My maiden article received a great many raving reviews. Thank you all for taking the time to read it and for the love and concern for my health. If you have not read it yet, you can read it here. This is not the chapter 2 I had promised. That one is still in the oven. Since this blog is about sharing my journey, I wish to share my current pit stop so to say. See, after my ordeal, I gained quite a lot of weight. Largely because I was immobile for some time. Although I used to have daily physiotherapy sessions coupled with walks the effect on the weight gain was minimal.
The magnitude of my weight gain struck home about 3 months ago. I was scheduled to attend a medical review and was feeling pretty good about myself. I decided I would wear a suit and tie. But alas! All my suits could not fit me anymore. That was it. Something needed to be done.
Seeing as I could not engage in rigorous workout sessions because my hip was and still is weak, I embarked on an intermittent fasting program. I would have my first meal of the day after 11:30 hours and my last at 19:30 hours. Sometimes I would skip breakfast altogether. That was a total of 16 hours of fasting every day. During my eating period, I could eat anything that I so wished. But I also got rid of certain foods from my diet; sugar (replaced it with honey), fried eggs (replaced with hard-boiled eggs), bread, and red meat, to mention but a few. Furthermore, I reduced my portions (particularly, nshima from 2 lumps to 1 per serving). Additionally, I deliberately drunk more water. 3 liters a day.
It turns out there is an app for virtually everything known to man. Armed with an app for fasting, an app for drinking water reminders, and an app for dieting, I started my weight-loss program. Something I would not have considered previously.
Two months into the diet, I could not see any change. In fact, my weight was stagnant at 95kgs for a while. I started to get frustrated because it seemed that all my effort was for naught. However, in the 3rd month, the scale showed a reduction of 5kgs. I now weigh 90kgs, thereabouts. But I want to, within a reasonable range, go back to my previous weight of about 82kgs. If anything, 70kgs will be a good place to stop/maintain.
I know a lot of people who do not have weight issues. Take for instance my buddy Luwita, from time immemorial he has been the slim guy in the pack. Richard was too, may his soul rest in peace. Then there is my wife, Charmaine, who has some sort of natural mechanism that regulates her weight. Beyond a certain weight, I think about 55kgs, her body begins to reject food. She begins to throw up as soon as she eats. Well, that was before the 3 kids. Now the baby fat is helping her age well like they say wine does.
In a bid to further reduce on the weight, this coming Monday, 12th October 2020, I intend to start what is referred to as a Keto diet. It is not your traditional depriving type of diet. From the look of things, this diet does not deprive me of fyompebles (the foods that I enjoy). I get to eat T-bone steak, cheese, chicken, and eggs. This is a carbohydrate-free diet. So no nshima (even in small portions), rice, potatoes, pasta, all that jazz. For the most part, these prescriptions are not so difficult to keep to.
However, there is one part that will cause hell to freeze over. The phrase "if it tastes sweet, then do not eat it". Everyone who knows me well will attest to the fact that I am a sweet tooth. I love cake, muffins, sugar, coca-cola, etc. I have to bid farewell to my beloved coca-cola...Till we meet again, I have to take care of this temple first before I can 'taste the feeling' again. As part of our parting rites, I shall treat myself to a nice vanilla cake from the eatery down the road from my house washed down with a coke on the rocks!!!
Breakfast: fast
lunch: boiled/grilled Chicken, raw vegetable salads, avocado
Supper: 2 fried or boiled eggs, any cooked or fried vegetables.
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: grilled/fried T-bone, cooked, or raw vegetables.
Supper: Natural Yoghurt, avocado, and vegetables
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: fish (fresh or dry), boiled, or grilled. Vegetables and avocado
Dinner: pork or chicken. Boiled fried or grilled. Vegetable salads
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: chicken, vegetables, and avocado
Dinner: bacon, 2 eggs, and vegetables
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: T-bone, fried, or grilled. Vegetables and avocado or cheese
Supper: boiled mine and Vegetables
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: fast
Supper: fast
Saturday:
Breakfast: fast
Lunch: natural yogurt, chicken. Vegetables and avocado or cheese.
Supper: chicken or pork. Vegetables.
This is a 5 weeks program. Let's get it!
I've heard wonderful reviews about the keto diet. That's a lot of fasting though. Glad you have a system in place to make it work
ReplyDeleteI've heard wonderful reviews about the keto diet. That's a lot of fasting though. Glad you have a system in place to make it work
ReplyDeleteGreate work Japhet
ReplyDeleteI will join you, but will add some food from the orange list cause am breast feeding. 😉
ReplyDeleteInteresting write up looking forward to the "actual" chapter 2😅 I like how you ryhmed and played around with the words. All the best as you diet, as for me I love my starch. 😅
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff here .All the best on your Keto Diet. I seriously failed to do it as I love my food with a bit of starch had to look for a good diet that would allow me eat my food in peace.
ReplyDeleteThat's how my Herbalife journey started in Dec.2019 with a weight of 105kg and as of today am 78kgs. My target is 65kg.