Raj Express Actor Aditya Roy Kapoor, who appeared within the movie Kalank final yr, will quickly be seen in his subsequent movie, Malang. The movie shall be launched in theaters on 7 February 2020. These days, Aditya Roy Kapur is busy selling the movie Malang. Recently we met him and talked to him about his movie. Here are the highlights of our dialog.

What does Malang imply?

Malang, so far as I do know, means to be relaxed or to be imply. Im residing my life in the same approach. As my life is progressing, Im residing it the identical approach. I don't suppose a lot in regards to the future and that is what offers me a bonus in my dangerous and good instances.

->I want to let you know that in response to the movie's director Mohit Suri, Malang means being in love or an individual whose love is misplaced.

What in regards to the director of the movie, Mohit Suri?

Mohit is a particular individual in my life. Mohit sees issues inside me that I can not see inside me. They are very assured in me that Ill do something that I dont reside. In this movie too, Mohit took me as a result of were doing this for the primary time. They know my potential nicely and all the time use me in the identical approach.

How was the expertise working with Anil Kapoor?

Anil sir is an inspiration for me. The much less I love him. They all the time do nicely however in addition they wish to be taught one thing from everybody. I do not forget that on the set when he requested me my weight loss program plan, I gave him a weight loss program plan. Then they requested me the variety of my weight loss program coach and after three days advised me that theyve talked to my weight loss program coach and theyre on my weight loss program. Their all this high quality conjures up me so much.

In this movie, you might be additionally doing sturdy motion, what about that?

I really like motion. I grew up watching motion movies. I all the time felt that I had a worm in motion, however I by no means had an opportunity. In this movie, once I was doing an motion scene, I believed that I might be capable of do it or not, however I did a protracted motion scene in a single take, then I spotted that I can do motion. The clap was additionally performed by everybody current on the set.

How a lot you might be having fun with this section.

Im having fun with this section so much and Im very glad for the time being. Last yr was superb for me. Everything I did final yr. Now the time has come for his result. Three of my movies are going to be launched throughout the coming six months, which Im additionally very enthusiastic about.

Read more:
I don't suppose a lot in regards to the future - Sahiwal Tv

This time of year, especially after you have shifted from grazing to fed feed such as hay or balage, you might start wondering why you have the number of livestock that you have. Life is short, some animals just need to grow some wheels. I said it recently, but Ill quote the late Gerald Fry again, "If you cull the ten percent you should be culling, the herd that's left is just that much better."

Its probably a good thing to question the number of grazing livestock you have, especially when you are feeding them stored and/or bought feed. I was at a meeting recently and was asked a familiar question about how many acres you need to have per cow. That is a question that cant be answered quickly, at least not accurately.

What does the question on acres per cow have to do with winter feeding? Its important if you care about cow cost and inputs. Winter feed costs usually make up the majority of annual maintenance expenses of keeping a cow. If you have enough forage available, you have potential to graze more days and the more grazing time you have for the cows, or whatever grazing livestock you have, the less fed feed you will need.

There are several variables to this acres per cow question. Lets first look at the dry matter requirements of a cow for a year. To keep the math easy and to also mimic a common unit, lets use a 1,000-pound cow or one animal unit (AU) which is one thousand pounds live weight. If that cow had weighed 1,200 pounds, she would be 1.2 AUs.

How much will this 1,000-pound cow eat in a year? The factors that influence the amount a cow will eat include her weight, body condition, and stage of pregnancy or lactation. Quality and availability of forage can certainly influence intake. In most cases, the average maintenance intake is about 2.6% of the body weight up to about 3.5% at peak lactation or slightly higher if a first calf heifer. A safe average number to use is generally 3%.

So, that 1,000-pound (1 AU) cow will consume on average thirty pounds of dry matter per day. That thirty pounds of dry matter needs to meet her nutritional needs. She generally wont consume much more than that amount, so what she eats must meet her needs or she will lose weight. Her average yearly dry matter intake will then be 10,950 pounds.

