The whoosh theory: true or false?
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I thought it was just me, this is all very interesting to read. I wouldn't call my fat "squishy", it's more lumpy, almost like cellulite, which I've never had. I've learned from experience that's what happens, to me, before it goes away. I have not had any "whoosh's" though. But to be honest, I've learned to stay off the scale on a daily basis and that weight loss is not linear. I only weigh about once a month. I can just tell by looks, and it looks bad, worse than when I was really overweight. Now I know when I see it, like right now, to just keep going. Those lumps mean I'm doing something right. I have no science to back this, it is what it is and what I see in the mirror.0
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rileysowner wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »
I've read that article a dozen times over the years. As far as I can tell nobody here on MFP, the group I asked the question of, wrote it. I'm asking for personal experiences.
Thanks to all who have answered my question.
I asked because I find he gives a reasonable description of squishy fat. I, have never had squishy fat as it is described in the article, and have never had whooshes as described in the article. There may be various reasons for that since it is clearly related to water retention of some sort and for my blood pressure I am on a diuretic which may influence it. I am thinking if you have not had it at this point, you probably are not one of those people who get squishy fat.
Lyle is not a MFP member heh. Most of his stuff is backed heavily by research, the whole stall/whoosh thing came from him observing clients.
Sigh.
I know he's not an MFP member. I was pointing out that I was asking for the personal experiences of MFP members, not Lyle McDonald's observations.
Moving on... I have a ton of squishiness in my abdominal area but it's not squishy fat as described by others. It's just subcutaneous fat lining stretched out skin. None of the rest of me is squishy like that.
Must have read it the wrong way!
When I first started years ago I DID have it happen (and that was prior to reading the article). Not that I noticed any of the squishy fat thing, but I certainly did have a big "whoosh".
For about 2 months I was having pretty underpar results, then over the next couple of weeks I had HUGE number drops. At the time it was super demotivating because I knew I was doing what I was supposed to... But it really did help me to learn to forget about the damn scale, because of how really susceptible it is to fluid fluctuations.0 -
Just experienced this myself! For two weeks I didn't gain or lose. Not a single ounce!!!! Tracked everything! Last night I helped myself to some disgustingly huge, filled doughnuts and a nice slice of pizza. Was way over (850 calories over, to be exact!) and this morning lost 2 pounds. I'm thrilled! Had the whole squishy fat and whoosh!1
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rileysowner wrote: »rileysowner wrote: »
I've read that article a dozen times over the years. As far as I can tell nobody here on MFP, the group I asked the question of, wrote it. I'm asking for personal experiences.
Thanks to all who have answered my question.
I asked because I find he gives a reasonable description of squishy fat. I, have never had squishy fat as it is described in the article, and have never had whooshes as described in the article. There may be various reasons for that since it is clearly related to water retention of some sort and for my blood pressure I am on a diuretic which may influence it. I am thinking if you have not had it at this point, you probably are not one of those people who get squishy fat.
Lyle is not a MFP member heh. Most of his stuff is backed heavily by research, the whole stall/whoosh thing came from him observing clients.
Sigh.
I know he's not an MFP member. I was pointing out that I was asking for the personal experiences of MFP members, not Lyle McDonald's observations.
Moving on... I have a ton of squishiness in my abdominal area but it's not squishy fat as described by others. It's just subcutaneous fat lining stretched out skin. None of the rest of me is squishy like that.
Right now all of me is squishy as I have a lot to lose, but it isn't squishy fat, it is just fat. I just have to get the motivation to get back on the wagon.0 -
Just experienced this myself! For two weeks I didn't gain or lose. Not a single ounce!!!! Tracked everything! Last night I helped myself to some disgustingly huge, filled doughnuts and a nice slice of pizza. Was way over (850 calories over, to be exact!) and this morning lost 2 pounds. I'm thrilled! Had the whole squishy fat and whoosh!
It's those doughnut induced whooshes that convince me more than ever that it isn't what is happening in the fat cells that causes them.0 -
TimothyFish wrote: »Just experienced this myself! For two weeks I didn't gain or lose. Not a single ounce!!!! Tracked everything! Last night I helped myself to some disgustingly huge, filled doughnuts and a nice slice of pizza. Was way over (850 calories over, to be exact!) and this morning lost 2 pounds. I'm thrilled! Had the whole squishy fat and whoosh!
It's those doughnut induced whooshes that convince me more than ever that it isn't what is happening in the fat cells that causes them.
I'm beginning to think my largely junk food diet is what has kept me on the steady losses. I should call it the Costco Cookie Diet and sell it to people who are stuck.6 -
Thank you Annetrout! I am going out for donuts and pizza tonight!
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Has anyone tried to up their potassium to get unstuck, and maybe force a Whoosh?
On the premise that you are calorie deficient but retaining water, I thought this might work.
More potassium reduces your sodium levels, as I understand it.
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Has anyone tried to up their potassium to get unstuck, and maybe force a Whoosh?
On the premise that you are calorie deficient but retaining water, I thought this might work.
More potassium reduces your sodium levels, as I understand it.
I have, and it works, but only for a short period of time. The body is pretty good at autoregulating your electrolytes, except in cases of severe acute overshooting.
You also have to be careful to not accidentally dehydrate yourself, or your body will start holding water to tge point where you're worse off than before.3 -
All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?5
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CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.1 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.
Contest dates for figure competitors I understand, but for the rest of us, personally I've never been to a party where they had a weigh-in on the door...0 -
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.
