[Haggis]

"So the secret then of how to lose weight then...eat less. That's it. If the number of calories you use in a day is more than you consume you will lose weight. Look at anorexics and super-models the world over, they exist on half an apple and a small glass of water a day - ok it's an extreme example which I wouldn't reccomend but you have to admit, they know how to lose weight so the principle is sound."

Eating less used to be called using a semi-starvation diet (now called a reduced calorie diet) and there has never been one study to show that it works for fat loss long term. When you go on a reduced calorie diet you become HUNGRY so its impossible to maintain it. (Studies done previously by Ancel Keys, who was the scientist who started all the saturated fat causes heart disease nonsense in the 1950's, resulted in patients who were mentally strong enough to stay on this calorie reduced diet (still 70% carb.15% prot. and 5% fat) for several weeks, self mutilating, being admitted to mental institutes and having all sorts of mental depression and psychosis)
Trying a calorie reduced diet wont work long term as there is not enough energy to sustain the cellular function of your body. Calories out vs calories in has nothing to do with fat gain or loss im afraid. (The word Homeostasis sums it up better)

As you are probably around about 20 yrs old Andy, eating all the crap you currently admit to will be handled easily by your body, keep eating that way as you get older and things may change :p

[foot-loose]

If it's self inflicted then I have absolutely no sympathy - I have very little anyway for anything. If it's been inflicted on them then that's a different story altogether.

Self inflicted - release the hounds I say!

Mmmm, there must come a point where you could say that it's no longer self inflicted.

Someone must have been 'helping' her.

[MK Chris]

I tend to find that if I eat less over a prolonged period of time (I wouldn't call it a 'diet' as such, I'd tend to call it 'saving money') my stomach gets used to less food and so I'm not as hungry when I don't eat as much after a while.

[Andy B]

My father and all his brothers are exactly the same as me, none of us have changed our weights since adulthood. I'm not 20 although flattered you'd think so - I put it down to my overly simplistic view of the world coupled with my atrocious grammar and spelling.

Studies can show anything and I still use super models to prove my point although I will admit it is an extreme example. I'm not suggesting people starve themselves, meerly reduce what they currently eat or replace it with something that has less energy in it.

That coupled with things like walking to work, walking up escalators stairs etc..go for a run, play sports that sort of thing will mean that people lose weight. Hang on , what about prisoners of war that were starved by the Japs, they never went mental did they? They look quite happy in the photo's I've seen even thought you could use them as a xylophone.

[foot-loose]

Studies can show anything

You make a good point. There are so many studies out there and several disagree with each other - its a f*cking nightmare.

what about prisoners of war that were starved by the Japs, they never went mental did they? They look quite happy in the photo's I've seen even thought you could use them as a xylophone.

You make a less good point there.

[Andy B]

I think they were happy about being rescued rather than happy about being starved to death but they didn't go mad and self harm, they had their captors for that.

[Boboff]

Where are the pictures ? How can it be a freak show if it's just written ! Damm I want to see really fat people stuck to Sofas, it makes me feel better about my morbidly obese ( My Arse ) weight.

Did I tell you I have the same BMI as Chris Moyles ?

[kendra k]

this thread is making me depressed. i gained 20-30lbs through chemo. (yeah... my metabolism went screwy because of the chemo induced menopause and the inactivity really sealed the deal.) the problem with trying to lose weight now is that i'm still sort of weak from the chemo and drop off fast. i started eating more protein and fewer carbs, but it's not helping much. booo!

[Yudster]

Stick at it, and give yourself time - it's early days, and you need to recover from the chemo before you can stress your body further, surely? Don't diet, whatever you do, not before you're properly recovered anyway.

[kendra k]

yeah. i'm just walking more places and hitting the gym when my energy's up. the only way i'm really dieting is by eating yogurt for breakfast and lots of fruit and whole grains. moderation is the key.

[claradooblue]

You should be careful Charlalottie losing large amounts of weight as a teenager. My weight used to fluctuate hugely in my late teens/early 20s and it now means that i put on weight ludicrously easily. For example, in the 6 weeks that i've given up smoking, i've put on a stone and a half. I do exercise a lot, but i'm going to have to starve myself to lose it again. Not a good way to live, believe.

[claradooblue]

Oh i don't know. I spend most of my time either lazily being busy, or busy being lazy. It's the former at present.

