Expectations

butterjoy

BANKS, I DID WONDER WHAT THE WORD "BUMP" MEANT. THANKS..:flowerforyou:

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kellbell

:drinker:

songbyrdsweet

Hi Banks

I'm between Stage 2 and 3; the weight has stopped dropping off and i'm considerably more toned; even fitted nicely into a pair of new trousers that I bought 3 weeks before hand and well... they weren't going over my hips; I'm still motivated but my own history is getting to this stage, losing size, gaining muscle, but NOT continuing to lose weight

I have never calorie counted before, am pretty much eating what I ate before, though a healthier version, eat pretty much all of my exercise calories, some days a little under, about 1 day a week I go over but not by too much and exercise the next day usually

I actually have a feeling I am exercising too much, walking and bicycling as I'm just starting to get fit again. I can't do aerobics or running and when I do yoga or pilates the muslce gain is more as my body aclimatises quickly and the workout hits my muslce hugely for the effort I put in. I do top up on low calorie protein drinks to help the muscles as I find it keeps my hunger post work out at bay and I don't need a sugar fix so much, etc. I drink alcohol 3/4 nights a week and have no intention of cutting this out.. so please don't even suggest it as it wont happen :drinker:

For weight loss its a stage I can plateau at for more than 2/3 months.

A couple of questions

Is it detrimental to go over calories, even once a week if not hugely?

Someone told me that you must eat NOT LESS THAN 10 calories BELOW YOUR DAILY ALLOWANCE or you body goes into crisis and starts storing fat; how true is this?

Alcohol - empty calories for nutritional value - but not detrimental to weight loss - correct?

Its not that I intend on giving up but do you have any SPECIFIC tips so that the next few weeks prove productive and not stale mate?

Mags

I'll try to go over these as well as I can. Going over on calories won't kill you, as long as it's the exception and not the rule, and, as you said, it isn't by lots and lots of calories. I've never heard, nor would I put much creedance in that 10 calorie thing. The body doesn't use lines of demarkation, it uses "shades of gray". In other words, your body would gradually inch towards starvation mode instead of flipping the equivalent of a switch. At a certain point it becomes dangerous as the body starts to eat itself from the inside out, but at no specific point does your body switch from normal fat burning to lean tissue consumption (in fact, they both happen, to some degree, for just about everyone).
As to alcohol, I'll admit, sometimes I do partake in a few too many pops. But alcohol is deadly to weight loss for 2 reasons, 1st is that alcohol supplants glycogen for energy, so basically, once you start drinkin, any undigested carbs in the body (and they can stick around for hours after you eat them) basically are immediately stored as fat as the body instead, consumes the alcohol for energy (while I have read a lot on this, I still would like some confirmation that this is true, SongByrd, if you read this, can you confirm?). The second is that alcohol increases appetite, is a depressant (I.E. slows the metabolism), and lowers inhibition, which means you are more likely to eat bad food, and less likely to burn it off.
None of this means don't eat when you drink or never drink, it just means, moderation is better, and trying to keep weeks or, better yet, months between significant drinking is advisable (for all the reasons above as well as the obvious alcoholism that can result).

Well, the alcohol itsself isn't used as energy in a human body (alcohol dehydrogenase breaks it down in the liver so we can expel it since it's toxic, but we don't have the capabilities to actually use it), but any sugars that come with the alcohol (like from barley and hops) can be used as energy. So, just like any nutrient, if you overeat (or drink, in this case) the excess sugars will be used in triglyceride formation.

The REALLY IMPORTANT BAD PART is that those triglycerides form IN the liver, creating fatty deposits, which is what causes cirrhosis. It's much more dangerous than subcutaneous fat accumulation associated with overeating of food.

Also, alcohol metabolism interferes with the liver's ability to produce glucose via gluconeogenesis, so if you're on a low-carb diet, it can be extremely dangerous.You certainly don't want to limit glucose availability...you brain likes that stuff.

anewbeginning

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This is a great post Banks. Thank you for sharing.

banks1850

Song, I thought alcohol was broken down into acetate, and ursurps the body's ability to burn fat calories while it is present? At least that's what I read, which is why I was asking (I follow the "don't believe everything you read" philosophy).

Pamy

thanks for the info it really helps. Im in stage 1 at the moment and i have lost 1 pound per week which i am happy with.

Pamela xxx

:flowerforyou:

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PrincessLaundry

:bigsmile:

bump!

banks1850

self-bump

tashjs21

Wow, thank you so much for this. I am in Stage 2 and was starting to get discouraged but this makes sense.

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kellbell

:flowerforyou:

banks1850

I'm sorry I'm not around more all. This house thing has me going out of my mind. After the 29th it should be better. Love you guys, Keep up all the great work.

-Banks

fynendandi1

Thank you Banks that post was very helpful.

tryingagain

Banks, thanks for the encouragement. I was just reading through the messages and saw this phrase

"Remember, this is your life, . . ."

If we all really thought about that, I think it would help us heading toward our goals.

"Remember, this is your life," How do you want to live it ? ? ? ? What do you want to do in it ? ? ? ?

That will keep me going today!

FitJoani

I am in between the end game and the last phase before that. Thanks for posting this!!!!

tryingagain

Hi everyone,

Well, two weeks down and I lost another pound. Hope to add a little more exercise this week. That is my weakness.



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overthehillsandfaraway

awesome post! it is definitely important information for a "newbie", like myself, to read and take into consideration. That clears up any inquiries I had about consuming those earned calories.

Gorgeous

plantlady99

This was one of the best post to read. I could read it over and over.



You have to have a goal!!!!!

insearchofskinny

Wonderfully written and chock full of information. Thanks Banks!

LML79

Wow... I needed to read that today. I'm at phase 4 and I know this is when things get hard .. and Temptation sets in a little more.. I needed that reminder to keep on going and not give up! thanks Banks

banks1850

Well, thanks folks! Always good to know I'm not just writing drivel! I have another post comming soon. It'll be specifically about fat loss and how the body burns stored calories.

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cmriverside

3,587 bumps. Superman, do they "get it" yet? :glasses:

LadyZen

Banks-Thanks so much for the information. I usually would get to the 3rd step and totally say "Screw it!" and give up. Not this time though. I just love this website!

banks1850

3,587 bumps. Superman, do they "get it" yet? :glasses:

LOL! I can just taste the sarcasm dripping. To answer your question, some do, some don't.

deanea

Oh, I need to add a stage....maintenance.

For me at the start of maintenance it was really easy, in fact I kept losing for a while. Then life settled in, work and life changes occured, routines changed and a bit of taking for granted and laziness as they do for all of us. The last five months of routines needed to be revamped. I felt like I was starting all over with the challenge that I just conquered. Maintenance is a challenge, and requires attention to all of the same details that you concentrated on during losing. This is a life long change, the challenges and changes occur everytime you and your life changes. Stages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.........
Anne

runawaybride

bump:bigsmile: