Doc, I have this lower back pain, it's not unbearable, but it's a nuisance. "Do you think its cause your fat?"
If you are fat and have back pain chances are they are seriously related.
My Dad (like many Americans) has struggled with weight and diet for years.
* The first major damage was to his back with much back pain and eventually a slipped disk.
* Then his knees became so damaged due to excess weight that he needed knee surgery.
* Then he had 2 blood clots in lungs.
* Over christmas he found out he had Type-2 diabetes.
The above happened over the last 15 years.
It sucks but he is working to lose the weight and has changed his diet. I believe that if he can stick with it everything will work out.
It has completely changed my perspective on food and diet in life though, to the point where I will not allow myself (or my GF lets say SO) to go down that path. I have been the same weight for 5 years now @ ~ 185 lbs, 6'1 (also ex-military) and I'm only 30.
I understand that a healthy diet is a life commitment. Popcorn at the movies ... nah. Fast food - nah. Dorritos nah. Taco Bell ... haha I hope that is a joke. But there are SO many great alternatives. I don't mean vegi or vegan (I am neither). Just accept that MOST Americans eat terrible and will probably suffer major health consequences because of it. The next step is trying to prevent yourself from falling into the same trap. Accept that only by completely throwing out processed food, junk food, fast food, ect can you avoid the trap. I'm not advocating vegetarianism or vegan but just avoiding what I have mentioned.
Paleo is pretty interesting. At least then you get to eat plenty of vegetables and meat while avoiding processed food.
I wish you luck. There are a lot of good resources and plenty of bad ones.
Have you seen Food Inc? It is a really great film, I suggest you watch it.
Also check out reddit fitness. Read the FAQ.
Reddit Fitness
:yo:
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Lastly not to go too far into CRAZY territory but consider cutting the cable cord. Choose internet only. Setup Netflix and Hulu Plus. Watch occasional movies on BluRay or DVD. I really believe that having cable causes people to just pop down on the couch for hours, often eating junk food.
I like the approach of James Cameron ... have a movie room for family night but don't have cable TV. Even if you rent a TV show like Dexter from Netflix and watch it - at least you are getting a story out of it. Most of what is on cable is mindless junk with no story and no real long term value.
Is Breaking Bad possibly the best drama ever presented on TV? Is the story worth watching again, even years down the road?
Yes. What about the bachelor, dancing with the stars, ect? I think not. You can get really good TV shows from Amazon or Netflix and watch them on family night but without having the time-suck that is cable.
Reclaim your life. //end crazy talk.
