Posted by mic510 on Tuesday Jun 30, 2009
Filed under :Fitness, Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Most of our attention is drawn towards fat these days. Its all we hear about. I’m fat, your fat, our kids are fat. Experts say that you are obese if your BMI is over a certain amount. Since we are kids, we are told that fat is bad. Some people think they should be more worried about calories than fat. The truth is that you should be worried about both of these. Your diet should not be full of junk food. You should not be getting empty calories. You should be getting calories that are good for you from good, healthy foods. These calories actually help the body where as junk food calories are a drain on it. If all your calories come from junk food, who cares about not eating any fat? Don’t be so sure that fat is as bad as you’ve heard. I’m starting to believe that carbohydrates are the real bad guys. The Darth Vader of diets. I do think this is why so many people are overweight, really.
Think about it this way. How many cultures in the world eat bread? Most of them eat some sort of bread. Bread for some people is the focus of the meal. In ancient times, women spent the day making breads. This is also true with pasta in some places. A lot of places eat some sort of pasta with every meal. And rice? The same thing. The Irish and potatoes? Same thing. These are all sources of carbs.
Most people eat these every day of their lives. I think we are addicted to carbs. I know I am. I love bread, especially potato bread. I eat so much bread and other carbs that I don’t know what I would do without them. That adds a spare tire around the waistline. I’m not saying that carbs are worse than fat, per se, because fat has its problems too. If you eat too much fat, you are getting yourself ready for a heart attack. Your body can only handle so much of that. Isn’t it amazing how much the body can handle though? Thats why people abuse it. We have all seen young men get heart attacks at an early age. So, we know that fat is bad.
Not all fat is the same, though. Some fat is worse than others. Let’s talk about these different kinds of fats. We have items that are lower in saturated fat. These would include cheeses and meats. They don’t have as much fat as the items we will be talking about next. On the other hand, you have items that are more saturated than cheese and meat. These tend to be anything that is deep fried. They will include french fries, donuts, and potato chips.
French fries is what you really need to stay away from. These are high in calories and fat. They also will clog your arteries. I hate to say it, but most of what we consider to be the good stuff in life all have risks involved. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ever eat these items, but eat them in moderation. That is the key. Don’t eat them every day, but try once per week. Don’t go crazy on a whole bag of chips. Instead, get a small bag that is enough for one or two servings. That way, you won’t be tempted to eat the whole bag.
Oils such as olive oil and canola oil are low in saturated fats. You should use these when ever you can. Keep in mind though, you should only use a little of oil. Make sure to always use non stick cookware. This is a must and a great investment for your health. By using non stick cookware you won’t have to use as much oil when cooking. If you get good, quality non-stick cookware, you might not have to use any at all. I think that you should watch your caloric intake as well as your fat. I would say that the two go hand in hand. I would pay close attention to how many carbs you are eating every day too. I know I keep harping on it, but I think that people are too dependent on them. They are a good source of energy, but you will feel burnt out if you eat too much of them. Remember, moderation is key.
There are also health risks involved with a diet high in fat. You are at higher risk of having sugar level problems (diabetes) and heart disease. Plus a whole host of cancers that most people don’t have a risk for. People who eat diets high in fat also have skin problems. I think people who eat too much fat have very bad complexions. Their skin almost looks like leather that was baked in the sun.
I hope that, when you finish reading this, you don’t think that you should cut all of the fat out of your diet. That isn’t my purpose for you. Instead, just look at the big picture. You can eat some fat, just don’t go snapping up french fries as your daily summertime snack. And if you must eat this kind of fat, you can take a product like Proactol to help your body naturally cut up to 28% of the fat you choose to eat. It’ll serve you well.
Posted by mic510 on Monday Jun 29, 2009
Filed under :Fitness, Weight Loss
Most of our attention is drawn towards fat these days. Its all we hear about. I’m fat, your fat, our kids are fat. Experts say that you are obese if your BMI is over a certain amount. Since we are kids, we are told that fat is bad. Some people think they should be more worried about calories than fat. The truth is that you should be worried about both of these. Your diet should not be full of junk food. You should not be getting empty calories. You should be getting calories that are good for you from good, healthy foods. These calories actually help the body where as junk food calories are a drain on it. If all your calories come from junk food, who cares about not eating any fat? Don’t be so sure that fat is as bad as you’ve heard. I’m starting to believe that carbohydrates are the real bad guys. The Darth Vader of diets. I do think this is why so many people are overweight, really.
