Diet Help Needed

[Phrozen Phil]

Originally Posted by Sarge

Count calories and exercise. It's that simple.

As noted in several posts, there are a lot of good suggestions out there. My only suggestion is that you be patient with yourself and that you think long term and persist with your efforts. When I had my heart surgery about a year and a half ago (due to a defective Aortic valve), I had to establish a walking routine and a committment to maintaining a healthy diet. It has larely been effective, but it requires me to get up early and do my routine, regardless of the previous day.
As noted above, it does not have to be complicated. If you persist, you will be successful. Good luck!

[CATCH17]

Originally Posted by TheSport78

It depends on how quickly he wants to reach his goals and target bodyweight. Soda and MOST processed foods aren't going to help you accomplish your goals. It's not broscience, just common sense. The body doesn't need processed sugars from soda and candy, and it's pretty detrimental in my opinion.

He can still lose weight drinking Soda if he fits it into his Calorie and Macronutrients.

It's not going to change the speed in which he loses weight. It's probably not as healthy for him but if he eats a well balanced Diet and throws in a Dr.Pepper or a Candy Bar it's not going to hurt him in the long run.

I've lost a ton of weight and I eat whatever I want. I just moderate it within a calorie limit and meet my deficit. I eat more nutrient dense food as the majority of my diet but I don't avoid anything unless I can't fit it into my calorie intake.

It works. All these other diets are just a waste of time. Im not saying they won't work but all of these diets work because you end up creating a calorie deficit.

[rash]

Hey bro check out Dr. William Davis' work.

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

Basically, according to Davis, one ought to cut out all forms of wheat (as the wheat plant has been altered from its more natural form into a pernicious gut busting form).

No grains, rice, bread, potatoes. Cut those carbs out.

Eat your meat (red meat is totally fine), nuts, seeds, olives, raw vegetables, and avocados.

Limit your fruit to 1 or 2 servings...(don't want to consume too much sugar)

Avoid the carbs. And soda is a no-no.

[TheSport78]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

He can still lose weight drinking Soda if he fits it into his Calorie and Macronutrients.

It's not going to change the speed in which he loses weight. It's probably not as healthy for him but if he eats a well balanced Diet and throws in a Dr.Pepper or a Candy Bar it's not going to hurt him in the long run.

I've lost a ton of weight and I eat whatever I want. I just moderate it within a calorie limit and meet my deficit. I eat more nutrient dense food as the majority of my diet but I don't avoid anything unless I can't fit it into my calorie intake.

It works. All these other diets are just a waste of time. Im not saying they won't work but all of these diets work because you end up creating a calorie deficit.

There are actually recent studies that show calories are not always equal, so we can agree to disagree on that.

Sure, he can keep soda in his diet, and ingest those harmful additives and extra calories that aren't going to benefit his body composition at all, but it won't be helping him in the long run. I agree that too much of anything isn't a good thing, and that moderation is the key. However, for someone who's in the beginning stages of a lifestyle change (I refuse to call it a diet change), sometimes drastic is the way to go. Cut the foods out that you know aren't helping you accomplish your goal(s).

That's great you can essentially eat anything and still lose weight, but everyone's physiology and metabolism is different. There can be a distinct difference in one's metabolism between a 18 year old and a 44 year old (not saying you're either age).

Again, it's up to the individual and like you, I've found a routine that works for me.

[Doomsday]

I was up to 275 pounds at the end of June last year. I had always been fairly light and weighed 180 pounds in high school and am 6'2.

Basically the only thing I did was replace soda with water and cut down on my portion sizes. I use to eat til I was STUFFED and started to exercise a bit more, nothing heavy, mostly walking and riding an exercise bike a few days a week.

I have lost 45 pounds, and counting. I honestly believe that soda was the biggest reason for my ballooning, I use to drink a 2 liter of soda pretty much every day. I would highly recommend trying to cut it out of your diet, it is easier than you think.

[CATCH17]

Originally Posted by Doomsday

I was up to 275 pounds at the end of June last year. I had always been fairly light and weighed 180 pounds in high school and am 6'2.

Basically the only thing I did was replace soda with water and cut down on my portion sizes. I use to eat til I was STUFFED and started to exercise a bit more, nothing heavy, mostly walking and riding an exercise bike a few days a week.

I have lost 45 pounds, and counting. I honestly believe that soda was the biggest reason for my ballooning, I use to drink a 2 liter of soda pretty much every day. I would highly recommend trying to cut it out of your diet, it is easier than you think.

Drinking Soda wasn't your problem. Drinking 2 liters of it a day was your problem.

I personally don't drink any calories when im on a diet. Water, Green Tea or Coffee only. But if I needed a Soda real bad I would drink 1.

Luckily I can stand Diet Soda's so I can get my fix that way and not consume any calories if I need one.

[Doomsday]

Originally Posted by CATCH17

Drinking Soda wasn't your problem. Drinking 2 liters of it a day was your problem.

I personally don't drink any calories when im on a diet. Water, Green Tea or Coffee only. But if I needed a Soda real bad I would drink 1.

Luckily I can stand Diet Soda's so I can get my fix that way and not consume any calories if I need one.

Youre probably right, moderation is the key with anything but I will say when you are thirsty and it is there it is easy to cheat. I will still drink a soda on occasion, but it is the exception now instead of the norm.

