The Official MR Weight Loss Challenge™

[nbs2]

It's been a couple of weeks since my last contract ended, and thanks to my refusal to buy a cheap scale I had nowhere to weigh myself. But, it turns out that the pool has one that I can use. So on the days that I head over, I should be able to weigh myself (if I remember).

 

[Guiyon]

Too bad I missed this thread when it started, probably would of been really helpful. On the upside through, I managed to go from 260 down to around 150 (I'm around 5'8" so it's a nice, comfortable weight) over the course of the last two years.

One of the things that actually really helped me out the most was learning to cook. Before I had very limited tastes and, needless to say, had more than my fair share of fast foot (late night at the lab? Stop by McDonald's on the way home!). Once I started learning how to cook and expanded my tastes a bit, it became much easier to start eating healthier; a hell of a lot cheaper too. I also started eating more often during the day (5 small meals instead of 3 big ones).

As for working out, I jammed the gym into my schedule, started planning around that and eventually it became habit. Having a 2-3 mile jogging route planned out around my house also helped for when I couldn't make it to the gym.

 

[Randman]

I think this is a really good idea but it drives me batty reading the OP's threads on confusing lose with loose.

 

[nbs2]

Once again, this thread is back from the abyss. This time, to celebrate breaking through a plateau of not caring. Well, at least I know that I'll be able to maintain when that time comes.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Ah, thanks for the reminder, nbs2.

I'm down to 212 now - about 20 pounds lost since the end of August. Plateaus here and there and ups and downs, but I'm sticking to it and am happy with the results.

200 by 2009 or bust!

 

[P-Worm]

Rower, that is a terrific looking chart. Keep up the good work.

P-Worm

 

[Iscariot]

How is everybody doing? Any recent success stories?

 

[wvuwhat]

No real success stories? I'll start it off. I passed not only Wendy's and Burger King on the way home, but McDonalds, too. I came home and fixed myself a nice salad with grilled chicken with no dressing. Too bad I'm going to ruin it all in about an hour by drinking entirely too much, celebrating the end of the hardest class of my college career.

 

[nbs2]

So, Rower, was it 200 or was it bust? Either way, just keep on keeping on. The holidays nailed me to a wall - I'm finally back to where I was Nov 15.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Thanks for the nudge, nbs2 - I've been meaning to check back in...

The holidays are always tough, and they got me a bit this year, too. It was "bust", but I'm still happy with the progress. I got as low as 205 and then took a couple weeks off for the holidays. I'm back in action now at 207 and working to make 200 in the next month or so.

 

[xodonniedarko]

Hey everyone! I didn't read everything before... but yeah.

I'm 5'2'' and I weigh 126. While that doesn't sound heavy, in may I weighed about 115. So I have plumped 10 pounds due to the freshmen 5, and the extra 5 that just joined along for the ride.

Anyways, I joined the Y on friday and I'm feeling fabulous about the whole thing. Can't wait to go work out tomorrow. My car is currently stuck in mud, but I'm so determined to work out I'm making my boyfriend pick me up! YAyyyy!

I can't wait to get back my bikini body! Wooo!

 

[nbs2]

Thanks for the nudge, nbs2 - I've been meaning to check back in...

The holidays are always tough, and they got me a bit this year, too. It was "bust", but I'm still happy with the progress. I got as low as 205 and then took a couple weeks off for the holidays. I'm back in action now at 207 and working to make 200 in the next month or so.

Ah well, as long as you are on the path, difficulties can be overcome. Or something like that. I missed my next target (167) as well, but I hope to be there by the beginning of March.

I'm 5'2'' and I weigh 126. While that doesn't sound heavy, in may I weighed about 115. So I have plumped 10 pounds due to the freshmen 5, and the extra 5 that just joined along for the ride.

I remember it being the Freshman 15, or is that getting hit by the economy as well? Holding at 10 for the first semester is something I wish I had done - I gained 35# my first semester of college.

 

[UltraNEO*]

I'm 176cm and would like to weight 65Kg....
Like so many here, I'm also currently trying to shed my weight too!
Have about 15Kgs to lose.

 

[xodonniedarko]

Ah well, as long as you are on the path, difficulties can be overcome. Or something like that. I missed my next target (167) as well, but I hope to be there by the beginning of March.



I remember it being the Freshman 15, or is that getting hit by the economy as well? Holding at 10 for the first semester is something I wish I had done - I gained 35# my first semester of college.

Maybe it is the freshmen 15... glad I never reached that, though.

