At Camp Shining Stars, for long term lifestyle changes, I stress you need: Structure, Accountability, Support and Rewards. This year I am going to add Honesty and Results to this list.
I've been a consultant for close to a year at the Rice House Program and the Results that I've seen are remarkable. I've met people that have lost over 200 pounds; people that arrived with diabetes and taking insulin that don't need medicine anymore; people with severe heart problems and other ailments that are reducing their medicines and look forward to each day; the list is countless.
The patients Support each other to get healthy. Walking and exercise groups are made very quickly upon arrival. The love and support from the all staff members makes this a special place! No one feels alone.
Patients weigh in each day and have their blood pressure and blood drawn if needed, 7 days a week. Every day including weekends, Dr. Rosati and Dr. Neelon are there to take care of any medical issues.
Weighing daily makes the patients Accountable. Once a week the dietitian actually verifies their weight. Most people I know and campers also, start to regain their weight when they stop weighing.This is definitely true for me. Being HONEST with yourself is the first step to recovery. Saying I need "help" is such a positive step to long term success.
What are the Rewards? A healthier more rewarding life!
Again, I want to thank the Rice House staff and patients that are helping me to take care of myself. I need to be an example to my campers and working hard on my program is showing by example.
Have a great week, and stay healthy!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
One Month Being in Control of Food
After a Month Following the Rice Diet Program:
Current Weight: 305.4.
Starting Weight 336.6
Weight Loss in 4 weeks: 31.2 Pounds
Boy, do I feel so much better! This is a great jump start to a new and healthier Ira. I am taking care of myself which is the greatest present to give oneself.
I want to share this letter I received from one of my bright campers named Simone who attended Camp Shining Stars, and has made important lifestyle changes.
When I’m in control of my food…
I excel in academics
I advance my athletic capability
I amplify my musical ability
When I’m in control of my food…
I feel amazing
I transform into something better…something sweeter
I taste myself becoming more delicious
I wish to savor this flavor…the pure, mouthwatering flavor of happiness…of freedom…
I am free
Free to trust myself
Free to make my own decisions
Free to finally tap into the confidence lying dormant in my once weighed down heart
Free to persevere in what I dream to accomplish
Free to improve to reach those dreams
Free to have the conviction to love myself
Free to have the courage to love others
I am free
To have the boldness
To be nobody else
But me
I read this each summer to the new campers but this can apply to everyone!
Current Weight: 305.4.
Starting Weight 336.6
Weight Loss in 4 weeks: 31.2 Pounds
Boy, do I feel so much better! This is a great jump start to a new and healthier Ira. I am taking care of myself which is the greatest present to give oneself.
I want to share this letter I received from one of my bright campers named Simone who attended Camp Shining Stars, and has made important lifestyle changes.
When I’m in control of my food…
I excel in academics
I advance my athletic capability
I amplify my musical ability
When I’m in control of my food…
I feel amazing
I transform into something better…something sweeter
I taste myself becoming more delicious
I wish to savor this flavor…the pure, mouthwatering flavor of happiness…of freedom…
I am free
Free to trust myself
Free to make my own decisions
Free to finally tap into the confidence lying dormant in my once weighed down heart
Free to persevere in what I dream to accomplish
Free to improve to reach those dreams
Free to have the conviction to love myself
Free to have the courage to love others
I am free
To have the boldness
To be nobody else
But me
I read this each summer to the new campers but this can apply to everyone!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
After 3 weeks on the Rice Diet Program
Current Weight: 309.8
Starting Weight 336.6
Weight Loss in 3 weeks: 26.8
Typical Day's Meal:
Breakfast: Fresh Fruited Jello, Cream of Wheat Cereal
Lunch: Split Pea Soup, Mushroom Stuffing, Fruit Bowl
Dinner: Baked Potato Cut in eighths, sauteed with mushrooms, peppers, onions and sun dried tomatoes and Mr. Steak "no salt" Garlic Steak Sauce, Tomatoe Soup, and canteloupe
Beverages: Unsweetened Decaf Ice Tea
Snack: Sugar Free Ice Pops
After 3 weeks I'm already feeling so much more healthier. My breathing is better; sleeping better; increase activity level; and my patience have all seen improvement.
