Diet Help. Ideas.

13»

Replies

  • This content has been removed.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Paleo tells people to count calories? Really? That's new to me.

    I don't remember saying that people who do Paleo have to count calories. What I said was that Paleo is a tool to help create a caloric deficit. Just because you aren't counting the calories to verify that you are consuming less than you are expending, doesn't negate the fact that if you are losing weight, you are in a calorie deficit.

    Just because you don't take the time to do the math doesn't mean the math ceases to exist.
    There are lots of numbers that add up to 10. I was just saying that your three step program is not the only way to be successful.

  • This content has been removed.
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    emily_stew wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I can give you the first three steps:

    1) Do not drink sugary soda and fruit juice.
    2) Keep all junk food (pretzels, chips, cookies, cake, ice cream, donuts, etc.) out of your house. If you want ice cream, go to the ice cream parlor and buy a cone. If you want a donut, buy one at the donut store (don't bring a dozen home).
    3) Go to restaurants less often.

    Good luck!

    All of this is unnecessary...

    This is the classic MFP poster. Because she can happen to eat a small scoop of cream, or 10 chips, or 8.5 pretzels, or 1.5 Oreos at the end of the day without exceeding her calorie limit, and not gorge out at restaurants, she thinks everyone can do it. Ridiculous.

    Most people fail at diets, whether you count calories or not. Why? Because you're hungry. And if you're hungry, the last think you want to eat to lessen the hunger is half a bag of Doritos or half a container of Ben and Jerry's before you go to bed.

    It is totally necessary for most people.

    Keep the crap out of your house.

    If by classic MFP poster you mean, "people who understand that moderation is a sustainable approach to weight loss" then yes, I guess I am a classic MFP poster.

    The OP is just getting started. She is young. She needs to look for an approach which she can be successful with in the long term. Calling food "crap" and keeping it out of your house is not something that is "totally necessary for most people". What is necessary for most people, in fact, all people, is to create a caloric deficit. There are many ways to do this. If people struggle with moderation, it may behoove them to limit their access to trigger foods. OP has mentioned nothing about trigger foods or binge behaviors. She simply asked for recommendations about a "diet" and didn't understand how to set an appropriate calorie goal. Therefore, the things you are suggesting are not necessary.



    This is why I'm glad you're my friend. I really wish someone had told me what you just posted when I was starting to try and lose weight. I wasted a lot of time and energy on things that weren't necessary..

    Oh and PS- self control...it's not something a person is born with. It's a skill, like any other skill that has to be learned, developed, and maintained.

    This!
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I'm not advocating Paleo (I like dairy), but there are lots of people who do Paleo and therefore eat lots of meat, poultry, eggs and seafood, don't count calories, and lose a ton of weight. And I doubt they were eating that many more calories before they began Paleo.

    And if they are losing weight, they are in a calorie deficit. Period.

  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    I'm not advocating Paleo (I like dairy), but there are lots of people who do Paleo and therefore eat lots of meat, poultry, eggs and seafood, don't count calories, and lose a ton of weight. And I doubt they were eating that many more calories before they began Paleo.

    Umm, no. Overeating any food causes weight gain. Period. I have very healthy diet. But let me eat 3500 calories of healthy food every day and see what happens. Weight gain.
  • This content has been removed.
  • This content has been removed.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I suggest everyone go to Amazon and check out the book "The Calorie Myth." Don't believe me. Believe the 283 5-star and 82 4-star reviews (out of 413).

    Thanks, I think instead I will just believe the basic principles of science.

  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    SuggaD wrote: »
    I'm not advocating Paleo (I like dairy), but there are lots of people who do Paleo and therefore eat lots of meat, poultry, eggs and seafood, don't count calories, and lose a ton of weight. And I doubt they were eating that many more calories before they began Paleo.

    Umm, no. Overeating any food causes weight gain. Period. I have very healthy diet. But let me eat 3500 calories of healthy food every day and see what happens. Weight gain.

    The results will be different if you eat 3500 calories of ice cream or 3500 calories of broccoli.

    You'd poop a lot more?

