Now that I’m down more than 30 pounds (25 more to go) people are starting to notice my weight loss. Several have asked me what I’m doing and when I say good old fashioned calorie counting with a bit of intermittent fasting ( though not eating til noon has always been my MO) they are flabbergasted. Not cutting carbs or cutting out sugar or gluten etc??? They almost don’t believe it.
You can agonize over carbs, the gym, etc. When it comes to weight loss, it’s all about calories isn’t it.
^Absolutely, but it seems everyone has a different way of doing it. @maya54 has found a method that works well for her. It wouldn’t work for me. If I had to rigorously count calories I’d go bonkers and morning fasting would leave me too weak to do one of the things that has helped me to take of 25 pounds, a significant increase in my physical activity.
Some people find they need to be able to eat a bit of their favorite “bad” foods in order not to feel deprived but for me, cutting out all sweets and junk food has been very helpful. It’s helped me to reset those brain connections to food. I’m no longer craving the amazing mocha chip cookies sold next to the fruit in my local farmstead when I have a banana. A trip down the frozen food aisle makes my brain say “chicken and kale power bowl” instead of “mint chip ice cream.” That has made it much easier for me to keep my calories down because I can say yes to the healthy meals and snacks my brain is asking for.
If your only goal is to be thin at all costs, then sure- you could eat 1200 calories of ho-hos and lose weight. I like to think about what I’m putting into my body though.
@Sue22, I’m like you. One donut leads to 11 more - and I’m not kidding. Better just not to have it. I do exercise early in the morning, so no eating before and that works well for me. I know I couldn’t wait until noon to eat though!
I agree, calories matter. I also suspect that avoiding foods that makes one want to over-eat matters too. What I mean is, I suspect that satiety matters, in addition to calories.
I have nothing at my finger tips to back this up, but the body seems to react differently when it feels hungry all the time, or when it wants to eat all the time. Is there a signal that says if I’m hungry this much I better not lose weight so easily, or it tries to keep the set point weight higher?
As we all know, as we age we lose muscle. If we’re not exercising, we’re also losing muscle.
I think I’ve said this before, “exercise gives you endorphins; endorphins make you happy.” (Elle Woods, Legally Blonde)
I believe there is science to back this up. In addition I know that if I’m not feeling hungry it’s much easier to outlast those periods where I’m not losing any weight in the short term.
My goal in exercising was simply to get back into shape but I’m finding a nice side benefit to be that hard exercise [for me] is an appetite suppressant. I am being careful to eat a lot of whole healthy foods with a lot of protein so I think that’s also helping.
I think dieting is extra hard when you’re fighting both your mind and body. That is, when your body is telling you it’s starving and your brain is saying “Yes, yes, a nice juicy cheeseburger!” If you can calm one or the other it seems more manageable.
While I do eat whole grain in the AM, with oatmeal, I eat mostly paleo. Good carbs are fine for me. No bad carbs and very little sugar. I don’t eat sweets. I eat a lot, but I burn a lot. I eat for performance. And I’m happy at my current weight. So I found what works for me as well.
Intermittent fasting is especially interesting to those of us who were told for years and years that not eating breakfast was bad for them and would reduce their metabolism. That was poppycock not backed up by any scientific evidence.
Before I explode I have to say that I CANNOT handle it when people throw years and years and study after study of science and research out the window as poppycock.
No evidence - none at all - to say that having calories - i.e. breakfast - after hours of fasting - whether 6, 8, or 12 hours is not helpful for a body to function and affect metabolism??? Not for any age - child or adult?
I don’t think anyone said that calories could not be a combination of good/bad calories. Just that when it comes to weight loss - whether you exercise or not - calories matter.
@Sue22 and @sabaray I am the same way. I can’t have one donut if there are a dozen sitting in the box. I find that I do best not having one. I was also made aware this week how much emotional health plays in healthy eating. I have had a stressful and emotionally draining week and I find I am reaching for those unhealthy carbs. My D made cookies and I think Tuesday I ate 4 of them in one sitting. I came home Wednesday for lunch and cooked a Greek pizza I have had in my freezer for months. I never have pizza for lunch. Lunch for me 6 out of 7 days is mainly protein and vegetables.I threw the rest of the cookies away yesterday after eating two. I know I need to work on letting go of things that are really out of my control. I’m emptying all the junk that has come into my house over the past week and committing to healthier ways of dealing with my stress.
The good thing is I am still getting to the gym.
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/myths-surround-breakfast-and-weight/
“… new research shows that despite the conventional weight-loss wisdom, the idea that eating breakfast helps you lose weight stems largely from misconstrued studies…Only a handful of rigorous, carefully controlled trials have tested the claim, the new report, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found. And generally they conclude that missing breakfast has either little or no effect on weight gain, or that people who eat breakfast end up consuming more daily calories than those who skip it…”
To lose weight and maintain my weight, I have to enjoy what I’m eating and I also have to exercise. I don’t think of food as having calories and I no longer count them. Some foods are better choices than others - I don’t think they’re good or bad, they’re just choices we make. Stress and emotional eating are also factors for me. I don’t think intermittent fasting should be ruled out as an option. Everyone needs to do what’s best for them. I had a bagel this morning. I’m not going to do that every day, but it was the best option today. Without any evidence to back it up, I think people who are flexible with their choices will have the most success.
“… new research shows that despite the conventional weight-loss wisdom, the idea that eating breakfast helps you lose weight stems largely from misconstrued studies…Only a handful of rigorous, carefully controlled trials have tested the claim, the new report, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found. And generally they conclude that missing breakfast has either little or no effect on weight gain, or that people who eat breakfast end up consuming more daily calories than those who skip it…”
That relates to breakfast and weight loss. Your statement above indicated that breakfast in general was bad for you:
“those of us who were told for years and years that not eating breakfast was bad for them and would reduce their metabolism.”.
Research is often going to have mixed claims because the controlled studies explore “twists” on the topic. Rigorously controlled research may not always provide conclusive answers but much food for thought (no pun intended) and reasons for further exploration.
Uh, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I love eggs! So it’s moot point for me. :))
A travel day coinciding with a rest day today for me. Looks like a local gym facility will be hosting my workout tomorrow and the weekend. I know they have rows of rowers and a “functional fitness” area for me. I should be good to go. :D/
Breakfast is my biggest and best meal of the day. I love it.
Travel and forced rest day for me today. I had an advanced Reformer workshop last night with tons of core work, also some use of the jump board. I didn’t check out the hotel gym but I’m sure it will see some use tomorrow.
I’ll make either an egg white or one yolk omelette with boatloads of mushrooms and spinach, occasionally adding some other protein, and then serve it with some avocado and spicy pico de gallo. Yum! That’s my go-to almost every day. Mid-morning I’ll have some whole grain oatmeal and seeds with blueberries. I’m hungry. =P~
Had a rather intense Orangetheory workout yesterday, (did I have to join during “Hell Week”?), so I kept it to a 2 mile run. Beat my (rather slow) PR so I was happy.
Is this wedding weekend, sabaray? If so, best wishes for a fun and smooth event.
I was just about to wish you and your family well this weekend also Sabaray.