Think about it this way. How many cultures in the world eat bread? Most of them eat some sort of bread. Bread for some people is the focus of the meal. In ancient times, women spent the day making breads. This is also true with pasta in some places. A lot of places eat some sort of pasta with every meal. And rice? The same thing. The Irish and potatoes? Same thing. These are all sources of carbs.
 Most people eat these every day of their lives. I think we are addicted to carbs. I know I am. I love bread, especially potatoe bread. I eat so much bread and other carbs that I don’t know what I would do without them. That adds a spare tire around the waistline. I’m not saying that carbs are worse than fat, per se, because fat has its problems too. If you eat too much fat, you are getting yourself ready for a heart attack. Your body can only handle so much of that. Isn’t it amazing how much the body can handle though? Thats why people abuse it. We have all seen young men get heart attacks at an early age. So, we know that fat is bad.
Not all fat is the same, though. Some fat is worse than others. Let’s talk about these different kinds of fats. We have items that are lower in saturated fat. These would include cheeses and meats. They don’t have as much fat as the items we will be talking about next. On the other hand, you have items that are more saturated than cheese and meat. These tend to be anything that is deep fried. They will include french fries, donuts, and potato chips.
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French fries is what you really need to stay away from. These are high in calories and fat. They also will clog your arteries. I hate to say it, but most of what we consider to be the good stuff in life all have risks involved. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ever eat these items, but eat them in moderation. That is the key. Don’t eat them every day, but try once per week. Don’t go crazy on a whole bag of chips. Instead, get a small bag that is enough for one or two servings. That way, you won’t be tempted to eat the whole bag.
Oils such as olive oil and canola oil are low in saturated fats. You should use these when ever you can. Keep in mind though, you should only use a little of oil. Make sure to always use non stick cookware. This is a must and a great investment for your health. By using non stick cookware you won’t have to use as much oil when cooking. If you get good, quality non-stick cookware, you might not have to use any at all. I think that you should watch your caloric intake as well as your fat. I would say that the two go hand in hand. I would pay close attention to how many carbs you are eating every day too. I know I keep harping on it, but I think that people are too dependent on them. They are a good source of energy, but you will feel burnt out if you eat too much of them. Remember, moderation is key.
There are also health risks involved with a diet high in fat. You are at higher risk of having sugar level problems (diabetes) and heart disease. Plus a whole host of cancers that most people don’t have a risk for. People who eat diets high in fat also have skin problems. I think people who eat too much fat have very bad complexions. Their skin almost looks like leather that was baked in the sun.
I hope that, when you finish reading this, you don’t think that you should cut all of the fat out of your diet. That isn’t my purpose for you. Instead, just look at the big picture. You can eat some fat, just don’t go snapping up french fries as your daily summertime snack. And if you must eat this kind of fat, take Proactol to help your body naturally cut up to 28% of the fat you choose to eat. It’ll serve you well.
Posted by mic510 on Sunday Jun 28, 2009
Filed under :Exercise, Fitness, Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Often, a simple work out can make you feel much better in a small amount of time. You can squeeze in these exercises during your lunch break, or even right before a date. The best part is that these exercises aren’t too demanding, so there won’t be much perspiration involved. Keep in mind that these exercises are not meant for those looking for serious muscle growth. They are designed to maintain a healthy and good-looking physique within approximately one hour. Make sure that you have a healthy snack at least one hour before the workout, and a full meal afterwards.
Cardiovascular and Lower Body
Your cardiovascular work out should consist of a half-hour daily walk. Simply lace up your quality walking shoes and go for a stroll around the block. Go out regardless of the weather; just make sure to dress adequately. An effective alternative to going outside is walking up and down a building staircase. This option is excellent for your heart, as well as maintaining leg muscles. To maintain a constant progression, try to increase your pace on a weekly basis. Set goals and gradually increase your distances. If possible, change up your cardiovascular sessions for an even more effective work out: use the staircase one day, and walk around the block on other days. You get the picture.
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Upper Body
After your cardiovascular exercises, begin your upper body work out with a few exercises. Do these steps three times a week for best results.
Basic Push-ups
Basic pushups will work your chest area, triceps and rear deltoids. Aim for 3 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions (depending on your fitness level), and gradually increase the repetitions as the movement becomes easier. Once the movement becomes too easy, you can increase the workout by elevating your feet on a chair to increase resistance.
