Day 2

5:30am: 3.36 miles (30 mins), water

8:00am: 3000 mg flaxseed (capsules)

10:30am: 1 tbsp sugar mixed with warm water, I've already drunken two glasses of water.

11:45am: 1 gala apple, 1 cup of Yoplait yogurt, glass of water

1:11pm: been chewing gum for an hour, really hungry ... ate 1 granola bar (180 cals)

3:40pm: hungry again, 2 tbsp walnut oil mixed with water

3:45pm: hunger seems to have immediately dissapated

6:00pm: turkey sandwich with mustard and ranch dressing, pickle, handful of Fritos, 2 slices of toast with peanut butter and honey, lemonade

9:00pm: McDonald's ice cream sundae with straberry topping

Overall, a pretty good day. I wanted to get some carbs in me for dinner because I would be running the next day. The ice cream ... my son and I went to play some softball and then ate ice cream afterwards.

Day 1

5:25 - 5:55am : treadmill, 3 miles

6:00 - 6:30am : stationary bike (spin)

6:40am: weigh-in; 200.0 lbs

8:00am: 3000 mg flaxseed oil (3 capsules)

9:00 - 9:30am: 1 tbsp sugar with hot water

11:30am: 1 gala apple, 1 Yoplait yogurt, LifeSaver candy (3)

2:00pm: been chewing gum for an hour or so, really hungry, weekly Monday headache setting in.

2:40pm: major headache, 2 Excedrin, 1 granola bar

4:00pm: headache subsides, 2 tbsp walnut oil with water

6:00pm: large salad (cucumbers, eggs, peppers, black beans, ranch, chicken), slice of bread

The Inches Have Crept Back

So we went on vacation the first couple of weeks of June. Before that, I went through some funky depression. The point is that I didn't exercise regularly for quite some time. I would exercise here and there, but nothing consistent. Add to that the fact that I also have not been taking any oil or sugar water which lead to more eating. Mix all that together and what do you have?

Fat, fat, fat!

I noticed it when I got back from vacation ... my pants were a bit tight. It was a sad reality.

Well ... no more I say! The line in the sand has been drawn and in the nick of time too. I had made a vow to myself when I crossed the 200 lbs. line last year that I would never go back accross. This morning, after a solid 30 minute run and 20 minute cycle, I weighed in and was a bit shocked to see the number read 198.5!

It was embarassing.

But I am committed to getting back on track with the help of the Shangri-la diet.

I'm back to taking 3 flax oil capsules in the morning.

I'm back to eating a light lunch ... apple, yogurt and some crackers.

I'm back to taking two tablespoons of walnut oil at 4:00pm.

I'm back to eating a big salad for dinner and then calling it quits for the night.

I'm back to regular exercise.

I'm back.

Loss

The trek continues. I slipped a little yesterday, but after a solid workout this morning, I'm right back on track and confident going into the weekend.

Thursdays are great ... I get to play basketball, go home, sit in on a conference call without having to really listen or provide input and then I get to go into work late which means traffic is non-existent. Thursdays are relaxing days for me. Yesterday I relaxed a lot as far as the SLD goes. I ate two bowls of cereal then two hours later I ate lunch even though I wasn't hungry. Then after going home, I ate a few slices of home made bread. Later on we went to my daughter's open house at her school and then to McDonalds to "celebrate." One double quarter-pounder, fries and a drink later, I'm feeling the guilt. To top all that off ... I didn't take any WO.

Yesterday's binge promted me go to the gym on a Friday morning. The workout was great ... I was drenched in sweat after pounding out 3 miles on the treadmill and 10 miles on the bike (a total of 60 minutes). I rested a bit by shooting some hoops. Then I went to the locker room and sat in the sauna for about 10 minutes and sweat some more.

I weighed this morning and was pleasantly suprised.

WEIGHT: 186.2
Difference: 3.8 lbs. since March 1, 2007

As some of the talking heads on the radio mentioned this morning, with the daylight savings change, everyone's attitude changes ... we stay outdoors longer and we are generally more active. I love this time of year ... the cold days are less frequent and the days of sitting by the pool in the raging summer heat are just around the corner. Pounds seem to fall off more easily in the summer.

The Line Has Been Drawn

OK ... I've been bumbling on long enough. Today is the day I actively, conciously re-start the SLD. I've not ingested any walnut oil for a long, long time now. But I am beginning to have those ravenous hunger pangs often like I used to have before I heard of the SLD. And when I have those pangs, I eat like no other. But thankfully, I've not gorged myself too much and therefore I've remained below 190 now for quite some time.

If all goes well, then this quest should be about an 80-day quest ... sometime before Memorial Day I would like to hit 175.0.

Today I went to the gym. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill (about 27 minutes) and then did 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I weighed in after my workout.

As usual, I weighed in between 7:00am and 7:30am on the gym scale with just a towel.

