I found some Body Mass Index (BMU) calculators on the internet.  I want to keep track of numbers such as BMI.  I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning to go over my blood work from the other week. 

BMI Calculator

  I have been doing some research with nutrition and have been really digging into some of the sickness or illnesses related to being overweight.  The few that I really focused on were diabetes, cardiovascular problems and more on the mental health aspect of nutrition. Obesity currently results in an estimated 400,000 deaths a year (http://obesityinamerica.org). Being obese is a hard way of life for the average person.  I can attest to that because I have lived both an obese and on the lighter side of life per se.  When I was eating right and by that I mean; no soda, little to no processed food, and I would go as far and say that the environment that one, more specifically myself is in. 

  The use of the internet and social media has helped with the ongoing battle of bulge.  Facebook for instance has “like” pages for anything, I have been “liking” fitness pages that people set up to help motivate people.  They motivate by way of words, pictures and just overall support for the obese community that is trying to lose weight or just have a healthier lifestyle.    The online support is there, we just need to search for it and need to take the first step in trying to find the support.  I have started interaction with the online support community and have heard various stories throughout the world. 

 

     

 

Week 2 and meeting goals

We all have goals; some are goals at work, some are goals in your family, some are just your own personal goals. This past week I went to get my first starting blood work numbers. I have a follow-up appointment this week to go over the numbers and tell me what they mean and what can be improved on.

I started this blog (yes for a school assignment) however it turned out to be so much more to me with so much meaning. This is another way for me to have accountability to others because I need to practice what I preach. How can I preach or teach others about nutrition if I am not following my own advice. I want to show not only myself, but the world (cyber and real) that it can be done with the help of knowledge and faith in God. We all have choices... What is yours today?

Everyday we are bombarded with choices from home, work and just basic life. The choice is ours to make and no one else's. We are the ones to say, "It's only one hamburger" or "it's only one time, what will happen"? Choices of what we eat and how we exercise, but does that make a difference. Well I am reading a book called, "Why we get fat? by Gary Taubes. In the book, Taubes goes after the science of why we are fat as a society.

In the book he summarizes and debunks the calorie counting diet and also he goes against that the more exercise less food intake theory, which I believed. However, looking back on my ways that I have tried to lose weight has failed is exactly what he states in the book. I have counted calories and exercise more with the end result of not losing weight, but gaining a little extra. Here is a short video

Powerful Beyound Measure

Take a moment to watch... It will help you get motivated ... it helped me

Let the journey begin....

   Today is the first day of my blog... My blog is about the Obesity and Nutrition in America; how it is connected. This blog will be a tool used by others in hopes to understand the link between; health, nutrition and mental health by mental health I mean clearer thinking. I have set up other blogs before ... OK two, so I am trying this a third time, I am going to try and keep it up after our class.  Nutrition and fitness is my passion because it is important to practice both in our lifestyle and how they are connected. The message I want to craft or get through to people is that being obese is not the healthiest; the little things that we change in our diet and life altogether can make a drastic change.  I personally do not use the term diet... the word diet is replaced with the word                          LIFESTYLE CHANGE .

   Making the connection more real, I am going to use myself to give more meaning to you (the audience) about the connection of nutrition and obesity.  What happens when we as people eat unhealthy; such as I have in the past.   What changes when the unhealthy eating habits and little to no physical activity change to healthy eating habits and an increase in physical activity.  The videos I take are of myself throughout the change process throughout the eight weeks  

   Today I went to my first doctors appointment to see and track my starting numbers... Well, it was not what I expected...

   As I said, I weigh 326 pounds (yes, very unhealthy).  My goal is not only eat healthier, but lose 100 pounds.  The connection between public relations, obesity and nutrition is making an awareness; an awareness to young and the not-so-young.  Getting out the word of community programs and resources made available.  There is a war of drugs, war on poverty, war on terrorism...

  Let there be a WAR ON FAT.

  The test subject (Me) : 326 Lbs
                   goal weight:     220's

  Along with my goal i want to keep track on the proper numbers. Today I had my blood work done, when I get the results back I will let you all know. I am so excited about the next eight weeks and the rest of my life.     



Glory be to God.
God Bless You All