Lay face down on the floor with your legs extended behind you and your hands directly beneath your shoulders. Your fingertips should be pointed straight ahead, and make sure you keep your back flat and your head in natural alignment with your spine. Get into the starting position by extending your arms straight from your shoulders, which lifts your entire body off the floor. While keeping your body stable, go down until your nose almost touches the floor. Exhale as you push back to the starting position with your chest and triceps. Try not to lock your elbows in order to keep constant tension on your muscles.
Close-Grip Pushups
Close-grip pushups mostly work the tricep muscles, the inner chest and the trunk muscles. Once again, carry out 3 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions (according to your fitness level), and gradually increase the repetitions as the movement becomes easier. · Use the same starting position and breathing pattern as the basic pushup. Bring your hands together and form a triangle with your index fingers and thumbs. As you go down to the floor, your elbows should go to the side, which incidentally puts more stress on your triceps and inner chest. Close-grip pushups also require more balance. By stabilizing your body, your trunk muscles will work throughout the entire movement. At first, close-grip pushups might strain your wrists, so make sure you stretch appropriately and start off slowly.
Wide-Grip Pushups
Wide-grip pushups will work your chest, rear shoulders and parts of your back muscles. Carry out the same sets and reps as aforementioned and gradually increase the reps as the movement becomes easier. · Use the same starting position and breathing pattern as the basic pushup. Your hands should be positioned beyond shoulder width, with your fingers pointing frontward. The wider position emphasizes the tension on your shoulders and lengthens your pectorals. Wide-grip pushups are more demanding, so you will tire more quickly than with other pushups. The above pushup variations will help keep your upper body muscles strong and fit. For additional exercises, try these simple moves. All you require are either 8 or 15 kg dumb bells, and a few minutes.
Legs
These repetitions will build up muscles in the thigh and buttocks. First, spread your legs to hip length and keep your legs fully extended. Holding dumb bells in each hand and maintaining a straight back, slowly bend your knees until your thighs are level to the floor. Then, slowly return to your original position. Continue this exercise until your legs can’t handle anymore.
Chest
In order to work out the pectorals, lie on a bed (stomach up) and hold a weight in each hand above your chest. Keep your arms fully extended with the palms facing each other. Then, lower the dumb bells outwards and down until parallel with your shoulders. Exhale, and return the weights to starting position. Aim for eight sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.
Arms
These exercises will make your biceps stronger. Sit on the edge of a chair with your feet placed hip width apart. Make sure the chair is secure. Hold the weights with palms facing inwards in front of your body. Extend your arm, and curl one dumb bell up at a time in a small arc towards your shoulder. At the top of the movement, rotate your forearm so your palm faces your shoulder at the top of the movement. Then repeat.
Aim for three sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.
Posted by mic510 on Friday Jun 26, 2009
Filed under :Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
If you work for a living, you know how important lunch is. You just can’t function without a good lunch. A good lunch is the difference between feeling great during the afternoon and feeling worn out. Many times we skip lunch. We either don’t eat the right things, or don’t eat at all. Especially women, who think they can skip this meal and not have to worry about it. I’m the type of person who can’t skip lunch. I need to take my lunch break.If I don’t eat, I can feel it. Nothing will make you feel like shit quicker than skipping a meal. We all know what it feels like. The only thing I dont like about taking my lunch is that I always feel tired afterwards and want to go home.
What do you do? You don’t have time to fix a real lunch before you go to work. Or do you? Of course you do. If you are in a relationship, you have more than enough time. One thing I would suggest is that you alternate fixing each others lunch. One day you fix both of your lunches, while the next day have her fix both of them. This will give you time to do the other things that you need to do.
You can also fix your lunch before you go to bed at night. By doing this, you don’t have to rush yourself in the morning. This alone will make your day that much better. I hate having to rush in the morning. What kinds of things should you prepare? We will go into some simple things to make.
Tuna and Bell Pepper Pocket
3 (6-ounce) cans drained, solid white tuna (in water), ½ cup chopped bell peppers, ¼ cup chopped celery, ¼ cup sliced onions, 8-12 lettuce leaves (preferably green), 2 medium-size sliced tomatoes (8-12 slices total), 3 tbsp. fat-free Italian dressing, 1 tbsp. dried oregano, 1 tbsp. black pepper, 4 (6-inch) pita breads. Combine tuna, green peppers, celery and onions in a bowl. In another bowl, combine dressing, black pepper and oregano, then pour it over the tuna mix and stir. Refrigerate for a few hours. When ready to serve, put 2-3 tomato slices and 2-3 lettuce leaves in each pita bread. Add the tuna mix to the pitas. There’s enough for 4 servings.
