Want to lose weight? Low-Carb actually works!
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Topic: Want to lose weight? Low-Carb actually works!
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Subject: Want to lose weight? Low-Carb actually works!
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 08:28
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Some of you may remember - I started a thread about losing weight about half a year ago: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=57935 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=57935 In the last few months I tried a few different approaches and none of them worked ... but then I came across this great book: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Calories-Bad-Controversial-Science/dp/1400033462 - http://www.amazon.com/Good-Calories-Bad-Controversial-Science/dp/1400033462 It's a long book, and it doesn't even mention the term "low-carb" all too often. It summarizes all the important research that has been done for the last century on obesity, weight loss, diabetes, heart disease etc.. I must say - Only a few weeks ago I saw low-carb diets as just another "fad diet". But now I see the logic behind it, I understand how it works, and why it works when all other weight loss methods that don't restrict carbs ultimately fail. I'll give you a short summary of what's most important about low-carb:
 ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Replies:
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 08:57
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No, its true. A low carb diet isn't a fad diet. Atkins diet where you load up on proteins and fat is. Also, all carbs aren't created equal. A slice of whole wheat bread has the same carb value as a slice of white bread, but it comes with better fiber. I am not extremely overweight, 5'10 185, but I do have type two diabetes. I was recently put on insulin injections and taken off pills. I'm currently working on dietary improvements and getting into gear and hopefully sticking with my exercise program. Yeah it means I'll have less time to waste on progarchives, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for better health. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 09:05
might be stating the obvious here.. but let's just say I'm not an expert on diets.. just diet coke since all of our bodies are different... I would not think there is a 'magic' diet for all. I would suppose you just have to try them till you find one that works. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Mr ProgFreak wrote:Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 09:18
| Lose weight, stop eating. |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 09:53
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 09:55
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: JLocke
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 10:20
^ 
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 11:42
Unfortunately that doesn't work. Well, if you take it literally it does ... if you stop eating, then you'll lose weight. And technically fasting is a low-carb diet, too. The question is: how do you keep your weight after the diet? One of the greatest misconceptions when it comes to weight loss is that those who are overweight simply eat too much. Or by the reverse logic: All an obese person has to do in order to lose weight is to eat less. I'm now very sure that it depends on *what* you eat much more than how much you eat ... and contrary to common belief, the bad nutrient is carbohydrates, not fat. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 11:44
Here's the rub. In my experience it doesn't matter where the calories come from at long as you max out at around 2000, or less, per day. And hey, a Big Mac is going to put you over 500 calories alone, whereas a chicken breast will give you maybe 300 calories and fill you up even more. Just eat a lot of soup and exercise. Last semester I went from 165 lbs to 150 lbs. I mostly ate a lot of cereal, fruit, and soup. It's called the save money I need to buy a drum set diet. ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 11:48
Well, technically you just made a "low-carb" suggestion, so I would agree. I don't think that there's a "magic" diet - but all diets have a reason why they're supposed to work, and low-carb makes a lot of sense physiologically. I can't say the same for the grapefruit diet or any other "fad" diet. Plus the results seem to confirm that. So while I don't think that there's anything "magical" about low-carb, I do think that it stands out among most, of not all other diets. It also makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint, since I doubt that your typical cave man had easy access to carbohydrates 100,000 years ago. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 11:56
I've spend a few months last year on a ~2000 calories diet and didn't lose any weight. And I was (and am) exercising a lot (bicycle, cross trainer). After that I officially joined a gym (in August), started weight training and for a few months didn't care how much I ate - but surprisingly I only gained 1-2kg, which I mostly attribute to muscles. I guess I would have lost some weight if I had tried to only eat about 1500 calories. But IMO that would not have made me lean, but simply a semi-starved fat guy. Currently I'm reducing carbohydrates specifically, and I'm rapidly losing weight without feeling starved. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 11:57
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The only thing you loose weight on is more physical training with the same diet. I loose three pounds on every round of golf......... with the same diet as before. I have lost ten stones (65 kilos) on golf, cycling and walking. I have also won several golf tournaments and seen parts of this country I would not have seen without my bike. But that's only a pleasant side effect of this regime. Besides of that; slimming is also very nice on the environment. Walk instead of drive the 1-2 miles to the shops/farmers market. .......but plenty of black coffee/unsweetened tea is also a good slimmer. Sex is probably the best slimmer/diet in the world. But as progheads, we don't do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_reproduction - sex . To sum it up: Human beings was not born to lay idle on a sofa. Human beings was born to hunt, reproduce, be hunted, run, walk, fish, farm, work and everything else we are not doing now. In my family, we have been fighting starvation for ten generations. We have only had plenty for the last two generations........... and very severe weight problems. Coincidence ? I don't think so. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 12:33
honestly Mike... all jokes aside... have you talked to Raff. Talk to her... I eat like a horse and my alchohol consumption has shot up (from very little before... to a beer or two a day now)... and yet to her CONSIDERABLE distress (being a proud Italian woman ) she swears I have lost weight in the last year. If I have it isn' much.. but then again.. I am only 5'8" and 150pds.. so I didn't exactly need to lose weight. It is my diet with Raff's cooking... just yesterday was the first time I have had A fried meal (KFC chicken at a seminar the company sent me to) and my intake of my beloved 7-11 chilli dogs is like next to nothing compared to before Raff arrived when the only vegetable I ever ate was... hmm... let me think on that. Do French fries count?------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 13:03
I'm glad this is working for you Mike - congratulations 
keep us posted on your progress
------------- What? |
Posted By: Jimbo
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 16:51
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To put things bluntly, I think people are way too fussed about these "magic" diets that will supposedly solve all your weight issues with little to no effort. I'm not saying they can't/won't work, I'm saying it's bringing complexity somewhere where it isn't needed. I've lost ~ 19 kgs during the last year or so. How did I do this? Not by eating less, not by radically altering my diet, I just made some minor modifications to my eating habits and increased my excercise. The only thing I've "sacrificed" is regular sodas. Good riddance. I'm quite certain the change is going to be permanent as I don't feel I'm missing out on anything. I pay very little attention to what I eat, I just try to follow this guideline: instead of grabbing a chocolate bar, I grab a banana. Sounds difficult? It isn't - once your mind is set on it. ------------- 
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Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 16:57
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Very informative video. |
Posted By: CPicard
Date Posted: March 20 2010 at 17:32
| Is anyone ready to learn how to gain weight with my method? It involves lotta butter. |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 07:42
I think that the Atkins diet is a valid form of the low-carb diet. When you reduce carbs this automatically means that you'll eat more proteins and fat. As a matter of fact, I'm currently reducing carbs to a bare minimum - I practically live on meat, eggs and dairy products.