Lets pause and think about this for a moment. To feed this one, 1,000-pound cow for a year, without any waste considered or harvest efficiency figured, shes going to need to consume 5.5 tons of dry matter from pasture or fed feed. Lets first look at what this would look like as dry hay. That 5.5 tons in 1,500-pound round bales (not corrected for moisture) is equivalent to approximately 7.3 round bales or about 180 small square bales.

When you harvest hay off a field, the average harvest efficiency is about 70%. The remaining is stubble left after mowing and lost, missed, or dropped leaves. At 70% harvest efficiency, the amount of gross dry matter produced to make the 10,950 pounds of dry matter harvested is actually 15,643 pounds.

If you kept the cow in a pen and carried everything to her, then we have to also consider feeding efficiency and possibly storage loss. Sadly, hay stored outside, on the ground, and fed directly, can have high wastage. We can have similar wastage when they are grazing. Some of the wastage easily seen comes from forage that is tainted by an animals manure, urine, or to a degree, perhaps smelly feet of another cow.

Lets now look at it from the other side of the fence. How many acres would it take to produce eight tons of total forage? There are always exceptions, but a high average probably wouldnt make four tons per acre. If it did, that means it will take two acres of forage with a harvest efficiency of 70% (equivalent to daily moves) to meet the dry matter needs of that one 1,000-pound cow for a year. If the average yield is only three tons per acre, then 2.6 acres of forage would be required. Certainly, some highly managed hay fields can exceed the four-ton yield, but those are not average.

So far, weve looked at this purely as if it is a closed system. In other words, you are not bringing any dry matter onto the farm, you are basing it only off what is produced there. Just so were on the same page, you are also assuming that this dry matter is either forage grazed or harvested and fed on the farm.

If you allow overgrazing of the forage where those stop grazing heights are not maintained, you will not maintain a sufficient solar panel or plant energy reserve, and this will mean a loss in potential production. The same thing happens if you delay grazing too long; quality is reduced and so is some regrowth potential. How the forage is managed (i.e. residual or stop grazing heights maintained, rest allowed for regrowth and refreshing energy reserves, start grazing heights), and how it is allocated highly influences the grazing efficiency of the system. You can quickly go from 70% efficiency to thirty-something as management or sometimes conditions decrease.

I often question grazing efficiencies and find myself testing them. Its not an easy task. Even if you take away all grazing factors such as caging an area for a season so you can take a clipping off that caged area to figure season long production, it can still be off some due to loss of potential regrowth between timely grazing events. If forages can be maintained more, in what I often call stage two, where the solar panel is the most active due to the highest leaf area being available and before flowering, then we can potentially increase production because we are able to collect more solar energy for a longer period of time and take advantage of more tillering and regrowth, as long as fertility and moisture are not limited.

On average, continuous grazing often has a grazing efficiency of about 30% to 50% due to suppressed growth and regrowth, avoided areas that can come from underutilized areas and undesirable species, and stocking rate. Under high management, frequent moves and appropriate allocations, you can often be equivalent to hay harvest efficiency or slightly higher. A good system at top efficiency and average production of three tons per acre to meet the dry matter requirements of the 1,000-pound cow for a year is going to require 2.6 acres. If you are continuously grazing, you will need more acres. What? That sounds crazy, but lost production is normally replaced with supplemental hay or feed outside the system and you dont realize how out of balance things really are. Sometimes letting a few animals go, especially when quite a bit of supplemental hay or feed is needed to sustain those numbers, ends up being better on the bottom line. Keep on grazing!

Reminders & Opportunities

Northern Indiana Grazing Conference (NIGC) February 7-8, 2020, Michiana Event Center 4405 E Farver St., Shipshewana, IN. For more information about the NIGC or to get a registration form, please call the LaGrange County Soil & Water Conservation District office at 260-463-3471 extension 3. John Kempf will be the keynote speaker on Saturday.

