Boring pair of puritans.
Boring pair of puritans.
Thanks - this is me and why I want to shed the 'excess'. I started keeping a record yesterday actually and found that I'd had 1000 calories between 6am and midnight and the only carb I'd had was one slice of toast. That didn't surprise me as I was trying not to eat much. What did surprise me was that I wasn't hungry at any point through the day or evening.
It would be typical for everyone when they start losing weight. The first few weeks the body tries to hold onto the fat as it puts itself in starvation mode.
But anyone can condition their body not to do so after that initial period.
That is the ketogenesis I mentioned earlier. When your carb intake is right down to the equivalent of a slice of bread of fist-size of rice every day with the rest of the carb intake coming naturally in vegetables etc., after a couple of weeks, you will convert to burning fat as a first source rather than sugars for fuel.
People's body types and chemistries may differ but if it's stuck with, it will happen.
Scarto is spot on, the trick is to be very strict with carbs right from the start. Fat is your friend , ditch the margarine and muesli
Cheers
Alan
Enough chat theres only one way to resolve, get your shirt off and lets see whos advise actually works in reality!
RIAC
The way I lost weight was with my partners help. At the beginning of this year I cut out all the junk and snacks and I (we) now eat healthily. My partner did it first when she hit 50 and weighed in at 13st 5lb. In 18 months she went down to 8st 4lb, and has stayed there for the last couple of years. She doesn't consult any complicated diet plans, just dishes up sensible sized portions of healthy food, pasta, salad, white meats that kind of thing. Couple that with plenty of fruit and the weight just fell off me. I'm fortunate in that my excess weight never really showed (heavy bones maybe?), but I did feel lethargic after a meal and quite often had heartburn/indigestion. I started this year at 17st and I'm down to 13st 13lb as of this morning, I feel much more alert and energetic and I haven't had an indigestion tablet all year. I weigh the same now as I did 30 years ago! The daft thing is I'm never really hungry these days, I think your body craves what it expects so once it's used to smaller portions of healthy food if I do ever feel peckish I'd reach for some fruit where as I used to reach for a packet of crisps. I have done no extra exercise whatsoever, but I do have quite an active job. The weight is still going down, I'm not sure where it will level out but another 14lb gone by the end of the year would perfect in terms of BMI, however I'm told I'd look far too thin at 13st!
I'm no expert but 1000 cals over 24hrs seems too little to me. When I went thru my weight loss I was eating between 1800 and 2000 per day. I did ask a nutritionist for advice and she said that you should ideally graze throughout the day - eating little and often. If you don't eat enough you'll put your body into starvation mode and it will retain everything it can as it thinks you are going to be without food for long periods of time.
She also said to switch from marg to butter as the cals are the same but marg is completely unatural and only a few chemical compounds away from plastic!
I never bothered about 'carbs' but thinking about it she did recommend having alternatives such as salads for lunch instead of sandwiches as bread is loaded with cals.
My comment was more about the effects of letting your body burn fat and not inhibiting it by eating carbs.....not a comment about the number of calories that had been eaten.
Re high fat diet vs low fat diet (which we've all been advised to eat for the last 20yrs+) here's a link to a summary of a study (which wasn't sponsored by a food company ) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23651522
I mentioned this book in an earlier post - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Fat-Surp...g+fat+surprise
I'm new-ish to this myself and still learning.....
cheers
Alan
Interesting discussion.
With due respect to both sides of the "carbs argument", you have to be a little careful, as there's a lot of subjectivity (or even pseudoscience) being portrayed as hard fact, and very low-carb diets have been fashionable for a while now despite some studies dismissing them. Although the effects on blood sugars and lipids are still being researched, I think most nutritionalists will advise you to maintain a balanced diet.
The bottom line is that if you burn more calories than you take in, you'll lose weight. Any diet plan is just a way of making the process as pleasant (or least unpleasant) as possible. The mix of carbs/fat/protein is often more down to the physiology/psychology of feeling full.
