Thank You!
Thank you so much for visiting Hashi Mashi! I know, Hashi Mashi is an unusual name, but the weight loss plan and fat to fitness solution that developed from Hashi Mashi ( a real food vegetable centric meal ) saved my life. So, I decided to leave the domain name as hashimashi.com in gratitude.
The Problem
Five years ago I was near 275 pounds, felt very isolated and hopeless. My doctor warned that my cholesterol was way too high, and I must start statins. My A1C level was in type 2 diabetes territory and he said I would soon need Metformin medication.
My blood pressure was high at 135/90, known as hypertension, and he said that I had to do something. But, I had no idea what to do, how to lose weight, how to get back into shape. I had tried so many different diets with little success. And now, getting fit over 50 seemed impossible.
Also, I used antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor and Lexapro to help with depression and to boost my mood. Unfortunately, these meds had catastrophic side effects, which only added to my problems.
The Turning Point
One evening I was in an all night NYC deli, where I spent time with my friends ‘Ben, Jerry & Pepperidge’. Vanilla heath bar crunch and Tahoe white chocolate and macadamia cookies. The truth was that I had enough food that day and there was no need for more later that night.
For breakfast, I had my standard eggs and cheese on bagel, with a slice of tomato and onion, plus an orange juice. I had a snickers bar and a banana for snack.
Lunch was usually a turkey sandwich on rye with avocado and mayo. A few chocolate chip cookies and potato chips on the side. With a root beer, my favorite soda, even before coke.
For dinner, I had a couple of slices of pizza with mushrooms on top, cheese lasagna and french fries. Whenever I had pizza, I always wanted ice cream as a dessert. So, it was either a vanilla heath bar crunch, a snickers ice cream bar or a dove bar covered with chocolate and almonds.
The Midnight Snack that Changed my Life
And even after so much food, I still craved some more nosh in the evening. This night, I made my way to the deli on the corner of 43rd st and tudor city place for a midnight snack. I felt like I needed more snack to breathe. Even though I knew I was struggling to breathe when climbing the hill to my building.
So, I got a blueberry yogurt muffin and an orange gatorade. The colder the better. Yet, I was still craving another blueberry muffin.
I was beyond obese. I could not see my feet looking down, and had trouble walking up hills. But, I still felt that I needed another muffin, when I knew I did not. Has that ever happened to you?
I started to cry. Not only from the pain of my physical weight. But, also from the mental pain of divorce, estrangements, depression and career loss. I did not know what to do to help myself. I had tried so many diets and therapies.
But I thought, all the diet doctors argue about meat, dairy, and carbs. And I had tried so many of their diets and was still confused. But, I never heard of any of the diet doctors debating if vegetables were good.
So, I thought at least everyone can agree on vegetables. But what are vegetables I wondered? For me, vegetables meant a slice of tomato and onion on my afternoon turkey sandwich. Or those little carrot cubes in a Swanson’s frozen chicken pot pie. Or tomato and onion on a bagel and lox sandwich with cream cheese.
Hashi Mashi Weight Loss Plan
That night, on June 21, 2012, at the age of 55, I decided I was going to focus on vegetables, and yet, still had no clue what to eat. My diet revolved around pasta, bread, chips and pretzels. Along with meat, chicken, cheese, peanut chews, m&m’s and chocolate chip cookies. Like many other overweight and obese people, I was so concerned that I would not have enough to eat on my new diet plan. Of course that was ridiculous, cause I had enough fat on me to last for months.
The next morning I asked the chef at Cafe Tudor where I got my bagel, egg, cheese plus orange juice to change the menu. He did not like that at all. Because, I asked for a whole egg, 3 egg whites, and to hold the bagel and cheese. Instead, I asked him to add all the vegetables he had, plus avocado, hummus, olives and capers.
He was not a happy camper about that, but since I was a regular customer, he asked me what am I going to call this mess? I said let’s call it Hashi Mashi, my first real food meal based on as many vegetables as I could think of. So, that is how the ‘Hashi Mashi’ weight loss plan started.
Little did I know that ‘Hashi Mashi’ which I made up as a joke, would develop into a plan that has helped me and many others to lose weight and get healthier and fitter than ever over 50.
The Solution – Six Months Later Results
Six months later after focusing on one Hashi Mashi plan meal at a time, I was 75 pounds lighter. Real vegetables became the foundation of my meals, instead of processed foods. After adding strength training like deadlifts, squats and pushups, I lost another 25 pounds. In 11 months, I was a total of 100 pounds lighter, to where I am today at 170 pounds, five years later.
I discovered that vegetables are not window dressings for main course meals. Vegetables are the main course. Powerful vegetables like asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, okra, potato, and watercress. Or cauliflower, mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, and corn on the cob.
