How to lose weight... really?

[houseman]

Well, the thing is, at least I guess for us non-bodybuilder types, it's not that cheat days are "needed" - they're wanted. Don't forget that eating is, for a lot of people, a sensual experiece - and if I've exerised and eaten right all week, a chocolate bar once in a while isn't going to hurt me that much. It's not that I "need" it - I want it. I like the taste, and I like to indulge once in a while.

Perhaps you're right. However, 95% of the time when I eat something that isn't part of my nutritional plan, it's not because I WANTED it, it was literally because I needed it.

I been in this lifestyle for over 14 years now. Started when I was 14. I learned quickly that I eat for function, not for taste if I want to achieve my goals.

Now, I am a true endomorph which means I have to really watch everything that goes into my body. This is becoming more true as I get older and my metabolism slows.

When you start thinking as food as a reward or "sensual" thing that's when you get into trouble. When you start tinking of food as merly the pathway to survival then you avoid this "want" mentality to have a chocolate bar, ice cream, etc.

Different strokes for different folks

 

[EJFan]

I learned quickly that I eat for function, not for taste if I want to achieve my goals.

i don't know if this is true for you or not, but when i started "eating for function" i found that i was always less hungry and felt better. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the "healthy foods" actually began tasting so much better than the alternative. just like you develop a taste for good wine you develop a taste for good food too.

 

[Lynxie]

i don't know if this is true for you or not, but when i started "eating for function" i found that i was always less hungry and felt better. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the "healthy foods" actually began tasting so much better than the alternative. just like you develop a taste for good wine you develop a taste for good food too.

Oddly enough, I was just thinking about this very topic whilst having lunch. This is something I'm struggling with. I'm trying really hard to bring eating back to the functional level; at some point in time I started giving it way too much importance. When I eat, I tend to eat like I'll never have the opportunity to consume food again. Meals must always be large, tasty, and something I'm craving (which usually means something horribly bad for me). I've decided to make a hardcore effort to listen to my body and only eat when I'm actually hungry. I'm also going to try to be less picky about what I eat when I have to eat. Hopefully I can change my attitude towards food.

 

[EJFan]

This is something I'm struggling with. I'm trying really hard to bring eating back to the functional level;

ya know what worked for me here... and maybe you're already doing it...

i would prep my meal and that's ALL i would put out for myself. no serving dishes or anything like that. when i was done with my plate, i was done. not having the source-dish around made it a little easier.

in fact, i still sort of do this to this day. either i only cook what i'm going to eat or, when i cook in bulk, i partition things to make meal prep easier... so i just take out a container or two.

 

[Lynxie]

ya know what worked for me here... and maybe you're already doing it...

i would prep my meal and that's ALL i would put out for myself. no serving dishes or anything like that. when i was done with my plate, i was done. not having the source-dish around made it a little easier.

in fact, i still sort of do this to this day. either i only cook what i'm going to eat or, when i cook in bulk, i partition things to make meal prep easier... so i just take out a container or two.

Yeah, I do already do this, but my quantities are still too large. I've been doing some deep thinking, and I've come to realize that I take eating way too seriously. I need to change my definition of what a meal has to be... Lately I've been stuck in this mindframe where all my meals have to resemble something you'd find in the entree section of a restaurant's menu. If there's nothing I want in the house, I get really irritable, and it actually causes quite a bit of friction between my husband and I. He has a healthier, more normal attitude towards eating, and I'm going to try and adopt his habits.

 

[EJFan]

Yeah, I do already do this, but my quantities are still too large. I've been doing some deep thinking, and I've come to realize that I take eating way too seriously.

i'm sure you'll find a method that works well for you. it's strange how silly little things affect us sort of subconsciously and cause us to change our habits.

i dunno if you're doing WW still... but whether you are or not, mabye you could try tracking things on fitday.com????? if i sit down for a few minutes at night and enter the next day's worth of food i know what i'm eating and when.

of course, that suggestion goes right to the "taking it way too seriously" thing. for me, i HAD to take it very seriously before i got myself turned 'round... but again, that's just me.

 

[Lynxie]

i'm sure you'll find a method that works well for you. it's strange how silly little things affect us sort of subconsciously and cause us to change our habits.

i dunno if you're doing WW still... but whether you are or not, mabye you could try tracking things on fitday.com????? if i sit down for a few minutes at night and enter the next day's worth of food i know what i'm eating and when.

of course, that suggestion goes right to the "taking it way too seriously" thing. for me, i HAD to take it very seriously before i got myself turned 'round... but again, that's just me.

I guess I should specify what I mean by taking food seriously. I make a big deal out of eating - whether it's preparing a large meal, or getting really bitchy because there's nothing to eat, food is always a dramatic affair with me. I stress over what to eat, and then I stress because I know whatever I just ate was bad. When I say I need to take food less seriously, I mean that I need to stop eating like the world is going to end.

