International Men’s Health Week kicked off on June 10 and HMC’s Dr Yousef Al Maslamani is a shining example of the benefits of healthy living. The Medical Director at Hamad General Hospital says it was two years ago when he decided to make major changes to his diet and exercise routine.
“My brother called to say his blood sugar was high. I checked my own and it was 6.1. My father has diabetes and as a physician I know the first line of treatment is weight reduction,” said Dr Al Maslamani.
A blood sugar level between 6.0 and 6.9 is normally an indicator of prediabetes or impaired glucose glycaemia and places an individual at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Dr Al Maslamani says he immediately decided to make changes and the next day he began focusing on diet and exercise. Within months he had lost 5kg and his blood sugar levels returned to normal. To date he has lost 17kg and says the secret to losing weight, and keeping it off, is documenting what you eat and how much you move.
“For me the tools to weight loss success are scales, one for weighing my food and one for weighing myself, a pedometer and a food log,” says Dr Al Maslamani.
A pedometer is a portable device that measures a person’s physical activity. The pedometer that Dr Al-Maslamani uses is linked to an electronic programme that allows him to view up to the minute progress reports on distance walked, calories burned, floors climbed and activity duration.
“I average 10,000 steps a day. Last week my total was 45km,” says Dr Al Maslamani.
The electronic programme he uses also provides a food log and includes an extensive listing of foods along with their calories and other nutritional details. Dr Al Maslamani says he records what he eats every day and hasn’t changed his diet, only the quantity he consumes.
“I eat everything I want, including chocolate. If I want pizza for dinner, I have pizza and if I gain (weight) I know I need to adjust my diet the following day.”
Dr Al Maslamani says exercise has always been part of his life and today his fitness regime includes walking, swimming and using a stationary bike and elliptical trainer.
To those who say they don’t have time for exercise, Dr Al Maslamani says the trick is to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. He says he rarely uses elevators and parks as far as possible from shop entrances.The Peninsula
