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| Jeno Enocencio, wearing beret, joined the Veterans Affairs MOVE! program to help him lose weight, get active and regain his fit warrior physique. His January starting weight, blood pressure and pulse were: 324 pounds, 133 over 76, and 64. Stay tuned for updates. - Photo: Courtesy of Jeno Enocencio |
More New Year's resolutions:
changing attitudes, and health behaviors
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| By Jimmy F. “Jeno” Enocencio |
“Eat Healthy. Be Active. Get Fit for Life.” That's the message sent to all veterans from HealthierUS Veterans. Their campaign initiative is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid. They can be found at www.healthierusveterans.va.gov.
In life, reality sets in the most common of places. Like when you get out of the shower in a resort hotel and see “ALL of YOU” in a misting 4-by-8 mirror. That's right, you're not 18 anymore, and definitely not slim. What was once a lean, mean fighting machine is now a big laho (castrated boar). Reality sets in when your grandkids want to race you, or play hide-n-go-seek, and you're huffin' and puffin' and wheezin' wanting to pass out.
The real test of endurance comes when it's time for church and you gotta bend down and tie your shoelace; or pullin' up your pants as the belt cuts grooves into your belly, forcing you to buy suspenders. You put on your tie and suddenly realize that size 22-inch neck shirts can only be bought from Kramers Big & Tall. By that time you realize that your shirt doesn't tuck in because it's too short, and your pants are sliding because you have no rear to hold it up.
Still another reminder: that 30-year-old tie just barely passes your chest and exposes shirt buttons ready to pop. As for the tie, just throw 'em away 'cause your boy isn't gonna wear anything old-fashioned. You realize having a tie is like having a hangman's noose around your neck; in church you feel the pressure building in your head, shortness of breath, eyes glared open and eventual snoring in the middle of the sermon. When you snore at night your wife realizes your breathing stops for long periods of time; that is not you learning to dive under water, that is sleep apnea. This is where you die in your sleep. That is not just anybody's life. It's been mine since hosting this Manitou within.
IT'S YOUR MOVE! Here are some strategies to help you reach your weight and fitness goals. See which ones may work for you! Nutrition
Avoid extra calories:
Give up the following for now:
At a restaurant:
On the www.move.va.gov website, a link is provided to the USDA's MyPyramid www.mypyramid.gov, which has a MyPyramid Tracker tool. The tool allows one to record food intake and calculate calories. |
Jeno Enocencio writes about the many hats he wears.
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