Why the special (Paelo, Low Carb, Primal) diets?
my58vw
Posts: 18 Member
I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
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Because it works for them and seems easy to them to track that way. Because they feel good when they eat like that, which in turn helps them adhere to their goals. And adhering to your goals whether it's loss/maintain/gain is what counts most, not what you are eating (in a general sense).18
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I think some people find rules of what to eat or what to avoid easier than tracking. And some people find it easier to restrict their calories when they avoid certain types of food. For those people paleo/low carb/whatever can be a good choice.6
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First, let me say congrats on the weight loss and finding a strategy that works for you!
I personally eat a low-carb diet because it works for me - eating lots of fat keeps me satiated (feeling full) and enables me to eat less food during a given day. If I eat a lot of carbs - especially simple carbs like bread, sugar and pasta - I find that I am never satiated (until I am stuffed to the gills). The simple carbs are a trigger for me, so I stay away from them. Others do a low-fat diet because fat is not satiating for them but carbs are.
The trick to the whole diet thing is to find a WOE (way of eating) that both satisfies your hunger and allows you to maintain the diet as an effective long-term strategy to both lose weight and to keep the weight off.8 -
I think the first 2 answers are good. I see your point though. It seems to me that a lot of people make it more complicated than it needs to be.2
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I do it because it works for me and it keeps me on track. I often do Whole30s (a modified version of Paleo). I noticed that eating cleanly, I will lose more weight eating more calories (with exercise held constant) than I do with just a straight restriction. I believe I may get a small energy bump too! I also tend to feel more full with the same number of calories, because it takes a lot of veggies to equal a serving of chips!0
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But do whatever works for you! As long as you hit your goals and are happy, that is what matters!0
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Some because it works for them, others because they think they have to.0
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I think people go for these diets for various different reasons including but not limited to desperation, medical conditions, lack of knowledge re: nutrition, to be part of a group, plain ol' personal preference...
What does it matter why they do it? At least they are doing something.1 -
I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
What works for me or anyone is irrelevant... if what you are doing works for you... focus on that.
I don't eat any certain way, I eat what I like... the easiest way to explain my restrictions is to say I eat paleo cause it just stops the next line of questions that come with. "I don't eat dairy" Random person: Why? then to try and explain to someone I am lactose intolerant is annoying. Same with not eating gluten, so many people faked the allergy to... and then to go into the details about what gluten does to me... it's just uncalled for... even more so in the workplace.3 -
Because adherence is related to finding something that you can engage against. Buy-in occurs on a variety of factors from lifestyle, logic and preference. And there are those that response better to specific changes in macros.
The fact that you (or I) find a low carb diet difficult to adhere doesn't make it unsound for others. Many roads to Rome.7 -
I agree, diets only work as long as you are on them. I find eating as healthy as I can the majority of the time and counting calories works for me.1
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There's the whole 'carbs are evil' mentality, but I'm sure it's sustainable for 'some' people... but probably for big meat eaters vs people with a sweet tooth (totally generalizing).0
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When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way?
To this point, I just took a look at your diary, and noticed multiple entries for fast food. I personally don't eat fast food, so technically I could say the same thing about your diet. But would my saying that change the fact that you've been logging every day, staying within your calories, and seeing results? Of course not, so why would it matter if someone doesn't want to eat the same way as someone else, if they are happy with their choice and it works for them?I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
Why would you think that someone who chooses to eat different foods or a different macro ratio isn't working just as hard as you are to lose weight? And if you consider your approach to be "hard work," wouldn't that raise some concerns about whether it is really sustainable? The best approach is the one that works for you and allows you to achieve your goals in a way you find manageable, and that is going to vary between individuals.15 -
I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
I would say that some people think that there is some kind of "magic" about these diets and they buy into a lot of media hype and think that low carb or whatever is the only way to lose weight...a lot, if not most people are pretty clueless where nutrition is concerned and rely heavily on the diet and fitness industry for knowledge...