WEIGHT: 187.7
Difference: 2.3 lbs. since March 1, 2007

I'm going to use March 1 as my point of reference since I've not really been doing the SLD up to today. I was between 189 and 190 on March 1, so I'm going with 190.

Valentine's Day and M&Ms

Today is Valentine's Day ... the day of love, lingerie, chocolate and cards.  I gave my dear wife her presents last night and today I'll give her a card.  She really loves almond M&M's and I really love peanut M&Ms.  So I bought her a bag of almond M&Ms and myself a bag of Mega Peanut M&Ms.

Have you seen and tasted the Mega Peanut M&Ms?  The MPMMs are huge!  They're almost like chewable jaw-breakers.  The colors are really interesting too ... they're toned-down colors instead of the Googly colors of the original PMMs.

I shared a few MPMMs with my co-workers.  One gentleman came back latter on to chat.  He sat down in the usually vaccant visitor's chair.  We chatted a bit about last night's basketball game and then he asked about the family and work.  All during the conversation, he kept looking around my cubicle.  Then I saw his eyes grow slightly bigger ... they were fixed on the bag of MPMMs.  Suddenly the conversation switched to how big and delicious those MPMMs are.  I agreed with him.  I noticed a bit of saliva form on the corners of his mouth.  He started to twitch his head as he stumbled on his words.

"What did you say?" I asked him.

"Would you .... uhh ... can ... ummm ... ahhh ... ey-ey...I have ... mmm ... <cough, cough!>  Uhhh ... could ..." he kept stuttering.

Then he stood up and walked around the desk.  He was shaking and his eyes were fixed on my MPMMs.  What happened next was all a blur.  His hand darted for my bag of MPMMs!  How dare he!  I tried to block his hand, but the next thing I knew, I was sprawled out on the floor holding an empty bag of MPMMs and my co-worker was grabbing MPMMs off the floor and stuffing them in his mouth ... chocolate saliva dribbling down his chin.  His eyes were wild; his hair disheveled and he was grunting and laughing under his breath.

I slowly stood up and looked at the herd of people gathered in the entrance of my cubicle; their faces in disbelief.  Once all the MPMMs were eaten, my co-worker darted out of my cubicle pushing people aside.

I opened the bag of MPMMs to see one lone, precious teal-colored MPMM.  I reached down and gently picked the small globe of chocolate.  I put it to my mouth and savored the last of my Valetine's Day treat.

Quick Update

We're in the process of moving so life is a bit stressful right now.

I've been doing a decent job of keeping up with my workouts.

This morning I ran 3 miles and biked for 25 minutes. I weighed in this morning.

WEIGHT: 188.5
Difference: 1.5 lbs. since January 1, 2007

My eating has been good. I still eat a light lunch and a mild dinner. But some days I just pork out. It is very noteworthy that I am not ingesting the WO as of late. I've not taken any WO regularly for about two weeks now. I am continuing to take 3 capsules of flaxseed oil every morning, however.

I imagine that once we're all moved in to our new home and my mind can focus better, then I'll take up the WO again on a daily basis.

My Set Point is Set

I believe my set point is set.

It has been well over a month since my lips have touched walnut oil. During that time, I've hardly held back at all on my eating.

A typical day of eating now goes like this:

I still don't eat breakfast. Since the weather has been so cold, I usually start my day off with a cup of water and then a cup of hot chocolate. That keeps me content until lunchtime. For lunch, I usually have been eating a cup of yogurt, some fruit, some crackers and then either pudding or ginger snap cookies. Then in the afternoon between 3 and 3:30pm, I get hungry again. Sometimes I raid the vending machine. Sometimes I just drink lots of water. When I get home from work, I will head straight for the pantry and eat whatever is in there ... chips, ginger snaps, crackers ... whatever. Then my dear wife will cook dinner and I'll have at least a helping. After the kids are in bed, if there is ice cream in the freezer, I'll have a bowl.

Just this Friday night, we went to On the Border. We ordered an appetizer and then shared a full plate of fajitas. Then we shared a cream cheese desert. I was so full afterwards. That dinner didn't slow me down though. I still pigged out on Saturday and Sunday. I'd eat my own breakfast and lunch and then I'd eat whatever the kids didn't eat (I hate wasting food!)

Last night I decided that I need to stop this binge. Now that we're settled in our new home, life should be returning to normal and this week looks like the first full week of normality.

This morning I got up at 4:50am to go to the gym. I only managed to get in 20 minutes on the treadmill and 500 jumps on the jump-rope before I had to get ready to go to work. After showering, I faced the impartial judge ... the gym scale.

I fully expected to see my weight up in the 190s or even at 200. I stepped on ...

WEIGHT: 188.1
Difference: 1.9 lbs. since January 1, 2007

In my opinion, even though I seemed to be pigging out, I think I (unconciously) stopped when I was satisfied.

My wife and I had this conversation earlier this weekend. She's been diligent about the SLD and weighing in regularly. She keeps shedding pounds. She keeps expecting to see her weight bounce back up too, but as I told her, her set point is being lowered and she is eating less even though she doesn't think so.