These vegetables and more were all great ways to have a satisfying meal. And they will leave you feeling good and even help lift your mood. I discontinued my antidepressants, saw my cholesterol drop a hundred points. Also, my blood pressure normalized and prediabetes A1C level fell to normal as well. Not to mention that I could finally stop wearing xxl large plaid shirts and could actually fit in a suit. Most important, I became more hopeful and optimistic about the future.
How About You?
That first “Hashi Mashi” meal saved my life. I did not know how much changing the quality of the food I chose, would change my body. And how much changing my body would change my mood, and transform my life. I started hashimashi.com as a journal for myself to help keep me motivated and on track.
But, I soon realized that Hashi Mashi is a simple and effective weight loss plan. Even if you are very obese or overweight right now. Even if you are over 50 and feel that there is nowhere to turn to get help losing weight.
Hashi Mashi is the weight loss plan that I wish I had so many years ago. I do my best to provide you with a step by step guide to lose weight, build muscle, get fit and even improve your mood.
Results are What Matter
It is true, that whenever I say Hashi Mashi to explain my body transformation, most people laugh. Many think it is Japanese and in fact, I found out that there is an island in Japan called Hashima Shi Island!
They stole my name!
Because I know the name Hashi Mashi will elicit a laugh, I started to use Fit Apprentice as the plan name. Because, I felt like a beginner in fitness. And I kept searching for the best tools, motivation, ideas that would help me learn how to lose weight fast and avoid all the chronic illnesses my doctor was warning me about.
These days, I just refer to my plan as Fit Apprentice or ‘the plan’.
Fit Apprentice is a simple and effective weight loss and fitness plan to help get you to your ideal body weight. The plan can even help you build muscle, get into better shape than you ever thought possible. Even if you are over 50 and even if you are looking for a natural depression treatment.
The Mission
I suffered a lot from both depression and obesity throughout my life. I know how painful they can be and how losing weight can help change your life in so many ways. People have great intuition and realize that they can transform their lives if they can lose weight.
The many benefits of weight loss explains our obsession with diets. So, I want to help other people facing the challenge of obesity and depression get results. I want to help you lose weight, get fit, build muscle and improve your mood.
I know from experience, if you lose weight, your cholesterol can lower without statins. You won’t have to take metformin to manage type 2 diabetes. Or you might stop antidepressants and high blood pressure medication. Even better, you can lessen depression and/or suicidal ideation. How great is that?
Your Body is the Magician
I discovered that even after the age of 50, your body is like a magician, and will respond and transform, if you get out of the way. Which means, if you stop force feeding your body so much processed food. Instead, focus on as much real food as possible, simple yet powerful vegetables, fruit and more.
If you are surfing the web looking for a simple, effective, weight loss plan, you are in the right place. Or if you need to lower your cholesterol, high blood pressure or A1C levels, you are also in the right place.
Or if you are fighting depression, you will find many strategies here which can help. Last but not least, if you are over 50 and think that it is too late to get in shape, you are so wrong. Let me help you find out and show you an easier way to lose weight and get back into shape.
The Fit Apprentice plan will help improve your mood, reach your ideal body weight and get fit ( all at the same time), how great is that?
Let’s crush the epidemic of depression and obesity together!
Now What?
From here on forwards is all practical stuff. I want to leave you with a step by step weight loss plan. You can follow this at your own pace, and the more you follow the plan, the better your results.
I am going to be selecting articles for you to read and understand and put into practice.
How to Get Fit – Step One
Let’s start here, with the best diet to lose weight fast. These are the secrets of weight loss that you already know. You can find that article right in any one of those three links. Please read the post and let me know if you have any questions or comments. You can leave your comments on the article.
I want to give you a daily dose of information, ideas and new habits that will help you reach your ideal body weight. This is so critical for your optimal health. And every article will point to a next post for you to read and digest.
So, please commit to being open to new lifestyle modifications to help you get to your ideal body weight and get fit. You have to be coachable to succeed. I do not have all the answers, but I will look for them when you ask questions, so please ask questions. Let me know where you need more help.
Last, but not least, please sign up below so we can stay in touch. I will provide you with more weight loss plan and exercise material that can be useful. You might receive pdf’s of recipes, workouts, useful equipment, cheat sheets, or how to lists. I have a new cheat sheet on fat loss which I would love to send you, so please sign up and we will be in touch soon.
Thank you again so much for being here!
Hashi Mashi!
Recommended Reading:
Resources And Tools
For resources and tools to ignite your health and fitness, lose weight without counting calories, get leaner and stronger, help depression without antidepressants, please click here.Connect And Take Action
If you appreciated this article, please subscribe to my personal blog here, or on the form below this post. Enter your first name and email and you will receive a free get fit cheat sheet.This cheat sheet is a template of the plan I followed to lose 100 pounds in under a year.
Please read the cheat sheet, any other recommended articles and take action. You will not fail!
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