Lose Weight for High School

[dotdotdot]

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[Sun Baked]

1. Don't buy diet food...

2. Read the label...

3. And you'll find the portion sizes are rather silly...

4. Slow down and actually chew your food.

[MacAztec]

Well, I am in to physical fitness, I go to the gym once a day. I'm in pretty good shape. Should be starting QB for our varsity team in about 3 months! Anyways, I'm not sure if a vegetarian diet is best for you. All you need to do is burn more calories than you take in. The best way to burn calories is...

RUN

No biking, no swimming, none of that. Just go out and jog. I run on the treadmill at the gym, and after goin at around 8mph for a mile, I am sweating badly and I am tired. If I go on the bike and ride at 12mph for a mile, I'm not even winded.

You may want to take some supplements. I recommend www.bodybuilding.com

It is a site with forums, a store, etc. Their prices are insanely good!

This product (http://bodybuilding.com/store/nutrex/lipo6.html) seems to be VERY popular among people that want to lose fat.

This would be my day if I wanted to lose 30lbs...

Wake up, RUN (before eating). When you run right when you wake up, your body had little to no carbs in its system. It will go straight for the fat reserves, and burn the fat.

Come home, drink some water, eat something healthy.

No whole milk or 2% milk (just 1% or no fat), no fatty mayo (lo-fat), no cheese, none of that crap.

Protein is the way.

[Abstract]

Yeah, running is good, but honestly, swimming is good too. I don't believe its as good as running, but hey, do what's best for you.

I have shin splints right now, so I can't even run. So if you run, make sure you're running on grass sometimes, not just pavement. You can run on the treadmill if you want, but running outside is less boring and I think time passes by faster.

Also, lift some weights and do those exercises. Don't just use the treadmill/step-machine like some girls. That's just what I heard. Don't use the big weights, but use the small weights and do lots of reps at a time. Muscle in your body is used to burn fat and carbs for energy, so if you don't have muscle, your body won't have the means to use up stored energy.

And when you eat, make sure you're drinking fluids as well. Notice that when you eat and don't drink anything, you may not feel full, but if you drink a glass of water afterwards, you seem to get full very very quickly? Well, if you drink liquid as you eat, you may have a better gauge of whether you're full or not.

Um..... and use common sense.

[homerjward]

a friend of mine lost 35 pounds in about the same period of time by doing nothing different but going on a strict vegan diet. he already ran before that, but once he went vegan he lost *tons* of weight. i have no idea why, but it worked for him lol.

i really need to lost a lot of weight too, and i keep telling myself i will but...never have. good luck. :)

[scem0]

My sister cut wheat and dairy from her diet for medical reasons and lost 15 pounds within 15 days. I did the same and lost the same. So, cutting wheat and dairy from your diet might do you a lot of good, and it isn't unhealthy to do so like some may lead you to believe. As long as you keep a well rounded diet, you should stay healthy.

I have since quitted my diet, and I haven't put the weight back on.

scem0

[swy32x]

I love swimming - but I can't run. So, do whatever's best for you, and I find that is swimming for me.

Also don't eat between meals, regular stuff. Stay healthy. I eat three pieces of fruit a day, do that as much as possible. Apples, bananas, mandarins, kiwi fruits, grapes, whatever, it's all good.

Have some fun with it. Try felafels for a vegetarian meal, and make sure you leave the house when somebody cooks lasagna!

Good luck.

[DeSnousa]

I believe trying to lose weight that fast is not that great for your health, by the seems of the way you plan on going by it. I recommend have what is recommended of 5 vegs and 2 fruit servings a day, followed with jogging and weights. You still will lose weight fast but your body will love you. BTW continue to eat meat just cut back to 1/3 of you dinner and one serve a day, with at least 2 days of a week eating fish.

[dotdotdot]

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[iGary]

30-40 minutes of aerobic excercise (non stop) per day.

Eat sensibly and watch your portions.

Try to increase your water intake to 4 liters a day.

You should see the weight come off pretty nicely.

[dotdotdot]

Whats aerobic excercise, any examples?

[CubaTBird]

SO I currently am not what some would call "thin" or "medium."

Basically, I'm a ball. Except I'm lucky and am able to hide some of it so right now I don't look too overweight.

School starts in 72 days and I would like to loose 30 pounds by then. So I have about two months to loose 30 pounds. Thats 15 LBs per month. But thats just my goal, I really need to loose it before October, so thats about 4 months. So I need to loose 30 pounds in 3 1/2 months. Thats ten pounds per month. I have already decided that as of Monday, I will be a strict vegiterian for the following reasons:

1 - loose weight fast
2 - animals are stuck in cages and not able to move and then killed to save people.

But I like meat, so I will end the vegitarian thing (unless I like it... I'm trying it). I joined a gym and everything but dont go that much. ANYWAY, does anyone have any advice and stuff on how to? I like REALLY need to loose at least twenty pounds before August 30th when my friend is having a party and inviting everyone from my new high school - and its a pool party and there will be girls there (get the hint...).

I am tall so if I loose 20 or 30 pounds, I'll look GOOD.

if your doing this for yourself... good reason. if your doing this so u can get a girl, not so go reason.. though i wish you luck in your endeavours lol.. but hey i say get to the gym everyday and spend at least 30 to 45 min there every day.. sans sunday... rotate between aerobics and weight lifting and watch what you eat as well.. try to avoid those snacks..
;)

[stubeeef]

As my avatar displays, I have been quite the pig of late.

I have started losing wieght, 12lbs in the last 14 days. The first part is the easiest to lose. My goal is 185# on Aug 20th. I am 208 this morning.

There is no free lunch, pardon the pun. simple is easy to remember and do.

1. Eat a sensable breakfast, fruit is wonderful, melons and citrus are best.
2. Workout for 45 min of arobic exercise before breakfast.
3. Drink only Water, A cup of coffe, A glass of OJ, A zero cal soda. Do not drink any calories other than above, and drink water till you sleep walk to the john.
4. Eat healthy stuff in small amounts throughout the day, When you feel hungry your body starts shutting down fat burn, trying to conserve. I have fruit, salsa and saltines, water, grilled chicken, throughout the day.
5. excersise 45 minutes sometime from 4pm to 6pm, your metabolism slows after 8 hours, this will jump start it again to burn calories (fat).
6. I NEVER EAT ANYTHING AFTER 7:30 PM, NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH!

This is the most sensical way to lose, it is a culmination of internet reading. There are many foods that suposedly take more calories to digest than they contain, sometimes misnamed NegCalorieFoods. Those are good to eat and snack on, but don't drink their coolaid.
Treat yourself to some Edy's Slow Churn ice cream, 1/2 cup on day 7.
Keep an upbeat, positive attitude. Neg attitudes and depression actually stimualte hunger.
Park your car on the other side of the parking lot, use the stairs, walk to the store/church/friends house.

Read the internet about what makes your body tick, and lose wieght. Good luck, make goals, stick to the routine, don't be discouraged when your wieght plateau's, more loss is on the way. No pizza, No transfats, No sugar drinks, No alcohol, Lots of water, excercise 2x a day for 45 minutes or more. Best to excercise in late afternoon, Second best to do it on an empty stomach (except water) before breakfast. Take a multi vitamin! Tell your friends and family what you are doing, and that you need their help.

[iGary]

Whats aerobic excercise, any examples?

Walk very briskly (I lost 50 lbs one summer with 5 days a wek of fast walking alone.

Jogging.

Biking (continuous peddling, no coasting).

Swiiming (continuous).

[Nanda Devi]

One other piece of advice... if you currently drink regular soda or drink a lot of juices, STOP. But don't replace it with diet soda, either... just drink LOTS of water.

And I definitely second what most people have already said - get out and jog and lift weights if possible (if you don't belong to a gym, get some free weights to use at home). But the jogging/running is key because it's the quickest way to burn calories. Go for as long as you can as often as possible.

[Bubbasteve]

My friend I was in the same boat as you. At 315 pounds with a height of 6'6" I was done being the fat kid. What I did was simply cut all the crap out of my like (McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King) and focused more on vegetables and good meat such as Ham and Turkey. In a way I went on the Subway diet where I had a bowl of Corn Flakes in the morning and then a 6 inch sub for lunch (usually the vegetable delight or club or whatever that consisted of only vegetables) and then for dinner I had a footlong Turkey Breast with the occasional bag of Baked Lays. After a while though the subway diet became a little pricy so I just went to the grocery store and got supplies to make my own sandwhiches. Remember NO mayonaise and NO ketchup but you can say YES to mustard.

Not only do you have to eat healthy but you have to exercise alot to. How I exercised I went on an elyptical machine for 15-30 minutes on a high level (10) everyday (except Sunday I took that day off)

70 pounds later I achieved my goal of 245 pounds. I started my diet in the beginning of summer and ended it around November (just in time for Thanksgiving :))

[jcgerm]

Whats aerobic excercise, any examples?

Aerobic exercise in its broad sense isn't enough in the long run (no pun intended). Aerobic exercise is continuous movement, but what you really need to do is cardio once you can do it. With cardio, you keep your heart rate up doing some intense aerobic exercise. Yes, walking does burn more calories immediately, but running will cause you to burn so much more over the course of a day.

Cardio combined with weight training is the way to go. Check out forum.bodybuilding.com (http://forum.bodybuilding.com). There are lots of people who can help you there. What you need is a plan and to stick to it.

[CelticBhoy]

Plan A : Go on the Atkins diet. You'll feel full earlier, and lose weight. But you'll get lots of wind coming out from all directions, which is a bit of a pain seeing as you're trying to pull a burd.

Plan B : use your personality to attract the chicks. But it's likely that only the fat ones will be interested, though.

[sjjordan]

I believe trying to lose weight that fast is not that great for your health...

Exactly right. As a medical student, let me give you the physiological response of trying to lose that much weight. You put yourself at amazingly high risk for developing gall bladder stones. In fact, you might find that instead of enjoying the pool party, you're in surgery having a few gall stones removed.

Ideally, you want to lose 1-2 lbs a week. You didn't gain 30lbs in 2 months; you can't lose 30lbs (safely) in 2 months, besides liposuction. Here's how things basically break down.

Cut out all sources of high calories ("calorically dense food") such as pizza, candy, and especially non-diet sodas.

You don't need to be a vegan and, if you want to look good, you need protein to build the muscle that you want to have.

Exercise and work out every day. Don't start off running 10 miles a day. Make a plan that gradually increases your distance/weights and keep to it.

Avoid supplements, because no long term studies have been done on their safety. Just eat healthy and increase your metabolic energy.

Shoot for 30 lbs of weight loss by the end of the year. You can achieve that. I'm not saying you can't lose 30lbs in 2 months, I'm just trying to show you that it's very dangerous to do. Good luck

[puckhead193]

don't go to baskin roboins almost every night of the week, and get 2 scoops of cookies and cream, with hershey choc. syrup....like someone on this forum..(me) :o ( i have a fast metabolism, being young is great!)

[G5Unit]

All you have to do is eat more food. Like grain, fruits and you also need some meat. But you also have to workout more. Eat more and workout more. You will gain muscle and loose fat.

My dad did that and lost like 15 pounds of fat and gain like 10 pounds of muscle. Sign up for 24 hour fitness with a personal instructor. They are way better then the workout machines.

Then run every day, or almost everyday. Good Luck! Thats how I get all the babes!

Oh, and if you can't loose the wieght, do this: Get tan, put on a white t-shirt with slightly baggy pants. Then mess up your hair a little. It might awork but I don't know. I just thought of it like 2 seconds ago.

Oh and one more thing. There is this cool pill called Juice Plus. I get it for free, and it's packed with nutirients! Helps me stay in shape!(and buff)

https://www.juiceplus.com


Warning: G5Unit may have made him sound better than he acually is even though he is still 13 and dosen't have a girl that loves him. He just has a bunch of friends that are girls. He is in good shape.

[eva01]

Swimming is probably one of the best things you could do for yourself. Running is actually somewhat unhealthy especially on your feet. I know someone that went running a lot and has a stress fracture in his foot.

but loosing or gaining a lot of weight in a short amount of tiem is also bad for your heart

[MacAztec]

Swimming is probably one of the best things you could do for yourself. Running is actually somewhat unhealthy especially on your feet. I know someone that went running a lot and has a stress fracture in his foot.

but loosing or gaining a lot of weight in a short amount of tiem is also bad for your heart

I don't know how many people that happens to. During football I am running 90% of the time during the 2 1/2 hours we practice.

I just think when I run, I get a way better workout than when I swim.

[Prom1]

dotdotdot.

Lots of things to consider & do!

1) Not sure the hours of your gym (hope its 24hrs), but YOU NEED TO GO. Even when your NOT IN THE MOOD. Mood is a thing for Cattle & love-making. Even if, and especially if your bored. Most people get overweight by eating when their bored, my wife does at times. Go work out. But have a plan.

-> No fancy exercises, the basics. Combine exercises that compliment body movement. Bicep Curls with Barbell Rows or using a rowing machine. Shoulder Press + Bench Press, Dumbell Flyes. Dont go heavy weights for at least 4 weeks - get used to doing proper movement, & you should have a spotter. Remember NO more than 1 minute rest between sets of the same exercise! You want to keep your heart rate at a higher consistant level during the entire exercise.

2) Consider looking in your fridge & in the cabinets - look at the foods you love to eat. I love meat too, but you want lean meat. Tuna is cheap and great but I have issues thinking about dolphins. Chicken is also good, Top Sirloin Stake, Outside Round Roast. But Whey Isolate protein is THE best. Try lowering your carbohydrates intake; let your body during exercise burn the stored fuel. you'll find in the next 3 weeks that you drink more water than you've been used to, thats a good sign.

Aerobic excercise has to be combined with weight training to be incredibly effective. :eek: Skipping, is seriously great for boosting ones heart rate quickly - exactly why boxers do it. Jogging is also great but can get boring if done inside a gym - no movement of scenery or repeated scenery - so dont forget that iPod. Rowers are great too, cyling is perfect. Why? Because when you go for a bike ride you get to explore your entire city. Look for places with hills, and you'll probably forget about time. Dont, I repeat, DONT carry more than 4 dollars with you on the bike ride. Thats for juice, a protein bar only. Not Joe Louis' (my BIG weakness) or whatever. ALso you should get a nice pump in your legs by the time you get home.


