How is Dr. Gupta doing in his quest to get fit?

Dr. Deepak Chopra says that "the mind is not in the body, the body is in the mind." This a belief rooted in the ancient Vedas. A deeper more basic place to begin the quest for perfect health is in mind as opposed to beginning only with the body. Meditation is a vital technique to achieve perfect health in mind and body. Sanjay is currently practicing meditation using the word "gentle" which he repeats silently to himself as he sits comfortably, relaxing and breathing deeply. Sanjay is finding this to be beneficial to his state of being and no doubt. Even more powerful and transformative is using a technique to transcend the waking, everyday mind. Going beyond mind to the most basic level of conciousness which is the source of our being, both mind and body. Perfect health actually begins at that level of being. The Chopra Center offers training in this technique called Primordial Sound Meditation. This technique found in the Vedas is the ancient teaching of Sanjay's ancestors. Vedic mantras, "seed" sounds which have no meaning to the waking mind have the power to bring one's conciousness to the basic level of being. These seed sounds originate in vibrations emanating from the heart of the universe, the Source of all life. The most well known seed sound is "OM" Meditating on this sound and its variants aligns our conciousness with the Source of all life, the source of perfect health. This is where the quest for perfect health begins, at the root of being.

Its great to see people taking action. I believe our biggest problem is not understanding the balance between calories-in vs calories-out. The calories-in is easy, look on the package or look online. The calorie-out side is tougher to figure out and I have found that most exercise equipment, heart rate monitors and pedometers are extremely inaccurate. I have been using a product from Mayo Clinic that can accurately measure calorie burn. Its called the Gruve and it really helps balance the in/out equation.

With travel and long days, you might consider using resistance bands instead of free weights for muscle toning. They provide great resistance, are lightweight and portable and can be done just about anywhere. They are surprisingly effective – especially when combined with a good cardio program.

I think it is great that African American churches will begin to addess mental health. After all, the natural comes before the spiritual.

I think Maslow's Hierarchy is an example of how to become all one can be to acheive sound mental health.

I used to love walking 3 miles almost every day. In the last year I've gained a lot of weight and lost muscle due to my inability to walk because of hip pain (I am seeing a doctor). Is there a cardio exercise that is as good as walking that doesn't involve weight bearing on the hip?

Ellen – Find a swimming pool nearby and use the benefits of buoyancy to exercise without pain. I ran competitively for almost 25 years before having to quit due to multiple injuries. Now I use a floatation belt and "run" in the water (use the deep end) for 1/2 to an hour daily. It feels great, and for anyone carrying a few extra pounds...it is absolutely the most comfortable way to exercise and stay cool during the hot weather. You can work on rebuilding muscle in the gym. Any good instructor should be able to help show you some simple non-weight bearing exercises. Good luck.

This morning Dr. Gupta said that it is important to get the right amount of protein for weight loss. How do I know how much protein I need?

hey would like to get things going

The question of Diet Drinks and aspartme just won't go away. I have researched this and the FDA says its ok, but the Europeans apparently think otherwise...what is the truth?

Sanjay,

Similar to you I will be celebrating a milestone birthday this October. On October 31, 2009, I will turn 30 years old a week . Similar to you I have also embarked on a quest to get fit. I started my quest or lifestyle change as I like to call it a year ago. I decided to make this lifestyle change because diabetes runs in both sides of my family and I wanted to take a proactive approach to preventing this disease by implementing healthier nutrition habits furthermore, being an black female I don’t want to be another statistic plagued with diabetes, hypertension and/or obesity during my lifetime. Additionally, I needed to loose a few pounds and because I am a little vain I decided that I was going look GREAT in a bikini on my 30th Birthday this year! (Side note: I’m having a destination birthday party that I’m calling Jasmine’s Party in Paradise)

So I began my quest by signing up for Jenny Craig after seeing the progress a girlfriend made on her quest to loose weigh last summer I thought I would have the same success. I thought Jenny Craig would be a good solution because it was a nutritional based program. Unfortunately, Jenny Craig was not the program for me. It was a constant yo-yo, down two pounds, up one pound for about 6 weeks, plus I didn’t enjoy not being able to eat home cooked meals and I hated having to bring my food to all the summer BBQs I was attending.

