Looking for Advice and Recommendations

[BeefJerky]

Well, I figured it is about time for me to start getting healthy and back in shape. I am 37 and was starting to go to a place that I don't want to go.
I am an ex-smoker having smoked for the past 18 years (last 10 a pack a day). Just quit that bad habit and am completely off the patches now.

I am also a big beefeater. It is not uncommon for me to polish off a pound at a time 3-4 times a week. Love those Ribeye's. I have also consumed significant amounts of processed meats (BeefJerky is a nickname given to me at the Poker table) over the years. Usually accompanied with potatoes, rice, or some kind of noodle. Whole lot of Pork BBQ and Buffalo Wings with lots of butter in the sauce. One good thing, I think is I do have an appetite for the fruits and vegetables as well. Also eat significant amounts of nuts and dried fruits. (Not sure if that is good or not).

I also probably have significant levels of chemical toxins in my body having worked in fabrication and construction trade for significant amount of my life. Hardcore day in and day out exposure to different glues and thinners 7 years.

Anyhow, what I am trying to do is take back my physical self from the ravages of mistreatment. I have not had any significant illnesses in my life as of yet other than the common cold. I am overweight in my opinion, others don't think so. 6'3", 240#, 38 inch waist, 46" chest. I have large bone structure.

In my younger years I was highly active, bicycling 200 - 500 miles per week, surfing, typical So.Cal. stuff. Then I went into the Marine Corps and remained highly active until the age of 25. Then I pursued the life of hard physical labor over the next 7 years which has gradually tapered to a insignificant amount of physical activity at this time. Although, I am perfectly capable of putting in a strenuous day of labor without discomfort.

What I am interested in doing is cleansing my body after reading about it here (Master Cleanse). Then I want to get on a better diet, not sure how to do this or where to look? Then I want to get on a structured physical exercise plan, Again not sure where to look? I don't want to kill myself or subject myself to something dangerous. Guess what I mean is I don't want to overdue it at first. I literally went thru the shakes when quitting the smoking until I got on the patch and weened myself off the drug slowly. I am still hooked on the sugar and caffeine though. I consume 4-6 cans of Mountain Dew a day. Will my system go into shock if suddenly removed from this all at once? These are the types of questions I am looking for.

Is there a certain type of doctor/practitioner one could go see to discuss options with and maybe be available for consultations to answer questions while going thru the different processes?

Thanks in advance to any replies or links you all might post. Regards

[lhslancers]

Good luck Jerky. You wouldn't believe the amount of undigested crap is in your intestines. Miles. Sorry I can't help with any links but you might want to cut down on the meat and sub some turkey chicken and fish. I think G-Khan has a great recipe for carp.:bandit:

[Curtman]

Well you are going to have to get off the dew. I would kick the coffee also, myself I drink it on Sundays when I go to breakfast with the men. I drink tea almost all of my waking hours, Green tea and white tea but you can help yourself even with black tea but no sugar in it. Drinking lots of cranberry juice and others is good but it is worth the extra expense of getting the unsweetened kind.
I eat more seafood than other meat and all but gave up beef when I quit training in 2000. We do not do burgers here. Tons of grains, to much bread but I love it and lots of fruit and a fair amount of veggies. A case of oranges a week, about six to eight pounds of Kiwi, Apples until they cannot be found in good shape. I have thrown tons of apples out the window when after biting into them find they are soft, YUKK!)
The lemon thing you are talking about is interesting also but I have not done this.
IT will be interesting to see others replies.

[hoarder]

Rinse mouth out with water after lemons, otherwise you may get cavities as I did. Virtually all commercially sold beef jerky is loaded with chemicals because our rulers require it, if you like beef jerky make your own. I love it but don't eat any.
Do not eat what your television tells you to eat. Drink lots of water. Stay away from hydrogenated oils. Never drink sodas. Two cups of coffee a week is enough.
I find I lose more weight when I sweat than from anything else.