Southern Indiana Grazing Conference (SIGC) March 4, 2020, Crane, IN Speakers include Troy Bishop The Grass Whisperer, Greg Brann, and Seven Sons. For more information contact the Daviess County Soil and Water Conservation office at 812-254-4780, Ext 3, email Megan Fredrick at megan.frederick@daviess.org or visit http://www.daviesscoswcd.org/index.php/sigc or https://www.facebook.com/SouthernIndianaGrazingConference

More pasture information and past issues of Grazing Bites are available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/in/technical/landuse/pasture/

Excerpt from:
Grazing Bites - Washington Times Herald

Written by Chahat Rana, Jagpreet Singh Sandhu | Published: February 4, 2020 12:00:58 pm At the personal training studio of BodyZone gym in Sector 9, Chandigarh. (Express Photo by Jaipal Singh)

Nusrat Khan, a PhD student of sports psychology at Panjab University (PU), a professional bodybuilder and athlete, has been using protein supplements since she was in middle school.

Back home in Kashmir, I was an athlete. the amount of rigorous workout we have to do to stay in shape meant no matter how much I tried to get protein from natural sources, I needed to supplement it with protein powder. It has done wonders for me, says Khan. According to her, abs truly are made in the kitchen. Getting fit is 70 per cent nutrition and 30 per cent working out, so supplements are often a must, adds Khan.

Though research on the science of fitness and weight loss has definitely come out in favour of good nutrition, taking protein supplements to fulfil nutritional requirements has been a contentious issue. These supplements often come in the form of powders which can be consumed in many forms, the most popular of which is by making a milkshake out of them. The most common of these protein supplements is whey protein, a specific type of whole protein, which allegedly contains nine essential amino acids that cannot otherwise be easily sourced from natural sources.

There is no conclusive research on the effects of these supplements on our bodies, so I cannot really declare them harmful. But since there is no evidence that they are completely safe either, I am wary of these supplements, says Dr Poonam Khanna, a nutritionist from the School of Public Health at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

Furthermore, many fitness enthusiasts and nutrition experts told Chandigarh Newsline that rising standards of fitness and increasingly unrealistic goals for body image have motivated young people from all walks of life to look for quick and easy ways for achieving these goals.

Often people seek to fulfil these goals by taking some supplements that they heard are good for shaping their body. But their source is hearsay and not professional dieticians or sports nutritionists, and that is where taking protein supplements can become dangerous, that is why I always recommend natural sources for fulfilling nutritional requirements, no matter what, adds Dr Khanna.

Dr Shreya, a clinical nutritionist, who has been a nutritionist with mid-day meal programmes, says that gym trainers or the storekeepers of health supplement shops, often prescribe supplements to fitness enthusiasts without being qualified to do so.

Gym trainers are not authorised to give any diet plan to any person. The diet plans or advice of taking health supplements shall be made only after taking blood test of the applicant, and then as per the requirement of the body the supplement shall be advised. However, it is not happening, says Dr Shreya.

Even Nusrat Khan, who swears by protein supplements, says that using these on the behest of unqualified persons such as a gym trainer or a health storekeeper is not advisable.

Though there is no real danger in taking these supplements since I have been taking these since more than a decade now, one always need to do prior research and consult experts before deciding the types and dosage of supplements to take, says Khan.

It is important to conduct your own research as well as to which brands are safe and which are not. Also, one should know how much to take in a day in accordance with their bodys requirements. Of course, anything taken in excess is harmful, adds Khan.

However, Rita Sharma, another professional body builder from the city, who has recently begun competing in professional body building platforms says she began to take supplements after being advised by her trainer to do so.

Initially I just joined the gym to lose weight. Later, I started getting into bodybuilding and shaping. More than losing weight, I had to start gaining muscle which really requires one to turn to a protein-rich diet. Hence I started taking supplements, and its has done wonders for my body, says Sharma.

Sharma adds that it is not always important to take advice from professional dieticians and nutritionists when it comes to choosing what brand and type of supplement to take if you have already got some experience with muscle gain and weight training. Google is your best friend. we are all educated and we can do our research. Of course, if we eat supplements from an obscure brand it might be harmful so always check your source and read reviews of the supplement online, adds Sharma.

