Does it matter?

Does it matter when you consume your water for the day? I drink A LOT of water (usually 14 cups a day). I want to get my 64oz, plus I drink regular coffee, and caffeine dehydrates, so I balance my coffee ounces with water ounces, plus I sweat a lot while I work out, plus I have always had a huge issue retaining water from any foods with sodium. But I try, and usually do, drink most of it before 3 or 4 in the afternoon, many times it's earlier than that. I don't really drink the rest of the night or I will have to wake up in the night to go to the bathroom. Do you think it matters when you drink your water?

Also, my mom and dad (who are both normal weight and very healthy people) were telling me about a study done recently by a man who wanted to lose weight and strictly reduced his calories, but ate all junk food. He lost tons of weight. He didn't count fat, carbs, protein, etc. Nothing but calories. Of course this would not be healthy for his body, heart, arteries, etc. and after he was done he totally changed to a healthy diet. But do you think it is all about calories in/calories out or does the type of food come into play?

(I am definitely not suggesting anyone eat all junk food, just thought it was interesting and wanted to hear what WLS patients thought about it because we have all tried so many things, and had to find what worked for us.)

I drink the majority of my water at work prior to 5 pm.  Then only have about 8 or so ounces when I get home.  I don't think it really matters.

I really believe that it's calories consumed versus used no matter what the food is.  Obviously some calories will fill you up more, be healthier, give you shiny hair, whatever, but if you eat only 1000 calories a day and it's only chips and dip I'm sure you would lose as much as someone eating a 1000 calories of steak and broccoli.  You would just die much sooner, lol.

I am going to go with the other view point. I think SOME people do not process carbs well. Especially the unhealthy carbs. Several friends of mine have lost weight really well by limiting carbs. Not drastically but significantly. They also limited sugar. They have lost weight this way when they were not able to following weigh****chers current point system. On the point system they were eating unhealthy things but saying within their alloted points.  I totally think some peoples metabolism for sugar and carbs is messed up. With these people, they have to change what they eat, not JUST how much.

I think my body works this way as well. Even if I am well within my calories but I eat too many carbs, I will gain a pound. I have been fine with the carbs from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

In September I was eating an apple a day and my loss slowed to a snails pace (only lost 3 lbs for the entire month.)  I gave up apples for October and lost 8 lbs.  It could have just been a natural slow down and not related to the apples at all but I figure I'm sooooooooooo close to my goal that I'll just wait until I reach it before adding more fruit back into my diet.

I've been eating oatmeal (complex carb) since about 3 months post op and those carbs haven't affected my weight loss.  Same thing with wasa crackers, low carb wraps, and protein bread.  I don't eat those very often, maybe once or twice a week but I still seem to lose when I eat them.

Yasmeen

Hi Jack - Cheryl - I LOVE the new avatar - what a kewtie!!!!!

Hey Shannon,

It's funny that your parents mentioned this study to you because my doctor mentioned it to me today too! Apparently it's all over the news today..... check it out. Not sure if I can get behind the "diet", but the article is really interesting!!

www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.h tml

 I try to drink most of my water during the work day.  I find that I do better during the week than on the weekend.  

I don't think it's all about calories in, calories out.  Even at 800 calories, exercising 400 calories, I still only lose around 3 pounds a month.

As far as what foods, I'm clueless.  I did WW in 2008 and 2009 and shed 1 pound a month, eating healthy and never cheating on points.    I did atkins for a few years, never cheating, not eating too much fat and shed around 10 pounds a year.   I'm losing slowly now but at least it's going down much more than in the last 20 years of low carb etc.

I too find that I gain immediately if I eat the white carbs.  I don't know about the good carbs.  I just want to get to freakin goal.  I would eat anything that was guaranteed to get me there.  :)

Lee, I totally don't think it's calories in calories out. I can't for the life of me comprehend how my loss would stall, and I upped my calories to lose. It's so odd. I would work out like a crazy woman and not lose unless I ate more calories.