> Fitness > Body Mass Index (BMI)

My lifestyle makeover is coming to a close; the strong foundation laid down over the last seven months will be complete. So how do I feel now?

My skin has never been softer or clearer, I have much more energy, and I feel more vital than I have in years. When I stepped onto the scales for my final checkup, I discovered I’ve lost 19 lbs (8.6 kg). I’ve gained 1 percent muscle mass and lost 1 percent body fat.

There is no doubt I feel much better now than when I started. I stick closely to my new diet and find I can adapt many recipes. In fact, meals have become a bit of a competition between my husband and me, as he loves to cook, and we try to outdo each other creating new healthy meals.

But I have more work to do: I am still not sleeping through the night. The results of the bioimpedance test are not as positive as I had hoped; I am still dehydrated, and my cells are not readily giving up the toxins hidden within them. So it is time to take a different direction.

Kick It Up a Notch

Dr. Sciortino changed the protein shake I drink each day to a detoxifying formula. My daily multivitamin has been increased from one to two a day, and I am now taking more antioxidants. For the next two to three weeks I will sit for 30 minutes, twice a week, in a far infrared sauna to help speed the removal of toxins from my cells. (I’ve learned that 10 to 15 percent of toxins are eliminated through the skin.) The sauna is another new experience for me.

I must further reduce my percentage of body fat by eating more protein and vegetables. I also need to increase my fluid intake and have started drinking more vegetable juice; just 1 cup (250 mL) daily gives me more fluids plus two servings of vegetables.

I am continuing to build muscle mass; my personal trainer has been terrific at helping me build my core strength–and she’s been a great source of encouragement. Despite looming work deadlines, on the days I do my weight training, I dress in my workout clothes. After getting my timetable under control, I make time to do my exercises, then get back to work.

A Healthy Start

I am slowly finding ways to fit everything into my irregular schedule. I watch the clock to make sure I don’t miss meals or snacks, and I keep the kettle full.

Recently, I grabbed some fast food when rushing to get to an appointment. It sat like a lump in my gut, and I dragged around for a couple of days afterward. We were never regulars at these places, but now they’re just not an option.

What I’ve discovered is that there are a range of approaches to improving and maintaining health, irrespective of your condition. Seek advice and educate yourself, and you can come to an informed decision on the treatments or health-management tools you choose. New routines can be challenging to implement and old habits hard to break, but with perseverance, my new lifestyle will become a regular, healthy way to live.

This is not the end of my makeover–it’s just the start.

Source: alive #297, July 2007