Do supplements cause hormonal imbalance- myth or reality?

Khan says she gets messages and unsolicited advice from her relatives and colleagues every day regarding her fitness regime and lifestyle decisions. Somehow looking strong and muscular is equated to becoming masculine. When I first told my parents I am going to begin bodybuilding, they were worried I will turn into a man. This is all absolute rubbish, says Khan. Especially when it comes to protein supplements such as protein shakes, they tell me testosterone levels will rise. Again that has no scientific basis, claims Khan.

Khan alleges that often protein supplements are conflated with the consumption of steroids. Sharma, the other women bodybuilder, says she has also heard baseless rumours that protein supplements cause hormonal imbalance, especially in women.

That is caused by the consumption of anabolic steroids, not protein supplements. Its just a myth propagated by uninformed people, claims Sharma. Anabolic steroids refer to synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. The consumption of these steroids leads to rising levels of testosterone in the body and manifestation of masculine features on our bodies.

However, Dr Shreya, the clinical nutritionist, suggests that there is indeed a link between the intake of supplements and hormonal imbalance.It is confirmed that the ones who take health supplements without advice of doctors or nutritionist and without having a prior body check-up, might have disturbed testosterone levels, along with an increase in the Uric Acid levels in their bodies, says Dr Shreya.

The doctor states that in women especially, these supplements can cause major health issues. They cause hormonal changes, there cause fertility problems in women, women, increases levels of m anxiety in women, and this can all potentially be caused by taking protein supplements, claims Dr Shreya.

Dangers of Supplement Dependence

Dr Khanna from PGIMER says one cannot pinpoint the dangers of protein supplements on our body in concrete terms. But she claims that those who depend on these supplements can have drastic withdrawal symptoms. If you are regularly taking supplements and then suddenly decide to stop, it can cause your muscles to suddenly weaken as well. The dependency on these supplements can become really strong with regular intake, and like any dependency, the sudden withdrawal from it can also have drastic effects on your physical and mental health, adds Dr Khanna.

Dr Shreya also says that supplements give a temporary pump to our muscles, but its common side effect is that when an individual stops taking the supplement, their body regains the fat it had lost very quickly. Our body needs every ingredient including proteins, minerals, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, but the addicted gym goers only take high protein and creatinine and reduce the number of carbohydrates, which also affect the kidneys and liver, claims Dr Shreya.

The doctor also reveals that pumping our muscles with protein and strength training can cause a certain mental disorder colloquially known as bigorexia. The term refers to a muscle dysmorphia, which makes people obsessed with the idea that their muscles are just not big enough. It comes under the general bracket of body dysmorphic disorder, wherein people are obsessed and go to outlandish extents to hide or change aspects of their body which they find unappealing.

Bigorexia is a trend in which all kinds of people are getting trapped, as they want 8 packs abs and that too in a very short span. This obsession leads to cutting out certain nutrients from ones diet, which might show short term results but are very unhealthy for us in the long term, says the doctor. They are so obsessed with muscle building that they lose sight of their overall fitness, which requires a balanced intake of all other nutrients such as calcium and fat and carbohydrates. One cannot cut these out of their lives completely, adds the doctor.

The role of micronutrients in protein absorption

Dr Khanna too believes that another problem with the focus on protein supplements for muscle building is that people forget the role of a balanced diet in terms of varied micronutrient intake. Its ok if you take a limited amount of protein powder I guess if you dont get your requirements from a natural diet, but one cannot only obsess about protein and forget all other nutrients, claims the doctor.

Apart from the muscular dysmorphic syndrome, Dr Khanna claims that an obsession with protein can make people forget about all the other micronutrients which are in fact necessary for the absorption of protein. Not only is balanced diet necessary in general, but it also aids the protein obsession. Our body needs a delicate interaction of micronutrients to sustain itself. For example, I have done research on how iron absorption is aided by the intake of Vitamin C. Similarly protein is best absorbed with a balanced intake of calcium, says Dr Khanna. So in that sense, milk is your best option, because it has a combination of the two, adds the nutrition expert from PGIMER.

