Why not give up certain foods or food groups?

Options
2

Replies

  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Options
    It is about science if you cut something from your diet long term your body stops producing the hormones needed to break down that food. So you have to stay off for life or you WILL gain weight when you start consuming it again. This is why giving up food groups like dairy, fats and carbs can be bad. And for some cause yo-yo dieting.
  • Jymm
    Jymm Posts: 28 Member
    Options
    Giving up wheat and milk is an idea that has been around for several years (Atkins wrote his first book on low carb diets in the early 70s). Most low carb and paleo diets subscribe to this idea. Even now the most popular diets start you off in a low carb diet for the first few weeks where they exclude wheat and dairy (or bread over all).

    On top of that there are medical studies going back to the later part of the 1800s where doctors put their patients on diets that cut out processed foods and found a dramatic improvement in their health.

    If removing wheat, dairy and processed foods helps you on your quest for weight loss and a healthy diet I say do it. Just ignore the nay sayers. This time next year you'll be much better off and they will be staring at their wheat toast and skim milk wondering why they can't lose weight.
  • Elf_Princess1210
    Elf_Princess1210 Posts: 895 Member
    Options
    As long as you're getting good nutrition, I don't think it should be an issue.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Options
    I don't think there's anything wrong with giving up certain types of food to see if you feel better. I have been off dairy for the past few weeks (as recommended by a nutritionist) to see if that is what is causing the excess mucus I always seem to have. If that isn't it, I'll try cutting out something else. Most vegetarians I know chose to give up meat/dairy simply because they chose to, not because of any dietary restrictions. I say if it works for you, what's the problem?

    Exactly my point. It seems to irk a lot of people on here though for some strange reason.

    Yup, some people have a very big problem with the choice of other people to give up certain foods. One doesn't have to wait to be diagnosed with celiac, PCOS, diabetes, sensitivities/intolerances, etc, to be justified in deciding to eliminate problematic foods; though other members will say just that. Prevention is much more effective than treating symptoms later and trying to repair damage already done.

    There are many foods that are not at all required for survival and imo, many "foods' that are not even food; ie they are detrimental to our health. So, maybe you should find forums where likeminded people will support your choice? I've found a few and all of my "friends" have more or less the same lifestyle and philosophies. It's great to be supported and to be asked for support, rather than be attacked and ridiculed.
  • luckyjuls
    luckyjuls Posts: 505 Member
    Options
    I think the stigma might come from yo-yo dieters who have cut out this or that (be it a Jenny Craig/Atkins/South Beach/ Dukan/ Zone/etc. etc. situation) and then put the weight back on because they limited a food group without having that specific allergy to physically stop them.

    I think it's easier to correlate bad results that come from restricting something if you've ever gone through yo-yo dieting and know how hard it is to say no to things you love forever. It almost makes it into a forbidden fruit situation for some people and once they indulge, they fall off their regimen (not everyone, mind you) or think they are failures. These kinds of dieters need to be able to know they can have this or that without feeling like they have ruined all their progress.

    Don't get me wrong, if you are strong willed and feel ten times better restricting a particular food group for life, you should do it. There are lots of studies that show sugar or white flour trigger hunger, for example, and some people choose to limit these things indefinitely because they see the reactions and want to limit it. I see nothing wrong with that.

    The slippery slope comes when someone has progress with getting rid of a food group and preaches that (not you, but others) as the only way to success and another does not get those same results, thus resulting in panic/giving up/ weight gain.

    Like everyone is saying, weight loss is case by case so I think we are all just trying to be mindful of other people's lifestyles and choices.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Options
    i think its an issue when people start saying the only way to lose weight is to cut out food groups (be it carbs, fats, sugar, whatever)- which isnt true.
    just eat what you want to eat and dont worry about what others say/do :)

    ^^ This

    Most people who say things like this are simply trying to dispel myths.
  • carrieous
    carrieous Posts: 1,024 Member
    Options
    because the body makes its own chemicals to break down the chemicals in certain foods so if you stop eating those certain foods your body will stop making those chemicals and then you wont be able to eat those certain foods without getitng sick is how i understand. Hence why vegetarians get sick if they eat meat.