[Sunny So Cal]

Grown into a sofa??? I feel ill and have a sudden urge to exercise

[Haggis]

You could eat 10,000 calories per day from cookies and sweets and STILL be hungry, yet you can eat 1,000 calories per day from mainly fat's and some protein and never experience hunger. The ratio of carbs is always the key. (Trying to eat even 2,000 calories per day from fats and some protein is a struggle!)

It makes no sense that when we have lean people who eat 3,000+ calories per day and we call them "big eaters" or "they have a great appetite".......yet when an obese person who consumes the same ammount of calories (or ususally less) is called "greedy" or "a glutton".

Everyone of us is completely different with regards to metabolising fats and glucose, Andy's family will all be genetically very good at metabolising the excess sugar or fat they consume where as most of the people i work with and some on this forum probably.....are not. The most extreme cases of this are type 2 diabetics, they are almost completely insulin resistant by this stage!

[S4B]

I have to cut down to under 500calories a day to lose weight. My doc has told me not to do it anymore and that I'm perfectly healthy as I am!

[Haggis]

500 calories is crazy and your doctor (as per usual) hasnt got a clue about nutriton. As ive said change, to a way of eating that avoids all non-fiber carbs.

Heres a wee eating plan i made up a while ago, some choices for each meal:

Breakast: Organic Eggs (two will fill you up more than one) on Wholegrain toast, porridge and organic milk, Cottage cheese and wholegrain toast, 2x whole fruit; such as apples, pears, kiwi etc (Bannanas are out!)

Lunch: Salads (chicken, beef, tuna; anything as long as its Organic or free range) using a home made dressing preferably, tomato and mozzerella with pesto, natural yoghurt with fruit, 1x High fibre wholegrain tortila wraps with chicken, cheese and peeper/salad, vegetable soups or low sugar soups.

Tip: Look at you label for carbohydrate's; of which sugars and it should be less than 20g per 100g (preferably 15 or less), if its more dont eat it!

Dinner: Dinner is simple, the plate should contain:

1) a large portion of vegetables e.g. broccoli, carrots, babycorn or on the cob, asparagus, peas, cauliflower....whatever really, but it has to make up just under half of your plate! So mix it up so you enjoy it dont bore yourself!
2) A portion of organic lean meat aound about the size of the plam of your hand (a male hand!), or oily fish at least twice per week, preferably more! use a sauce or gravy, organic preferably!
3) No more than a cooked mugfull of pasta or rice/ or one small baked potato. The rice and pasta MUST be wholegrain or brown, we should NEVER eat white rice, white bread or white pastas! You wil be surprised how much they will influence your fat gain!

Snacks: cheese and oatcacke, or a handfull of nuts, or 5 olives, raw veg, 5 pickles, boiled egg, tuna salads.......just NO sweets/chocolate/crisps/fizzy drinks or extra breads etc.

Drink plenty of water, aim for 6 glasses as your body cant be chemically balanced without water, so you wont lose fat as fast!

Adding in activity will help for sure and give you a host of other benefits, aiming to build up from what you do at the moment on a daily basis to 30-60 minutes of walking, thats it!

[S4B]

I don't snack! And to be honest that sounds pretty much like my diet anyway! Thanks though

[Haggis]

No problem. Like you say as long as your body is functioning properly. But if you have any increased risk factors e.g high blood pressure, high Triglycerides/Low HDL, a resting heart rate above 80 beats per minute, high blood glucose/insulin or increased bodyfat........then changes to your nutrition and activity will help achieve a more natural function.

[MK Chris]

Organic Eggs (two will fill you up more than one) on Wholegrain toast, porridge and organic milk, Cottage cheese and wholegrain toast, 2x whole fruit; such as apples, pears, kiwi etc (Bannanas are out!)

Of that I like cottage cheese (but not as much as really strong cheddar), apples and pears.

Salads (chicken, beef, tuna; anything as long as its Organic or free range) using a home made dressing preferably, tomato and mozzerella with pesto, natural yoghurt with fruit, 1x High fibre wholegrain tortila wraps with chicken, cheese and peeper/salad, vegetable soups or low sugar soups.