Anyway ... I think the diet still works. I've been at 188 for the last month despite my non-chalant attitude about eating. To my credit, I am still working out. Last week I managed to play basketball 3 times. This week I'm determined to get in at least 4 workouts.

Today I'm going to start getting back in the habit of taking the WO in the afternoon during that stretch when I feel hungry again.

One last comment ... I don't think the cold weather helps with cutting back on food. Whenever it is cold, I tend to eat/snack a lot more. I'm sure that once the warm weather arrives, shedding pounds for both my wife and me will be a lot easier. We'll eat less and be more active.

Another Fascinating Article on Smells and Tastes

I found this article combing over the Web today. The link is here.

Sniff before you eat

Many of us work longer and harder hours this time of year. We have more things to do because of the holidays and family gatherings. The stress builds and many of us begin to eat ... more.
What is it that makes us eat so much during the holidays? I believe it is two things:

The wrong foods are more readily available.

The smells and aromas are familiar and comfortable and remind us of fond memories.

It’s no secret that baked goods are abundant in offices during the holidays - from patients, sales reps, specialists, and co-workers. Everyone has a favorite holiday treat. What’s yours? Do you confiscate the chewiest caramel/chocolate/nut candies for your own operatory?

Of course, the doctors who send the fruit baskets or fruitcake might as well keep it for themselves because we don’t eat it in our office. If my choice is a homemade cookie or a piece of fruit, which one do you think I’ll go for? Honey, look out! I’m a woman in menopause on a mission. It’s turn down the thermostat and heat up the chocolate desserts!

Now that I have increased my blood pressure and my appetite by writing about two significant things in my life, let’s get to that four-letter word - DIET.

There is no diet program right for everyone. Why? We are all different. Some of us need more fat, more carbohydrates, or more protein. What you need and in what proportion is important for your health. How much activity or what kind of exercise you need is also important. When you have determined this information, you will be ready to look at essential oils and how they can support you in weight loss and maintenance. The only universal statement we can make about weight loss and maintenance is to eat a variety of foods, watch portion size, and exercise.

Abuse, especially sexual abuse, and poor self-esteem can affect how a person uses food. Essential oils can increase feelings of well-being and counter issues of abuse and low self-esteem. Essential oils can also help control and eliminate cellulite. Brain chemistry (see below), Ayurvedic medicine, poor self-esteem (which often leads to poor nutrition), and cellulite are four things that when teamed with essential oils can improve weight loss and maintenance.

Brain chemistry and how essential oils affect amount, desire for food

There is chemistry involved in smelling and wanting food. First, it is a learned response. See the food, smell the food = want the food, eat the food. There is also this formula: See the food, smell the food = don’t want the food, don’t eat the food.

What happens in the second formula? Many people think that being hungry has to do with blood sugar levels or a full stomach. Dr. Alan Hirsch is founder and neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. He specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of many smell- and taste-related disorders.

Dr. Hirsch says we feel full “because of a special mechanism in our brain. Specifically, the satiety response is regulated in what is technically known as the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain that regulates many basic drives. We call this portion of the hypothalamus the satiety center. One reason we stop eating is that this center signals a fullness or a sense of being satisfied.” Scientists have damaged this part of the brain in rats and the rats have eaten themselves to death.

How can we affect the hypothalamus to signal full? The nose is directly connected to the hypothalamus. So now we have another formula: I smell it = I eat it.

Dr. Hirsch points out that when the nose is stuffy, it actually smells more deeply. The more deeply you smell, the more the hypothalamus is affected. Your nose has two nostrils, and only one is open at a time. Smelling through the nostril that is not as open can cause greater stimulation to the hypothalamus. Take your finger and close one side of your nose. Now smell. Close the other side and smell. Notice the difference in scent and ease of smell. One side is harder to smell through and the scent is stronger.

Dr. Hirsch explains: “An odor molecule in the air makes its way to the top of the nose to a pin-sized area of the olfactory membrane where millions of olfactory receptors are found. The odor molecule moves through a thin area of mucous and binds to receptor sites on the olfactory nerve. These receptor sites may be very specific, in that they are designed to detect particular odor molecules.

“We also know that some odor molecules respond better at some receptor sites than at others, which is part of the mechanism that allows us to discriminate between odors and identify odors that are present in our environment. Each of these receptors - and we have millions - will link with odor molecules that match them.

“Once an odor molecule reaches a receptor site, the body’s electrical signaling system begins operation. The odor molecule stimulates a long, thin neuron nerve cell known as the bipolar receptor cell to fire. Now a representation of the odor molecule is transmitted up to the olfactory bulb at the top of the nose. The important point here is that the representation - or neural image or picture - of the odor changes. Through a complex mechanism, the original odor stimulus is intensified by a factor of 1,000.