So your pancreas is no longer producing insulin? In any case, I would recommend trying to reduce carbohydrates rather than adjusting insulin in order to increase your tolerance for carbohydrates, and another book that I'm currently reading (in german, written by a medical doctor) recommends just that. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 07:48
That makes much sense to me, and what you essentially did was reduce the carbohydrates (sodas are essentially pure carbs). As far as the banana is concerned ... it may seem like health food, but it's actually high-carb. If it works for you, go ahead ... but I would recommend nuts instead for snacks. One nasty side effect of carbs (in any form) is that they make you hungry for more. That's why people put on a low-fat, high-carb diet can eat 5,000+ calories a day and still feel hungry, while not feeling hungry at all on a high-fat, low-carb diet with less than 2,000 calories. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 07:58
You mean that fatty foods make you gain weight? I disagree. The evidence clearly shows that carbohydrates are much more fattening than fats, as illogical as it may seem at first thought. And of course the fact that for the last 50 years or so doctors and nutritionists have been advocating low-fat, high-carb diets doesn't help either. The basic logic is this: Eat carbs -> Insulin rises -> Fat is stored rather than used Eat fats -> Insulin is not affected -> Fat is used rather than stored The problem in most obese people seems to be that they have chronically elevated levels of insulin, caused by their carbohydrate intake. Just like lean people their body maintains a balance between fat storage and fat utilization, but as long as insulin is elevated, too much fat is stored rather than used. And simply eating less (while maintaining carbohydrates in the diet) doesn't cause that balance to change ... people might lose some weight that way, but they'll be in a constant state of semi-starvation, which means that not only will the be hungry all the time, but their body will also feed on itself (on the protein), since fat utilization is blocked by the insulin. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 10:36
I just watched it ... a very good lecture IMO, and I agree with most he said. Fructose definitely has all these effects and is a poison - however, he also demonizes fat and distinguishes between good fats and bad fats - a lot of these concepts are also based on the Ancel Keys studies which he himself criticized. I don't think that eating a diet high in saturated fat is bad, because without the excess fructose (and glucose) around it can be properly metabolized by the body. Glucose may be an ideal energy source for our cells, but it might very well turn out that fatty acids are more appropriate for humans. I can't picture the paleolithic humans having access to starchy foods all the time - the only type of food that's available throughout the year is meat. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 12:09
Well, I've only been on the diet for a few weeks ... I've lost a few kilos without feeling hungry, so it's all in line with the predictions. We'll see in a few more weeks whether it really works.  ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 13:43
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While I commend any dietary system that maintains a "healthy" balance and produces positive benefits with regard to weight loss/gain and maintains a healthy body, I question any reliance on an assumed "Paleolithic diet". We don't know for certain the proportions of meat to vegetable in the Paleolithic diet - we can deduce that it did not contain high levels of processed starches such as those derived from grain but it is a good bet that they did eat some grains and a number of high-starch/carbohydrate-rich root vegetables. While most of those high carbohydrate root vegetables and grains still require processing before they can be consumed, there is strong evidence that such technology was present for a major period of the Paleolithic age (cooking, mealing or grinding stones etc). The advent of agriculture in the cultivation of grains would not have occurred on a world-wide scale as it did if those grains and roots were not already a part of their diet (though perhaps not a staple part).
Paleolithic humans (like our nearest cousins the chimpanzee) were omnivores, not carnivores and vegetables would have formed a major proportion of their diet ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Chimpanzee#Diet - again like chimps ).
Also, Paleolithic humans were not long-lived so any late-onset diseases caused by "bad" diet would not have had any effect on their population... cardiovascular problems, cancer, diabetes etc were not a problem for them because they simply didn't live long enough for them to be a problem - so they could eat whatever they wanted/needed to stay alive, even if it was bad for them in the long term, and the same is true of a low-carb diet - as long as they lived long enough to breed any dietary considerations were irrelevant. Diet was not a controlling factor in the selection process, so our evolution was not governed by what we ate and we are not "genetically adapted" to a Paleolithic diet. Basically they could have lived on McDonald's Cheeseburgers and still have survived just as long as they did on a hunter-gather diet.