That said, for many people, meticulously counting calories and macros is just as unsustainable as you feel any of those diets are...particularly long term. I never kidded myself into thinking I was going to be some kind of lifer with calorie counting...for me it was a short term tool that simply helped me become more aware and taught me to pay attention to labels and such...but now way in hell was it ever intended that this was going to be some long term thing. I pretty much focus on good livin' and doing the things that lean, healthy, and fit people do...I eat well and my diet consists largely of whole foods and minimally processed foods...I cook a lot...like most of my meals are made from scratch...I eat a crap ton of veg...lots of whole grains...legumes and lentils...lean sourced protein and good fats...and I have some pizza or whatever now and then...but for the most part I'm eating well and exercising regularly and that's what works for me. I've maintained going on almost 3.5 years now without logging or tracking anything...just good livin'
As longer lasting results go, it's pretty much a mute point given that regardless of the method one uses to lose weight, only about 5% keep it off long term...doesn't matter at all if they were calorie counting, low carb, paleo, etc...most people don't maintain results long term.
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I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
Like everyone has already said different diets suit different people. Hard work is great but easy is where you really want to be. When life gets in the way - and it will, it always does - you'll be able to sustain your weight loss when your focus changes.
Congrats on your fantastic start and don't be afraid to try new things if what you're doing right now gets harder instead of easier as time goes on. Best wishes.
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Why would you think that someone who chooses to eat different foods or a different macro ratio isn't working just as hard as you are to lose weight? And if you consider your approach to be "hard work," wouldn't that raise some concerns about whether it is really sustainable?
I specifically mention that I go to the gym and work out hard, not that the process is hard. In fact the process is easy overall... stay in your calorie goal and lose weight. I definitely am not saying that others do not work out hard, quite the opposite actually. It i kind of like when I go to the gym and see people reading on the elliptical... are they really trying (yes they are working out, but are they really trying hard)?
I was a semi pro level competitive cyclist for many years when I was young. There are many ways of training, and some are better than others, but they all end up with the same result... being faster. The said, there were quite a number of people doing stuff off the rails (like using illegal or banned substances). Once they go off them (or get caught and banned) they loose their additional gains. This is how I see these "weird" diets...
As for fast food, yes it is considered some to not be the best, or not "clean." While I try to eat clean, I don't see eating a random egg sandwich or burrito to be detrimental to your health. There are some who have never had them and might not enjoy them, and that is their choice. There is a functional difference between the difference between clean and fast food, and normal eating and "low carb" or similar.As longer lasting results go, it's pretty much a mute point given that regardless of the method one uses to lose weight, only about 5% keep it off long term...doesn't matter at all if they were calorie counting, low carb, paleo, etc...most people don't maintain results long term.
I think this might be the more scary idea... how to people go off diets and fall back anyway... I have done it, but then I think many do... I did it because I had no direction in food... now I do.2 -
I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
Lots of different reasons, some good, some based on misinformation.
Among the bad reasons, IMO, is the idea that they need to to lose or that they will be able to "trick" the system and eat way more calories.
Among the (possibly) good reasons: they don't enjoy counting calories and find they are able to lose/maintain doing the diet, they find the diet's way of eating appealing, they find it a good stepping stone to improving their eating habits, it's more sustainable to them to feel that they are part of a community and adopting a special way of eating allows them to do this (I think this can be good unless they get annoying and evangelical about it, of course!).1 -
I specifically mention that I go to the gym and work out hard, not that the process is hard. In fact the process is easy overall... stay in your calorie goal and lose weight. I definitely am not saying that others do not work out hard, quite the opposite actually. It i kind of like when I go to the gym and see people reading on the elliptical... are they really trying (yes they are working out, but are they really trying hard)?
How is someone else's workout any of your business? You have no idea what their goals are or what physical issues they might have.7 -
I read on the treadmill... Come at me bro.8
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I am not going to say I do "low carb" per se but rather more a combination of carb cycling and carb back loading. If my terms are correct of course. Anyhoo, I find that this is what has been my magic wand. I have steadily been losing weight even though my calorie intake is the same. I do a mix of high, low, and moderate carb days, as well as saving my "fun" carbs for dinner and after.