“The intensified odor signal is projected through the olfactory bulb and reaches the main components of the brain. In other words, the system operates to take individual odor molecules and then intensifies them in such a way that the brain can respond to them.”

The part of the brain where this is taking place is called the limbic lobe, which is the seat of our emotions. The limbic lobe activates the hypothalamus, which controls our drives and instincts and ability to feel full. Smelling food can trigger instinctive or mindless behavior, so we put food in our mouth. An emotional state can also trigger a desire for food.

Sometimes we can control what we feel by smelling certain scents. A vanilla scent in a house on the market seems to increase its chances for a sale. It is thought that vanilla gives people a sense of security and hominess. Scents can affect one’s appetite, as well. You can see and smell donuts in your office and want to eat one. If you smell a vanilla essential oil, you can feel secure and homey. This could replace the need to eat a donut.

Without having to intellectually respond to scent, we can react very quickly or unconsciously. The sense of smell can help us control our appetite and any irrational responses we have to food. Perhaps used consciously it can give us control where our willpower fails, such as in controlling cravings.

The Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Institute of Chicago found that inhaling a culinary scent such as basil, oregano, or lemon regularly throughout the day, especially when hungry, could suppress the desire to taste and therefore eat. By inhaling an aroma three to six times in each nostril, the desire to eat is inhibited. If the scent is not adequately smelled, it can increase the desire to eat, so it is important to smell the oil deeply and as many times as suggested.

It was also found that oils should be changed each day to have the best effect. We are naturally attracted to different smells and tastes each day, and eating the same foods over and over again leads to feelings of deprivation, which is the most common cause of failure for most diets.

Cheating on a diet could be just another way to increase variety. Dr. Hirsch also found that people cannot smell too much. In fact, the more people used scent to control their appetite, the more weight they lost in his study. So hygienists, follow your nose!

Which scents to use

Most people prefer sweet smells. Chocolate fragrance creates serotonin in the brain, which is linked to cravings for sweets. Smelling chocolate can reduce the desire for sweets. Banana, green apples, and peppermint were also found to be successful, while the flower and medicinal smelling oils were least effective. The oils associated with cooking or culinary herbs were best. When the chocolate goodies come into the office, don’t eat them, just smell them.

Fragrances are not essential oils and some people are allergic to them. I know this is my mantra, but safely using these oils with allergies is very important. Essential oils are natural products steam-distilled from plants.

Caution

People with asthma or migraine headaches may find that sniffing many smells can aggravate their conditions, so they should be very careful.

Toxicity of the liver has been reported when people use too much oil. Essential oils are not water-soluble. The liver must break down the oil into a more soluble form with the use of enzymes. If the oil is introduced into the body faster than the liver can convert it, toxicity can result. This has been primarily noted in skin application, but is worth noting here.

Aromatherapy tip

Scent of the season: cinnamon - Cinnamon has a sweet, spicy-hot fragrance that is so potent, only small amounts are needed to perk up an aromatherapy blend. The scent is well known for its use in cinnamon rolls, candles, and many comfort foods.

Uses: The essential oil of cinnamon is best described as a mover and a shaker. It is a physical and emotional stimulant that gets the blood and mind moving. It also affects the libido and is known as an aphrodisiac, as well as an antidepressant.

Now, this could be really good or really bad! Researchers found that just having the aroma in a room reduces drowsiness, irritability, and the pain and frequency of headaches. It also increases the action of enzymes that break down food in the body, aiding the metabolic process. The essential oil fights viral, fungal, and bacterial illnesses and boosts the immune system.

Last caution: Both the leaf and bark essential oils can irritate, redden, and even burn sensitive skin, so use them carefully - no more than half a drop in a bath.

Avoid their use altogether in cosmetics.

Debra Grant, RDH,CA, manages her own company, Oraspa, Inc. Her continuing education in integrative dentistry and dental hygiene ensures state-of-the-art information for the contemporary dental office. She is the creator of Perioromatherapy, a therapeutic technique used in her dental office. Debra offers educational programs as a speaker and consultant. She can be reached at www.Oraspa.com or debra@Oraspa.com.