This is not a criticism on Low-carb diets as such - any diet that addresses the dietary imbalance that causes overweight and obiesity is to be commended not condemed, however I do urge caution on any diet that produces rapid short-term gains. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: March 21 2010 at 15:08
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^ I think that our ancestors (as in: the first specimen of homo sapiens) depended more on meat than on vegetables, but I do agree that there's not that much evidence on which to base any assumption about their diet 100,000 years ago. But there are some tribes that still lead a similar life today, or at least one without agriculture and located in Africa, where we all come from. One example would be the Massai, and they eat predominantly meat and milk - and like the Inuit, they are extremely healthy as far as modern diseases are concerned, and since the same is reportedly true for visitors who adopt the diet, it's not likely to have genetic reasons either. Long story short: I think that we were always hunters first and gatherers second. You mentioned that our ancestors were short lived ... recent research has shown that this might not really have been the case. Generally apes are long lived - and if you leave aside infections and viruses, IMO there's no reason to assume that they usually died in their thirties. And infections and viruses might also be a problem that was introduced in the last several thousand years, along with the increase of population and living conditions. BTW: I'm really curious to see how long it will take me to reach an acceptable weight - or indeed if I reach it, because the weight that I find acceptable might not be what my body will achieve. Regardless, I think that if obesity is caused by an biochemical imbalance that can be corrected by dietary changes, once that correction is made it should be as easy to lose weight as it was to gain it. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 12:41
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Well, it's about a month since my last post, and here's a quick update, as requested: I've been on a low-carb diet ever since, and I lost about 5kg since March 20th. I've been doing a lot of low-level exercises, some heavy weight lifting, and some sprinting. In essence, I've gone http://primalblueprint.com/ - Primal It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle. And in a nutshell it involves eating lots of vegetables, fruits and meat as far as nutrition is concerned. I'm quite happy with my meals, I'm not starving at all - in fact I'm just about to cook me a nice primal omelet with onions, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, some eggs, some cream, some bacon and probably some sausages, too. Low carb, but definitely not low satiation. Why am I posting this in such a level of detail? Well, maybe someone who has also tried many diets and failed is reading this, and may become interested in trying something different. I'll let you know when I've lost the next 5kg!  ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 12:51
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I don't know metric for crap so I'm guessing that equates to a gazillion pounds or something. I was advised to go on a low carb calorie controlled diet a few months ago. I've been behaving most of the time and am getting in a reasonable amount of exercise. My weight holds fairly steady though. I'm not really that overweight though anyway. Maybe I'm right where my body wants me to be. I'm trying to get rid of the spare tire and improve my muscle tone. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 13:01
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The factor is 2.2 ... so I lost about 11lbs in 30 days. Well, one rule of thumb Mark Sisson lays down in his book is that 80% of your body composition comes from your diet (what you eat), and only 20% from exercise. So eliminating empty calories from high-carb food like bread, pasta, rice or potatoes might be something for you to try. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 13:13
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I've actually leaned toward the better carbs, whole wheat, brown rice, sweet potatoes. Refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup have been out of the diet for a while. Trying to get the salt down, too. That can also be hard but once you do, your taste buds are supposed to adjust. Best of luck with your dietary modification dude! ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 14:56
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IMO there are no good carbs if they come in the form of grains ... potatoes are a bit healthier, but I also tend to avoid them because frankly, I have no use for empty calories. Sure, there are some vitamins in whole grains and potatoes, but much more so in green leafy vegetables, salad and fruits - just without the carbs. And remember that whole wheat, brown rice and sweet potatoes all get converted into glucose in the small intestines. By leaving out the high-carb stuff I make room in my diet for healthy foods and good sources of protein. Imagine for example a big salad with chicken breast and a olive oil / balsamic vinegar dressing. BTW: Of course much of this is open for debate, and I might be wrong. But even if you refuse to accept the scientific reasons (phytates, gluten, insulin/glycemic load etc), it's pretty obvious that humans have survived for hundreds of thousands of years on consistently low-carb diets. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 17:12
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I don't think there's one system that works for everybody. There's so many factors and multipliers that differ between people.I think each person just has to poke around to try to find sh*t that works. For me, I haven't found anything really good yet. I lost 40 pounds last year, but that was thru use of a Auschwitz diet and 4 hours of exercise a week. I couldn't keep it up any longer, but at least I've kept most of the weight off. (Though it is creeping back up slowly) ------------- 
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 19:11
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Yes, remember that whenever you lose weight it's out there somewhere just waiting for the opportunity to form back on your body.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: who-knows-it's-prog
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 19:23
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heres a radical idea for weight loss.......stop eating too much and cut down on alcohol, get some exercise...or stop bleating about the fact you can't lose weight. It's all about will power and a change of lifestyle. Diets are not good, but healthy eating is....that's a no brainer. Go figure. ------------- If it's not prog, it's not prog, regardless. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 23 2010 at 19:38
Stay away from pot, too. It will only give you the munchies. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 01:38
Usually on that kind of diet (restrict caloric intake and do extensive cardio workouts to burn calories) you'll lose much of your lean body mass, too (muscles, but also bones density and connective tissue). I honestly don't go for that emaciated, starved look and feel. Weight loss on a primal diet might not be *that* swift as would be possible on a more extreme diet, but in return you keep your lean tissue and focus on fat loss. Have a look into it - might stop your fatty tissue from creeping back up, and maybe you'll be able to eat more and exercise less. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 01:39
