I. WHAT'S BEEN GOIN ON?
(SCROLL PAST THIS IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT MY LIFE)
1. Drove to Austin for the MS150-Shout out to the Houston Kna Crew on completing the MS150!
Maybe I'll join you guys next year
(but most probably not)
There was also a Houston Desi team, TAKE THAT...WHITE MAN
My parents are really sarcastic (wonder where I get it from)
On the 3 hour ride my dad spoke many times about how he rode his bike from Kannankara to Kottayam (2-3 hours by car back in them days)
And Mummy about how she walked 3 miles to school in Uzhavoor.
My only response was "I didn't tell you guys to move to America" And daddy goes:
2. End of the year organization banquets etc.
I guess it's starting to hit me that Pharmacy School has almost come to a close. It's weird not having to consider school/exam schedules to make plans.
It was 4 years with periods of torture that I would not wish on my worst enemy,
3. Rockets Win (SCREW YOU DALLAS MAVS)
HA! But now we are currently in a slug-fest with a good team (Clippers) who are a matchup nightmare for us.
JH, we're gonna need alot of....
4. Washington DC
Good vacation, met a lot of new people, but also got to spend some quality time with my boys and cousins.
It was once again a reminder that PEOPLE ONLY LIKE MY BLOG WHEN THEY'RE DRUNK...
it's okay...I feel the love haha
II. START READING HERE IF YOU HATE ME
Something that people come to me about for advice is weight loss.
I am by no means an expert, but I have lost 45 pounds before on a "pseudo-binge diet" as I'd like to call. It took me about 8 months, and I'm not as skinny as I was then, but I constantly manipulate my body to get to certain goals I set for myself.
to
This experience, coupled with what I've learned in pharmacy school as well as knowledge gained through my own curiosity is what brings people to me, so I thought I'd try to share some insight before summer SHRED SEASON
This is more of a general write-up. Maybe I'll go more into detail later, but this is somewhere to start.
1. Portion Control
"Is this like Birth Control?"....shut up
a. Looking at calories is overrated, although it does play a role.
Calories depends on how big you are, etc. so you have to set reasonable goals without completely starving yourself.
b. control your portions by only buying smaller amounts, cooking in smaller amounts, or even just using smaller plates (I ate in cereal bowls)
starving will make ya crazy...
For example, people will say to target 1000 calories and burn more than that in exercise. But for a big MFer like me, that's easier said than done. So my target initially was 1800, then as I got smaller I went down, this takes some experimentation.
c. Choose things that are high in vitamins and fiber...as well as low in carbs and fat
No, this stuff will not taste amazing.
d. Look more at fat, this is what you are targeting to lose.
I used subway as a barometer for things. a 6 inch fresh fit choice sandwich is about 4 grams of fat (turkey, oven roasted chicken breast, roast beef, ham are the ones i went with)...sorry went off on a tangent there. I missed subway during lent.
2. Scheduling
Hopefully you have a set schedule each week. schedule your meals if at all possible. schedule your exercise days/ times (start slow, eventually get up to 5 days/week)
I get it, this is the hardest thing to do, especially with your parents yelling at you
3. Exercise
Sorry to break it to you, but there will be days you'll have to decide between having fun and getting fit/exercising.
Point 6 that i will touch on later will help you with this.
Also, if my DIABETIC 60 year old mother can work 5-6 days a week, still go to the gym 4 times a week and use the treadmill for about 40 minutes each visit, your lazy ass can too.
TAKE THAT!
4. Surround yourself with good foods
If you got candy and junk food sitting around the house, you can't help but get the itch to eat some...
So keep healthy foods around: fruits, veggies, low fat/high fiber snacks.
of course you can go to the store and buy stuff if you REALLY feel like it, but if you're as lazy as me that won't be much of a problem.
5. Sleep
my reason for putting this here isn't physiological/circadian rhythm kinda crap.
IF YOU'RE ASLEEP, YOU CAN'T EAT...
Pretty damn simple huh?