The Monthly Fast

As you may know, I'm a <a href="http://mormon.org/welcome/0,6929,403-1,00.html">Mormon</a> (member of <a href="http://beta.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>). In the Church, the members fast together on the first Saturday/Sunday of the month. Most members start their fast on Saturday and end it sometime in the afternoon or evening on Sunday. For more information about religious fasting, read <a href="http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/2001.htm/ensign%20may%202001.htm/the%20law%20of%20the%20fast.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0">this article</a>.<br /><br />Yesterday was the first time my wife and I were able to fast together in a very long time. She doesn't fast when she's pregnant or actively nursing. So now that our youngest is doing well with a bottle and is starting to eat solids, she felt that she could fast. She was talking to our neighbor about this and our neighbor mentioned that they were doing a clense this weekend. They eat nothing but vegetables and drink nothing but water. I've heard people do that before. Maybe I'll try it one of these weekends when the BCS championship and Super Bowl football games are over. But our neighbor says they've done it before and have lost a few pounds. The biggest temptation for them is beer.<br /><br />I've also read a bit on Seth's blog about fasting or semi-fasting. You can read all about that <a href="http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2006/06/22/meal-skipping-good-or-bad/">here</a>.<br /><br />So I started my fast Saturday night. I just wasn't hungry during the day and didn't eat dinner until around 7:30pm. Fasting isn't so tough. I've found it much easier to do since I've been doing the SLD. The thing I miss most when I'm fasting is the water. I get so thirsty. As a missionary serving in Central America, during fasts I would get cotton mouth and I craved water so much. We'd hike around visiting members on fast Sunday and I remember not really sweating because I didn't have much water in me. But as soon as I broke the fast and took those first sips of water, the pores in my skin seemed to release a floodgate and I would immediately begin sweating.<br /><br />Yesterday I ended my fast at dinner time. When I end my fast, I find that despite being so hungry, I fill up quite quickly. So all I had the other day was a small dish of enchildas, two pieces of wheat bread and a bowl of ice cream.<br /><br />This morning I weighed in after my 30 minutes of running and 30 minutes of biking and was happy to see that I finally broke the 190 plane I've been on for the last two months.<br /><br />As always, same time of day, same scale with just the gym towel.<br /><br /><strong>WEIGHT: 188.8</strong><br /><em>Difference: 1.2 lbs. since January 1, 2007</em>

Ring In the New Year, Burn Out the Old Pounds

Christmas 2005 vs. Christmas 2006

We flew home to Idaho for Christmas in 2005. Along with all the warmth and memories that go along with being home for Christmas are all the chocolates, candies, cakes, pies, cookies, Doritos, popcorn, soda, egg nog and delicious food laying around the house just waiting to be eaten. Then there is that wonderful big screen TV with all the comfortable sofas to sit on while we watched movies and football games. It was a very memorable Christmas. I indulged and ate like a porker. I did not hold back at all. In fact, I kept telling myself that I'd be joining the gym in January and that all those pounds would just fall off once I started working out. Unfortunately I was missing half the idea ... not only did I need to work out, but I needed to control my appetite to eat.

Thankfully I stumbled accross the Shangri-la Diet and the rest is history.

So Christmas 2006 was a little bit different. This year we went to Florida. All those wonderful treats were there just like last year, but this year I was able to hold back a lot more. I did eat my fair share of cookies and chocolates, but it was nothing compared to the amount I ate last year.

Another Great Post By Seth

I was over at Seth Robert's blog this afternoon and read another great post about drinking olive oil. He cited come evidence about how ancient cultures followed some principals of the SLD. Go have a read ... you won't be disappointed.

A New Year, A New Goal

Yes it's a new year, but the goal really isn't new. The main goal is the same ... lose excess pounds. What is really important is that target weight ... 175 lbs. Yesterday I started the New Year on the right foot. I got up at 6am and played basketball for 150 minutes. Despite getting in a good work out, I didn't restrict myself at all as far as eating went. I ate some cold cereal, a couple of Taco Bell burritos and a bowl of popcorn while I watched the best college bowl game in my life (Boise St. vs Oklahoma).

Today we'll be going to the gym after work. So I'm getting off to a really good start.

My wife went to the gym yesterday and had a chance to weigh in. She was pleasantly suprised to see that she weighed the same as when we left for Florida two weeks ago. She was sure that she gained weight. I suggested to her that she didn't put on any pounds because the food we ate during the trip was "foreign" to our bodies. Either that or she burned a lot of calories trying to manage the kids in the car on our 15 hour car trip.

Best of Luck To You This Year

If you have put "lose weight" on your New Year's Resolution list, then I suggest you give the Shangri-la Diet a try. Start by reading through this blog and the Seth Robert's links to the side. The link entitled "Video About the SLD" is also a good start. Of course you can always buy the book and get all the info right from the horse's mouth. But I also encourage you to go visit his forum. There have been some significant developments in the diet since it first came out.

Another great resource is Stephen M's blog. I first found out about the diet from reading his blog. He has some pretty good advice as well as a consolidated list of advice on the subject.

So best of luck to you in 2007 and may this be the year you finally reach that goal of losing weight!

Shangri-La Diet in a Spray?

Not exactly, but the principal is there ... taste and smell are associated with weight-gain.

Read all about it here (or here for the link):

Firm designs nasal spray to fight obesity

Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:29 PM ET

By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - Dieters may find some welcome assistance from a new nasal spray that could help resist the appetizing aromas of cinnamon bun stands, pizza parlors or tempting bakeries.

Compellis Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, Massachusetts said it will begin human trials next year of a nasal spray designed to fight obesity by blocking the senses of smell and taste. It won a patent for the product this month.

"The pleasurable effect of eating is all stimulated by smell and taste," Christopher Adams, the company's founder and chief executive, told Reuters on Tuesday.