Yeah, stupid me ... why didn't I think of it before. Just for the record: The myth that just eating less and exercising more will turn obese people into lean sporty guys has long been dispelled. Like I said in the previous post, you can lose weight that way, but it will not make you lean (there's a difference between lean and emaciated), and it's not sustainable. The myth is usually advocated by lean people who want to be able to pat themselves on the shoulder and say "look at me as an example, with a little bit of discipline you can be lean" without having a shred of evidence that if they ate more and exercised less, they would become obese. In fact there are numerous studies which show that often obese people don't eat that much more (or expend that less calories) as would be needed to account for their obesity. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 08:06
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What is your daily carb intake now anyway? I was given a dietary plan of 1800 calories max. The carb recommendations are 11 servings per day (one serving = 15 grams, oh no, not metric ). Yes the metric diet, where you don't lose or gain any pounds at all because you're dealing with grams. But anyway the guidelines are: Breakfast - 3 carb servings, 1 oz. protein (aha not metric, what the hell is up with these people?), 1 fat serving. Lunch - 3, 3, 2 with 1-2 servings of non-starchy veggies. Dinner - 4, 3, 2, 1-2 Snack - 1 carb, 1 protein ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 08:49
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^ I see you're taking this as seriously as I am. Your daily (net) carb intake of just over 160gr seems much too high to me. The plan seems to focus on not letting your body run out of carb supply ... I can say from personal experience that once your body adapts to metabolizing primarily fat, you don't need that much carbohydrate in order to feel powerful and satiated. As long as you eat enough protein (about 1gr per lean pound of body mass) and sufficient fat you'll do great, and there are no "carb cravings". For the last month (ever since I became a fan of the Primal Blueprint) I haven't really been counting calories - I usually count protein by rule of thumb, to make sure that I'm getting enough of it, and since I don't eat high-carb food like grains (so no bread, pasta, rice,potatoes etc) or sweet fruit I guess that my daily carb intake is well below 100 grams. Have a look at Mark's carb chart: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/ - http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/ Obviously this is only a rule of thumb, and other factors have to be taken into account, but his recommendation is roughly in line with those of the Protein Power diet and the new (and old) Atkins diet. If you like you can give low-carb a try ... but it would involve living for about a month with much less carbs (like 50gr a day), in order to wean your body off of them. After that you can easily eat up to 100gr net carbs a day, which you can easily achieve with sweet fruits and vegetables. Cutting out grain based food really makes a lot of room for healthy stuff. BTW: This is what I'm about to make for dinner: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/bacon-chicken-and-avocado-salad/">  http://www.marksdailyapple.com/bacon-chicken-and-avocado-salad/ What's not to like about this diet? ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 09:15
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I don't believe in any jumbo-mumbo stuff which both makes the fat cats fatter (ie their creators) and those who tries them even fatter, poorer and more depressed. The way to stay slim or loose weight is to have a sensible diet (fruit, vegs and everything else in moderation) and keep your body active. I do many hours of training every week and I have got a pretty sensible diet. I am more than ten stones lighter now. There is no gain without pain. And those of us who have had cramps in both legs, at the same time, knows what pain is. Get out there and use your body. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 09:56
Never been a big fan of raw apple. Great fiber in it though. I do have a weakness for bacon. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 24 2010 at 10:58
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That's the great thing with salads ... you can easily substitute fruits and vegetables. I'm pretty sure it's tasty even without the apples.
------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 00:49
Hmm to quote Frank Zappa cigarettes are food.  ------------- 
"What are you going to do when that damn thing rusts?" |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 01:24
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^ it's funny ... I have a friend who had quit smoking a while ago - but not anymore, he's smoking again because it helps him control his weight. I'm a little bit reluctant to think of cigarettes as health food though.
------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 06:55
Unfortunately Frank died of prostate cancer. May have been all the cigarettes and coffee even though he didn't stick that stuff in that area as far as I know. I guess you heard about the new KFC thingy:  They start labeling themselves KFC instead of Kentucky Fried Chicken and then they go and put this thing out. I guess it does qualify as low carb though. Fortunately, I do like veggies other than the carby ones. By the way, when it comes to fried chicken it has to be Popeye's for me. I've been eating a lot more basic salads lately. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 07:00
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^I am dying to try on of those.
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: April 28 2010 at 07:52
This might have fewer carbs than a hamburger, but it's still breaded. Give me plain meat instead, and things would look different. Still, in order to make it one of my favorite meals you'd have to reduce the cheese and add a salad (with low-starch, leafy green vegetables). And make sure that no trans fats are used for the frying (only saturated fats like palm oil/fat or ghee). ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 04:41
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Well, another month has passed since my last status report. I've lost another 5kg: End of March: 112kg (247lbs) End of April: 107kg (235lbs) End of May: 102kg (224lbs) I'm still eating inspired by the http://www.primalblueprint.com - Primal Blueprint , and I'm doing fine. The cool thing is that while I'm still losing weight, I'm also gaining strength. For example, on the bench press machine during these two months I moved from 50kg (110lbs) to 70kg (154lbs). I'm building muscle while losing fat ... which is one of the main advantages of a low-carb, high-protein/high-fat diet. And, just to reiterate, I'm still eating plenty of low-starch vegetables and fruits. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 06:08
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You do realize that if you keep this up at some point you will vanish. Seriously though I wish you continued success. I did see something in the news recently that diet is much more important in weight loss than exercise. Not that exercise isn't an important part of a healthy lifestyle. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 06:21
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17 years old - 56kg / 179cm 19 years old - 59kg / 184cm 21 years old - 69kg / 185cm ------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu  Even my |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 06:57
If all goes well I will approach my target weight (85kg) in a few months - and of course the rate of weight loss will go down as I approach it.