I think the problem with carbs, and certainly refined sugars, is that they are not particularly filling, maybe even moreish. Proteins (as well as fibre) are more filling, less moreish and usually less calorific, so you will end up consuming less calories, but feel as full. Alcohol is effectively a split sugar molecule, so very much like a carb. (It's quite moreish as well!!).
So in effect, the advice ends up being the same - bias you diet more towards protein, be careful with fat, and especially carbs.
Yeah, i've got no issue with the fact that keto works - of course it does. I don't believe its a good idea long term and dont recommend it for a number of reasons but if you actually like eating that way then go ahead and try it out if you want.
as to fat, my diet runs between 20-30% fat on average so i am certainly not averse to fat. but again, carbs per se are not going to hurt you and there's no reason not to use them. I run about 200g carbs, 230g protein and 60-70g fat/day typically when getting lean for about 2350 calories (My BMR being circa 2,800). If you are bulking up then its virtually impossible to do without carbs - try hit 4000-5000+ calories a day on fat and protein alone...
I'm still learning too - it's a fascinating subject all the more so because it appears to turn the accepted advice of the last 50 years on its head. It's a subject you could talk about for hours and hard to summarise in a short conversation.
One main benefit of ketogenesis is having more energy at a consistent level throughout the day as opposed to the crashes associated with temporary carb/sugar highs and the accompanying insulin spikes and dips. If you look at the Bulletproof Executive site I linked earlier, he starts his day with a 'Bulletproof' coffee made with ghee/butter and some form of medium chain triglyceride - e.g. coconut extract or 'MCT oil'. Plenty of videos on how to make it on Youtube. I have not 'advanced' to this level yet. It's all about the one per cent changes gradually at this stage.
I'm confident there will be a whole wave of change across the whole 'diet' industry. I have already noted this in the last year alone with media coverage about butter being better for you than margarine, sugar being worse than fat etc. The challenge is gradually changing people over to a new way of eating - means lots of opportunities too :-).
The "Diet Industry" is the only industry which succeeds by failing its customers.
We now eat for pleasure rather than necessity - we are also not good at self control.
If I'm running early I'll sometimes have coconut oil / butter in coffee...mainly 'cos it tastes nice 😊.
I'll have a look at that guy's site but what appeals to me about LCHF is the fact that it's a natural way of eating and is extremely simple.
You're right about the constant energy levels, I've noticed a difference there and also a few other nice 'side effects' like I'm sleeping better and I've cut out snacks completely (because I'm not hungry, not through exercising will power).
Just think how empty the supermarkets would be if they couldn't sell all the 'low fat' stuff or anything with added sugar! Food bills would be a lot lower too....
cheers
Alan
Some deeply technical stuff on here.
I'm overweight, enjoy a beer/wine, lazy with little self control and the 5:2 diet is working for me. No effort really, even when travelling with work and I really don't feel bad on the max 600 calorie days. I've lost over a stone since the start of April. From 15st4lbs to 14st and counting.
I've always used fresh ingredients anyway, minimal processed food and I quite enjoy the challenge of making a 300 calorie evening meal, its surprising what you can have when you think about it a bit.
I guess what really matters is what works for you, your frame of mind and your lifestyle.
Personally I don't think there is any magic to 5:2, its just your incoming average calories per day goes down below your outgoing calories. Hey presto, weight loss. Like a calorie controlled diet but only twice a week, for lazy people, with no will power, who enjoy a tipple...
Paul.
PS edited to say I track fast day calories with myfitnesspal and don't forget to take a multivitamin supplement...
Fair enough, however using my non- scientific method I have still managed to loose 17kg in the past 12 months and gone from 38 down to 34. Blood pressure down as is my cholesterol levels. I am well please.
Now if only I could grow a full head of hair, I would be totally buff.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
I've had a kidney stone since Monday, and the nausea / lack of appetite associated with it is proving surprising effective! Silver linings and all that...