"The premise is that olfactory activity that controls both smell and taste is a trigger and a feedback mechanism to eat. If you have some kind of reduced sense of smell or taste, you tend to eat less," he said.

The product, known as CP404, is among the latest devices and treatments under development in the multibillion-dollar fight against obesity.

An estimated 65 percent of adult Americans are overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions that account for more than $100 billion of the country's $1.9 trillion annual healthcare bill.

French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis began marketing its obesity pill Acomplia in Britain in June and expects to receive U.S. government approval by April to sell the drug in the United States. The pill switches off the same brain circuits that make people hungry when they smoke cannabis.

Medtronic Inc., the world's biggest maker of medical devices, is developing a battery-powered gastric pacemaker that causes the stomach to contract, sending signals of satiety to the appetite center in the brain.

Enteromedics Inc. of Minneapolis is working with the Mayo Clinic on a device known as "Maestro" that uses electricity to paralyze the stomach, reducing or stopping contractions that churn food as part of the digestion process.

Those last two devices, like CP404, are still years away from reaching consumers.

TO SEEK FDA APPROVAL

Adams said he would seek Food and Drug Administration approval in about three years after human trials begin in 2007. He also expects to tap the stock market to raise $25 million to $50 million in an initial public offering if human trials are successful, with the spray expected to hit the market in 2010.

The nasal spray treatment would retail at $500 to $1,000 a year.

The Obesity Action Coalition, a Tampa, Florida-based nonprofit organization, cautioned that any such spray should be accompanied by other treatments and a change in lifestyle to be effective.
"There are a lot of reasons why obesity exists, and it's not always a case of food addiction," said James Zervios, a spokesman for the coalition.

"People still need to eat. Every time they get hungry I don't think they could just use the spray," he said. "People need to be taught what are the better foods to eat -- what's high on protein, what's low on fat."

Bariatric surgery, including gastric bands like the Lapband, is the only effective permanent solution, doctors say. Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller so patients can eat less and cuts out a long stretch of small intestine so fewer nutrients are absorbed.

But the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a unit of the federal government's Public Health Service, has warned that four of every 10 patients who undergo weight-loss surgery develop complications within six months.

Down With the Weight!

I'm embarrassed. I've been steadily gaining since Halloween. My weight has crept back up to 190 as of this morning ... yikes!

It really shouldn't come as a suprise. I've drifted from the basics. I've not been diligent with the WO or my workouts. Stress has taken its toll on me too. I finished school, but work has been tough as I've been placed in a new position. It's much busier than my old position. Plus ... we're moving. We need to get into something a little roomier than what we have.

But I've been able to manage all of that and now I've got it all under control for the time being. I'm now ready to re-focus on my weight.

So what am I going to do for an encore? I'm going to go beyond 185. I'm going to shoot for 175. I really don't know if I'll hit it, but after looking in the mirror, I think there's plenty to take off.

I think the timing is perfect for my encore. Last year we went home for Christmas and I pigged out every day. I was up over 220 when we came back. This year will be different ... starting this week. My mind is focused on hitting 175 and this year I have the tool to do it ... the Shangri-la Diet.

The Plan

There really is nothing new. I'll just be diligent. Diligence and consistency is the key.

Sun - Rest day, no WO.
Mon - 30 mins on treadmill, 30 mins on bike, WO @ 8am & 2pm.
Tue - Basketball, WO @ 8am & 2pm.
Wed - 30 mins on treadmill, 30 mins on bike, WO @ 8am & 2pm.
Thu - Basketball, WO @ 8am & 2pm, WEEKLY OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN
Fri - Optional ... either rest day or go to the gym, WO @8am & 2pm.
Sat - Basketball or gym, WO optional.

I'll continue to not eat breakfast (except on Sundays). For lunch ... something light ... crackers, yogurt and some fruit. For dinner ... salad or healthy food.

That's about it. I don't know if or when I'll hit 175. I would assume that the rate would be about .2 lbs. a day. If this is correct, then I should hit 175 around the 2nd week of March. And since I'm really conservative, I'll add a couple of weeks to that target. So my goal is hit 175 lbs. by April 1, 2007.

I seem to recall this situation happening to either Seth or one of his friends ... they lost a bunch of weight, put some back on and then lost it all a 2nd time. We'll see if that happens to me.

I still feel really good. I feel so much healthier than last year. My wife has been doing the diet and she's lost about 10 lbs. so far.

Well, let the pounds fall!

TARGET ACQUIRED!

I lost my chess match last night, so I was glad to wake up this morning to some good news. I stepped on the home scale and it read 188.4! This was good news because the home scale is always about 3 to 4 pounds above the gym (official) scale.

After a good workout playing basketball, I showered and weighed in.

As always, same time of day, same scale with just the towel.

WEIGHT: 184.5
Difference: 33.0 lbs. since May 1, 2006

I am officially under 185!



