Diets, what works?

**TERRIBLETOM** · 01-05-2003, 05:40 PM

I remember when i was in my 20's and didn't worry about my weight, now that I'm older it seems I have to watch what I eat. My brother has been into this low carbohydrate diet and it seems to have been working for him, I'm thinking about trying it, I'm not into buying these low fat dinners you see in the market that don't even look like there appetizing at times, so this low carb thing looks doable. From what I heard on talk radio some nutritionest said if your not burning it cut down on the carbs and it was a general rule for most eveyone. I'm not sure about others but I'm a pasta lover and I'm sure I would have to cut that out. Anyone have any links to foods and carbs table? I think i'm going to try it out, what do I have to lose.

**blueindian** · 01-06-2003, 05:48 AM

Originally posted by TERRIBLETOM
I think i'm going to try it out, what do I have to lose.

hopefully some weight

serisously though, just do some research first. particularly if you go on a low carb/high protein diet. not that it's necessarily bad, but there are some things you have to watch. particularly water intake. too much protein without enough water can do major damage to the liver. i follow a high protein diet (but not necessarily low carb) and i drink about a gallon per day, and i give my body periods of rest from high protein.

and some people get really fatigued on low carb diets, so you may find yourself sleeping more.

also, look into the gylcemic index off foods. carbs of different glycemic indexex cause different levels of insulin spikes in the bloodstream and affect the rate at which they are turned to fat or burned.

mostly my advice is to exercise and eat frequent small meals. i eat about 6 times per day. i tried a lot of diets and never really lost any weight. about 3 years ago i read a book called body for life (put out by the EAS folks.) i followed the program (which is basically eating small meals and exercising) and lost 35 pounds in about 16 weeks. kept it all off.

**Jeffbx** · 01-06-2003, 06:08 AM

Heh, I had the same problem. Once I hit 30 all of my clothes began to shrink in the waistline....

IMHO, the best thing you can do (if you can swing it) is to 1) try to reduce your fat intake and 2) work out 3 days a week. Don't bother with diets unless you want to be on them forever - as soon as you're back to your ideal weight & go back to your normal eating habits, your weight will come right back.

I found that the only thing that REALLY made a difference was working out. I used to run off & on, but in the last 3-4 mo. or so I've actually made it a regular activity, and that seems to have made the difference. I'm up to a 6 mile run 3x a week - it takes a time commitment, but it's ceraintly worth it & much better for you than just changing your diet.

From what I understand, your best results are from:

- Something aerobic (to get your heart rate up) - running, swimming, etc.
- 30 minutes at a time (might have to work up to this if you haven't done anything in a while)
- 3 days a week

I've improved my health & reduced the 'ol waistline without changing my diet (although I try to be careful about fats).

Good luck!

**nickel** · 01-06-2003, 06:22 AM

foolproof way to stay fit
excercise regularly
eat less

and mostly make it a lifestyle change or it's not gonna cut it in the long run

all the fad diets are just that -- fads.

**blueindian** · 01-06-2003, 08:05 AM

another thing that works well is to do your cardio in the morning on an empty stomach. the idea is that you've already digested your food and used that energey for repair as you slept. that way, your body will used stored energy (read: fat) for the workout.

also, be careful on your cardio. if it's too intense your body can begin to metabolize protein from your muscles for energy rather than
fat. a good rule of thumb(for fat loss, not cardiovascular conditioning) is to only raise your heart to 80% of your target level.

**mcs328** · 01-06-2003, 02:32 PM

You can always try to work out at home buying those Dance Dance Revolution games. They have a diet mode.

**CarolinaGal** · 01-10-2003, 11:01 PM

I grew up tall and skinny, and could eat more than anyone I knew. Then I hit a certain age, and the weight started sticking. I wrestled around for a year or so till I figured out what works for me:

* Drink more water. Yea, the old adage is 8 glasses a day, but my back teeth float when I drink that much. But I found that if I were really hungry, a full glass of water would take the edge off nicely. Sub water for any flavored drinks, too.