Nice one Andy, rowing machines are great aren't they. I bought one after I stopped playing 5 a-side (never got fit playing football, only injured) and I still use it now and then. It didn't make my hair grow back either 😊
Re low carb high fat, has anyone seen this film - http://www.cerealkillersmovie.com ? Has it been on TV yet?
cheers
Alan
Right, I'll enter the debate to add some clarity to a couple of points that I think get misinterpreted.
There is nothing wrong with carbs. There is nothing wrong with sugar, which is just a refined carbohydrate. If you have them in your daily diet and you are aware of your balance of fats, proteins and carbs then you can eat carbs and lose weight. It is unnecessary to demonise carbs and try to live carb free. Your body will convert fats and proteins to fuel sources in the absence of carbs but it’s a lot of hassle to make yourself eat like that and it is also not required.
The idea that carbs make you fat is a drift over from the change in the diet industry. In brief, fats were the bad thing until about 10 years ago. Quite rightly people slowly accepted that fats don’t make you fat if moderated. There were then some very loose studies showing that if people are still getting obese whislt fat is controlled then it must be something else – HFCS – so enter the new bad guy - high fructose corn syrup. This is a concentrated carb source added to foods and it became the new bad guy, because of awful correlation data that showed its use was increasing and people were getting fatter so it must be hfcs, which then spread out to carbs being the new guy. With the interest in diets like the Atkins which is zero carb and promotes your body using fats and proteins as fuel, then a whole raft of misinformation was spread and people are now in the odd position of trying to rule out a macro nutrient (carbs) that are not intrinsically bad, if you are aware of them. It really bugs me that people give out misinformation about diets and carbs, which is probably a failing on my side tbh.
This is a long, but useful video that explains carbs.
http://www.biolayne.com/nutrition/bi...right-for-you/
In brief it states that everyone has different carb tolerances. I for example eat about 700g a day and deal with it okay. Others can only tolerate 200g a day without getting fat. There is no need to rule it out if you understand it and work with your own tolerances, which will be different to the next guys and which is why your low carb diet would be wrong for me and vice versa.
This is an excellent article by the undisputed god of nutrition alan aragon. He is an independent nutrionist who advises a number of health bodies, publications and also runs meta data analysis. His big advantage is that he does not sell diets, or promote products etc. He doesn’t come up with new crazes and sell new fads. I cannot recommend him enough for independent science based nutrition.
This article pretty much sums up the diet composition anyone needs. If you want, skip the start with the sums and just read the info about carbs.
http://ironwarriorstraining.tumblr.com/nutrition101
Don’t demonise them, you don’t need to. Chill out, have some bread.
Although that said, as the carb craze has been flogged and people are still getting fatter, there is movement in the diet industry to find a new bad guy and it appears to be gluten that is being put into the spotlight for everyone, including the majority who don’t have intolerances. So enjoy bread whilst you can, until it becomes the next new pointless food pariah.
I think the OP was wanting to just lose some weight, not get into bodybuilding ?
I haven't read anything of Alan Aragon yet but remember, Ancel Keys was once the undisputed god of nutrition too... ;)
Cheers
Alan
Having lost 40kg (that's about 6st for the pre-decimal) in the last 12 months (actually lost it in 9 but have successfully kept it off for the last 3), for me it boils down to 4 words "eat less - move more".
The eat less might even be restated as "eat smarter" (lowering the calorie content of what you are eating - for example by either by ditching the additional sugar or swapping it for a zero calorie sweetener, or taking a 10% smaller portion...)
Move more for me was initially walking for 60-90mins per day, parking the car as far as possible from the supermarket in the supermarket car park, etc. Still do the car parking thing but the move more is now a daily bike ride (except when blowing a gale or hissing rain) of about an hour - not a pootle, but a decent workout but also not flat out by any means.
