"Jeff, you have metabolic syndrome," my doctor told me two years ago.
"Metabolic syndrome, what the heck is that?"
My doctor informed me that I am one of over 50 million Americans who have metabolic syndrome (aka insulin resistance.) Like me, most don't even know they have it. "Consider it pre-heart-attack, pre-stroke, and pre-diabetes all rolled into one," he said.
"Well Doc, in my case there is nothing 'pre' about the heart attack part of that."
I had a heart attack in my mid 40s (I am now in my early 50s.) I am almost 6 feet tall and when I had my heart attack I weighed over 250 pounds.
Since then I have continued stepping up my commitment to health and longevity. I have lost about 40 pounds, and I am over half way to my goal weight. More importantly, my blood work, which carries many of the markers of metabolic syndrome, continues to improve.
Losing weight for me is always two steps forward, then one back. When I backslide I analyze what went wrong and how I can keep it from happening again. I regularly consult with doctors, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, personal trainers, and others. With their help I have finally come to understand what metabolic syndrome is and how to effectively battle it through lifestyle changes. Job one is always to lose weight.
My Livestrong/Daily Plate page is part of my ongoing effort to reach my goal weight, get in shape, and hold metabolic syndrome at bay.
In my Blog, "Beating Metabolic Syndrome" and in the Group I host called "Metabolic Syndrome" I share what I have learned from the healthcare professionals about how to lose weight and actually keep it off, how to steadily improve your fitness, and how to better manage your cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and all the other factors in metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance.
See you there and I look forward to hearing your story.
-Jeff Lives!