* Move more. I know, a real "duh" statement, but I am not just talking about working out at a gym. I'm talking adding more movement to your regular activity. Try and walk more - park further away so you have to walk farther, take the stairs instead of an elevator, etc.

* Eat smaller well-balanced meals more often during the day. The constant highs and low caused by too much fasting caused we a lot of problems, but if I space out the meals I do a lot better

*Of course, increasing fruits and vegetables is always good, but I do need a variety. A fresh avocado with just a spoonful of salsa knocks my craving for fat. Toasted Pita Bread provides great carbs, for a smaller price than say, pizza. I need to have salty/savory foods to keep from feeling deprived.

* Don't discount otc diet help. I've used Metobolife in the past before all the bad publicity, but know I will occasionally take diet supplements that curb my appetite - just take one each morning. BUT - look out for Ephedra products, and consult a doctor if you have any underlying medical concerns. They reall seemed to help me.

These things worked for me - I lost 15 pds within 6 months 3 years ago, and have maintained my ideal level ever since

**Ladogaboy** · 01-11-2003, 01:51 AM

The best solution is just exercise, but a healthy diet (I mean diet in its true definition, not what nickelback mentioned: "fad-diets") can also help a lot.

If you are exercising to lose weight, cardio is good, but weight-lifting is better. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, 24-7. You don't have to be anythink like an Arnold or what have you, but if you can put on 5-10 pounds of muscle, it will work wonders.

As far as the actual diet goes, I'd focus on the types of calories more than the amount. Changing the type of calories you eat can reap a lot of rewards for you just in the way you will feel. You talked about giving up pasta, and I don't think that would really be necessary. What you are gaining weight off of probably has more to do with you've added to the pasta or maybe even something else entirely. Think about it this way: if you were to eat a plate full of pasta and drink a glass of water or even juice, would you be more full than if you ate a couple of Pot-Tarts, a can of soda, and a candybar? You probably would, and the thing is, that one plate of pasta probably contains less than half the calories--and better calories to boot--than those other items I mentioned.

In a nutshell, if you can exercise regularly and eliminate about 90% of the highly processed foods from your diet, you'll be amazed at the results.

**johnnymk** · 01-11-2003, 04:30 AM

If you want to lose 10 pounds fast, the Atkins Diet actually will fit the bill. I have done it three times in the past and was pleasantly surprised. However, I and everyone else that I know who did it gained the weight back rapidly.

**smeakim** · 01-14-2003, 03:35 PM

The best thing is to not believe in any of the fad diets. It is not about dieting but a life change. You don't need to try low fat, high protein, or low carb. I have basically done the following and have lost 30 pounds staeady and sure. Not this quick ten pounds or drink these shakes, or eat these meals. You just have to eat regularly. I eat about 5 times a day. This allows your metabolism(sp?) to stay high and not spike as normal people's spkie as breakfast, lunch, and dinner roll around. Also I work out about 30-45 minutes a night. Two to three days cardio and three or four days lifting. The key to losing weight is eating right and basically burning off more calories than your body consumes for the day. Also I have not given up going out. I enjoy dinner at places like chilis and etc, but I have pretty much given up fast food except for subway. Also I have pizza every now and then. I am rarely hungry. Also I take a multi vitamin and have two protein shakes a day. Not meal replacements but protein to supplement what I lack in the rest of the food I eat. I have done it and gone from 230 to between 195 and 200. I have gone from a 38 inch wasit to a 34 could probably wear a 32 but I hate wasting the money to but new clothes. My wife follows a similar plan and has lost close to 40 pounds and gone from a dess size of 20 to a 12. Well that is me on my soap box, but I can attest it works and I don't feel starved and I have made great progress. Also losing more than on average of 2lbs per week is unhealthy.