MOST IMPORTANTLY; remember to graze. Look at the musculature of horses - they eat more than 3 times a day. Look at the lack of musculature of say pigs. They dont eat as much and they barely move around. No offense here but I want you to realize that eating smaller meals say 5 times a day - no bigger than 1.5 times the size of your fist - is ideal. This will also increase your metabolism.

[ChrisWB]

Dotdotdot,

The good news is you're young, so it's a lot easier for you to lose weight than it would be when you were older. Exercise a lot. Sweat for at least half an hour continuously, and drink lots of liquids. I have been a vegetarian for 9 years and I've maintained a healthy bodyweight the entire time. Once you get in to a routine of exercising and eating healthy (and that doesn't mean you can't enjoy good food), the pounds will drop away. It'll be amazing, trust me. The most important vegetarian-related thing in my opinion is to eat GOOD food that you enjoy. If you need suggestions, feel free to send me a private message. I can't stand tofu or most soy: I like good, hearty food. It just also has to be healthy.

Don't give up. This won't bother you now, but it is EXTREMELY hard to get health insurance if you're overweight. You will also have a harder time finding a job, and your life insurance premiums will be a lot higher. Beyond that, you are much more likely to die in your fifties from a heart attack if you're overweight. Think about that and remember you're doing this for yourself.

[raggedjimmi]

there was this guy, forgot his name. but he was on GMTV a month or so ago. anywho he was about 40 stone and in a year he lost 20 stone. no ridiculus diets or drugs or anything stupid, he just ate things that had less than 30% fat and walked a lot. thats ALL you need to do.

i keep fit. do a fair bit of walking, at least walk 3-4 miles a day (with my dog :)) or 12 miles if i walk to and from university. which is good for me, it takes just as long to walk as it does to get the bus. but hey its beautiful here so its cool :) *if you like the moors*

so i walk, i dont each much. no brekfast usually. sometimes use the gym. sometimes bike ride. do a lot of swimming. and im just 9.4 stone.
then again my parents are marathon runners so i suppose im in the right anorexic pedigree. and since Supersize Me and Jamies School Dinners i dont touch fast food/junk food anymore.

WALK. all there is to it.

[advocate]

I'd like to echo the sentiment of not trying to lose weight quickly. That way lies disaster. As a perpetually grossly obese man, I've been put on various diets by physicians starting at around age six. Short term loss, long-term gain: if I lose five pounds by eating in a way that I don't like, I will eventually cheat, and stop, and when I do, I'll probably gain fifteen pounds for good.

I've tried eating less, I've tried eating low-fat, I've tried low-protein, I've tried drinking more water, I've tried .. pretty much everything under the sun. All of the things that really work for most people. That's frustrating, let me tell you, when you eat what other people think you should eat, and you just keep gaining weight. Plus you're tired all the time, you feel terrible, you feel like your head is in a cloud, and yet everyone keeps praising the healthy way you're eating. Strange - it doesn't feel healthy!

It took me a long time and a lot of experimenting, a lot of thinking, a lot of reading, and a lot of gaining weight, but I've found something that works well for me: eating fewer carbohydrates. There are some basic ideas behind this. First, you're eating less food with no nutritional value: carbohydrates are just energy, nothing else. Second, if you're like me, you're eating most of the food you like anyway, and not eating most of the food you don't, so you're more likely to stick to it for the rest of your life. And third, you're allowing your body to help you by keeping its survival mechanisms in check:

I've discovered that I have a blood sugar level control system that likes rollercoaster rides. This is just one of those weird things about my metabolism, probably caused by unhealthy eating during childhood. If I put a spoonful of sugar in my mouth, in about five minutes I will feel tired and woozy and hungry -- what happens is my blood sugar goes way up, then my insulin level goes up to compensate but actually goes too high, then my body reacts to the insulin by pulling a ton of blood sugar out into glycogen (essentially fat) and I end up with low blood sugar. The natural reaction to low blood sugar is to feel hungry and eat something, just like when someone is having a diabetic episode. Net effect: eating anything that raises my blood sugar level quickly causes me to become very very hungry and eat way too much.

(You might think that I just need willpower. I've been told that a lot. Say, have you ever been starving as if you haven't eaten for days -- for real, since the starving mechanism is based on blood sugar level -- and been able to not eat when food is plentiful? It's not about willpower. The willpower that's needed here is to avoid the trigger that causes the starvation mechanism to kick in.)

I don't want to say that a reduced carbohydrate diet is right for you because I don't know you and I don't know how your body works. I do encourage you to read about it, though. The first book I read was Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. Get that book, read it, never mind anyone objecting to it, never mind people telling you that your kidney or your liver or your heart will fail just by turning the pages. I don't subscribe to everything in there, but most of it makes sense to me, and I've taken that and worked it into how I live. I encourage you to do the same: read everything, learn as much as you can, figure out what makes sense, throw out the bull, integrate the new knowledge into your actions.

Let me tell you what a typical day is like for me. I get out of bed at 5:30am but I'm only groggy for the first few minutes. Shower, brush teeth, make and eat breakfast of a ham, cheese, and mushroom omelette, grab a coffee and my lunch and run. For lunch I eat a steak salad: a pile of lettuce, a few slices of radish, a few half-rings of onion, a dozen slices of left-over steak, and a generous pile of grated cheddar, with pepper and olive oil. For dinner, some prawns fried in garlic butter, and a filet of cod with white pepper cream sauce. In bed by 9:30pm, do it again. Hey, did someone say diet? This isn't dieting, this is delicious. And I'm never hungry. If I do for some reason get hungry, I might fry up a pork chop done up with a garlic ginger rub that I toss together in two minutes, and it doesn't hurt me at all.

As for exercise, you'll note I didn't say a word about it. That's because it just happens. For some reason, when I eat in a way that's healthy for my metabolism, I just feel so full of energy that I want to go out and do things. This is weird for me - I spent my whole childhood in front of a TV or a computer and never felt like going out. I even go for a brisk walk during lunch break, and it makes me feel even better.

Oh, and the detail I guess you want: I'm down over sixty pounds since my maximum weight in high school. It's been off for a while now and I've got about fourty or fifty to go. I'm in no hurry, though. I'm healthy enough now that I'm not in any immediate danger, and I know what works, so I figure I'll get there some time during my life, and then I'll be able to stay that way for the rest of it.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I believe trying to lose weight that fast is not that great for your health...


You are right on that. Also weight lost fast, tends to gained back (or more). The recommended weight loss is 1 1/2 to 2 pounds a week.

The question also has to be asked, why do they want to loose the weight? Is it to fit in? Not a great answer, IMO. To make the cut for some sport? Fair, but yo-yo dieting like practiced for wrestling is no good for a developing body. For health reasons? Yes, but one has to understand their body type and the genes they carry.

Historically, weight, has been viewed by the wealth of the society. In lean times (no pun intended), the larger the person - the greater the wealth it was assumed - and the healthier they appeared compared to general society. In fatter times (again no pun intended), we have the opposite. In particular today, with all the programs and surgery and stuff.

To loose weight, one should look at why they are "heavy" to begin with. Is it lifestyle? Is it the food choices (fast food and cook and eat food are generally high in fat and sodium)? And there is a mental health component to it too. Eating disorders are high on that list, but so are self-esteem issues.

[clayj]

If you decide not to go the vegetarian route, the Atkins diet can work well for a lot of people. Last year, I lost 30 pounds in 35 days using a low-intake Atkins diet... strict adherence to Atkins, but only one large meal a day + small Atkins-compliant snacks, as well as daily trips to the gym, and LOTS of water. The biggest thing to watch out for if you go Atkins is not to overload on cholesterol (eggs) or fat... lots of lean fish and poultry are good.

I've kept the weight off since then by just watching what I eat and weighing myself (and logging it) daily. It might seem obsessive, but constant feedback is necessary if you want to keep the weight off (or keep losing weight). Don't go by "how tight your clothes feel".

[Chip NoVaMac]

Thanks people!

No suppliments for me... gross...

Good for you!

But since its Fathers day and I'm going out for a good steak dinner that is why I decided that it would be like my last until October.

Dieting does not mean not loving life and all that it has to offer! Have that steak dinner every so often. But don't do the baked potato with the extra butter and cheese and bacon. Do steamed veggies instead. Big party or meal coming up? Have salads and cut back on what you eat that week to balance out the higher calories.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'd like to echo the sentiment of not trying to lose weight quickly. That way lies disaster. As a perpetually grossly obese man, I've been put on various diets by physicians starting at around age six. Short term loss, long-term gain: if I lose five pounds by eating in a way that I don't like, I will eventually cheat, and stop, and when I do, I'll probably gain fifteen pounds for good.

I've tried eating less, I've tried eating low-fat, I've tried low-protein, I've tried drinking more water, I've tried .. pretty much everything under the sun. All of the things that really work for most people. That's frustrating, let me tell you, when you eat what other people think you should eat, and you just keep gaining weight. Plus you're tired all the time, you feel terrible, you feel like your head is in a cloud, and yet everyone keeps praising the healthy way you're eating. Strange - it doesn't feel healthy!

It took me a long time and a lot of experimenting, a lot of thinking, a lot of reading, and a lot of gaining weight, but I've found something that works well for me: eating fewer carbohydrates. There are some basic ideas behind this. First, you're eating less food with no nutritional value: carbohydrates are just energy, nothing else. Second, if you're like me, you're eating most of the food you like anyway, and not eating most of the food you don't, so you're more likely to stick to it for the rest of your life. And third, you're allowing your body to help you by keeping its survival mechanisms in check:

I've discovered that I have a blood sugar level control system that likes rollercoaster rides. This is just one of those weird things about my metabolism, probably caused by unhealthy eating during childhood. If I put a spoonful of sugar in my mouth, in about five minutes I will feel tired and woozy and hungry -- what happens is my blood sugar goes way up, then my insulin level goes up to compensate but actually goes too high, then my body reacts to the insulin by pulling a ton of blood sugar out into glycogen (essentially fat) and I end up with low blood sugar. The natural reaction to low blood sugar is to feel hungry and eat something, just like when someone is having a diabetic episode. Net effect: eating anything that raises my blood sugar level quickly causes me to become very very hungry and eat way too much.

(You might think that I just need willpower. I've been told that a lot. Say, have you ever been starving as if you haven't eaten for days -- for real, since the starving mechanism is based on blood sugar level -- and been able to not eat when food is plentiful? It's not about willpower. The willpower that's needed here is to avoid the trigger that causes the starvation mechanism to kick in.)

I don't want to say that a reduced carbohydrate diet is right for you because I don't know you and I don't know how your body works. I do encourage you to read about it, though. The first book I read was Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. Get that book, read it, never mind anyone objecting to it, never mind people telling you that your kidney or your liver or your heart will fail just by turning the pages. I don't subscribe to everything in there, but most of it makes sense to me, and I've taken that and worked it into how I live. I encourage you to do the same: read everything, learn as much as you can, figure out what makes sense, throw out the bull, integrate the new knowledge into your actions.

Let me tell you what a typical day is like for me. I get out of bed at 5:30am but I'm only groggy for the first few minutes. Shower, brush teeth, make and eat breakfast of a ham, cheese, and mushroom omelette, grab a coffee and my lunch and run. For lunch I eat a steak salad: a pile of lettuce, a few slices of radish, a few half-rings of onion, a dozen slices of left-over steak, and a generous pile of grated cheddar, with pepper and olive oil. For dinner, some prawns fried in garlic butter, and a filet of cod with white pepper cream sauce. In bed by 9:30pm, do it again. Hey, did someone say diet? This isn't dieting, this is delicious. And I'm never hungry. If I do for some reason get hungry, I might fry up a pork chop done up with a garlic ginger rub that I toss together in two minutes, and it doesn't hurt me at all.

As for exercise, you'll note I didn't say a word about it. That's because it just happens. For some reason, when I eat in a way that's healthy for my metabolism, I just feel so full of energy that I want to go out and do things. This is weird for me - I spent my whole childhood in front of a TV or a computer and never felt like going out. I even go for a brisk walk during lunch break, and it makes me feel even better.

Oh, and the detail I guess you want: I'm down over sixty pounds since my maximum weight in high school. It's been off for a while now and I've got about fourty or fifty to go. I'm in no hurry, though. I'm healthy enough now that I'm not in any immediate danger, and I know what works, so I figure I'll get there some time during my life, and then I'll be able to stay that way for the rest of it.

Some very wise words here.

Like it or not, the body will tell you what it thinks the ideal weight is. Just as it tells us how much hair we will have as we get older, and just what muscle tone your body can truly have.

As a large man (300# right now), i know what I have been through trying to fit into everyone's ideal vision. My weight right now has more to do with the relationship that I was in. Food was my comfort. But I also know that since 30 yo, my body will not (or better yet does not) like to see me below 230#. Now that I have a new life ahead of me, I will loose the extra weight. But it will be at a pace that me and my body can be happy with.

I am wanting to loose the weight not for looks; but for my health. For my genes have blessed me with a balding head (which I shave), and what hair I should have on my head is on the rest of my body. I can hear the shrieks from some right in this camp now.

I spent almost 20 years trying to live up to the expectations of society. Dieting to the point of starvation to have the right weight for my height. Considering making my head look like some reforestation project to just have a full head of hair. Or even looking like some muskrat crawled atop my head and died! Going through shaving, nairing, and waxing of my body hair in order to be some sort of "perfect" man. Trying contact lenses and considered laser eye surgery, just not be be some "four-eyed" geek.

If "you" don't want me as a friend, mate, or coworker because of these "faults"; then it is your loss - is now how I feel. Sure I might not find that "perfect" body to date, or be held back in a job - but in the end we have to be happy with ourselves. If some are too shallow to see the worth of a person for their mind, intellect, and soul - then they are the losers in this world - no people like me.

[hoyboy9]

I have three words for you, buddy.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

Buy yourself a pad, knock yourself out. It's the best (and most fun) way to do your cardio, in my opinion. Since it's a game, it doesn't "feel" like you're suffering through a boring tedious workout. You'll be driven to master each successively difficult song, and that will in turn mean that you are building up your stamina and agility.

It really helped me get back into shape for the soccer season. :-)

Good luck!

[mac-er]

The Atkins diet is a scam IMO, and it is extremely unhealthy because of the saturated fat it encourages you to eat. Sure, you might be thin...but you'll die of heart disease at 45. For the years it puts on by losing weight, you probably lose the same number of years with the saturated fats.

Simple equation....burn more calories than you put in.

3500 calories more than you need = 1 pound of fat.