    I dont like to disrupt the body's natural defenses unless absolutely necessary.
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Options
    I think people get aggravated when those that have cut out certain food groups for non-medical reasons try and push their viewpoints (which are often not scientifically based) on others. Also, the placebo effect is huge.

    This is what confuses me. It's not a "Placebo effect" at all.

    Well, if someone tells themself that by cutting one thing out they are going to feel 100000% better, then yeah, they will wake up the next morning with a spring in their step and suddenly the sky is blue and unicorns are skipping about. It's human nature to believe what we are telling ourselves, whether or not it's really a measurable result. Barring a true food allergy, of course.

    Again - you don't have to have am allergy to notice a health benefit from excluding a food group. Yes I know it wont end all the world problems, wieght loss issues, or anything else far fetched. In fact I never said, not even once, anything about excluding these foods would accerate and/or improve wieght loss. We are talking about what works for some people in the area of improved health - which you must realize health is largely subjective because it has a lot to do with how you feel. This works for me.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,868 Member
    Options
    I no longer eat wheat or dairy. I here all over these forums that if you don't have an allergy you shouldn't give certain foods up, why is that?

    It's generally, "if you don't have an allergy or medical condition you don't NEED to give up certain foods" for the purpose of losing weight, not "you SHOULDN'T. That context is very important. Usually this advise is given to someone struggling and someone who is being overly restrictive with their diet.

    If you can and want to give something up, that's fine...but for many, giving up certain food and food groups ultimately spells failure down the road because it's an unrealistic life style for them. So some of us like to point out that you don't HAVE to give up anything to lose weight.
  • GamerLady
    GamerLady Posts: 359 Member
    Options
    I think you have to do what's right for you and your body. I've never been real big on pastas, breads, or potatoes, so I just don't eat them. Everything else though I eat what I want. I wouldn't try and push my diet on someone, I would just say it works great for me.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Options
    I no longer eat wheat or dairy. I here all over these forums that if you don't have an allergy you shouldn't give certain foods up, why is that?

    It's generally, "if you don't have an allergy or medical condition you don't NEED to give up certain foods" for the purpose of losing weight, not "you SHOULDN'T. That context is very important. Usually this advise is given to someone struggling and someone who is being overly restrictive with their diet.

    If you can and want to give something up, that's fine...but for many, giving up certain food and food groups ultimately spells failure down the road because it's an unrealistic life style for them. So some of us like to point out that you don't HAVE to give up anything to lose weight.

    QFT.
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Options
    because the body makes its own chemicals to break down the chemicals in certain foods so if you stop eating those certain foods your body will stop making those chemicals and then you wont be able to eat those certain foods without getitng sick is how i understand. Hence why vegetarians get sick if they eat meat.

    I dont like to disrupt the body's natural defenses unless absolutely necessary.

    I disagree. I think people get sick when they return to a certain food group because that food always had negative results for them which is probably why they quit in the first place.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Options
    It is about science if you cut something from your diet long term your body stops producing the hormones needed to break down that food. So you have to stay off for life or you WILL gain weight when you start consuming it again. This is why giving up food groups like dairy, fats and carbs can be bad. And for some cause yo-yo dieting.

    You refer to "science" and then make a very strange comment indeed. No one can give up "fat" or they would die. Due to the bs low fat craze (supposedly based on science, but NOT actually based on science because the studies did not prove that natural, healthy fats caused any illness at all), people are eating less overall fat, much less natural saturated fat, but with the addition of large amounts of highly processed polyunsaturated fats, never before seen in the human diet. I don't need "science" (or the government or the food industry) to know that if there's a problem with fat, it's probably not from the kinds that humans have been eating for a million years or so.

    But yes, one can give up dairy, with ZERO negative effects, and probably many positive effects. One can come close to giving up carbs as well, though I don't see the need to when they come from vegetables. (There are aboriginal societies who did quite well with almost zero carbs in their diet; the Inuit for one.)

