Are you a good "dieter"?

[GAN]

I practice 24-hour fasting 1-2 times a week and feel significant changes. Not only have I lost weight, but I feel much better.

24-hour is impressive, I've done the 15-hour with no problem and lost weight. Not sure how I'd handle the 24-hour ...do you supplement anything during the day or just drink water?

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I learned a fun fact about dieting in my studying. You can go TOO far and your body, devoid of fatty substances, goes into overdrive, squirrelling away every bit of food just to survive during the drought. So dieting TOO hard could actually make you put ON weight...

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

Not great at dieting, but pretty sure at 45 that I have Arfid. So that really limits what I eat. And then I tend to eat small quantities when I do eat. It works out okay since I'm only 5' tall. But unlike others, I wish I could enjoy more food. I love reading menus and looking at options and it's so disappointing that there are so few things I can tolerate and usually with an annoying amount of modifications.

 

[midnightbast]

I mean at least I try to be tho. Still learning healthy habits. Been focusing on adding more taurine-rich foods to my diet, like salmon. This article helped: https://betterme.world/articles/top-10-foods-highest-in-taurine/ What about you? Any diet tips?

 

[Christine]

When I set my mind to it, I'm pretty good at it. I'm in a good phase right now. Sticking to a set amount of calories and it's done a bang-up job, even though I'm 60 and dealing with all the lack-of-hormone issues. It's a little harder as you age, because you have less muscle mass and less of a caloric requirement (but still the appetite--that never leaves).

 

[leebee]

I learned a fun fact about dieting in my studying. You can go TOO far and your body, devoid of fatty substances, goes into overdrive, squirrelling away every bit of food just to survive during the drought. So dieting TOO hard could actually make you put ON weight...

And that's how I got to almost 300 pounds by the time I was 60. Too many years of not enough decent food, WW, no fat, no carb, Atkins, starvation (like the year I ate a chicken leg/thigh quarter and a can of green beans- every OTHER day...). Stupid dieting from 1972-2016 absolutely trashed my metabolism, my body thought it was in constant starvation mode and held on to every calorie I consumed, or even thought about. Everyone says bariatric surgery is the easy way out, cheating to lose weight, but let me tell you, it is NOT. It's a physical, psychological, and emotional 180 that changes everything about you. I lost 110 pounds and have kept 102 of them off, but it gets harder and harder as I get older. I'm not good about exercise and although I started at the gym again (see upthread) I didn't keep it up. I'm trying to figure out the exercise part of my life right now; I need to be stronger, and when I had knee surgery they discovered the start of osteopenia, so it's even more important that I get some weight bearing exercise into my daily schedule. It's hard, because I find that the biggest factor of aging for me (I'm 68) is that I am tired at the end of the day. Up at 530 to get ready for work so I can get the resident 8 year old out the door for his school day and get me to work on time. I never get home before 6pm, and then there's dinner/dishes to deal with. By the time I get all this done, I am just tired, and in no mood for finishing up chores or working out. Some days it feels like it's all working against me BUT I know I can do this. I need to get my eating habits back in shape, work on some light weight lifting, find time to ride the exercycle, and I'll be OK... and probably not as tired, either. It's just wrapping my brain around it all and DOING IT.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I can lose the weight if I'm really determined to. I have more trouble keeping the weight off and not falling into old habits.

I can kick the Soda addiction for a few months, then inevitably I fall off the wagon.

 

[Christine]

