PLEASE don't diet!
7rainbow
Posts: 161 Member
I've been spending time on Instagram lately, as many of us have, and I keep seeing a million ads or recommendations for diets, keto in particular. Things claiming "lose up to 10lbs a week!" or "I lost 200 pounds in three months!". I'm not a dietitian, but I have at least taken a university level health course, and all I can say is please do not fall for these diets. I know we all want fast results and these can be tempting, but they are bad for many reasons.
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
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Replies
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I agree with you. It is about mentality and training your mind to make decisions that lead to better health. Every breath you take you are getting one breath closer to death but every bad choice or decision you make you just accelerate that process. Think what is sustainable in long term and train your body mind to follow those habits and practices.5
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well said. and its why 'if it fits for your calories' works. It teaches you self-control and moderation but does not deprive you of anything. I can make Chinese take out fit. I can make Mexican fit. I can make oreos fit. not all in the same day, of course
LOL 13 -
You're preaching to the choir and I say that with understanding, and complete agreement!!
Well said BTW.
People sign up for all those promises and spend millions of dollars every year, following their dreams of thin and beautiful.
Course it doesn't help to have celebrities endorse different programs.
'I wanna look like her!' But how many times has Kristie Ally or Valerie Bertinelli lost and gained? It's not the program that works or doesn't work; it's the effort a person is willing to put forth plus if the new lifestyle is sustainable for that particular person.
Tat's why forums such as this one, is so successful. It's real, can be adapted to each person's needs and(unless you invest in premium) is free!! Not to mention the wonderful people and their great advice.
FWIW, I spent years trying stuff that never worked for me, liquid only diets, drugs, very restrictive diet plans, even as healthy as WW can be it wasn't something I could do long term.
One of my ds's friends lost 100# with Nutrisystem. Yay! But it came back.
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Absolutely my doctor always tells me losing it slowly over a long period of time is the right way. I still have chips, ice cream, etc. But in small amounts , I can keep those foods in my house now without binging on them and that is powerful to me.10
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Absolutely my doctor always tells me losing it slowly over a long period of time is the right way. I still have chips, ice cream, etc. But in small amounts , I can keep those foods in my house now without binging on them and that is powerful to me.
always fantastic when you control the food and the food doesn't control you 4 -
Anybody that is foolish enough to think they can lose 200 pounds in 3 months deserves to get ripped off.8
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nytrifisoul wrote: »Anybody that is foolish enough to think they can lose 200 pounds in 3 months deserves to get ripped off.
its easy to say that, but people get desperate. not desperate enough to do what REALLY needs to be done (eat less move more), or at least it takes them awhile, if they ever do. We have a society focused on telling women and men, that you need to be trim and have muscles to be attractive. its not just a woman thing, all genders in mass media are the photoshopped or filtered images of 'perfection'. and that is sold to us as what we need to be.
everyone wants a quick fix. a pill, a shake, a wrap, a *whatever the item of the day is*, that requires no effort. if ANY of those things worked, there would be far fewer overweight people.
desperate people do desperate things. Sometimes they learn that none of the gimmicks work, and sometimes they don't and try each new thing.9 -
Came here fearing this was going to be similar to what a (sweet, otherwise smart/sensible) friend posts on Facebook about the evils of "diet culture" and how no one should try to lose weight at all (ever) but instead eat intuitively and be the weight you are meant to be with healthy habits (and in her opinion, ideally become vegan). She's a dear, truly a lovely person in so many ways, but 🙄 so prescriptive and absolutist on the diet/weight front.
This wasn't that. What you wrote is 100% sensible, and as others have said, pretty close to what I'd say is the dominant view around here: Slow and steady loss, with a view to reaching *and maintaining* a healthy weight long term. Good show!
The long-term extreme yo-yo dieters among my agemate friends (I'm 65, F) generally are in the worst health, compared to those long-term moderately overweight (but not doing extreme stuff), let alone those who've stayed active and at a healthy weight long term (who are generally thriving in what many would consider age-defying ways).9 -
I've been spending time on Instagram lately, as many of us have, and I keep seeing a million ads or recommendations for diets, keto in particular. Things claiming "lose up to 10lbs a week!" or "I lost 200 pounds in three months!". I'm not a dietitian, but I have at least taken a university level health course, and all I can say is please do not fall for these diets. I know we all want fast results and these can be tempting, but they are bad for many reasons.