Nusrat Khan, the bodybuilder and sports psychologist agrees that a balanced intake of nutrients is essential, but she gets this balanced diet not just from natural sources but from a myriad of supplements. I also take magnesium supplements for example. Furthermore, vitamins and minerals, I also take a multivitamin for example. But again, everything I take after doing my research and talking to experts. Protein is in the forefront only because its is most essential for athletes for muscle recovery, but does not mean we ignore other nutrients, adds Khan.

Adulteration in Protein Powder

Though experts largely agree that there is no harm in taking a limited amount of protein to fulfil ones dietary requirements, what truly endangers ones health is what might be added to the powder besides pure protein. There are many brands that might sell adulterated stuff, mixed with harmful synthetic material, so we have to be careful while purchasing a particular brand of course, claims Sharma, the bodybuilder.

Dr Vikas Sharma, a dermatologist from National Skin Hospital in Panchkula, claims that researchers have screened 134 such products for about 130 types of toxins to find that many protein powders contain heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury.

Apart from that, bisphenol-A which is used to make plastic and certain pesticides have also been found in protein powders. These contaminants are linked to skin and hair disorders and other health conditions, claims Dr Sharma.

Research published by Harvard Health has also warned users of the amount of hidden sugar and calories mixed with protein powder. Some protein powders have little added sugar, and others have a lot (as much as 23 grams per scoop). Some protein powders wind up turning a glass of milk into a drink with more than 1,200 calories, state the researchers from Harvard health. Apart from weight gain, this leads to an unhealthy spike in blood sugar, sometimes much more than the recommended limit of added sugar per day advised by cardiac experts.

Dr Sharma also claims that some protein powders may contain unlisted ingredients such as stimulants and even steroid. Certain plants can absorb heavy metals from the soil which are passed along in protein powder if these are not screened well, adds the dermatologist.

At the end of the day, it is difficult to gauge what harmful effects these supplements contain, so it is always best to rely on natural sources of protein. There is enough local variety of food that each one of can consume to fulfil our nutritional requirements. And if you are still absolutely convinced of the benefits of supplements, take them at your own risk, advises Dr Khanna.

For all the latest Lifestyle News, download Indian Express App

IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

Follow this link:
Wh(e)y Protein? - The Indian Express

'+(null!=(i=n.lambda(null!=(i=null!=a?a.post:a)?i.intro_photo_credit:i,a))?i:"")+"

n '+(null!=(i=typeof(s=null!=(s=l.caption||(null!=a?a.caption:a))?s:d)===p?s.call(r,{name:"caption",hash:{},data:t}):s)?i:"")+'n

n '+(null!=(i=typeof(s=null!=(s=l.description||(null!=a?a.description:a))?s:d)===p?s.call(r,{name:"description",hash:{},data:t}):s)?i:"")+"n

n'+(null!=(i=l.each.call(null!=a?a:{},null!=(i=null!=a?a.post:a)?i.tags:i,{name:"each",hash:{},fn:n.program(46,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t}))?i:"")+"

n '+(null!=(i=o(null!=(i=null!=a?a.post:a)?i.body:i,a))?i:"")+"n "+(null!=(i=o(null!=(i=null!=a?a.post:a)?i.body2:i,a))?i:"")+"n

n'+(null!=(i=l.each.call(r,null!=(i=null!=a?a.slideshow:a)?i.slides:i,{name:"each",hash:{},fn:n.program(16,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t}))?i:"")+"

n '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(i=null!=(i=l.num_slides||(null!=a?a.num_slides:a))?i:l.helperMissing)?i.call(null!=a?a:{},{name:"num_slides",hash:{},data:t}):i)+" Photosn

n'},44:function(n,a,l,e,t){var i;return null!=(i=l.if.call(null!=a?a:{},null!=a?a.has_berry:a,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(45,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t}))?i:""},45:function(n,a,l,e,t){return'

n n'+(null!=(i=l.if.call(null!=a?a:{},null!=a?a.youtube:a,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(50,t,0),inverse:n.program(52,t,0),data:t}))?i:"")+"n n