In August 2008, I rejoined the gym, Lifetime Fitness. I started my reintroduction to the gym by participating in their group fitness classes. Then in October 2008 I joined a Team Weight Loss Program at my gym that incorporated small group cardio classes three times and a weekly session with a nutritionist that lasted fore three months. My team weight loss program lasted until the end of 2008 and I had a little success from the program. I didn’t reach my weight loss goal during my time in Team Weight Loss however, I learned from the nutritionist through weekly check-ins and by keeping track of my daily food intake how to eat healthier and to make healthier/better for me food choices at home and dinning out (something I do a lot).

When I returned back to Minneapolis in January of 2009 from spending 2 weeks in Atlanta with my family over the holidays I was resolved that I would continue on my current path. I implemented a weekly Pilates reformer class to aid flexibility and toning and in February after seeing Gwyneth Paltrow on the Oprah Winfrey show it dawned on me that I might need to increase my workouts from 3 times a week to 4 -5 times a week. In February 2009 I committed to a personal stewardship program for Lent. I would be a better steward of my mind (daily mediation time), steward of my body (a minimum for four workouts a week) and a better steward of my finances (debt elimination). I’m still following my stewardship program.

In March 2009 I added bi-monthly personal training sessions. I firmly believe the strength training was the missing component in my routine. Since January 2009 I have lost 23 pounds and over 15 inches (combined: Abs, thighs, hips, gluteus maximums, chest and arms). In addition to the weight loss I feel like a new person. Although I didn’t see immediate physical changes when I started working out in August 2008 I know the workouts and diet changes made an improvement in my overall quality of life. I’m a lot less tightly wound now. I handle stress much better. Furthermore, I haven’t been sick with a cold, the flu or stress headaches since I started my quest and began to make my lifestyle changes.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with tendonitis in my right foot 2 weeks of ago so that has put a damper on my workout regiment. However, I’ve continued to do floor work and arm work at home and in the gym in my building. My trainer also put together a pool workout that I am able to do and follow doctor’s orders to stay of my feet and limit physical activity. We’ve also decided to increase my sessions with her to weekly sessions for the next six weeks after I’m released from the doctor to make sure I don’t plateau. I’m extremely confident that I’ll reach my goal. The other day I was so surprised when I put on the dress I wore to my college graduation over 8 years ago and it fit! I wish you the best with you quest to get fit, Sanjay. I’ll keep you updated on my progress too (you should see my before and now pictures). Remember it’s not about a temporary quest, but a permanent lifestyle change.

Carpe Diem,
Jasmine

I am trying not to get discouraged. I weigh 147 and am 5' 5". I went up 5 lbs over the last 3 months when my Dr decided I needed to take birth control pills consecutively without a break in between (no placebos). I am 52.
So, I cut way back on the meat-and replaced my diet with beans and soy products. I started biking 5 miles a night weekdays and on the weekend I speedwalk 6 miles on the beach.....
I weigh myself in the am and I weigh 147 and 34% body fat. In the evening after working out I weigh 150 (ugh) and am down to 31% body fat. I do not eat anything after my workout as it is 8:30 at night when I am done. How come in the am my body fat jumps back to 34%??? Very disheartening......

Is there any HELP for shift workers?

I have not heard any thoughts on how to aid persons who work a 12 hour shift, sit at the computer 90% of the time-type of job where the stress level is high approximately 50 to 60% of the time, and how to fit a "consistent" daily exercise regimen into the work week and maintain good eating habits. Though the 12 hours is not every day, they do add up to 80 hours a pay period, somebody has to do it. I do manage to use my low-pound free weights once in a while and I will dance for a minute or two when alone. I will also try to stand and type and do bends n stretches. We won't mention daily sleep habits! I just want to get toned and have my stomach stop doing it's lap dance on my thighs when I sit down!

Stella baba, the body fat measurements are affected by hydration/water content of the tissues. That is why your body fat changes throughout the day. If I may, you are sounding a little bit obsessive with weighing yourself so often multiple times a day. Give yourself a little break and you'll feel better overall with yourself and your progress.