[cleo]

As a vegetarian going on 8 years now, I can tell you that 1) it's not a lose-weight-fast kind of diet (indeed, many people gain weight when they become veggies; they seem to think that, for example, as long as they're not having bacon or sausage, they can have as many pancakes as they want), and 2) you really have to know what you're doing to get all of the nutrients you need; it takes a lot of time, money, and knowledge to be a healthy vegies.

You're still in a growth stage in your life. The most important thing for you to do -- especially if you've been overweight for some time -- is to change your lifestyle. Otherwise, say you do lose those pounds by homecoming (I assume that's the October deadline?)... if you've done it "the easy way" (pills, starving yourself, etc) you're almost statistically guaranteed to go back to your current/old behavior. That will lead you into a pattern of yo-yo dieting, which is not only ineffective but also very bad for your heart and other organs.

To make a lifestyle change, you may or may not need a predetermined "diet"; some people do it on their own (it really is as easy as less food, more exercise). If you want something more structured, try Atkins. It's low-carb in the sense that our society eats way too many carbs, but it's mostly about portion size, matching foods with complementary nutrients and enzymes, and exercise.

I'd also recommend that, if you have the financial resources to do so, you find a good counselor to work with as you change your relation to food. A therapist would be able to help you identify triggers that lead you to want to eat, and to help your self-esteem so that your thoughts and beliefs about yourself (and about your weight) will come from inside yourself, not from the media or other judgmental sources withwhich you might come in contact.

Good luck!!!

[devilot]

I <3 running... or I used to. Starting in the eighth grade through high school, I ran 3-5 miles every other day, and lifted weighs on the days I didn't run. This would be cardio (aerobic) and anaerobic, which is a much more balanced exercise regime. Anyway, come sophomore year in high school, my knees feel like they're going to explode. Yes, I have permanently damaged my knees from "pounding the pavement." I also get nasty shin splints (the trainers thought I might have had a stress fracture caused by the shin splints, but no, I just have really bad shin splints).

The point of all this? Running is good, swimming is better for your joints. However, if you choose swimming as the main form of exercise, you MUST MUST must use a form of bone density increasing exercise; i.e. lifting weights or your own body weight (push ups, etc.) because when in water, the water supports something like over 70% of your body weight.

[takao]

i don't know .. i somehow manage to balance my (too much)weight only if i do the exact opposite of what's recommended here ... sure i drink lots of water all the time..i fill up my glass besides the computer all the time...but aside fro mthat

for example i eat more salad during my summer breaks (2-3 months), smaller but more frequent meals ... but i end up eating fruits all the time (from the always filled up fruit basket at home) because i'm always hungry and get even more hungry, while here i buy 4 apples,kiwi etc. for a week or something and eat only 1 rather big meal per day (+ one or 2 fruits for the morning) and i'm not hungry the whole day

that's aside i mostly don't have a regular schedule either thansk to university and somtimes i eat in the afternoon at 3pm, the next day at 9 pm because iwere in lectures untill 8, that aside i eat 1 sweet thing per week and 1 pack of juice every 2 weeks or so because i somehow fear the lack of vitamins ;)
and my meals are perhaps the worst i can do: lack of vegetables besides tomatos, lots of noodles and carbs, and perhaps to big dishes,ketchup ,cheese,milk(normal 3.6%)... etc.i don't know what do to lose those additional few pounds (15 ? 20 ? don't know and i have no 'thing' to check)

so does somebody has a clue what do do in such a case ? i'm gonna do more sports/walks after the exams but is here a affordable diet which acually includes carbs,some good tasting salads, cheese milk etc. which is easy to prepare for a single person household where i don't end up like a zombie ?
tipps would be appreciated (and yes i eat fish 1-2 times a week already)

[tpjunkie]

I <3 running... or I used to. Starting in the eighth grade through high school, I ran 3-5 miles every other day, and lifted weighs on the days I didn't run. This would be cardio (aerobic) and anaerobic, which is a much more balanced exercise regime. Anyway, come sophomore year in high school, my knees feel like they're going to explode. Yes, I have permanently damaged my knees from "pounding the pavement." I also get nasty shin splints (the trainers thought I might have had a stress fracture caused by the shin splints, but no, I just have really bad shin splints).


Hey I hear you on that man, I ran cross country and track for 4 years in high school, and I believe I lost 25 pounds at the end of XC season freshman year (and I was a pretty skinny kid to begin with). If you run ~50 miles a week, you WILL lose weight, I promise you. However, I too have permanently injured my knees. I've destroyed the cartilage behind my patella, and it looks like I may have damaged the chondrocytes that produce it as well, as its now almost 4 years after I stopped running and if I go out and run more than about three miles my knees begin to hurt and the next day they will be killing me. So, just make sure you don't over do it, and be sure to switch up the material you're running on every now and then.

[dotdotdot]

I have three words for you, buddy.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

Buy yourself a pad, knock yourself out. It's the best (and most fun) way to do your cardio, in my opinion. Since it's a game, it doesn't "feel" like you're suffering through a boring tedious workout. You'll be driven to master each successively difficult song, and that will in turn mean that you are building up your stamina and agility.

It really helped me get back into shape for the soccer season. :-)

Good luck!

Thanks! I'm gonna try dance dance revolution.

SO after discussing it with my mom, who was once 200 pounds plus and now weighs under 125 pounds, I decided the following:

Starting June 20th,

- I'm giving up meat because I love it so much and I always eat a ton of it. When we go out as a family, I'm ALWAYS asking to try my parents and sisters meat even though my entire thing is bigger than theirs.

- I'm going to have light dinners like Shashimi (Sushi but without the rice) or chicken. I'm lucky - theres a good sushi place on my street where I can get this.

- I'm going to go to the gym for 1/2 an hour to an hour every day that I'm home (because my camp is a travel camp and some nights its an overnight and some nights we go home)

- I'm going to have my last appetiser, steak, dessert, and SODA tonight. I used to drink diet, then I learned that diet sucks so I drink regular. Now I'm only going to drink water.

- Hungry? Chew sugarless gum.

- Make sure to have light breakfast and hardly any dinner. Lunch is the big meal of the day.

- No more food after 7:00 PM

WHAT I AM GOING TO BUY:

- Vitamins, like calcium and vitamin C.
- Dance Dance Revolution Extreme for the PlayStation 2

----

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old. GOAL: 160 LBs by 14 years old. Thats 33 lbs by October 1st. Thats about 10 pounds per month. That puts my BMI at a normal level. Plus, the fact that I'm really, REALLY strong will make 160 pounds look really slim.

The only thing I'm really afraid of is: getting stretch marks and the ones I already have might not go away. Also, getting diabetes or some other disease.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to begin "THE DOTDOTDOT DIET"!

[devilot]

I've destroyed the cartilage behind my patella, and it looks like I may have damaged the chondrocytes that produce it as well, as its now almost 4 years after I stopped running and if I go out and run more than about three miles my knees begin to hurt and the next day they will be killing me. So, just make sure you don't over do it, and be sure to switch up the material you're running on every now and then.
Good advice; and junkie, that's what happened to me! Now, if the day is cooler my knees ache. I had to get physical therapy but I stopped as it didnt really help much and it was so expensive.

[Rangerhall6]

When I was in high school, i was on the wrestling team. I saw lots of guys lose weight. Now most of them do it the wrong way and end up gaining it back after the season but if you do it right you will see results you want. If your school has a wrestling team i think it would be a good idea to try working out with them or even trying out for the team. It may be hard but it would be worth it, i was in the best shape of my life then. Anyways... there seems to be a lot of good advice already on here so good luck with everything man.

[rockthecasbah]

Sounds healthy to me. However, do not go on Carb cutting diets. They are quite unhealthy for the body, especially the high protein ones. The best diet is a life of moderation, wise food choices, and exercise. There is no way to lose weight 'the easy way.' You just need to change your lifestyle and think more about food choices :)

[MacAztec]

Please read the stickies in the forums at www.bodybuilding.com

They will show you that many of the things you are not going to do are ok to do, such as:

Eating after 7:00PM. You're hungry? Eat some fat-free yougurt. Or some turkey.

Giving up meat? You should eat meat. Eat lean steaks, chicken, and fish. That is the best combo

You really shouldn't rule out supplements. Thermogenic fat burners are awesome, and are NOT bad for your health.

You shouldn't eat 3 meals a day. You should have 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day. That is a better way to keep your metabolism high, and help you lose weight.

You shouldn't have a "final meal". That is crap. That is a crapload of calories, fat, carbs, etc. that are useless. Afterwards you will think, was it worth it? Now you will have to train twice as hard the next few days because you ate that final meal.

You need to do a lot of cardio, like twice a day, 20 minutes each session.

[revenuee]

If I go on the bike and ride at 12mph for a mile, I'm not even winded.



well no, you wouldn't ... besides 12 mph is bearly riding anyway -- i bike at an average speed of 28 - 32 km/h so that's about 16 - 18 mph ... and i bike around 40 k/m total when i go

that will wind you

plus biking is easier on the body

now that's not say don't run ... i run atlernate everyday between running 3 - 6 km and biking 20 - 40 km --

alternating exercises keeps your body guessing and therefore constantly burning.

also throw in something like jumping rope, and boxing --- get your WHOLE body moving will help burn even more calories

best of luck -- and keep safe ... don't cut out carbs, but do cut out as much fat as you can while still maintaining a healthy ratio -- so aim for around 15% of your total intake maximum ... and consume good fats -- use oil and rather then ceaser or ranch dressings.



DON'T go vegiterian unless you know exactly what you are doing you are going to need protein and as much as i love many vegitarian dishes ... nothing like having a steak after a work out.

30 lbs in 3.5 months is Not to bad ... but it will require commitment

[G5Unit]

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old. GOAL: 160 LBs by 14 years old.

Wow! I am only 2 months younger than you and your like 4 inches taller than me! I feel short.

[savar]

Well, I am in to physical fitness, I go to the gym once a day. I'm in pretty good shape. Should be starting QB for our varsity team in about 3 months! Anyways, I'm not sure if a vegetarian diet is best for you. All you need to do is burn more calories than you take in. The best way to burn calories is...

RUN

This is true, running is without a doubt the single best cardiovascular activity for the human body.

But....for overweight people its not always a good idea to start training by running lots of miles, since running is high-shock and if you've got extra weight you're only exacerbating the stress. Luckily, swimming and biking are #2 and #3 on the list and are low shock. But you've got to swim very far, work your way up to a least a mile 5 days a week. If you bike, you have to bike 10 or so miles 5 days a week.

A good supplementary actvity is to lift weights. Muscle burns a lot of calories just in its maintenance, so building up muscle mass will help you lose weight even when you're not exercising. A supplement (such as protein whey) would be a good idea to ramp up quickly.

[advocate]

The Atkins diet is a scam IMO, and it is extremely unhealthy because of the saturated fat it encourages you to eat. Sure, you might be thin...but you'll die of heart disease at 45. For the years it puts on by losing weight, you probably lose the same number of years with the saturated fats. Maybe you should tell the lab that does my blood work that they're making mistakes on every set of results they produce. I first had blood tests run a number of years ago because my physician thought I was at risk of heart disease, and he was right: my numbers were terrible. After reducing carbohydrate consumption (note: nowhere in there does it say I chew on lard as a snack) my blood numbers are now fantastic.

Simple equation....burn more calories than you put in. I absolutely agree. Atkins writes about metabolic advantage, and I suppose that's possible, but you don't need to even think about that before concluding that reduced carbohydrate diets, if used correctly and by people with the target metabolism type, actually reduce calorie consumption. If I eat a "healthy" dinner roll, as I describe in my previous post I will have a blood sugar crash and enter starvation mode. That means I need to eat, and I do. I eat. I can eat food as "healthy" as you like, but I'll eat it, and then, at the end of the day, count up those calories and compare the count to how many I would have eaten had I just had an oven-baked salmon filet instead.

[advocate]

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old. GOAL: 160 LBs by 14 years old. Thats 33 lbs by October 1st. Thats about 10 pounds per month. That puts my BMI at a normal level. Plus, the fact that I'm really, REALLY strong will make 160 pounds look really slim. Wonderful! Best of luck to you. Definitely agree on cutting the soda - regular is packed with sugar and diet is packed with chemicals that are suspected to cause brain damage. Personally, when I need that tickle in the throat, I love drinking club soda.

The only thing I'm really afraid of is: getting stretch marks and the ones I already have might not go away. Also, getting diabetes or some other disease. I'm afraid they might not, but they sure will become less prominent. I've got a bunch on the sides of my gut that I wouldn't mind losing. Still, you're starting a lot younger than I did, so who knows?

[Chip NoVaMac]

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old. GOAL: 160 LBs by 14 years old. Thats 33 lbs by October 1st. Thats about 10 pounds per month. That puts my BMI at a normal level. Plus, the fact that I'm really, REALLY strong will make 160 pounds look really slim.

The only thing I'm really afraid of is: getting stretch marks and the ones I already have might not go away. Also, getting diabetes or some other disease.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to begin "THE DOTDOTDOT DIET"!

Good for you, though you haven't seemed to answer the real question as to why you feel the need to diet. Yes, 193# at 13 seems high. And we can only accept your assessment of what you look like (the "ball" comment). But you are young, and are growing into your body.

You may find that your current eating habits are not leading to the weight gain, as much as your activities elsewhere. Taking walks on regular basis can be helpful. Just staying away from the TV, computer , and game machine is a good start.

[Plymouthbreezer]

Yar, just run!

I for one, love running on the treadmill. I know that sounds kinda weird, but I do like it and feel good after running two miles (I try for like 16 min, I hope to work that down slowly over the summer so cross-country in the fall is easy).

I was getting a little larger for my height around last year, so I started to watch what I was eating. In the past year, I actually lost one pound, and now I'm dead average height:weight (5'5" 130 pounds). You'd be amazed that by just paying attention to the food you eat, you'll lose a few pounds.

But, you need to run. ;) :D

[advocate]

Sounds healthy to me. However, do not go on Carb cutting diets. They are quite unhealthy for the body, especially the high protein ones. Could you show me a study that indicates that eating more carbohydrates promotes health? I don't mean one about eating less fat, or less protein, or more fish oil, or whatever, but one specifically about eating more carbohydrates. I eat a normal well-balanced healthy diet consisting of natural, as unprocessed as possible food, except I reduce my carbohydrate intake. I wish someone would tell me why that's unhealthy - I mean, everyone says it is, and everyone tells me I'm killing my heart, or my liver, or my kidneys, or my brain, or whatever, and they're so sure of themselves, but nobody can actually tell me why.