Have I been a saint in sticking to it? Certainly not - but if/when I have a beer or two, then the next bike ride is extended... I'm still no stranger to a pie, cake, bar of chocolate or curry - but the contingent payback is a longer bike ride.
Won't fit with everyone for sure - but it might wake an idea or two in someone.
Thanks, I also now use the rowing machine as the perfect platform for doing sit ups and toe touches. So it now goes something like - start with 20 sit-ups, then do 1.5Km on 6 or 7 (my machines goes to 8), then another 20 sit-up and 20 toe touches (still strapped in), then repeat again 3 more times. Takes about 25 minutes which equates to about 320 calories (according to MyFitnessPal or 360 on the Rower) - but either way it only equates to a medium pork pie or a couple of glasses of wine :(
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Dieting but not exercising will not necessarily achieve weight loss. Exercise is as important as diet. A 30-45 minute brisk walk every day works wonders … no need for a gym or personal trainers … just build up to regular walking routines so that you feel your limbs tingling and body glowing after a good stroll.
dunk
Ancel Keys made it to 101 iirc. Shunned fad diets and disdained eating like a garbage pail. He got some things right there (and ofc some things wrong.)
My best advice for you would be to ensue your diet is well balanced. For example; try to have a range if food groups in each meal throughout the day such as: protein, carbohydrate, fats. Eliminate snacks and stick to three meals a day. Exercise for 1 hour 3 times a week. I have just stuck to this and have lost over 25kg in mass over a 4 month period and am about to embark on my first half marathon. There is no need for fad diets.
There is some good advice, and an awful lot of crap in this thread.
If you want guaranteed success, work out your calorific requirements. Join something like myfitnesspal as stated earlier, weigh and log everything (check that the entry is correct - lots are wrong - even the bar coded stuff!) - then Drop between 250-750 calories a day from your maintenance required calories and stick to it - you'll lose between 0.5lb and 1.5lb a week of real weight, in the first few weeks you'll drop some water weight, because your eating less food! If you make sure your at an absolute minimum of 1g protein per pound body weight (some research suggests a lot higher!), you will retain more muscle, if you don't you'll probably just get lighter but stay a similar level,of bodyfat. It's recommended to get about 0.45g of fat per pound of body weight and the rest can be anything you like - most people perform/have more energy if they make the remainder up with carbs.
Using a Keto diet can work, but why, it's so restrictive - and if you eat more calories you'll still be just as fat or get fatter - if you simply drop your overall calories (and adjust them down as you lose weight), you'll steadily lose weight till you reach your goal quite easily - then once at your target weight work out your maintenance calorie requirement and make sure you stick to it over any given week - that way you can eat whatever you want some of the time and maintain your weight.
I'm currently "dieting" on the occasional Chinese takeaway, gastro pub steak burgers, and fish, chips and mushy peas - 10kg off and around 4% body fat down so far. Doing it this way is no hardship.
It's just a matter of time...
Just to note, the Atkins diet is not zero carb. Instead it promotes a long term sustainable diet of balanced carbs, protein, etc.
The bit which everyone seem to pay attention to whilst forgetting the rest is the initial two week period which is zero carb. After that, carbs are re-introduced gradually in a controlled manner with, as above, the goal of sustainable balanced intake of nutrients. The initial, very limited, zero carb period is to give the person a kick start, in both physiological and psychological terms, to break the 'dependence' that many people have on carbs and sugars. The Atkins diet nevertheless recognises their importance as a part of one's diet.
Some might argue that the only 'fad diet' being talked about here is the 'low fat balanced diet' that we've all been told to eat for the last 30 so years and which clearly doesn't work,
Cheers
Alan
The thing about doing some vigorous exercise is that it burns a lot of calories and the increased metabolic rate stays with you for many hours afterwards. Additionally a good endorphin rush can dull appetite without you even knowing it.
So even if you do nothing else, exercise should show results.
The epoc effect is grossly exaggerated - most studies could not replicate the often touted findings to the same degree.
