Let's try this again....

1JoshG
1JoshG Posts: 120 Member
edited November 25 in Health and Weight Loss
Successfully lost some weight this spring. Also, successfully gained it all back over the course of the last 4 months. Yay!! So now I'm starting again.
-No more beer
-Cutting out as much sugar as possible
-Drinking a gallon+ of water a day
-Resume an intermittent fasting schedule.
-I have plenty of activity at my job and around the house so that is not an issue.

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    edited October 2015
    1JoshG wrote: »
    Successfully lost some weight this spring. Also, successfully gained it all back over the course of the last 4 months. Yay!! So now I'm starting again.
    -No more beer
    -Cutting out as much sugar as possible
    -Drinking a gallon+ of water a day
    -Resume an intermittent fasting schedule.
    -I have plenty of activity at my job and around the house so that is not an issue.

    I ask this not to start an internet argument (though it surely will)...but as an honest question.

    Do you see yourself REALLY being able to cut out beer, sugar, eating on an IF schedule, etc forever?

    One thing we commonly see here is that people who seemingly arbitrarily cut out things they enjoy are somewhat successful in the short term (initial weight loss), but have trouble keeping it off and regain it. If abstaining from those items is not in your long term goals, I might suggest a slightly different methodology based on calorie and macro counting rather than arbitrary diet restrictions.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Anything about eating less than you burn?
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    How bout you don't give up anything and just eat at a caloric deficit? This way, this time, you get to keep it off!
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    I agree with all of the above, try the caloric deficit first.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    juggernaut1974 wrote: »
    1JoshG wrote: »
    Successfully lost some weight this spring. Also, successfully gained it all back over the course of the last 4 months. Yay!! So now I'm starting again.
    -No more beer
    -Cutting out as much sugar as possible
    -Drinking a gallon+ of water a day
    -Resume an intermittent fasting schedule.
    -I have plenty of activity at my job and around the house so that is not an issue.

    I ask this not to start an internet argument (though it surely will)...but as an honest question.

    Do you see yourself REALLY being able to cut out beer, sugar, eating on an IF schedule, etc forever?

    One thing we commonly see here is that people who seemingly arbitrarily cut out things they enjoy are somewhat successful in the short term (initial weight loss), but have trouble keeping it off and regain it. If abstaining from those items is not in your long term goals, I might suggest a slightly different methodology based on calorie and macro counting rather than arbitrary diet restrictions.

    Agree with everything here.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    1JoshG wrote: »
    Successfully lost some weight this spring. Also, successfully gained it all back over the course of the last 4 months. Yay!! So now I'm starting again.
    -No more beer
    -Cutting out as much sugar as possible
    -Drinking a gallon+ of water a day
    -Resume an intermittent fasting schedule.
    -I have plenty of activity at my job and around the house so that is not an issue.

    So you lost weight and put it all back on again and your solution is to go back to how you lost weight in the first place which you have already proved to yourself is a short term fix

    This is what most of us do...we are successful at following a restrictive plan then we resort to "normal" and put it all back on, and then some so our brain tells us go back to how you succeeded the last time

    Only your brain is fooling you

    A short term success is no success ...you need to fix your normal

    My advice would be don't restrict specific foods or groups...don't follow an eating plan that has arbitrary rules...every rule is designed to get you stick to a calorie defecit across the week

    Stunning in its simplicity ...stick to a calorie defecit across the week by counting calories
  • melonaulait
    melonaulait Posts: 769 Member
    I'm definitely not giving up beer - I sometimes even drink it to excess!

    If you can consider keeping beer in your life, you could plan your beer-drinking days in advance and see how many calories each beer takes up. That way it might be easier to drink with moderation. :)
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    I don't mean to pile on you, OP. And setting a goal of drinking "X" amount of water is certainly common. But -- setting a goal of drinking a gallon of water a day makes as little sense to me as setting a goal of (for example) eating a dozen doughnuts a day. That would be way too much sugar, fat and calories for most people. Just as a gallon of water is more than most people need on a typical day (i.e., not an extremely hot or humid day, and not one where they're doing excessive exercise).

    Why would anyone set a goal to do something in excess of what the body likely needs?
  • 1JoshG
    1JoshG Posts: 120 Member
    I agree with all the above comments stressing that calories in/out is all you need to do to lose weight. The problem is that I currently lack self-control. I need to get that in check. It's easier for me to completely remove the treats and temptations currently. Long term I intend to work them back in with moderation.
    As to the gallon, I do not feel that a gallon a day is too much. It is easy for me to do and has helped in the past.
    Thanks for the suggestions!
  • tristen_leigh
    tristen_leigh Posts: 214 Member
    1JoshG wrote: »
    I agree with all the above comments stressing that calories in/out is all you need to do to lose weight. The problem is that I currently lack self-control. I need to get that in check. It's easier for me to completely remove the treats and temptations currently. Long term I intend to work them back in with moderation.
    As to the gallon, I do not feel that a gallon a day is too much. It is easy for me to do and has helped in the past.
    Thanks for the suggestions!

    I understand the idea of cutting out temptations and if that's the route you want to go, I would suggest cutting one thing out at a time. Cut the beer (god help you) for a week, then add cutting sugar the next week, etc. Just add one thing each week so you don't overwhelm yourself and your system.

    On that note, you don't reeeeally need to do all that to lose weight. But more power to you. Good luck!
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    edited October 2015
    If you are an alcoholic cut all beer, if you are a diabetic cut all added sugar, if not and you are overweight just cut some calories. I don't drink, I find the taste of beer unappealing, but cutting sugar I can relate too. I have drastically decreased the amount of added sugar I consume. Some days I don't eat any, most days I eat some, and some days I want to celebrate with a small portion, that I usually do not consume. I certainly don't keep certain foods around and easily accessible that I am likely to overeat; but I have found over restricting all of one group of foods doesn't work well for me.
  • N200lz
    N200lz Posts: 134 Member
    1JoshG wrote: »
    I agree with all the above comments stressing that calories in/out is all you need to do to lose weight. The problem is that I currently lack self-control. I need to get that in check. It's easier for me to completely remove the treats and temptations currently.
    Sounds like you have the right Idea. Willpower starts at the grocery store. If you don't bring it home then you don't have to avoid it.
    If you plan on cutting calories, then pick your calories wisely.
    All of the nutrient information is important to your success.
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    Also if you aren't consuming beer or caloric sugary soft drinks or juices, try letting your thirst regulate your water intake.
  • 1JoshG
    1JoshG Posts: 120 Member
    daniwilford wrote: »
    Also if you aren't consuming beer or caloric sugary soft drinks or juices, try letting your thirst regulate your water intake.

    I do for the most part. I certainly never force myself to drink.
This discussion has been closed.

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