| Apr 14, 2006 @ 10:17 AM |
Diets.
|
|
HarleysB_WV
Posts: 860
|
With all the diets out there today, does anyone have any personal experience with ANY of them??? What kind of results did you get and which would you recommend to someone to use? I know that just cutting down on certain foods is usually the best way, but I've heard that some of the new diets are pretty good too.
|
|
  |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 10:45 AM |
Diets. |
|
sciurusniger
Posts: 2,958
|
Depends on your body. But you need, overall, the proper balance of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fats, protein, etc.). Any "diet" simply doesn't do that and taking supplements, while they make up a bit, can't do the same job as whole foods.
Watching not only your fat intake but also your overall sugar intake can help. Lots of hidden calories from sugar in almost every single processed foodstuff.
Best bet is to simply cut back on the amount you eat and move your body. Walking has the longest-term benefits (meaning least amount of wear and tear for the health gains). Any "fad diet" takes weight off quickly by starving the body but the body knows better and figures out how to get around it or bounces back even more determined to hang on to weight "just in case".
All that said, I still think a vegetarian diet (or mainly vegetarian) is healthiest and as long as it's not made up of mostly junk foods (think unhealthy trans fats in animal products and a lot of junk foods - check serving sizes, it's always an eye opener) but instead lots of raw foods will keep weight off longer.
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 11:07 AM |
Diets.
|
|
Loreli
Posts: 25,401
|
It's been 20 years ago, but I tried the Scarsdale diet. It is a hard one to follow for some because it is awful bland. You aren't suppose to substitute, but I did if I really didn't like something. You can only stay on it for two weeks at a time to let your "ketones" get adjusted (something like that!) I followed that with dropping red meat from my diet, no more fast food (except pizza on occasion) I allowed myself treats that I liked but limited them severely (Doritos and M&Ms)
I lost 50 pounds, but I was working out every day along with it.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 2:14 PM |
Diets. |
|
mailorderannie
Posts: 6,021
|
I'm currently doing very well with Weight Watchers. Doesn't feel like a diet, and is very "user friendly"
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 2:50 PM |
Diets.
|
|
HarleysB_WV
Posts: 860
|
I know my mom has tried just about every diet known to man-kind. She just went off the South Beach diet to go on some other diet that sends you food and so forth......(sigh)....Personally I am worried about all those diets she's constantly on. Am I being paranoid??? I just can't see how all those diets are healthy for her.
I personally am going to go with sci's post. I need to drop a few (ok a LOT of) pounds and it sounds like the healthy way to do it without it costing me a ton of money. Thanks sci!!!
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 2:53 PM |
Diets. |
|
Atone74
Posts: 335
|
My diet is consentient every week. I eat low carbs (not atkins), just taking out the extra carbs. I eat 5x a day just smaller portions. I eat tons of chicken and fish, salads, brown rice (not white), fresh green veggies.. Nothing to it, but mix this with cardio and lifting and its perfect. I have no diet, I just choose to eat healthy all the time...
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 4:45 PM |
Diets.
|
|
Loreli
Posts: 25,401
|
The hardest part of any diet is the first few weeks. After you get adjusted to cutting out the "bad" stuff, you really do feel so much better. My Mom went to a weight loss clinic many years ago, and she was told to avoid food products that were "white." Flour, rice, sugar, bread, etc. I know she lost weight, but I don't know how much truth there is to that theory!
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 4:47 PM |
Diets. |
|
ezzangel
Posts: 59
|
my five food groups are as follows:
chocolate
subway sandwiches (i used to work there while putting myself through uni)
cake
diet coke
cookies (but not oreos cos I hate them)
and a chocolate bar a day keeps the doctor away (but it has to be eaten before 8am)
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 7:48 PM |
Diets.
|
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,606
|
I still think a vegetarian diet (or mainly vegetarian) is healthiest
My doctor has gone on a vegan diet and has seen terrific results. She sold me on it (The China Study) and I tried it for a few days.I actually found it a lot easier to live with than I expected. Unfortunately I succumbed to the flu that was going thru the office (I'm trying NOT to blame it on the veggies) and I've been travelling too much since then to pay much attention to anything I'm eating, except to enjoy it (Prague is not the ideal place to try to be a vegetarian).
Sci - just wondering if you'd read the book, and what you thought of it if you did...?
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 14, 2006 @ 11:55 PM |
Diets. |
|
sciurusniger
Posts: 2,958
|
No, Heaven. I've not read anything about the subject in a few years now. Once I found what works for me I pretty much let it all go, except to stay abreast of the latest research (which continues to contradict itself on a regular basis!)
Btw, it can be stressful on your body to go vegan "cold turkey". The esoteric and gentlest way is to eliminate only beef and pork from one's diet for five years, then eliminate chicken and fish for the next five years, and finally, starting in Year Eleven, eliminate dairy and eggs.