I love this one. I don’t think there is a better, easier lunch item than this.
Black Bean Salad
½ (8-ounce) can drained black beans, 1 (15-ounce) can drained whole kernel corn, 4 chopped green onions, ½ chopped green bell pepper, 3 diced tomatoes, ½ avocado peeled, pitted and diced ½ (2-ounce) jar pimentos, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 3 ounces fat-free Italian salad dressing, ¼ tsp. garlic salt. Combine Italian dressing, black beans, green onions, corn, bell pepper, avocado, pimento, tomatoes, and lemon juice in a bowl. Add and toss pepper, salt and garlic. Store in Tupperware and refrigerate. Offers up three delicious servings for that hearty appetite of yours.
This is another great one.
Smoked Chicken Sandwich
½ (8-ounce) loaf sourdough bread, ¼ tbsp. vinegar, 2 tbsp. chopped parsley, 1/8 cup low-fat mayonnaise or fat-free salad dressing, ¼ cup chopped bell peppers (you can’t go wrong with bell peppers), ½ small onion thinly sliced, ½ medium sized tomato sliced, 8 (1-ounce) slices low-fat mozzarella cheese, 2 cloves minced garlic, 8 (1-ounce) slices lean chicken, 1 tbsp. black pepper.
Slice the loaf of bread horizontally. Remove some soft bread from inside each half. Mix mayonnaise and vinegar together. Add parsley, bell peppers, black peppers, and garlic to the mix. Let stand for 15 minutes. Layer the bottom of the loaf with 4 slices of chicken and cheese, then layer with half of the onions and half of the tomatoes. Spread half of the mayonnaise mixture and repeat the entire process from the top with the remaining ingredients. Close the sandwich with the second bread shell and chill until it’s ready to serve. When serving, cut loaf into 3 wedges (secure loaf with wooden sticks for a better cut). Makes 3 servings. There you have some quick, easy lunch ideas. Try these out. You are sure to love them.
Posted by mic510 on Wednesday Jun 24, 2009
Filed under :Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Opuntia ficus indica, also known as Indian or Barbary Fig, is a very interesting kind of cactus plant which is grown mainly for its fruit. It’s also referred to as “prickly pear” in culinary circles due to its green color and little barbed hairs that they have all over them. No one really knows where this plant hails from since it has been widely cultivated for a long time. The main growing regions include Mexico, Sicily, Chile, N. Africa, Brazil, Algeria, and Ethiopia. It is believed that Columbus carried this, and it is known that the Maya of Mexico used it as well as the Nazca of Peru as early as the 15th century. Since it is a type of cactus, it thrives in dry, arid places with lots of sunshine and can tolerate drought well. I found out that humans have used it as food as early as 12,000 years ago. The more I learned about this plant, the more I became interested in writing about it.
Opuntia Ficus Indica is mainly grown for its fruits, which are called tunas, and it is available in commercial markets worldwide, though I’ve never heard of it before, so I know I can’t march down to my local supermarket and pick some up. Anyhow, Lets talk about what it can do for us humans, and later, how we can get this in our diets.
Uses of Opuntia Ficus-Indica.
This plant is known to be a good binding and waterproofing agent when those old Indians were building adobes and such. With that waxy cacti material, this makes sense. One of the things I like about it is that its also a remedy for symptoms of hangovers. According to the National Institute of Health over at PubMed.gov, Opuntia Ficus Indica seems to be able to reduce inflammation which causes the hangovers. A double blind, placebo-controlled study was done on it with binge drinking college students and verified it. Good news for you drinkers out there, huh? It’s also used as an astringent that reduces bleeding. That’s amazing because its binding properties do well for us. It binds other things too but we’ll get to that in a bit. In addition, opuntia ficus indica treats gastro-intestinal problems like diarreah and irritable bowel syndrome, and its good for enlarged prostate gland conditions.
One of the most valuable properties is its ability to bind fat. This plant is wonderful for weight loss and weight management. And guess what? A controlled study was done on this fat binding process too. It turns out that the cactus fibers do some interesting things when it comes into contact with excess fat. It binds it up immediately and makes the molecules too big for the body to absorb. Then it gets excreted naturally. This process also helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Pretty cool, huh? Here is a picture of how it basically works.