 

[masimeo]

What do you think about weight loss surgery?
I am 21, and 310lbs. I have done dieting and excersising and I can not get this weight off. I am thinking about weight loss sugery. What do you think? And do you know anything about health insurance coverage? Does anyone know what it would cost out of pocket? All info appreciated!
__________________
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[Eyedn]

Wow i sure hope that this thread picks up, seems like a great idea. Since starting college i have literally no time to cook anything, constantly busy, this has resulted in me putting on quite a bit which is a shame.. Anyway, my first year has nearly finished so i will be able to start getting back into shape, any quick tips or lessons or advice?

 

[Wiska]

Don't think about surgery just yet when there are better options.

1. Don't diet. Eat as much vegetables, fruit, nuts, meats, poultry, eggs and cheese as you like. Dietary fat does not cause obesity, nor heart disease. Whole foods will give you all the nutrients your body needs, fill you up and causes food cravings to subside. Calorie restriction is not an effective long-term weight loss solution.

2. Stay away from refined sugar, white flour, white rice and most processed, packaged foods. These are deadly. These simple carbs raise your insulin level, and insulin is the hormone that instructs your body to store glucose in your adipose tissue. Just try not to eat too much starchy foods, this includes potatoes. If you do eat wheat and bread, eat only 100% whole grain products but in moderation.

3. Exercise will only make you hungrier. It will not be effective for long-term weight loss.

4. Your goal should be 1-2 lbs of weight loss per week. Very attainable on a sensible food plan.

 

[needthephone]

I have lost 13Kg since January and I can honestly put it down to my iphone.

I used the Livestrong app and I have to say I found it remarkably easy. I have tried to diet before but with no success.

You put in your weight, height activity level and how much weight you wish to loose per week. It then gives you a calorie goal per day to stick to.

I tell you if you have 2000 or so calories as a target it is so easy - You look at 2000 calories of food and its a hell of a lot. Once you know what you need to stick to you then put in your foods and it gives you the calories in it.

For me I gave up beer, wine, cheese. biscuits, large cappucinos and cakes.

Seriously it's easy.

Not wanting to sound smug but Just measure out your calories for a day, go a little hungry, do some excercises.

You can eat what you want but just count every potato, carrot and weigh the rice-it's easy to get carried away with portion sizes-always my downfall in the past.

I am now at the same weight I was in my 20's.

Forget fad food combining diets, atkins no carbs etc-

Just calories

Energy in less than energy out and don't let anyone tell you anything different.
I do not have any affiliation with livestrong and their daily plate site-it's free anyway.
http://www.livestrong.com/

 

[Wiska]

Unfortunately, not all calories are the same. Scientific studies, and over 150 years of research have shattered the myth of thermodynamics in regards to caloric intake. Some obese people eat less than normal-weight people and yet still gain weight, and you probably know people who eat a lot yet maintain their weight. Not all calories are the same.

In your case, cutting out alcohol, pastries, cappuccinos and cakes were responsible for your weight loss, not calorie restriction. As long as you eat the right foods, you can eat in abundance of calories and not be overweight. By the nature of restricting calories, one is forced to choose healthier foods, which is a result, not cause, of weight loss.

 

[Iscariot]

Unfortunately, not all calories are the same. Scientific studies, and over 150 years of research have shattered the myth of thermodynamics in regards to caloric intake. Some obese people eat less than normal-weight people and yet still gain weight, and you probably know people who eat a lot yet maintain their weight. Not all calories are the same.

While not all calories are created equal, to say that the "myth of thermodynamics in regards to caloric intake" has been "shattered" is to take the rhetoric well outside of the reality as it is supported by research. The principles of thermodynamics remain immutable.

 

[Wiska]

Yeah, that's where "nutritionists" and people who believe them trip up. In regards to intake of calories, those laws of thermodynamics do not apply. Hormonal, enzymatic, and chemical reactions have a greater influence on those calories as it pertains to weight.

I wish such an idea as calories in equals calories out as applied to something so complex as the human body were so SIMPLE. Next thing the nutritionists will tell us is that eating foods with cholesterol will raise our own cholesterol.

 

[Iscariot]

Yeah, that's where "nutritionists" and people who believe them trip up. In regards to intake of calories, those laws of thermodynamics do not apply. Hormonal, enzymatic, and chemical reactions have a greater influence on those calories as it pertains to weight.

I wish such an idea as calories in equals calories out as applied to something so complex as the human body were so SIMPLE. Next thing the nutritionists will tell us is that eating foods with cholesterol will raise our own cholesterol.

So, you don't trust the experts, but you refer to 150 years of studies… information collected by experts. I guess it would be too much to ask for you to back up your claims with studies, especially if they contain a refutation of the laws of thermodynamics? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, after all.

