Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by MikeB

If you are working out and/or losing weight drinking water helps keep you hydrated and flush any toxins out of your body produced by the strain of exercise or weight loss. The more you drink the less your body will hold on reserve as well. While losing weight your kidneys are having to work overtime to process all the junk you are liberating from the fat cells, making them process water out of the pop/coffee/tea etc makes it just that much worse on them. WATER, WATER, WATER!!!!

Know how you're drinking enough water? Your pee doesn't stink and should be almost clear. If it's yellow and stinky you're not drinking enough.

Great tip.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Why is it so important to drink so much water?

I have quit tea & coffee and do drink water all day. Occasionally I will have a diet Pepsi at home, are these "diet" soft drinks bad for you when trying to loose weight?

Diet soft drinks can be bad for you while trying to lose weight. Numerous studies have shown that artificial sweetners actually increase your cravings for sweets and carbs. There's a few of these studies in our obesity studies forum.

[janetj]

I personally,do not believe in fad diets. This is because of the simple fact,that the intake of fewer calories (than your usual) will bring about weight loss,regardless of what one eats. But I wouldn't recommend eating all your recommended daily calories at one sitting. That would most likely doom one to failure,when trying to lose weight.
I recommend starting off with a good eating diet...say...1500 calories a day,then once your body has become accustomed it is easier to go to 1200...depending on how fast you wish to lose. I am basing this from a womans stand point. Men usually can eat(approx.) 1800 to 2000 calories daily and lose. Dieting this way is slower and healthier...and one is more likely to succeed and keep it off. I'm losing approx. 2 to 3 lbs. a week.
This works for me and I personally recommend:

1. Buy a calorie book...and decide how many calories a day you wish to consume to begin your weight loss. Become determined to not go over your set daily calorie goal.

2. Count calories,and write calorie intake down,after every meal (add up calories... to see how many you have left to eat) Add all at the end of the day

3. Weigh weekly (no more)

4. Eat three meals a day (healthy filling foods) i.e. whole grain cereals w/banana,dry whole grain breads,baked chicken,fish,hamburger steak (GRILLED) w/a little worcesershire,a variety of steamed veges,canned tuna in water with crackers,once or twice a week a boiled egg and dry toast,also instead of fries or fried potatoes try slicing them and baking them on a cookie sheet,then adding a little ketchup won't hurt,baked potatoes with a little low fat cottage cheese or low fat Ranch dressing instead of sour cream or butter. Salad topped with a little low fat shredded cheese and a little low fat dressing according to caloires per tbls.,and lemon juice is an excellent alternative instead of salt.

5.Eat fruits for snacks,or fruit jello salads (no canned fruits in heavy syrup...frozen is best,)etc. If you must have cake try eating Angel Food Cake...it's lower in calories,satisfing,and curbs crave.

6.Drink water,diet drinks (I like Diet Rite Cola best),skim milk,teas w/artificial sweetener,flavored water drinks are good too.
Try not to drink things that have sugars (better for you and saves you a few calories for food.)

The above are just a few of my eating suggestions,that have worked for me.

Losing weight itself makes for a more healthier you, but walking at least 30 minutes 3 times a week (to begin) makes for an even healthier you. Work on a more vigorous exercise regimen,after successfully tackling your first goal (weight loss.)

Maintenance for me is these two simple rules:

If you tend to be more sedentary:

Multiply your current (ideal) weight by 15 and that will give you the number of daily calories needed for maintenance.

If you are much more active,and exercise alot:

Multiply your current (ideal) weight by 12 (just as above for maintenance)

Anyway, whatever you choose on your weight loss journey,and it works for you...
Go For It! My best wishes are with you,and I bid you the best of luck.

Hang in there. You can do it. You can succeed at whatever you set your mind too.

