Why diets don't work

Hear, hear!

"Diet" is what a person eats.

"Going on a diet" is how a person loses their wallet in pursuit of temporary weight loss that cannot be maintained once "off" the diet. I eat a 650-750 calorie diet, and will for months. By next year, it will probably increase to as much as a 1200 calorie diet. It will probably stay near there....for life. Deprivation? I ate 40 years of whatever the hell I wanted. It bought me a painful and miserable existance. I don't have bitter fantasies about what others are allowed to cram in their gullets-- first off, they probably don't need it either, and second-- who cares? My job is to run THIS machine. This machine does not eat a ton of crap, and cannot-- regardless of whether it does squats or not. Is that fair? Well, we don't go around giving everyone CPR-- and no one seems to complain-- I mean-- you give YOUR body what it requires-- no two alike, right? I like the word "diet" now. I like that I care enough about myself to be vigilant about my diet. I think ours is a sober and fairly wise outlook.

Jersey -

Do you track your food somewhere that people can see what you are eating?

I track it in fitday on my pc, not online.  Currently am eating 2300-2700 calories, though I have yet to reach the 2900 calories my trainer suggests.  I eat on average 40%carb/30%fat/30% protein, but I eat whatever I want, just make sure I get in lean meats, veggies, fruits, then everything else.  NOTHING is off limits (I just woofed down a bag of Sun Chips, but I can afford the calories as today I burned about 1500 calories).  I allow myself the occasional sweet (1x a week) and still eat dairy (docs orders) to the tune of about 3 servings.  I do find that I choose to avoid and don't crave sweets anymore, which is interesting. My BMR is about 2300 calories, so that's 3800 calories burned each day.   It took 4 months to "reset" my metabolism, now the weight is moving at a steady, healthy pace that I don't doubt I can lose a lot more weight. Anyway, I do come to this from a there is one size--diet and exercise--that fits all, just needs to be personalized.  I no longer believe in WLS, except for the SMO who will die without it.  So, I have a bias, I admit.  But like y'all, we have a right to our opinions and beliefs.

I completely get why it is working for you. You are able to work out at a moderate to challenging pace and you are young.  Not everyone is able to work out and be at an age where nature works for them.  You may note that when the younger crowd comes around here I am the first one to encourage them to eat regular, rational meals. I HATE when I see 300+ pound folks eating 1200-1300 calorie plans - I think that is detrimental in the long run for all the reasons you state. Thankfully, not many peeps can even do it for too long, so it is kind of  a moot point. However, it gets less clear on how to proceed when a given 300+ pound person cannot move much on top of it all.  You are quite correct - medical docs have about 2 courses on nutrition, so they are not our best bets on this subject. However, I stop short at gym trainers. They have short correlative studies on which to base their protocols on. Their approaches do not have science behind them.  If they hit a nail on the head, they could not miss after swinging that thing so many times, they are bound to hit on it with a person here and there. Only one area of training dhas science and credibility behind them at this point, and that is a registered dietician. S/he has more schooling on nutrition and the human body than even a medical doctor does.  But no matter what approach is used, it comes down to accountability and hard work on the obese person's part. YOU have taken it on, and that is the biggest reason it works for you. Congrats.

38 is young?  What shall we call the 20something nearly half my age????  But I'll take young, though I don't agree. And moderate pace--hell no.  Work my tail off and train hard and intense. But I had the limitations a 300lber has--160+ extra pounds, plus several injuries to cope with.  We worked around them, addressed tem when appropriate, and built up from there.  And anyone can do that. Again, I admit my bias--I now think all, even the SMO, would benefit from working with a trainer and relying on exercise over just diet.  I now believe diets and WLS are not the best option in the long run.  How can they be when they CAUSE weight regain? Again, my gym has an RD so I'm not relying just on my trainer's advice. Seriously, not trying to wrankle anyone, just state my thoughts.

I ain't even rankled...I love to debate!  I think arguing is great fun.  Hey, I learn thangs and I like to think i make others stop and think once in a while. You will see a gigantic change after age 40 in how food affects you and hangs on like a Kling-on! I must give it to you, you are older than I thought. Also, working out will change in time. I have been a semi-athlete all my life and I noticed that at age 45, my body was LOTS more achy and irritable. It has taught me to back off in intensity.  I am a beieiver in overall conditioning. I have not been 300#, up to ~230 on a 64 inch frame is my topper. Working out very hard is not viable for everyone for many reasons:  young children, weather conditions, money & reliable transportation for gyms, etc.  I urge you to make hay while the sun shines, my dear and keep it up. I hope you do lose all the excess weight to go into your middle age with more ease and less upkeep. You will see that is not the case as the clock ticks on.  I am very proud of you and love to see your reports.

I will tell you, it began sticking the last 5 years.  It used to be I  could lose at least a little bit with diets.   early/mid 20s--Nutrisystem, 40 lbs (regained in 4 months) early 30s-LA Weight Loss, 63 lbs (regained in 6 months) mid 30s--Jenny Craig, 14 lbs (regained in 2 weeks) late 30s--Medifast, 8 lbs (regained plus 8 lbs) Weight stuck to me like glue until now.  I will shout from the hilltops that this works.

I came to it (still do) with aches and pains as my comorbidities of obesity.  I didn't come to this feeling 100%.

Just out of curiosity, how much does a trainer cost?

It all depends on where you live.  I live in an expensive part of the country so it's 70/session.  I hired him for 60 sessions.  Some places it's 35/session, some 100, some offer discounts for long term agreements.  I need about 8-10K to hire him for all next year and am praying I can afford it.  It's about what VSG would have cost me out of pocket, with far better results.  You of course have to be real careful who you choose--what they're background is, how they will work with you, whether they try to sell you.  Mine had an extensive background with similar personal experience and sales is not in his vocabulary.

AHHHH 10k?????  EGADs!  Give me the VSG, it's easier!  hahah