maillemaker Member

Found it: http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?live=2993&bhcp=20 Pertinent info is from 35:15 - 39:30. The statement about skeletal muscle efficiency driving the metabolic slowdown is at The exact mention is at 38:38.

Oh here it is: "The pre-eminence of NREE - accounting for as much of 85–90% of the decline in TEE below predicted values in weight-reduced subjects 20, 22 could be due to declines in the actual amount of physical activity performed. In rodents, maintenance of a reduced body weight is associated with an increase, rather…

That's what I'm gathering, but I could be wrong. I'll have to go find the quote again, but that's what they said. They said that most of the 10-15% total reduction was due to the increased efficiency of the skeletal muscles.

Yes, 85-90% of the change in calories is just due to getting smaller. It's the 10%-15% that is due to the body's response to fat loss. That is the thrust of the study. That's why when an obese person loses body fat to end up with the same body composition as someone who was never obese, their metabolism will be 10%-15%…

I just caught this part: "Studies of skeletal muscle chemomechanical efficiency (calories expended above resting per unit of power generated) in weight-reduced subjects indicate that maintenance of a reduced body weight is associated with an approximate 20% increase in skeletal muscle work efficiency at low levels of…

I assume by "returning to maintenance" you mean at the end of the rehabilitation period? I have not read the entirety of the Minnesota study, but presumably the participants ended up back at their starting weights at the end of the rehabilitation period. Once your fat levels return to their previous levels, Leptin levels…

It's possible. I just remember the last time I followed one of these threads there was mention of a study done many years ago, as I recall, of men that they intentionally ran into very low body fat percentages. I don't remember the details anymore. I have wondered the same thing. I wonder if it possible to negate the…

I'm 44 and I am down nearly 30 pounds since 8/23/14. The real trick is can you keep it off. I never have been able to so I can't help you there.

"Starvation Mode" gets batted around here a lot. Generally speaking, you will not do damage to your metabolism until you get down into true starvation ranges of body fat - like single digit percentages. However, when you lose body fat your Leptin levels drop, and when that happens your body responds by making skeletal…

I'm with JSurita2. Weight loss may be simple but I don't find it easy. It's very, very hard as I have to battle hunger all the time.

As others have pointed out, at the end of the day it's CICO for weight loss. But, as others have pointed out, what you eat can impact how hungry you are. Eating fats and proteins can help mitigate hunger. Carbs don't tend to "stick around long" and leave you feeling hungry sooner.

Yeah the problem with any fat-blocking drugs like Orlistat is that if you eat any fatty foods you will have diarrhea that you can't control. In theory the drug works by blocking the uptake of fat, so you don't absorb calories from fat. But because the social consequences of the drug are so severe, what really ends up…

This is true. However, I can either lose the weight and have a shot at maintenance, or never lose the weight and never have a shot at maintenance. See, there are two competing ideas. One idea is that you just have to learn new eating habits. Well, on the appetite suppressant, you are learning new eating habits. New habits…

It's worth it to me. Historically I have not been able to sustain eating less without an appetite suppressant. It's pretty much this or no weight loss.

You are correct. It is not technically a "depressant". Nonetheless, it does usually cause fatigue. My doctor said it is a counter to the stimulant effect of phentermine.

Not all of them. Some of them are actual drugs that are regulated by the FDA and require doctor supervision and a prescription to use. I would say that diet supplement pills are probably a scam.

There are very few effective weight loss drugs on the market currently. All of them require doctor supervision and a prescription. Anything sold as a "supplement" for weight loss is probably a scam. I am currently taking phentermine/topiramate under the supervision of a doctor. Phentermine is a stimulant and appetite…

This. Plug your data into MFP, set your goals, accurately log your food, and stick to your calorie goal. Guaranteed weight loss.

I sent you a friend request. The thing about weight loss is until you quit for good you haven't quit. Another trick I've learned is to not allow one bad day to be the justification for staying off the wagon. One bad day is not going to make much difference in a month, or months, or years of calorie deficit. You have to…

This.

MFP has me at 1570 calories a day, 260 pounds 5'8" tall, male, sedentary. This is set for a 2-pound-per-week loss, but I am achieving just over 1-pound-per week over the last 13 weeks. I attribute this to inaccurate logging.

If I had to jack up my calorie intake I would eat milkshakes. I can't think of much that is more calorie dense than that.

I have lots of problems with food but I'm thankful I don't have a problem with alcohol. If it tasted good I would be in trouble. Fortunately I've never encountered alcohol that I really find tasty.

I use the squat machine, but I don't do the rack thing with the weight on your shoulders. I'm afraid I'd go down and not be able to get up.

The whole "detox" thing is a load of bunk. Your body has a liver and kidneys and they remove toxins from your body. If you live in a developed nation, it's a virtual certainty that there are no significant levels of toxins in your food. If you've started a calorie restriction, you can expect to feel it within the first…

If a cheat day means you pay no attention to caloric intake, I don't believe in cheat days. If I ate in the quantities I wanted to eat, I'd probably eat 3000 calories a day, and my weight would spike the next day and destroy a week's worth of progress. I already have a hard time keeping my weekends under control and when…

At 1500 calories a day intake you should be losing weight regardless of exercise. Also unless you are totally working out for hours a day it's unlikely you are actually burning 1200 calories at the gym. 30 minutes on the exercise bike at a moderate pace will only burn like 110 or so calories. My advice is to concentrate…

Just remember - if you are set for 2-pound-per-week loss like I am, then MFP is building in a 1000-calorie-a-day deficit. So if you go over by 200 or even 500 calories, you still hit a deficit for the day.

I used to work with a guy years ago who said his dad used to say, "I eat so I don't get hungry!"