Our first issue of Eat Well; Be Well in January highlighted Mike Campbell, the man with a mission to use himself as a healthy lifestyle model for the kids that he mentors in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Trident Area. Five months later, we catch up with him again — this time he’s sharing his experiences.
Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB): What have you done differently to shed pounds?
Mike Campbell (MC): I am more mindful of what I am eating and how it affects my weight. I’ve done more exercising on my Total Gym at the house and tried to make this a regular part of my routine. Even though I cannot walk long distances yet, the work on the Total Gym seems to help.
LCFB: Have you gotten lots of support in your effort to lose weight?
MC: I have gotten support from others. A board member and several staff have worked to get in better shape and lose weight while I have worked at it. My wife, Polly, has encouraged me in my effort.
LCFB: Are you monitoring every morsel of food that you consume 7 days a week?
MC: I have not monitored every morsel of food. I started doing that in the first month and got a little tired of it. What I am doing now is being mindful of eating better throughout the day, to include a good breakfast and reasonable eating during the day. I try not to follow one ‘bad’ day with another.
LCFB: Have you felt a difference as far as your health is concerned?
MC: My blood pressure and lab tests in April were much better. My cholesterol was 182 with all of the numbers looking good. It had been elevated to 200-220 for several years.
LCFB: Are there any areas you would still like to improve?
MC: I would like to manage my sweet tooth better. That is my Achilles heel.
LCFB: How are the kids at Boys & Girls Club reacting to your success?
MC: Some of the kids in the Healthy Kids club talk with me about it and have become more knowledgeable of their own eating habits because of our partnership with the Food Bank. It’s a good start. I want to focus more on my efforts with them this summer.
LCFB: Any additional comments?
MC: Managing weight and eating healthy is not something you master overnight. I lose a couple pounds and gain a couple. I am down close to 20 pounds, but that fluctuates. I want to keep shifting the needle down without getting too discouraged by bad days. I know that if I want to develop a healthy lifestyle, I need to continue to learn what works for me.
What Mike is doing is not the quick and drastic results we might see on one of those weight loss reality TV shows. He’s doing exactly what we all need to do to make healthier choices that last a lifetime — start somewhere, take action, learn what works for you and don’t give up!
TIPS TO MAKE SWEET DESSERTS WORK IN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
- WHOLE FRUIT IS SWEET
It’s also portable, compact and good for you. You can’t go wrong with this choice.
- PICK SUGAR OVER FAT
It takes 9 calories to burn a gram of fat and 4 calories to burn a gram of sugar. When faced with a choice, eat 3/4 cup of frosted flakes (114 calories, .2 grams of fat) instead of a 1/2 cup of chocolate ice cream (140 calories, 7 grams of fat).
- KEEP TEMPTATION OUTOF THE HOUSE
If you get all of that heavy, sweet comfort food out of the house, you’re less likely to overeat. Enjoy those snacks elsewhere. Servings of desserts in restaurants are HUGE so when you order that treat, share with a friend.
What is a “Food of the Month”?
Our “Food of the Month” is a product available in our Lowcountry
Food Bank's warehouses. It is one that meets our criteria of a healthy
food.
What is a LCFB's “Healthy Food”?
Healthy foods are fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meat and
poultry, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and foods that do not
contain excessive amounts of fat or caloric sweeteners.
How are our recipes designed?
Our recipes are designed with the clients of our agencies in mind:
those who are hungry and poor.
The recipes:
- Use ingredients common in Lowcountry kitchens.
- Are tasty and easy to prepare.
- Meet our criteria for a healthy food.
- Limit high priced herbs and spices which may included as optional
ingredients.
We’d Like to Hear from You
We encourage your comments. They will help us understand concerns and
interests of those who use “Eat Well; Be Well”. Please contact Germaine Hall Jenkins, Nutrition Coordinator at the Lowcountry Food Bank, (843) 747-8146 ext.. 113 or ghall@lcfbank.org.
Sources: www.mypyramid.gov, www.cahe.nmsu.edu, www.foodsthatkeep.com.
Check out www.allrecipes.com! This site allows you to find other healthy recipes for our food of the month and even customizes a recipe when you change the number of servings.
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