Also, that circadian rhythm stuff keeps your hormones in tact and can keep you from becoming hungry and then your body releases cortisol ahhhhh
(THIS ALSO PLAYS A ROLE WITH DIABETES SO DON'T GET DIABETES)
(More on Diabetes later)
6. Don't have money to do shit...
So having been a student for the past 7 years, i haven't had much money to do anything. because of that i tend to avoid:
a. eating out
b, going out to drink
When I go out to eat, I'd rather not get a salad or something healthy. i usually end up getting a burger or something fatty.
Going out to drink, that's alot of calories/fat (especially if you're a beer drinker).
Then late night food cravings ensue, which are even more unnecessary calories/fat
If you're at work: Pack your lunch everyday, or meal-prep for the week (part of your scheduling component) This is lighter on your wallet than buying lunch every day
I brought my lunch if at all possible during school so that I wouldn't go out to eat lunch all the time and get something fat (but this was mainly because I didn't have the money to do so).
7. How do I keep the weight off?
This is probably harder than losing weight initially.
a. Find a source of motivation
i. Mine was mainly diabetes
Diabetes sucks...
imagine being extremely hungry, extremely fatigued, extremely thirsty (i think you get the picture)
BUT THEN YOU CAN'T EAT WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE IF YOU EAT TOO MUCH SUGAR YOU WILL RUIN YOUR NERVES, ETC. AND GET NEUROPATHIC PAIN AND LOSE YOUR ARMS/LEGS AND SLOWLY DIE.
Thank you Wilford Brimley
So yeah....Diabetes sucks.
It's mostly hereditary, but you can develop diabetes (or eat enough sugar where it's not diagnosed, but you are still screwing up your nerves and killing yourself)
Diabetes is so easily obtained it can be your motivation to eat healthy now also.
You're welcome
ii. Get somebody to force you to work out...
This is a HUGE motivational tool.
If you're fat like me, the world can be cruel and being overweight can put you down.
The confidence doesn't come from actually being skinny, but for doing something commendable that you (or others) never thought would be possible.
When I see the folks that called me fat in high school (and thought that would never change) turn out to be large during their college years it definitely makes me proud of my accomplishment (NO I don't rub it in their face, God is the final judge).
If you feel there are some aspects of your life where you are shy (like I was), maybe losing a few lbs will help (still not the most outspoken guy, but hey that's what the blog's for right?)
b. Sorry to say, but some people have good genes, and others just have really bad genes
it will be easier for some people to keep weight off than others. but the solution to that IS NOT to just sit there. making a change is up to you and is very doable.
c. Stick to what worked. you might not lose as much weight as when you initially started, but these habits that you build will be beneficial in keeping the excess weight off.
It's not going to be easy, but if you are willing to make some sacrifices, you will be able to keep this weight off.
8. What does it all mean?
Weight loss isn't just about looking good.
It teaches you discipline, it keeps you focused, and it proves that you have the mental strength to do what is right
There's a many reasons guys go for fit girls. A lot of us probably do it because the chick looks good, but it also says a lot about their discipline and your future with her.
When Push comes to shove, if she can't choose a salad over a beer and wings, what makes you think that she'll choose to stick it out with you over walking out/getting a divorce?
vs.
Also you can post side profile photos of your butt that you worked hard for. Then when people comment on it, act like you didn't do it on purpose
Girl, just work it, don'be ashamed
All in all, fitness has a lot of benefits. It goes much further than just looking good.
Pushing your body, mind, and spirit (sometimes it will get so rough you'll need divine intervention) to new levels and then accomplishing a goal (be it to lose a certain amount of lbs/kgs or to just fit into a smaller dress/pant size) will give you a sense of self-fulfillment that will keep you going.
Please remember... becoming fit isn't an excuse to be a slut (male or female)
And, don't try to lose a whole lot of weight in a short amount of time.
It's NEVER too late (I was 20 and post-puberty) so stop making excuses. I believe in you
IS IT GONNA BE EASY?
nope
ARE PEOPLE GONNA LOOK AT YOU CRAZY?
yup.
Use your newfound strengths to benefit not only yourself, but others as well.
At the end of the day there is always somebody in more distress than you.
