Do diets work ?

[stewart38]

The daily Mails latest is the 'unique two day diet'

Basically after you have reached you goal weight you only need to 'diet' 2 days a month.

I'm tempted to try the Atkiens diet but haven't (I need to loose a few lbs)

Do any diets work ? :confused:

[Aleks]

In the short term, yes, but it depends on how you choose to eat/exercise once you reach your "target" weight.

It also depends on whether you want a "healthy" diet which includes all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs (including fat!) or whether you want an easy, throw-it-in-the-micro kind of diet.

Incidentally microwaving (irradiating) food destroys virtually all nutritional content of food, making it a complete waste of time to eat.

[stewart38]

Originally posted by Aleks


Incidentally microwaving (irradiating) food destroys virtually all nutritional content of food, making it a complete waste of time to eat.

But nearly all of weight watchers meals are micro wavable they wouldn't get away with that if above was true ??

[Aleks]

Originally posted by stewart38
But nearly all of weight watchers meals are micro wavable they wouldn't get away with that if above was true ??

Most weight watchers stuff is calorie-counted by fat/carb. These things change little when microwaved. Any vitamins/minerals that were in the food before cooking are destroyed by the micro-waves.

It's a question of how you "measure" nutritional value overall.

[Lory]

Any diet works if you can stick to it!

Basically, if u eat less calories than your body needs to function, it starts using up it's stored energy, i.e. Fat

So, u COULD actually eat a diet of just chocolate and lose weight BUT you wouldn't be very healthy

In my opinion the only 'diet' that works is one your able to stick too and this differs in everyone.

I'm still overweight but I HAVE continually lost weight over the past 4 years very gradually (by the time I'm 70 I should have just about cracked it:rofl: )

The biggest tip I can give, is to eat ALL the normal things you like but just change the ratio of portions and the way you prepare the food......

If your favourite meal happens to be a roast dinner then instead of 1/3 meat 1/3 potatoes and 1/3 veg have 1/5meat and a 1/5 potatoes and bulk the rest out with vegetables.

Cut out the butter in sandwiches, (u won't even notice it) Grill instead of fry. Eat slower. Have low fat nibbles on stand by. Always have breakfast, it kick starts the metabolism. And the age old thing (something I personally struggle with:tears: ) drink loads of water!

I promise it works, you won't loose a stone overnight but I bet you'll loose one in a year AND it will stay off!

:hug:

[Dreadful Scathe]

Originally posted by stewart38

Do any diets work ? :confused:

Theres a weird image problem with the word 'diet'. A diet is simply what you eat - but too many people 'do' a particular diet and then go back to eating the high calorie rubbish they usually eat after the diet is over!

Its not even as if most people care about the healthiness of what they eat. Diet fads are usually started because people want to lose weight - if thats the case then just change your diet to not include more calories than you burn. Simple surely. People often complain saying 'but i want to eat what I like' - fine, but you'll get fat, simple choice ! :) Oh, and if Santa had walked instead of using that sleigh he would have at least burnt off the calories of all those mince pies :)

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Dreadful Scathe
Oh, and if Santa had walked instead of using that sleigh he would have at least burnt off the calories of all those mince pies :)
1 mile (either walked or run) burns about 100 calories.

One pound of fat corresponds to the intake of about 3500 excess calories.

Unfortunately, 3500 calories less than requirements does not result in the loss of one pound of fat, since the body uses muscle as fuel as well as fat.

So it's important to work the muscles with resistance training (not just cardiovascular) during any calorie-reduction period, in order to minimise muscle loss.

Muscle-loss is bad - the less you have, the less fuel-burning capacity you have, so it's harder to burn off any excess, so it's more likely to go back on as fat later on.

Chris

[Aleks]

Originally posted by Lory
Any diet works if you can stick to it!

Basically, if u eat less calories than your body needs to function, it starts using up it's stored energy, i.e. Fat

So, u COULD actually eat a diet of just chocolate and lose weight BUT you wouldn't be very healthy

In my opinion the only 'diet' that works is one your able to stick too and this differs in everyone.

I'm still overweight but I HAVE continually lost weight over the past 4 years very gradually (by the time I'm 70 I should have just about cracked it:rofl: )

The biggest tip I can give, is to eat ALL the normal things you like but just change the ratio of portions and the way you prepare the food......

