Champions Chat Series

November 02, 2000

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Bluebetta: How difficult is it for diabetics to follow or to even begin this program, and what supplements are safe for them to use? Also what supplements should someone with high blood pressure avoid or use?

Jeffry: This program is ideal for diabetics. The Nutrition-For-Life program is designed to prevent diabetes, and it also can cure adult-onset diabetes. It's the combination of the exercise and the nutrition. If you're an insulin-dependent diabetic, then the program is also very healthy for you, but you must closely monitor your blood sugars. If you're a diabetic, then you need to have your physician OK this program, but in my mind and for all my diabetics, especially Type II diabetics, I encourage them to follow this program. If they follow it to the letter, many are able to get off diabetic medication and actually become cured. I think supplementation is another thing to talk to your doctor about. I would have no problem taking creatine or HMB or the Myoplex shakes. If you're a Type II diabetic, that is. If you're a Type I diabetic, in other words, insulin dependent, you need to have your doctor's OK to take the supplement to make sure your kidney function is good. If you have high blood pressure, this program is definitely a must, I believe, and can result in controlling your blood pressure -- especially if you're able to lose body fat. I've had several patients that were able to get off their blood pressure medicine after they'd completed the program. I think special attention needs to be made in regards to lifting heavy weights. You must know how to lift these weights to avoid lifting your blood pressure. I recommend lighter weights and very strict form. And once again, make sure your doctor okays it.

Pat And Jane: Awesome transformation, Dr. Life! In addition to doing the BFL program, which supplements did you use and how often?

Jeffry: As I said earlier, I used creatine, and betagen…which has HMB in it, and Myoplex shakes. Since I won, I've continued to use creatine, HMB, cytovol, and occasionally I use Phen-free. I used the creatine one rounded teaspoon a day. With HMB, I'd take the capsules and use four capsules three times a day, Myoplex at least two meals a day, sometimes three meals. And the cytovol at bedtime. I find if I don't take creatine and HMB, I tend to lose muscle tone and start to look flat. So I think these are very important supplements; what I would call essential supplements .creatine, HMB and Myoplex. I also take vitamins, and I've been taking the essential fatty acids (EFAs) and I think this is very important. It seems to help curb my craving. And I take 250 mg of Vitamin C twice a day, 400 units of Vitamin E twice a day, and 600 mg of calcium twice a day. I think calcium is a very important supplement for people who don't consume much in the way of dairy products. It's not only important for women, but it's important for men as well. I think that covers it all.

Denver: I have a hard time staying consistent with my meals. Any advice on how to plan my meals?

Jeffry: I have a lot of advice, 'cause this is one of my big problems. If I don't plan my meals well in advance, then I am certain to blow my diet. I spend part of Sundays cooking and getting things ready for the following week. I think Bill's suggestion of writing down what you're going to eat is an excellent idea. I didn't do that for a long time. I just started doing that, and it really helps me stick to my nutrition plan. It's also essential that I eat every 2-3 hours. It's almost a guarantee that if I skip a meal, I will lose control and start binging on whatever happens to be around. Get them ready in advance and then always have as a backup a Myoplex shake. For me, Myoplex shakes really saved the day many times.

Gen V: Did you ever revert to old eating or exercising habits while you were doing the Challenge?

Jeffry: Yes. The hardest part of my program is the nutrition part. I don't have any problem going to the gym, getting in the right amount of resistance training. I don't have problems getting the right amount of aerobic training in. The toughest part is the nutrition part. I don't have a problem drinking the water. It's just not eating some of these things that .I have a problem with sweets, especially chocolates. During the challenge, it took me quite a while to finally get to the point to where I didn't crave these goodies, and I found since that the longer I'm away from sweets, the easier it is to stay away from them. And I do practice Bill's free day -- I make it a free meal once a week, and even during that free meal, I try to avoid sweets, because once I start, it seems like it takes me a long time to get rid of the cravings. So the answer is yes I had a very difficult time following the nutrition part. It's easier now since I have more choices thanks to Bill and his book. I also have to think that essential fatty acids helped me a lot…helped prevent these cravings, so after doing this for over 2 years, I find it a lot easier to stay on the program…but it's still very tempting at times to fall back to old ways. One of the keys to staying on the right nutrition program for me is to make sure I do the aerobic exercise. When I do aerobics -- the cardio work -- for some reason that seems to help me tremendously control my appetite and cravings.

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