FearFactor47 said:
I'm 18 and I've lost so far lost 51lbs. (used to be 19 stone 5 pounds, now 15 stone 10 pounds).
I started off calorie controlled, but switched over to fat controlled and the weight fell off quicker. I don't feel calorie controlled is best. i.e. you can eat a 400 kcal meal which is 20 grams of fat, or a 400 kcal meal which is 4 grams of fat... get my drift? I'm not an expert on dieting, but I think you could say there is no relationship for fat counting towards calories and vice versa.
I eat about 2 grams of fat for breakfast, 3 for lunch and about 6 for dinner.
I would say the best things to eat are normal baked beans (extremely low in fat, filling and very high in fibre), wheatabix (low in fat, high in fibre) and most chicken dishes without the fatty sauces.
After losing 50 odd pounds you'd think I'd be more energetic - but I'm not, I feel sluggish in the mornings even after 12 hours sleep. I used to take a multivitamin, but not any more. I think I might start taking the tablets listed in the first post.
I actually don't eat many fruit and vegetables, maybe I should try having my 5 a day... Also, if your cutting fat, don't cut your carbohydrates - fat provides double the amount of energy
Yeah, if you're living primarily on simple carbs your energy is going to peak a little while after a meal, then crash for the rest of the day until your next meal. (This is a primary concept of the Zone diet, and while I don't go along with the Zone thing, the reasoning behind the carb-sugar-insulin metabolism is persuasive. Read about it for that info, even if you don't plan to follow the diet)
Personally, I don't think severe fat restriction is the way to go -- your body needs fats, just as it needs protein and carbs. Fats aren't bad per se, it's just that it makes it easier to get too many calories with fats and oils, esp. in commercially prepared foods (not just deep fried, but lots of things you wouldn't associate with fats and oils, like commercial bran muffins). With too little fat, your body is hungry all the time.
What works for me is to get my fats from 'good' sources -- olive oil, flax oil, salmon, tuna, egg, cheese, nuts. I drink skim milk and eat lean cuts of chicken and beef but I'm not fanatic about animal fat -- simple saturated animal fats I think are still better for you than hydrogenated unsaturated fats in shortening, most margarines, and virtually all commercial baked goods.
I have cut out bread, cereals and baked goods; my carbs come from vegetables -- tomato salads, veg stir fry, spinach salad -- a good spinach salad with hardboiled egg or fish, sunflower seeds, feta cheese & parmesan. tossed with olive oil - that's filling and satisfying, great on fibre, veg, good fats and protein.
I make a protein-fibre drink from protein powder, flax seed, chia seed, and psyllium husk, ground up, and that in water swells up and gives me a 'full' feeling stomach, so I eat less during meals. I often add "greens" powder to that for extra nutrients, and unsweetened cranberry and blueberry juices for antioxidents.
