What is your secret?
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They aren't gaining weight because of agricultural advancements (specifically, refined processed carbs, for example)... they''re gaining because they (meaning we, as in myself included) live sedentary lifestyles and eat a surplus of readily available food.
Your logic seems to imply that the basic math of calorie deficit only works because we are aware of the concept.... which is really neat, if you wanna get all science-babble about string theory or something... but that's just not the way it works.
Why don't you stop counting calories, and try hunting and farming, and then running from your predators, and see how it goes. You'll lose weight, but it won't have anything to do with processed foods.
This doesn't explain why there are so many people who are naturally skinny and don't feel the need to overeat despite the readily available food. Is it because they are psychologically superior to the rest of us? According to the logic here, they are. No, more likely they are genetically superior and can adapt better to an unnatural diet without gaining weight.
I agree that readily available food has begun the obesity epidemic by giving people the ability to become dependent on unhealthy foods that ruin the body's metabolism. It doesn't change the fact that we can do something about it by simply using the knowledge we gain to avoid eating the foods that we know are bad. But if people want to continue to believe that psychologically trying to defeat the body's hunger is a better, more effective approach, then fine, whatever.0 -
I keep my cat litter box in the kitchen. Nothing takes a craving away like an unburied cat turd.0
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They aren't gaining weight because of agricultural advancements (specifically, refined processed carbs, for example)... they''re gaining because they (meaning we, as in myself included) live sedentary lifestyles and eat a surplus of readily available food.
Your logic seems to imply that the basic math of calorie deficit only works because we are aware of the concept.... which is really neat, if you wanna get all science-babble about string theory or something... but that's just not the way it works.
Why don't you stop counting calories, and try hunting and farming, and then running from your predators, and see how it goes. You'll lose weight, but it won't have anything to do with processed foods.
This doesn't explain why there are so many people who are naturally skinny and don't feel the need to overeat despite the readily available food. Is it because they are psychologically superior to the rest of us? According to the logic here, they are. No, more likely they are genetically superior and can adapt better to an unnatural diet without gaining weight.
I agree that readily available food has begun the obesity epidemic by giving people the ability to become dependent on unhealthy foods that ruin the body's metabolism. It doesn't change the fact that we can do something about it by simply using the knowledge we gain to avoid eating the foods that we know are bad. But if people want to continue to believe that psychologically trying to defeat the body's hunger is a better, more effective approach, then fine, whatever.
There are a lot of studies about why some people do not overeat, and there are MANY MANY MANY MANY MANY reasons for it.
You, my friend, are talking everyone in circles and arguing nothing, at this point.0 -
grinch031, I think it's excellent that you have lost 15 lbs by identifying your Achilles heal (carbs), and cutting it out. I hope you can sustain this forever and live a healthy and prosperous life. And if for some reason you cannot sustain it, I hope you find a balance that you can sustain.
Please be aware, however, that your particular situation is an outlier. You are in the minority. It sucks that you had this additional handicap for whatever reason, but I'm glad you overcame it.
I don't think I'm an outlier at all. Hundreds of thousands of years humanity prove that counting calories is not important. That is because they didn't know what the hell a calorie was until people started gaining weight because of agricultural advancements.
You're right. Counting calories is not important, nor is it necessary for long term success. (But just a reminder that the main purpose of this website is for calorie tracking).
I lost most of my weight without counting a single calorie. I had no clue wtf TDEE or BMR meant or why one would use an HRM. At some point I decided that I wanted to get very lean, so I came here to lose the last 10-15 lbs. I wanted to dial it all in. I was already fit and healthy. I just wanted to go further. I got hooked on the obsessive tracking, I admit it.
I haven't been tracking for the past month or two. I'm on a gain cycle and I know I can intuitively eat in surplus with adequate protein and achieve my bulk. In a few weeks time I will start calorie counting again because I want to get ripped. It's not necessary in life to be ripped, but it's just something I want.
