How I lost 30 lbs in 8 weeks!

I dropped 30 lbs, lowered my blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and my psorisis-like dry hands have all healed up and are nice and smooth and not dry anymore...all in two months! Here's a basic rundown of my daily meal regimen in case any of you want to try it. I would say try it for 30 days but that might be too dramatic a change for most people. Even if you try it, or parts of it, 2-3 days a week I would guess would make a great difference that you will see and feel. Not trying to preach...just letting you know what works for me if you are interested...
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> The first, and probably the most important, factor to loosing my gut was that I gradually cut out all soda from my diet. I started by vowing to drink just one soda a day. After a couple of weeks I just gave it up completely (maybe I drink one ginger ale every other week or so, but that's it). Now I just drink water, decaf regular or green tea with lemon squeezed into it (the lemon juice boosts its antioxidant properties...and green tea is really good for lowering blood pressure)/ lowfat milk, and oj.
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> I have reduced my portion sizes to what they actually recommend (ex. if you eat, say,a piece of meat, or a serving of potatoes, broccoli, etc...one portion is supposed to be the size of a deck of cards). I make up for the lack in size by eating 6 smaller meals throughout the day. Here's the basic regimen...
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> Pre-breakfast:
> A whey-based protein shake just before and just after my morning workout (avoid any powders with "creatin" in it...that stuff is bad for you. Get only 100% natural whey protien drinks). If you drink the shakes, make sure to drink plenty of water immediately and throughout the day (otherwise the excess protein builds up in your kidneys and can do serious damage). Only drink these if you are working out to nourish your muscles...otherwise it will just add unnecessary protein into your body and probably make you gain weight.
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> Breakfast:
> A bowl of Cheerios with blueberries, strawberries, and banana, or steel cut oatmeal with "natural" peanut butter mixed in for protein and flavor.
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> Pre-lunch:
> A whole wheat english muffin with natural peanut butter.
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> Lunch:
> Anything in moderation. I usually have organic chicken with wheat pasta, or tuna fish with the mayo made with olive oil, or a regular serving size of whatever leftovers we had for dinner, etc.
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> Afternoon snack:
> Usually a nutri-grain breakfast bar, or a 100 calorie bag of microwave popcorn, or walnuts, or the Quaker Oats chocolate covered rice cakes (I know, rice cake sounds nasty, but the chocolate ones taste pretty good since they use real chocolate on them), or an apple, banana, grapes, etc.
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> Dinner:
> Again...anything in moderation. It's usually organic chicken with pasta and steamed vegetables, or a burger made with "grass-fed" lean beef (grass-fed meat has as much or more Omega-3 than some fish, which is also good for lowering high blood pressure, reducing your cholesterol, etc). Or every once in a while we get a veggie pizza light on the cheese and just have two pieces at one sitting, etc.
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> Evening snack:
> Either a slice of wheat bread with natural peanut butter, or a small size or half regular size wheat pita with hummus dip 

>Just before bed:

> Low fat cottage cheese. Again, this is only good if you are working out...since the protein from the cottage cheese is slowly metabolized over the night while you are sleeping (which is the time your body works the most to rebuild your muscles from the day's workout). Otherwise, you will be adding unnecessary calories to your diet.
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> I also have been taking Centrum multi-vitamins each morning, along with omega-3 fish oil pills. I think the vitamins are a big part of my dry, cracking hands being soft and healthy again. Also, I use Gold Bond "Ultimate healing" moisturizer on them at least once a day.
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> Also, I fit in a 30-45 minute workout with dumbbells, the "perfect pushup" thing you can by at J.C. Penny, some hand grippers, and an eliptical machine. I put in at the very least 10 minutes of cardio workout on odd days and maybe 5 minutes on even days. 
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> I only know that it worked for me doing this cold turkey all at once. But even if you just try this stuff out for a little while I think you will feel a difference. If you do, let me know how it goes...just remember to take baseline readings for everything at the beginning (ex. weight, number of inches around the waist, your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc.) so you can track your progress.
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> Take it for what it's worth.
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> Later!
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> Malcfett