In the Primal Blueprint Mark Sisson says that body composition is 80% diet and only 20% exercise, and I fully agree. The right kind of exercise can be very rewarding though, if you're not only trying to get lean, but also to get strong. This is my current "regimen": 2-3 times a week: A short, but intense weight lifting session - no more than 30 minutes, with functional exercises like squats/deadlifts, lat pulls (chin-ups), shoulder presses and bench presses, usually with weight adjusted for 5 sets of 5 repetitions each without approaching failure (weight adjusted so that you feel like you could do 1-2 more repetitions in each set). I think that this is the optimum approach. If you do it right then you'll feel the exercise in your muscles the day after, but not the day after that. 1-2 times a week: An extended session of low level activity. I usually go cycling for 2 hours, not exceeding a heart rate of 75% MHR. I have a maximum heart rate of about 190bpm, so I aim for 130bpm. If you don't have a heart rate monitor, 75% MHR translates to a level where you can easily have a conversation, you can do it while breathing through your nose, your muscles don't burn and you can do this for hours without feeling exhausted or sore afterwards. Every day (if possible): I walk half an hour - usually in the morning (to the station). If you're crazy like me you'll do it barefoot or in Vibram Five Finger shoes ... alternate between light jogging and walking, it will give your feet and calves a hell of a workout. Mind you, that's all not strictly necessary for losing weight, but the weight lifting sessions are beneficial, particularly for that last stretch in your weight loss efforts (that stubborn belly fat). ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 07:02
*Sigh* those were the days ... back when I was about 20 years old, my weight was 75kg. You're still young, but beware of steady weight gain as you get older. Some people seem to be immune against weight gain ... but at some time in their lifes the body does get sensitive to carbohydrate overload. It happened to me when I was about 25 years old, and I wish I had recognized the reasons back then. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 07:32
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BTW: Here's a very interesting presentation from this year's TED. It's mainly about cutting edge research of angiogenesis as it relates to cancer, but as it turns out it also relates to obesity, and we can influence angiogenesis through our diet. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:22
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Do you know what is ideal range (e.g. 70 kg - 90 kg) for someone tall like me ? Yes Mike, I've been battling this all my life and now I'm just happy I can eat everything I want, in big quantities (wait a minute, I have to go for toast and ham now, before my brother get it first, wait a minute... fight is over, I defended my food). I only fear that I won't be so dexterous, quick, so fast when my weight will be let's say 80 instead of 60. I already think that my stomach part is getting bigger. So far, it's not problem. ------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:28
| "Common sense" says that the normal weight for a male should be the number of centimetres the male has over a metre. For example, if you're 1.85 metres high than you should weigh 85 kilograms, and I should weigh 79 kilograms because I'm 1.79. But there isn't much scientific truth into that... |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:29
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Lately, I eat Cream of Wheat for breakfast usually. For lunch, I typically eat a bowl of soup, a big salad, a sandwich loaded with veggies, or cottage cheese and crackers. For dinner, my wife or I cook for the family, and I think it's always that last meal of the day that really trips me up. I need to exercise more, I think. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:45
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^ are you a vegetarian? I'd say that there's too little protein in your diet. Tip: Skip breakfast, eat during an 8 hour window each day, and if you do exercise, have your biggest meal after the exercise. On exercise days you can eat more carbs, on other days you should eat low carb but keep protein up. (More info on that strategy: http://leangains.com - http://leangains.com ). ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:49
It really only depends on how muscular you are. If you're currently on a high-carb, low-protein/fat diet then I'm almost certain that you're "skinny fat" ... or to use another word: emaciated. Replacing most carbs with protein/fat (they usually come together in the form of meat) might do wonders for you in that case - and you wouldn't even need to exercise. You're a bit taller than me, I'm sure that my target weight of 85kg would be a good target for you, too (just from the other direction). ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 08:50
Oh, no, I could never be a vegetarian! I do eat meat on my sandwiches. Dinner usually consists of poultry or some manner of red meat, rice or potatoes, and a vegetable. I do skip breakfast sometimes, but only when I'm not hungry in the morning (I used to skip breakfast most of the time, but that was when I worked outside the home). I have tried low carb methods before, but I usually wind up light-headed and unable to think by the second or third day. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 09:15
That's absolutely normal. When you switch from high-carb to low-carb, your body needs some time to adapt and switch from mainly burning glucose to mainly burning fat. This usually takes a few weeks - so if you want to truly evaluate what low-carb feels like, you should at least give it a month. See it as a 30 day challenge. BTW: The good thing about the adaption is that when you've made it, your blood sugar is much more stable, and typical food cravings are gone. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 09:24
30 days!  Luckily one of my favorite beers only has 2.6g if carbohydrates per bottle. But yeah, diabetes runs in my family, so I should probably be more mindful of my diet (which, as I've shown you, isn't that bad, in my opinion- I'm not eating fast food or lots of fat). One good thing is that I almost never have cravings for sweets, so I guess I'm halfway there (I know a lot of people that really struggle with sweets- I married one). One question- when you say "low-carb," what is your daily limit? ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Marty McFly
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 10:29
So let's make it 85 kg - 5 kg because I have almost no muscles (I prefer not to fight / lift heavy burdens, but when I have to fight, I fight with style that needs not much muscles - you know these martial arts). I'm not sure if I'm on some kind of diet. I eat a lot of pastry (breads, rolls), I don't eat much meat and if I do, it's only ham. And I'm sure that quality of ham is very low, everyone is saying that. I can eat sausages. I like milk too and am quite enjoying it. I'm skinny, now. But I fear the day when I'll be fat, I'll be used to eat a lot of food and won't be able to stop. ------------- There's a point where "avant-garde" and "experimental" becomes "terrible" and "pointless," -Andyman1125 on Lulu Even my |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 10:45
Well, you should feel a lot better after a week - it can take longer for some people so I usually say 2-3 weeks, to be on the safe side. And 30 days is a nice time frame because after that you should not only feel better, but also have lost some appreciable weight (I lost 12lbs).