The best diet is a life of moderation, wise food choices, and exercise. There is no way to lose weight 'the easy way.' You just need to change your lifestyle and think more about food choices :) I can't possibly agree more with this idea. Being healthy is about making healthy choices. Eat the food that your body needs to be healthy - it will tell you by making you feel tired or cranky or cotton-brained if you're not doing it right. If you eat the food that fuels your body properly, you will have so much energy that you will want to go out and participate in activities and get lots of exercise. Then you'll feel fantastic. The weight loss is really just a side-effect of healthy living, physically and (equally important) mentally and emotionally.

[ravenvii]

I'm just wondering, but I have to ask... HOW can you (fat people) eat like that? Are your metabolism so fast that food goes through your intestine system and right into your bloodstream FAST?

I ask because I actually CAN'T eat like that. Even if I force myself to eat a similar diet as one above poster mentioned, I'll become really (and sometimes REALLY) sick and throw up everything I ate. Even the most delicious food becomes disgusting to me after I reach a "threshold". Throughout my teens, I don't know how to find this "threshold", and I often have horrible stomachaches - nausea, dizziness, and throwing up. I have not had this kind of experience (other than one food poisoning incident) in the past 5 years (knocks wood) because I now know when I reach this threshold, and when I do... That's it. Not one more bite. The only thing I can take in without incident is water and light liquids (this is for one meal, not the whole day, just to be clear).

And I have family who have the same experience. They just don't eat that much. I look at people who wolf down food, and wonder. I even asked one, and they admitted they felt sick after eating, but they just can't help it "the food is delicious, and I just gotta eat and eat" they say. That's... well, sad.

And just wondering (directed at Chip), but have you ever drank water to get rid of that hungry feeling? When you feel hungry, but know you have eaten enough, just grab water, and continue to drink until you feel really full. Problem solved... or is it?

[Rangerhall6]

Could you show me a study that indicates that eating more carbohydrates promotes health? I don't mean one about eating less fat, or less protein, or more fish oil, or whatever, but one specifically about eating more carbohydrates. I eat a normal well-balanced healthy diet consisting of natural, as unprocessed as possible food, except I reduce my carbohydrate intake. I wish someone would tell me why that's unhealthy - I mean, everyone says it is, and everyone tells me I'm killing my heart, or my liver, or my kidneys, or my brain, or whatever, and they're so sure of themselves, but nobody can actually tell me why.


I would like to hear someone give a good reason as well...i think it is a good way to lose weight fairly quickly

[emw]

Quick math - to lose 1 pound, you have to expend roughly 3500 more calories than you take in. You want to lose 30 pounds, which equals 105,000 calories. Now, as you start to essentially starve your body (at least that's how it will feel), it burns calories differently, so it isn't an exact equation.

So if you want to lose 105,000 calories (roughly) in 72 days, you'd have to burn 1500 more calories per day than you take in. That's a lot. Running 10 minute miles for an hour (that's 6 miles) equals 863 calories if you're 190 pounds (see here (http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist3.htm) for a breakdown of various activities).

I've been told (when I went to lose weight) that healthy weight loss is generally 2 pounds per week. At that rate, you would hit your October goal.

As a side note, I did Jenny Craig (yes) and lost about 15 pounds in 6 weeks. Two words - portion control. You don't know how much you're eating until someone tells you how much you should eat.

[emw]

I would like to hear someone give a good reason as well...i think it is a good way to lose weight fairly quickly
Here's (http://webpages.ursinus.edu/juziegler/Papers/Results%20Now,%20Risks%20Later%20(Rough).htm) one.

Carbohydrates = energy.

Energy = ability to do things you'd like to do, including go swimming at this pool party and meet people.

Cutting significant percentages of carbohydrates, while effective for short term weight loss, is not a viable long-term strategy for living a healthy lifestyle. Reducing carbohydrate intake somewhat is probably not a big deal, but your body is built to use those nutrients - depriving it of them for long periods of time is not good.

[Rangerhall6]

Here is a link to a site that will help you see how much you should eat to stay at your current weight.

www.am-i-fat.com/calmaintain.html

I wouldnt know how much to tell you not to eat but its interesting to know how much you should be eating to maintain your weight.

[advocate]

Carbohydrates = energy.

Energy = ability to do things you'd like to do, including go swimming at this pool party and meet people. So protein and fat cannot be converted to blood glucose?

Reducing carbohydrate intake somewhat is probably not a big deal, but your body is built to use those nutrients - depriving it of them for long periods of time is not good. What nutrients? There are no nutrients in carbohydrate molecules. It's just energy, the same energy that can be derived (though through a longer metabolic process) from protein and fat molecules.

[iJon]

well i lost about 5 pounds in a a couple of weeks in thailand by eating lots of fruit, drinking water, doing a lot of walking and eating hardly any Thai food :)

jon

[advocate]

I'm just wondering, but I have to ask... HOW can you (fat people) eat like that? Are your metabolism so fast that food goes through your intestine system and right into your bloodstream FAST? Carbohydrates (sugar, starch, flour, etc.) are absorbed starting through the skin inside the mouth, so yes, food does go into the blood stream very fast.

I ask because I actually CAN'T eat like that. Even if I force myself to eat a similar diet as one above poster mentioned, I'll become really (and sometimes REALLY) sick and throw up everything I ate. Even the most delicious food becomes disgusting to me after I reach a "threshold". Throughout my teens, I don't know how to find this "threshold", and I often have horrible stomachaches - nausea, dizziness, and throwing up. I have not had this kind of experience (other than one food poisoning incident) in the past 5 years (knocks wood) because I now know when I reach this threshold, and when I do... That's it. Not one more bite. The only thing I can take in without incident is water and light liquids (this is for one meal, not the whole day, just to be clear). Yeah, I also have such a threshold, but it's quite high. Count yourself lucky: you have genes that are well adapted for modern life.

And I have family who have the same experience. They just don't eat that much. I look at people who wolf down food, and wonder. I even asked one, and they admitted they felt sick after eating, but they just can't help it "the food is delicious, and I just gotta eat and eat" they say. That's... well, sad. Yes, indeed, it's very sad. In fact, let me tell you, I used to be like that - I would eat until my stomach was so physically full that I felt sick, and yet I was not satisfied. I had this drive telling me I had to eat more, but I couldn't. There's no controlling it, it's a survival instinct, as ridiculous as that might sound. I'm convinced that happens due to the low blood sugar starvation mechanism that I described in my last few posts. If your blood sugar crashes due to insulin overproduction due to a blood sugar spike, eating food that causes your blood sugar to rise rapidly (carbohydrates) will cause your body to believe it's starving.

These days, thankfully, I am thoroughly satisfied with the food I've eaten long before I feel physically full. I commonly forget to eat lunch because I don't feel hungry. Right there is the indication to me that I finally have my eating under control.

[applekid]

My experiences:

- Since you're still a teen, losing weight rapidly is not healthy. If you were actually awake in health class and/or had a good teacher for health, you should know that losing about 1 or 2 pounds a week is safe. No more. That whole idea might be outdated with all of the research crap we're hearing these days about health, fitness, and dieting, but gotta believe in something right? Anyhow, as they say, you should first really see your doctor before you start any diet especially because you're still a teen.

- Working out at the gym is probably the best as far as exercise goes. I lost literally a pound a week by going to the gym four times a week during a month or two, then school started, and I'm bloated as ever ;) Not to mention, you can turn a nice chunk of that weight you lose into muscles. I plan on signing up for a gym membership at our local junior college. There's an age restriction of 16 around here, so make sure to check around. There are some city-run gyms that require memberships, but have no real age restrictions around here. Also, I hear hotels are also willing to give memberships these days, even if you're not a patron.

- As noted, I gained back what I lost. Make sure to watch what you eat. I sure as hell didn't. You may have the exercise down, but a bad diet can reverse any effects. Watch your calories. Fad diets aren't really recommendable, but if you feel it's worth a shot go for it. And if it works, great, if not, well there's plenty of other methods.

- My sister's routine has been pretty effective. She's on that latest diet where you eat breakfast meal for dinner. So, like just a bowl of cereal or something light. It has something to do with how your body won't burn off what you ate for dinner at night since it's not active enough, so eating light works. It seems to be working. She lost about 4 pounds in the last couple of weeks.

[ham_man]

#1 - Talk to your doctor before you do anything
#2 - Make sure that you eat plenty of calories. I would say 2200 at the least.
#3 - Excercise for about an hour of so daily
#4 - Get enough nutrients

Even if you don't lose a ton of weight, I think that, what with just starting into adolescense, you will get taller and fil out. Good luck with whatever you do though...

[superbovine]

I have three words for you, buddy.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION

Buy yourself a pad, knock yourself out. It's the best (and most fun) way to do your cardio, in my opinion. Since it's a game, it doesn't "feel" like you're suffering through a boring tedious workout. You'll be driven to master each successively difficult song, and that will in turn mean that you are building up your stamina and agility.

It really helped me get back into shape for the soccer season. :-)

Good luck!

hahahah... funny you should say that. i had a girl friend of mine lose a lot weight playing ddr.

[puckhead193]

- I'm going to go to the gym for 1/2 an hour to an hour every day that I'm home (because my camp is a travel camp and some nights its an overnight and some nights we go home)

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old.

I did that when i was your age, at a camp on long island (which i am working for this summer), it was so much fun. Have fun

Also your tall for your age , i'm 5'9ish and 19 (In july i'll be 20)

[superbovine]

SO I currently am not what some would call "thin" or "medium."

Basically, I'm a ball. Except I'm lucky and am able to hide some of it so right now I don't look too overweight.



so if you graduate high school, and nothing has worked for you. you could considering joining the military before going college. first off, you get a personal trainer that yells at you everyday, planned meals, and the chance to sit face to face with someone taking a crap (remember no funny faces). The next thing is you also get money for college. the last thing is they pay you! heh the only weight loss programs that pays you lossing weight.

eitherway, i know someone who lost 100+ lbs in boot camp.

[Inspector Lee]

First off, try to keep changes to your eating habits to a minimum unless you are really feasting. Any type of crash diets will inevitably lead to putting the weight back on once you reach your goal. Also, 15 lbs a month is not unobtainable at 3.5 lbs per week (or 0.5 lbs per day) but I've found that the longer it takes for one to take weight off, the longer it takes to put it back on.

Here are my suggestions:

1) Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. This is especially helpful if you like to suck down regular pops (like me) because the water will hydrate you and regular soda cravings will be minimized.

2) Your workout regiment should not be a back-breaker. Take it easy to start, make it enjoyable. Nothing like breaking a sweat to reduce stress. Start with 15-20 minutes of cardio and do some light light weights. As you progress and find yourself getting into it more, do some more weights and maybe add to the cardio.

3) DON"T WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY DAY!! This can be psychologically crippling. You'll find yourself not drinking liquids before a weigh in and/or taking an extended trip to the crapper in hopes of dropping (no pun intended) a lb or two. The feeling of being fit should come from you and not a reading on a scale.

All in all, some of this might have been already posted but I cannot stress the importance of losing the weight for yourself and not for anyone else. Once you lock into the desire to be at a weight you want to be at, the rest is easy.

Best of luck.

[dotdotdot]

Good for you, though you haven't seemed to answer the real question as to why you feel the need to diet. Yes, 193# at 13 seems high. And we can only accept your assessment of what you look like (the "ball" comment). But you are young, and are growing into your body.

You may find that your current eating habits are not leading to the weight gain, as much as your activities elsewhere. Taking walks on regular basis can be helpful. Just staying away from the TV, computer , and game machine is a good start.

Ha ha the ball comment was a joke - I said in another post the real thing: because I'm strong and tall, I look medium sized, like I dont have a double chin and I don't look THAT big but significantly larger than some other kids...

[thecow]

blah blah blah blah blah
- Dance Dance Revolution Extreme for the PlayStation 2
blah blah blah blah blah
DDR Max 2 has better songs IMO. Also, don't get pads like these (http://cyphergames.com/dadarextv3ar.html) unless you feel like getting severely ripped off. They are just cheaply built by hand and the paint job isn't that good. I've had to mod mine a lot to get them to be responsive. Also there are pieces of metal that are in between the buttons that stab your feet when you are still learning where the buttons are. Get a red octane pad. They are nice.

I can't really help you with your weight issue because I have a fast metabolism and I have never had to pay attention to my weight. I guess I'm lucky. Just eat right and burn more calories than you take in. Good luck.

RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old.I feel really short now. :o I'm only 5'5" and I'll be 15 in .... *checks dashboard counter* 47 days.

[Chip NoVaMac]

And just wondering (directed at Chip), but have you ever drank water to get rid of that hungry feeling? When you feel hungry, but know you have eaten enough, just grab water, and continue to drink until you feel really full. Problem solved... or is it?

My weight fluctuation is physiologically driven to be honest. I sought comfort in food, this was reinforced as a youngster. Bad day at school? Here have some pie.
:)

[noaccess]

Speaking of diets: you could try the Scarsdale diet. I haven't tried it, but it sound better than Atkins or anything else. Plus, it's not about eating calorie-stripped food, and exercise isn't necessary. According to this booklet here, you're supposed to lose 1.2 pounds/day.
Check this out: Avril Lavigne, who is very satisfied about Scarsdale's, says she blames all her angry lyrics on the junk food she used to eat.

BTW RIGHT NOW: 5'8" and 193 LBs. and 13 years old. :eek:

Anyone got artificial growth hormones? I'm starting to feel embarrased here!

I feel really short now. I'm only 5'5" and I'll be 15 in .... *checks dashboard counter* 47 days.

I'm already 15 and 5'5" tall! Am I the shortest here :confused: :( ?

[dotdotdot]

Day ONE:

- Over .5 Liters of water

- Shashimi (24 pc.) and Spicy Tuna Roll

- Frozen Yoghurt with 3 topping

--------------------

So, it was the first day so I had Frozen Yoghurt... the last day I will also!

AND the Sushi was because that was breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

This is hard!

Tomorrow, I already know for breakfast and lunch I'm having a Grilled Chicken salad over Mesclun Greens, with dressing (a lot of it but its light) which isn't so bad...

----

In case no one realized, I'm eating meat and proteins. Thats because I found out that as a kid, growing still, its unhealthy to not eat meat. But it will only be lean meat...