If your favourite meal happens to be a roast dinner then instead of 1/3 meat 1/3 potatoes and 1/3 veg have 1/5meat and a 1/5 potatoes and bulk the rest out with vegetables.

Cut out the butter in sandwiches, (u won't even notice it) Grill instead of fry. Eat slower. Have low fat nibbles on stand by. Always have breakfast, it kick starts the metabolism. And the age old thing (something I personally struggle with:tears: ) drink loads of water!

I promise it works, you won't loose a stone overnight but I bet you'll loose one in a year AND it will stay off!

:hug:

And eat less carbs in general......eat salad/veg/fruit instead.

[xSalsa_Angelx]

I hate all the mags and papers etc that go on about diets on people wanting to loose weight, what about those people who look like rakes and want to put weight on but can't??

why do you never see skinny people in magazines saying I was 6 stone now I'm 16 stone???

Not that I want to be 16 stone, only a couple of stone heavier. (of the weight I am) Im only 7 stone :tears:

[Bill]

Originally posted by Lory
. And the age old thing (something I personally struggle with:tears: ) drink loads of water!

:hug:


so another good reason for dancing.................... not only do we use up calories we drink lots of water too............... we should all be such a healthy lot.

:na: :D

[Lory]

Originally posted by xSalsa_Angelx

why do you never see skinny people in magazines saying I was 6 stone now I'm 16 stone???

:tears:

Because in the media, being only 6stone is seen as a POSITIVE thing! The thinner the better! Thin equals beauty, youth, intelligence, fitness and affluence.

On the other hand, being overweight (and not even THAT much over weight) equals all things opposite :sad: :hug:

[Aleks]

Originally posted by xSalsa_Angelx
I hate all the mags and papers etc that go on about diets on people wanting to loose weight, what about those people who look like rakes and want to put weight on but can't??

why do you never see skinny people in magazines saying I was 6 stone now I'm 16 stone???

Not that I want to be 16 stone, only a couple of stone heavier. (of the weight I am) Im only 7 stone :tears:

I am assuming you want to increase your general body mass rather than fat ratio!

To build up, a high protein/fat diet is usually suggested by fitness experts, combined with muscle-building/weight bearing exercise to build muscle from the extra food.

My granny, however, would have told you to drink Guinness!

[xSalsa_Angelx]

Originally posted by Aleks
I am assuming you want to increase your general body mass rather than fat ratio!

To build up, a high protein/fat diet is usually suggested by fitness experts, combined with muscle-building/weight bearing exercise to build muscle from the extra food.

My granny, however, would have told you to drink Guinness!

Yep Alexs that's right,
just one problem with that though? I can't eat protein stuff or dairy products, as i am allergic to them :tears:

all the things that make you put weight on I cant eat, no fair.

I dont want to be fat, but bigger hips would be nice instead of looking like a straight up and down match stick looking like its on fire with my red hair :rofl:

ewwww guinness, makes your poo black.!!

[Lindsay]

This is what we tell patients in general practice...

The main portions of your meals should be made up from starchy foods (such as bread, cereals, potatoes, rice, and pasta), and fruit and vegetables.

Cut out as much fat as you can from your diet. Fat contains twice as many calories as starchy or protein foods of the same weight.

Low fat foods are generally best. But remember, some low-fat foods and drinks are high in calories, such as alcohol, sugary drinks, and sweets. Chose low-calorie drinks.

It is best to eat three healthy meals each day, including breakfast. Eat each meal slowly. Don't skip meals. Skipping meals will just make you feel more hungry, make you think more about food, and you are more likely to overeat in the evening. Do not snack between meals.

If you like something sweet to end your meal, have fruit or a low-fat yoghurt.

If you are not used to exercise, start by doing an extra 30 minute brisk walk every day. Any increase in walking, dancing, swimming, cycling, etc, is good. Try and build up the amount of exercise you do each week.

Plan what you are going to eat each day, rather than look in the cupboard or fridge to see what is there. Dont shop for food when you are hungry. After a meal is best.

Be realistic. It is usually best not to aim for a 'perfect' weight. If you are overweight or obese, you will get most health benefits from losing the first 5-10 kg. (10 kg is about one and a half stone.)

It is best not to lose weight too fast. If you lose more than a kilogram per week, you may lose muscle tissue rather than fat. It is best to lose an average of ½-1 kg per week (about 1-2 lb per week). You need to eat 500-1000 calories per day less than before to do this. You will lose between 6 and 12 kg if you keep this up for 3 months.

