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All my life I was one of those people who craved carbs, especially sweets and pastries and always overindulged. Around menopause I was going through a difficult time physically and mentally/emotionally, and really ate and did not exercise (I just didn't care due to depression.) Anyway 10 years ago I was 50 lbs overweight and I looked and felt awful.
A few years ago I found out I was diabetic. THAT, my friends, is a great motivator. I really started exercising (I was already cycling by now) but stepped it up - going to the gym for strength training, yoga, and belly dancing and also working out at home. I do eat carbs but limit them, and try to keep them to healthy carbs. I watch all my portions of food and am strict about the times I eat. I cannot buy cookies/cakes anymore, and only RARELY eat a little bit if it comes with my dinner. Over the past several years I have lost 50 lbs, and now have great muscle tone and almost as curvy as I was when I was in my 30s (I am 65)
At this point, my good habits are entrenched, and I have pretty much lost my taste for overly sweet foods and bloating baked goods now. Even a little bit can make me feel ill. And I feel so much better fitting into some of my pretty vintage clothing I used to wear. If you avoid those bad foods for a good while, you really do lose your taste for them. And there are plenty of healthy foods you can eat that are actually good for you!
Its all about calories in and physical burning that input to maintain. One or the other has to be changed . Then its a reduction to it until in good shape. Once it equals then we tend to stop because we are not see loss any more. No great secret in now to burn more calories than you take in. Even a normal weight person eating unhealthy food while staying at that level isn't improving heath. Cardio even for them takes change and cardio exercise or they have weak muscles including the heart which is a muscle. Cardio exercises the heart and rest of cardio system. Its more than walking; it has to include upper body as well including arm etc. You diet to lose weight but that does mean your physically I good shape ;slim people have heart problems also as well as diabetes.Those who lose weight often complain at a point they feel weak; they are weak as muscles are weak still.
No, it isn't all about calories and burning, at least the way you imply it. Some of us don't burn calories fast, and new research is showing that there are all sorts of factors about why people gain and don't lose weight.
And each individual has to find her own way. In general we have to eat less than we have been, and for some of us this means eating far, far less than others who don't gain weight as easily. It also means that you have to be aware of what foods cause weight gain. Most diets have not emphasized reducing carbs enough; the emphasis has been on reducing fat.
I do agree that exercise makes us healthy, but I've never been convinced that it helped me lose weight. If I was a long distance runner, perhaps this would be true. I am a believer in exercising to build muscle mass which is supposed to burn calories better, and for balance and mobility as we age, and to build our lung capacity. I am a lot happier when I have exercised, and I sleep much better. But I've never been convinced that exercise helps me lose weight.
I am diabetic with a life-long addiction for sweets. Finally within the last couple of months I have been able to resist better. Was given a pound of See's candies as a gift last week, and I gave them away (didn't tell the kind person who gave them to me) within an hour without eating one. (If I had eaten one, I would have eaten the whole box on the spot). During the Christmas holidays I didn't "cheat". Attended four different food gatherings and didn't touch the sweets. In one case there were only sweets - it was a mid-morning appreciation thing; I had a cup of coffee, talked to some people, and left. These successes are making my will stronger. It's about time after so many years of bs-ing myself ("I didn't have any sugar the past two days", or "I was very active yesterday", etc.).
Have been on a large outdoor painting project for the last month - lugging around ladders, prepping and painting. I am making that a gym substitute for a while - not an adequate substitute, but a hell of a lot better than being a couch potato. Some movement is better than no movement.
Oh you're one of those people who can do such a simple thing and lose 10 lb. I could cut out an entire meal and not lose an ounce. I recently started on Ezekial bread (no flour, all sprouted wheat) after giving up other breads and all wheat flour entirely. Not a fraction of an ounce have I lost, after 3 mos.
As for ice cream, I do not eat dairy (causes me health problems) but I do eat coconut milk ice cream. Probably the same amount of calories. Of course if I join the gym I will be able to eat whatever I want (not).
Ezekial bread has the same number of calories as white bread. Drop the bread or another item having a similar number of calories and you WILL lose weight. It will take a while to see the weight loss but you will lose a few pounds. Patience is the key.
As long as you are consuming too many calories you will not lose weight. In terms of weight gain/loss, it doesn't matter if they are good calories or bad calories. All carbs have 4 calories per gram, as does protein. All fat has 9 calories per gram. Note that I'm not saying calories from good foods are not more nutritional than calories from bad foods. I'm just saying you're kidding yourself if you believe you will lose weight by restricting your diet to good carbs without limiting your caloric intake. It's not going to happen.
Ezekial bread has the same number of calories as white bread. Drop the bread or another item having a similar number of calories and you WILL lose weight. It will take a while to see the weight loss but you will lose a few pounds. Patience is the key.
As long as you are consuming too many calories you will not lose weight. In terms of weight gain/loss, it doesn't matter if they are good calories or bad calories. All carbs have 4 calories per gram, as does protein. All fat has 9 calories per gram. Note that I'm not saying calories from good foods are not more nutritional than calories from bad foods. I'm just saying you're kidding yourself if you believe you will lose weight by restricting your diet to good carbs without limiting your caloric intake. It's not going to happen.