[Daveway]

Remember, in many cases of dieting, mine included, people will often hit a plateau of weightloss for about a week. In most cases you won't see a steady 3 pounds a week. More like: Week 1= 4lbs, Week 2= 2.5lbs, Week 3= 1lb, Week4= 3lbs, etc.

I started my diet 3 weeks ago and so far so good.

17-5'11'

[puckhead193]

Day ONE:

- Over .5 Liters of water
.
You should look into Smartwater, i heard great things about it... ;)
It is actually pretty good IMO

[Daveway]

You should look into Smartwater, i heard great things about it... ;)
It is actually pretty good IMO

I have 2 Smart Waters a day along with about 2 gallons of water while dieting. Also, every good diet starts with a detox.

[MacAztec]

You need to drink way more than .5 litres of water/day. That is nothing.

You ate 24 pieces of sushimi? I understand that it is healthy, but it still has calories. You will only lose weight if you burn more calories than you take in, and I'm sure sushimi has quite a few.

[mmmdreg]

You should drink 2 litres of water a day. That's roughly 8 cups. As MacAztec has said, you need to burn more than you take in. So eat less and become more active. Don't sit in front of the computer all day. Go outside! If you don't like strict excercise, take up sport with your friends or something. As for aerobic excercise, jogging is meant to be the most effective but if you're overweight it might cause excessive strain on your joints. I personally like rowing on erg machines more than running. I also do weights.
If you work out in a way that suits your body, you'll be able to become properly muscled/toned rather than just become skinnier. That is, if that is what you want. Judging from your desire to impress at the pool party, I guess it is =)
In the end, watching what you eat combined with regular excercise will show results. So cut down on your pasta/bread etc and eat more fruits and vegies. And don't snack continuously.


On another note, I noticed in the first post you repeatedly said "loose". Is that an American thing or an error? (ie. lose/gain; loose/tight)

[devilot]

I personally like rowing on erg machines more than running. I also do weights.
I coxed (was a coxswain) for Cal Women's Crew Team a couple years ago... many many many people use ergs improperly. That could lead to short term injuries as well as long term damage. I would not recommend ergs to someone inexperienced using them or someone who does not have a qualified person helping out. :eek:

[michaelrjohnson]

I have 2 Smart Waters a day along with about 2 gallons of water while dieting. Also, every good diet starts with a detox.
What is this "Smartwater" you're referring to?

[Daveway]

What is this "Smartwater" you're referring to?
Smartwater is just a general name for any enhanced water. You can get some waters like Propel or there are waters that support weightloss, which I like.

[michaelrjohnson]

Smartwater is just a general name for any enhanced water. You can get some waters like Propel or there are waters that support weightloss, which I like.
Ah, I figured that's what it was, but I thought you were referring to a particular brand.

[QCassidy352]

I have a weight loss question as well. Does anyone know anything about losing fat in a targeted way (i.e. off a specific area)?

You see, I'm actually in pretty good shape, but I have this small layer of fat around my belly that I just can't get rid of no matter what I do. I used to be a competitive distance runner in high school and college (I'm 23 now), and I still run a good amount (though injuries have seriously hurt me in that regard... but I guess that's another story). But even when I was in peak racing shape I could never get rid of this belly fat.

It's very frustrating - I have almost no fat on the rest of my body and I don't understand why this one area won't go away. I'm 5'7" and 131, so I'm definitely not overweight in general. Any thoughts?

[therevolution]

No, there's actually a brand of water called Smart Water (http://www.glaceau.com/).

[devilot]

I have a weight loss question as well. Does anyone know anything about losing fat in a targeted way (i.e. off a specific area)?

You see, I'm actually in pretty good shape, but I have this small layer of fat around my belly that I just can't get rid of no matter what I do. I used to be a competitive distance runner in high school and college (I'm 23 now), and I still run a good amount (though injuries have seriously hurt me in that regard... but I guess that's another story). But even when I was in peak racing shape I could never get rid of this belly fat.

It's very frustrating - I have almost no fat on the rest of my body and I don't understand why this one area won't go away. I'm 5'7" and 131, so I'm definitely not overweight in general. Any thoughts?
I think its a genetic physical disposition, different people tend to store fat in different areas. You and I have a similar issue... Since you have very low body fat yet still have alittle belly bulge, I think your best bet would be to get targeted lipo (the one where they zap and liquify your fat using ultrasound thingies).

[eva01]

I have a weight loss question as well. Does anyone know anything about losing fat in a targeted way (i.e. off a specific area)?

You see, I'm actually in pretty good shape, but I have this small layer of fat around my belly that I just can't get rid of no matter what I do. I used to be a competitive distance runner in high school and college (I'm 23 now), and I still run a good amount (though injuries have seriously hurt me in that regard... but I guess that's another story). But even when I was in peak racing shape I could never get rid of this belly fat.

It's very frustrating - I have almost no fat on the rest of my body and I don't understand why this one area won't go away. I'm 5'7" and 131, so I'm definitely not overweight in general. Any thoughts?

there is a great plastic surgeon in Duxbury, MA; Dr. Hamori you can get the fat removed by her.

[michaelrjohnson]

No, there's actually a brand of water called Smart Water (http://www.glaceau.com/).
Great! ...and it's even available in my area!

[jelloshotsrule]

I think its a genetic physical disposition, different people tend to store fat in different areas. You and I have a similar issue... Since you have very low body fat yet still have alittle belly bulge, I think your best bet would be to get targeted lipo (the one where they zap and liquify your fat using ultrasound thingies).

i would definitely second the lipo... that, or be happy with your body the way it is naturally :confused:


do you do sit ups at all, q?

[devilot]

i would definitely second the lipo... that, or be happy with your body the way it is naturally :confused:


do you do sit ups at all, q?
If that person has already reached that level of phyiscal health and still has that little bit of fat sit ups will probably do NOTHING... except for add more muscle underneath that fat layer, in essence, accentuating the fat.

[Daveway]

i would definitely second the lipo... that, or be happy with your body the way it is naturally :confused:


do you do sit ups at all, q?


According to the 3am paid advertisement:

specific areas of excess body fat are caused by stress hormones called Cortisol. A new revolutionary diet pill called Cortislim solves this problem.
www.cortisol.com

[QCassidy352]

Thanks for the replies all.

Yes, I do a lot of sit ups (and push ups) every day, but as someone previously said, sit ups do not actually eliminate fat; they just build muscle underneath the fat. My abs are actually very strong (you could hit me in the stomach pretty hard and I'd be fine) but it doesn't really look like I have a six pack because it's "hidden."

I wish I could just be happy with my body the way it is; I'm healthy, fit, and strong, and that should be enough. When I'm wearing a shirt I look perfectly normal, thin even, but being the young, active person I am, there are a lot of situations where I'd rather go shirtless, but I feel a little embarassed to do it. What can I say - I'm more vain than I should be, or than I would like to be, but I am what I am.

I've had this "problem" (if you want to call it that) since high school and it's always bothered me. Recently, certain developments in my life have prompted me to get my act together in a lot of different ways, and in my mind, finally looking the way I want is a part of the process of straightening my life out.

I hate the idea of being cut open just for vanity's sake, but if it's really the only way I suppose I might break down at some point. I bet there's another way, but I don't know what it is. I'm a little skeptical of 3 am paid advertisements. ;)

[runninmac]

Well i suggest running to loss that extra stuff in your stomach. Ive been running since the 8th grade. Ive came to like it even though it sucked in the beginning. Do crunches after running it helps alot. Ive got quite the stomach now but no muscle around my arms (but have started to go to the gym). Also if you find a local running club around your area it makes it alot more enjoyable + you get to meet some great people. I <3 Running.

[Daveway]

Walk for an hour or ride bike for an hour? Which is best?

[QCassidy352]

Well i suggest running to loss that extra stuff in your stomach. Ive been running since the 8th grade. Ive came to like it even though it sucked in the beginning. Do crunches after running it helps alot. Ive got quite the stomach now but no muscle around my arms (but have started to go to the gym). Also if you find a local running club around your area it makes it alot more enjoyable + you get to meet some great people. I <3 Running.

Appreciate the advice, but I've been running since 6th grade (I'm 23 now, as I said). In high school and college I was a long distance runner on varsity teams (cross country and track), and was pretty good when not injured. I even have a winged sandal (the symbol of runners) tattooed on my left leg just above the ankle. :) I love running and will do it my whole life if I can (my knees and/or ankles may prevent that) - but it's not the answer to my present issue.

I would say that an hour of biking will get your heart rate higher than an hour of walking, and raising the heart rate is really the measure of how much an aerobic activity is doing for you. Of course it depends on the intensity with which you do each activity, but at least for me, it's really hard to get my heart rate very high with walking.

[devilot]

Walk for an hour or ride bike for an hour? Which is best?
Supposedly, (at least according to several teachers I have had) EFFECTIVE and proper speed/ power walking (as in the competitive style) is not only better for your joints, but a better aerobic workout. As for the details of HOW you do that style of walking, I don't know yet, I've actually signed up for that class in the fall (as I have joint issues I hope this will help me more so than running).

[Prom1]

Appreciate the advice, but I've been running since 6th grade (I'm 23 now, as I said). In high school and college I was a long distance runner on varsity teams (cross country and track), and was pretty good when not injured. I even have a winged sandal (the symbol of runners) tattooed on my left leg just above the ankle. :) I love running and will do it my whole life if I can (my knees and/or ankles may prevent that) - but it's not the answer to my present issue.

I would say that an hour of biking will get your heart rate higher than an hour of walking, and raising the heart rate is really the measure of how much an aerobic activity is doing for you. Of course it depends on the intensity with which you do each activity, but at least for me, it's really hard to get my heart rate very high with walking.

Ahh someone is educated when it comes to exercise. Surgery, use it as a last resort. Since you've been running a lot and situps and haven't lost mm/inches around the waist, what about target training that area. Love handles arent solved by situps/crunches alone. What about Side Bends. "I'm a little tea pot short and stout here is my handle, here is my spout. When I spy a tea cup then I shout tip me over rich flavour flows out"; Um I think I got that rhyme wrong (Lipton tea bag commercials to blame) but you get the point of standing up straight, legs shoulder width apart and bending to one side from the waist as low as you can go, then PULLING up with the side of your body, right above the waist. Also the side that is going up, ex right side is pulling your upper body up, you should put your right hand on your head - helps to focus on the waist. Moderate speed; that your comfy with, and do multiple reps of sets 4-10 then up to 6-15. THe first time you do this you should feel it into the next day. For more experienced, then put a dumbbell into your hand, the side that your bending to; ex when bending to your left side, your left hand holds the dumbbell (10- 35lbs) while your right hand is on the side of your head. Now your building muscle and really cutting up the sides. Muscle will build up from your hips right up to your upper rib cage.

Enjoy.

[efoto]

Walk for an hour or ride bike for an hour? Which is best?

Depends on what for, but assuming you want to just get a good workout, I personally find outdoor riding to be much more entertaining and you feel like you accomplish more because you are moving faster (psychological victory as well). Walking is lower impact than running, but still higher than cycling. Cycling takes more effort to get your heartrate up because it (can) focus specifically on your legs and negate your lungs in some cases (negate to a certain extent of course).

Running and cycling are actually PERFECT compliments to eachother for training and general fitness. They exercise similar but different muscle groups in your torso and legs. When you ride, try shifting yourself on the seat (this is why having an ergonomically correct seat (for both men and women) is extremely important, along with padded shorts if you ride a lot) forward and rearward during different portions of your ride. If you rump is rearward on the seat you use certain muscles and different ones if you are forward on the seat (sorry I don't remember exactly, haven't ridden in 3 months due to France :( *tears* ). If you do go cycling and want to quick heartrate burst, do a standing sprint for as long as you can....that hits everyone I know faster than a running sprint. Take care when you first stand and start leaning the bike if you have not done this before though....lean the bike left and right but don't actually turn the wheel....that could cause some issues :rolleyes:

[efoto]

Yes, I do a lot of sit ups (and push ups) every day, but as someone previously said, sit ups do not actually eliminate fat; they just build muscle underneath the fat. My abs are actually very strong (you could hit me in the stomach pretty hard and I'd be fine) but it doesn't really look like I have a six pack because it's "hidden."
Actually men commonly gain most fluctuating weight in their belly region, women in the rear of their thighs and butt. Men's muscles are actually ON TOP of the fat in most regions of the body, abdominals included, which is why 'fat' people can still have a six pack....the muscles actually get pushed outward by the fat, not the other way around. If you do a ton of situps and still feel you have some issues with this region, it could very well be skin (check it out when you stretch backward...does it really tighten up? I had some 'love handles' I thought were fat, but if I lean over there is nothing there...just skin. I am quite thin as well). Another potential issue is you could either be doing the wrong type of situps or doing them improperly. I don't mean to insult here, just throwing out ideas to see if any might work. If the little fat you don't like is low, make sure to do a lot of leg lifts, and also make your situps and abdominal work weighted like other lifting. If you only continually do situps your body adapts to your upper-body weight very quickly...it isnt all that hard to lift once you build you abs up a little bit.

I wish I could just be happy with my body the way it is; I'm healthy, fit, and strong, and that should be enough. When I'm wearing a shirt I look perfectly normal, thin even, but being the young, active person I am, there are a lot of situations where I'd rather go shirtless, but I feel a little embarassed to do it. What can I say - I'm more vain than I should be, or than I would like to be, but I am what I am.
Just another quick thought, when you stand straight up does your back cave forward and your stomach stick out a little bit, giving the appearance of a 'belly'? Check it out infront a mirror once, I realized I do this, helped me figure out why when I suck it in my stomach looks fine but feels 'bulged' if I am standing normally. My back is severely caved (lower back injury), whether this is the cause or not, helps me cope with my figure :p

I've had this "problem" (if you want to call it that) since high school and it's always bothered me. Recently, certain developments in my life have prompted me to get my act together in a lot of different ways, and in my mind, finally looking the way I want is a part of the process of straightening my life out.
I know exactly what you are talking about...both in the problem and developments (assuming they are on topics discussed here at other places). It is good that you have a motivating force to 'turn your life around' but that doesn't mean that everything is bad. Looking the way you want and the way you should are sometimes different. I realize we all want to look 'great', but realistically we should be happy with what we have. It is a lot easier for me to say then do, there are plenty of things I would love to change about myself but if I really think about it and the proposed changes effect on me, it is usually minimal to none, not really worth it. Try to find the natural joy in your life, and the natural beauty in your body. I know it sounds cheesy, but try it, it might just help.