**Grimm** · 01-16-2003, 05:12 PM

Put me down as an advocate for the Atkins diet.
I did it once before, and quit. I did gain the weight back, but is was only because I didn't exercise or watch what I ate. I gained it back slowly over a couple of years. Not like most fad diets where you get it all back in a couple of months.
I have started the diet again, hope to maintain the diet properly this time. I lost 18 1/2 lbs in the first 2 weeks, but leveled out a bit for the 3rd week, 3 lbs. The diet starts with 2 weeks of fast loss, then a constant healthier rate of loss after that.

well, good luck.

**WhiskeyPapa** · 01-17-2003, 09:36 AM

1. Get a job in radio.
2. Get hooked up with a diet center.
3. Get on the air every stinkin' day and tell everyone you're on the xxxxx diet.
4. Feel extreme pressure from staff, management and listeners to lose weight.
5. Lose 60 pounds and become the poster boy for the xxxxx diet.
6. Gain it all back after the contract is done.

At least that's what I did back in 1990...

**whitak24** · 01-17-2003, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Jeffbx
Heh, I had the same problem. Once I hit 30 all of my clothes began to shrink in the waistline....

are you sure you didn't change laundry habits or something?

**TERRIBLETOM** · 01-17-2003, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by whitak24

are you sure you didn't change laundry habits or something?

Yeah My wife shrinks everything, She turns my long sleeved shirts into short sleeved ones.

**Hunny** · 01-17-2003, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by TERRIBLETOM
Yeah My wife shrinks everything, She turns my long sleeved shirts into short sleeved ones.

There is nothing worse than blaming someone else for shrinking your clothes when fact remains, if you had set aside that last bite of fried rice / pasta / ice cream ... that the clothes that are washed everyday in the same manner would still fit

Laundry habits have nothing to do with it, unless you start itching..than maybe you're allergic to one detergent ... Swelling in the belly / arms / thighs / and rear end ...is not part of that allergic reaction ...

**TERRIBLETOM** · 01-17-2003, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by Hunny

There is nothing worse than blaming someone else for shrinking your clothes when fact remains, if you had set aside that last bite of fried rice / pasta / ice cream ... that the clothes that are washed everyday in the same manner would still fit
Laundry habits have nothing to do with it, unless you start itching..than maybe you're allergic to one detergent ... Swelling in the belly / arms / thighs / and rear end ...is not part of that allergic reaction ...

This is a prime example of someone who doesnt know anything about laundry

**cheapie** · 01-17-2003, 06:47 PM

Originally posted by smeakim
The best thing is to not believe in any of the fad diets. It is not about dieting but a life change. You don't need to try low fat, high protein, or low carb. I have basically done the following and have lost 30 pounds staeady and sure. Not this quick ten pounds or drink these shakes, or eat these meals. You just have to eat regularly. I eat about 5 times a day. This allows your metabolism(sp?) to stay high and not spike as normal people's spkie as breakfast, lunch, and dinner roll around. Also I work out about 30-45 minutes a night. Two to three days cardio and three or four days lifting. The key to losing weight is eating right and basically burning off more calories than your body consumes for the day. Also I have not given up going out. I enjoy dinner at places like chilis and etc, but I have pretty much given up fast food except for subway. Also I have pizza every now and then. I am rarely hungry. Also I take a multi vitamin and have two protein shakes a day. Not meal replacements but protein to supplement what I lack in the rest of the food I eat. I have done it and gone from 230 to between 195 and 200. I have gone from a 38 inch wasit to a 34 could probably wear a 32 but I hate wasting the money to but new clothes. My wife follows a similar plan and has lost close to 40 pounds and gone from a dess size of 20 to a 12. Well that is me on my soap box, but I can attest it works and I don't feel starved and I have made great progress. Also losing more than on average of 2lbs per week is unhealthy.

wow. there's no way i could do all that. i have hobbies, a wife and a kid. i would say i work out 3 times/week and i try pretty hard to stay away from processed/fried food. i have lost around 25 lbs since sept. and feel tremendous. whoever said stay away from diets was right. i have just changed the way i live and don't even enjoy eating the old crap anymore. i can still dig a chicago-style pizza tho....