Anyway, that's all besides the point. The point is we're on a calorie counting website. Calorie counting works. Some people with extremely fucked up diets and lifestyles can use calorie counting as a set of sort of "training wheels", and start to develop good life habits. These people may or may not choose to continue to count calories for the rest of their lives. It's up to each individual.
But again, let me reiterate that this is a calorie counting website. And this is the thread talking about the "secret" to weight loss ON A CALORIE COUNTING WEBSITE.
There are other ways, but that's to discuss somewhere else. I don't go on Harley Davidson forums and tell them their motorcycles suck. Harley Riders succeed at motorcycling just as well as Ducati and Honda riders.
Calorie counting is not a necessary condition for sustained weight loss; but it's a sufficient condition. This is not to say that it's the only method that works.
I don't object to tracking calories because they give you good information to see what your body is doing.
And if you want to say my comments are unwelcome because they go against the notion of counting calories, that's fine. I guess I found this place not for that purpose, but because it has a forum to discuss weight loss. My mistake for choosing the wrong forum then.0 -
I thought this was a thread about myths and urban legends. But now I see that it's actually about fairy tales.0
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Work hard, eat right.
And make Pine Cone Bird Feeders.
:flowerforyou:0 -
Bruce Willis was dead the whole movie.0
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Bruce Willis was dead the whole movie.
SPOILER ALERT.0 -
Bruce Willis was dead the whole movie.
Way to give away Die Hard...0 -
Bruce Willis was dead the whole movie.
Way to give away Die Hard...
And every other Bruce Willis movie...0 -
Step 1: Get sons. They eat half of every meal you try to consume.
Step 2: All my friends are smoking hot. Not only am I constantly inspired, I always have a spotter or running buddy. Food isn't the center of our social time, the gym is.
Step 3: Don't let anyone or anything get in your way. Commit.
Step 4: Chuck Norris0 -
I suspect you are describing a perfect scenario where a human body is completely free of distraction, stress, etc. and has good whole food available. It is a scenario that might work in a clinical setting. So while it may be possible, I don't think it's realistic. I also doubt the "don't worry the human body will take care of itself" diet plan is going to catch on.Manually creating a caloric deficit is completely unnecessary because a properly nourished human body will automatically regulate its own caloric intake by suppressing hunger after enough calories have been consumed for its needs. If the person is overweight, the body will automatically create this deficit by simply forcing the person to eat less.
But for the sake of argument, let's say you are completely correct. Let's assume that counting calories is completely unnecessary. Why then are you a member of MyFitnessPal, a website designed around counting calories? Why participate in something so fundamentally opposed to your own beliefs?0 -
I want to debate this.Harley Riders succeed at motorcycling just as well as Ducati and Honda riders.0 -
Scoping hot chicks' profile pics, hoping that their profiles aren't private.Why then are you a member of MyFitnessPal, a website designed around counting calories? Why participate in something so fundamentally opposed to your own beliefs?0 -
I suspect you are describing a perfect scenario where a human body is completely free of distraction, stress, etc. and has good whole food available. It is a scenario that might work in a clinical setting. So while it may be possible, I don't think it's realistic. I also doubt the "don't worry the human body will take care of itself" diet plan is going to catch on.Manually creating a caloric deficit is completely unnecessary because a properly nourished human body will automatically regulate its own caloric intake by suppressing hunger after enough calories have been consumed for its needs. If the person is overweight, the body will automatically create this deficit by simply forcing the person to eat less.
But for the sake of argument, let's say you are completely correct. Let's assume that counting calories is completely unnecessary. Why then are you a member of MyFitnessPal, a website designed around counting calories? Why participate in something so fundamentally opposed to your own beliefs?
I like the fact that you are at least giving me a critical assessment of my statements instead of just dismissing it without any counter-argument like some others. The reason I believe what I believe besides experiencing it firsthand is that also there is a large community of people who are able to lose weight without counting calories on paleo-style diets while eating to satiation.