Now the interesting thing to note here is that I am just getting over a cold. I had it most of the weekend. When I get a cold, I get stuffed up and my sense of taste is gone. So when I was eating all weekend, it was like I was eating tasteless calories.

So chalk up another method for losing weight ... get a cold and lose your sense of taste. But with that said, I must admit it was extremely frustrating not to taste food. I lost my appetite. But when I finally cleared up a bit and got my taste buds back, I ate like a pig and savored every bite.

Now What?

The target weight has been acquired ... phase one is accomplished. Phase two is to keep off the pounds for 6 months. I may continue to lose pounds because my ideal weight is 175. Plus, I still have some fat around the gut that I could lose. I will try to check back in every month or so to report my weight.

The important thing to note is that I will continue to ingest sugar water with walnut oil every morning. I'm not going to really change anything. In my mind, this is not a diet in the sense that one diets for a few months and then returns to the status quo. Instead, I view this as a lifestyle change. I don't think the Shangri-La Diet should be called a diet at all. But that is all symantics. But I just want all my thousands of readers to know that I plan on continue to ingest SW/WO every day. I also continue to take 3 capsules of flax seed oil every morning after waking up.

If all goes well, then April 30, 2007 (six months from today and one year from starting the diet) will be my last post on this blog.

And lastly ...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Another Milestone: 30 Pounds Later

An unbelievable turn of events occured this weekend. I headed into the weekend at 188.7 knowing that I wouldn't play basketball Saturday morning. I wasn't too concerned. I just figured I could get to the gym later in the day and work out.

My wife ran her errands in the morning. When she got home, I decided to head to the gym. Not really knowing what I'd do, I just hopped on the treadmill and started walking and listening to my music. I finally decided that I was going to do 30/30 on the treadmill and stationary bike instead of my normal 20/20. So I give it my all.

30 minutes later, I was feeling pretty good. I jumped on the bike and peddled. I was energized and feeling great. It was like the longer I worked out, the more energy I had which fueled me even more.

60 minutes later, I'm done with my whole workout. I head to the locker room and take a nice, long, cold shower. It felt great. It was around 11:30am.

I step onto the scale with just the towel 185.8 !?! I couldn't believe my eyes. So I put my clothes in my bag and then went back to the scale ... it was the same. I was shocked.

So then came the rationalizations ... I just sweat a lot ... lost lots of water ... it was the extra workout and so on and so on.

I went home determined to eat healthy this weekend ... but that lasted about 20 minutes. I pigged out. When I say pigged out, I mean compared to what I do during the week. But by no stretch of the imagination did I gorge myself all weekend. It was more like constant snacking. At night, I ate ice cream. Sunday was much the same.

So this morning I go back to the gym and did the same 30/30 workout. One thing that I've noticed ... after I finish playing basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm really thirsty and tired. But when I do the 20/20 workout, I'm not so thirsty. But on Saturday and again this morning when I did the 30/30, I was just as thirsty and tired as when I play basketball ... so that 30/30 workout is more like playing basketball in that regard.

After showering, I step on the scale.

Same time of day, same scale with just the towel.

WEIGHT: 187.5
Difference: 30.0 lbs. since May 1, 2006

I am now 2.5 lbs. away from my goal (of course I was a mere .8 lbs. away on Saturday). But anyway, I'm zeroing in on the target ... it could be this week that it happens.

I've Reached a New Low

Over the last couple of weeks, I've rededicated myself to strictly following the "diet" and I'm seeing results.

I've added a new step in my routine ... every morning before going to the gym, I pop in three flax seed oil capsules. Then I go do my workout. After showering and driving into work, I serve myself a healthy dose of sugar water with a tablespoon of walnut oil. Then I drink lots of water and chew gum (I wait an hour after the SW and WO before I chew gum) until it's lunch time. For lunch ... the usual ... apple, granola bar and yogurt. Three o'clock rolls around and I take another 1 to 2 tbsp of WO. After the drive home, I eat dinner ... usually something light. This week and last week I'd usually eat a salad ... lettuce, cherry tomatos, cucumbers, a little cheese and some crackers and then I mix in some sun-dried tomato dressing. If I'm still hungry, I'll eat some more crackers or even have some fruit. And that's it ... I might drink some more water, but I'll be done eating for the night.

The beauty of the diet lies in the fact that I feel full after eating these seemingly small amounts of food. Pre-shangri-la diet, I could eat a salad and then go on to eat a full course meal and then I'd feel full. Now, when I eat a salad, I feel full ... similar to how I'd feel after eating a full course meal. My body just says "no" to more food. I mean, I could eat more, but the urge isn't there like it was before going on the Shangri-la diet.

This morning I took an official weigh-in.

As always, same time of day, same scale with the towel.

WEIGHT: 188.4
Difference: 29.1 lbs. since May 1, 2006

The previous low was 188.9 and that came about unexpectedly. This 188.4 weight came gradually. I didn't drop an entire pound from one day to the next. Each day was a little less as opposed to a lot less. So my point is this ... I think I finally broke the 190 barrier that I've been hovering at for the past few weeks now.