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
Great message! Apart from what I bolded, which is a myth, there is no starvation mode. But the rest is 👏🏻9 -
Thanks for the good reminder.
I take (and share with anyone who will listen) this attitude:
- my diet is not something I’m on for a temporary amount of time, rather my diet is what I eat everyday.
- I respect myself and fuel my body with the nutrition it needs
- The choices I make include drink water first, eat vegetables and some fruit everyday, eat whole grains most of the time, eat a moderate amount of animal products, eat when I’m hungry (not when I’m bored or thirsty)
- No such thing as a ‘cheat day’ — this implies that I’m depriving myself of things I want to eat during the week to ‘reward’ myself with a treat later. That makes no sense to me at all. If I want a cookie, I eat a cookie. I track that cookie and it becomes part of my diet for that day.
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msalicia07 wrote: »I've been spending time on Instagram lately, as many of us have, and I keep seeing a million ads or recommendations for diets, keto in particular. Things claiming "lose up to 10lbs a week!" or "I lost 200 pounds in three months!". I'm not a dietitian, but I have at least taken a university level health course, and all I can say is please do not fall for these diets. I know we all want fast results and these can be tempting, but they are bad for many reasons.
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
Great message! Apart from what I bolded, which is a myth, there is no starvation mode. But the rest is 👏🏻
FWIW, I didn't read the OP's "This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster." as referring to starvation mode in the sense that if you cut calories too far, your body will "hold onto fat". That would be the starvation mode myth.
I read the OP as meaning that when one loses weight very fast, one's body, wired as it is via natural selection through many food shortage eras, can respond as if one actually is starving, and start slowing down hair growth, reducing optional movement, and that sort of thing, and, eventually, appetite hormones are likely to spike at some point (or one reaches the goal weight "finish line" and simply relaxes eating limits), potentially leading to bouts of overeating that result in rapid regain. That's not a myth.
"Starvation mode" (body holds onto fat despite ultra low calories) is a myth. Bodies have mechanisms to fight *actual* starvation, and those mechanisms can potentially affect weight-management success? Not a myth, IMO.8 -
msalicia07 wrote: »I've been spending time on Instagram lately, as many of us have, and I keep seeing a million ads or recommendations for diets, keto in particular. Things claiming "lose up to 10lbs a week!" or "I lost 200 pounds in three months!". I'm not a dietitian, but I have at least taken a university level health course, and all I can say is please do not fall for these diets. I know we all want fast results and these can be tempting, but they are bad for many reasons.
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
Great message! Apart from what I bolded, which is a myth, there is no starvation mode. But the rest is 👏🏻
FWIW, I didn't read the OP's "This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster." as referring to starvation mode in the sense that if you cut calories too far, your body will "hold onto fat". That would be the starvation mode myth.
I read the OP as meaning that when one loses weight very fast, one's body, wired as it is via natural selection through many food shortage eras, can respond as if one actually is starving, and start slowing down hair growth, reducing optional movement, and that sort of thing, and, eventually, appetite hormones are likely to spike at some point (or one reaches the goal weight "finish line" and simply relaxes eating limits), potentially leading to bouts of overeating that result in rapid regain. That's not a myth.
"Starvation mode" (body holds onto fat despite ultra low calories) is a myth. Bodies have mechanisms to fight *actual* starvation, and those mechanisms can potentially affect weight-management success? Not a myth, IMO.
Hopefully she’ll come back to clarify. Since it was a pretty thoughtful email, your guess might be right! In either case, I don’t believe starvation mode is the term she would want to run with.5 -
msalicia07 wrote: »I've been spending time on Instagram lately, as many of us have, and I keep seeing a million ads or recommendations for diets, keto in particular. Things claiming "lose up to 10lbs a week!" or "I lost 200 pounds in three months!". I'm not a dietitian, but I have at least taken a university level health course, and all I can say is please do not fall for these diets. I know we all want fast results and these can be tempting, but they are bad for many reasons.