Even proponents of paleo and primal diets like Mark Sisson eat realistic portions. A typical day for Sisson consists of 2 500 calories, which is the exactly what would be recommended for an athletic and active man his age. Once again, your rhetoric falls way outside the bounds of what can be demonstrated in reality.

 

[t0mat0]

A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. To say they're different is like saying my kilometer is different to yours.

It's a unit of energy. You can measure it against a definition of it - e.g. a joule being related to increasing the temperature by 1 degree centigrade of 1 gram of water.

All calories are the same - but where you get them from can differ. They can be stored in different forms in the body.

Some obese people eat less than normal-weight people and yet still gain weight because they use less calories than they take in... and you probably know people who eat a lot yet maintain their weight because they have as many calories going out as calories taken in.

Healthier foods, giving a total of less calories in whilst having more calories out, gives a net negative balance, and so loss of weight.

Is there some actual data you can show, peer reviewed, accepted in the scientific community that's going to break thermodynamics as we know it? Because if it did, then we could use it to make a perpetual machine.

I think what muddies the waters, is that the body can have different rates of absorption of calories from food, can change it's metabolism. And that different foods can have different effects on the body.

Processed foods have been shown to cause changes to weight loss/gain on studies with mice for example - You are right in saying to stay away from alcohol (You can visualising this with the right equivalent- 1 shot of spirits is like taking a shot of cream calorie wise)
Other salt and sugar rich processed food can also affect the body negatively.

Eat the right foods. One isn't forced to choose healthier foods - you could do a guiness, bread and vitamin diet if you wanted to - but you're likely to look at veg and things more - as you can have bulk without the same number of calories, roughage etc to help feel full for example.

I recommend having a read of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hacker's_Diet The Hacker's diet - free.

It shows why you need to look at a moving average to get rid of noise when looking at your weight on a day to day basis - and that tracking calories on a day to day basis is useful. Don't OCD, enjoy sporty things, and healthy food. Don't deny yourself completely either - are allowed a treat once in a while. If you'd rather go cold turkey - that's one way to do it. There are non-healthy foods, and thehre are non-healthy foods!
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/42366/181/

 

[Music_Producer]

Let's not just look at weight - also consider body fat percentage or lean mass index if you're interested. Yes, having a calorie deficit will result in weight loss but a lot of people don't care if that weight loss is entirely fat, or muscle.

A lot of people just cut down drastically on their food intake - and the weight lost is mostly water weight and muscle - so they lose 10 pounds but they look 'soft'.

Always carry out some form of exercise - a little cardio plus weight training. Weight training doesn't have to be powerlifting or intense bodybuilding - just do something that's fun for you - challenge yourself. I personally hate cardio so instead of doing a 30 minute session, I'll do cardio for 5 minutes - then later on in the day for 10-15 mins and so on. (again, it doesn't have to be a treadmill - just walk at a fast pace or something)

Yes, hormones/medical conditions do influence weight but if you know what your baseline is, you can start working from there. Someone with lower testosterone than normal will have a harder time building muscle than an individual with higher levels of testosterone.

Someone with a overly active thyroid will be leaner than someone with a normal thyroid. (assuming both individuals are having the same calorie intake and expenditure) But that is no reason not to follow a sensible diet and an exercise program.

People get 'scared' thinking about exercise because they imagine a gym with scary looking weights - go to the park, play some tennis - do anything! Don't sit around browsing on macrumors all day

 

[takao]

2. Stay away from refined sugar, white flour, white rice and most processed, packaged foods. These are deadly. These simple carbs raise your insulin level, and insulin is the hormone that instructs your body to store glucose in your adipose tissue. Just try not to eat too much starchy foods, this includes potatoes. If you do eat wheat and bread, eat only 100% whole grain products but in moderation.

the only difference there is, is in speed of which some carbohydrates influence the insulin level .. they don't influence the total level
whole grain only leads to less insulin because in 100g there are _less_
carbohydrates than in 100g of non whole grain etc.

the human body needs carbs ... especially since the alternative of increased meat consumption (energy through proteins) will ruin your kidneys guaranteed

3. Exercise will only make you hungrier. It will not be effective for long-term weight loss.

that's why i lost 22-23 pounds from september to february and now keep my weight .. and that's includes eating absolute no-go like oatmeal, raisins , pizza, pasta, delicious cakes, sausages and alcohol etc. except not ... i did it with exercise

just do it in _moderation_ and find a sport where you have _fun_ and put in other sport activities with friends to keep you motivated


i agree though on eating nuts and more fruits but watch out that they are calorie bombs so only eat like 1 small hand full or one piece of fruit at a time aside of meals
if you really like fruits replace normal meals with fruits just don't eat masses of fruits additionally