Help me lose weight

[Zander]

You don't necessarily need to cut out any food, but get used to eating smaller portions.

I've stuck to the above diet for over a month already and, despite the fact that I'm a chocoholic, I don't miss it that much. I guess I'm lucky in that way.

Exercising can be tough to get into. At first its tiring, painful and uncomfortable.

Tell me about it. After my first martial arts class in many years, I was sore for two days.

 

[Zander]

...Milk, drink lots of it.

I drink a fair amount of skimmed or semi-skimmed milk with low cal cereals (Special K). I probably eat too much cereal (two or three bowls every day).

 

[Zander]

Also, if you enjoy coffee, drink decaf instead of caffinated. Try not to drink more than two cups a day.

I don't drink tea or coffee anyway.

 

[Zander]

Just make sure that you don't get on a "diet", but rather have a permanent lifestyle change.

The problem with diets is that most people (that I've seen) who have them assume that after they reach their ideal weight they can go back to living the way they did before. And then end up being larger than they ever were.

That's sound advice. I was planning on sticking to my strict diet until I lose the 2 stone and then allowing myself the occasional treat (i.e. chocolate or pizza). I suspect that as I lose weight, exercise will become easier and more enjoyable, so that even if I indulge a bit I'll be able to compensate with more calorie expenditure.

 

[Andre]

A good tip I got from a co-worker:

If eating out, immediately cut your meal in two, and take half the meal home with you. Portions (at least in the US) tend to be too large, encouraging people to over-eat.

 

[Blue]

A rule of thumb for water is 8 cups, plus 1 cup per 15 lbs you want to lose to get to your target weight.

The point above about the difference between a diet (something to lose weight) and changing your way of eatting (a lifestyle change to eat better) is very, very true. Plus you avoid the "yo-yo".

Don't try to go on a massive "I'll lose 10 lbs a week". Not only isn't it healthy, but it's not maintainable.

I've dropped about 80 lbs in the past 11 months by making big changes to the way I eat, and getting more exercise. I happen to be doing a low-carb diet, but different strokes for different folks.

Good luck,
=Blue

 

[Zander]

A good tip I got from a co-worker:

If eating out, immediately cut your meal in two, and take half the meal home with you. Portions (at least in the US) tend to be too large, encouraging people to over-eat.

I don't eat out much unless I'm on a business trip. I'm going to be in Chicago for one week for just such a trip next month. I can't easily take food back to my hotel (no cooking facilities) so I'll just have to waste some or select healthier options. (No Chicago-style pizza for this fat-boy! )

 

[Zander]

I happen to be doing a low-carb diet, but different strokes for different folks.

Thanks, Blue. I tried a low carb diet some time ago and it did help but I found it difficult to keep. We probably don't have as many low-carb foods as you do and the specially prepared low-carb ones are quite expensive.

To other posters:
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS THREAD BECOME A DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OR OTHERWISE OF LOW-CARB DIETS. Thanks.

 

[Turanil]

Any other advice?

I am someone who lost 45 lb in two years (well the first 30 lbs in six months, then 15 in 1.5 year). So I will give you my advice, which is an over-simplification of scientific studies (try Dr Seignalet on google to know more if you need, but all sites in French...).

So basically:

1) No more wheat/corn in any form. As such, no more bread, pizza, cakes, spaghettis, and so on (and no more beer ever!).

2) No more milk and dairy products. As such, no more milk, butter, cheese, ice-creams, etc.

3) No more refined sugar. As such, no more chocolate delicacies, sugar in the coffee, coca-cola and like beverages, cakes, etc.

4) Eat preferably raw rather than cooked.

Eating everything else poses no problem. But with such a diet you nonetheless will be led to eat primarily vegetables, fruits, rice, fish, and meat (preferably meat such as chicken).

The great thing with this, is that you loose weight that you won't take again (provided you keep going on with that diet), you loose it effortlessly. I mean: you don't need to starve. Well, the only time you starve is during gaming sessions when everyone else is eating junk food all that time. Myself, I eat (as suggested above) plenty just before going to the game, and then, well, I don't look at all the stuff available...

Exercising is also a good thing, but I have still to go to the gym...


My advice: just do as I suggest for one full month (just one month) and see the result. Remember, it's about the choice of food, not quantities, so you don't need to starve.

 

[Turjan]

Just make sure that you don't get on a "diet", but rather have a permanent lifestyle change.

The problem with diets is that most people (that I've seen) who have them assume that after they reach their ideal weight they can go back to living the way they did before. And then end up being larger than they ever were.

The problem with diets is that the body reacts to this 'hunger period'. Ususally, our digestion is not overly thorough. During hunger periods, though, the area within our intestines grows much larger with the goal to retrieve as much nutrition as possible from that little food that is offered.

At the end of the diet, the intestine is still in that 'super efficient' mode with the result that you have to eat much less in order to put on the same amount of weight than before the diet. After several diets, you probably just have to smell food to put on weight .

That's why the way with changed diets plus exercise seems to be the way to go. At least I know this theoretically .