[Kristen82]

Complex carbs ("whole grain ___" should be first ingredient on label) instead of simple which are basically comprised of 1 or 2 sugars. Don't like wheat? Try oats, spelt, kamut, quinoa, etc. or legumes. Complex carbs are burned more slowly because they're long-chain molecules so you get a more steady source of fuel, plus the foods that contain them are usually good sources of soluble fibre which helps lower LDL cholesterol.

Exercise first thing in the morning. Jump-starts your metabolism for the day, plus getting the work out of the way early means you don't have to dread having to do it later in the day when you're mentally tired.

[rickjameschinaclub]

The guy is talking about weight loss, not "health".

Those that are arguing lean meat over fatty meat, it absolutely does not matter what you eat in the context of weight gain, if the calories are kept the same. Consumption of fat does not mean, your body will gain fat, just like consumption of muscle from a bird, will not cause one to gain muscle. It's amazing how much common sense is thrown out the door when it concerns food.

The arguments against a 'fatty' diet are actually rooted in issues of health (bogus or not) and not weight gain. The weight gain is because of the extra calories taken in, not because one is eating protein, as opposed to a carb or vice verse.

Again, one can simply google the "Twinkie Diet", as one of many evidences about this point.

On the other hand, certain diets, in my opinion, can possibly cause deficiencies in nutrients. This may cause an urge within for a particular food that possesses that nutrient, which the brain knows based upon knowledge of past experience, causing the eating of more calories, but, again the weight gain is because of the extra calories.

[rickjameschinaclub]

Originally Posted by TheCowboy

I want to shed body fat, but I am worried if I lose weight I will also lose some of my strength and muscle. I will be honest and come up front that I know nothing about dieting. I don't eat junk food, but I am the type of man that will eat a lot of whatever you put in front of me. My current diet consists of lots of red meat.

Think about it from the perspective of common sense... Do you lift with the fat that is hanging off your body? No... So by shedding body, fat how would you lose strength. Strength increase and decrease is a matter of usage, i.e. whether or not you challenge your muscles and provide them the necessary rest and nutrients to recuperate, will dictate whether or not you lose strength.

[TheSport78]

Originally Posted by rickjameschinaclub

The guy is talking about weight loss, not "health".

Those that are arguing lean meat over fatty meat, it absolutely does not matter what you eat in the context of weight gain, if the calories are kept the same. Consumption of fat does not mean, your body will gain fat, just like consumption of muscle from a bird, will not cause one to gain muscle. It's amazing how much common sense is thrown out the door when it concerns food.

The arguments against a 'fatty' diet are actually rooted in issues of 'health' ( ogus or not), not weight gain.

Certain diets can cause deficiencies in nutrients. This may, possibly, cause an urge within to demand a particular food that possesses that nutrient, based upon knowledge of past experience, causing the eating of more calories, but....

The weight gain is because of the extra calories taken in, not because one is eating protein, as opposed to a carb or vice verse.

[View Full Quote]Again, one can simply google the "Twinkie Diet", as one of many evidences about this point.

What good is temporary weight loss if it's not a lifestyle change? Sure, you can "lose weight" on the "Twinkie Diet" for example, but watch how fast you become a diabetic and develop other problems such as heart disease and cancer.

[rickjameschinaclub]

Originally Posted by TheSport78

What good is temporary weight loss if it's not a lifestyle change? Sure, you can "lose weight" on the "Twinkie Diet" for example, but watch how fast you become a diabetic and develop other problems such as heart disease and cancer.

And the ironic thing about the "Twinkie Diet" is that all the markers of the professor who demonstrated it improved.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08...sor/index.html

Haub was monitoring his markers everyday, and they continually imrpvoed despite the fact, he was previously eating what many construe as a healthy diet.

To quote once again,

"It's a great reminder for weight loss that calories count," she said. "Is that the bottom line to being healthy? That's another story."

Nobody really knows, but to claim that their is a metabolic advantage to certain types of nutrients causing one to lose weight is simply hogwash. It's really all about the calories.

[TheSport78]

Originally Posted by rickjameschinaclub

And the ironic thing about the "Twinkie Diet" is that all the markers of the professor who demonstrated it improved.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08...sor/index.html

Haub was monitoring his markers everyday, and they continually imrpvoed despite the fact, he was previously eating what many construe as a healthy diet.

To quote once again,



Nobody really knows, but to claim that their is a metabolic advantage to certain types of nutrients causing one to lose weight is simply hogwash. It's really all about the calories.

We can agree to disagree on your last paragraph.

[Stryker44]

Originally Posted by ChldsPlay

Yup. Since last September I have gone from 376 (maybe more) down to 230 doing just that. I still eat the things I like, I just keep track of how much. And lots of exercise.

Still 40-50 lbs. to go I think.

You lost 140 lbs in 4 months?

[vlad]

With all the advice that has been given I think you just need to clarify you goal:

Is it losing weight or living healthy?

As an example:

If its losing weight as somone pointed out you can still take a can of soda, etc just as long as your in a calorie deficit.

If its living healthy - cut out the soft drinks, wake up with a good attitude, cut out red meat, eat fish like salmon instead, and just condition yourself to not eat processed/boxed foods, don't take stuff like the Dallas Cowboys so seriously, sleep with regular patterns, don't stare at a monitor all day, etc.

good luck!