NEXUSNRG's CalorieKing blog
Monday, Mar 8 2010 - Being attacked by the salt monster!
View NEXUSNRG's food & exercise for this day
Captain Kirk once was attacked by a salt monster, and now so am I. Sodium is foremost on my mind this week, and I'm not too happy with it. Kirk's salt monster (pictured here) was ugly, with suction cups all over it's hands that would suck the salt right out of your body in a couple of minutes.
I've been taking HCTZ (Hydrochlorothiazide) in 25mg pills since April 2009 for swelling in my legs and water retention, after starting I noticed improvement to include weight loss, which was when I began to lose that 455 Lbs I had. Over time I feel that this little pill isn't enough to get the water out of my system. So here lately I've been drinking more water, less diet soda, and seeing if that makes a difference.
But I'm in a struggle with food! Food that is processed, canned, packaged. I had a hell of a time today in the grocery store not only looking at the calories but also the sodium. Too many things have too much sodium in it. I can't possibly see how I could remain below 2000 mg a day unless I eat nothing but raw or unprocessed foods. I'm not in a good mood and that's for sure.
I spent today figuring up just how much salt I have been taking in through food over the past couple of months and it's not very good, I'm not happy at all with it. This is a break down of what I've had thus far.
January 13 to 31 = 68,852 mg (68.6 grams)
February 01 to 28 = 85,463 mg (85.5 grams)
And for the first week of March 1-7 = 21,733 mg
Well I'll drink more than 8 glasses of water a day and see if that helps, and for the remainder of the month I'll try to select stuff with as low sodium as I can get by with. Oh and I didn't lose any weight from last weigh in. I came in at 398 Lbs again today during weigh-in. So a little down with that. We'll see how the mindfullness of my sodium plays out with next week.
I've been taking HCTZ (Hydrochlorothiazide) in 25mg pills since April 2009 for swelling in my legs and water retention, after starting I noticed improvement to include weight loss, which was when I began to lose that 455 Lbs I had. Over time I feel that this little pill isn't enough to get the water out of my system. So here lately I've been drinking more water, less diet soda, and seeing if that makes a difference.
But I'm in a struggle with food! Food that is processed, canned, packaged. I had a hell of a time today in the grocery store not only looking at the calories but also the sodium. Too many things have too much sodium in it. I can't possibly see how I could remain below 2000 mg a day unless I eat nothing but raw or unprocessed foods. I'm not in a good mood and that's for sure.
I spent today figuring up just how much salt I have been taking in through food over the past couple of months and it's not very good, I'm not happy at all with it. This is a break down of what I've had thus far.
January 13 to 31 = 68,852 mg (68.6 grams)
February 01 to 28 = 85,463 mg (85.5 grams)
And for the first week of March 1-7 = 21,733 mg
Well I'll drink more than 8 glasses of water a day and see if that helps, and for the remainder of the month I'll try to select stuff with as low sodium as I can get by with. Oh and I didn't lose any weight from last weigh in. I came in at 398 Lbs again today during weigh-in. So a little down with that. We'll see how the mindfullness of my sodium plays out with next week.
14 comments so far.
14.
a decade ago
I would but I don't eat microwave-type meals. Everything I have is made fresh. My big problems are deli meats for my sandwiches, breads, and things like dried pastas, canned goods, and what not. The sodium that is in things that make parts of a meal.
So far I've substituted the bread with Earthgrains Whole Wheat sandwich rounds, they're 100 calories with 150mg of sodium. The lowest I've found so far in my area. I've resorted to buying uncooked turkey leg quarters and boiling them, then season roasting them, then slicing them up for sandwich turkey meat trying to cut back on packaged sodium.
I'm almost to the point of just going back to not even worrying about it, because I'm pulling my hair out over it. I guess my expectations are too unrealistic for me right now. Because if I want to cut sodium that means cutting calories. On days where I only ate 1000 calories or less my sodium was in the 1200-1600mg range. But I can't be starving myself. Right now I'm getting anywhere from 2000 to 3000 mg a day.
by NEXUSNRG
13.
a decade ago
There are pre-packaged foods that market themselves as less sodium. Check out Lean Cuisine - and others.
by BETSYJANEY
12.
a decade ago
I have water retention so sodium is an issue for me, it might not be an issue for you, the doctor tells me that I will most likely start to lose the swelling once more weight comes off, and when I start exercising. Sodium contributes. Yes I agree it is very hard, and I can't see me cutting back any more at all.
395 was last Monday's weight, I didn't weigh in today because my whole schedule got out of wack and I went out of town with the family and ate before getting on the scale. So I'm going to do my weekly weigh-in tomorrow (Tuesday) instead.
Hekate I don't know about two weeks, I don't add salt to anything except french fries and I usually use a very small amount, but as for pre-packaged food being cut out, uhhh NO that's not going to happen any time soon. I rely on it too much.
Tara thanks for the exclamation points! the more the better!