    All besides the point. No one will ever do either. Why you always argue these straw men extremes is beyond reasoning.

  • elleykat
    elleykat Posts: 75 Member
    Hey sweetie,
    What worked for me in the past was starting Atkins. (And I'm sure this is going to get negative feedback from people who don't understand Atkins...) In Phase 1 of Atkins you severely restrict your carb intake WITH THE CAVEAT that you also have a minimum amount of carbs off the "approved" veggies list to eat, and most people who do Atkins end up eating MORE vegetables than they did before. Then you move into Phase 2 and slowly start adding in higher carb foods, moving up a "ladder" and seeing what your body reacts to (certain things can make people gain faster or retain water or feel gross...) so you add back in berries and soft cheeses and nuts, for example, then add in some more fruits and other dairy. You continue adding back in stuff up the carb ladder until your weight loss slows and you start gaining, then ease back your carb count so you're just under your "threshold." This way you get a feel for how many and what types of carbs YOUR BODY utilizes best, which is Phase 4: Maintenance. You then eat this way the rest of your life. Atkins helped me get a better relationship with food, and if you like counting and monitoring things it might be a good way to give yourself a boost with weightloss, and restart your system. Atkins.com is a really helpful site. I ignore most of their products as they're full of chemicals and artificial sweeteners, and really it's about elimitaing sugar and processed foods. It's also great to just cut all the sugar and crap out cold turkey, and studies show that within 72 hours of cutting out sugar, you can have greatly reduced cravings.

    Now if I just had stuck with that clean eating and not gone CRAZY when I got pregnant, eating ice cream for dinner and whatnot, I wouldn't be here at the start of another weight loss journey myself. ;)
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    I suggest everyone go to Amazon and check out the book "The Calorie Myth." Don't believe me. Believe the 283 5-star and 82 4-star reviews (out of 413).

    Jonathan Bailor was forced to retract statements he made about calories being a myth. Quest Nutrition had to do damage control. Now it is clear to see why your "information" is so screwed up
    http://ca.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/why-calories-count.html
    Dr. Layne Norton
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FviIXAvUj_U
  • This content has been removed.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    emily_stew wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I can give you the first three steps:

    1) Do not drink sugary soda and fruit juice.
    2) Keep all junk food (pretzels, chips, cookies, cake, ice cream, donuts, etc.) out of your house. If you want ice cream, go to the ice cream parlor and buy a cone. If you want a donut, buy one at the donut store (don't bring a dozen home).
    3) Go to restaurants less often.

    Good luck!

    All of this is unnecessary...

    This is the classic MFP poster. Because she can happen to eat a small scoop of cream, or 10 chips, or 8.5 pretzels, or 1.5 Oreos at the end of the day without exceeding her calorie limit, and not gorge out at restaurants, she thinks everyone can do it. Ridiculous.

    Most people fail at diets, whether you count calories or not. Why? Because you're hungry. And if you're hungry, the last think you want to eat to lessen the hunger is half a bag of Doritos or half a container of Ben and Jerry's before you go to bed.

    It is totally necessary for most people.

    Keep the crap out of your house.

    If by classic MFP poster you mean, "people who understand that moderation is a sustainable approach to weight loss" then yes, I guess I am a classic MFP poster.

    The OP is just getting started. She is young. She needs to look for an approach which she can be successful with in the long term. Calling food "crap" and keeping it out of your house is not something that is "totally necessary for most people". What is necessary for most people, in fact, all people, is to create a caloric deficit. There are many ways to do this. If people struggle with moderation, it may behoove them to limit their access to trigger foods. OP has mentioned nothing about trigger foods or binge behaviors. She simply asked for recommendations about a "diet" and didn't understand how to set an appropriate calorie goal. Therefore, the things you are suggesting are not necessary.



    This is why I'm glad you're my friend. I really wish someone had told me what you just posted when I was starting to try and lose weight. I wasted a lot of time and energy on things that weren't necessary..

    Oh and PS- self control...it's not something a person is born with. It's a skill, like any other skill that has to be learned, developed, and maintained.