I don't want people to think I am at the Rice House for all my meals. I normally have 10-12 meals there a week which means I 'm cooking and following the program for more than 50% of my meals. This does make it harder but who ever said losing weight is not hard work.
Having the foods I need at home and the correct equipment to prepare my meals, makes taking care of myself so much easier.
This is not a race; this is NOW a commitment to myself to work all the tools I need to be successful. This has to be a selfish plan of attack in a positive manner. I need to be #1!!!
Have a great week, and remember to use all the tools for success: Structure, Accountability, Support and Rewards to be able to lead a healthier life.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
After 2 weeks on the Rice Diet Program
Current Weight: 315.5
Starting Weight 336.6
Weight Loss in 2 weeks: 21.2 pounds
I am very carefully counting the grams of salt consumed each day. The foods I'm eating are so tasty, and low in sodium that I do not feel deprived, in fact I feel full.
After the first few days I felt more alert and was able to get more physical things done. This is a great "jump start", but that is all that it is. There is major hard work ahead.
At Camp Shining Stars the weight loss camp that I operate, the first thing I say to my campers is:
"Surrender to the Program!" I am doing that at the Rice House Program. They must be doing something right if they are celebrating 70 years being in business.
I take one day at a time. When I close my eyes, I am grateful to end the day without binging or just being compulsive about food.
Until next week- "Stay healthy to live longer"
Starting Weight 336.6
Weight Loss in 2 weeks: 21.2 pounds
I am very carefully counting the grams of salt consumed each day. The foods I'm eating are so tasty, and low in sodium that I do not feel deprived, in fact I feel full.
After the first few days I felt more alert and was able to get more physical things done. This is a great "jump start", but that is all that it is. There is major hard work ahead.
At Camp Shining Stars the weight loss camp that I operate, the first thing I say to my campers is:
"Surrender to the Program!" I am doing that at the Rice House Program. They must be doing something right if they are celebrating 70 years being in business.
I take one day at a time. When I close my eyes, I am grateful to end the day without binging or just being compulsive about food.
Until next week- "Stay healthy to live longer"
September 7, 2009
Day One - September 7th, 2009
Weight 336.6
Blood Pressure 160/98
Once a week I will post my "vitals" and a sampling of a typical day's meals
Breakfast: Fresh Fruit, Bowl of Oatmeal
Lunch: Baked Eggplant with tomato sauce, Mushroom Stuffing, Sweet Potato Burger w/ peach salsa (no bread),
Dinner: Pasta sauteed with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers, and sun dried tomatoes, watermelon
Beverages: Unsweetened Decaf Ice Tea
Exercise: We moved to a new home so I've been mainly lifting and moving boxes
Sunday, September 6, 2009
THE BIGGEST WINNER
Here begins my journey, day one, to finish what I started when my weight was almost 500 lbs. I told myself that I would make a commitment to get healthier and learn steps to make that journey worthwhile and long-term.
It all started when I decided to save my life and opt for the gastric bypass surgery at a fighting weight of 485 pounds. I was trying to save my own life. I had 2 small boys and a wife that I wanted to grow old with and I was determined and desperate to feel and look better.
A year after successful surgery and getting my weight down to 325 lbs, I spend more and more time thinking about how to help children, especially my own, so that they would never have to suffer the same ridicules as the "fat kid".
The answer came easy - work with kids in a place that fostered a loving, comfortable and nurturing environment and use the same goals I had for myself- make positive changes, lose weight and somehow work through the issues to make this a life sustaining thing.
That's how I decided to open a weight loss camp for kids. I helped myself as well and saw my weight drop to 285 pounds. But while I continued to mentor and try to inspire my own kids and these wonderful campers from year-to-year, my weight has been on hold ranging from 285-325 pounds.
