Mediterranean Diet... Anyone try it?

[Cooper]

The "Wheat Belly Diet" just didn't work for me, too hard to follow but the Mediterranean Diet seems workable. Has anyone tried it? If so, results?

 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2013/02/26/mediterranean-diet-helps-those-at-risk-of-heart-disease

[bigvalboy]

The "Wheat Belly Diet" just didn't work for me, too hard to follow but the Mediterranean Diet seems workable. Has anyone tried it? If so, results?

 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2013/02/26/mediterranean-diet-helps-those-at-risk-of-heart-disease

 

Coop, not sure I would call it a diet. It sounds like the kinds of foods everyone should be eating to stay healthy. Most of what they recommend, doctors have been suggesting for years. I do hope that you find it to your liking. I would think that in addition to losing weight, that you should gain more energy and feel better all around.

[+ deej]

I don't think they're putting this forward as a weight loss diet, but more as a recommendation for heart-healthy eating. Even at that, as BVB says, there's not a lot that's new here.

 

That said, a "Mediterranean diet" would include Italian. I'm in!

[BaronArtz]

I am 55 years old, have been using this 'diet' (it's more a lifestyle) for the last 5 years and stopped drinking alcohol 3 years ago. My weight went from 195 lbs to 170 lbs almost effortlessly. Never felt better! I totally recommend this, without hesitation.

[Cooper]

Diet and Excercise...

 

I am 55 years old, have been using this 'diet' (it's more a lifestyle) for the last 5 years and stopped drinking alcohol 3 years ago. My weight went from 195 lbs to 170 lbs almost effortlessly. Never felt better! I totally recommend this, without hesitation.

 

Thanks Baron for those encouraging words... Btw, congrats on your accomplishments and turning around your lifestyle... I hope in time I'll have the same positive results...

[Cooper]

Coop, not sure I would call it a diet. It sounds like the kinds of foods everyone should be eating to stay healthy. Most of what they recommend, doctors have been suggesting for years. I do hope that you find it to your liking. I would think that in addition to losing weight, that you should gain more energy and feel better all around.

 

Bigvalboy... Looks like there are many benefits to this "diet". I just couldn't stick to the "Wheat Belly Diet". It comes highly recommended but the idea of no bread, not even whole-wheat, was not easy to follow. Thanks for the support. Coop

[Diverdan]

Don't forget the exercise part, even if it just walking briskly. I recommend a pedometer to measure the distance and if you are concerned at all about heart issues, I also recommend a monitor to use when walking or doing other vigorous exercise. Keeping your heart rate at the proper rate for your age and physical condition will improve all of your functions... including the ones below !! The "Mediterranean Diet" is really not a diet as has been mentioned above. It is a way of eating healthy foods all the time. Some men need to add a bit more lean meat and fish to the "diet" to get an adequate amount of iron, and red wine over spirits. Good luck. I am down 30plus lbs with change in my diet and a bit more exercise in spite of a very stressful job with long hours. Good luck and stay the course.

[Cooper]

I am down 30plus lbs with change in my diet and a bit more exercise in spite of a very stressful job with long hours. Good luck and stay the course.

 

DD... Congrats to you. Staying on a diet is usually the biggest challenge and you've done well. Since the Mediterranean Diet suggests 1 glass of red wine a day, I'll toast you and Baron for sticking to your diets/exercise programs and seeing the positive results. Cheers!

[Diverdan]

Cooper, I will drink a glass to you too.... good luck, and I will be thinking of your working out and all the positive changes as a result of these changes. You'll have to take some before and after pictures to share !!!!! Is there a thong in your future? Or just a skimpy speedo??

[Cooper]

Is there a thong in your future?

 

Cooper, You'll have to take some before and after pictures to share !!!!! Is there a thong in your future?

 

http://www.filmonpaper.com/site/media/2011/02/Borat_quad_beach-2.jpg

 

YES!

[anotherjohnindupont]

The "Wheat Belly Diet" just didn't work for me, too hard to follow but the Mediterranean Diet seems workable. Has anyone tried it? If so, results?

 

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2013/02/26/mediterranean-diet-helps-those-at-risk-of-heart-disease

 

I've done, it's very good but you need to measure not to have too much olive oil and more uncooked vegetables (tomatoes, fruits, etc)

[Diverdan]

[Cooper]

I've done, it's very good but you need to measure not to have too much olive oil and more uncooked vegetables (tomatoes, fruits, etc)

 

Thanks for your suggestions, much appreciated.

[Cooper]

Mediterranean Diet Pyramid

 

http://oldwayspt.org/sites/default/files/images/Med_pyramid_flyer.jpg

[whipped guy]

This is basically my lifestyle... I never considered it to be a diet.