I hate the idea of being cut open just for vanity's sake, but if it's really the only way I suppose I might break down at some point. I bet there's another way, but I don't know what it is. I'm a little skeptical of 3 am paid advertisements. ;)
If you hate the idea, then don't do it! There are many things to try to before surger to alter your figure, especially if it is minimal 'fat' removal for a specific region for vanity's sake. Take a look at thermal fat burners and metabolic increasers. Normally I don't recommend this sort of thing, but if you are in good health with a strong and healthy heart, a short course of either (not together) wouldn't be a bad idea to see if it helps out.

[skunk]

Take care when you first stand and start leaning the bike if you have not done this before though....lean the bike left and right but don't actually turn the wheel....that could cause some issues :rolleyes:And for god's sake don't do it in heavy, fast-moving traffic...I hate scraping cyclists off the road!

[efoto]

And for god's sake don't do it in heavy, fast-moving traffic...I hate scraping cyclists off the road!

True enough, and cyclists hate it when auto drivers force them to a scrapable position on the road :p

Too bad cyclist have such little respect in so many places, I get sh** throw at me frequently when I ride on the road (not in a major lane, but on the shoulder or even on a path adjacent to the road). I know what you are thinking, and no I don't deserve it :p
It happens to our team when we ride in a group as well, stupid ignorami's in their SUVs....I hate you all :p, not really, but sort of.

[rockthecasbah]

Could you show me a study that indicates that eating more carbohydrates promotes health? I don't mean one about eating less fat, or less protein, or more fish oil, or whatever, but one specifically about eating more carbohydrates. I eat a normal well-balanced healthy diet consisting of natural, as unprocessed as possible food, except I reduce my carbohydrate intake. I wish someone would tell me why that's unhealthy - I mean, everyone says it is, and everyone tells me I'm killing my heart, or my liver, or my kidneys, or my brain, or whatever, and they're so sure of themselves, but nobody can actually tell me why.

I can't possibly agree more with this idea. Being healthy is about making healthy choices. Eat the food that your body needs to be healthy - it will tell you by making you feel tired or cranky or cotton-brained if you're not doing it right. If you eat the food that fuels your body properly, you will have so much energy that you will want to go out and participate in activities and get lots of exercise. Then you'll feel fantastic. The weight loss is really just a side-effect of healthy living, physically and (equally important) mentally and emotionally.
I'm not gonna google it so I'll tell you what my brother told me who studied these diets in pharmacy school. Low Carb dieting causes long term effects that can cause major problems. Carbs help clean out I believe kidneys or intestines. With less carbs and a much higher sodium intake, low carb dieting can cause major diseases and eventually failure of vital organs because of the high quantities of sodium you take in with eating more meat / less carbs. Carbs are good for the body, there is a reason you become healthier when you eat them.

The reason Americans switch to these low carb diets is because they are trained to eat more than you are suppose to. If you follow the US set serving guidelines, you will find that you feel better, lose weight, and prevent more diseases because you eat a variety of foods. Too much of one things is no good.

[efoto]

I'm not gonna google it so I'll tell you what my brother told me who studied these diets in pharmacy school. Low Carb dieting causes long term effects that can cause major problems. Carbs help clean out I believe kidneys or intestines. With less carbs and a much higher sodium intake, low carb dieting can cause major diseases and eventually failure of vital organs because of the high quantities of sodium you take in with eating more meat / less carbs. Carbs are good for the body, there is a reason you become healthier when you eat them.

The reason Americans switch to these low carb diets is because they are trained to eat more than you are suppose to. If you follow the US set serving guidelines, you will find that you feel better, lose weight, and prevent more diseases because you eat a variety of foods. Too much of one things is no good.

Just because it never hurts to say this over and over, everything in moderation is the best approach to any diet. Cutting a given food or group out completely is not the best approach and in a lot of cases is not healthy to do.

It is true that carbs are energy, protein is broken down into carbs (more or less, not overly techy here) and thus yields energy as well but longterm. The reason coaches always say eat a big pasta-dinner before a tournament game the next day is to saturate the muscles with carb-stacks for their burn in the big game.

Another point from my life about carbs: My father was recently, within the last year, diagnosed with Celiac's disease, an allergy to wheat gluten which is become a near epidemic in America (says the doctor and nutrishionist). Both of the doctors and other councils he has saught have said that most common cause to this is the high level of perservatives found in American food in particular (other cultures and countries use no where near the perservatives we do). This just happened within the last year as I said, and he is 55 years old so it is not an allergy he has had all his life. He has since cut all wheat products (bread, pasta, cereal, tons of other stuff...wheat gluten is in almost everything :( ) and yet he has NOT lost a lot of weight. He has since implemented a healthier diet and thus his colesterol has gone down a little bit, but he has not lost weight due to simply cutting carbs (which is most commonly the major group in wheat based foods).

Just an fyi and another point to say that you should still take in carbs, just all in moderation. Even the best supplements for building and healthy life contain both high levels of protein as well as purified carbs (which supposedly contain less of the sugars and ill-health content).

[iGary]

http://homepage.mac.com/garybooberry/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-05-17%2004.33.42%20-0700/Image-16296249C6C711D9.jpg

Smartwater hiding behind green folders. :D :cool:

[efoto]

I did a quick search on versiontracker and found the following few things that might be of use to you:

Diet Diary 3.1 (http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/25017)
Muscle! 1.6.2 (http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16101)
Diet Sleuth 4.3.1 (http://versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/17679)

I also had a few files I pulled from a friend's server a while back. I haven't read them in a while, but the one contains some decent at-home excersies that are a good habit to get in. If body weight is too much for certain moves, just decrease the moment arm of the move, ex: pushups - instead of tip of toes, lever at you knees.

Is there any easy way to host a .xls and .doc files on MR? They are both quite small, I just have no place to put them for linking....

[efoto]

http://homepage.mac.com/garybooberry/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-05-17%2004.33.42%20-0700/Image-16296249C6C711D9.jpg

Smartwater hiding behind green folders. :D :cool:

No wonder you have back problems iGary, you sit in a Herman Miller product :p :D

Sorry, couldn't resist the urge to hate on competitor's stuff :rolleyes:

[gwuMACaddict]

i haven't had time to read the whole thread... so if i'm missing the point here or end up repeating something, deal with it :D

when i stopped drinking soda i dropped 15lbs in high school. granted, that was combined with a healthy diet (no fast food EVER, veggies, lean meats) and exercise.

these days to keep the weight off, i run 5 days a week and play in different sport leagues.

being active is the best way to lose weight. and don't drink soda. wasted calories.

[jcgerm]

It is true that carbs are energy, protein is broken down into carbs (more or less, not overly techy here) and thus yields energy as well but longterm.

Ok, proteins are most definitely NOT broken down into carbohydrates. Proteins are broken down into amino acids, which are completely different than carbs. Proteins are the building blocks of muscles and are used to build/repair muscle, NOT provide energy. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which once stored is called glycogen. One reason breakfast is the most important meal of the day is the fact that your glycogen stores are usually less than 1/2 their normal amount when you wake up in the morning (yes, you burn calories when you sleep).

You are correct about eating carbs though. Carbohydrates are VERY essential to your health. They contain vitamins and minerals not found in fats and proteins. What people need to stay away from are high glycemic foods (sugars and white breads for example). The only time you really need sugar is when your glycogen stores are low, otherwise you're most likely going to end up storing the carbs as fat. There is nothing wrong with wheat products. In fact, out of all of the products that contain grains, wheat is the safest. You just have to know what you're looking at.

Now, cutting out carbs causes ketosis, where your body burns ketones, instead of sugar, for energy. It does work for a lot of people, but I personally never enjoyed the feeling of being in ketosis. Usually, to lose weight, a good diet (eating under maintenance) and exercise is the way to go.

[efoto]

Ok, proteins are most definitely NOT broken down into carbohydrates. Proteins are broken down into amino acids, which are completely different than carbs. Proteins are the building blocks of muscles and are used to build/repair muscle, NOT provide energy. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which once stored is called glycogen. One reason breakfast is the most important meal of the day is the fact that your glycogen stores are usually less than 1/2 their normal amount when you wake up in the morning (yes, you burn calories when you sleep).
First off, I resent the contest (although you are partially correct), secondly I hate double spaces between sentences, one of my peeves. Enough of that though :p

Proteins are comprised of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen (CHON).
Carbohydrates are comprised of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen (CHO).

A function in the liver known as deamination is the process of removing nitrogen from the amino chains in the proteins (I completely agree proteins are made up of amino acid chains). When you remove the nitrogen content from the protein (the only thing seperating it from a carbohydrate) you are left with a Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen comprised part (CHO), namely a carbohydrate.

Where I will admit you are correct is that not all protein converts to carbohydrates, some of the amino-chains are fully absorbed. Once the deamination process takes place, another process in the liver called gluconeogenesis (derived from ''new sugar creation'') that takes place. This is the same process that carbohydrates undergo to be transformed into glucose. Once in the form of glucose they can then be turned into glycogen by the liver (same as carbohydrates).

On average roughly 58% (by weight) (found that number online) of the protein we eat is excess and is converted to glucose and ultimately glycogen by the liver. The glycogen that is not used for energy is turned into stored fat, the same fate deemed to glycogen that originated as carbohydrates.

So while I see your point, I still believe mine is valid as well.

[jcgerm]

Where I will admit you are correct is that not all protein converts to carbohydrates, some of the amino-chains are fully absorbed. Once the deamination process takes place, another process in the liver called gluconeogenesis (derived from ''new sugar creation'') that takes place. This is the same process that carbohydrates undergo to be transformed into glucose. Once in the form of glucose they can then be turned into glycogen by the liver (same as carbohydrates).


Ok, so we're both technically correct, but gluconeogenesis only occurs when your body is in a fasted state (i.e. right after a workout or when you wake up in the morning). Gluconeogenesis is also how your body survives when your in ketosis (think Atkin's diet). However, if your liver contains normal amounts of glycogen, gluconeogenesis will not occur and your liver will not convert amino acids and fats into glucose. That is why it's a good idea to drink gatorade and eat some protein right after a workout. The insulin response caused by the gatorade prevents gluconeogenesis from occurring, sugar from the gatorade is converted into glycogen, and the protein helps to start the recovery process in your muscles. So, unless your on a low carb diet, gluconeogenesis is not exactly a desireable thing.

[kwajo.com]

I'm sure a lot of people have given you good advice already, this thread is long, but I just thought I'd throw in that in the summer before my final year of high school, I woke up at 6am every morning, ran for at least an hour, everyday for 2 months and lost 60 pounds (220 to 160). I grew out my hair at the same time and I kept from seeing most of my friends, and I swear to god when I went back in the fall no one recognized me for like 3 days. best thing I ever did. bar none. I had high blood pressure amongst other health issues, couldn't keep up with my friends if we went hiking or whatever, and I had bad self-esteem. Losing the weight helped me change my life around, now I am confident, have better endurance than all my friends and am so healthy I haven't even had a cold in the 3 years since then.

basically what I'm saying is that if you are committed to it, go for it. it may seem hard at first, but after a couple months you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Good luck! :)

[rainman::|:|]

Well I dropped down to my skinny-twink-swimmer body with a mixture of anorexia and drug abuse, but i wouldn't recommend that... it really requires a certain level of commitment. SO, here's some better advice that also served me well.

Stop drinking caffiene entirely. Cut out sugared drinks as much as possible.

People assume caffiene must help lose weight, since it's a stimulant. In reality it just screws up your metabolism, often slowing parts of it down. And those 20-ounce soft drinks add up, that can be half of a person's caloric intake if they're not careful.

NEVER STOP EATING ENTIRELY. your body goes into "starve" mode and saves all the fat it can. Your body has to be well-fed with healthy food in order for it to "feel safe" burning up your energy reserves.

In fact, the very act of eating causes the metabolism to speed up by up to 15%. A lot of people (myself included) have noticed that eating 6 small (healthy!) meals a day makes your body burn fat faster...

WHEN EXCERCISING, after you've hit the wall (where your body switches from blood glucose to fat for power, and excercising gets easier), your body will continue to run on fat for a few hours afterwards. These are good times to eat high-fat high-sugar foods, if you must. They pass through you with less absorbtion.

[QCassidy352]

Since you've been running a lot and situps and haven't lost mm/inches around the waist, what about target training that area. Love handles arent solved by situps/crunches alone. What about Side Bends...

Thanks, never heard of that, but I will try it.

Actually men commonly gain most fluctuating weight in their belly region, women in the rear of their thighs and butt. Men's muscles are actually ON TOP of the fat in most regions of the body, abdominals included, which is why 'fat' people can still have a six pack....the muscles actually get pushed outward by the fat, not the other way around.

Hmm, I believe you, but it just doesn't seem to be the case with me. You can see my muscles a bit, but the truth is my abs are very strong and it doesn't look it.

If you do a ton of situps and still feel you have some issues with this region, it could very well be skin (check it out when you stretch backward...does it really tighten up? I had some 'love handles' I thought were fat, but if I lean over there is nothing there...just skin. I am quite thin as well). Another potential issue is you could either be doing the wrong type of situps or doing them improperly. I don't mean to insult here, just throwing out ideas to see if any might work. If the little fat you don't like is low, make sure to do a lot of leg lifts, and also make your situps and abdominal work weighted like other lifting. If you only continually do situps your body adapts to your upper-body weight very quickly...it isnt all that hard to lift once you build you abs up a little bit.

It's partly skin, yes, but there's more to it than that. I usually do a pretty wide variety of sit ups and other ab exercises because I do find that my body gets used to the same basic situp fairly quickly, but by doing a lot of different exercises targeting different areas of the abdomen and rotating them on different days, I can avoid that.

Just another quick thought, when you stand straight up does your back cave forward and your stomach stick out a little bit, giving the appearance of a 'belly'?

Well, yeah, kind of. But not very much, and doesn't everyone's back cave forward at least to some degree? I can't really imagine a back doing otherwise... Also, whatever illusions are going on, there is definitely fat there as well. If I, say, flick my belly with a finger, there's a little "ripple" or "shake" to it whereas if I do the same thing on my quads or biceps, nothing moves.

