Quote Originally Posted by O'Callaghan View Post
All I really meant to say was, if you plan to go on a soup diet, be sure you don't have high blood pressure before you start.
I have a family history of hypertension (we had "fake salt" when I was a kid because of my Dad), and a few years ago routine checks of my blood pressure showed it was "elevated". It's back down to normal, probably just because I've lost a little weight, but as a part of cleaning up my diet I've started trying to watch my sodium intake. It's astonishing how much of our food (if you don't prep from scratch) has tons and tons of sodium. Literally shocking. I try to stay away from high-sodium foods, but I still eat pretzels, for example. When I'm out grocery shopping there are items I've picked up, turned over to look at the nutritional panel, and immediately put back upon looking at the sodium number.

Ironically, I had some blood work done last week, and my sodium levels were actually a little below "normal".

Quote Originally Posted by Kilted Rogue View Post
I know this option isnt for everyone. but 18 months ago, i started a 90% vegetarian diet
My wife is vegetarian, so I am mostly so by association. When I do eat meat, it's smaller portions, and usually chicken. Reducing meat intake is good for our health, and good for the environment. Problem was, I was eating relatively healthy foods, but just still way too much of it. (Still love a prime rib, or a nice cut of beef. It's just a treat, now, instead of "the usual", and it's usually the petite cut instead of the 16oz cut. Makes it all the more enjoyable!)

I'm not really a fan of "fad" diets. I think most diets that involve eating in strange patterns won't work in the long run, because you won't maintain that eating behavior. IMO, it's all about finding a healthy way to eat on a normal, daily basis. For me, that was smaller portion sizes, and more water.

I can justify staying away from that crappy light beer since I don't drink it that often. If I'm going to have a beer, it's going to be a good, dark, full beer, not some watered down rice beer. I'm not pumping myself full of them, so I can justify the increase in calories/carbs (not that I'm counting, just making healthier individual choices). Life's not worth living without the occasional pizza and beer! Just not the entire pizza in one sitting, and just not an entire case of beer. Not anymore, anyway - 19 was a long time ago.