I'm currently not counting carbs. I cut out all food and products high in net carbs, so my carbs come almost exclusively from low-starch vegetables and fruit, so it's not really that much. My estimate is somewhere around 50g net carbs per day. That's very low, and you could surely see good results with 100g, too. The Primal Blueprint defines a zone of 50-100g of total carbs (net carbs + fiber) as the sweet spot for weight loss, and 100-150g total carbs for maintenance. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 10:55
By your logic, midgets should be weightless. Don't you think we have enough problems in the world without flying midgets? -------------
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 10:56
You can also eat eggs and cheese ... that would be good sources of protein and fat. You could do an experiment and for a few weeks replace most of your bread (and other grain based food) with protein rich foods and some vegetables and fruits and see whether that helps. I can only tell you that from all that I've read and heard about the subject, basing your food pyramid on grains will make you fat eventually. BTW: You can use this website to track your diet: http://fitday.com - http://fitday.com I don't do that every day (I don't get that anal about food), but it's good to do it occasionally. Most people find that their estimates of what they eat (in terms of calories, carbs etc) is not really in sync with reality ... ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 11:03
Fat is not the enemy. Eating fat doesn't make you fat - provided that it's not bad fats such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or generally grain based polyunsaturated oil. Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Lard ... those all neither make you fat nor cause heart disease. It's the carbohydrates that drive insulin, which enables your fat cells to convert blood sugar (and fatty acids) into storage fat. If you curb your carb intake and thereby lower your insulin level, dietary fat does not go straight to your hips. So indeed you're half way there - you don't like sweets, you don't like fast food (both are extremly important), but you still eat lots of empty grain-based carbs. I know they're seductive (I used to love cereals, pasta and bread), but unfortunately they're also the enemy. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 11:07
If you are going to use Mike's terrible advice of not eating for 8 hours, don't drink too much coffee or any stomach irritants as you will get quite a good gastritis or worse... Mike, no doctor EVER advices to skip breakfast (the one which should be THE best meal of the day), and also, none would advice not to eat for 8 hours... So that those little gastric acids start tearing a second hole in your stomach? Sorry, this is irresponsible advice. ------------- 
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 11:13
I never said I didn't like fast food.  We just don't eat out much, period. We both work at home, so we cook almost all of our meals. You save a mint doing that, to boot!Anyway, I may give this a go. I just had a salad with grilled chicken and blue cheese dressing.  The downside is this is Memorial Day weekend coming up here in the US, and we've got family visiting, which means lots of high-carbohydrate foods (my wife's entire immediate family is overweight or on their way to being overweight, and it isn't just genetic, because four of the children are adopted).  But I will try this out, because if anything, I feel really lousy at night after dinner about half the time (partly because of overeating, partly because of lots of breads, rice, potatoes, etc). If you say 50-100g, I think I can stay within that limit (provided my beer purchases are light beers ). Thanks for the info. If I don't forget to, I'll report on how I'm doing.  ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:18
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I'm generally willing to give low carb diets the benefit of the doubt, as long as they're not too gimmicky (doesn't Atkins not let you eat apples?), but skipping breakfast to lose weight is just plain stupid. Every study ever shows that skipping breakfast is harmful and makes weight loss more difficult. ------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:39
Actually I advise to not eat for 16 hours. For example you have your last meal at 8 pm and then the first meal at 12 am. The feeding window is 8 hours, the fasting window 16 hours. BTW: I've been doing this for a month, and I've never had gastritis or anything of the kind. And I usually drink 3-4 large cups of strong coffee throughout the day.
I hope you know that no doctor preaching conventional wisdom ever cures obesity . First of all: The old rule that breakfast should be the best meal of the day only applies when you plan to do some heavy lifting (or working) before noon. People with sedentary jobs ... what do they need all these calories for in the morning? Second: Gastric acids are only secreted when you eat ... or when you have an ulcer and/or your stomach is not well. Before I started the low carb diet I always had problems with heartburn and gastric reflux ... those have long gone. Teo, please consider this: 50,000 years ago, could humans count on having a huge breakfast? There were no refrigerators, meat and produce goes bad quickly. My guess is that it's more likely they would have had to get up and hunt/gather some food throughout the day (perhaps snacking on it a little bit) and have a big meal in the evening. I am very sure that the human body can tolerate short periods of (intermittent) fasting, and there are studies to that effect - as long as the fast doesn't exceed 24 hours, metabolism is not affected at all. As a matter of fact you are doing 8 hour fasts yourself everyday ... during sleep. Add to that the usual advice (which I would agree to) to not eat after 8 pm, and you have a 10-12 hours fast each night, during which (since it is a low-carb phase) the body switches to burning fat. Why put an end to it each morning for no reason? ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:52
The Atkins diet has been revised to that effect. It's not really a compromise of its principles though - it's still low carbs, adequate protein and ample fat. The original Atkins diet had gotten a bad wrap though, since people thought they could gorge on any fatty junk food as long as it had no carbs.
I know some of these studies ... and most of them are laughable. Take this one for example: http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080303/skip-breakfast-pack-on-the-pounds.htm - http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/080303/skip-breakfast-pack-on-the-pounds.htm Quote: ""It's interesting to note that the kids who eat breakfast on a daily basis overall have a much better diet and are more physically active," Pereira said." So ... is it the skipping breakfast that affects the results, or the better diet overall ... or the physical activity? Studies are pretty much worthless if they allow multiple factors to vary. Then there's another one - with another problem: http://www.newsrecord.org/2.7225/skipping-breakfast-can-cause-irritability-fatigue-1.773531 - http://www.newsrecord.org/2.7225/skipping-breakfast-can-cause-irritability-fatigue-1.773531 To understand this one, you have to know that people on low carb diets (and/or people used to intermittent fasting) have a well developed fat metabolism. That means that they can go for hours and hours through low to mid level activities and not require food. With people who mainly eat high-carb, what happens is that their blood sugar plummets and they get irritated. Usually they require meals or snacks every 2-3 hours, which is about the time it takes to digest the previous meal. So: Whether skipping breakfast can cause irritability or not depends on many factors. I could go on with further examples, if you're interested. And if you think I'm wrong, I'd love to examine your arguments. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:54
You only have one hole in your stomach?  ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:56
Technically - yes - it's an inflated tube. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 13:59
I agree with this for the most part. My two caveats here are: 1. Some of us eat because we like eating. I love eggs, grits, bacon or sausage and coffee for breakfast. I just don't make it very often anymore- probably one of the few times when laziness is a good thing. 2. Seriously though, my thing is that, while I do skip breakfast sometimes, I find that when I do, I am ravenous at lunchtime, so I am tempted to gorge myself on something unhealthy. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:00
With lots of tiny holes in it. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:03
Nice, in my book that's an almost perfect meal. Provided that you don't serve bread along with it ...
That's the biggest problem of the low-carb approach ... you will be tempted by friends and family to make exceptions. Well, you can always try to get them to change as well ... or you try to cook meals which separate the carby stuff, so people can choose how much carbs they want.
