Confused, please help!

sophia_uk
sophia_uk Posts: 152 Member
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone and thanks in advance,

I am really confused about everyones different diet choices and why they choose them. I know people go for low-sodium, low-carb, high protein, low fat etc diets.

What are the pros/cons of these diets and why do you go for them? Can you give some advice so that I know which one to go for myself?

Thanks :)

Replies

  • rfcollins33
    rfcollins33 Posts: 630
    I go for simply less calories in than out. Works for me. Although, I do watch my sugars as well. It's a fact that if you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. The cons are being hungry at first. It's hard to get down to a level that is appropriate for losing weight after eating more and putting on pounds. The pros are it's easy, free, and mfp really really helps. Hope that helps. Good luck on your journey!!
  • justahorsen
    justahorsen Posts: 234
    bump
  • afteil
    afteil Posts: 162 Member
    Basically (at least to me) everyones body is different. For every person: 40-50% of our calories should be from carbs, 25-35 from protein and 20-30% from fats (or something similar to that, i think thats correct though). Through those % we can change the way we consume those calories, and what %'s we want to stay at. For weight loss most people choose to go for lower carbs because they contain the most calories(generally)- in order to do those we have to increase the amount of protein we eat (so that our total % = 100).

    But, more important then worrying about the %'s of what we eat, its how we eat them. For example: choosing olive or canola oil over butter, or choosing to get protein from beans/poultry/fish rather than fatty meats.
    Sodium should always be low- as i understand it the higher the sodium means our body holds onto more water rather than using the water to flush toxins from our systems.

    For me, I try to limit the amount of red meats that I consume, as well as 'white grains' (white rice/bread). I don't really like bread to begin with so usually I dont eat much of that. But, to cut out one food group entirely is bad for your health in the long run. Like, if you go on say...an atkins type diet where you cut out all carbs...the second you start eating carbs again, you will gain back a lot of weight. And lets face it, no one can go without a food for the rest of their lives....

    SO...for most people here I think, the key is just everything in moderation. Dont go crazy with salt or fat, but leaving it out altogether also doesnt work.....

    Sorry if this is a bit spastic/rambly..its like 4:30am and I havent slept yet lol.
  • Adsnwfld
    Adsnwfld Posts: 262 Member
    Forget the word "diet" If you want to lose weight consume less calories then you burn off in a day. This website does a great job of helping you with this.
    Change what you eat, eat more lean meats and fish, poultry and beans. Eat more whole grains, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, less processed goods and you will lose weight and be healthier.
    What we are doing isn't a diet it is a change in lifestyle that is healthy and sustainable for the rest of your life...because this is for the rest of your life. What you start here can 't be a temporary thing or you will put the weight back on and raise your risk for health problems.

    We all can do it, it is just a mater of changing bad habits and informing our loved ones about making healthy choices when they eat.
  • rherrin5
    rherrin5 Posts: 136 Member
    For me, I have around 300 carbs a day close to 100 protien and around 40 fiber. My sodium is always under 2000 and fat is usually under. I walk everyday and eat about 300 of my burned cals. I focus more than anything on cals in and cals out. Oh and all my carbs are from fruits, veggies, and whole grains. But I eat the same thing every day just about so its easy for me to stick to what I want too haha But what works for me might not for someone else ya know so it really just depends. I bought the Carb lovers Diet that was shown on Racheal Ray show. I follow it to the max and I walk on average 4 miles everyday with Leslie Sansone. This is my daily routine and I love it! I love it because for the first time in my life I have found something that works for me! Im losing weight for the first time ever! Plus im not restricted on my diet. I love it!
  • hemlock2010
    hemlock2010 Posts: 422 Member
    Here's what I try to do, more or less in order of how much I care about each.

    1) Be under my calorie limit (1900 calories)

    2) Exercise enough to use at least 300 calories (1900 calories eaten - 300 or more calories used for exercise = net 1600 or fewer calories per day) six days a week. That's my weight loss goal. At this rate I lose about 1lb per week.

    3) Supplements: take 2 flax seed oil capsules, one multivitamin, and one glucosamine tablet each day. (The flax seed oil and multivitamin probably everyone should do. The glucosamine is for joints.)

    Healthy eating goals
    4) Eat at least the amount of protein and fiber MFP calculates for me.

    5) Get at least 1200 mg of calcium.

    6) Get at least 100% rda of Vitamin C. The multivitamin takes care of this, but vitamin C is a diuretic, so if I feel bloated, I eat an orange or half a grapefruit.

    7) Evaluate all foods according to the number of calories per gram of protein OR number of calories per gram of fiber. If it's not 1) high in protein or 2) high in fiber or 3) a dark green, blue, red, or orange fruit or vegetable, I generally don't eat it. This saves me from things like white bread, pasta, rice, etc.

    8) Use high quality fats (butter, olive oil) instead of margerine.

    9) Save some calories for comfort food. (This is my essential survival tool.) I HAVE to have chocolate every single day, and I HAVE to drink coffee with loads of sugar. I set those calories aside first and then eat around them. Since my calorie goal is 1900, I have plenty of healthy food calories to work with.

    10) Drink lots of water.
  • wdrspens
    wdrspens Posts: 6
    Hi Sophia,

    Have a look at Diet Chef (www.dietchef.co.uk) as I have found after more than 35 years of yo-yo dieting, it seems to work, is not too expensive at about £5.50 per day, and is easy to follow, taking the chore out of deciding what to eat and how much to eat. It works for me, loss 1 1/2 stone in 3 weeks and gives you a good balanced meal.
    Good luck with your choice.
    PS I have no financial or other interest in Diet Chef, except as a customer extolling its virtue.
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    I use lots of veggies-tuna-some chicken-yogurt diet hahaha....
  • rmhand
    rmhand Posts: 1,067 Member
    People usually choose these diets to support a health condition or their activity level. People go low fat if they have high cholesterol etc. Other people lift weights and are trying to bulk up so they eat more protein to support muscle growth.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    I am using the eat-right-for-the-rest-of-my-life diet.

    I make changes as I learn new things, and fine tune it as I go. First I cut out fast food, then HFCS and MSG, then processed foods, then artificial additives, then changed over to organic for some products (deli meat and dairy primarily). I still get to eat ice cream, go to restaurants, have a girl scout cookie or two, and indulge in pizza now and then.

    I will be able to eat like this permanently and because I'm learning about portions and proportions, I won't have to worry about gaining weight in the future or what this additive or that one is doing to my health.
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