1) They aren't healthy for your body. Ever notice how MFP only lets you choose between 1-2 lbs of weight loss a week? This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster.
2)They aren't long term. Sure, cutting carbs or chocolate or fats seems like the way to lose weight, but are you really never going to eat sugar for the rest of your life? If no, then don't do it. It's about tiny lifestyle changes, and even though it is tempting to rush it, it doesn't work that way. Not if you want to keep it off. This journey doesn't stop once you reach your goal weight, which is why it's best to take it slow and see what works for you.
3) You are going to gain the weight back as fast as you lost it, if not faster. Once, I gained 14 pounds in a week and a half. How? Well I decided to restrict myself like crazy before, thinking I could lose some weight, and when I gave into my cravings BAM it was back.
4) I've seen this first person. My mom's best friend has dieted basically her whole life, and has tried everything in the books. Her weight constantly yoyos and she wonders why she can never keep it where she wants it.
Fall in love with healthy choices, take your time. Every little bit counts. Don't say "I don't eat this or I don't eat that". That will make you crave it more. Say "I like x but today I'm going to choose y." I hope this helps some of you all, sorry for the long rant. Good luck everyone!
Great message! Apart from what I bolded, which is a myth, there is no starvation mode. But the rest is 👏🏻
FWIW, I didn't read the OP's "This is because too much too fast isn't good for the body. Putting it in a rapid starvation mode is only going to make you gain it all back that much faster." as referring to starvation mode in the sense that if you cut calories too far, your body will "hold onto fat". That would be the starvation mode myth.
I read the OP as meaning that when one loses weight very fast, one's body, wired as it is via natural selection through many food shortage eras, can respond as if one actually is starving, and start slowing down hair growth, reducing optional movement, and that sort of thing, and, eventually, appetite hormones are likely to spike at some point (or one reaches the goal weight "finish line" and simply relaxes eating limits), potentially leading to bouts of overeating that result in rapid regain. That's not a myth.
"Starvation mode" (body holds onto fat despite ultra low calories) is a myth. Bodies have mechanisms to fight *actual* starvation, and those mechanisms can potentially affect weight-management success? Not a myth, IMO.
In fact I think the definition starvation is misleading. It's more an "addressing" your body to what type of fuel to use.4 -
Hi all! Sorry about the "starvation mode" confusion. By this I mean when one is depriving their body of food (not eating healthy, but actually nearly starving your body to lose weight), at least I have personally found, you not only crave food a ton but when you go back to eating "normally" your body wants to quickly gain that weight to get back to its normal. Like I mentioned, I've never gained 14 lbs so quickly other than when I upped my calories after "starving" (whichever word you want to use) my body. I apologize if I'm wrong or if this isn't exact science, just something I found with my own personal experience. Hope this clarifies! 3
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All this advice is wrong. Sorry but its frustrating to hear people spout doctors advice and main steam media ideas. For 70 years the government has put out healthy eating guidelines. Things like "eat less move more". Saturated fat and cholesterol causes athrosclerosis and heart disease. Meat causes colon cancer. I have followed the guidelines and listened to the message for 37 years. I did the supplements. I did the broccoli sprouts because rhonda patrick said they promote longevity. I did the tomatoe and mushrooms together because they make complete proteins. I did the six meals a day to increase metabolism. I did the weetbix because "9 out of 10 nutritionists recommend kids eat weetbix". I did the raw vegan. I did the oats and greek yogurt. I did the "post workout window". It is driven by food corporations and so is literally all rubbish. Pure marketing to get your dollars.
Educate yourselves as i did. Now i fast. I run on ketones. I eat for the micro nutrients and i get them from the most dense most bio-available form. I no longer weigh food i just eat. It is cheaper because i eat less. It is better for the planet and i feel tens years younger. I reversed arthritis, anxiety, depression and chronic pain from 20 years of military service, four joint reconstructions, three broken bones, bulginging discs in cervical spine, thorasic spine and lumbar fractures.
