Doctor's visit and Diet, Day 1.

I visited the same doctor my friend had visited. They did an EKG, drew blood for a thyroid function panel & other tests, measured weight & body fat (with one of those scales that supposedly calculates body fat when you stand on it in bare feet). They went over their basic plan. It's essentially the Zone Diet, which is not entirely dissimilar to Atkins at first, but is a bit more complex as it progresses, from what I understand, taking into account more varied aspects of body chemistry in the long run.

At 10a.m. yesterday morning, my blood pressure was 140/80 (slightly high), weight was 306 lbs, and my body fat was a whopping 56%. That's just insane. A healthy male will have body fat in the 15-20% range. And at 5'7" or so (I am shorter than when I was 13, due to issues with my spine), I ought to weigh around 150 lbs. Now, I don't have any delusions about making it to 150, but I decided that my goals are first to get below 250, then below 200. If--- when I get that far, I will reconsider final goals.

The basic idea of this diet is that you combine low carbs & portion control. For the first few days, I am limited to nothing but "very lean protein" from their list- poultry, certain fish, eggs, and fat free cheese or cottage cheese. Portion control is done by "servings." 1 ounce of meat, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 ounce of cheese, or 1/4 cup of cottage cheese equals one serving. And you get 16 servings per day. Think about that- that means that 1 pound of meat makes up one day's complete intake.

Side note: up to 4 of those 16 servings can come from a 2nd list of "lean protein," including zero trim beef, lean pork products, an expanded list of fish, and low-fat cheese (as opposed to the fat free cheese on the first list).

Luckily, that regimen only lasts for 2-5 days. The point is to reach ketosis- the point where your body runs out of carbohydrate fuel & is forced to start burning fat. Once you reach ketosis, or after 5 days, whichever comes first, you then add 4 servings of fruits and veggies per day, from a specific list. And only 2 of those servings can be fruit.

You can also have certain spices & condiments, and must drink 1 gallon of water every day. At least 64 oz of that must be plain water- the rest can be calorie-free drink mixes.

Naturally, they want you to start a cardio regimen during Week 2. 30 minutes, 3-4 days per week. I own a very nice recumbent exercise bike, which is about the only decent cardio that doesn't murder my back or knees, so I will be making a "ride" part of my morning routine (before I go to bed) starting next week.

In addition to the diet plan & exercise, there are medicines and supplements. I will get a weekly shot that consists of of vitamin B12 for energy, chromium to enhance carbohydrate metabolism & regulate blood sugar, and 3 other ingredients that burn fat & help reduce toxins. Got my first injection during yesterday's visit.

The plan requires the use of the following oral supplements:

-Multivitamin once per day
-Calcium Pyruvate as a fat burner at lunch & dinner
-Phendimetrazine 3x per day as an appetite suppressant

I opted, at least for now, to also accept the following supplements at an added cost:

-Omega 3 fish oils for hearth & joint health (hey, I have arthritis!)- 4 capsules before a meal, once a day
-"Polyphenol Plus" as an anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory, once daily.

After the doctor's office visit, I did a little grocery shopping. I bought:

.9 lb Ahi tuna steak
2 packages of pre-cooked old bay seasoned shrimp (spices are allowed), 1/2 lb each.
2 packages of chicken breast
3 varieties of Crystal Light drink mix. In the past, I have not liked their taste, but I am willing to give them another try
18 eggs.
2 containers of Breakstone's fat-free cottage cheese

When I got home, I immediately cut the tuna steak in half, but did not bother weighing it- I figure I will count each half as 8 ounces, even though it should be just under that. I cooked it up in a pan with no oil or flavoring & put them in containers to take to work. I added a few drops of soy sauce to the containers. Every couple of days, I imagine I will cook meat to last a few days. Between the tuns & the shrimp, I have enough for 4 days, plus there's chicken to thaw later.

I also boiled 8 eggs from a package we already had in the fridge.

Here's where I will start just keeping lists and stats. Even though my day starts at 8-9pm, since it ends around Noon, I will mark all info based on the date at the END of the day.

Today, 2/24/09:

Weight: 306
Body Fat: 56%
BP: 140/80

All supplements taken as directed

Drank 4 litres (just over 1 gallon) of plain water.

Meal 1- 8 oz ahi tuna steak with a dash of soy sauce, pre-cooked, eaten cold (8 servings)
Meal 2- 2 hard boiled eggs with a dash of tabasco hot sauce on each (2 servings)
Meal 3- 1.5 cups of fat free cottage cheese (6 servings)

Total: 16 servings very lean protein

Notes: The appetite suppressants seem to be working rather well. After just the food listed above, I am oddly full. And I have been far less fatigued today than in the recent past. Might be the B12 working, might be coincidence. I'll keep an eye on that. I love cottage cheese, but the fat free stuff has a slightly mealy consistency to the curds. It's not horrible, but I prefer the creaminess of the "regular" stuff. Oh, and I am due to go out for sushi with the MINI Cooper club tonight... looks like nothing but sashimi for me!!! If anyone orders a volcano roll, I may cry.