I know exactly what you are talking about...both in the problem and developments (assuming they are on topics discussed here at other places). ...I realize we all want to look 'great', but realistically we should be happy with what we have. It is a lot easier for me to say then do, there are plenty of things I would love to change about myself but if I really think about it and the proposed changes effect on me, it is usually minimal to none, not really worth it. Try to find the natural joy in your life, and the natural beauty in your body. I know it sounds cheesy, but try it, it might just help.

Ah, I was wondering if anyone in this thread would know what I meant. ;)
I know that you're right, and I do try to see things that way. It's not like I think I'm hideous or bloated or anything, but this minor problem has bothered me for a long time and I'd like to correct it if at all possible. Why not? It wouldn't kill me to eat less junk and get my milage (running) back up regardless of aesthetic effects on my body.

If you hate the idea, then don't do it! There are many things to try to before surger to alter your figure, especially if it is minimal 'fat' removal for a specific region for vanity's sake. Take a look at thermal fat burners and metabolic increasers. Normally I don't recommend this sort of thing, but if you are in good health with a strong and healthy heart, a short course of either (not together) wouldn't be a bad idea to see if it helps out.

I would certainly only ever try surgery as a final option, if at all. I don't know that I'd ever really do it. Thermal fat burners and metabolic increasers you say? Never heard of them, but will look in to it.

Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful response. Any other feedback is welcome. :)

[wiseguy27]

I just wanted to mention a few points (although some of these ideas have already been beaten to death here):) :
* why do people have this misconception that a vegetarian or vegan diet would deprive people of protein and thus make them unhealthy? The biggest problem in today's American diet is TOO MUCH PROTEIN and TOO MUCH FAT! Adults do not necessarily have to have the amount of protein they regularly take. In any diet, moderation and balance are the keys, and that applies to vegetarian and vegan diets too. A well planned vegan diet can help in weight loss. Of course, as others have stated several hundreds times, losing weight through diet alone is a losing proposition. As mentioned before, what's required is a change in lifestyle for long term weight loss.

* Talking about balance and moderation again - do not go for fad diets that advocate low carb or high protein or high fat or high carb or any of that nonsense. The key for weight loss and maintenance has always been "calories" (with adequate balance between carbs, proteins and fats plus vitamins and minerals). You would be unnecessarily straining your organs if you put a very high emphasis on protein, fat or carbs. Not having a balanced diet has long term complications that people fail to look at when they're in the pursuit of "instant weight loss". Killing oneself for a few pounds less or suffering in hospital because of some stupid diet is just not worth it!
* Take the weight loss process slow - as someone indicated, you will not loss weight on a constant basis every week. Some weeks you'll lose more, some weeks you may even put on a little. The key is persistence! If you persist for several months, you will succeed (this goes with the lifestyle change mantra).

Finally, some hints that may probably help you:
* Know that you need discipline and persistence to achieve your goals. If you cannot follow a particular process, you would first have to see how you can change your mindset and bring in self-control and discipline back into your life. Weight gain in most cases is caused due to psychological reasons - physical changes would not be effective in those cases.
* Take it slow - changing food habits is not easy since familiar foods give us a lot of satisfaction and comfort. Take it slowly so that you can maintain it for the long term.
* Have a heavy breakfast, followed by a moderate lunch and a light dinner - this will kick up your metabolism at the right times in the day and help burn more calories (even when you're sedentary).
* Add more raw fruits and veggies to your diet - this will help in many ways (more fiber, good source of vitamins and minerals, easier on your body, helps maintain blood sugar better, and low in fat).
* Drink lots of water whenever possible. There's no better substitute (not soda, not juice).
* Maintain your exercise routine - it's not easy, but leaving exercise out of the equation will not help you maintain your weight loss. It will only result in short term loss followed by a huge gain, leading you into depression and hopelessness. At your age, that's the last thing you want to deal with. :)
* Build a little muscle - while areobics will help you burn some calories, once you reach your "target heart rate", do some muscle building exercises. Muscles burn more calories even when you're not actively doing anything, and that would help in reducing weight.

Finally, a teeny bit about vegan food - vegan food does not mean eating veggies and nothing else. Many people tend to think that vegetarians and vegans eat salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. :D Nothing could be farther from the truth than this! :D

People have adapted plant based food to make anything that meat eaters eat (like burgers, pizza, pasta, steaks, sushi...and what not). In the US, even ice cream, cakes, cookies etc. are available in vegan versions - and they definitely taste yummy (or yummier than the dairy/non-vegetarian versions)! :) Of all the places in the world, NYC has a LOT OF OPTIONS for vegans, both in restaurants and food stores.

If you're interested in getting to know vegan food, check out local meetups that happen once a month (http://vegan.meetup.com) - NYC has a very good meetup going on, and you could get to meet people of different ages and different backgrounds.

NYC also has a plethora of vegan restaurants - some of the best being Red Bamboo (pretty cheap too), Angelica Kitchen, Kate's Joint and a lot more. Check out http://www.vegdining.com. In addition to this, NYU has a vegan dinner once a month where anyone can walk into (check out the dining section on the NYU website) - for $8 you get to eat all that you want (ok that's not good for your weight, but you'd get to know what's available in vegan food).

[efoto]

Thanks, never heard of that, but I will try it.[reference to side bends and alternate ab workouts]
Another step is to increase the weight of your 'basic situp'. You can do this by holding common household items above your head with your arms overhead, parallel to your chest/frame. Take a full box of kleenex or a pair of shoes, something small and with the increased moment-arm of your arms fully extended overhead, it will add a little pizazz to your 'basic situp'. Obviously, if those objects are easy, get heavier ones :p

Hmm, I believe you, but it just doesn't seem to be the case with me. You can see my muscles a bit, but the truth is my abs are very strong and it doesn't look it.
What I stated was not to say that zero fat collects over the muscles, that is true either but the bulk of the stores are behind/underneath most male muscles. I know what you are getting at, I feel the same way about other body parts where they are quite strong (relatively :) ) but they don't neccesarily look like it.

It's partly skin, yes, but there's more to it than that. I usually do a pretty wide variety of sit ups and other ab exercises because I do find that my body gets used to the same basic situp fairly quickly, but by doing a lot of different exercises targeting different areas of the abdomen and rotating them on different days, I can avoid that.

Well, yeah, kind of. But not very much, and doesn't everyone's back cave forward at least to some degree? I can't really imagine a back doing otherwise... Also, whatever illusions are going on, there is definitely fat there as well. If I, say, flick my belly with a finger, there's a little "ripple" or "shake" to it whereas if I do the same thing on my quads or biceps, nothing moves.
Okay, so yes everyone's back caves forward a little bit I guess....I was sort of trying to make you feel better. I realize nit-picking is probably easiest to do on one's self because of all the time one spends in front of the mirror (not directed at you QCass, I do it to during normal bathroom maneuvers). Not that it will probably help you feel any better, but I don't like my as* :p, just thought I would share for the sake of sharing....
Another thing you have to take into account is self-perception between what you want to be and what you perhaps should be. If you are in shape, healthy and have the 'normal' body numbers (BMI, BF%, etc etc) or a little lower, then you really have nothing to worry about. I realize this don't make you feel a lick better about that 'problem area', doesn't help me either, but some comfort can be taken from the fact that you are healthy.

Ah, I was wondering if anyone in this thread would know what I meant. ;)
I know that you're right, and I do try to see things that way. It's not like I think I'm hideous or bloated or anything, but this minor problem has bothered me for a long time and I'd like to correct it if at all possible. Why not? It wouldn't kill me to eat less junk and get my milage (running) back up regardless of aesthetic effects on my body.
Yeah, I am temporarily stalking you between threads....I guess :confused:. I know what you are talking about, same changes happened to me after those changes happened to me :(, so I know what you are talking about. Women change their hairstyle, men want to get in shape....and so spins the world.
There is no reason not to attempt to correct it, but if this problem really does bother you then you risk thinking too much about it and then if nothing happens or nothing changes, you run the risk of placing even more stress on yourself which could actually add more ripples, since stress is not healthy and often has direct ties to eating and food usage.
Just make sure whatever you do you are wise about it. If you check out some thermo-burners or other pills, make sure to read up on the net or in a store and make sure they are safe. There are a lot of things out there that can aid in the reduction of excess mass, but there are lot of things out there that hurt other aspects of your body during the mass-reduction, be careful.

[Mantat]

Ok, read a lot of replies and it seems like a lot of people dont know anything about health.

Really! First, you dont want to lose weight, you want to lose fat. This is a big difference, trust me. Losing weigth would be dont faster by restricting what you eat but you will end up getting it all back eventually. Losing fat is the way to go.

So here is a basic guide that will put you in good shape in a decent time:

Basic explanation
It all come down to this equation:

Calorie intake - Calories burned = fat variation

So we have two variable to work with: intake and burned. Before going into the detail of each one, I would like to talk about the ‘slow metabolism’ excuse. A lot of fat people use that excuse to explain their excessive weight while in fact it is just that, an excuse, to cover for bad eating habits. If you think you have such problem, go see a doctor and talk about your condition.

Calories intake
For survival reason, humans like sugar and fat food: they provide energy for short and long term. The problem is that our current life style is totaly different that the one of our ancestor. Most people dont even walk more than 1km per day (source), so we have to adapt the food intake in consequence.

I dont recommand going on a diet, they simply never work because its impossible to repect them on the long term. Also, if you stop them (enventually, you will) you will get back all the weight.

So a simpler solution is to cut the size of portions. Dont fill your plate with food, take about 1/2 or 2/3 of what you think you want to eat. Eat slowly and if you are still hungry at the end, get up and add some food. Eating slowly helps your body to ‘realize’ who full your stomac is, also its good for digestion since you can masticate the food better and mix more saliva to it.
Now the hard part: you have to cut into the sugar. Either cut your daily portion by half or try to not eat any every second day. This is probably the hardest part (was for me) but if you can manage it for 15 days, it will be easier afterward.

Also, reduce all fried food, these are diet killers!

Finally, increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat. They cost less than cookies and are much better for your health.

Calories burned

All of the stuff about diet was pretty common knowledge, here is the interesting part! People think that the only way to burn fat is to do cardio activity (jogging, biking, etc..). This is one of the biggest urban legend there is! These activities are great for your hearth but wont do much for your fat because they burn calories only when you are working out (20-30mins) and most of these calories arent from body fat.

So how can you lose weight? As weird as it might sound, you need to gain weight to lose fat. Actually, you need to gain muscles. This is valid as much for man as for woman.

By weight training, you burn calories:
- while doing the exercice
- the next day while your body is burning fat to repair the damaged muscles
- for ever: keeping muscles need energy, so just by the virtue of having more muscle, you burn more energy even if you arent training!
Now some weight training tips:
- train 2-3 times a week. If you are short on time, just do one set of every exercice. Experiment shown that the gain of doing aditional sets isnt that great. So just make sure that you workout every muscle group.
- concentrate on form. The goal here isnt to lift the heaviest weight, its to work out the muscle group in the best possible way.
- consult a personal trainer to make a program and learn the best form of each exercice.

All the of above advices are scientificaly proven. Dont forget, more muscle = more fat burned automaticaly. So if you keep the same alimentation, you will lose weight, and if you <correct> it, you will lose fat even faster!

If you want a training program, just ask, I can make you one that works great and can be done in an hour. Nothing to mak you M. Muscle, but enough for a starter.

[Lacero]

A) If you want to lose weight, the first thing you need to do, and this is pretty painless, is to eat slowly. I mean chew your food, enjoy it, and EAT SLOWLY. This allows your stomach to tell you when you're full. Wolfing down food ain't going to do it.

B) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day if possible. I know this is a stickler for many fatsos, but it's important nonetheless.

C) Limit starchy foods such as breads, pastas, doughnuts. Try to avoid processed foods with lots of sugar in them.

D) Eat foods high in alkalinity. Green leafy vegetables is a great source.

E) Get plenty of restful sleep.

That's all that you need to do for permanent weight loss. Diets and pills don't work so don't even bother.

[efoto]

Ok, read a lot of replies and it seems like a lot of people dont know anything about health.

It seems a few posters also don't know how to spell very well.

I realize it is possible English is not your primary language, but when you come out and insult a lot of people right of the bat, you open yourself up to greater scrutiny in your own post. While I realize that you may feel different on some of the opinions posted in this thread, everyone is posting what they believe to be good and helpful to the OP. I have yet to see someone say they are a certified nutrishionist and give him an exact mealplan, or a certified trainer and give him an accomplishable workout regimen.

You added some points I believe are useful, as have many other posters. Many people have taken some time to read a little bit and post in an attempt to help the OP and others on the board who have said they would like to lose some weight as well, so take care when insulting "a lot of people" like you did. Even your post has its flaws, both in spelling and in health.

[efoto]

A) If you want to lose weight, the first thing you need to do, and this is pretty painless, is to eat slowly. I mean chew your food, enjoy it, and EAT SLOWLY. This allows your stomach to tell you when you're full. Wolfing down food ain't going to do it.

B) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day if possible. I know this is a stickler for many fatsos, but it's important nonetheless.

C) Limit starchy foods such as breads, pastas, doughnuts. Try to avoid processed foods with lots of sugar in them.

D) Eat foods high in alkalinity. Green leafy vegetables is a great source.

E) Get plenty of restful sleep.

That's all that you need to do for permanent weight loss. Diets and pills don't work so don't even bother.

I agree with most of that, however there is nothing inherently wrong with a good diet, the trouble is finding a good one instead of a trendy one. A diet can be a long-term thing that you could stay on for the rest of your life if you wanted to, if you find the right one. A diet also can give you the results that you seek if you stick to it.

The problem with good diets is that the user doesn't follow it as it is stated to the letter (almost impossible to do, which is why they have a bad rep), but the diet is not at fault.

Pills are not for the faint of heart (literally) and cause serious side-effects for some users. Using the right pills, for the right person, can give long-lasting desired results however, so again not ALL pills are bad when taken appropriately and by a person suited for them.

[noaccess]

[kinda offtopic]
BTW have you heard about adenovirus 36? An indian researcher discovered a virus which is actually believed to cause weight gain :eek: . This guy injected AD 36 into some test animals and they eventually became overweight. And he found out that 30% of overweight americans are infected.

Ya know, this thread could be published as a weight loss book... if it keeps growing @ this rate :) . Macrumors guide to burnin' that s***... and QUICK! oh... and ads for Smartwater™
Keep it goin' ;)

[efoto]

[kinda offtopic]
BTW have you heard about adenovirus 36? An indian researcher discovered a virus which is actually believed to cause weight gain :eek: . This guy injected AD 36 into some test animals and they eventually became overweight. And he found out that 30% of overweight americans are infected.