In my head, I know that I don't need to eat as much as I do. I know how to shop, cook and eat healthy, but I have a heck of a time implementing this knowledge. It's gotten to a point where I wake up every day thinking today will be the day I change my habits... then lunchtime rolls around and I fall right back into my usual routine of consuming calories en masse. At least today I made a small change... I went through the McDonalds drive through and ordered their new fruit & walnut salad thingie, instead of something fried. That's what spurred my thoughts about eating for function, versus pleasure.

I'm not currently on WW, but thanks for linking the fitday site. Journalling worked for me back in the day, and it's nice to have a free, easy way to do it online. And thanks for being so wonderfully inspirational, EJ

 

[EJFan]

I guess I should specify what I mean by taking food seriously. I make a big deal out of eating - whether it's preparing a large meal, or getting really bitchy because there's nothing to eat, food is always a dramatic affair with me. I stress over what to eat, and then I stress because I know whatever I just ate was bad. When I say I need to take food less seriously, I mean that I need to stop eating like the world is going to end.

ahhh... i used to be like this. even at work, i made a bigger production out of what was gonna be for lunch, who was gonna get it, etc... it was a huge production.

In my head, I know that I don't need to eat as much as I do. I know how to shop, cook and eat healthy, but I have a heck of a time implementing this knowledge.

the truth of the matter is that you've really won the battle if you know this part. it just takes that mysterious little thing to make it click for you. for me, i kind of did a 12-step thing and took it "one meal at a time." i knew what i was going to eat and when... and every three hours, i ate what i committed to then i only had to wait another three hours to get 'round to the next meal. so it was all really just little 3 hour battles.

I'm not currently on WW, but thanks for linking the fitday site. Journalling worked for me back in the day, and it's nice to have a free, easy way to do it online. And thanks for being so wonderfully inspirational, EJ

you're more than welcome... i personally don't use the journal function but i totally rely on the calorie and macro breakdown.

ever see "the edge"??? anthony hopkins said one of my favorite lines in that movie to alec baldwin... "what one man can do, another can do." i try to keep that in mind when i'm tackling something difficult.

 

[Lynxie]

for me, i kind of did a 12-step thing and took it "one meal at a time." i knew what i was going to eat and when... and every three hours, i ate what i committed to then i only had to wait another three hours to get 'round to the next meal. so it was all really just little 3 hour battles.

When you did this, what sort of things did you eat as meals?

 

[Eilan]

i don't know if this is true for you or not, but when i started "eating for function" i found that i was always less hungry and felt better. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the "healthy foods" actually began tasting so much better than the alternative. just like you develop a taste for good wine you develop a taste for good food too.

When I'm "eating for function," as y'all are putting it, I tend to feel this way as well.

 

[EJFan]

When you did this, what sort of things did you eat as meals?

i still do this. i refuse to go more than 3hrs w/o eating... usually it's closer to 2 hours b/w meals... and a lot of times i have to practically set a clock to remind me.

mostly i eat:

eggs, chicken breast, tuna, skim milk and cottage cheese for protein
whole wheat bread, oatmeal and brown rice for carbs
natrual PB and olive oil for fats
fibrous veggies and fruits

 

[EJFan]

When I'm "eating for function," as y'all are putting it, I tend to feel this way as well.

i have all sorts of nasty things goin' through my head when you say "eating for function" eilan.

 

[Eilan]

i have all sorts of nasty things goin' through my head when you say "eating for function" eilan.

Not fucktion! Geez, ya perv!

 

[EJFan]

Not fucktion! Geez, ya perv!

sorry... i get a little freaked out and intimidated with your AV glaring at me all the time. lol.

 

[Eilan]

sorry... i get a little freaked out and intimidated with your AV glaring at me all the time. lol.

Would you prefer Homer's ass?

 

[EJFan]

Would you prefer Homer's ass?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

the last yellow ass in my life was... well, let's just say it was a not so nice experience that has me traumatized to this day.

 

[Kassandra13]

You know, this "eating for function" mentality does make a lot of sense.

Hm.

 

[EJFan]

well... i tend to believe that eating became more recreational in the US because our culture is all about excess. plus there's a long history in mankind about the wealthier, more successful people being heavier. it's an outward sign of accomplishment.

i feel that if you take food for what it's really supposed to be then it gets to be a little easier to manage it. so i recommend figuring out what your lifestyle is like and eat accordingly.

houseman, for example, is a weightlifter so he's eating shitloads of protein and carbs... the first to build/maintain muscle, the 2nd for energy. someone who runs a lot might eat a less protein and more carbs.

whatever the case, when you're talking about weightLOSS, it all reverts to being in a state of caloric deficit. if you eat less than you burn you'll lose weight (baring, as one other poster mentioned, there's some medical problem going on). and we have to be careful to not eat TOO far below maintenance when losing weight or our bodies go into a starvation mode and all sorts o' funky things happen... lose a pound or so a week and life's good.

 

[Layne]

Weight Loss & Fat Loss

I apologize for not yet having read the entire thread, but thought I would go ahead and add my two cents.