And I already answered your other question. I joined MyFitnessPal specifically for a forum to discuss weight loss, not for the purposes of counting calories.0 -
I just recently learned about negative calorie foods, their are foods that only have a small amount of calories so the body basicaly burns up the calories digesting them leaving you with a calorie deficit I think it's called thermogenetic or something like that. this is the list of food I found when I googled negative calorie foods:
Apple
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Honeydew
Limes
Lemon
Mango
Orange
Papaya
Peach
Pineapple
Raspberries
Strawberries
Tangerines
Tomato
Watermelon
I can't wait to try this myself! good luck
oh geez! Stop spreading that myth and use the search button on the forum.0 -
I'm here to share my experiences in unwanted weight gain and the battle to lose it, same as anybody. I'm not against tracking foods, nutrients, or even calories. I just have a major disagreement with the philosophy often used to manage weight loss. Thats all.
Let's not single me out. People are saying as fact that the key is to weight loss is to manually create a caloric deficit. I happen to have a strong opinion against that. So why is only my side wrong but theirs isn't? There is no definitive proof that either is fact.
Of course there are plenty of proves that you need to create a calorie deficit to lose weight. You're just choosing to ignore them.0 -
This lovely thread is turning into a misinformation trainwreck of epic proportions.
Indeed0 -
I'm here to share my experiences in unwanted weight gain and the battle to lose it, same as anybody. I'm not against tracking foods, nutrients, or even calories. I just have a major disagreement with the philosophy often used to manage weight loss. Thats all.
Let's not single me out. People are saying as fact that the key is to weight loss is to manually create a caloric deficit. I happen to have a strong opinion against that. So why is only my side wrong but theirs isn't? There is no definitive proof that either is fact.
Of course there are plenty of proves that you need to create a calorie deficit to lose weight. You're just choosing to ignore them.
I wholeheartedly agree that a caloric deficit is associated with weight loss just as a bank account balance grows when the deposit amounts exceed the amounts withdrawn.0 -
This is the kind of response that frustrates me. Its as if the willpower to eat less is trivial.
I have an addiction to refined carbs. If I eat pizza for dinner, I will eat 3-4 slices and then be good for an hour or two. Then I feel the need to eat 2 more slices. So I end up eating 6 pieces at 350 pieces a pop after already eating 1500+ calories during the early part of the day. So I eat 3500 calories or more for all I know and don't burn that much. I have no willpower.
Yet at the same time, I exercise like a maniac. I am a long distance runner, and I will head to my gym at 9pm, do 30-45 mins of lifting and run 6-8 miles on the treadmill. I will do this 3-4 times a week and GAIN WEIGHT. My body wants to be overweight. The more I workout, the more I eat as long as I always have a caloric surplus, my body is happy.
Why do I have the willpower to work my tail off at the gym, but I don't have the willpower to put down a slice of pizza. Come on, there is something wrong with this picture.
For many people with a weight problem, moderation doesn't exist. I don't believe in portion control at all, but I do believe in cheat days, but the less frequent the better.
You're making so many excuses it's not even funny. If you eat 6 slices of pizza, it's your own damn fault. Nobody is forcing you to eat that much. Nobody is forcing you to make bad food choices.
Good critical thinking skills. You totally missed the point.
Anyways I removed carbs (my weakness) from my diet, didn't count calories at all, and lost 15 lbs so far.
It's DA EBIL CARBZEZZZ
Of course you keep ignoring the fact that the majority of calories in pizza come from FAT.
BBBUT fat is sposed ta be soooo satiating dat itz impossible to overeat.
What happened.0 -
My secret is pretty simple!
More fibre, more water, less carbs. My body just seems to respond better to a diet when I implement these things along with some exercise. I definitely don't punish myself if I have the odd treat though, not at all. No point changing your habits drastically as you won't be able to maintain your goal weight long term.0 -
Get pregnant
Have baby
Run after said baby. Wash bottles. wash toys. Hoover the house everyday. Clean, cook, run run run run.
Oh, and then exercise every morning
Breastfeed0 -
It's DA EBIL CARBZEZZZ
Of course you keep ignoring the fact that the majority of calories in pizza come from FAT.
BBBUT fat is sposed ta be soooo satiating dat itz impossible to overeat.
What happened.