    Yup, totally right that returning to the diet that made one sick and fat, will have the same effect all over again.
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Options
    Kay, another question, why does everyone assume bad things will happen if/when I go back to wheat and dairy? Wheres the scientific evidence on this?

    An example I have on my own, I have quit drinking alcohol many times, and then after 6 months or a year I go back.... I don't develope an intolerance or allergy or get sick from it when I return, nor do I gain weight unless of course I exceed my calories (Remember excesss calories make you gain wieght not certain foods). It'll be the same for wheat and dairy.
  • stella1314
    stella1314 Posts: 66 Member
    Options
    i think you doing the right thing.!
    If you think you dont want dairy...why on earth should u eat it? or wheat?
    do whatever You think is right, its your body! As long as you eat healthy , feel great and look great....YOU ARE DOING A RIGHT THING!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Options
    because the body makes its own chemicals to break down the chemicals in certain foods so if you stop eating those certain foods your body will stop making those chemicals and then you wont be able to eat those certain foods without getitng sick is how i understand. Hence why vegetarians get sick if they eat meat.

    I dont like to disrupt the body's natural defenses unless absolutely necessary.

    I disagree. I think people get sick when they return to a certain food group because that food always had negative results for them which is probably why they quit in the first place.

    When that happens, it's considered a food intolerance or allergy. If a certain food gives you "negative results," then it's certainly best to avoid that item.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Options
    Kay, another question, why does everyone assume bad things will happen if/when I go back to wheat and dairy? Wheres the scientific evidence on this?

    An example I have on my own, I have quit drinking alcohol many times, and then after 6 months or a year I go back.... I don't develope an intolerance or allergy or get sick from it when I return, nor do I gain weight unless of course I exceed my calories (Remember excesss calories make you gain wieght not certain foods). It'll be the same for wheat and dairy.

    True. The only way that it would make you gain is if the "yumminess" factor hit and you binged one that item.
  • GamerLady
    GamerLady Posts: 359 Member
    Options
    i think you doing the right thing.!
    If you think you dont want dairy...why on earth should u eat it? or wheat?
    do whatever You think is right, its your body! As long as you eat healthy , feel great and look great....YOU ARE DOING A RIGHT THING!

    Amen!
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Options
    You seem very hostile about this. Eat what you want to eat. If you hit your macros and your calorie goals, it won't matter much, if at all. It may help you or you may choose to believe it is what's helping you, but it doesn't matter either way. If cutting out dairy makes you happy and healthy, then you're happy and healthy.
    People who are unhappy about others giving up food groups generally are for one of two reasons 1. The person giving up foods did it because they felt they had to. 2. The person giving up a food group keeps complaining about how hard it is to stay on their "diet."
    You don't have to give up any food group and for most people, it is harder to stick to healthy eating when you give up a food group. If it works for you, why do you care what anyone else says? Ignore the haters and eat what you eat.
    It's just like the EM2WL v. 1200 people. There are studies that support every side, there is anecdotal evidence for every side and there are people who are unnecessarily passionate about every side. Ultimately, we all choose the method that we feel works best for us.
    Eat, move, be happy and you will be healthy. How you do it is up to you.

    I'm not hostile. Not at all. Just wondering if anyone had legit reasons why its not good. But appears there are none. Thanks for the good advice.
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Options
    Giving up wheat and milk is an idea that has been around for several years (Atkins wrote his first book on low carb diets in the early 70s). Most low carb and paleo diets subscribe to this idea. Even now the most popular diets start you off in a low carb diet for the first few weeks where they exclude wheat and dairy (or bread over all).

    On top of that there are medical studies going back to the later part of the 1800s where doctors put their patients on diets that cut out processed foods and found a dramatic improvement in their health.

    If removing wheat, dairy and processed foods helps you on your quest for weight loss and a healthy diet I say do it. Just ignore the nay sayers. This time next year you'll be much better off and they will be staring at their wheat toast and skim milk wondering why they can't lose weight.

    My favourite Response!