Betsy I never thought about taking pictures of my meals before but I find it helps when I'm writing about what I am eating for have a visual, Tara is real good about that in her blog. I don't have a camera small enough to just carry around, hehe otherwise I might take more pictures of food.
by NEXUSNRG
11.
a decade ago
I just looked at my sodium and it looks like I average 3,000-4,000 mg/day.
:sad3: I can't imagine cutting it in half - it is so hard just to focus on calories without looking at the other nutrients too. Is it possible for you to only worry about calories for now and hold off worrying about sodium until later?
=D
I see your weight now says 395 - does that mean a good weigh-in this week??
by ABBY
10.
a decade ago
I remember that salt monster episode! And, yeah, salt is a monster in the commercially prepared foods. The good news is that after two weeks of no added salt and no pre-packaged foods, you won't miss it all. No downside; all upside.
by HEKATE
9.
a decade ago
395!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh and in case that wasn't enough exclamation points:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
by PRNCSSGRL
8.
a decade ago
Jimmy - I love all the pictures of the food. It's funny - but I love taking pictures of pastry and beautiful food! Whenever I travel people give me funny looks because I'll take many pictures of whatever yummy bakery products are on sale - especially in big cities like Philadelphia where they have the farmer's market, etc.
Keep up the awesome work. I'm glad this CK is working for you and you seem VERY motivated. Isn't it amazing when you start looking around and seeing all the wonderful healthy options there are for food. It just is about education. But I hear you with the convienience of just grapping something and not necessarily looking at ingredients - especially salt. Pre-packaged foods are easy - but they are packaged for ease with preservatives which contain high sodium - ugh.
Take care, Betsy
by BETSYJANEY
7.
a decade ago
I hear ya on the bread. I'm no longer eating white bread, I've picked up EarthGrains wheat rounds and they have only 150mg of sodium for a 100 calorie roll. I'm using it for sandwiches, burgers, etc. I haven't tried making any mini-pizzas but I'm sure that'll come soon. Mmmm fresh mozzarella, Parmesan cheeses, with freshly cut roma tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, oregano, chives, basil, with a home made tomato sauce with garlic powder and olive oil. I might have to experiment with that this weekend.
I've been looking at two things when I go to the store, the sodium & calorie number! And now I'm finding myself put more and more stuff back on the shelf and walking away disgruntled. GI-JOE taught me that 'knowing is half the battle' and at least I can say that now I know, and I'm actually paying attention to it. Still working on modifying and lowering, so I guess one step at a time.
by NEXUSNRG
6.
a decade ago
stupid salt monster got me too. But you need to find the balance between the convenience foods and the fresh foods to get your sodium down. For me, now sodium is one of the first things I look at. It's affected everything - especially my bread intake. I'm making my own bread from now on, because I can't give it up entirely.
And congrats on the weight loss. You're doing well, Jimmy!
by HAPPYNSWEET77CHI
5.
a decade ago
thanks for the comments you two! I'm trying not to get discouraged by the tricks my body is playing. I got back on the scale today and went down to 396.6 and logged it. Then I ate lunch which was a hella good ham panini using those whole wheat rounds. That and some baked lays, and some sugar free Popsicles, checked the scale a few hours later and I had only gained .4 lbs so now at 397, then I went to wal-mart and walked around for a while, pedo said 1/2 mile.
Bought some fresh blue crab meat, and corn flakes and halibut and made dinner tonight; which was a 4oz halibut fillet seasoned with Mrs. Dash lemon pepper seasoning, and then made this light crab cake with fresh lump crab meat, blended corn flakes, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, and some egg whites. Cut some veggies, and then pan fried everything in some olive oil. Good meal.
Tara, I know its hard to believe I've lost a lot of weight. I still have 27 lbs to lose to get to my CK 10% loss. Then I can finally move on to Gold. I envy your determination at the running though, It's such a distant goal for me. Walking 1 mi yesterday kicked me in the azz I was super drained the rest of the day.
by NEXUSNRG
4.
a decade ago
Dude, you have lost so much weight!!! 28 pounds! That definitely beats my 22.9. You're more than halfway to 10% loss!!!
by PRNCSSGRL
3.
a decade ago
I have good days and bad days. I try to make everything as fresh as I can. I love soup!!! I have found soups that I make are sooo much less in sodium!
Your body and mind will have arguements with the scale from time to time. It's BS!! I have been there myself, major suck. You are doing great though!
The thing that kinda sucks for guys is that you don't carry a purse! I always keep nuts or a protien bar in my purse in case I feel ick at the store or out during the day!
by ANIMOSUS777
2.
a decade ago
Yeah I think it's part of my problem because I know I'm no where near ready to start reducing calories. I walked a mile yesterday in the grocery store looking around and by the time I came home I had a headache from not eating before going out, that headache lasted all night long, and I felt so worn out. Energy levels are way low. I dropped back down to 396 today, ugh my body and the scale is messing with my mind.
by NEXUSNRG
1.
a decade ago
I'm pretty sure my sodium level played a minor role in my lack of scale movement. Damn Salt! Flush it out!
by PRNCSSGRL