Hello from newbie

[Guest guest]

(Sort-of) Newbie, de-lurking,

Hello CRONies,

Let me make my story as short as possible. I let myself become grossly

obese (360+ lbs.). Took it upon myself to fix it. Became a vegan, started

exercising 4+ hrs. every day, mostly brisk walking, but also hitting the

weights, later swimming, eventually jogging. I ate very healthy: fruits,

vegetables (very fresh and mostly raw), whole wheat cereal and bread, brown

and wild rice, tofu, soy milk, beans, nuts. Lost a lot of weight, very

fast, about 20 lbs./month. I know, too fast, but I never felt like it was

too fast. I lost 130 lbs. in 7 months. I decided to ease up a bit, not

because I felt I had to, I could have continued easily, but I thought I

deserved a break. I didn't really ease up much. I started to eat a few

more calories, and exercise a bit less (but I stayed a vegan, and still

exercised practically every day for at least 40 minutes). At that point, my

weight loss completely stopped, I couldn't lose another lb. I even moved my

routine back to what was successful, but that didn't work. It has been over

a year now, haven't lost or gained anything.

Before, and throughout this time, I read about everything I could find (that

was free on the internet) about diet, health, fitness, exercise. That is

how I found out about you guys.

I have read 2 of Walford's books, I think the first one was Maximum

Lifespan, the other was the 120 Year Diet, I got both from the Library. I

was going to order Beyond the 120 Year Diet today (plus probably get the

Diet Planner Software, and The Retardation of Aging and Disease by Dietary

Restriction), but the web site said that 'Beyond' is sold out.

I stopped being a vegan, but I am close to being a vegetarian. I drink 1%

or skim milk, eat eggs (mostly just the whites, occasionally a yolk), and 1

or 2 times per week I will eat fish (usually sashimi: salmon or tuna). The

rest is the same as before. I am not yet counting calories, but it's not a

lot. I have been very hungry for at least an hour before every time I eat.

I have a few questions, so hopefully this is the site where I can ask

without being harshly chastised, even though they may be covered in the

archives...

(I did a quick check of the archives)

It has been said again and again that calorie restriction is the only method

proven to extend maximum life span. Obviously it's difficult to test some

things because you can't make mice practice yoga, meditation, and

biofeedback. But I am interested to know if there have been animal tests

for UV exposure, atmospheric pressure (altitude, ie the amount of available

air), mental stimulation, sexual abstinence? I would like to know if they

have been tested and found to be irrelevant or inconclusive, or if they have

just never been tested.

I would like anybody's opinion on vegetable juice benefit for optimal

nutrition, favorites recipes, ect.

Also, what are people doing that they consider helpful that probably work,

but are untestable - ie yoga, meditation, biofeedback, acupuncture or

accupressure. Is there anything along these lines that may also help me

sleep?

Finally, are there any of us out there who live in/close to Ventura CA? I

guess there have to be some Walford followers down in LA.