[kristiep1983]

Hi. I just thought I'd say hello to everyone and introduce myself. My name is Kristie, I'm 24 and the mother of 2 wonderful boys. I recently started dieting...actually only started 10/3. In my first wk I lost 8lbs 4oz...which amazed me. Tomorrow I get to weigh myself again to see how much more weight I've lost. I can't wait! I'm not sure if anyone's ever heard of it, but I'm on the fiber35 diet. It is honestly the easiest "diet I've EVER been on and literally takes next to no effort to lose weight. So yea...my weight goal is to get down to 165lbs, but if I can continue to lose a bit more and make it to 140lbs that would be even better. I'll post my new weight loss tomorrow.

[Jyames]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Soy protein has been shown to help increase fat burning

I wouldn't mind seeing this study - I tend to stay away due to its possible phytoestrogens.

By tend to stay away I mean I don't ingest anything with soy.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by kristiep1983

Hi. I just thought I'd say hello to everyone and introduce myself. My name is Kristie, I'm 24 and the mother of 2 wonderful boys. I recently started dieting...actually only started 10/3. In my first wk I lost 8lbs 4oz...which amazed me. Tomorrow I get to weigh myself again to see how much more weight I've lost. I can't wait! I'm not sure if anyone's ever heard of it, but I'm on the fiber35 diet. It is honestly the easiest "diet I've EVER been on and literally takes next to no effort to lose weight. So yea...my weight goal is to get down to 165lbs, but if I can continue to lose a bit more and make it to 140lbs that would be even better. I'll post my new weight loss tomorrow.

I'm glad it's working for you! I'm not a big fan of most diets but if it works for you then stick with it!

[kristiep1983]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

I'm glad it's working for you! I'm not a big fan of most diets but if it works for you then stick with it!

yea its been great...i wouldnt even consider it a diet...its basically just eating healthy and exercising. but ive been doing it for a month now and ive lost 13.8lbsso im really happy.

[sass63]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

Diet soft drinks can be bad for you while trying to lose weight. Numerous studies have shown that artificial sweetners actually increase your cravings for sweets and carbs. There's a few of these studies in our obesity studies forum.

Personally I found that to be true. I had to give up all diet soda. When I started I drank at least a 12 pk of diet pepsi. Now I have maybe 1 a week.

[sass63]

Originally Posted by kristiep1983

yea its been great...i wouldnt even consider it a diet...its basically just eating healthy and exercising. but ive been doing it for a month now and ive lost 13.8lbsso im really happy.

Welcome to the boards! Congrats on the great start you should be proud of yourself.

[shesmilesnwinks]

Enjoying this thread lots of good info to digest..

[sass63]

Very interesting. I love ready and learning all the stuff you guys put up. I never got into all that stuff with the break downs. For me counting calories and keeping track doesnt work.

The only thing I can see that I can add in here is if you follow the amounts and find that your consitrating to much on food and then start over eating Stop the maddness and just do your very best to eat high protein low carb meals every day.

And I agree go whole grain and get rid of the white flour.

And stay away from diet soda

[drjiten]

Hi all,
this is my first post. i'm working with a weight loss company since 1.5 yrs. basically i'm a ayurveda doctor. we used to give monplans for our clients and we are getting good resuls also. mono plans means there will be either carbohydrates or protiens whole day no combinations.

[Merle]

Originally Posted by drjiten

Hi all,
this is my first post. i'm working with a weight loss company since 1.5 yrs. basically i'm a ayurveda doctor. we used to give monplans for our clients and we are getting good resuls also. mono plans means there will be either carbohydrates or protiens whole day no combinations.

You recommend eating nothing but carbs for an entire day?

[drjiten]

yes, thats only for one day the next day we give only protiens no carbs.

[Kel]

I am not sure it somebody already gave you this information somewhere in this forum, but my doctor gave me the advice to drink a glass of water before having any kind of meals. This will fill up your gastric and so you won't be so hungry. It is even better to drink it very slowly because then the feeling of being full comes up faster!