Ya know, this thread could be published as a weight loss book... if it keeps growing @ this rate :) . Macrumors guide to burnin' that s***... and QUICK!
Keep it goin' ;)

Do they site a cause for the "epidemic" that impacts 30% of Americans? I would bet it has something to do with our food since most other countries don't seem to have such a high obesity count.

[devilot]

Do they site a cause for the "epidemic" that impacts 30% of Americans? I would bet it has something to do with our food since most other countries don't seem to have such a high obesity count.
I thnk it's lifeystyle choices: speaking only for myself and the places I have visited, Europe, Asia, and Mexio people actually walk. Take the stairs. Everywhere you look is the use of smaller portions. Soda isn't as prevalent. I think the biggest problem in America in regards to being overweight is inactivity.

[jelloshotsrule]

NYC also has a plethora of vegan restaurants - some of the best being Red Bamboo (pretty cheap too), Angelica Kitchen, Kate's Joint and a lot more. Check out http://www.vegdining.com. In addition to this, NYU has a vegan dinner once a month where anyone can walk into (check out the dining section on the NYU website) - for $8 you get to eat all that you want (ok that's not good for your weight, but you'd get to know what's available in vegan food).

i was always a fan of the polenta with that tomato style sauce.. and when they grilled the tofu up right, it could be quite good. it seemed that u hall was usually the best for such dinners.

kate's shepherd's pie is awesome.

while it's not a vegan restaurant per se... mamoun's! i need to go back.

mmmm benny's burritos with vegan cheese and sour cream. spectacular.

[noaccess]

Actually, the Europeans are starting to catch up with Americans. Iv read somewhere that pretty soon Europe will have the same percentage of obese people as the U.S.
Maybe a reason for the high american obesity count is that the americans rely on fast food pretty much, (or @least they did this until everyone was told that fastfood isn't healthy), especially that most can afford it everyday--the U.S. is the most economically developed country ITW. People in other continents still rely on home-cooked foods (cooked, if not by themselves, then by someone they hire), but this is rapidly decreasing. And lifestyle matters a lot (as devilot said), everything is about doing things from @ home (online shopping, delivery services, even jobs @ home). People who sit at home too much can get addicted to the 'comfort zone' and then some develop phobias and don't want to leave the house, except for work.
Plus, I think that the 30% fat virus value is equally spread across the globe, but (even if you're infected) if you don't eat that much fat stuff, how can you expect to have the same weight as someone who does?
BTW, see 'fat virus' article, here:http://www3.usenetarchive.org/File.asp?service=12880 (halfway through)

[devilot]

I definitely agree that what you eat has a big impact, but I still believe firmly that it is lifestyle choices. Active lifestyle. Portion control. Example: a marathon runner can get away with eating pizza because he/she still burns away a lot of those calories. Likewise, Jane and John Doe w/ normal metabolisms could get away with eating some fatty foods if they had 1/3 of the usual American serving portions! When in Europe, my family constantly whined that they were still hungry because the portions were so much smaller than in the States. To prove that point: several restaurants offer on their menus "American" size as an option. Goodness Gracious! :p

[efoto]

I thnk it's lifeystyle choices: speaking only for myself and the places I have visited, Europe, Asia, and Mexio people actually walk. Take the stairs. Everywhere you look is the use of smaller portions. Soda isn't as prevalent. I think the biggest problem in America in regards to being overweight is inactivity.

I agree with you however I was asking that question in reference to noaccess' post about this adenovirus 36 thing.

An indian researcher discovered a virus which is actually believed to cause weight gain . This guy injected AD 36 into some test animals and they eventually became overweight. And he found out that 30% of overweight americans are infected.

So based on the quote I made the assumption that it was a disease (like it is implied) which would suggest that even working out and not being sedentary might not counteract the weightgain caused by AD 36. I realize we are lazy, no doubt in my mind that in a lot of cases, but not all, laziness adds to a person's weight. I am interested in the nature of this AD 36 though, I want to know where it comes from and what causes it, assuming it is legit of course.

[QCassidy352]

I realize this don't make you feel a lick better about that 'problem area', doesn't help me either, but some comfort can be taken from the fact that you are healthy.

Oh, believe me, I appreciate my health. There's nothing like temporarily losing ones health to make one be forever thankful for it when it comes back. :)

Yeah, I am temporarily stalking you between threads....I guess :confused:. I know what you are talking about, same changes happened to me after those changes happened to me :(, so I know what you are talking about. Women change their hairstyle, men want to get in shape....and so spins the world.

Oooh I've always wanted my own stalker! What do you think of what I'm wearing today? :eek: ;)

There is no reason not to attempt to correct it, but if this problem really does bother you then you risk thinking too much about it and then if nothing happens or nothing changes, you run the risk of placing even more stress on yourself which could actually add more ripples, since stress is not healthy and often has direct ties to eating and food usage.
Just make sure whatever you do you are wise about it. If you check out some thermo-burners or other pills, make sure to read up on the net or in a store and make sure they are safe. There are a lot of things out there that can aid in the reduction of excess mass, but there are lot of things out there that hurt other aspects of your body during the mass-reduction, be careful.

Thanks for the advice once again. As of right now what I've decided to do is simply this: get my milage back up and/or get back in to racing shape (something I'd like to do regardless), cut the "junk food" from my diet, and eat smaller portions. And keep doing all of the sit ups/push ups/bends etc. that I'm already doing. I've never tried such a dedicated approach (all those things at once) before, so I'm hopeful that will be all it takes. If I do decide to do anything more extreme I'll certainly be careful about what I do. :)

[noaccess]

It's one of the about 50 adenoviruses regularly found in the human body. Adenoviruses are viruses mostly everyone is infected with at birth, although you're not infected with all of them. And this one, it seems, infects 30% of obese persons, so not everyone who is overweight is that way because of the virus.
And, devilot76, I wasn't saying that what you eat is most important or that lifestyle or portion control doesn't matter. I was saying that leading a passive lifestyle and eating the regular pizza now&then may be why the more developed countries have obesity problems, especially that a lot of people don't go out or exercise as often as they should (BTW describes me perfectly :) ). And I totally agree with what you said.
And about American servings--are they that :eek:?
Wanna know if I could eat one--at my own risk.

[efoto]

Oooh I've always wanted my own stalker! What do you think of what I'm wearing today? :eek: ;)
I think you need to wash your damn red socks :p
I realize they are your favorite, but they are starting to smell aweful!


Thanks for the advice once again. As of right now what I've decided to do is simply this: get my milage back up and/or get back in to racing shape (something I'd like to do regardless), cut the "junk food" from my diet, and eat smaller portions. And keep doing all of the sit ups/push ups/bends etc. that I'm already doing. I've never tried such a dedicated approach (all those things at once) before, so I'm hopeful that will be all it takes. If I do decide to do anything more extreme I'll certainly be careful about what I do. :)
Sounds like a few good steps to get you headed in the right direction. Try to keep your chin up even if the course is difficult and the progress comes slower than you would like it to. Getting back into a race-ready shape is something I know from experience takes a long a** time, no way around the long journey to get there though. I used to be in great shape (not bad now, but race shape) back in HS when I was cross-training with a road-cycling team and racing for a mountain team and riding for fun with friends. Miles galore...I loved it.
Now, well lets just say my quads were cannons and now they are .22s :p, depressing. I just have no time to do anything anymore between classes and work. Someday I'll get back into I keep saying, I just hope I am right. Best of luck on your venture.

[efoto]

A lot of advice was given, a lot of plans were stated, a lot of people said they were going to attempt X, Y, or Z, or all three.

It has been some time since there was a post here, I'm looking for updates. Anyone have any uplifting comments or success stories? OP (dotdotdot), how are things going for you? I realize you initial goal was based around a pool-party (did that already happen or not quite....I forget and don't want to re-read 4 pages, sorry :o), but how are things going?

[dotdotdot]

A lot of advice was given, a lot of plans were stated, a lot of people said they were going to attempt X, Y, or Z, or all three.

It has been some time since there was a post here, I'm looking for updates. Anyone have any uplifting comments or success stories? OP (dotdotdot), how are things going for you? I realize you initial goal was based around a pool-party (did that already happen or not quite....I forget and don't want to re-read 4 pages, sorry :o), but how are things going?

Ha - I lost like only a pound or two...

[QCassidy352]

I'm not losing weight, but I am losing fat - which is all I wanted anyway (who wants to weigh less than 135 anyway??). The difference, though not extreme, is noticable already.

All I've done is started running like I mean it again, tried to stop eating when I'm full rather than when I don't want any more food, and almost entirely eliminated junk food. I'm also doing sit ups, push ups, and side bends daily.

I'm convinced now that I just never made a serious enough effort in the past (especially with my diet; exercise was fine), and that anything extreme like surgery will not be necessary. In fact, the way it's going, I may even have results I'm happy with in time to take advantage of the end of beach season. :cool: Many thanks to all who offered helpful advice and encouragement. I'll update again if/when I get where I want. :)

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'm not losing weight, but I am losing fat - which is all I wanted anyway (who wants to weigh less than 135 anyway??). The difference, though not extreme, is noticable already.

All I've done is started running like I mean it again, tried to stop eating when I'm full rather than when I don't want any more food, and almost entirely eliminated junk food. I'm also doing sit ups, push ups, and side bends daily.

I'm convinced now that I just never made a serious enough effort in the past (especially with my diet; exercise was fine), and that anything extreme like surgery will not be necessary. In fact, the way it's going, I may even have results I'm happy with in time to take advantage of the end of beach season. :cool: Many thanks to all who offered helpful advice and encouragement. I'll update again if/when I get where I want. :)


As a note of caution. Surgery should only be considered by those that are so over weight, and other options have not worked. As I have mentioned before, we need to be happy with the body that God gave us. Not all of us will be bale to have ab's that you could bounce a quarter off of. Some will have "love handles", some may have a small "gut". What is important is to have a body that will give a person a healthy future with.

Glad to hear that things are going well. I was in the opposite situation recently. Because of stresses in my life, I was losing weight. I was determined to maintain or gain, in order to have my fears erased. So now I can too begin a reasonable weight loss program. Though for me it is a health issue (heart disease, diabetes), not one of wanting to be more "attractive". Maybe it is the years speaking (soon to be 47), or maybe the abuse from those that felt that bodies should only be seen in Speedos - I have come to accept Life as God and my genes have given me. (Example is with Brad Pitt, in the Gladiator movie he had problems with developing his calfs for the movie - despite highly paid trainers. Genetics is a powerful thing.) In the end love the body you have. Others will if given the chance. For the mind wins out in the end.

[oldschool]

First off, I resent the contest (although you are partially correct), secondly I hate double spaces between sentences, one of my peeves. Enough of that though :p

Proteins are comprised of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen (CHON).
Carbohydrates are comprised of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen (CHO).

A function in the liver known as deamination is the process of removing nitrogen from the amino chains in the proteins (I completely agree proteins are made up of amino acid chains). When you remove the nitrogen content from the protein (the only thing seperating it from a carbohydrate) you are left with a Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen comprised part (CHO), namely a carbohydrate.

Where I will admit you are correct is that not all protein converts to carbohydrates, some of the amino-chains are fully absorbed. Once the deamination process takes place, another process in the liver called gluconeogenesis (derived from ''new sugar creation'') that takes place. This is the same process that carbohydrates undergo to be transformed into glucose. Once in the form of glucose they can then be turned into glycogen by the liver (same as carbohydrates).

On average roughly 58% (by weight) (found that number online) of the protein we eat is excess and is converted to glucose and ultimately glycogen by the liver. The glycogen that is not used for energy is turned into stored fat, the same fate deemed to glycogen that originated as carbohydrates.

So while I see your point, I still believe mine is valid as well.


i don't mean to offend in any way...this is done with full respect...but you aren't correct in saying that deamination converts a protein to carbohydrate. Once deaminated they are composed of the same elements as carbohydrates, but that doesn't mean they are the same molecule. For example, butanol, an alcohol, is made up of CHO...but it definitely isn't a carbohydrate.

[efoto]

i don't mean to offend in any way...this is done with full respect...but you aren't correct in saying that deamination converts a protein to carbohydrate. Once deaminated they are composed of the same elements as carbohydrates, but that doesn't mean they are the same molecule. For example, butanol, an alcohol, is made up of CHO...but it definitely isn't a carbohydrate.

I understand that, I was generalizing and assuming we were discussing solely within the realm of foods and natural human-body breakdown of matters taken in during feast. I know what I said is not completely true, I have forgotten a lot of what my trainer taught me and admittedly a lot of that came from an online source, although quite reputable as I know the author who is a Dr. No offense taken, although not entirely a carb after deamination, the basic principles of a carb exist and the body will treat the molecule in a similar manner to a carb, storing it and stacking, eventually a fattier you because you didn't use it.

Haha, I should amend my sig with "All comments above are subject to being 100% false, I make everything up on the spot." just to save all this time :p

[efoto]

Ha - I lost like only a pound or two...
Keep your chin up and keep trying. The fact that you have lost anything means that you are putting forth an effort, that alone should be rewarded. I like to believe that everyone has the ability to lose weight, but it is only the people that have a strong enough will to do it that are rewarded with a reduction. Keep working at it, it is not an overnight process so be patient and keep a positive attitude. You'll be surprised but attitude will go a very long way.

I'm not losing weight, but I am losing fat - which is all I wanted anyway (who wants to weigh less than 135 anyway??). The difference, though not extreme, is noticable already.

All I've done is started running like I mean it again, tried to stop eating when I'm full rather than when I don't want any more food, and almost entirely eliminated junk food. I'm also doing sit ups, push ups, and side bends daily.

I'm convinced now that I just never made a serious enough effort in the past (especially with my diet; exercise was fine), and that anything extreme like surgery will not be necessary. In fact, the way it's going, I may even have results I'm happy with in time to take advantage of the end of beach season. :cool: Many thanks to all who offered helpful advice and encouragement. I'll update again if/when I get where I want. :)

Awesome, glad to hear that you realize you can do it naturally. Not only will you save some pain, but a ton of money too :D which is always good for me.

I realize you may be partial to running, but take a look at cycling a bit, either in a spin class at the gym or just out by yourself. The impact will help out that troubled knee of yours, and it is a nice changeup to through in to keep you motivated and keep your body guessing, which promotes faster results as well. It is always nice to hear success stories, be they little or large.