Dr. Michael Triangto, SpKO

Today I visited Dr. Michael Triangto, a sportstherapy doctor and author on how to be slim and healthy. I was weighed and had my blood pressure checked by a nurse and then was hooked up to a machine to measure body fat, lean muscle mass and water percentages. After that, the doctor checked my heart and vitals and then measured my waist, hips and thighs with a measuring tape before pulling out the calipers to measure whatever it is calipers measure for. He was concerned that I’d had my gallbladder out before I was 40. He told me I was much too young to suffer from gallstones. What I didn’t tell him was that it was over 2.5 years ago. Then there my sister in law and I consulted with the doctor about the plan of attack for becoming healthier.



The Vital Stats:


Body Fat: 57.8% (48kg) Ideal: 28%*
Lean Muscle: 42.2% (33.6kg) Ideal: 45kg
Water: 30.9% (24.6l) Ideal: 51.5%**
Basal Metabolic Rate: 1193 cal.


The doctor warned me that if I didn’t change my lifestyle I’d be in for a slew of health issues like heart attack, diabetes and all the other bad things that go along with being overweight. Which was no surprise considering that I’ve been exhibiting many of the symptoms he’d outlined. He was extremely confident that I could lose 3kg per month for the next 6 months and would be healthier for it. Now here comes the twist in the plot: he counseled me about diet. And unlike every other “diet” plan out there, Dr. Michael’s advice was completely contrary.


~Don’t exercise. Apparently, exercising stenuously while overweight is dangerous for your health. And since I’ve got firsthand knowledge of just how dangerous (stress fracture of the knee), I’m down with this advice.


~Eat rice. [cue James Bond voice] Rice. White rice, steamed. In the US, rice is “teh ebil” and to be avoided at all costs. Not so in Asia. Apparently, not eating rice is heresy or apostasy or some other unconscionable act.


~Eat dinner after 7pm. Eating too early causes blood sugar issues and the urge to snack. Eating at 7 pm with a bedtime within 4 hours of that time is healthier for you. Which I can totally understand.


~Take BIG portions and not small ones. Taking a big portion causes you to actually LOOK at how much you’re eating while taking a small portion means that you say “oh that was just a bite, I can have more”.


I can totally understand if you’re skeptical right now, gentle readers. Especially if you’re in the US. Dr. Atkins would be totally spinning in his grave at this advice. Now on to the more conventional wisdom:


~Walk 30 minutes per day, 3-5 times per week minimum. The catch: NO jogging. No running. JUST walking.


~Drink more water. But NOT soft drinks INCLUDING diet(!) or drinks made with sugar or milk. In fact, milk is prohibited completely or at the very least to be avoided as best as possible. I could dwell on the fact that this totally is going to kill my Starbucks habit, but I’m just not going there right now.


~Eat fruits and vegetables. Except for Durian, Avocado, Mangos, Bananas and a few others that I don’t know the English names for (Sawo, Nangka, Sukun, Termasuk Ubi, Singkong, Talas & Kentang).


~Avoid the following:*** anything fried, made with sugar, chocolate, coconut milk.


After all that, then there’s the training program. At Mal Taman Anggrek (Orchid Garden Mall), Dr. Michael has offices and a ladies-only training facility. Each session is conducted one-on-one with a personal trainer with nurses and oxygen on standby. Each client is monitored for heart rate and respiration. After the training session, comes the stretching and massage.


Start Package****: 2.700.000Rp. ($273USD)


Being told you’re already slimmer than the average American: PRICELESS.


*According to US numbers, 28% would be considered “obese”, however in Asia, that is not the case.


** Apparently, I’m SERIOUSLY dehydrated.


*** By avoid, Dr. Michael is by no means prohibiting the consumption of these things at all, just to not eat them most of the time. Not eating them at all is best but to deny them at all is bad psychologically, according to the Good Doctor.


**** The total package includes 2 consultations with Dr. Michael, 1 fat test & 12 personal training sessions.

Slim+Health SPORTSTHERAPY by Dr. Michael T.

Taman Anggrek Mall 1st Floor, #172

Jl. Letjen S. Parman Kav. 21

Jakarta 11470

slimnhealth@hotmail.com

"Erstwhile Apple Pie"

Here's the recipe:

To get started, you need:

2 cups water
1/4 c. golden raisins/cherries
2 T unsalted butter
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 cup old-fashioned (5 minute) oats
1 sweet and crunchy apple

Bring water to a boil. Add raisin/cherry mixture, butter and PPS. Boil until raisins/cherries are plumped up. Dump in the oats and boil for 5 minutes. Stir frequently so it doesn't stick. After 5 minutes, remove from heat.

While oats are resting, slice the apple extremely thinly. Like so thin you could read through the slices. In a bowl, layer the apples and oatmeal (three layers of oatmeal should do it) and then arrange slices of apple on top.

Eat while still warm.

I haven't figured out how many WW points this is, but it's a nice alternative to pastry and it's actually GOOD for you. I suppose you could forego the butter if you really had to, but it makes it nice. I think that this recipe would actually serve two people, but I was HUNGRY. I hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours, so you can imagine.

I'm mellllllllllting....

Otherwise known as the weekly Weight Watchers update.

This time I don't have any nifty pictures. Sorry. My eczema is flaring up - thanks to my gallbladder - so I'm not going to be taking any pictures (of me) until this thing is dealt with. Also thanks to my gallbladder, I'm down to about 1 meal a day. Which is good(?) for weight loss, but sucky for me and my energy levels. Most days I just lay around the castle... Flabby, fat and lazy...

If you can name the movie that came from you get bonus points.

Anyhoo, last I posted about this it was 9/12/07. Week 8. I lost .2 pounds, so that put me at 9.2 lost total. The next week (which is to say last week or Week 9) I lost 2 pounds to put me at 11.2 pounds lost total to date. Tomorrow is Week 10. Apparently weight loss takes 1-2 weeks to show up, so if that's the case, I should have lost a lot by tomorrow. I'm shooting for 15 pounds lost total. That's only 3.8 more and I've done that in a week before. Not like I'm stressing about it...

And how much does a gallbladder w/stones weigh anyway? That sucker is going DOWN next Tuesday.

Take THAT! Darth Gall

The Incredible Shrinking Empress

First of all, it's been requested that I post a photo of my new coiffure. I believe that the photos included within this post should suffice.

9 weeks ago, it was suggested that I "reduce" as my health was beginning to suffer. I henceforth joined Weight Watchers - the royally endorsed weight control program. While I've enjoyed myself immensely, I have been remiss in not chronicling my endeavors. Therefore, I give you the following:

07/26/07 Week 1: First Meeting. No loss.
08/02/07 Week 2: -1.2
08/09/07 Week 3: -3.6
08/16/07 Week 4: -1.4
08/23/07 Week 5: +0.8
08/30/07 Week 6: -3.8

Photo taken 9/2/07
Note lack of definable waist and tummy larger than bewbies

09/06/07 Week 7: +0.2

Photo taken 9/9/07
Notice the waist is more defined and SMALLER than bewbies

09/12/07 Week 8: ???
Photo taken 9-12-07
Notice defined waist, smaller arms and smaller upper arms & abdominal area

For a grand total of 9.0 pounds lost. This is Week 8 and tonight is my meeting and weigh in. I will say that I've lost a half size in my shoes and at least 2 dress sizes on my posterior. I've lost 1-2 shirt sizes as well.

And now for the scariest part, the extreme "before" picture taken March of 2007:



Is it the same person? Can it be? Stay tuned for the next installment of [ominous theme song] The Incredible Shrinking Empress!