I wanted to blog as a way of holding myself accountable...
I grew up always being in shape. Even after I had my child, I went right back down. Life threw me a lot of curve balls, and I swore I had everything under control.
So, why did I gain 70lbs over the last 5 years? I was so overwhelmed, I wasn't even sure where to begin. Well, a doctors visit put everything into perspective. My blood pressure, which had always been 110/70, is now at 140/84. My sugar level is 103 - normally high is 99! I cried. Tests will be done to make sure I haven't done harm to other things.
I went to a biochemist nutritionist, who checks your urine and blood, and now I am on a meal plan. No more diets, just living and eating the right way.
By day 2, I was down 7lbs - this may just be my cure!
Hope this works for you. Please keep in mind that first 7lb was water and bloat. The weight loss will slow down afterwards. Don't get discouraged.
ReplyGood luck! Consistency is the key along with a program you can live with long term & for life!
Reply7 lbs. is great but my guess is that your meal plan includes a reduction in carbohydrate intake and thus you've merely dropped some water weight.
I don't say this to rain on your parade but rather to help you understand what's going on and why you shouldn't get disappointed when the weight loss slows, and it will.
The notion that you "need a program you can live with long term" is nonsense. You need a calorie deficit to lose fat. You can't stay in a calorie deficit forever unless you want to die. Being dead is a great way to lose weight, but I digress.
I applaud you on choosing a healthier lifestyle, but don't fool yourself into believing that it's going to get you to the body weight you'd be happy at. It won't. My advice would be to bite the bullet, embrace reality, and start a DIET. A diet that creates a calorie deficit. It will not be fun. It will not be pleasant. However, it will work.
Once you reach your goal, THEN and ONLY THEN does it make sense to embrace a "program you can live with long term."
ReplyI disagree entirely with what you propose. I work as a health counselor and specialize in weight loss, actually. In my practice, none of my clients count calories; nor do they worry about fat or any of the other long-standing diet fads of the past few decades. Instead, I focus on their mental and emotional health and teach them what healthy foods are (read: no splenda, no "low-cal", "low-carb", "low-fat", processed, refined, chemicalized foods)
Low calorie dieting is not a smart solution to weight loss. At best it leads to a gross misunderstanding of proper nutrition (compare any diet book to Paul Pitchford's Healing With Whole Foods) and at worst leads to a slowing of the metabolism.
The idea that the only way to lose weight is to reduce calories is preposterous, really. There are dozens of factors to consider. Really, this way of thinking has grossly perverted the public's general understanding of proper nutrition.
Here are some articles to consider:
Understanding Diet and Metabolism tinyurl.com/defzgt
ReplyCounting Nutrients Versus Counting Calories for Weight Loss tinyurl.com/csyz86
The Scientist and the Stairmaster tinyurl.com/2lafnq
Exactly. People are paying you money for incredibly slow weight loss. You have a financial interest in promoting ideas which keep people coming back. No surprise there.
The only reason your clients lose weight is because they create a calorie deficit. Nothing more, nothing less. That's called a diet.
ReplyI commend you on your decision! I have two book suggestions for you that I think you will find will help support you greatly.
Integrative Nutrition, by Joshua Rosenthal
This book does well in explaining the idea of dieting without dieting.
Healing With Whole Foods, by Paul Pitchford
ReplyOne of the best nutrition books out there; this will go into great detail about food and should be of great value in your pursuit of healthy eating.
I have lost weight and I like how I look now I just wanna know how I can eat right and maintain what i have without lossing more. I work a very physically demanding job and workout. i seem to be still lossing weight and I don't want to. What should I do?
Replymy recent blood test results were bad. diets have never worked for me. doctor says i have a metobolic syndrome. i think i have no willpower. i have switched to all whole grains, eliminated junk food, and increased fruits and veggies. sugar free pudding, fiber one yogurt, and fruit are my sweet snacks and nuts when i crave salty. i dont care how long it takes to loose weight (if ever). my glucose was 124 now its 117 and my blood pressure went from 135/90 to 122/82 in just a few months. still high but definitely improving.
ReplyLynn,
ReplySounds like you are moving in the right direction. Many people have metabolic syndrome and don't even know it.
I suggest eliminating all grains for a while. Just try it one day at a time. Increase your intake of proteins and cut back on your fruits and veggies.
You might want to research some of the articles on the net about artificial sugars. They all point to artificial sugars aiding obesity rather than helping weight loss.
Here's to your good health.
I disagree with Barry. To get on a new lifestyle program is important because if what you are doing isn't working then you have to make changes to reach your goals. And be sure to tweak your program as needed as you go along.
ReplyA diet is "what you eat". We all have a diet. Some of use eat foods that serve our bodies and some of us don't. Sounds like mytime4life has chosen a plan that is working for her - just keep it up! You go, Girl! And don't give up.
Change the definitions all you like. The fact remains that a calorie deficit is required for weight loss. You cannot stay in a calorie deficit forever. Therefore, the idea that one needs a "lifestyle" to lose weight is nonsense, and quite deadly if taken to its logical conclusion.
ReplyI believe, Barry, that if you cut out soda, fast food, and other junk from your diet and eat mainly whole foods like fruit & vegetables, then you are naturally going to create the "calorie deficit" that you keep talking about. It's common sense that you will lose weight this way. There is no need for fad diets, just proper nutrition!
ReplyYou sounds very motivated so I have no doubts that your journey will be a successful one--as long as you are looking to make a lifestyle change!
Reply