Tomorrow will be a workout day ... run 20 minutes, bike 20 minutes. I need to keep up with the good eating habits ... which by the way are much easier to keep now that my wife is on board. She is turning into a health nut and I love it! She's back in the gym, eating great and shedding pounds now. Just like me, she's averaging about 2 pounds a week in the early going.

Until next week ...

Five Pounds Harder to Lose

I'm finding that 5 pounds are harder to lose than 25 pounds.

I'm still on the "diet" and probably will always be for the rest of my life. There was a week when I didn't take any oil or sugar water. By the time I entered the 2nd week of no oil, I noticed a notable increase in hunger. I didn't eat too healthily during that period.

So now I'm back on the saddle. I'm determined to lose these remaining five pounds.

In the morning (for breakfast), I'm drinking sugar water with a tbsp of walnut oil. I'm still eating a light lunch. I've replaced GoldFish crackers with a granola bar ... so I eat an apple, a cup of yogurt and a granola bar for lunch. For dinner, I'm trying to eat healthy. Since my wife is trying the diet, she's going to serve me and her salad for dinner every night.

Not that it is part of the official diet, but I'm also taking flaxseed oil capsules every day. I'm convinced of the benefits of Omega 3's. Obviously I'm getting O3's with the walnut oil too. I have noticed that I think much more clearly since taking more O3's. I don't know how to measure it, other than I just feel like I can think more clearly. The only shred of evidence I can offer has to do with chess. I'm going through dozens of chess problems every day in an effort to improve my chess game. Whether out of sheer practice or because of the O3's, I seem to be solving the problems with greater ease and speed these days. But like I said, there really is no hard data that shows a correlation between quickly solving these tactical chess problems and (only) taking O3's.

I'm continuing to exercise. I play basketball Tuesdays and Thursdays and sometimes on Saturday. Then I'll try to get to the gym two other days during the week to bike and run or swim.

I continue to get unsolicited comments about my appearance. Just yesterday I was walking into work when one of the security guards, who rarely speaks to me, called me over and asked me if I had been losing weight. He said I looked a lot younger. It's such a great feeling when someone compliments me on my weight loss.

This morning I pulled myself out of bed to go to the gym since I missed Monday. I ran for 20 minutes and biked for 20 minutes. I was as wet as a soaked sponge when I was done with my workout. Now that the temperatures have cooled off here in Texas, the water can actually get cold at night ... so my showers are very refreshing these days.

I weighed in this morning.

As always, I weighed in at the same time of day on the same scale with just the standard issue white gym towel around my waist.

WEIGHT: 189.9
Difference: 27.6 lbs. since May 1, 2006 ... averaging .17 lbs a day

That is all for this week's update. I hope to report back next week that I'm closer to my goal of 185 lbs.

Explosion of Interest

I posted a video the other and day and now there seems to be an explosion of interest. I do not know whether or not the posting of the video and the increased interest are correlated or not. There are a lot of searches for shangriladiet.com and this blog seems to consistently pop up in the top 10 hits.

But anyway, here's a graphic on the stats for this blog ... lots and lots of hits between yesterday and today. Compared to last week, today was a deluge of hits.

This week, I'm committed to really sticking to the diet. I'm going to go back to the SW in the morning and WO in the afternoon. Since I've not been taking any WO in over a week now, my hunger urges have been strong and long. It's time to nip this thing in the butt and lost those last 4 pounds (or maybe more now!)

Shangri-la Diet Video

The Shangri-La Diet (Video)

Great video on the diet

Slow Down

The pounds seem to be coming off more slowly ... but they are coming off.


Above is my chart in my Excel tracking sheet. I figure this serves as a good visual of my progress.

Interestingly enough, though, is I haven't been ingesting any walnut oil this week. In fact, I've only played basketball on Tuesday and Thursday (today), but have not worked out on the other days. Residual effects? Who knows.

The bottom line is that I'm less than 4 pounds from reaching my goal.

I weighed in this morning ... same time of day, same scale with just the towel.

WEIGHT: 188.9
Difference: 28.6 lbs. since May 1, 2006

Another noteworthy item besides the fact that I've not taken any walnut oil this week, but on two days this week, I ate a bagel and two donuts. One morning someone had Einstein bagels in his office. I love those bagels. So I ate one. Yesterday morning, our company kicked off its United Way campaign. As part of the kick off, they had Krispy Kreme donuts in the lobby. I ate two.

My dirtly little secret about losing my weight (or so I thought) is the fact that I've dropped breakfast from my lineup of daily meals. Before the diet, I would eat a packet of oatmeal every morning. But now that I've eaten a light breakfast in place of the WO has me a little suprised.

Anyway ... I'm just happy that I'm in good physical condition, that I can play basketball, bike for 30 minutes, run for 30 minutes, swim 15 laps and that I'm losing weight and seem to be keeping it off.