Have you tried keeping a food journal?
You're right as far as your statement goes, but what you are missing about sprouted grain bread versus white bread is their respective places on the glycemic index. Even if the calories are equal, the white bread causes more of a spike in blood sugar levels. This is important for diabetics, for whom much more than total caloric intake is critical.
You're right as far as your statement goes, but what you are missing about sprouted grain bread versus white bread is their respective places on the glycemic index. Even if the calories are equal, the white bread causes more of a spike in blood sugar levels. This is important for diabetics, for whom much more than total caloric intake is critical.
True ^^^. For myself, I eat sourdough (real sourdough) bread which has the lowest glycemic index of all.
You're right as far as your statement goes, but what you are missing about sprouted grain bread versus white bread is their respective places on the glycemic index. Even if the calories are equal, the white bread causes more of a spike in blood sugar levels. This is important for diabetics, for whom much more than total caloric intake is critical.
Uh oh. Did I miss that NEG is diabetic? NEG can still drop one item from her daily diet and lose weight. It just takes time.
After just recovering from an attack of diverticulitis, I'd like to add that all of us need at least 20-25 grams of fiber each day to keep our "gut" healthy. Believe me, you don't want to end up with DV. I thought I was eating healthy, never ate red meat, no sweets, gave up pizza, Mexican food, no alcohol, etc. and lost a lot of weight but I still got DV because I was not getting any fiber in my diet. I didn't realize that meat, fish and poultry had no fiber at all. This is critical to not ending up with lots of digestive/colon problems. I'd also suggest eating 4-5 small meals per day rather than any large meals, which are very problematic for us as we age. Hopefully others can learn from my mistakes. If you aren't now getting enough fiber, add in foods gradually so your system can adjust.
I've read articles that talk about how gut bacteria influences our cravings. If we eat what is healthy for us, our gut bacteria will become used to the healthier foods and will no longer crave the carbs, sugars, etc. I am a sugarholic, and actually tried this a few months ago. I was amazed at how it worked. It was really hard, but the less I ate sugars and bad foods, the less I wanted them. This was also confirmed by a certified nutritionist friend of mine. Unfortunately, I didn't stick with it, but I'm trying to get back on the wagon. It really and truly works.
Arrrgh. I had a lifelong battle with the scale and now finally I am OK. Like most women I would always love to drop 10lbs but that just makes me normal. I can tell you what works for me. I am one of the few former fatties who lost the weight and kept it off.
1) Exercise or physical work daily.
2) Don't bring crap foods into the house. No one needs them.
3) Forget the large economy size. If you must have some Oreos or chips, buy a single serving package.
4) Avoid all carbs and sugar. Eat more protein foods.
5) Every month I have a cheat weekend and I eat whatever I want and as much as I want. I put it on the calendar.
6) Weigh daily and when ever I am over my number for three days in a row, cut all the carbs till it's gone.(hard boiled eggs and plain meat)
7) Vitamin and calcium supplements.
My basic diet is LCHF(low carb high fat). Lots of protein and fat help keep me satisfied. I try to keep my carbs under 30. There is always something I can eat. I use real butter. I always have veggies, nuts, and jerky around for snacks. And cheese/deli meat. I use cream in my coffee and I make ice cream too. I do use Splenda and I wish I could find something else but stevia is bitter to me. When Russell Stover's SF candy goes on sale 3 bags for a dollar, I stock up. When I have them I eat 3 pieces a day. I love Mission low carb tortillas but I can't always find them so my sandwiches are usually rolled up meat or served on lettuce leaves. My pizza crust is made of baked cheese or one of those tortillas. I use nooodles for pasta. Not perfect but better than nothing. I use coconut and almond flour.
Took me decades to figure out low fat, low calorie diets don't work for me. They are too restrictive. My diet had to be something I could live with long term. LCHF works for me because I can eat. And yes it's a pain to avoid all the carbs that are so prevalent in a normal diet. What I miss most are burgers and fries. And tangerines. But once a month, I can eat them! I love it that I can always eat out. I can always have a big salad with dressing(creamy white dressings usually have no carbs) and no croutons, or a steak and veggies.
Not only am I happy and healthy...I have the cholesterol of a 10yo. It was 119 last year and my triglicerides were LOW. I have always thought those low fat folks were wrong. And for me, they are.
Here's a sample dinner. And I always cook in bulk so I can heat up leftovers for other meals.
Pepperoni Chicken and Asparagus
Start with a boneless, skinless chicken leg quarter(leg and thigh). Put it on a cookie sheet and sprinkle on a little pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Take the cookie sheet out of the oven and drain off all the liquid(I save it for dog food).
Put the chicken back on the baking sheet and put about 2T of sauce on each one. Home made or already prepared. Put slices of pepperoni on each piece of chicken. Salami works too. Then a small handfull of Mozzarella. Put the chicken back in the oven and bake till the cheese is bubbly and starts to brown.
While the cheese is melting, steam some asparagus and make a small dinner salad. Dinner is served. And this is a meal I can lose weight on! It's not miserable at all.
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