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dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,805
29,735
Westchester, NY
Congrats on your progress. A friend of mine lost 150 lbs. on Wegovy, so there is definitely potential for tremendous success.

I hear you on the Costco stuff. I spent $60 there Sunday on protein (pork, chicken, Chomps, yogurt). I get all of my protein there and all of my fruits and veggies at Trader Joe's. :)
Oh I love Chomps, it’s been so long since I’ve had them. I’ll stock up on those.

I’ve been eating lots of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, and Costco a 10 pack of these single servings of cooked chicken bites, which I snack on. Lots of chicken wraps too.
 

rm5

macrumors 68030
Mar 4, 2022
2,930
3,381
United States
Of my many, many ailments there is one I am vaguely comfortable mentioning, which is some recently diagnosed skin condition causing rashes on my face. Can’t remember the name of it.

I posted about this in another thread, but I recently stopped twice daily nebulizer treatments for severe chronic respiratory diseases, so it’s vaguely frustrating how when one thing resolves, another thing crops up.
 
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AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Congrats on your progress. A friend of mine lost 150 lbs. on Wegovy, so there is definitely potential for tremendous success.

I hear you on the Costco stuff. I spent $60 there Sunday on protein (pork, chicken, Chomps, yogurt). I get all of my protein there and all of my fruits and veggies at Trader Joe's. :)
I too suffer from fat liver, but 1st stage. Just found out about three or four months ago. But instead of taking medicine for it, my doctor (DO) told me to make sure that I didn't drink alcohol (I used to drink about 2-3 ounces of dry wine with dinner each evening), and also to avoid consuming sugar, specially the sweeteners derived from corn. I probably lost weight perhaps a little over 20 pounds, and feel much better now. I probably had this condition for several years already since I had been borderline diabetic, but was unaware of it until recently. I have done it this way:

-No junk food of any kind (fries, chips, fried foods, and so on)
-No fatty foods, including beef, pork, bacon, sausages. But skinless chicken (breast pieces) without fat is OK if limited to small amounts. No sugar of any kind, specially the ones derived from corn. Keep this in mind: some coffee creamers that are labeled as "sugarless" contain corn sweeteners, but nowhere in the list of ingredients these sweeteners are called sugar. Corn sugar is one of the worsts carbs there is. No nutritional bars (these two are loaded with sugar, including granola bars and such). No soda, specially the diet ones because of the chemical sweeteners they include. Also, I not longer eat corn (corn contains a lot of sugar, and it also interferes with vitamin B3 absorption). No juice of any kind, but sugarless beet juice may be OK. No processed foods of any kind, including white breads and flour. The only oils I consume are extra virgin olive oil, and avocado oil to a lesser degree. Fruits are ok too, specially strawberry, cranberry, and raspberry, but limited amounts of apple and oranges.

I have been eating fish of various kinds, specially salmon, sardine, and limited portions of yellow albacore tuna (supposedly checked for traces of mercury before canned). Tilapia, and other fish, too. Lots of veggies of various colors, legumes (beans of different kinds and colors), green leafy salads, brown rice, wild rice. Broccoli is good, beet root, plain black coffee (no creamer, sugar, etc), green tea, a few drops of lemon juice in your drinking water (a few drops per glass). Plain oatmeal for breakfast (never instant oats). My oatmeal breakfast includes unsalted mixed nuts (CostCo has numerous kinds). If I ever eat yogurt it does not contain sugar or any kind.

Lean meats are ok, too: bison, moose, deer, elk.
 
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AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Too much coffee can adversely affect your health. I know a person who lost their flight status as a pilot from over consumption of coffee.
That's true. I have been drinking too much of a "strong" coffee, and just today decided to have two 5-ounce cups per day, and drink more black and green tea instead.