This reaction also leads to a feeling of being full for a longer period of time since it now takes longer for your food intake to digest. This is truly an amazing plant, like a lot of other out there, but one of the few that has been clinically proven. So, as you can see, like milk, it does the body good! You can see some studies below:
Do you want to know where you can get some of this wonderful Opuntia Ficus Indica plant?
It is found in a product called Proactol. It consists of a 100% natural and organic fiber complex made from Opuntia Ficus Indica and will help you to lose excess body fat, bind up to 28% of fat intake, and help you to reduce food cravings. It is medically backed, clinically proven, and highly recommended by highly regarded professionals. Click here for your Opuntia Ficus Indica complex.
Posted by mic510 on Tuesday Jun 23, 2009
Filed under :Fitness, Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Ahhhh…Fast food. Whether it’s fried chicken, tacos or burgers, we all love it just the same. Fast food has become a way of life for some people. Unbelieveably, that’s what they eat for their 3 square meals a day. There is no difference between a Big Mac and a steak, to some people, anymore. When I was growing up, I hardly ever ate any fast food. My parents limited the fast food intake, thankfully. A lot of parent dont though. Sure, I love a bucket of fried chicken like the rest of you, but there is more to eating than fast food. We have come too dependent on quick, processed, ready to eat meals. I don’t care if it’s fast food or a meal in a frozen box. There should be no need for it, but I can see why it is appealing to many people.
I have to admit, I have eaten my fair share of fast food,a nd even still indulge in it once in awhile, albeit sparingly. I used to spend a good amount of time away from home and it wasn’t easy to grab a good meal. Most of us today live a fast lifestyle like this. For one reason or another, we don’t have time to prepare a decent meal.
Here we will talk about some things you can get at your local fast food joints that are suprisingly healthy. I’m not going to tell you that they are better for you than a meal that you would cook on your own, but you already know that. If you are ordering a burger, get it without the mayo and the cheese. It might not sound like it, but you will cut a lot of fat out just by doing this simple thing. If the sandwich is too dry for you without the mayo, use mustard or ketchup. This will help it slide down easier.
The cheese that is used is the processed garbage type, loaded with oil and trans fat. You think that cheese is made of milk, but not all of it is. Some of it is made from hydrogenated cooking oil. If you love cheese as much as I do, you can tell just by looking at it. Cheese that is made from oil will have a different look. It will look orange and oily. Avoid anything with bacon on it. Now I love bacon myself, but I find that the bacon in fast food joints is very bad. They really don’t cook it, they just put it under lights until it gets hot. Avoid this at all costs. You will save calories and you will be happy you did. Since I still love bacon, again, sparingly so, I like to cook the lowest fat content of bacon I can find and then add my own to the sandwich.
A good rule of thumb is to stay away from sandwiches that are deep fried. You know the ones. The ones that have deep fried fish or chicken in them. The process of frying them in fat like this, makes them worse for your health. I would suggest that you go with chicken any time that you can. Generally chicken items will be lower in fat content. Don’t get a chicken sandwich loaded with mayo or that has been deep fried. If the only chicken items they have are deep fried, look at the burger selections instead.
I would also suggest that you substitute french fries for a side salad. I know, what fun is fast food without fries? Well, from time to time they are okay. But, if you make a habit of eating fast food regularly, then you should stay away from them most of the time. Key words to remember is that I said most of the time. If you eat them occasionally, they won’t hurt you. But if you are eating so many french fries that you can slick back your hair with the access grease on your hands, then you need to cut down on the fries a bit.
There seems to be a trend of meatless burgers that some fast food joints are carrying. I’m not sure if this is because there is a jump in the percent of people who don’t eat meat. That could be, but if you live near a college, that might have something to do with it too. It is a big phase with college kids to be ‘animal friendly’. This is of course until they get older and realize how much more tasty meat is compared to tofu.
At any rate, if they have meatless burgers at your local fast food joint, you can try them. Sometimes they will be less in fat than normal burgers. They might take a while to get used to. I can’t say that I care much for these. I can’t stand how rubbery they feel when you chew them. Keep in mind that just because its meatless, doesn’t mean you can add one the cheese and mayo. Some of these burgers aren’t THAT lower in fat. My favorite place to go is Subway. Well, any good sub shop will work just fine. You can load up your sandwich with tasty veggies instead of fatty stuff like mayo. I would still suggest that you go with chicken, though, and at most of these places, you can find turkey as well.