And that's how I got to almost 300 pounds by the time I was 60. Too many years of not enough decent food, WW, no fat, no carb, Atkins, starvation (like the year I ate a chicken leg/thigh quarter and a can of green beans- every OTHER day...). Stupid dieting from 1972-2016 absolutely trashed my metabolism, my body thought it was in constant starvation mode and held on to every calorie I consumed, or even thought about. Everyone says bariatric surgery is the easy way out, cheating to lose weight, but let me tell you, it is NOT. It's a physical, psychological, and emotional 180 that changes everything about you. I lost 110 pounds and have kept 102 of them off, but it gets harder and harder as I get older. I'm not good about exercise and although I started at the gym again (see upthread) I didn't keep it up. I'm trying to figure out the exercise part of my life right now; I need to be stronger, and when I had knee surgery they discovered the start of osteopenia, so it's even more important that I get some weight bearing exercise into my daily schedule. It's hard, because I find that the biggest factor of aging for me (I'm 68) is that I am tired at the end of the day. Up at 530 to get ready for work so I can get the resident 8 year old out the door for his school day and get me to work on time. I never get home before 6pm, and then there's dinner/dishes to deal with. By the time I get all this done, I am just tired, and in no mood for finishing up chores or working out. Some days it feels like it's all working against me BUT I know I can do this. I need to get my eating habits back in shape, work on some light weight lifting, find time to ride the exercycle, and I'll be OK... and probably not as tired, either. It's just wrapping my brain around it all and DOING IT.

At our ages (I"m 60), the weight resistance type of exercise is critical. I know you know that so I'm not trying to lecture or anything--just generally discuss it.

Bodies don't really go into a true starvation mode--if that were so, then anorexics would never get near-death thin. But what does happen is that you starve yourself so much that you absoulely lose any muscle mass you have, over and above the fat you have. The muscles mass is your engine (or "metabolism"). No muscle mass, no metabolism. Further drastic weight loss either through the bariatric surgery route or now Wegovy/Ozempic causes the same issues unless the weight loss is performed in a very controlled manner.

I"ve been working a bit with my doctor (menopause specialist) and she's been coaching me on upping my protein a bit (I'm historically a high-carb eater) and pushing me to get involved in the weight training. So far, I'm failing in that regard, lol!

Like you, I have to go to work with a long commute. I get up at 4AM, hit the road at 5AM. When I get home, I cook, do some things in the house, and I"m beat. So far I have not been able to really exercise on my in-office days. I'm lucky that I do have more days working from home now, but they tend to be 10 hours days. At least I get a walk in and I try to pick up some dumbells when I'm on a long, boring meeting that I don't have to be fully engaged in.

With what you have going on, I might recommend doing 30 minutes, 3 times a week, using a YouTube video solely to do some weight resistance. Forget the cardio right now. You could do one session on the weekend and try to force yourself through the other two during the week. Or one Friday night, one Sunday night and then find one weeknight that you can push through 30 minutes. There are tons of free videos for this--generally you have to deal with some annoying ad breaks. For beginners, I also like the Leslie Sansone walk away the pounds. Gentle, indoors, and some of them incorporate weights. You can pick the videos that fit in your time block. It's a good start. But I feel you--I am inherently lazy when it comes to forced exercise.

 

[tony67]

So many factors here - what works for me may not work for you - even if you are not loosing weight - doing exercise is probably always a good thing - as long as you don't overdo it and damage joints etc...

There are also so many side issues - like what is in the food we eat?
Lots of low calorie or low fat foods have other issues - might just be better with the real thing in some cases.

For example I recently tried to go with a healthy wrap (lavish bread?) for my breakfast wrap- and they are not cheap - but then I was watching a video and the doctor in the video was at Whole Foods trying to find healthy bread and there were not many options - he even called out the wrap I was using and went through all the ingredients - there are so many things in it that I was shocked.
I've gotten into the habit of trying to look at the ingredients and trying to avoid things that I cant pronounce or don't know what it is - but its almost impossible.
Even something as simple as olives has now started being packed in seed oil instead of olive oil because of cost - and its not always clear until you order the product that there has been a change.
Olive oil - some of these now come from multiple countries- they had a bad year or two as I understand it - and in some cases its not what you think it is - if it comes from more than one country be careful it may not be 100% EVOO.

The other issue is you can loose the weight, but it comes back far easier than you can drop it.
I lost about 1/3 my body weight - which was great - lots of exercise, healthy diet and almost no alcohol for a couple of years.
Thing is you can only keep that up so long - you have to live your life as well.
The other issue - as I said - it comes back so quick - a week on vacation and you gain 10 pounds.
I had the misfortune of a two month period where I had people visiting, a death to deal with and a vacation - so no time to exercise or time to myself - eating at restaurants and some drink - each of the three weeks I was off I gained 10 pounds - and it was almost impossible to burn it off between these breaks...so about 10 years later I'd gained 50lbs back.