My reasons for this are simple. I found having simple carbs early in my day made me so tired and sluggish I was living out my days in a count down till bedtime. I find that saving the bulk of my carbs for dinner keeps them from messing with me in the day time. Going the day with only 10-15 grams of carbs each for breakfast and lunch works very well for me. Other people obviously have their own reasons but the way I feel on simple carbs was enough to send me searching for a new plan. However, I could never live on a very high fat plan as a way of life. I can only do so much fat and protein. After a while it just feels like it's weighing on me. So that is where the cycling part comes in. Some days I get a break from it all. I choose those days based on my mood.
Now, there are some stories I hear people telling when it comes to their own diets and they seem very extreme sometimes. I can't judge those people, but also some seem to have doctors orders to do a low carb deal due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. I have a friend that was following her doctor's 50 g or less of carbs a day plan. She said she felt it greatly helped her and she was finally able to lose about 80 pounds.0 -
These diets work for some people. Ultimately, people want to sell books and make money. They also want to help people. But mostly make money.3
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I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
Glad you're off to a good start. But it is just that, I assume, a start? Unless 13 pounds was all you wanted to lose. Perhaps that's the case.
A few thoughts:
If you have quite a bit to lose (I have no idea), you may find that you'll have some hurdles along the way. Sometimes folks make changes when that happens.
Sometimes as they see how they feel eating certain foods, they make changes.
Some folks, for example, feel TONS BETTER without heavily refined carbs and the like.
A thousand calorie deficit sounds pretty brutal. Please be kind to yourself and if that gets too hard with cardio and weights, ease back a bit. Again, without knowing your age, height, weight etc. I'm just guessing.
As for the rest: some folks want to learn things. Formal diets can be educational. Some folks don't want to count calories meticulously, weigh and measure their food, count points etc. consider workout calories burned etc. For those folks, a formal diet may seem easier.
I think calorie counting is a pain. I can't imagine FOR MYSELF weighing and measuring everything. Given how much we eat out, I can't fathom trying to guess about all that stuff. I did what made sense for me, losing weight, and now in maintenance. For me it was: learning as much as possible about nutrition, re-thinking what I ate, and more generally, how much I ate. But that was more like: hey, this is probably a calorie dense meal, I've probably had enough to nourish me, and I feel satisfied, I'll box up the rest and take it home. In that case I'd carefully chosen a restaurant meal that made sense to me.
That's the key: do what works for you. Throughout your journey.
signed: I've read a lot of different diet books, nutrition books etc. and have incorporated what made sense to me.3 -
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Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
Glad you're off to a good start. But it is just that, I assume, a start? Unless 13 pounds was all you wanted to lose. Perhaps that's the case.
A few thoughts:
If you have quite a bit to lose (I have no idea), you may find that you'll have some hurdles along the way. Sometimes folks make changes when that happens.
Sometimes as they see how they feel eating certain foods, they make changes.
Some folks, for example, feel TONS BETTER without heavily refined carbs and the like.
A thousand calorie deficit sounds pretty brutal. Please be kind to yourself and if that gets too hard with cardio and weights, ease back a bit. Again, without knowing your age, height, weight etc. I'm just guessing.
As for the rest: some folks want to learn things. Formal diets can be educational. Some folks don't want to count calories meticulously, weigh and measure their food, count points etc. consider workout calories burned etc. For those folks, a formal diet may seem easier.
I think calorie counting is a pain. I can't imagine FOR MYSELF weighing and measuring everything. Given how much we eat out, I can't fathom trying to guess about all that stuff. I did what made sense for me, losing weight, and now in maintenance. For me it was: learning as much as possible about nutrition, re-thinking what I ate, and more generally, how much I ate. But that was more like: hey, this is probably a calorie dense meal, I've probably had enough to nourish me, and I feel satisfied, I'll box up the rest and take it home. In that case I'd carefully chosen a restaurant meal that made sense to me.