The fact is that there could be a thread about fat liver disease in this forum. FLD is rampant around the world, and a lot of people aren't aware of being affected by it; I wasn't. Also there is a pretty good chance that my 38-year old first son died form FLD, and was not aware of this condition. He passed away last year on St Patricks Day. By the time we realized that his liver was damaged to that degree, it was too late to do anything about it. If my wife and I would have known what this disease is, and that he was suffering from it, we would have intervened and done something. But we didn't know what it was until my doctor told me earlier this year that I had stage 1 of fat liver, and eat it was.

Most protein drinks that are sweet, regardless of the type of sweetener used being sold as "for diabetics or not," all result on more "bad fat" buildup in an already fat liver. The same for the already processed energy bars, but it it not sugar alone that increases fat in the liver.

The food industries could very well aid in reducing the incidence of fact liver disease (FLD), but it is cheaper and faster to go by the FDA guidelines than it is to produce foods that are designed to aid FLD sufferers. It is faster and cheaper to produce and use a concentrated sweetener at a lab. But the first thing that was done by the food industries was to have generations of Americans hooked on sugar, fat, and salt. As I mentioned before, any coffee creamer that feels sweet to the taste, even the ones labeled as not having sugar it, contain some type of sweetener. Most of the sweeteners used are "concentrates" derived from corn, while others found in diets soda and liquid proteins are most times lab-created sweeteners of various kinds.
 
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Huntn

macrumors Core
Original poster
May 5, 2008
23,968
27,051
The Misty Mountains
How is he now? Did he stop drinking coffee? I'm scared 😬
Clarified my post. He had an over abundance of white blood cells as I recall (maybe incorrectly), as this happened decades ago. Abstaining from coffee corrected his blood chemistry but I can’t tell you how long that took. He was not a friend, heard though the grape vine of Navy acquaintances.
 

Huntn

macrumors Core
Original poster
May 5, 2008
23,968
27,051
The Misty Mountains
That's true. I have been drinking too much of a "strong" coffee, and just today decided to have two 5-ounce cups per day, and drink more black and green tea instead.

The fact is that there could be a thread about fat liver disease in this forum. FLD is rampant around the world, and a lot of people aren't aware of being affected by it; I wasn't. Also there is a pretty good chance that my 38-year old first son died form FLD, and was not aware of this condition. He passed away last year on St Patricks Day. By the time we realized that his liver was damaged to that degree, it was too late to do anything about it. If my wife and I would have known what this disease is, and that he was suffering from it, we would have intervened and done something. But we didn't know what it was until my doctor told me earlier this year that I had stage 1 of fat liver, and eat it was.

Most protein drinks that are sweet, regardless of the type of sweetener used being sold as "for diabetics or not," all result on more "bad fat" buildup in an already fat liver. The same for the already processed energy bars, but it it not sugar alone that increases fat in the liver.

The food industries could very well aid in reducing the incidence of fact liver disease (FLD), but it is cheaper and faster to go by the FDA guidelines than it is to produce foods that are designed to aid FLD sufferers. It is faster and cheaper to produce and use a concentrated sweetener at a lab. But the first thing that was done by the food industries was to have generations of Americans hooked on sugar, fat, and salt. As I mentioned before, any coffee creamer that feels sweet to the taste, even the ones labeled as not having sugar it, contain some type of sweetener. Most of the sweeteners used are "concentrates" derived from corn, while others found in diets soda and liquid proteins are most times lab-created sweeteners of various kinds.
I’m drinking one 16oz mug of coffee per day, black.

I wonder if there is a benefit of drinking green tea as opposed to coffee? Maybe I’ll partially answer my own question… 🙃