[NewWorldSlacker]

I find I lose more weight when I sweat than from anything else.
Well I guess I should turn off the a\c when I'm home eating spicy cheetos and watching Oprah. :marchmell

[Book]

Remember the Prime Directive:

Never ever take one little puff from a cigarette again. Never. Ever. Again.
Good lucky with the rest of it BeefJerky!
:congrats: :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:

[The Great Ag]

Well, I figured it is about time for me to start getting healthy and back in shape. I am 37 and was starting to go to a place that I don't want to go.
I am an ex-smoker having smoked for the past 18 years (last 10 a pack a day). Just quit that bad habit and am completely off the patches now.

CONGRATULATIONS :ARMS1:

I am also a big beefeater. http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/randalls_1899_79112220 Drop the booze man, drop the booze. It'll kill ya brains. :albertein

Seriously, you can do a herbal cleanse that involves little effort on your part other than consistency. I have just completed the colon cleanse after one month, and have just started the liver cleanse. You are taking herbal supplements designed to aid the body is ridding itself of the accumulated toxins you have been ingesting these past 37 years.

What is interesting is after completing the colon cleanse, some of the foods I used to eat just, i do not crave anymore. It is like the body is telling me not to put crap into it. My body still wants good beer! :ARMS1:

Here is a link to the product I used. Renewlife Products (http://www.renewlife.com/products/detail/cleansesmart.html)

You should be able to get them at most health food stores. Look for a store called "The Vitamin Cottage" they are in most states.

Just this start will be a good beginning. During the month of the colon cleanse you could start reducing the amount of Dew you consume. Many smokers upon quitting adopt another habit to replace the smokes. Maybe yours is caffeine, eh? There should be much of a problem to adjust, as the Marines have taught you discipline. By the way, thank you for your service. I don't always get to say that to many Veterans.

If you have more questions you can PM me. Good luck BeefJerky.

The Great Ag[/QUOTE]

[demosfen]

Buy coffee substitute instead of coffee. They have it in any health store. Tastes very similar to coffee but has nothing to do with it. It worked for my wife.
I wouldn't eat a pound of meat at a time. Better eat smaller portions more frequently.

[keehah]

My favorite book this last year is a raw food book (Eating for Beauty). Not the only book you will need but I like the fact it makes intuitive sense to me (and I am a chemist). As well some of the talk regarding health effects of pH (both body and foods) is the best I have read. And yes it does also talk about all the junk you will likely need to get out of your digestive track now that you are improving your diet.

http://www.rawfoodinfo.com/catalog/books_eating%20for%20beauty.html

An emphasis on fresh raw foods does align with my planned low energy, more home grown food future.

[TheKingsSon]

Eat according to your Blood type:

http://www.acu-cell.com/btd.html

Do a search, there's a lot to be said for this

[Argentsum]

I think everyone person can give you differing advice on what is important.

I've been avoiding sugar and anything that's high on the gylcemic index. Say what you will, its cured my heartburn, and my heartburn was a roasting, keep-you-up-at-night slow torture. I used to consume tums like candy. Funny that...they contained sugar.

Plenty of leafy greens. I eat those pre-packaged bags of salad at the supermarket in lieu of potato chips.

I seem to be losing weight as well but this has been a slow process given that I spend too much time in front of the computer.

Anyways, that's whats working for me.

One-quarter of what you eat keeps you alive.
The other three-quarters keeps your doctor alive.
- Hieroglyph found in an ancient Egyptian tomb -

[runcible]

Start reading labels and avoid corn syrup.

For example, there are several brands and varieties of spaghetti sauce at my local supermarket. Most of them have corn syrup. A few do not.

After I avoided corn syrup for awhile, I found that my taste buds became more sensitive to sugar. When the type of salsa I buy started adding corn syrup to their recipe, it was too sweet.

Its a great way to cut calories -- after your taste buds adjust, food will taste as sweet, but you'll consume less calories.

Another tip is to avoid all fast food. If you feel an uncontrollable urge to eat out, go to a nice mom&pop restraunt and eat a burger there. Most fast food places have a lot of fat (and sometimes sugar!).

This may also be useful (http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/www/hackdiet.html).