    This is something that I wish was stressed more and that I had learned it earlier in my journey. I hated myself for a long time because I believed that I had no willpower and that it was some kind of personal failing that I couldn't stick to anything. Nope, turns out willpower can be built up or learned over time. Sometimes we overwork it and it fails , but that's not a personal failing.

    Too many people believe that if they have no willpower now then they will never have willpower in the future. That's not true. It takes time and hard work to develop your willpower, but it can be done.
  • elleykat
    elleykat Posts: 75 Member
    SuggaD wrote: »
    I'm not advocating Paleo (I like dairy), but there are lots of people who do Paleo and therefore eat lots of meat, poultry, eggs and seafood, don't count calories, and lose a ton of weight. And I doubt they were eating that many more calories before they began Paleo.

    Umm, no. Overeating any food causes weight gain. Period. I have very healthy diet. But let me eat 3500 calories of healthy food every day and see what happens. Weight gain.

    The results will be different if you eat 3500 calories of ice cream or 3500 calories of broccoli.

    You'd poop a lot more?

    All besides the point. No one will ever do either. Why you always argue these straw men extremes is beyond reasoning.

    Would you poop more, or LESS? You'd sure be gassy, which that many cruciferous vegetables!
  • Unknown
    edited January 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Hey sweetie,
    What worked for me in the past was starting Atkins. (And I'm sure this is going to get negative feedback from people who don't understand Atkins...) In Phase 1 of Atkins you severely restrict your carb intake WITH THE CAVEAT that you also have a minimum amount of carbs off the "approved" veggies list to eat, and most people who do Atkins end up eating MORE vegetables than they did before. Then you move into Phase 2 and slowly start adding in higher carb foods, moving up a "ladder" and seeing what your body reacts to (certain things can make people gain faster or retain water or feel gross...) so you add back in berries and soft cheeses and nuts, for example, then add in some more fruits and other dairy. You continue adding back in stuff up the carb ladder until your weight loss slows and you start gaining, then ease back your carb count so you're just under your "threshold." This way you get a feel for how many and what types of carbs YOUR BODY utilizes best, which is Phase 4: Maintenance. You then eat this way the rest of your life. Atkins helped me get a better relationship with food, and if you like counting and monitoring things it might be a good way to give yourself a boost with weightloss, and restart your system. Atkins.com is a really helpful site. I ignore most of their products as they're full of chemicals and artificial sweeteners, and really it's about elimitaing sugar and processed foods. It's also great to just cut all the sugar and crap out cold turkey, and studies show that within 72 hours of cutting out sugar, you can have greatly reduced cravings.

    Now if I just had stuck with that clean eating and not gone CRAZY when I got pregnant, eating ice cream for dinner and whatnot, I wouldn't be here at the start of another weight loss journey myself. ;)

    I understand Atkins because I've done it. I did it for 5 years! Only lost to a certain point, though. Turns out it only works as far as you're restricting your calories.

    Here's the thing. Eliminating something from your life doesn't work long term. You found that out when you got pregnant. You're saying you went "CRAZY", but the simple fact is you wanted some ice cream. You were conditioned to think it was "bad", and you binged because you thought "in for a penny, in for a pound" and just went for it. At least that's why I used to binge. I always thought... I'm failing, might as well go for broke.

    That was... oh, about 15 years ago for me. I've learned a lot since then. Psychologically, I do much better with giving myself permission to have anything I want. Most of the time, I don't have what you're calling crap. I decide to spend my calories on protein. I tend to eat a moderate carb diet because I need to spend my calories on high protein to feel good. Since I'm short and older, I don't have too many calories to play around with :smile: The point I was driving at was that giving myself permission to eat anything I want takes away that whole "forbidden fruit" aspect and gives me a feeling of control. Knowing that it's never my last chance to have something really helps me keep focus. It also helps me to keep my portions small within my calorie goals. I don't have to eat a treat like it's the last time I'm going to have something... because it's not.

    No foods are good or bad as part of an overall balanced diet. I learned that after many years of trying diets that taught me that eating a certain way was the key to weight loss. That way of thinking just had me spinning my wheels. Turns out, I just had to learn to eat less.