Though green tea and coffee both offer health benefits due to their caffeine and antioxidant content, coffee has more than three times the amount of caffeine
 

dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,805
29,735
Westchester, NY
Ever since I’ve been taking weight loss medication, it’s been interesting tracking my weight everyday. Yesterday I went to a movie and I got buffalo wings and popcorn. And it turns out when you have loads of sodium, your body retains all the water you drink for a long time lol. My weight shot up 5 pounds in 12 hours.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Clarified my post. He had an over abundance of white blood cells as I recall (maybe incorrectly), as this happened decades ago. Abstaining from coffee corrected his blood chemistry but I can’t tell you how long that took. He was not a friend, heard though the grape vine of Navy acquaintances.
I wonder if decaffeinated coffee would be better than caffeinated? Some doctors say that the problem with coffee is that it increases the PH balance in your body by turning acidic in your stomach. I have been drinking 2-3 cups per day of decaffeinated tea, and sometimes drink decaffeinated coffee too. If it helps or not, I have no idea. I believe that most cheeses also offsets the PH balance in your body (toward the acidic balance), but there is an exception, "cottage cheese."

In my specific case (the beginning of a fat liver), just by cutting on sugar alone I lose weight. I just love dark chocolate (the store kind that's leaded with sugar). The ones I love the most are European brands that don't have as much sugar as the US ones, but after my doctor told me to cut dawn on carbs, specially the ones derived from corn and any type of concentrated sugar (honey, molasses, cane sugar, chemical sugar, and so on), and had to stop consuming "sweet stuff."

How is he now? Did he stop drinking coffee? I'm scared 😬
I remember my mother telling me numerous times that, "eat a little of everything, different shapes and colors, and limit the amount of red meats." Now that I think about it I have realized that drinking "some" coffee is not as bad as drinking a lot of coffee. But the healthiest way is to drink it black (no creamers, milk, sugar, and so on).

As I mentioned before, some coffee creamers are labeled as sugar-free, but if you taste some of these creamers you will notice that they are sweet. You can read the entire label and notice that the creamer does not have any added sugar, but where is the sweetness it it coming from? The answer could be as follows: commercial milk (the ones you buy in the store) contains a pretty good amount of sugar. It doesn't matter if it is organic or not. But the creamer's producer makes the product sweeter by adding a sweetener that is not usually called sugar. When reading the label of the coffee creamer I mentioned before, nowhere was "sugar" added to the creamer, but when I read the list of ingredients located below the label, corn was listed as one of the ingredients.
Ever since I’ve been taking weight loss medication, it’s been interesting tracking my weight everyday. Yesterday I went to a movie and I got buffalo wings and popcorn. And it turns out when you have loads of sodium, your body retains all the water you drink for a long time lol. My weight shot up 5 pounds in 12 hours.
Yes, popcorn contains a lot of salt, and believe it or not, corn also contains sugar. It is only when you give off on sugar and so much salt that you will notice that the store milk, bread, and so on, taste sweet while others salty.

But again, if your liver is in good condition (not fat) a Mediterranean diet (minus the alcoholic drinks), and exercise should work for most people. The main problem with gaining weight relates to large portions, and not fasting between meals. A lot of weight is gained between meals (foraging).
 
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AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Popcorn contains very little salt and is sugar-free.
I stand corrected about popcorn. But the popcorn sold at the movie theaters contains a lot of salt, and other ingredients that can be unhealthy. Store popcorn usually contains salt, although it is possible that you can find unsalted popcorn somewhere (I don't really know). The best popcorn is the one you can pop at home, since you can control what ingredients to add. However, some of the packaged bags to pop in the microwave oven contain salt, flavors, oils, and so on. You have to decide which one to buy after reading the label, and even so most buyers, including myself, don't know what some of the ingredients in the package's label are. The traditional or original kernel is the best, but there is a "hybrid" kernel that although is not called GMO, it has been modified to produce a higher yield than the traditional kernel. Is it GMO or not? Nobody seems to have the answer. Look...I eat it myself after removing the sal from it, CostCo has some that is labeled organic (No GMO), but I sometimes wonder :)

The link below is in reference to some of the healthier popcorns. You will be surprised at some of the ingredients "make yourself popcorn" contain. In relation to popcorn being GMO or not, there is plenty of information available by searching the net for it.
 