So I start this blog, happy to introduce myself as the director of Camp Shining Stars, a non-profit weight loss camp in Wilson, North Carolina. During the off season I've been consulting at the Rice Diet Program's Healthy Market, both at the store and their on-line business. Patients come from around the world to attend this wonderful program.
In the last eight years, I have helped more than 1000 children lose more than 25,000 pounds. The basic principles I encourage all children and adults to foster for a solid foundation for long-term success are Structure, Support, Accountability and Reward.
Recently, I was contacted by the TV show, "America’s Biggest Loser" and given the opportunity to audition. I had been spending so much time dedicated to mentoring and supporting children’s health efforts that I lost sight of my own. I felt that it would be a great opportunity and it would also fill the goal of the 4 steps I think are most important for long term success. Going away for six months and working out all day with trainer professional for the TV show sure seemed like the perfect solution, but to my disappointment, at the last minute, my son Saul and I were not selected.
Although I no longer have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000,000 with the rigorously structured environment of a televised weight loss program, I've been motivated and invigorated to make positive decisions in my life once more. I am now living what I've been preaching to my campers.
I needed to be accountable, be structured, be willing to accept support and reward myself.
I want to thank the Rice Diet Program for its added support through this process.
In this blog I am going to share with you the tools I share with children for following an accountability-based program. At the same time, I will be working daily for myself.
I'm moving off the plateau and forward to my goals of a healthy and rewarding life.
I look forward to my future and the opportunity to blog my journey. I am happy to get your thoughts, and feedback along the way ...
Sincerely,
Ira Green
It all started when I decided to save my life and opt for the gastric bypass surgery at a fighting weight of 485 pounds. I was trying to save my own life. I had 2 small boys and a wife that I wanted to grow old with and I was determined and desperate to feel and look better.
A year after successful surgery and getting my weight down to 325 lbs, I spend more and more time thinking about how to help children, especially my own, so that they would never have to suffer the same ridicules as the "fat kid".
The answer came easy - work with kids in a place that fostered a loving, comfortable and nurturing environment and use the same goals I had for myself- make positive changes, lose weight and somehow work through the issues to make this a life sustaining thing.
That's how I decided to open a weight loss camp for kids. I helped myself as well and saw my weight drop to 285 pounds. But while I continued to mentor and try to inspire my own kids and these wonderful campers from year-to-year, my weight has been on hold ranging from 285-325 pounds.
So I start this blog, happy to introduce myself as the director of Camp Shining Stars, a non-profit weight loss camp in Wilson, North Carolina. During the off season I've been consulting at the Rice Diet Program's Healthy Market, both at the store and their on-line business. Patients come from around the world to attend this wonderful program.
In the last eight years, I have helped more than 1000 children lose more than 25,000 pounds. The basic principles I encourage all children and adults to foster for a solid foundation for long-term success are Structure, Support, Accountability and Reward.
Recently, I was contacted by the TV show, "America’s Biggest Loser" and given the opportunity to audition. I had been spending so much time dedicated to mentoring and supporting children’s health efforts that I lost sight of my own. I felt that it would be a great opportunity and it would also fill the goal of the 4 steps I think are most important for long term success. Going away for six months and working out all day with trainer professional for the TV show sure seemed like the perfect solution, but to my disappointment, at the last minute, my son Saul and I were not selected.
Although I no longer have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000,000 with the rigorously structured environment of a televised weight loss program, I've been motivated and invigorated to make positive decisions in my life once more. I am now living what I've been preaching to my campers.
I needed to be accountable, be structured, be willing to accept support and reward myself.
I want to thank the Rice Diet Program for its added support through this process.
In this blog I am going to share with you the tools I share with children for following an accountability-based program. At the same time, I will be working daily for myself.
I'm moving off the plateau and forward to my goals of a healthy and rewarding life.
I look forward to my future and the opportunity to blog my journey. I am happy to get your thoughts, and feedback along the way ...
Sincerely,
Ira Green
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)