The theory we immediately gain weight after sudden weight loss is a false and heres why.

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Replies

  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    HikerEd wrote: »
    HikerEd, if your hiking and using 7000 calories then then of course you need to maintain energy levels. But if you were just to include Dextrose/Maltodextrin mix in your diet per day amongst everything else it would be far from ideal if you were not burning them. It would turn to fat.

    I would never use dextrose or maltodextrin in powdered form outside of a scenario like the above.
    Think of all the wonderful things you could eat with the same macros :-)


    haha very true
  • HikerEd
    HikerEd Posts: 12 Member

    Being an ex-boxer getting 'dry' to make weight was common and still is today. Water weight can play havoc with the scales and just because you may of regained 3-4 lbs in a short space of time do not get disheartened get back on the running machine and see if the weight goes again.


    This is very very true.
    Just replenishing your glycogen (and the attendant water gain which comes with it) can make this kind of a difference!

  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    I have just had a nose at your profile Hornsby and you went from 203 pounds to 173 pounds... Did you consume 1900 calories for breakfast then? Did you eat 200 grams of sugar per day?

    If not, why not?

    No, I was not maintaining my weight then, I was losing weight. So I ate less everything to create a deficit. And to be clear the 1900 for breakfast comment was a tongue and cheek comment.


    So you ate 200 grams of sugar per day to maintain weight? Why would you do that?
  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    I agree that many people have trigger foods (mine is chocolate) but many have taught themselves moderation and how to control the food. Some can not resist and overindulge. But it can be any food, not just sugary things. Each of us has our own of dealing with it. Never going near it or moderation. I do not agree that any food is evil. For me it is working so far, 2-1/2 years into maintenance of a 160 pound weight loss. I am happy, my family is happy, and my doctor is happy, so it works for me.


    Congrats on maintaining! Haha yeah Chocolate can be a bit of a tricky one especially as it's so small but tastes so nice. I do not stay away from any food, if it's cheat evening or cheat day if i want it ill have it.

    Personally I would not recommend anyone eating more sugar than required when trying to lose weight... in my opinion there are better foods to select that will nutritionally compliment their weight loss goals.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    edited June 2016
    Hornsby wrote: »
    I have just had a nose at your profile Hornsby and you went from 203 pounds to 173 pounds... Did you consume 1900 calories for breakfast then? Did you eat 200 grams of sugar per day?

    If not, why not?

    No, I was not maintaining my weight then, I was losing weight. So I ate less everything to create a deficit. And to be clear the 1900 for breakfast comment was a tongue and cheek comment.


    So you ate 200 grams of sugar per day to maintain weight? Why would you do that?

    No, I ate less of everything including sugar.

    I like fruit, especially pineapples and bananas and they have lots of sugar. I like Tootsie Pops. I prefer sugar as quick energy when exercising. It tastes good. Those are some of the reasons why.
  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    OP - congrats on your success but you are slipping into evangelism for what worked for you and then projecting that into advice for everybody.

    I was successful losing weight with a very different strategy. Sugar and carbs in general are simply not an issue for me, not the reason I gained weight either. My strategy would most likely only be suitable for a small proportion of people and I certainly don't think everyone needs to do the same as me, that would be silly. The one constant for successful weight loss is achieving a sustainable calorie deficit over an extended period of time and adherence is incredibly personal.

    There's days I have extraordinary high levels of both sugar and carbs in general - think 800g of carbs was my highest? But that's in context of my exercise needs, to say they are evil is missing the point of context.


    What was your strategy of losing weight, how much did you lose and how long did it take you?

    I agree, the way in which each and everyone achieves our goals is individual and creating our own strategy or looking for a template to work off of is more likely to succeed long term.

    But if someone was overweight and they wanted to know how I lost so much then I guarantee my strategy would work for them. It's not to say others wouldn't do the same but as general proven guidance keep carbs and sugar low watch the calories and see the weight fly off.
  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    I have just had a nose at your profile Hornsby and you went from 203 pounds to 173 pounds... Did you consume 1900 calories for breakfast then? Did you eat 200 grams of sugar per day?

    If not, why not?

    No, I was not maintaining my weight then, I was losing weight. So I ate less everything to create a deficit. And to be clear the 1900 for breakfast comment was a tongue and cheek comment.


    So you ate 200 grams of sugar per day to maintain weight? Why would you do that?

