Help losing a bit of weight.

[Cheib]

otolith said:

Cheib said:

otolith said:

To be fair, somebody giving dietary advice on behalf of the NHS will be thinking more about cancer and heart disease risks than about what's going to make you look leanest quickest.

I was seeing the consultant gastroenterologist because I was suspected of having autoimmune liver disease....the advice I was given was solely about losing weight. Being overweight (two to three stone in my case) can give you a fatty liver which can cause the liver to produce the same anti-bodies that are present in autoimmune diseases. Luckily in my case it was/is a fatty liver and not autoimmune liver disease which would have been a potential game changer in the long term.

In my case the advice really had nothing to do with minimising cancer risk or heart disease...it was all about losing weight....obviously has positives for that though.

Nevertheless, they are not going to advise you to eat a diet which they consider to be fundamentally unhealthy. They are going to take a holistic view of your health and will not - for example - suggest something which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol and low in fibre. Even if such a diet is what everybody down the gym is using to look better, the NHS dietician is there to look after your health, not your vanity.

Absolutely. Though this wasn't NHS...the consultant is one of those that works 50/50. Personally I'd only ever use a consultant that works in the NHS part time. If they have a senior positions at one of the major teaching hopsitals and a long track record you pretty much know they're going to be good.

[Hoofy]

horico said:

I presume you're talking about the magical replenishment of muscle glycogen when you take in 'fast' carbs post workout that will also 'drive' the protein into your muscles to get to 'repairing' them ASAP.

Firstly, unless you do some sado style number of heavy squats (25+ sets min) you will not significantly decrease muscle glycogen for the carbs to be necessary. Even then, glycogen will sort itself out.

CBL talks about insulin response and controlling this. Look up insulin response to protein - it has a similar effect on levels so carbs are not the evil sister at all.

You will find that most people have a very good insulin response, get a kit and test yourself and you will see. The notion of manipulating insulin intra daily just doesn't stack up when looked into, the idea is to be net anabolic and if you have the right macros and train appropriately you will be!

Hm. I've read that elsewhere. Who knows who to believe. I've kept it simple after experimenting with various dieting ideas just to see what would happen. Now I just aim for a calorie deficit, lift heavy and move very quickly.

So what is your background?

[Terminator X]

horico said:

Think of it this way; if you needed 2500 calories a day to stay the same weight and ate 3500 calories a day but no carbs, do you think you would lose weight as you 'burn' fat?

It's the number that matters, not what it's made of for weight loss.

Fair point. What about the same thing though with sensible calorie intake? If you cut out sugary st I guess that the calorie intake will drop right off. Or are you simply saying cut the calories, eat anything and you'll lose weight? 4 mars bars a day anyone

TX.

[horico]

Hoofy said:

Hm. I've read that elsewhere. Who knows who to believe. I've kept it simple after experimenting with various dieting ideas just to see what would happen. Now I just aim for a calorie deficit, lift heavy and move very quickly.

So what is your background?

I'd say believe very little unless there is a sound background of studies (good ones) that back up any statements. For instance - no study has ever proven that regular meals 'speeds up' metabolism. There is nothing wrong with the regimen though if this is what helps you get your numbers right. There are studies that have demonstrated the level of loss of glycogen after a workout etc. Think of it another way - anything touted by a supplement company as a basis for sales is worth a skeptical view.

I have no qualifications on this or work in the field but have a well established bullst detector and don't believe anything until I can see the evidence backed up. Common sense also helps.

[horico]

Terminator X said:

Fair point. What about the same thing though with sensible calorie intake? If you cut out sugary st I guess that the calorie intake will drop right off. Or are you simply saying cut the calories, eat anything and you'll lose weight? 4 mars bars a day anyone

TX.

No, I'm not saying just eat crap to make up the calories although a mars bar isn't a problem every day if it's accounted for. My comment was a simple view - 2500 cals of crap will leave your body in a poor state but the statement still stands. If you have a target of 2500 calories, the next thing to look at is the macro/micro-nutrients. Macros are protein/carbs/fats and micros are things like vitamins and minerals etc.

[Hoofy]

horico said:

I'd say believe very little unless there is a sound background of studies (good ones) that back up any statements. For instance - no study has ever proven that regular meals 'speeds up' metabolism. There is nothing wrong with the regimen though if this is what helps you get your numbers right. There are studies that have demonstrated the level of loss of glycogen after a workout etc. Think of it another way - anything touted by a supplement company as a basis for sales is worth a skeptical view.

I have no qualifications on this or work in the field but have a well established bullst detector and don't believe anything until I can see the evidence backed up. Common sense also helps.

Ah, that's pretty much my attitude now. In fact, I just ignore most things and apply the laws of physics. Apparently, I'm not a unique snowflake, either.

[Nigel H]

oldbanger said:

You don't need to follow his "diet" - not that there's much of one in the book. However this book by Gary Taubes contain the most skillfully written explanation of the science behind weight gain I've read so far. I'm just buying another couple of copies to pass on/loan out as my original copy is in permanaent circulation

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-We-Get-Fat-about/dp/03...

Thanks for the link there. Very interesting book, and so contrary everything else that we get as mainstream advice, it makes it hard to swallow

However it seems to make a lot of sense, and I feel better kicking out lots of my carbs, will be interesting to see what happens to my weight

[otolith]

A counterpoint to the argument proposed by that book:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ca...

[otolith]

otolith said:

But, I have a holiday at the end of October, and a (perhaps unrealistic) objective to hit 11 1/2 stone by the time we go.

Week 7 weigh-in this morning, target was 11 stone 7lb by today from 13 stone seven weeks ago. This morning's weight was 11st 7.6lb - I will have that

My Fitness Pal goal adjusted to maintenance for the next few days, and will then be completely ignored for the duration of the holiday. Back on it afterwards.

How is the OP doing?

[Some Gump]

Well done otholoth. I'm 13,10 from 14,11 - roughly 500 miles on the bike over 3 months. Didn't cut down on meals, and the only beer reduction is now when stressed i go up a step hill instead of going to the boozer. Target still 13 dead by chrimbo...

Oh, and bthats 2 belt notches as well, quite satisfying to be back in the clothes i grew out of earlier in the year

[otolith]

Nice one! I've also had to buy a new belt and some new trousers. The 34 waists I have been wearing were too big and the 36 waists which were a bit too loose in August now look ridiculous on me. Now buying 32s, which fit comfortably. Can also now buy medium shirts which fit my shoulders and arms properly but aren't tight round the belly.

After the holiday I think I'll get down to 11 stone and leave it at that. I'm the lightest now I've been for years. I was ten stone when I was 18, but I was still a bit shorter and narrower shouldered then.

[Some Gump]

Main thing is that you're happy, oth. There are a million excuses to not lose 2 stone, you've avoided em all. Nice result imo...