[Paul F]

Right. I will tell you how I lost weight. You may laugh but it worked!!

When I was 15 I was about 15 stone. Not good :tears:

I actually used the slim fast plan. :what:

I think every doctor and nutritional expert on the planet will tell you its rubbish and is based purely on fluid release but it worked for me.
I lost 3 stone BUT more importantly it got me to the stage where I was saying to myself "i want to go to the gym" or "i want to play tennis" (thats what i was doing at the time).

As a result of this new found confidence along with gym training and sports the weight stayed off and I eat, mostly, what i want now.
Dancing obviously helps :-)

I think people need that certain something to get them down to a weight where they CAN feel confident about gong to the gym, for a run....whatever.

At the end of the day, our bodies are designed to cope with starvation. Cells go into a retention state when the 'usual' supply of food is cut off. Constant dieting trains the cells into fat storage making it harder and harder to lose weight.

[Aleks]

I disagree about low fat .....your body NEEDS fat to function. Every cell in your body has a wall around made of lipids (fats). If you restrict your intake of (good!) fats your cells cease to function properly - nutrients can't get in and waste can't get out. 90% of people on low fat diets suffer from depression of some sort or another.

I disagree with the general medical diet model - which generally works well for "healthy" people, but 95% of people are not healthy and most of us (me included) don't always eat the right balance of nutrients to maintain healthy cells because of modern eating habits and the fact that it's cheaper to buy low-nutrition food. In general, people were much more healthy when they grew their own veg (organically) and ate it fresh from the garden, mostly for financial reasons.

For me health is not a measure of body fat/fitness it is a measure of how efficiently it functions in its natural chemistry.

[stewart38]

Originally posted by Paul F



Dancing obviously helps :-)

.

I've cut way down on my dancing and my weight has gone up (also no doubt due to no gym last 2.5 weeks and eating more crap)

Has anyone tried the Akiens diet or are wll all too fit and healthy on this forum

[Bill]

Originally posted by Lory
Because in the media, being only 6stone is seen as a POSITIVE thing! The thinner the better! Thin equals beauty, youth, intelligence, fitness and affluence.

On the other hand, being overweight (and not even THAT much over weight) equals all things opposite :sad: :hug:



Had this discussion with my class yesterday ( we're looking at newspapers) and looked at some of the photos in the various papers and how much pressure is on young women to look thin. There was a story in the press on exactly that which is rather ironic when it's partly the media reporting the story which is responsible for giving so many women ( and increasingly , young men) so many hang-ups about their weight.

In one paper the young Scots woman who won Pop Idol (?) - Michelle - was reported as being 16st and size 20 while in another it was size 16. Either way both papers decided that her weight was an important issue in the story. At least she has been accepted despite her size which is encouraging but most young women I teach are pretty slim and some refuse to accept that the average size for a grown woman is nearer 16 than 12. And mistakenly, many seem to think that men want all women to be thin whereas many men prefer women with a 'fuller' figure.

Interesting but a very frustrating and worrying issue.

[Aleks]

Originally posted by stewart38
I've cut way down on my dancing and my weight has gone up (also no doubt due to no gym last 2.5 weeks and eating more crap)

Has anyone tried the Akiens diet or are wll all too fit and healthy on this forum

Speak to Dance Demon on this one - it really worked for him.

[Lory]

Originally posted by stewart38
Has anyone tried the Akiens diet or are wll all too fit and healthy on this forum
My Dad did it for 3 weeks, he lost 11lbs on the first week, 2lbs on the second and 1lb on the last but he really got fed up with it after that (it does have some unpleasent side effects) but it gave him a big boost in the right direction and since then he's gone on to loose another Stone in 6months, just doing basically what I said before, I don't think he needs to loose any more.
The main thing is, he's blood pressure has reduced dramatically!:)

[Flash]

Hi guys,

Wow interesting mails.
Just in case anyone is really interested, I am a state registered dietitian and have specialised in the area of obesity and weight management for many years.....including doing the research on the latest pharmaceutical (drug) aids for weight management.

There are a number of diets out there, some work for some people. What I like to do is get an idea of the foods you eat and like to eat then make up a plan for you and nobody else....I also need to know all about your hectic lifestyle.

