Where Should I Start?

AnnPT77 · October 2017

idare_fitness wrote: »

AnnPT77 wrote: »

In the salt issue specifically: Do you have a health condition that requires you to limit sat/sodium, or are you just thinking it's "bad for you"?

If the latter, one option is "don't worry about it", at least for now. I love salt. I eat salty foods (fermented sauerkraut, pickles cheeses, soy sauce, you name it) freely every day. I sprinkle it on lots of food, besides. Occasionally, I even just eat salt (a bit, not spoonfuls!).

None of that prevented me losing about third of my body weight, down to the 120s at 5'5". None of that prevented my blood pressure going from pre-hypertensive (at 183 pounds) to low normal BP (102/70 at the doctor's office today). None of that prevented my cholesterol/triglycerides dropping from dangerously high to solidly in the normal range.

Unless you have a health condition or genetic predisposition that requires limiting it, it's not the devil.

I was struggling with low blood pressure for a while. It resulted in me passing out a lot. I saw a cardiologist and he advised that I increase my salt intake because my BP was so low. Ever since then, I've eaten a lot of salt. I keep track of my BP and it's at a normal level. However, I feel like it is making me swell up. My ankles stay swollen especially. The elastic of my socks cut into my skin. I also struggle with getting my engagement ring off/on my finger. My fingers are really swollen. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with my salt intake, but my mother said that I am retaining fluids because of my salt intake. She has a medical history, so I listen to her.

Those sound like good reasons to limit it, then - at least for long enough to know whether it's the cause - or rather to find the right amount that keeps your BP where you want it, but doesn't lead to swelling. Do make it a point to drink adequate (not crazy excessive) amounts of water, though. You might want to consult further with your doctor, and maybe ask for a referral to a registered dietician, concerning this issue.

Best wishes!

daisyfields79 · October 2017

Coming from my own experience of the diet roller coaster, It sounds like you're not ready to lose weight, you're already setting yourself up to fail. You're coming up with excuses as to why you can't do it, like you don't like to cook, or you work at McDonalds and addicted to salt that you put it on your burgers which you have 5 out of 7 days. These 2 things as you know yourself are clear examples of things you need to change. You know how bad take out is for you and how it's full of calories which makes you gain weight. You also know that making a healthy homemade meal and bringing it into work would be 100 times better for you but you don't like to cook. When you are ready, these things will not even be difficult to change. You will look in the mirror and think, serious what's 5 minutes to toss up a salad and throw it into a wrap and bring it to work for less then 300 calories, why the heck am I getting a burger, fries and what ever else you get for what 1000 plus calories. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, I sounded just like you are now up until a few months ago which is why I say that you're not ready. You need to change your mind set and stop thinking of why you can't do it and just do it. Junk food is an addiction which affects the same area of the brain that crack, cocaine does. You need to know that you will not let food win, you will let your health win.

EatingAndKnitting · October 2017

You can eat fast food every day and lose weight. I lost 50 pounds working at Taco Bell (and NOT from GI problems either) and eating there 6 days a week. I didn't continue to lose because I ate too much and didn't watch WHAT I was eating (the loss came from going from sedentary to very active suddenly).

You can easily count calories and lose weight at McDonald's. The macro balance of a simple burger is pretty good, and I know they have other low calorie options too.

Where Should I Start?

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