Its not about exercise, vigorous or otherwise - it's about eating less than you require, or just what you need. Or making up for your over indulgences by carrying out 'any' form of activity that you prefer, or fits in with your schedule, equal to the amount of calories that you consume.
Also if you lift heavy(ish) weights while you eat less you will retain a lot more of your lean body mass (i.e muscle).
It's just a matter of time...
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QDANtU4LUkc
OP, I appreciate what you said that my other links may have been a bit heavy.
the above video is a very straightforward walk through on how to build a diet, it shows you the calculator to use for calories, how to do it, an introduction to macros and gives you an example as a working reference point. Its really very simple.
the point about macro percentages is probably a step too far for you at the minute so maybe just come back to that later. The video is relevant for anyone and should help avoid the pitfalls of cutting too many carbs, or dropping weight that is actually muscle. Remember on the days you workout you will naturally need more calories, maybe a couple of hundred extra depending on how hard you go at excercise.
omegamanic is spot on with the 200 cals a day reduction to start and then adapt as you need, either increase or decrease. A slice of bread is around 100 cals, so you get the picture.
I sometimes forget that other people arent nutrition geeks, so I can appear tragically dull!
Steve
Last edited by hellominky; 12th July 2014 at 12:19.
Morning folks - time for a quick update, my first since my weight loss programme began.
The important thing for me is that I've not given up any foods. I eat less for sure but still enjoy the things I always have. I've not counted calories either, just relied on what I've learned and taken regular exercise; a 30 minute run three times a week.
I've lost 8 pounds in 4 weeks. I'm delighted with that and know where and when I could have eaten less/exercised more to shift a little more. But then there's the thing about 2 pounds a week being the sensible approach so overall I'm very pleased.
So to recap, I'm 5ft 11' tall, medium build, 42 years old and weigh 12 stone 2 pounds. Ideally I'd like to lose another 9 pounds.
I'll be back!
David
We'll done David, thats great progress!
Keep on at it and don't be discouraged when the weight loss slows down - thats normal. Sounds like you've adopted a really sensible approach so should be easy to maintain the new improved you!
(still recommend some weight training though!)
Great progress - but as Kerry says, adding some muscle now, while you still can, could be a very good/wise idea - as quite soon you will be in a position of losing lean body mass year on year, with all the side effects that go with it.
I can only dream of getting back to a 30 inch waist again though ;) Although saying that, I have taken around 4 inches off my waist in the last 12/13 weeks :) with more to come and some discipline I might just get there - a real 32 would be fantastic for me though.
Keep it up. The main thing if you are dieting is to make sure you get enough protein, so that you don't drop muscle - simply dieting along with drop approx. 50:50 muscle to fat. By keeping your protein higher - at least 1g per pound of lean body weight, you will go some way to maintaining as much lean mass as possible while dropping the additional 9lbs - otherwise you may lose some more weight, but have a worse body composition - lots of people drop weight and find that they have actually increased their body fat percentage!
It's just a matter of time...
Well done chaps - keep up the good work. I now only have 2.5Kg to go. Hopefully another 4 weeks and I will be done and can spend the next 28 years getting back to being a 38" waist
I too believe that fasting has helped me control my weight issue, which I don't really have anymore. I fast one day a week, drinking water, tea (no sugar), and maybe a natural fruit juice but nothing else till the following day.
Previous diets I followed, like not mixing carbohydrates with fats were somewhat sucessful but I just couldn't keep that going for long, and it was easy to gain weight again.
Like Java said, I find fasting at least one day a week much easier than a normal diet. I eat less than I normally would on my normal eating days. It's made a big difference. I also make sure that I chew my food thoroughly which helps too.
So far it's been a very positive experience for me at every level. I'd recommend it to anyone. And it is indeed supposed to be good for your overall health (plus you save a bit of money too!)
Last edited by watchhead; 6th August 2014 at 21:57.