Like I said above ... if you decide to try this, count your carbs and hang in there for two weeks at least before you decide. As for me, I know about the "feeling lousy after meals" part. The cool thing is that the carby sides don't really add too much to the meals. Take them away, and you still have all the taste of the meal. At least for me, when I consider a nice juicy steak with sauteed vegetables and a backed potato, it's not that hard to say no to the potato when I can have the steak and the vegetables instead. BTW: If you do it for 30 days, usually blood sugar, LDL/HDL ratio and blood pressure improve by then. So even your CW doctor will tell you that you're doing something right. If you want to read more about it, I think this might be the best book to start with (from all the ones I read): http://www.amazon.com/Protein-Power-High-Protein-Low-Carbohydrate-Health/dp/0553380788 - http://www.amazon.com/Protein-Power-High-Protein-Low-Carbohydrate-Health/dp/0553380788 ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:10
I know the feeling of being "ravenous" ... all that I can say is that I don't experience it anymore since I went low-carb. Which doesn't mean that I can't drool in anticipation of a nice meal, when I approach the end of a fast. Remember: When you're used to eating lots of carbs and *then* try to fast 16 hours, your blood sugar will plummet (hypoglycemia) and your body will do anything to get you to eat carbs again. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:12
I love a potato with my steak though! And damn it, I just bought a bag of them! Thanks for the tips. I'd like to try this in earnest and see how it goes. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:21
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^ With steak it's really easy though - just cook some vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts etc) instead. And use a generous serving of butter. About cheeseburgers. Indeed ... that's also the healthy choice at Burger King, afaik they will make you a burger and leave out the buns if you ask for it. A much healthier choice than opting for a salad, at least if you use one of their sugary dressings. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 14:28
Well, you know... My favorite place to eat (and drink) in my hometown is this pub downtown called The Highlander. The menu item that shared the establishment's name was a hamburger steak topped with loads of onions and green peppers- no bun. It's what I ordered almost any time I went (although you of course got fries or onion rings or whatever side you wanted). But still, point being, eating a burger without a bun is no big deal. The meat is the best part anyway! That place also had my favorite waitress, who knew what I wanted each time I showed up. Soon as she saw me, she'd get my drinks ready and place an order for my meal. They fired her after she beat up a drunken customer one night though. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 18:21
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Anyone want to talk about high fructose corn syrup? The High Fructose Corn Syrup Society (or whatever they call themselves) wants to assure us it that it has the same calories as sucrose but it's already half glucose and fructose so it spikes your blood sugar. I used to drink Regular/Classic Cokes a lot. They came in handy recently when I was put on a few days of a steroid which raises blood sugar. I had to use Novalog quick acting insulin which can drive your blood sugar down too far, but the high fructose corn syrup Coke would knock it back up really quickly. Glad to be off that damned blood sugar roller coaster,
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Henry Plainview
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 19:36
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Yes, Mike, and maybe they had the energy to actually exercise because they ate breakfast? I know Gary Taubes want you to think the medical dietary establishment is stupid and incompetent, but come on now, eating before 1pm is obvious.
------------- if you own a sodastream i hate you |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 20:25
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Jumping in late to this thread, following a visit to the doc for my "annual" physical (last one was in '03). He's very insistent that I lose some of the weight, actually 25 lbs. Now I'm not huge (6', 220 lbs.) and my labs are good (cholesterol ok, etc.). Now my wife is also no Twiggy, so she has shown up with an Atkins book. So this is a timely thread for me.
I've begun walking a mile a day...soon to be two miles. This is a major achievement for a guy who spends his days and nights planted in front of a computer. That will help.
And now the lo-carb thing is intriguing my wife...sh*t runs downhill so it will eventually hit me. Basically, I could live on cheese, rib steaks, chili, eggs, and nuts without too much problem. Wash it all down with a few beers. Doesn't work so well at work, where I usually have a slice of pizza or a baked potato (doctored up) from the cafeteria for lunch.
We'll just not even talk about the beer and potato chips I eat for dinner, as that's the true area of sacrifice.
So are corn tortillas allowed? I need to read that book.
------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: The T
Date Posted: May 26 2010 at 22:27
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Sorry Mike, what apparently has worked for you doesn't work for everybody. I used to skip breakfast and eat only once a day and I was only getting bigger. I've never been obese but slightly overweight. Since I started eating all the meals people are supposed to eat, I've lost a little weight, feel much better, much more energetic, and with less gastric problems. I'm sorry Mike but I'll choose the useless guys with the Phds and the MDs over your wisdom... -------------
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 01:18
Look at the rates of obesity in your country. Statistics show that people are following common wisdom, and it's not helping. I wouldn't use the words "stupid and incompetent", but I would say that most doctors backed themselves into a corner when it comes to dieting, heart health and cancer prevention. And hell no, I won't let you tell me that I *have* to eat before 1pm, just because you can't imagine that my approach could possibly work. Do you really think we evolved to be spoon-fed by the hour? ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 01:23
Fortunately there are quite a few PhDs and MDs who agree with me. Well, you used to skip breakfast ... what else did you do? I'm not saying that skipping breakfast will automatically make you lose weight - that would be stupid. It's also about what you eat, how much you eat, about what kinds of exercise you do and when you eat in respect to the exercise. Many studies about skipping breakfast make that mistake ... they're based on groups of people who skip or don't skip breakfast, regardless of their other dietary habits. Statistically, many breakfast skippers will be eating lots of junk-food, for example. I guess you follow the low-fat, complex-carbs approach ... good luck with that. However, if you find that as you go along it becomes increasingly difficult for you to maintain your weight, even though you're eating less and less fat and exercise more and more, maybe you can keep in mind that there's other approaches. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 01:32
Make sure that your wife has the new Atkins book ... or check out Protein Power and the Primal Blueprint. Basically the new books incorporate all the new research on micro-nutrients from plants (vegetables and fruits). I most agree with the Primal Blueprint, which recommends to remove any grain based food (corn, wheat/rye/etc, rice) and then build your food pyramid on vegetables and fruits, followed by meat, fish and seafood, and nuts and seeds. Following this approach, the bulk of your *calories* comes from meat, fish and seafood, but since you're eating a lot of non-starchy vegetables and fruit you'll also get plenty of fiber, vitamins and minerals. And since you're not eating grains, your body gets a chance to even use these ... grains contain anti-nutrients which - among other things - can prevent minerals from being used by the body. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 01:50