See the original post here:
Twin Brothers Die From Cancer Just 18 Months Apart - CafeMom

Weight loss: Choose this breakfast cereal to lose weight quickly (Image credit: Niclas Illg/unsplash.com) 

New Delhi: Weight loss is a long term process, and every meal we eat has an effect on the amount of weight we lose. Other factors that influence weight loss include exercise, and lifestyle, among others. One of the most important meals of the day is breakfast. However, we often end up skipping it.

Skipping breakfast can lead to weight gain, since your sugar levels drop drastically, and cause sugar cravings, because of which you may end up eating too much. Given our busy lives and schedule, even when we have breakfast, it is often ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. Therefore, we must know which one of them is the healthiest, and the most appropriate for weight loss.

While choosing a breakfast cereal for weight loss, you must make sure you do not go by the pictures on the box. The pictures and graphics on the box are for illustration purposes only, and may not incline with what the contents of the pack have to offer. Another very important step is to read the labels for the ingredients. Remember that ingredients are mentioned on labels in order of their proportion in the food item. Make sure you go through the label and especially scan it for hidden names of sugar like syrup, fructose, etc.

All-bran cereal for weight loss

All-bran cereal is offered by many brands and is easily available. All-bran cereal contains high-bran, high-fibre, wheat barn breakfast which also aids digestive health. The high-fibre content of the cereal makes it a perfect meal for breakfast as it fills you up, and keeps you satiated for longer.

All-barn cereal can, in fact, fulfil about 40 per cent of your daily recommended fibre, which makes it a great way to start your day. The all-bran cereal also contains 11 vitamins and minerals. All-barn cereal is also a rich source of iron and folate.

When you are trying to lose weight and have to rely on breakfast cereal for your morning meal, you must choose a high-fibre, low-sugar cereal, and an all-barn cereal is just that. Therefore, if you are looking to lose weight, an all-barn cereal is the type that you should pick.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

View original post here:
Weight loss: Choose this breakfast cereal to lose weight quickly - Times Now

(Editor's note: This is a new series about the effort to stay young in the face of growing older.)

While time waits for no one, the pounds most certainly do.

One of the downsides of aging is the convergence of slowing metabolism, hormonal changes, increased stress and less time for recreation that conspire to keep unwanted pounds hanging around.

According to a review published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the aging process can see from one to two pounds gained each year. Now, multiply that by say 10 years, and, well, you will find yourself in the same unwelcome boat as yours truly.

Mirroring life itself, the tale of my waistline and body weight has been a virtual rollercoaster.

After losing 100 pounds at age 16, two years as a college football placekicker saw most of that return. But once my gridiron career ended, I slimmed down to 180, with, amazingly, a 30-inch waistline.

Which, unfortunately, required a near-starvation diet to maintain.

By my mid-20s, my weight had stabilized at just under 200, a coveted mark I was able to effortlessly maintain through regular workouts, sensible eating and, most importantly, a rapid metabolism for at least two decades.

And then at 45, all the bad stuff hit the fan.

Although I continued to dedicate at least 40 minutes a day to cardiovascular activity, and didn't exactly give into extravagant dining a luxury reserved only for the 14 residents of the Pompia feline colony little by little, the pounds crept on me.

And I was the last to notice.

I was, for the most part, able to disregard the frequent "Are you putting on weight?" comments, attributing them to uncouthness on the part of acquaintances. Much more difficult to overlook was the fact that I had to replace my entire wardrobe with 44-inch pants and 2XL shirts.

Once I had to start browsing the "46-inch rack" at the thrift store, the proverbial scales fell of my eyes.

And the reality was beyond disheartening.

Despite daily exercise, and what I considered a prudent eating, I came to the realization that I was the complete opposite of a shadow of myself, with countless bulges and rolls I somehow failed to see sneaking up on me.

Even my face changed: jawline and cheeks once angular now jowly and flabby.