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GrayFlannel

Suspended
Feb 2, 2024
1,076
1,559
I stand corrected about popcorn. But the popcorn sold at the movie theaters contains a lot of salt, and other ingredients that can be unhealthy.
Indeed it does because the theater adds it. This should not be a surprise to anyone particularly those who are health conscious or on weight loss medication.
 

GrayFlannel

Suspended
Feb 2, 2024
1,076
1,559
I stand corrected about popcorn. But the popcorn sold at the movie theaters contains a lot of salt, and other ingredients that can be unhealthy. Store popcorn usually contains salt, although it is possible that you can find unsalted popcorn somewhere (I don't really know). The best popcorn is the one you can pop at home, since you can control what ingredients to add. However, some of the packaged bags to pop in the microwave oven contain salt, flavors, oils, and so on. You have to decide which one to buy after reading the label, and even so most buyers, including myself, don't know what some of the ingredients in the package's label are. The traditional or original kernel is the best, but there is a "hybrid" kernel that although is not called GMO, it has been modified to produce a higher yield than the traditional kernel. Is it GMO or not? Nobody seems to have the answer. Look...I eat it myself after removing the sal from it, CostCo has some that is labeled organic (No GMO), but I sometimes wonder :)

The link below is in reference to some of the healthier popcorns. You will be surprised at some of the ingredients "make yourself popcorn" contain. In relation to popcorn being GMO or not, there is plenty of information available by searching the net for it.

Just don't forget to look at the popcorn offerings in the link I posted above. :)
Hi - i looked at them. Interesting but I don’t popcorn in th microwave. I use a commercial popper parked outside the theater room and buy the premade packets.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Hi - i looked at them. Interesting but I don’t popcorn in th microwave. I use a commercial popper parked outside the theater room and buy the premade packets.
I see. In that case you can control the amount of ingredients. The majority of other store "popcorn" kernels to prepare at home, not only in microwave ovens or hot air devices, already have salt and other ingredients. However, there are lots of them that don't include additives and things like that. Those who for whatever reason are in a low-salt or sugar diet have some options. In my individual case I have not choice but to abstain from sugar and salt, or at least to keep it to a minimum. That said, I am consuming a very small amount of meat, and more fish, eggs, green-leafy salads, and so on. The only dressing I use is extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar, mixed with the usual Italian spices, garlic, and onion.
 
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danb1979

macrumors 65816
Feb 5, 2015
1,114
1,646
Preston, Lancs - UK
PCS - post cholecystectomy syndrome

Basically had to have my GB removed last June due to an allergic reaction to a general 2 weeks before; unfortunately had issues relating to 1st op from July last year through to Jan this year; had an op to fix that once and forall.

But as I was on so many painkillers etc my system had slowed right down, not letting me know of PCS until I'd weened myself off the drugs late March this year

After that it's been hell; only 3 weeks ago did I receive colesevlam tablets and the colestyramine was absolutely useless and only now are the tablets working

Its not been fun; waiting for more tests for the docs to try and suss why this is happening...

I'm not confident they will

Bodyweight was, last May, 140kg; I'm now 112kg - lightest I've been since 2002 when I weight 115kg for my 1st ever powerlifting comp!
 

Huntn

macrumors Core
Original poster
May 5, 2008
23,968
27,051
The Misty Mountains
PCS - post cholecystectomy syndrome

Basically had to have my GB removed last June due to an allergic reaction to a general 2 weeks before; unfortunately had issues relating to 1st op from July last year through to Jan this year; had an op to fix that once and forall.

But as I was on so many painkillers etc my system had slowed right down, not letting me know of PCS until I'd weened myself off the drugs late March this year

After that it's been hell; only 3 weeks ago did I receive colesevlam tablets and the colestyramine was absolutely useless and only now are the tablets working

Its not been fun; waiting for more tests for the docs to try and suss why this is happening...

I'm not confident they will

Bodyweight was, last May, 140kg; I'm now 112kg - lightest I've been since 2002 when I weight 115kg for my 1st ever powerlifting comp!
I hope this clears up for you. 🤞🏼

 
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