Show me the "facts"

Why don't you start? Why do you do what you do? (Not being mean. I think people would respond if you let them know what you are looking for.

but isn't that just logic, eating well and exercising... don't we all know it deep down what we should eat? vs what we want to indulge in. it's not rocket science, it's more about self control and discipline than lack of knowledge, surely?

i hate it when i went to GPs and asked for help with weight loss (because it was being a lazy glutton) and they wanted me to see a nutritionist... I was like "i know what i should eat, i don't need spend hundreds of $$ being told what i should be eating, it's all about my lack of self control and uncontrollable appetite".

and now that i've lost alot of my excess weight, i feel the same, i knew what i should eat, i always did, a nutritionist wasn't going to help me at all, i had to decide to go without all the sweet fatty foods i loved.

ShOCk, I see you are a man on a mission. I deduce from your post and your profile that you are a statistician or someone that likes working with facts? You do make some good points. Unfortunately as you are probably all too painfully aware, even many so called experts like to flip flop in their opinions from time to time. I have to tend to agree with Zeeb then... using your own common sense and logic is important. That's not to say that consulting "experts" or reading widely is a waste of time either. Experts are experts because they are presumably learned in their field. At the end of the day I do what works for me. If I read something and experiment and find that it works, then it works! Personally I am finding that restricting portion sizes and exercising more works for me at the moment. It just works (for me). However for me weight loss (or anything else for that matter) is not simply about knowing what to do, its about actually planning it, doing it (action stage) and measuring it! There is a mental element of course. Without motivation for example, you won't start. Without planning, you won't know where you are going. Without recording and measuring, you won't know how you are progressing. One thing I give MFP a lot of credit for is that for the first time, I can actually measure my own results and get my own facts and draw my own conclusions! Priceless information!

PS doesnt your ticker show you are on the right track?

I've only just started being more serious about losing some weight, but calorie math and eating sensibly in moderation make the most logical sense to me. I'm leaning more towards trying to eat as fresh as possible (fewer processed foods), though admittedly laziness and cheapness makes that part more of a challenge.

Also, I fondly think back on my college days when I had to walk or ride my bike everywhere I needed to go (no car because neither my parents nor I could afford that) and I had the time (and immediately accessible trails/paths) to rollerblade nearly 2 hours every day, not to mention a very healthy 20 year old metabolism. Things really changed a few years after graduation when the full time job thing kicked its way deeper and deeper into my life. And today it just continues: spending most of my time either behind a computer screen or commuting, with the next largest time chunk being sleeping. It is normal I suppose, but it amazes me how something as nondescript as an office job can create such a huge need for self-discipline in other parts of life (diet choices and exercising) in order to stay healthy.

My method is eat less, move more.

It is simple and effective.

I've not seen the documentary "Fat Head" (just googled it ) but I agree that some documentary makers tend to make the "facts" speak for themselves rather than offer a "pros & cons" approach.

Why did I decide to lose weight? Simple, because I was fed up being FAT. :grumble:

I've struggled with issues around my weight since I was a kid. I had a mild form of body dysmorphia which made me think I was fatter than I was and then when I did start getting BIG it didn’t register because I knew I was a FAT FLUMP anyhow. :frown:
Over the years I’ve tried umpteen different “Diets” (and I hate the hijacking of the term by the fitness and weight-loss industry... and let’s never forget it IS an industry and it’s determined to make you lose pounds - £ as much as lbs :explode:) They all worked to varying degrees in the short term, but were never sustainable and every time I quit and went back to my old ways, I ended up fatter than before.

It had been praying on my mind for a long while but I’d never done anything about it, always taking the “yeah, I’ll start in a few weeks ...” approach, but never ever getting round to it. :ohwell:

I’ve read media articles on various different theories on weight loss and beyond doubt there is only one indisputable fact: the more you eat, the heavier you will become, unless you are burning off those calories working or working out. Sure there are some medical conditions that affect weight gain and weight loss, but for your average Joe/Jane it’s just a very basic mathematical equation.

However, everybody is different and I can't say what I am doing will work for everybody else. I don’t preach, although I will always I try to encourage. I used to get really het-up with all the bunkum that’s espoused as FACT on the message boards, but now I just take it with a large pinch of SALT :laugh:

Find a path that suits you, works for you and don’t freak if sometimes you take the odd detour or have to go back and re-trace your steps. Life is an adventure: grab it with both hands and enjoy it! :happy:

I have to tend to agree with Zeeb then... using your own common sense and logic is important. That's not to say that consulting "experts" or reading widely is a waste of time either. Experts are experts because they are presumably learned in their field.