I avoided mirrors, being photographed and the scale with equal fervor, but there was no escaping the reality that, like the apostle Paul, this moment of clarity demanded transformative action.

About 10 years ago, in the aftermath of a similar but less substantial weight gain, I became a client at Dr. Maureen Key's New Look Solutions Medical Weight Loss and was able to do, for the first time in years, dip to around 200 pounds.

And there was no way these new unwanted pounds were going anywhere without help.

Taking advantage of a pre-holiday special, I signed up for three months of the New Look Solutions regimen in hopes of replicating that earlier triumph.

As every journey begins with a single step, my initial stride into the program, via the scale, was utterly traumatic.

267.6 pounds: an all time high that sent me to an all time low.

But it served as both a wake-up call and a rallying cry.

In the New Look Solutions program, clients are required to keep meticulous weekly logs of exactly what is eaten, and in what portions, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Proteins are encouraged, as are non-starch vegetables and grains, with only a limited amount of fat and dairy.

In my case, I limited my diet to eggs, egg substitutes, tuna and turkey, vegetables, veggie patties, brown rice, protein and granola bars, and the occasional sprinkling of cheese, in various combinations, for the whole of the 12 weeks.

The occasional snacks were unsalted peanuts and beef jerky, with steamed white rice one of my few "cheat foods."

As part of the program, clients receive twice-weekly "fat burner" injections, which are essential to keeping one's energy level up and kick-starting the metabolism: a necessity, especially if one is going to increase cardiovascular activity while decreasing food intake.

For me, the centerpiece of the diet was Phentermine, a prescription-only appetite suppressant that is extremely powerful and as such, must only be taken under a doctor's supervision.

In the initial days of the diet, the effect of the medication was so strong that I had to remind myself to eat, and many times, I simply bypassed meals, as my once ravenous appetite was, joyfully, non existent.

But skipping meals, I quickly learned, is completely counterproductive to weight loss, as it slows the metabolism and actually leads to weight gain. As odd as it sounds, eating sometimes became an obligation, rather than a necessity.

The injections and Phentermine were supplemented by a twice-daily ingestion of a custom medication, Adrenal-X, which is designed to promote cortisol stability in the face of continual stress.

It's a bit ironic that it takes absolutely no effort to pack on the pounds but maximum determination to lose them. Even with the support and advice, the supplements, and what I considered staunch will power, the dieting had its taxing and difficult periods, and there were days, mostly on the weekends, when I truly struggled.

It was those times that led me to dread Friday: "weigh-in day" or as I referred to it, "the day of reckoning." I tried not to focus on the weekly result, instead keeping my eye on the finish-line tape.

The encouraging news is, though, that once those first few stubborn pounds go away, the rest seem to follow a bit more easily as the body readjusts to its new course.

Three months later, which included both the Thanksgiving and Christmas splurging seasons, my total loss was just under 30 pounds: a number I wasn't exactly ecstatic about but a figure Dr. Key and staff assured me was commendable. But, as I was gaining muscle while dropping fat, according to regular body mass index readings, the scale reading was of less importance to me than the inches that obviously went away and my overall improved well being.

I now look forward to donning shirts and pants that only weeks before were uncomfortably snug. My once depleted energy level continues on the upward trend, while knees and ankles that formerly ached under the unhealthy strain are now pain free.

And the "man, you look like you're ready for the offensive line" remarks have been replaced with, "Boy, you've lost a lot of weight."

But not enough.

Even though I am off, at least temporarily, the New Look Solutions program, I am continuing to limit my calorie intake while spending at least an hour every day in the gym.

Ideally, I would like to banish another 30 pounds, but in the meantime, I'm going to meticulously ensure that the 30 I was able to drop stay relegated to the wasteland, not the waistline.

Those who want to learn more about New Look Solutions Medical Weight Loss are invited to call 544-4405.

jpompia@chieftain.com

Twitter: @jpompia

Excerpt from:
Staying Alive: The weight-ing is the hardest part - Bent County Democrat