Question (might be a little rambly)

Bare with me because I don't exactly know what I'm trying to ask here -- well I do but I don't know how well I will get it across.... As far as calorie consumption, or fat consumption, etc.... If someone goes from eating an enormous amount of calories and fat for example -- like eating all the fried foods, BAD fast foods, eating out all the time and making the worst choices, and no exercising.....  to eating well-rounded meals, good portions, and becoming more active... is it a given they will lose weight?  I mean, just because they are consuming less?  Or do you have to BURN it off, and then you can maintain it by eating a more rational amount of food?

I know everyone says to get the weight off you have to exercise and burn it off, but why wouldn't you just lose as a result of eating less, over the long-haul?  I mean, if you had eaten this way all along, and been somewhat active, you wouldn't have gained to begin with, right?  So why wouldn't your body want to go back to that state once you begin acting in that way again? Does that make any sense?

It depends on your metabolism and issues affecting it, like insulin resistance. I used to be able to lose some weight with restriction, but honestly...it got to a point I couldn't lose anything on a healthy intake.  I attributed this to Syndrome X, which is Insulin Resistance run amuck.  I was active and ate healthy (foods and portions), and calories weren't an issue, but I could not lose.  It was only when I ate more that I lost weight.  (My loss came from a simple formula--calories to maintain (BMR) PLUS # calories burned from activity MINUS 300-500 calories.)  Yes, yes, some here have  heard me share the info. Point is you can be weight loss resistant like I was, and I would assume even if you went from bad habits to good.  I think it all comes down to how bad your metabolism is trashed from dieting and other medical issues like your blood sugar. Does that help?

Yes, it does, so is there really no way to determine the damage you have done other than experimenting?  Obviously you have found what works for you.....I assume that is really the only way to find out?

Depends on the person, but throw co-morbidities out the window and say you're a healthy fat person. Then yes, all you have to do is eat less to lose weight. Great blanket statement isn't it? It is a little more complicated than that but you can still safely say "You can lose weight without exercising by controlling your calorie intake"  I recommend you read up on BMR. (basal metabolic rate)  BMR is a great place to start. Find out what your BMR is and subtract 500 calories from that.  Consume that many calories a day and you'll probably start losing weight. There's all types of variables to throw into the mix here but just find a caloric number and start there.  Experiment with it until you find out what gets the best results.  You can then incorporate exercise in to burn additional calories. This will allow you to eat more, or burn faster..Whichever way you want to look at it. BMR Explained: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_metabolic_rate BMR Calculator http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ Exercise has MANY added values other than supporting weight loss. It makes me feel good emotionally and physically.  I used to hate it and still do some days but for the most part I can see how it's making my life a little better. :)  Anyways I can completely understand not wanting to exercise. One step at a time.. Get your eating under control and then just start having fun with it. All of this coming from the 'hopeless' one, eh?  lol  I know what to do..doing it is harder. :)

The simple answer is yes, anything less and better quality foods should result in loss...for a time anyway. The closer you are to an ideal weight, you WILL eat far less than 2000 calories to lose. AND move on a regular basis. As has been said, once we get fat, we get insulin resistant and our bodies don't play right anymore. At some point, different for each person, you will need to reduce calories to under 2000 caloires each day. AND move for an hour daily to lose.  My body, at age 50, even as active as I am, I will not lose unless I eat about 1500 or less caloires. I can tolerate a couple spiked days a week - like up to 2000, but for the most part, I need to restrict calories. I am also closer to goal weight. Remember even healthy food still has a caloric value!  I remained fat on "healthy" foods...ate too much FOR ME.  I leave you with the Cardinal Rule:  THERE IS NOT A FOOD PLAN IN THE UNIVERSE THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO EAT EVEN HEALTHY FOODS IN UNLIMITED QUANTITIES WITHOUT GAINING.

I think I am eating much healthier AND much less though..... here is an example of a typical day as far as what I might eat: Breakfast: 2-3 links turkey sausage Naval orange Light yogurt Snack: 2 wasa crackers 1 wedge light laughing cow cheese

Lunch:

Sandwich with wheat/flax seed bread,  Three slices of turkey 1 slice cheese Small amount light mayo Lettuce Grapes Whole wheat pretzel sticks Cottage cheese (3 oz) Snack: (Sometimes I skip this snack) Peanuts String Cheese Dinner: Grilled Salmon Broccoli Pinto Beans Possibly a Dessert of these Luigi's shaved ice that are sweetened with Splenda, or the Sugar Free Jello Cups.... Do you think that's too much? When I am adding stuff up on TDP online I am getting anywhere from 1400-1600 per day now.... What do you think?  What could I change up?  I haven't completely taken starches out -- some days I do have a little rice or a potato or something, but I usually try to eat less of that, and more of the greens, etc....

That should do it...very good choices listed there.

Sounds very logical to me.

Some points to reflect on:

When you change to start eating healthy foods in healthy quantities initally you would lose quickly even without exercise.  But as you lose weight your body weight gradually decreases so uses decreasingly less energy to just exist... imagine a funnel shape... the weight loss would look like that -plus you wouldn't change your actual fitness level. 

However, if a 'diet change only' is all you can handle at this moment, go with it.  But plan to gradually add regular workouts and increase their duration and frequency over time.  The good bit is that as the weight comes off you will feel more like working out too.

Em

 

See, that is EXACTLY what my thinking was....you just said it better! My thinking was that initially, I would concentrate on getting the eating under control, and I am definitely doing very well with that.  And I have been exercising and moving more, though it has been MOSTLY walking on the treadmill for half an hour 5 days a week.  In the past, I was in the gym, working out 5-6 days a week, much harder than I am now, but I had also lost much more weight and felt a LOT more like doing it.  I know I will feel a lot more like doing it once I get some of this initial weight off too. My frustration is that before, I lost the weight faster when I ate better -- this time it seems to be like pulling teeth for EVERY SINGLE pound!  I've never had so much trouble -- maybe that's where the metabolism thing comes in -- where I've destroyed it over time.

And Kriz, I did look up the BMR information you provided - THANK YOU!  It makes a lot of sense, and I think I have been falling right within the required calorie range (another frustrating thing).  I feel like food-wise I am doing everything right -- and I am not just sitting around and not moving at all, so I am not sure why the weight is so stubborn this time!  I guess I just need to learn the patience

JennyJen,

Every time I tried to control my eating program AND add a new exercise regime I failed.  AGAIN AND AGAIN! I would try a while then it would all become too much and my motivation would fall in a heap.  It was all so different, and when stressed I wanted my familiar lifestyle.

My 'helper' to get me started was to grit my teeth and spend the money on a delivered calorie counted meal menu for a while and ONLY focus on the exercise part.

Once I had the exercise part as a habit and weight was shifting (thanks to the calorie controlled meals too) then and only then did I start replacing the breakfast and lunch part of the delivered menu to a DIY menu. I gradually increased the workouts and lost more and more weight. I kept the delievered dinners a while longer, then once I felt confident gradually I was ready to take on my own full menu.  From that point I went on to lose the last 2/3 of my total weight lost.

The whole thing seemed a whole lot less overwhelming this way.  There is no way on Earth I could have gone from the lifestyle I previously lived to the lifestyle I live today overnight.  NO WAY. I had to take it in small steps.

Take a look at my profile for my story. Email if you need a chat.

Em