Dear "I don't associate with those who eat under 1200 c"...

x_JT_x

A very good post--thank you.

You make an excellent case against the "all calories are alike," just exercise and restrict calories to create a deficit and you'll lose weight. For many of us, that just doesn't work.

I took the liberty of looking at your diary, since it was open. You seem to be following the conventional diet of high-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-protein, with plenty of grains and fruit. Does your medical condition/surgery make it difficult for you to eat foods with more fat and protein? If not, you might have better luck with a higher-fat, moderate-protein, reduced-carbohydrate diet, particularly cutting out sugar and grains. You would then be able to get a higher caloric and nutrient density in the limited space you have. Fat doesn't make you fat, nor does it cause heart disease; and reasonable amounts of protein won't ruin normal, healthy kidneys.

Best wishes to you.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my food diary, I appreciate all the help I can get . No, my surgery doesn't impact the types of foods I can eat, just the amount. Basically the upper portion of my stomach (the part that has the greatest ability to expand with added intake) was wrapped around the bottom of my esophagus to create a sphincter to prevent continuous acid reflux. So my stomach no longer has that capability. Wish I had the knowledge back then that I do now. But thankfully, you can teach an old dog new tricks . My number are set they way they are simply because I don't know enough about that sort of thing yet to adjust them any differently. Carbs are definitely my downfall. And protein intake is something I struggle with. I've been steadily trying to up that amount this past week.

My friend had that surgery. I agree with this person though - see what you can do to change what you eat, to increase cals. For example, lean meat has fewer calories per ounce than a fattier cut of meat (ribeye steak!) so if you can only eat 3 ounces at a time you can choose that fattier cut.

(insert screams from people about saturated fat here)
(insert tons of retorts about lack of evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease)
(move on with thread, mention fatty fish as well)

Also adding things like olive oil and nut butter to your normal food - if you make pasta do olive oil and cheese instead of vegetable/tomato sauce.

Also - look for higher calorie replacement foods, drink 2% or whole milk instead of nonfat, etc.

My friend has a "problem" where he just gets full very easily so he does a lot of stuff like this (drinks a lot of whole milk, etc).

Eating that low of calories is, for MOST people's activity levels and size, not really enough food to support a happy and healthy lifestyle. RAther than risk metabolic slowing, you can try to increase your calories in ways that do not increase your food volume. It is certainly possible to live a (lower activity) lifestyle on low cals (presuming you are on the smaller side) and be healthy, but don't feel like you HAVE to limit yourself that way.

Thanks for your post, Tameko. I am doing just that. Sadly, until I came here and read some of these posts from the last couple of weeks, I didn't realize that this was my problem. I couldn't understand why, when I am only able to consume a finite amount of food, was I still overweight. It all makes total sense to me now. And I have been making a concerted effort the last few days to change things around and rectify the issue. It's just going to take a bit of time for me to get it all straight.

BikinimomE

Funny, I've been on MFP for nearly 3 weeks and though I've had several friend requests, not one has adversely affected MY goals. I used to be a moderator on another fitness site for about 10 years (that started 13 years ago) and I learned that unless someone comes out and asks, I rarely comment about what they are doing because it will just fall on deaf ears anyway = not worth my time and effort.

Even though I've been a competitive bodybuilder (on local level) and fitness, swimwear, commercial model AND certified fitness professional for a few years before I let the certification lapse in '06 I am learning something new all the time. I DON'T know "everything", but I know enough about basics regarding physiology and nutrition to know when something is NOT right.

One of the phrases I see often that make me shake my head is, "If it makes you happy then do it." Another favorite is, "You have to do what works for you." when this "supportive" advice is directed at someone who is eating well below caloric intake that wouldn't be enough to keep a bird alive while they are daily engaging in strenuous, catabolic aerobic exercise. Well duh, of course you are going to LOSE MASS... I want to shake both the people who are engaging in the behavior as well as the ignorant people who are making the "supportive" comments. I say ignorant because I recognize that they are well-meaning and THINK they are being supportive. Sadly, what they are unwittingly doing is encouraging negative and counter-productive behavior.

