eightpac's Journal, 09 Nov 16

You are doing fantastic, I don't know about your past with weight and weight loss but I can tell you from personal experience that I have done it several times through either lack of food or extreme exercise, or both... and I can tell you that if you are working out then you need to eat the right amount. Hopefully you already know this and you food diary is just some of what you are eating because what you are recording just not enough if you are exercising too. You have had great results so far but you need to not be on a 'diet', you need to be on a 'forever' and just eating a bit of yogurt and steak is not sustainable. Supplements should be just that - at supplement to your food, not a replacement. I hope you take this with the good intention that it is intended. I don't want you to feel that I am telling you what to do or telling you that what you are doing is wrong, this is your own journey - just some advice based on what I can see on here (I realise it may not tell the whole story) and from my own past. Hope you feel better x 

Yeah, that does make sense, however I've been warching Eightpac for a while and I think you're doing pretty well so far. Good food is the best, but we have been saying how the really high protein choices are really expensive too. It is a long journey, this thing we are doing and it's not always perfect. I sure need to eat more fresh food myself. 

Same - cost definitely does come into it, but if a high protein is your thing then there are choices out there, I guess it's just about finding the right thing that works for you. I read somewhere, a long long time ago in a galaxy far away that you need a certain amount of calories per day for your internal organs to function correctly which is where my concern came from. And deffo agree, Eightpac you have done so great thus far and hey, when it comes to it, no one can have the perfect journey right? There is the fabled maintenance but what is that really? - we're human, we change from day to day. If our weight stayed static week on week on week then there would probably be something going very wrong. FS is great as it's a base for support and accountability but at the end of the day, all we can do is offer each other advice based on our own experiences but as everyone is on their own, very different journey, when it comes down to it, you just have to keep on keeping on :-) x 

Hi Guys, thanks for the great feedback. Unfortunately what I record is what I eat. I know it is not enough calories but my main aim is to reign in my weight quickly reduce visceral fat and then when I reach my target increase the calories. I am on a Keto diet and I measure the ketones now on a weekly basis used to do it daily. The premise is that the body will convert fat to use as energy. In terms of recovery I have to supplement with glutamine on heavy exercise days as my glycogen supply is low or non-existent because of the diet. I also go for a monthly inbody total scan to ensure that my body is not eating my muscle. In terms of weight control this is probably my 4th or 5th attempt and I want to try and ensure that it is my last that is why I plan and reflect because I want to get the best possible result with what I have. With what I eat the food is super low GI so I have no cravings whatsoever which helps. Also being on FS has helped me keep focus as I see like minded people who are also trying to get healthy and maintain. In terms of protein I know it is high cost but I have stopped budgeting in terms of cost. My main aim is if it is healthy I will buy it. In the past my weight loss attempts have failed due to trying to save money when I did not need to only to buy tubs of ice-cream, restaurant lunches and dinner. I find that if I plan in advance cost is not an issue. I also have an excellent personal trainer who looks after the exercise side of things and I cannot speak highly enough of him. We have become good friends so that is a big help as I am compelled not to miss training sessions. Anyway will persevere on, Going overseas on holiday in 4 weeks so will see how I am going to go as hard as I can on the weight loss. Cheers 

You're pretty inspirational you know - you just seem to be so organised and have a plan for the details. You seem so motivated on your goal and how to get there and most importantly, you know what you need to do and how to do it! I think you've hit the nail on the head too when you said you want to get healthy and maintain it. Weight loss is one thing (a very good thing) but there is nothing more important than being healthy and it sure looks like you are doing everything you can to get to this. Just blooming fantastic :-) x 

You are correct it's all about health and I'll add vitality. It's good to know that I can inspire others but the reality is that I draw my strength from seeing achievements on FS. Everyone has their issues and everyone chips in when someone needs reassurance or advice based on real life experience not book worm stuff that only works in a perfect world kind of scenario. Talking about me personally I could almost not walk towards the end of September 16 and I went to see a specialist. Interestingly I took the advice of Aussie Elise on the Knee and now I have gone from thinking I need knee surgery to 8/10 for the knee and I know within 2 months I will have it at 10/10 and better than it's ever been. 

Oh I would be interested in the knee advice if you're willing to share - mine are terrible due to rheumatism so keen on any help or advice joint related :-) x 

I made a comment about how weight loss almost completely cured my mum's osteo-arthritis. My mum was obese (around 90kg) and she had such bad knees that one was replaced and her walking limited. Anyway, after surviving a heart attack and coming to live with me, she lost 20kg over a year or so. Her walking is easy now and her other knee did not need replacement. It also helped that her medications were taken properly and diabetes under better control. Basically, losing weight takes that added stress off your joints. Improves arthritis incredibly. Weight loss - the miracle health cure. 

Hi Justine please see what I have used below 1. Wagner - MSM Joint Formula (MSM, Glucosamine & Chondroitin) Powder Version tastes average. Got this when I was pursuing Shark Cartilage Angle from Aussie Elise - This reduces swelling, inflammation associated with arthritis. 2. Bioglan - Curcumin (Tumeric 15,800mg) Natural Pain relief and joint mobility - Don't like Voltaren or Panadol I believe they mask pain and you do not know if you are on the mend. 3. Red Krill Oil 1000mg (Omega 3) - Anti-Inflammatory, Mild Arthritis relief, Heart Health, Brain Health I used the above products in conjunction with exercises to take stress of the knee and continued weight-loss once again energised by the fact that Aussie Elise said that weight loss help a lot in pain relief. When my knee was a disaster and I was almost immobile I spent most of my time in bed. I found this worsened symptoms if I was in bed longer than 8 hrs of sleep. I found out that the meniscus in the knee does not have much blood supply and so relies on walking and movements to get blood which then helps the healing process. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any further questions and I am only to happy to share knowledge.  

Ah yes! The shark cartilage. Forgot that! 

Wow, thanks guys. I might have a look at the shark cartilage, not just because it sounds so cool :-) I use a magnesium powder as an anti-inflammatory but would deffo having a look at this too. For me, changing my type of exercise has helped my knees too, a few years ago, I couldn't have don't a squat for more than a few seconds but by doing some low intensity, high rep leg exercises, I have found that I am a squatting machine....ok, that's a total lie, I can do about 20 :-) Thanks again xx