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Ok guys ... let me say something general about MDs following conventional wisdom: I really don't think that these guys are stupid. I think they are trapped in a situation where they feel like they can't change their position on these matters. For one, when they give out recommendations that are not in line with conventional wisdom, if anything goes wrong (no matter if it's because of these recommendations or not) they get the blame. That's what happened to Atkins in the 70s - he was attacked because some people died of heart attacks following his diet. Which is ridiculous, because these people had been following a conventional diet previously ... but those who were already biased to follow conventional wisdom gladly accepted the opportunity and eagerly "connected the dots". Second, you have the pharma industry - and of course the food industry. It's all about money, and denying conventional wisdom also means to deny expensive drugs to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol (my diet achieved that by itself), as well as processed food or generally food based on subsidized corn. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 06:44
I'm suspicious of guys with MDs now, and for a few reasons. For one, there's always a new study that contradicts the previous one. Is coffee good for you or bad for you? Is wine or beer good for you or bad for you? Etc. Secondly, I had moderately high blood pressure (it runs in my family as well) a couple of years ago, which is somewhat alarming for someone my age. The first thing the doc did was put me on a daily pill. Sure, that worked. But then I chose to quit taking it. I ate a healthier diet, exercised more, and drank more beer. At my check up 6 months later, the doctors (there were two monitoring my case, for some reason) were pleased that the pill was working for me. Then I told them I had not been taking the pill for 4 months, and explained what I was doing. I don't want to jump back into the health care debate, but pharmaceuticals are a cash cow (the health care industry in general is). If I worked out my high blood pressure myself, no one got any money. If I was put on a drug for the rest of my life...well, there you are. That said, it doesn't mean I'm a believer in homeopathy. I have to say this because so many of you wonderful people like to read my posts and take them to the extreme. Edit: Wow Mike, I didn't even read your post above mine before I posted. Looks like we see eye-to-eye on this one. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 06:47
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Well, I know one day doesn't yield any significant data when it comes to weight loss, but it does feel good to see that I've already dropped one pound (0.45 kg).
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Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 07:06
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^ keep in mind though that if you seriously go low carb, the dramatic weight loss in the first days will be mainly water. Carbohydrates bind water, and as you get them out of your system you'll lose the water, too. I agree - it's nice that we can agree on something. IMO there's little difference between a MD and a car salesman. I have no doubt that their intentions are good - they don't intend to cheat or even harm their customers. But in the long run, they encounter situations where they must choose between their own benefit and that of the customer. It's called self justification ... they make up little excuses for their behavior. For example a doctor might say "most other doctors prescribe statins to lower blood cholesterol ... why shouldn't I?", car salesmen might say "Of course he doesn't really need that special undercoating ... but what the hell, I have to live, too, and he seems to be able to afford it". BTW: After two months on the diet, my blood pressure dropped from 138/93 to 109/83. ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 07:17
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I had to have some breakfast this morning though! I had some cottage cheese (regular, not the fat free! Boy it's so much better!) and five saltine crackers. =20g carb I'm easing my way into this. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 07:37
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^ nice! Well, the saltine cracker is a dietary villain as far as I'm concerned (it usually contains grains and shortening), but as long as you maintain the carb limit, it doesn't matter too much. However, if you experience strong carb cravings, you should consider replacing grains with vegetables or fruits and see if that improves the situation (which it usually does).
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 09:46
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Say, what's the deal with pinto beans (or beans of any kind)? I love beans and I know I benefit from the high fiber content, but I thought I'd ask your opinion about them. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 09:57
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Beans are considered a starch which puts them into the carbohydrate category. Still good protein and fiber there. I used to be such a saltine addict for use with soups and such. Lately, Triscuits and Triscuit imitators have become a favorite. Still a carb but better fiber.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 10:32
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eat more fat and you will reduce fat faster. ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: Mr ProgFreak
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 10:55
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Beans are legumes ... the typical advice from the Paleo/Primal corner is not to eat them because of the anti-nutrients they contain (lectins). And of course they are high in starch, and keeping carbs low means that you can't eat too many beans. So even from a practical standpoint alone I would recommend to look for alternatives. Green beans may be an exception as far as starch is concerned - but AFAIK they still contain lectins. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/beans-legumes-carbs/ - http://www.marksdailyapple.com/beans-legumes-carbs/ ------------- https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike" rel="nofollow - https://tagyourmusic.org/users/Mike |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 11:04
Thanks for the article. Good read. However, one of the comments says: I can’t agree more that proper treatment of beans is essential! Soaking and/or sprouting beans in plenty of water for 24 hrs or more, and changing the soaking water is best. That goes for lentils too. When you do this, they’ll break down most of the toxins they use to keep animals from eating them before germination: lectins, phytic acid, protease inhibitors and other nasty things. So perhaps if I soaked them more thoroughly (I've always used the "quick soak" method which takes only one hour), this would help minimize negative impacts. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 11:07
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I'm having a baked piece of kingfish (with the skin) and a whole onion for lunch. Forgive me if "reporting" my meal here is annoying, but I find the quasi-accountability helps. ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 12:12
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Also important to keep in mind that carbohydrates, proteins, and fats all affect blood glucose levels, 100% of consumed carbs are converted to glucose, which is why the low carb diet Mike is using is working for him. My book says 50% for protein and 10% for fat. Still, protein can be hard on your kidneys and fats put triglycerides and if non-vegetable, cholesterol into your system.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 12:14
Well then what the hell do we eat? ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 27 2010 at 12:18
Dirt That and small rocks. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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