I, too, had surgery in '02 just weeks before I was to do (what would be) my last competition. I was in AMAZING physical shape but had GI issues that were killing me. I was in agony even though the docs couldn't understand why. Even though I was a perfect physical specimen with an UBER clean diet, no drinking, smoking or drugs I had the GI tract of an obese, sedentary, senior alcoholic smoker. My LES valve malfunctioned, I had a hiatal hernia from carrying four babies and my stomach manufactured too much acid. To this day people assume I've been a life-long smoker because of my low, raspy voice... I've had GI issues since I was old enough to remember (genetic predisposition affects the women on my mother's side of the family). So they performed a surgery to fix the hernia and artificially tighten the opening between my stomach and esophagus and said I would have to take proton pump inhibitors for the rest of my life. This surgery also reduced the size of my stomach by one third. Long story short, the surgery made my life worse as the lower half of my GI tract was then affected. So I couldn't eat a lot and what I did eat left my system sometimes within 20 minutes after I ate it. Every now and then I become so sick, in fact, that I suffer unbearable pain and become so dehydrated within 2 hours' time that I run the risk of stroking out. Happened to me this past May. Doc said if I didn't get to the ER when I did and wasn't in such good cardiovascular shape, I would have most likely died.

So for me pursuing better health, fitness and wellness isn't a fad. It's critical if I want to hang around.

I also know how hard it is to literally eat enough food, especially when eating super clean. I also forget to eat often times because I am just not hungry. So I have to pay VERY close attention to what I am doing or I wont have enough strength speed-walk to and from the gym which is a mile away (more than enough cardio for me) and throw up 50# dumbbells for 7 unassisted reps (chest press)... hehehehe

My advice after this long rambling post is, "Don't take anyone personally and focus your energy on your success."

Anyone who thinks that they are "getting healthier" while performing tons of high intensity cardio while consuming very few calories (especially when not even taking into account the source of those calories or the macro breakdown) or embarking on some crazy fad diet (which are NEVER sustainable) is just kidding themselves.

But hey, WTH do I know? :flowerforyou:

sleepytexan

Honestly I don't have time to look at anyone's diary anyway, so I wouldn't even know what my friends are eating. I eat a LOT more than 1200 though, so I guess the self-deprivation folks would be grossed out by me.

MissBernie73

I am on 1200 calorie diet. This is because i am only 5'2 and have a desk job. Although i do eat back some of my exercise calories and like someone else said i stick to that that to compensate for any misjudged calories. I dont find myself overly hungry from this and do eat a little more on weekends. Diaries open if any one wants to take a look.

Martucha123

I won't take people that eat 1200 or less because I would not be a very good support.

I believe it has long term negative side effects. Do what ever you want and I will do whatever I want. It is not because we are not a good match that it make me a bad person.

this
I don't want to be friend with someone who eat less, because every time I'll check their diary instead of "wtg" I will have to say," honey, please eat more"

plus it's my friend list and I get to chose who is on it. I don't want to be friends with low cal dieters, cardio bunnys, or women collectors. just not my pair of socks

BikinimomE

Honestly I don't have time to look at anyone's diary anyway, so I wouldn't even know what my friends are eating. I eat a LOT more than 1200 though, so I guess the self-deprivation folks would be grossed out by me.

I looked at your diary and I was hardly grossed out. LOL I wish I could eat as much as you do. A surgery I had in '02 makes that extremely difficult. From what I've seen, you eat quite well.

Hezzietiger1

I ate 1200 or less for months and am now healthier than I've ever been. I eat more now b/c my goals are different now. It's about fitness and my fitness levels have greatly increased. I eat now to feed my workouts and still lose. I had to get the weight off so I could really workout. F all that noise. Do what works for you. People are narrow minded idiots.