Contest dates for figure competitors I understand, but for the rest of us, personally I've never been to a party where they had a weigh-in on the door...
True, but a few pounds of water can do terrible things to ones waist or thighs, if perhaps they have a specific outfit/suit/whatever that they are planning on wearing.4 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.
Contest dates for figure competitors I understand, but for the rest of us, personally I've never been to a party where they had a weigh-in on the door...
True, but a few pounds of water can do terrible things to ones waist or thighs, if perhaps they have a specific outfit/suit/whatever that they are planning on wearing.
I remain entirely unconvinced that the difference would be visible.0 -
CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.
Contest dates for figure competitors I understand, but for the rest of us, personally I've never been to a party where they had a weigh-in on the door...
True, but a few pounds of water can do terrible things to ones waist or thighs, if perhaps they have a specific outfit/suit/whatever that they are planning on wearing.
I remain entirely unconvinced that the difference would be visible.
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CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »Gallowmere1984 wrote: »CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
If someone has an event that's important to them for whatever reason (contest date, vacation, whatever) then it can be helpful to understand how to manipulate the body's tendency to hold water. However, for the most part, yeah, I'd agree with you.
Contest dates for figure competitors I understand, but for the rest of us, personally I've never been to a party where they had a weigh-in on the door...
True, but a few pounds of water can do terrible things to ones waist or thighs, if perhaps they have a specific outfit/suit/whatever that they are planning on wearing.
I remain entirely unconvinced that the difference would be visible.
I am one who often tries to control water retention. Often my ankles have swollen over the top of my socks leaving an indention an indention that lasts until I drop the water weight. My bra will get tight and be uncomfortable. I feel bloated and lethargic at times.
So yes...it can be visible and there are things that can be done to manipulate the loss of that water(at least temporarily)...safely and doesn't involve donuts nor at least in my case does it have anything to do with vanity. Also for me it has nothing really to do with the number on the scale...I am just literally uncomfortable when I am retaining too much water...which happens often.
I am all over the place with my weight loss. I understand that it is due to water retention. I once stayed at the exact same weight for three weeks. No matter what I did the weight didn't budge. Once I got rid of the water...I dropped 7lbs of water overnight. The swollen ankles went down...the bra fit again...and the puffiness left my body.
Your right...no one weighed me at the door but the water retention was noticeable not only to me but to others around me.4 -
Its false.
the cell does not collapse. The number of fat cells in our body is constant after we reach a certain age (around 25 ish) Cells are either repaired or replaced when the cell gets old. So even if the cell does not contain any fat, it will still be there.
Also, keep in mind that the cell is just a storage palce for energy. As with any storage space, it can hold 100% fat (max capacity) or it could be 1% Not sure if it can be zero (as in not active) but it will still be there until replaced by a new cell.
So, I have heard this before about basically not losing or gaining fat cells. It just doesn't make sense to me. I have known people who continued to gain weight throughout their lifetime and a few who have lost weight and kept it off. Someone please help me understand how one can gain or lose a VERY significant amount of weight, but not lose (or gain) a single cell of fat. (I am totally serious in my request and not trying to be snarky or sarcastic in any way - I just don't understand the constant fat cell count when so much change can occur.)1 -
sheldonz42 wrote: »Its false.
the cell does not collapse. The number of fat cells in our body is constant after we reach a certain age (around 25 ish) Cells are either repaired or replaced when the cell gets old. So even if the cell does not contain any fat, it will still be there.
Also, keep in mind that the cell is just a storage palce for energy. As with any storage space, it can hold 100% fat (max capacity) or it could be 1% Not sure if it can be zero (as in not active) but it will still be there until replaced by a new cell.
So, I have heard this before about basically not losing or gaining fat cells. It just doesn't make sense to me. I have known people who continued to gain weight throughout their lifetime and a few who have lost weight and kept it off. Someone please help me understand how one can gain or lose a VERY significant amount of weight, but not lose (or gain) a single cell of fat. (I am totally serious in my request and not trying to be snarky or sarcastic in any way - I just don't understand the constant fat cell count when so much change can occur.)
Simply the size of the cells change.
Couple of google results.
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080505/full/news.2008.800.html
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/04/fat-cell-number-is-set-in-childhood-and-stays-constant-in-adulthood/#.WKcSH_K-E7w
Yeah, all the soy sauce with my sushi yesterday and I'm up 1.3 lbs
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sheldonz42 wrote: »So, I have heard this before about basically not losing or gaining fat cells. It just doesn't make sense to me. I have known people who continued to gain weight throughout their lifetime and a few who have lost weight and kept it off. Someone please help me understand how one can gain or lose a VERY significant amount of weight, but not lose (or gain) a single cell of fat. (I am totally serious in my request and not trying to be snarky or sarcastic in any way - I just don't understand the constant fat cell count when so much change can occur.)
Just imagine 100 beach balls flat and packed in a box for shipping and how much volume they'd take up. Now imagine all 100 blow up and how much volume they'd take up.
There are still 100 balls but the space they take up is very different. Fat cells fill up and empty but the numbers stay the same.
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CattOfTheGarage wrote: »All you people trying to control the whooshes or making imaginary connections between them and eating doughnuts or whatever. The water comes, the water goes. Trying to control it is a waste of your time. Just keep being consistent with your calories and the weight will come off in the end. Does it really matter exactly when?
When you've plateaued for a bit but are doing the right stuff, it can give a psychological boost to knock yourself below a set point.
When I wrestled in Middle School, I wish I had known a few of these tricks before big matches.2
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