That's the key: do what works for you. Throughout your journey.
signed: I've read a lot of different diet books, nutrition books etc. and have incorporated what made sense to me.
Calorie counting IS a pain! I won't pretend to keep some stellar record of what I eat. Not to mention my husband is always got me counting HIS calories and what not too. It feels like a chore!1 -
Pretty much all these Diets have been developed and defined for one purpose only: making money by selling stuff (incl. books). But that doesn't mean they don't work, because they all do. If any of them makes it easier for you to stay on a path that works for you, by all means, go for it! Have you tried the Twinkies diet yet?3
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eminentclapper wrote: »Pretty much all these Diets have been developed and defined for one purpose only: making money by selling stuff (incl. books). But that doesn't mean they don't work, because they all do. If any of them makes it easier for you to stay on a path that works for you, by all means, go for it! Have you tried the Twinkies diet yet?
Twinkles diet!!! Yes!
Anyway, thanks everyone for the reasonable responses (and no thank you to the people who have to Inflame crap).
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I have been tracking calories for nearly 40 days now, and have lost approximately 13 pounds at around a 1000 calorie deficit with 3 - 4 days a week of cardio and weights (hard workouts). I have not done anything special except carefully count calories and somewhat macros (but not as close as I probably should be doing).
I have been listening to the primal potential podcast, and don't agree with the ideas of things like "fat loss breakfast." I also don't understand why people go to the extreme with special foods, diets, etc, none which seem long term viable. When I hear what people eat all I can think is... why would I want to eat that way? Doing research many of these diets have been straight refuted (such as this link about low carb, http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/08/carbohydrate-hypothesis-of-obesity.html). In fact based on my training I feel like crap when working out without sufficient carbs.
I understand that people can loose weight on these diets, but it seems like watching calories, points, macros, whatever you choose will provide longer lasting results. Why do people do it then? To try and get minor edges on weight loss? To try to avoid the hard work of weight loss? Why?
In 2011 I logged my foods at a modest cut (500-750 calorie deficit, 1-1.5 lbs/week loss) for about 8 months. I lost 46 lbs eating whatever I wanted and being mindful of portion sizes, weighing or measuring most foods.
Then got pregnant, had babies, and regained. I'm done having babies and the youngest isn't relying on me for breastmilk anymore so I started cutting again last fall, at about a 1 lb/week deficit. I had an absolutely horrible time staying within my calories! Just atrocious adherence to the plan. Raging hunger. I would lose for a month or two, then binge and regain half. Clearly, not sustainable. My doctor suggested trying low carb/high fat. I do this in addition to calorie counting, but my adherence is considerably better. Much less hunger. I notice that if I do go over for a day or two, I'm naturally less hungry on the following days, maintaining my weekly deficit. I'm actually losing slightly faster than my deficit would predict because I think I'm overestimating a few things.
Anyway, low carb works for me right now. I'm not sure why I had diet adherence issues when I cut calories alone, but I'd be willing to bet that my age (over 35 now vs 30 when I started), the fact that pregnancy left me wing thyroid issues, and probably some latent insulin resistance all are factors. I'm not really concerned with analyzing why.6 -
eminentclapper wrote: »Pretty much all these Diets have been developed and defined for one purpose only: making money by selling stuff (incl. books). But that doesn't mean they don't work, because they all do. If any of them makes it easier for you to stay on a path that works for you, by all means, go for it! Have you tried the Twinkies diet yet?
They haven't all be developed for the purpose of making money. But, their dissemination is often monetarily based.0 -
who set fire to feces?eminentclapper wrote: »Pretty much all these Diets have been developed and defined for one purpose only: making money by selling stuff (incl. books). But that doesn't mean they don't work, because they all do. If any of them makes it easier for you to stay on a path that works for you, by all means, go for it! Have you tried the Twinkies diet yet?
Twinkles diet!!! Yes!
Anyway, thanks everyone for the reasonable responses (and no thank you to the people who have to Inflame crap).
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