    No, I ate less of everything including sugar.

    I like fruit, especially pineapples and bananas and they have lots of sugar. I like Tootsie Pops. I prefer sugar as quick energy when exercising. It tastes good. Those are some of the reasons why.


    Ah Ok, so you do agree with me then, reduce carbs and sugar to lose weight.

    Now you like sugar because your aim is different. Thats just practical. For anyone looking to achieve mass or gain weight then sugar is good.
  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    OP - congrats on your success but you are slipping into evangelism for what worked for you and then projecting that into advice for everybody.

    I was successful losing weight with a very different strategy. Sugar and carbs in general are simply not an issue for me, not the reason I gained weight either. My strategy would most likely only be suitable for a small proportion of people and I certainly don't think everyone needs to do the same as me, that would be silly. The one constant for successful weight loss is achieving a sustainable calorie deficit over an extended period of time and adherence is incredibly personal.

    There's days I have extraordinary high levels of both sugar and carbs in general - think 800g of carbs was my highest? But that's in context of my exercise needs, to say they are evil is missing the point of context.


    What was your strategy of losing weight, how much did you lose and how long did it take you?

    I agree, the way in which each and everyone achieves our goals is individual and creating our own strategy or looking for a template to work off of is more likely to succeed long term.

    But if someone was overweight and they wanted to know how I lost so much then I guarantee my strategy would work for them. It's not to say others wouldn't do the same but as general proven guidance keep carbs and sugar low watch the calories and see the weight fly off.

    If you create a calorie deficit with carbs or without carbs, and the deficits are equal, the weight loss is the same.

    If someone that wanted to lose weight ate a whole tub of ice cream which was 2000 calories and nothing else all day then I would probably agree with you, they may lose weight. But that person is going to walk around hungry and when we are hungry we eat, it animal nature. If we don't then we are unhappy and will lose interest.

    But essentially i completely disagree with you. If two twins with identical weights, heights, activity levels etc were to compete in a weight loss challenge. One were to eat Mcdonalds high is sugar and carbs but was only allowed to eat 2000 calories the other twin was only allowed to eat chicken and rice hitting 2000 calories per day.

    The twin eating chicken and rice would lose more weight than the other even if the calories were the same due to the nutritional break down of macros in the food.

  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    OP, I'm glad you found what worked for you, but please stop projecting your method as right for everyone. Physiologically, it would work for everyone as you have created a deficit, however you have not taken the psychological factors into account.

    Personally, and from what I've read on the forums, a lot of other mfp-ers agree, the low/no carbs and sugar would be so restrictive as to not be sustainable. When I view a food as off limits or 'bad', it just increases the desire for it. Having regular amounts of carbs and sugar, within my calorie limit, whether I'm exercising that day or not, is more realistic for me and many others.

    As for whether or not a person would regain weight once they stop implementing the habits that caused weight loss/maintenance - well, yeah, not a huge surprise there.


    Not to offend as I appreciate you commenting but I do find your comment a little contradictory. So you have said it would work, so I am right and you agree low carb and low sugar with with exercise will help people lose weight?

    I haven't said it is sustainable, Im not going to eat like this forever, just to hit my weight loss goals. If i continued then I would be too light. Where have I said it is sustainable?

    Its about averages.. can people not read. firstly I have said if people want to eat what they want then go ahead but if you don't want to put weight on average it out. If you were to eat 4000 calories 3 days in a row and then tried to maintain your diet you would gain weight. Do you not realise that?

    I have also said in other posts this is mainly about people thinking they have lost a few pounds and then within a week they have put the weight back on. It is mainly due to water weight.


  • johnturnerbradley
    johnturnerbradley Posts: 37 Member
    Thanks to everyone who has posted so far.. I have some work to do and will comment or reply if required when I come back on later.

    Just as an FYI this is post is mainly about maintaining weight and the effects of water weight that most people do not realise.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Well, the most important thing to say is congrats on your progress so far.

    But....

    All that is needed to lose weight is a calorie deficit as you mention. How you get there is highly irrelevant but mostly dependent on preference and activity levels. Eating sugar "with carbs" doesn't makes sense as sugar is a carb so you are always eating it with carbs. The common problem foods are sugar mixed with fat. And even those don't need to be cut out as long as a calorie deficit remains.

    And recommending a blanket calorie for everyone is just plain irresponsible to do. There are plenty that would gain on 1900 per day and there are plenty like myself who think of 1900 as breakfast.

