As I was intrigued about my knowledge or lack thereof about nutrition, I started to focus on re-educating myself regarding the foods I have known so intimately throughout my life. I began with research into a common ingredient - high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This food additive was first brought to my attention by my former counselor. She challenged me to give up this ingredient early on in my process of regaining my life and I shrugged it off. I figured at this point, why not give it a read and see what is so bad about it. So like everything else, I googled "dangers of high fructose corn syrup". What I found was controversial, debated, and disturbing; HFCS is being attributed to obesity, food addiction, liver damage, diabetes, mercury poisoning, and a host of other issues. As I read site after site, I began to google more combinations to see what else I could learn.
When I finished gorging on information three things stuck with me: 1) this additive was put in feed for livestock to make them fatter; 2) since it has been a part of the American diet, we have gained weight and have fought the weight gain with little success; and 3) its safety is the subject of hot debate. Regarding number 3, someone made this comment to me, "why is it in other countries, nothing can be given to the public without knowing for certain that it is safe. Yet we are allowing this substance to be widely used with such debate and uncertainty." If you doubt the validity of this claim, I reference the use of asbestos, lead, mercury, tobacco, Fen-phen, and ephedra, just to name a few items that prove this statement. I do not know if it is just a problem in this country though.
As I continued my research into HFCS, I found that this is in the vast majority of products that we eat. I began to become keenly aware of my food and its ingredients. I began to take the time to read labels and know what I was putting into my body. I am not going to claim to be a food or nutrition guru, people who go in those professions and have far more training and knowledge than I, but I solidly believe that HFCS is a major concern for our country and especially those who are overweight. Anyone ever hear a story where someone eliminates regular soft drinks and they drop weight? Yes, the big ingredient is high fructose corn syrup. Some will say, well its about the empty calories. I partially agree. However, in lab studies animals were given sugar water and water with HFCS. The end result, those with HFCS gained weight and became overweight, those with sugar water did not.
This does not mean that we can eat sugar with reckless abandon, but it does implicate that HFCS changes us on a chemical level and may make us more susceptible to gain weight. How many of us have talked about cutting calories, but we are frustrated that the weight will not come off? I now I believe I know why. I almost forgot to mention, fast food has HFCS as a major ingredient. Could this be why it is addictive and linked to obesity? I think I the information on HFCS answers these questions as well.
As I continued to learn and develop concepts of what foods I should choose to put in my mouth, I began to watch "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." This show really was focused on healthy eating and helping people rediscover proper nutrition in the schools, in their homes, and in their personal lives. Jamie's main premise was to eliminate products that had ingredients people were unfamiliar with. In regards to reading labels of foods people should buy, he would say, "if an ingredient sounds like it could be in a science experiment, stay away from it." I began to follow this premise along with the idea that I needed to stay away from processed foods or ready made foods when possible. He claims that we need to return to a more simplistic way of eating. Jamie stressed that we need to stop poisoning ourselves with processed, unhealthy options, and that we can't afford to cut our lives short just because our current life is hectic, we are stressed, or we don't have time for healthy options. As his show continued to unfold, my thoughts started to come together. Maybe we, as a country, aren't getting fat because of larger portions, inactivity, or the types of food we are eating. Maybe we are getting fat because the additives in our food are causing us to react and crave in a way that our bodies are not meant to tolerate? If these additives are causing us to gain weight and making us want to eat when we are full, if they are causing us to feel less satiated, which in turn causes us eat more, gain weight, which results in us not wanting to be more active then we are dealing with more than just calories. I decided to eliminate HFCS, trans-fats, and focus on a healthier lifestyle.
This brings me back my great friend, Kris. I wrote in an earlier post about her support and how she would bring healthy foods into work so we can have healthy options instead of the regular processed food that was available. Her support and knowledge became critical as I began to look at nutrition differently. As I shared my thoughts, she validated it with her knowledge. I began to ask why she ate organic foods and picked foods from a natural food store in the area. We had a great conversation and she talked to me about the knowledge of another friend. His name is Doug Owens.
At this point, I had known Doug for over a year as he and Kris had been and are currently dating. Doug is a very unassuming person. He does not brag and is a very low key individual, but his knowledge regarding nutrition and fitness, in my opinion, is rivaled by no one else I have ever talked to in my life. Doug is a world class trainer. He owns Doug Owens Personal Fitness and Boxing (http://www.dougowenspersonalfitness.com/index.html) and has trained Jody Shelly (NHL), Brady Quinn (NFL), James "Buster" Douglass (World Champion in Boxing), and many others from cancer patients to other world class athletes. I decided that it was time for me to begin the exercise portion of my life. After a few text messages, I had enlisted his help into my personal fitness. A new part of my journey would begin as I scheduled time to work with him once a week on my health and wellness. I was just about to turn the corner in my fight. I had a new level of accountability and I knew that I had my unhealthiness on the run. I said to myself, don't give up. Don't ever give up.
Some links on HFCS
http://www.180degreehealth.com/high-fructose-corn-syrup.html
http://www.green-metroplex.com/Assorted/Warnings/regarding/Corn_syrup/Use.html
Weekly Update: I am excited to report that as of Saturday, June 19, I weighed in at 381.2. This is a 2.8 lb elimination from last week and gets me to another personal goal of getting to the 50 lbs eliminated mark. Overall, I have eliminated 51 lbs and I am no where near the end. It is bittersweet as I have never lost this much weight before, but I realize that I still have so far to go. The only thing that I can do is stay focused on the next step and stay committed. My next goal is to get under the 370 lb marker. Till next week, I wish you all the best.
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