The first reply I read, I agree with. Weight loss (or gain) is nothing more than a mathmatecial equation. I learned out of neccessity. I dropped from 220 (36% body fat) to 175 (9% body fat) in nine months, then gained back up to 220 (14% body fat), in five months. The pic of me here, is at my low of 175.

Hints: There are NO pills to do this and NO fad diets. It is all about lifestyle. You can cheat a bit, eat REGULARLY and frequently. I eat 6 evenly split meals a day. Another biggie is WATER. Drink tons of the stuff. I drink (measured) 3 gallons a day. This is not stuff containing water, I mean pure water.

Finally, if you do not know how many calories you consumed yesterday, you are not really interested in losing weight. Cold hard truth.

I documented most of my weight loss/gain with photos, and will be glad to share them or other diet/exercise. If you are intersted.

Layne

 

[Kassandra13]

Finally, if you do not know how many calories you consumed yesterday, you are not really interested in losing weight. Cold hard truth.

On this note, I'd like to thank whoever it was that first recommended Fitday.com. I've been using their food journal, and it's really helped me to see where my problem areas are.

 

[Kassandra13]

and we have to be careful to not eat TOO far below maintenance when losing weight or our bodies go into a starvation mode and all sorts o' funky things happen

Is it stupid to ask how low is too low? In terms of calories and fat, I mean? Or is it different for everyone?

 

[EJFan]

Is it stupid to ask how low is too low? In terms of calories and fat, I mean? Or is it different for everyone?

first, i have to say that fat doesn't make you fat. stick to good fats though... from nuts, olive oil, fish, etc. in order to get fat, you have to eat more calories than you burn. it doesn't matter if it's fat or cereal or chicken or what have you. the issue with fat is that it's 9cal/gram as opposed to 4cal/gram for protein and carbs. so, obviously, you have to eat a lower volume of fat to reach your caloric goal (i'm not addressing the health issue here, just the math of it).

maintenance levels are different for everyone... "starvation" level for the average woman is like 1000 kcal/day. to figure out where you should be for a good, even loss, find your maintenance level and eat around 300-500 kcal/day less than that.

if you eat 2000 kcal/day to maintain a weight, go down to 1700-1500 kcal/day to lose. if you're losing more than one or two pounds a week, you're losing too fast. and you should never go below 1000 kcal/day (as a woman) unless there's some other medical reason for it.

the point about eating too far below maintenance is that it induces responses you don't want your body to make. your body, when in starvation mode, can actually burn more muscle than fat and store more fat to protect itself.

 

[Rimmugýgur]

I myself am stuck at around 170 pounds, which is only slightly above "prime weight". As such, I don't want to engage in anything drastic like full-blown dieting.

Instead, I have two things in mind; a) hunger is largely mental and b) the body will try to maintain it's shape.

To clarify point a, here's an example. If you are used to eating only one plateful of food during dinner, you will get just as satiated even if you decrease the food on the plate. This may sound silly, or even outright stupid, and the effect can be ruined by thinking too much about it, but it works all right. I myself am used to having two servings, and it does indeed work for me to simply reduce the amount of food on the plate. I get just as satiated as a result.

To clarify point b. There is alot of complex science behind how the body works, and as such any "wisdoms" will prove to be faulty in some occasions. But I have noticed that there is a very strong tendency for the body to stick to what it's used to. That is, if you are skinny and have been skinny for a long time, it's relatively easy to maintain it. If your muscles deteriorate, it's easier to build them back up to the same point than it was to get there in the first place. If you are obese, the body will resist any attempts to lose weight. Basically, what this means is that you have to stick to something long enough for it to become the "norm".

For example, when you start lifting weights, your muscles will start to grow and strengthen pretty fast... but to a point. The fact is that it takes almost two weeks for new muscle threads to appear. What people experience to begin with is simply existing threads enlargening, and the body "learning" how to use them. This discourages alot of people, because they get used to fast progress, which then levels out. Once those new threads are in place, though, they don't go away. Because of this, even if the muscle deteriorates, you still have more threads than before.

P.S. Don't get liposuction. Ever. Fat doesn't lie around in pools on your body. You have huge nets of "fat tissue", with cells that bloat out when excess fat is left in the body. If you have this sucked out, the fat will simply go into more uncomfortable places. Like your chin. "Liposuction victims" can be pitiful.

 

[Frank.S]

I disagree with layne..

I have no idea how many calories I consume, even when I had to loose weight. Just dont eat crap and excercize daily youll be fine.

This week i starting training for an adventure race I have coming up (trail running, navigating, kyaking, mountaineering etc) and ive already dropped 2 lbs and feel alot better. It doesnt take much, just dedication, having somthing to work towards can help too.

 

[muddpuppy]

I disagree with layne..

I have no idea how many calories I consume, even when I had to loose weight. Just dont eat crap and excercize daily youll be fine.

This week i starting training for an adventure race I have coming up (trail running, navigating, kyaking, mountaineering etc) and ive already dropped 2 lbs and feel alot better. It doesnt take much, just dedication, having somthing to work towards can help too.

Congrats! Good luck with your race, it sounds like lots of fun!