    This
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    I have just had a nose at your profile Hornsby and you went from 203 pounds to 173 pounds... Did you consume 1900 calories for breakfast then? Did you eat 200 grams of sugar per day?

    If not, why not?

    No, I was not maintaining my weight then, I was losing weight. So I ate less everything to create a deficit. And to be clear the 1900 for breakfast comment was a tongue and cheek comment.


    So you ate 200 grams of sugar per day to maintain weight? Why would you do that?

    No, I ate less of everything including sugar.

    I like fruit, especially pineapples and bananas and they have lots of sugar. I like Tootsie Pops. I prefer sugar as quick energy when exercising. It tastes good. Those are some of the reasons why.


    Ah Ok, so you do agree with me then, reduce carbs and sugar to lose weight.

    Now you like sugar because your aim is different. Thats just practical. For anyone looking to achieve mass or gain weight then sugar is good.

    If reducing carbs and sugar helps an individual achieve a calorie deficit then they will lose weight.

    The same individual could reduce carbs and sugar and eat other foods (fat and protein) in a calorie surplus and would gain weight.

    Another person could focus solely on calories, not purposely restrict carbs and sugar, and lose weight. That is the approach many of us have taken with great success. I lost the weight I set out to lose and am currently maintaining, and rarely look at either my carb or sugar totals for the day.


  • philippakate197
    philippakate197 Posts: 125 Member
    edited June 2016
    OP, I'm glad you found what worked for you, but please stop projecting your method as right for everyone. Physiologically, it would work for everyone as you have created a deficit, however you have not taken the psychological factors into account.

    Personally, and from what I've read on the forums, a lot of other mfp-ers agree, the low/no carbs and sugar would be so restrictive as to not be sustainable. When I view a food as off limits or 'bad', it just increases the desire for it. Having regular amounts of carbs and sugar, within my calorie limit, whether I'm exercising that day or not, is more realistic for me and many others.

    As for whether or not a person would regain weight once they stop implementing the habits that caused weight loss/maintenance - well, yeah, not a huge surprise there.


    Not to offend as I appreciate you commenting but I do find your comment a little contradictory. So you have said it would work, so I am right and you agree low carb and low sugar with with exercise will help people lose weight?

    I haven't said it is sustainable, Im not going to eat like this forever, just to hit my weight loss goals. If i continued then I would be too light. Where have I said it is sustainable?

    Its about averages.. can people not read. firstly I have said if people want to eat what they want then go ahead but if you don't want to put weight on average it out. If you were to eat 4000 calories 3 days in a row and then tried to maintain your diet you would gain weight. Do you not realise that?

    I have also said in other posts this is mainly about people thinking they have lost a few pounds and then within a week they have put the weight back on. It is mainly due to water weight.


    Yes, I agree low carb and low sugar works, as long as it puts you into a calorie deficit. And exercise is just another way to get that deficit, it's beneficial for many reasons but not actually required for weight loss. Just to reiterate, the important thing is a calorie deficit - how each individual gets that deficit and what kind of foods they eat is up to them.

    If your way of losing weight is unsustainable what is your plan for when you're done with your diet? How do you plan to maintain the loss?

    Of course you'd gain weight if you ate 4000cals 3 days in a row - that sounds like a binge to me, a common side effect of over restrictive diets.

    And yes, I am familiar with natural fluctuations due to water weight etc.

  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Yet, 4000 is what I am maintaining on which is why blanket recommendations don't work.
  • philippakate197
    philippakate197 Posts: 125 Member
    edited June 2016
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Yet, 4000 is what I am maintaining on which is why blanket recommendations don't work.

    I have serious calorie envy!
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    It's true that there's often an initial bounce in water weight after raising your calories, largely from carrying more glycogen stores. There's also a mental component of people who think their "diet is over". However, there's another effect that explains some of the weight regain : hunger.

    When you are on a prolonged deficit and then begin to eat at maintenance again, you will actually get a lot hungrier than you were on the deficit - there's a rebound hunger effect as your body is now trying to put on weight to prepare for the next time you "starve".

    The transition from loss to maintenance is not easy. Statistically speaking it's much harder than losing in the first place.
  • Jacob1020
    Jacob1020 Posts: 115 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Yet, 4000 is what I am maintaining on which is why blanket recommendations don't work.