During this time I've never stopped working out, almost always doing at least a 45 minute workout.
I've been able to drop 10 of that, but one cheat day and several pounds will come back - so you sort of get stuck at a weight +/- 3 pounds over a week and its a lot of time to break through that to the next plateau.
It also gets harder as you get older - I don't even have a crazy goal - just 10lbs a year and stay healthy.

So what is my point - I'm not sure - just keep at it and try not to get discouraged - set reasonable goals - it is hard - no doubt.

As long as you make the effort I feel that is a good thing - and by effort I mean a real effort - you cant lie to yourself - too many people do.
Also set a reasonable attenable goal - wanting to loose 100lbs sounds good but its hard - go for 5 or 10 or whatever makes sense for you and then set the next goal.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I would have to say no - at times it’s an obsession with me to the point that it’s probably detrimental - and another times I’m at the other side of the spectrum where I eat whatever I want in large quantities and then I starve myself to make up for it which is detrimental
I used to exercise every day and then I got a spinal cord injury and that ended me being able to exercise I’ve had two surgeries and I am still in a significant amount of pain which makes it really hard for me to exercise I still try to but I must admit I’m not very good at keeping up with it
I decided recently that I’m going to try wall Pilates and we will see how that goes I may have to modify some of them or not do some of them depending on how bad they bother me
Because of my horrible eating habits body clings to what I have for weight and does not respond very well to most diets I have brought this problem on myself with again my horrible eating habits - I have found the only way I can lose weight to drastically cut back to very few calories a day - quite successful with this strategy and have lost 25 pounds - again this is not the best way to do it I understand that but I have tried other methods and had no results and I stuck to the rules counted the calories did some exercising and loss zero weight and 0 inches again I believe this is because of my horrible eating habits for a decades I did this to myself and I know this!!
So am I good at dieting - nope !! But my goal is to change my eating habits slowing and slowing start some exercising retrain my body at my old age to behave better !!
Wish me luck !!! This old dog is going to learn sone new tricks !!!

 

[Pollies]

I strive to maintain a balanced diet to support my fitness goals. Incorporating calisthenics into my routine has been transformative, enhancing strength and flexibility. According to BetterMe, a consistent calisthenics regimen can yield significant results in a year, including muscle gain and improved body composition. Combining proper nutrition with regular calisthenics training has been key to my progress.

 

[nick.kohll]

I believe I'm a good one

 

[mickeyboat]

I'm glad this thread got bumped up today! I have been dieting and walking since May and I have lost 56 lbs. I would still like to lose 25 more, but I have hit a brick wall. I have only lost 3 lbs since mid November and I am getting very discouraged. I downloaded MyFitness Pal just now and I hope that being more diligent about logging my meals will help. I started strength training in December, and I have definitely been building muscle, but I think that is why I am not losing weight now. I don't want to stop doing it, but I also want to see the scale move. UGH!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm glad this thread got bumped up today! I have been dieting and walking since May and I have lost 56 lbs. I would still like to lose 25 more, but I have hit a brick wall. I have only lost 3 lbs since mid November and I am getting very discouraged. I downloaded MyFitness Pal just now and I hope that being more diligent about logging my meals will help. I started strength training in December, and I have definitely been building muscle, but I think that is why I am not losing weight now. I don't want to stop doing it, but I also want to see the scale move. UGH!

I've hit that wall before. It's part of why I tend to walk away from the scale at a certain point. I know that doesn't work for everyone, but last time I had a really successful run with weight loss, I started using a tape measurer and goal clothing to track my progress when the scale stopped moving as much. My semi-recent mistake was not going back to the scale after a bit. The scale does help you stay accountable and can tip you off if you've started to slide. The scale just messes with my mind, even when I'm weighing in more healthy intervals.