Classic red pill blue pill moment really...2 -
fattmatt2021 wrote: »All this advice is wrong. Sorry but its frustrating to hear people spout doctors advice and main steam media ideas. For 70 years the government has put out healthy eating guidelines. Things like "eat less move more". Saturated fat and cholesterol causes athrosclerosis and heart disease. Meat causes colon cancer. I have followed the guidelines and listened to the message for 37 years. I did the supplements. I did the broccoli sprouts because rhonda patrick said they promote longevity. I did the tomatoe and mushrooms together because they make complete proteins. I did the six meals a day to increase metabolism. I did the weetbix because "9 out of 10 nutritionists recommend kids eat weetbix". I did the raw vegan. I did the oats and greek yogurt. I did the "post workout window". It is driven by food corporations and so is literally all rubbish. Pure marketing to get your dollars.
Educate yourselves as i did. Now i fast. I run on ketones. I eat for the micro nutrients and i get them from the most dense most bio-available form. I no longer weigh food i just eat. It is cheaper because i eat less. It is better for the planet and i feel tens years younger. I reversed arthritis, anxiety, depression and chronic pain from 20 years of military service, four joint reconstructions, three broken bones, bulginging discs in cervical spine, thorasic spine and lumbar fractures.
Classic red pill blue pill moment really...
You aren't the only one here who reached a healthy weight, eats nutrient-rich foods, feels younger, and reversed problem health conditions.
I did. And I don't fast, or run on ketones. Your advice is not essential best practice for all.
Do whatever leads you to success: I sincerely wish you well.19 -
Losing 10 lbs a week is probably not very sustainable or healthy, not long term anyway, but then these guys want to sell a product. IMHO why pay for something that you can research and do for free anyway.
If your starting weight is 400 lbs no doubt with keto or any decent diet you will lose -in all likelihood- 10 lbs a week, at least in the beginning. Honestly I dont really understand all the negativity that surrounds keto, it works, I have lost over 80 lbs in ten months doing keto. Certainly not by losing 10 lbs a week though. Keto is one of many that can work alongside other strategies. I have found it the best most effective for me, but we are different, it may be great for me not so much for others, it is one of many ways to lose weight. By the way regarding the original post, with keto you can eat carbs or sugar, it is not forbidden, you just eat less of them.3 -
fattmatt2021 wrote: »All this advice is wrong. Sorry but its frustrating to hear people spout doctors advice and main steam media ideas. For 70 years the government has put out healthy eating guidelines. Things like "eat less move more". Saturated fat and cholesterol causes athrosclerosis and heart disease. Meat causes colon cancer. I have followed the guidelines and listened to the message for 37 years. I did the supplements. I did the broccoli sprouts because rhonda patrick said they promote longevity. I did the tomatoe and mushrooms together because they make complete proteins. I did the six meals a day to increase metabolism. I did the weetbix because "9 out of 10 nutritionists recommend kids eat weetbix". I did the raw vegan. I did the oats and greek yogurt. I did the "post workout window". It is driven by food corporations and so is literally all rubbish. Pure marketing to get your dollars.
Educate yourselves as i did. Now i fast. I run on ketones. I eat for the micro nutrients and i get them from the most dense most bio-available form. I no longer weigh food i just eat. It is cheaper because i eat less. It is better for the planet and i feel tens years younger. I reversed arthritis, anxiety, depression and chronic pain from 20 years of military service, four joint reconstructions, three broken bones, bulginging discs in cervical spine, thorasic spine and lumbar fractures.
Classic red pill blue pill moment really...
I am an advocate of fasting myself, lost my first 20 lbs by doing an 18:10 fast. Then I switched to an 14:10 and over a year later that is my daily routine., it is ingrained in my daily habits....I eat dinner by 5:30 and nothing until 7 :30 or 8 a.m. many benefits to a controlled eating window at least to me, it really helped me get control over food.
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peggy_polenta wrote: »
You DON'T have to keto to lose weight. Not to mention, that's a LIFESTYLE way of eating. If you're NOT into carbs and can forgo rice, cake, ice cream, etc., then more power to you. I enjoy all of those so KETO isn't for me.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
7
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