 

This has been my basic lifestyle for the better part of the past twenty years… I actually prefer a good quality bottle of extra virgin olive oil… the only type of oil that I ever use… to a bottle of wine. (I have even used EVO as a substitute when baking cookies… not that I bake very often.)

 

My only deviations concern the fact that I eat virtually no cheese (except on special occasions)… too high in fat and difficult to digest… and eat more poultry since I don’t like fish… Of course, having a Mediterranean background has proven to make such a lifestyle a bit easier to achieve… However, it was not always so and when I made the transition by going back to my roots; words can’t describe how much better I began feeling.

 

I do take vitamin supplements including omega threes to compensate for the lack of fish and enjoy non-fat Greek Yogurt on almost a daily basis. I also supplement what I eat with miller’s bran every day even though my diet is high in fiber… One can never have too much fiber in their diet… and for a variety of reasons. As for red meat… usually only once a week… never more than tree times a week… and then again usually associated with a special occasion… such as occurred this week as a matter of fact. Virtually no sweets… and even when I do indulge it is usually a healthier type sweet. It is amazing how one has absolutely no cravings for the bad stuff such as candy, and fried foods… except for fried calamari that is… heck that’s how I get my occasional (ie. another special occasion type food) dose of seafood!!!!!

 

Bottom line: Go for it… I plan to live forever... and I have never felt better in my life!!!!

[bigvalboy]

I personally think that the word "diet" should struck from any conversation when people talk about what they should or should not eat. As WG says it should be part of a natural healthy lifestyle. I have never considered this a diet, it is how we should be eating if maintaining a healthy life is our priority. AND as DD pointed out, do not ever underestimate the benefits of exercise, and that does not have to include going to the gym. Exercise comes in countless forms and what is beneficial to the body can be achieved in many ways. For those that travel, exercises and eating healthy is more challenging, but can be achieved. I know of several escorts that travel almost continually, and they maintain a healthy life style despite the challenges, and look amazing everytime I see them. Good luck Coop, most of this is mental. You need only decide that this will work, and half the battle will be won.

[+ Charlie]

I have always eaten pretty much what I wanted, and luckily it has apparently been good for me. The most important thing, I think, is that whatever you eat and drink, you do so in moderation, combined with regular exercise. I have never been overweight, stopped smoking forty years ago, have regular check-ups, don't take any medications except a couple of over-the-counter pills (vitamins, red yeast rice, omega-3), and have always exercised every day (walking, biking, hiking, gym and/or tennis). Genetics probably help--I have had several centenarian relations, including my mother--but a healthy lifestyle is still the key.

[BaronArtz]

Thank you, Coop, for your kind comments. Here is a link to an article that explains the Meditarrean approach to food very well:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/dining/when-diet-meets-delicious-the-mediterranean-approach.html?_r=0

 

The key concept, as expressed in this article is: "What’s new is all the junk that has been injected into our foods and our diet since the end of World War II. What’s not new is that eating real food is good for you."

 

That is certainly something to think about ...

[whipped guy]

BA- Thanks for the link... I just read the article... and in the first sentence... lentils... and may I add chick peas as well!!! My favorite line from the piece: "... and it prohibits nothing that was recognized as food by you great-grandmother." Add a bit of exercise into the equation... in those days there was probably little need to exercise... and I think you're golden!

[+ Gar1eth]

I wish I could do this. But unfortunately, I don't like fish, yogurt, most wines, or a lot of vegetables. I do like fruit, but I think they say to restrict this as it has much more sugar than vegetables. I like raw veggies, but I need my ranch dip. And olive oil and spices on bread is never going to taste better to me than butter. Still if I ever start cooking, I could substitute some fruits for starches I guess. It's going to be difficult to eliminate salt. If I can't have fattening gravies- I need something to brighten up a bland piece of chicken.

 

Gman

[+ deej]

"... and it prohibits nothing that was recognized as food by you great-grandmother."

 

Heh. That means I have to start raising my own chickens, pigs, and cows. Fish was a rarity on the prairie, unless someone took the buggy for most of the day to go fishin' at the river and brought back some catfish. Seafood was unheard of. Olives were exotic and expensive and only for special occasions. Olive oil was unheard of.

 

Fruits and veggies were plentiful in the summer (in the winter they came from the root cellar). Great grandma's diet wasn't all that light because she was feedin' farmers. Cooking was done with lard and/or rendered bacon fat.

 

Don't think I want to go back to that.

 

On the other hand, the old biddy (Dad's word when the kids were listening) lived to 98, and only succumbed after a broken hip *and* a heart attack *and* a stroke all in short order. Stubborn was a word I learned young.