I like chicken, beef and tuna! (Tuna is the only fish I like). Mayonnaise OK for dressing? Tomato and mozzarella is nice, natural yoghurt is nice, chicken, cheese and (some) soup is good. I scored well on that one!

1) a large portion of vegetables e.g. broccoli, carrots, babycorn or on the cob, asparagus, peas, cauliflower....whatever really, but it has to make up just under half of your plate! So mix it up so you enjoy it dont bore yourself!

Of those I like peas. I don't think I can make peas make up half my plate.

Potatoes count as vegetables, right?

2) A portion of organic lean meat aound about the size of the plam of your hand (a male hand!), or oily fish at least twice per week, preferably more! use a sauce or gravy, organic preferably!

Now we are talking! Meat. It may be slightly bigger than the palm of my hand. Mixed grill is OK, right?

3) No more than a cooked mugfull of pasta or rice/ or one small baked potato. The rice and pasta MUST be wholegrain or brown, we should NEVER eat white rice, white bread or white pastas! You wil be surprised how much they will influence your fat gain!

Ah, jacket tater... OK I have two.

Snacks: cheese and oatcacke, or a handfull of nuts, or 5 olives, raw veg, 5 pickles, boiled egg, tuna salads.......just NO sweets/chocolate/crisps/fizzy drinks or extra breads etc.

Erm, I suppose Haribo are sweets. I usually have about a can of Fanta a day (but it's called Fruit Twist, so that must be a plus).

Drink plenty of water, aim for 6 glasses as your body cant be chemically balanced without water, so you wont lose fat as fast!

I can't remember the last time I had a drink of water.

[foot-loose]

I like this haggis fellow. It's the first time in memory that a user has only really talked about one subject and not been instantly dismissed.

I have done a lot of research into the things he talks about and he knows his stuff. Pay attention to what he says, it makes sense.

Topher, you like cottage cheese? You now officially have weird eating habits. Kit Kats forever.

[MK Chris]

I've always had weird eating habits and I've never needed anyone to confirm that.

[Andy B]

I still maintain that if you're over weight then go for a run (apparently no-one goes 'jogging' anymore). O.k. so I don't have a Ph.D in nutritional science but who does eh?

Surely, if you use up more calories in a day than you consume, your body has to start on it's own supply to keep going, do that for long enough and bingo you've lost weight! Not even by much, maybe just use like 5 additional calories than you've taken in. And as for people who eat loads of calories and don't get fat, this I know about, my cousin can happily munch her way through two big mac meals then go home and have dinner and desert followed by a night on the beers. She still fits into her size 8 dress though because when she's not scoffing her face she does every type of sport there is, she walks everywhere, she's never still. The body needs betweeen 2000-2500 calories per day ave. so if you eat 3000+ calories, you need to do something to shift it. Sitting down in front of the tele watching Jeremy Kyle is not as far as I know a form of excercise.

I think this is just one of those topics I'm never going to get, just like no-one get's my "Apes working in Macdonald's" idea.

[foot-loose]

Andy. Here are some commas ',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,'.

Use them wisely.

[Andy B]

I still maintain that if you're over weight then go for a run (apparently no-one goes 'jogging' anymore). O.k. so I don't have a Ph.D in nutritional science but who does eh?

Surely, if you use up more calories in a day than you consume, your body has to start on it's own supply to keep going, do that for long enough and bingo you've lost weight! Not even by much, maybe just use like 5 additional calories than you've taken in. And as for people who eat loads of calories and don't get fat, this I know about, my cousin can happily munch her way through two big mac meals then go home and have dinner and desert followed by a night on the beers. She still fits into her size 8 dress though because when she's not scoffing her face she does every type of sport there is, she walks everywhere, she's never still. The body needs betweeen 2000-2500 calories per day ave. so if you eat 3000+ calories, you need to do something to shift it. Sitting down in front of the tele watching Jeremy Kyle is not as far as I know a form of excercise.

I think this is just one of those topics I'm never going to get,just like no-one get's my "Apes working in Macdonald's" idea.

I did. Punctuation will be obsolete in the new world. I shall invent an entirely new form of language with the removal of most f the verbs and adjectives and I shall call it Newspeak, it's all entirely my own creation, I also invented the aeroplane and the helicopter and bridges.

[foot-loose]

I'm beginning to see how this new world of your works.

Can you ban hangovers as well? They are the work of satan.