I'd agree with that to a point but, your common sense and logic is based on your learned experiences over the course of your life, small bits of information stored to form a whole. All my life the mantra has been than it is high fat and sugar that has caused obesity, where as now having done the research I'd say that is far from the whole story. I think the advice has changed recently but it will take another 30 years before people move away from the "high fat" is bad model, as it is yes high fat is bad, but for me the result has just been to replace the high fat with hit sugar and refined carbs, which are as bad if not more so.

For me the route has been trying to diet and add massive amounts of exercise, the only time I lose weight was when I went on, although it was never called one, a low GI diet. I read every thing I could, although I approached it from a scientific point of view, if you take a step back you will see that most diet advice is repeating the same old stuff most of which has no hard evidence. Sure there are various studies that say they test X and it worked but most of the time there is a similar study proving the opposite.

As for evidence, I looked at how the body deals with the food it takes in, what the net result is and tried to eat in a way which means my body will process the fat in the most effective way, then once that's done I will switch to a diet which is more in tune with how the human body was fuelled for around 190,000 of it's 200,000 year history.

Ultimately it's about finding something that works for you, what I do works for me.

I just try to eat more fruit, veg and wholemeal stuff, and cut out high sugar and high fat foods. Also I try to stick to calories in < calories out, and exercise at least 30 mins a day.

Having a myriad of health problems, doing a lot of exercise is a problem for me. Being almost twice my healthy size, and addicted to carbs and not EVER feeling full, I felt that losing the weight was going to be a lost cause. After checking out weight loss surgery on two prior occasions over the past 15 years, I thought I would never be approved, but my doctors: cardiologist, GP, pulmonologist, orthopaedist and neurologist ALL suggested I try again. So, I did....and this time not only was I approved for surgery, but finally the lapband was covered by my insurance.

I found the right doctor, saw all of my specialists, attended my support group meetings (so I met, literally, hundreds of other patients) and starting working with nutritionists. I also saw a series of informational videos and was able to have a private meeting with the regional rep for Allergan. But, the heaviest factor for me was the fact that I have selected some of the highest rated specialists in the NYC/Long Island area and every single one of these doctors felt very strongly that this surgery would be the best way for me to get off the weight and stand the best chance of reaching my maximum potential for a more active life.

So, my actual nutritional goals have been recommended by my nutritionists. I've certainly done my research and am very happy with my experience and results thus far.

You say in your post that it is "scientific" that if you put more energy in than you expend then you will gain weight. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with you. My desire is not to call you out but is to see if I can get some, at least SOMEWHAT, scientific backing behind a lot of these "tenants of health" that most of us hold so dear.

This is like asking for scientific proof to back up that the sky is blue. It's common knowledge that eating more calories than you burn will make you gain weight...

For me, working out daily and eating non-processed foods just makes me feel better. The headaches I get when I eat refined sugars is all the proof I need.

I have no seen fat head, but i've heard alot of stuff and debates regarding it. But tbh, i think nothings better than the old fashioned eat less move more 80percent clean 20percent whatever.. you can't go wrong, these shows over complicate diets.

Calories in minus calories out must be negative.

Why do I do this? I, like the universe and all things within it, am no exception to the 1st law of thermodynamics (consult your local physic or bioenergetics textbook!). Energy can be converted from one form into another, but not created nor destroyed.

I started out with Weight Watchers and switched to MFP, where it seems I could still basically practice what I learned from WW: everything in moderation.

I don't know about any huge studies out there, I just know that for me, allowing everything into my diet in moderation (including all of my favorite junk foods) has worked wonders for me.

Also, I'm vegan, but more for personal reasons than weight loss ones, however, you can find great health benefits for vegan eating here: thekindlife.com

So my biggest two things: Veganism, and "everything in moderation" (except animal products for me)

I believe in moderation because in the past when I've tried to eliminate junk food or only have it on certain days, I ended up bingeing.

The best thing a person can do is look for the truth behind the claims people make. I commend you for wanting solid evidence and not just accepting what you heard without questioning it.

We all know that the diet world is absolutely packed with bad science and terrible logic. Fad diets that end up doing more harm than good. People really need to avoid that.

I'm just counting calories and trying to exercise more. With the help of MFP it's easy, free and I love that about this app/site. They don't tell you what to do, they just let you know exactly what it is you're doing to yourself.