Weight Loss

[Slappy]

Weight loss in theory is simple as already discussed but if it were easy, we wouldn't have obesity problems.  My weight has fluctuated my whole life (because I eat too much and eat too much bad stuff).  For some reason, my personality is either all in 100% compliant, or all out 100% disgusting.  I cant seem to moderate/maintain.  That being said, here are my 2 cents.  I've tried everything! 

South Beach Diet- Lost a bunch of weight
Keto Diet- Lost a bunch of weight
Plant Based/Vegan Diet- Lost a bunch of weight
Whole30 Diet- Lost a bunch of weight
Carnivore Diet- Lost a bunch of weight

So, while the word of weight loss can be confusing, its really not, they all work. BUT there are still some major differences between them.  I feel uniquely qualified to speak on my experience because I've tried diets on the opposite end of the spectrum, and every one in between! 

 

Plant Based/Vegan:  Lost a bunch of weight, all my lab work improved.  This is the most miserable diet.  Seriously, EVERYTHING has to be prepped, washed, cut, cooked.  And if you are going to have a vegan meal that even tastes REMOTELY good, you have to have tons of different ingredients.  Cooking take forever, you are hungry all the time, food is bland.  This is horrible, but effective. 

Keto: This is a scrumptious diet, food is great, but its so easy to start eating dirty Keto instead of clean Keto. Its so easy to order a couple double cheeseburgers at McDonalds and just eat the meat/cheese, instead of making a salad with some steak and avocado in it. You'll lose weight.  

South Beach: Originally started as a heart healthy diet and the byproduct of getting your heart healthy through food is weight loss.  Its in 3 stages, very carb restrictive to break your addiction to carbs, then introducing only complex carbs (ones harder to digest keeping insulin lower) and then a maintenance phase where you have now learned HOW to eat moving forward. 

Whole30: This isn't a weight loss diet, but nearly everyone who tries it looses weight.  Its an elimination diet which removes foods that cause inflammation/irritation in the body.  So things like IBS can be fixed once you figure out what's causing your issues.  This diet is tasty, and not all that restrictive so fairly easy to maintain.  But, if one is a diabetic, this is a bit carb heavy and may not be the best solution.

Lastly, Carnivore Diet: Yeah, the literal opposite of a Plant Based/Vegan diet.  This is an interesting diet. One highly talked about by Jordan Peterson and his Daughter, Sean Baker MD on YouTube, KenDBerryMD on YouTube, Joe Rogan and many other popular personalities and health advocates.  What do you eat on Carnivore?  Animals. And High fat animals. The food is phenomenal because animals are delicious. The fat that you eat satiates you like no other diet.  There are zero carbs, and combined with the fat, you never have hunger pangs or cravings.  Its really unique!  Couple notable attributes of doing this....you eat way less because you are hardly ever hungry, zero carbs because carbs make you retain water and hungry, mental clarity (I always thought that was a dumb thing to mention until I experienced it myself, no brain fog), energy, and you never fart and that's not because you are backed up with last week's ribeye.  You body just burns everything up. This to me, is the easiest diet to sustain.  You only have to worry about cooking your protein, you can cook a lot of it at once and then you have the next few days covered for meals. According to those doctors/personalities listed above, you get all the nutrition you need and don't have to worry a bout cholesterol levels, but I'm not a doctor....so do your own research.  Just sharing my experience, and I am currently doing this now cause yet again, I got off the bandwagon...

[45guy]

I am 61, 6'2 200. I wear a 32 waist pant. Dr. Mercola says intermitting fasting and hiit training the pounds will go.  I have been doing the fasting for years and will never go back.  Nothing before 11am nothing after 7pm.  I tend to eat a light lunch and a medium dinner.  It took about 6 mths to get used to not eating until 11am, now no big deal.  Personal trainers have told me 80% of the way we look is diet.  I also consume very few carbs.  Carbs turn to sugar that turn to fat.  Do not eat anything white. I am also at the gym 4 to 5 times a week even if its just do something.  I have been prediabetic for 12 years and have been able to stay of meds.  Never been in a gym until about 12 years ago when the doc said I had 2 choices diet and exercise or meds.  I have two arthritic shoulders that cause me a lot of pain but push through it.  Light weights lots of reps. Let the young studs move the heavy stuff. 

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by 45guy
misspelled word

[TennesseeCamper]

Exercise and keeping track of what you eat can help with maintaining current weight or losing pounds.  Just adjust your calorie goals. 
Two apps help and they are completely free.

Under Armour app Mapmyrun or walk or whatever you choose, log your exercise, it will sync with the app  MyFitnessPal. (you log your daily meals). Set a weight loss goal based on your exercise level and calorie level.

If you try these apps and stick to it you will see results. Make sure you check with your doc before starting an exercise or weight loss program. 
 

If all else fails consult a weight loss physician. 
 

I used to run or jog for exercise when I was younger. I mostly walk or bike now.  I have had pretty good results using the two apps. You can exercise all you want but if you don’t track your food intake you won’t have much success. 

[45guy]

2 hours ago, Mitchleysid said:

I’ve been down the same road, trying different diets and finding that they all work in their own way, but the key for me has always been finding something I can actually stick with long-term. I’ve tried Keto and South Beach myself, and while both helped me lose weight, I had to learn the hard way that it’s all about balance. Like you said, clean Keto is the way to go, but it’s easy to fall off track.

To stay in Ketosis is very hard. I do 16 hr fasting. Nothing before 11 or after 7. Its the easiest for me. If like on vacation the times vary a little i just get back on my times. I will never go back.