The great thing about Subway is that the fat content and the calorie information are visible for all to see.
They advertise it all over the store how much the sandwiches contain. You can load up on all kinds of veggies and not even worry about missing cheese or mayo. One way that you can keep the calories low is by drinking water or diet sodas. Personally I hate diet soda, so I just drink water instead. There are some zero calorie sodas and carbonated water that I really like though fast food joints don’t normally sell these. You’ll have to bring your own or ask for lemon that you can squirt into your water. That will give it a crisp taste that you will love and it will keep your mind off of the sodas.
There you have it. An easy guide to fast food. The next time you go out to the burger joint, keep this article in mind.
Posted by mic510 on Monday Jun 22, 2009
Filed under :Exercise, Fitness, Health and Fitness, Health and Wellness, Weight Loss
Perish the thought, but we all must think about our bodies at some point in our lives. I know for many years I either pushed it aside or felt uncomfortable thinking about it. It isn’t always an easy thing. I have never been uncomfortable with my appearance generally. I guess you could say the problem was that thinking about it, meant I had some responsibilities. Not only that, but sometimes things go wrong. When we live in a fast paced world, the last thing we can afford is to have something go wrong with our bodies. The car breaking down is one thing, but our bodies possibly breaking down is quite another. I don’t know at what age that I started to think about my body as being important.
I would say that it was probably later on in life than when most people think about it. I have never really been a very active type of person. Sure, I loved to go hiking and stuff like that, but I would never hit the gym, except here and there. And, well, some things never change.
Maybe it’s because of age or maybe it’s because of all the fat people around me.
Maybe it was a combination of those two things that made me start to think of my diet and my health. When you are young, you can eat fast food three meals a day and not feel it. When you start to get older, you begin to feel it more. I would like to think that my progression towards a healthy lifestyle was to make myself more healthy. On the other hand, I think it was because I was tired of feeling like shit. I am sure that you know exactly what I am talking about.
When your diet goes down hill, the rest of you goes along with it. Your sleeping patterns go to hell, your hair doesn’t look as good, and your skin looks like leather. I had always wondered why some people’s skin looked like a pair of old combat boots. Now I know why.
So, What to do?
You are starting to feel over the hill but yet you don’t know how to change things. Change is the hardest thing to do in life. You should know that it’s not impossible, though. If you are a married man or have been in a long term relationship this will be easy for you. Chances are, the old lady would like to shed a few pounds and firm up that once tight heart shaped ass that she once had.
You will be more successful if both of you do it. I’m not saying that you should expect perfection in this venture. Though if both of you are doing it, there won’t be those tubs of ice cream laying around to tempt you.
Where do you start?
First I would suggest that you go to your doctor for a physical. Have some blood work taken and see how you are. If you haven’t done anything like this before, it is a good thing to do. He will check your cholesterol and all that stuff. Also if you have a health condition, you will want to talk about your diet and exercise plans with him before you do anything. You want to do this so that you don’t screw yourself up. If you have diabetes and you start a new diet, if not done right you can cause a lot of problems.
So, after you have things squared away with the doctor. I would suggest that you figure out what kind of diet you want to go on. I would suggest that you focus on a diet that is high in veggies and fruit. Cut back on the meat and the carbs and stick with as many fresh items as you can. This will help you lose weight. I would also suggest that you look into some type of exercise program. I would start out with walking or jogging and work your way up from there. You and your spouse can do this together. Get a dog, they love to go on walks. This will give you motivation when it comes to going on your walks.
After you get used to walking, I would hit the gym. If you can afford a personal trainer, I would go that route. If you can’t, then I would start off by doing some swimming and doing the exercise bikes. You can also start out with the treadmill as well. I would continue to do your walks. Not only is this good exercise, but this is quality time with your significant other and/or your dog. You will come to enjoy the talks that you have during your walks. If you are over 40, I’m not sure how much I would push doing weight lifting unless it is with light weights. It might be something that you might want to look into as it is very good exercise. On the other hand, it will take your body some time to get used to lifting weights. For the first few weeks, you will feel like someone beat you to a pulp.
Personally, I hate lifting weights. I think it is a bit boring. I think it is boring to stand or sit and just lift things for hours on end. If there is some hot chicks doing squats or something in front of me, that is another story all together.
The main points to understand is, change your diet, get more exercise, and listen to your doctor.
If he gives you the green light to go ahead, then go ahead. If he gives any warnings, make sure that you heed them.