[Alex]

1. Water, water, water. Can't be stressed enough. However, some of that water can take the form of things like decaf iced tea, if you sweeten it with a little Splenda or other no-calorie sweetener. Steadily drinking something throughout the day can really help curb the appetite.

2. Do get rid of the white flour, if for no other reason than increased fiber intake. Start getting used to wheat breads, whole grains, and so on. You probably won't excise ALL of it from your diet, but you should nip it in the bud wherever possible. For instance, all of my sandwich bread, hot dug buns and tortillas are some form of whole grain or wheat.

3. Try to go sugar-free wherever possible. For me, the biggest hangup were my drinks. I love soda and sweet tea. I try to drink more water now, but I also drink diet sodas and sweet tea with Splenda. I also use sugar-free syrups if I eat waffles/pancakes, and if I indulge in a treat, I try to make it sugar-free or at least reduced sugar.

4. Learn what a real portion is. I don't believe in "diets" where you have to cut out ALL or almost all of a certain thing. I think that's the easiest way for an eating plan to fail miserably - because the moment you tell most people they absolutely CAN'T have something is when they want it more than anything else. Instead, when you eat, start measuring your food. Sure, have those potato chips every once in awhile, but have 1 SERVING, not one whole bag. Sure, have yourself a cookie - but have ONE (and try to make it sugar-free instead of full fat and sugar).

5. Write it before you bite it. At least until you attain most of your weight goals, keep a food diary. If you take bites, grab a handful of something, whatever - put it down in your food diary. Dailyplate.com is an absolutely fantastic resource for keeping track of your food every day. I wouldn't pay too much attention to their "calorie goals" as I think they're a bit too generous, but as far as just keeping up with what you eat, it's great. I have a journal going there and I update that thing every. Single. Day. I mark down what I plan to eat while it's cooking, and if I eat less than that, I'll edit it (or if I eat more). It gives me a very realistic view of my calories, fat, fiber, as well as sugar and sodium. The more you're aware of what you've eaten, the more you begin to think, "Wow, I'm already climbing up towards X amount of calories - do I REALLY want to scarf these cookies?" You'll be surprised what you find when you're actively paying attention to the things you put in your body.

Your weight loss can never be a result of a "diet", because diets are things people go on only to come off them again at a given time. Losing weight has to be a lifestyle change, and unless you're willing to never eat pizza again as long as you live, then completely giving up pizza or any other foods you really enjoy will not work as part of some fad diet.

Moderation is always key. Adjusting your appetite to crave reasonable portions, and burning off more than you take in, is basically the way to lose.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by drjiten

yes, thats only for one day the next day we give only protiens no carbs.

I cannot fathom that's terribly healthy.

[Groundhog]

Whatever you do, don't forget to take a good "Before" photograph !!!

This can prove a great source of self motivation.

I am well on the way to acheiving my personal goal but the one thing I really do regret is that I did not take a photograph of myself before I began the weight loss program.

So.... get your camera out NOW !

[pinkdaisy]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Know how you're drinking enough water? Your pee doesn't stink and should be almost clear. If it's yellow and stinky you're not drinking enough.

Yikes, I didn't know that my pee could tell me so much about my water-drinking habits! Thanks for the tip! I also like to add those Crystal Lite crystals to my water (water can get pretty boring after a while), or I throw in a lemon wedge.

[Alex]

The lemon wedge is more than fine, adds some natural fruit juice, but it's still not good to overdo it on sweeteners and drink powders. Ice cold water in as natural a state as you can get it is the best bet - I've found that it helps to keep personal squeeze bottles of it stocked in the fridge. Easy to grab, store in the freezer, refill. I have two 20 oz. sports bottles that I rotate regularly, I get about 60 oz. of water per day, easily.

Trust me, I hated water and I still have to have the occasional Diet Mt. Dew. But getting accustomed to drinking water regularly is one of the best things you can do. Easiest way - ironically - to get your water weight out of the way.