Even if you go by the premise that carbs are not inherently bad, eating them in abundance goes against the design of the human body. It just wasn't convenient for early humans to eat 60% carbs. Look I have the same problem with pasta that has very little fat. I can eat as much fat as I want and my body knows how to regulate its intake without manual intervention.0 -
watch your sodium/salt intake and drink LOTS of WATER!!!!!!0
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Some funny replies.
There are no secrets that I know of. If there was, I would write a book about it and it would no longer be a secret.
"Hard work" of course is the key as others have said.
However, to me there is one key, important ingredient that comes before others.
Something that could mean the difference between remaining a fatty, packing on even more weight or taking charge to transform your life around and shedding the kilos/pounds.
I call it..... (drumroll)....
The "pivotal" * moment.
*There are many different words for this: some call it "the aha moment", others call it "the time of realisation" or just plain "D'oh"
It's that point of time when you become so disgusted with what you are doing or where you at, that you have no choice but to mentally commit yourself to a change of lifestyle. This pivotal moment could be something serious such a health scare (the doc tells you lose weight or you will die). Or it could be simply a smaller but important trigger such as eating a particularly very high calorie loaded meal or realising that you are at your heaviest ever weight.
Its ONLY when you have such a pivotal moment (imho) and you are prepared to make real, permanent lifestyle changes that you will have the self-motivation to change your life.
You see, without such a pivotal moment, you probably won't bother to lose weight (or if you do, your efforts will be short lived). You need to WANT to do this for yourself. Yes, you can draw inspiration from others, but at the end its about what YOU want.
^^^^THIS ^^^^
I heard a quote that said "change happens when the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of making a change" That's where I am.
LOGGING everything - good days and bad days. I love how MFP has on its news feed consecutive days logged in. I don't want to break my streak. I eat SO MUCH better when I plan ahead and log. Being conscious of what I am eating helps. Also OPEN your food diary so others can see it. There is that competitive bone in my body that doesn't want my "friends" to see that I succumbed to 4 reeces cups.
Feel free to add me as friend.0 -
LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS.. yes it is believe me, ever since I started to pump heavy iron, I had a dramatic transformation that I never thought it would be possible for someone who was formerly obese. I started to get smaller & lose inches in a flash. I'm not kidding0
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I'm sorry but, my secret weapons, which have helped enormously toward my 50 pound loss, are not available to just anyone!
It's my oldest daughter and my husband! They are on MFP too and we talk about what we are doing all the time. I give them both lots of credit for their encouragement and lively discussions. They have also both been very supportive in trying new recipes and changing the way we eat. My husband has been my best exercise booster, going for walks, to the gym and buying me a Jazzercise membership for Christmas.
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It's DA EBIL CARBZEZZZ
Of course you keep ignoring the fact that the majority of calories in pizza come from FAT.
BBBUT fat is sposed ta be soooo satiating dat itz impossible to overeat.
What happened.
Even if you go by the premise that carbs are not inherently bad, eating them in abundance goes against the design of the human body. It just wasn't convenient for early humans to eat 60% carbs. Look I have the same problem with pasta that has very little fat. I can eat as much fat as I want and my body knows how to regulate its intake without manual intervention.
Stop talking about things you clearly don't understand.
First of all, the human body wasn't designed. It evolved.
And it evolved to eat a variety of foods.
Just because it wasn't convenient for early man to eat 60% carbs, this doesn't mean that it is somehow detrimental to modern man (who, despite what you may think) have evolved quite a bit since then. You keep confusing "available" with "optimal".0 -
Intermittent fasting.
This plus eating high-fat, low-carb.0 -
Stop talking about things you clearly don't understand.
First of all, the human body wasn't designed. It evolved.
And it evolved to eat a variety of foods.
Just because it wasn't convenient for early man to eat 60% carbs, this doesn't mean that it is somehow detrimental to modern man (who, despite what you may think) have evolved quite a bit since then. You keep confusing "available" with "optimal".
My apologies. You are right, I have crossed the line. We have evolved such that the current western diet is optimal for human health.0
This discussion has been closed.
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