But today it's a whole lot easier to eat vegan than it was when I was starting out many years ago. And the benefits for women as we grow older are pretty significant, especially when combining the increase in plant estrogens with progesterone (cream).
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 5:53 AM |
Diets.
|
|
painter007
Posts: 17,854
|
I have stayed the same wight for over 30 years. I teach a water fit class 4 times a week and am what some consider a grazer. I am always eating small meals throughout the day..I always have water, juice and some sort of food in my back pack.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 6:15 AM |
Diets. |
|
MICHIGANGIRL11
Posts: 1,649
|
Another helpful tool is to keep a daily food journal. With a journal you know how many calories, fats and carbs you have consumed throughout the day. I also purchased this pocket size book that has listings for thousands of food items giving the calorie, fat and carbs counts, it is put out by Calorie King and you can purchase it at Walmart. Exercise is very important as well. Over the last 1 1/2 years I have lost 46 pounds.
Good Luck..........
Migirl11
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 8:50 AM |
Diets.
|
|
walkingman
Posts: 639
|
I just watch what I eat and how much I eat. My job is very physically demanding and that help's. I have heard it is good not to eat anything within 3 hour's of going to bed. It is just a mattter of self discipline.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 1:16 PM |
Diets. |
|
painter007
Posts: 17,854
|
I get up in the middle of the night and eat...When Im hungry Im hungry......thats with everything!
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 8:48 PM |
Diets.
|
|
NatureGal745
Posts: 708
|
As mentioned previously cutting sugar is a great way...and for me what has worked in the past is that, cutting out ALL sodas, and increasing lean protien and decreasing the simple carbohydrates. Oh, and also increasing physical activity...even walking helps.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 15, 2006 @ 9:13 PM |
Diets. |
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,606
|
Oh, and also increasing physical activity...even walking helps.
Absolutely. I don't think that diet alone has ever gotten the weight off and kept it off for anyone, and walking is a nice, civilized and inexpensive way to at least start. I know I do best when I'm walking at least three miles every other day.
Sci - thanks for the feedback...at 62, I think year eleven is just a wee bit too far out there for me. I'm pretty much going by what my body seems to be telling me now...those 'cravings'. Once in awhile I'll really have to have a hamburger, but more often it's going to be for vegetables. If anyone had told me I'd ever have edamame cravings, I'd have told them they were crazy, but I'd probably have said the same thing about moving west too.
|
| |
|
| Apr 17, 2006 @ 6:04 PM |
Diets.
|
|
altogirl67
Posts: 1,309
|
I believe in doing what's right for you as far as whether you eat according to the food pyramid, are vegetarian, or vegan. If you do choose either of the latter two, make sure you are getting enough B12 because those diets tend to lack enough of it.
That said, I believe that dieting is never a good option. Cutting out any particular part of your dietary intake, such as fat, carbs, or protein will only hurt your body AND your metabolism. BEWARE OF FAD DIETS!!!
Eat nutrient dense foods, keep your calories within reason, and stay active and your body will adjust to a healthier weight. This is not a diet. This has to be a lifestyle change... not something you do for 6 weeks and then go right back to eating twinkies. Eat for health - not for the comfort. Also, don't deprive yourself. If you have been thinking about carrot cake for 3 days, eat some! Just don't make a habit of it.
The only thing I have to add is to watch your stress levels because if you are under stress and not dealing with it properly it could stop you from losing weight. Stress hormones think the body is in danger and will try to hang onto every calorie you ingest if it possibly can. It's the fight or flight tendency that's built into our genetics.
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 17, 2006 @ 6:49 PM |
Diets. |
|
Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,606
|
Stress hormones think the body is in danger and will try to hang onto every calorie you ingest if it possibly can. It's the fight or flight tendency that's built into our genetics.
You know, I hadn't really thought about that, but that might be part of the reason that exercise makes such a difference too. Personally, I think it's the best stress relief around (obviously the best form would be some bedroom gymnastics). I tend to have high blood pressure at the end of the day, but I've seen it drop from 190/100 to 110/70 after an hour of dancing. So it might not just be the calories you're burning, but the reduction in the stress hormones too.
|
| |
|
| Apr 17, 2006 @ 6:53 PM |
Diets.
|
|
altogirl67
Posts: 1,309
|
Exactly!
|
|
| |
|
| Apr 19, 2006 @ 2:56 PM |
Diets. |
|
silknpearls
Posts: 1,820
|
I recommend the Zone www zoneperfect com
It is a balance of carbs, fats and protein at every meal/snack.
Stick to the homemade version - do not go for the storebought prepackaged foods - they have too many chemicals and so on.
I have tried a lot of diets and I think this one is healthy.
|
| |
|
|
|
|