Does any body want any help?
One thing that makes all my clients sit up is to complete a 7 day food diary. Write down EVERYTHING that passes your lips for 7 days, then have a look at it......you will find your diet when assessed on a weekly basis and not on a 'aaaggghhh I shouldn't have eaten that yesterday' basis all is not so bad!!

Then if you really want, I can put it into my computer and it spits out an analysis of every nutrient, vitamin and mineral compared to your daily requirements on a nice wee graph which is very easy to see.

Then we make slight adjustments to your diet to make sure you are getting everything you need and in the right quantities.

If anybody wants any guidance then please email me direct
soupi@surefish.co.uk

[Dance Demon]

)
Originally posted by Aleks
Speak to Dance Demon on this one - it really worked for him.

Well..it did, but I didn't stick to the diet to the letter of the law. Mrs DD bought the book and read it thoroughly ( not that she needs to go on the diet:D )....and was really good at preparing meals for me that were very low carbohydrate. I also never gave up eating fruit, and became very partial to honeydew melon, which tasted really sweet after giving up chocolate, ice cream, and the jelly beans out the vending machine in Marcos.......
I also consulted my GP, as i had heard all sorts of horror stories about the affect of the atkins diet. When I told her what I was doing, she was very supportive
Although any low carb diet seems to have a lot of protien in it, I didn't replace the carbs with more protien, but increased the amount of veg I was eating to pad out the quantity. You can make very tast chips out of turnip, coated with chilli powder & roasted in the oven. You can also make mash out of cauliflower, with butter & cheese through it. I also found out how lovely roasted veg is.....carrott, turnip, peppers, butternut squash, green beans, shallotts,all done in a baking tray with olive oil & seasoning.:drool:
I have always had weight problems, and have tried various diets over the years but the low carb one was easiest for me to stick to

[Claire]

WEIGHT WATCHERS EVERYTIME!!!

I have lost a considerable amount of weight and dress sizes (although still some way to go until I will be able to begin drops and dips).

This weight loss has been down to a combination of healthy eating using weight watchers and exercising (both dancing and if I can't dance then a visit to the gym). Thank you Emma for dragging me screaming to ceroc!

I say "healthy eating" because that is what it is. I have stopped using the word diet (or tried to) as it conjures up not being able to eat anything remotely nice at all. My favourite foods are usually anything on the 'don't touch with a barge poll' lists for most diets and so plate upon plate of raw vegetables doesn't really appeal to me.

Weight watchers is based around trying to cut down on your intake of saturated fat and calories. This means that you still get the fat your body does need to operate properly in the form of unsaturated fat.

Food intake is based around points which can be worked out really easily or found in a points book.

What is good is that if you really want a slice of cake (I have had to stop eating whole cakes mind you:rofl: ) or a plate of chips or a takeaway then you can have one. This means you can lead a normal life without having to say no to everything. You just have to include the items in your daily points total. You can also save some points each day for a complete blowout at the weekend if you want to.

Weightwatchers is really just a summary of many of the points that people have already listed. (There were just too many good points above to keep copying and pasting.)

e.g.
lower saturated fat and calorie intake

higher fruit and veg intake (recommended intake of 5 portions a day and all vegs are free points apart from sweetcorn and peas as they have points in them due to their sugar levels)

drinking lots of water (supposed to begin the day with a glass of water with a splash of lemon juice in it and then you are supposed to drink 8 glasses a day of water)

The other good thing is (well for those of us who are heavier than others) is that the heavier you are when you start the plan the more points you are allowed each day as despite people's beliefs heavier people do not have slower metabolisms and actually need more calories to maintain their bodies. However as you lose weight you begin to cut down your daily points allowance.

I am not saying that other diets/healthy eating plans don't work. I have friends who have lost lots of weight on the slimming world diet or atkins too. I just know that I have tried many (well lots to be truthful) and this one is the one for me!

HOWEVER
I have tried weightwatchers many times in the past too and the only reason it has worked this time is because I am sticking to it and have the right frame mind this time.
That sometimes is the biggest battle!

[fruitcake]

:yum:
I have never managed to stick to a diet for more than 3 weeks, every christmas I put on between 7-10 lbs,takes me til may to lose it, but have recently joined a gym,and enjoy it (I go cos I like it not cos I've put on weight,) also when I'm really busy I forget to eat,my own advice is find a hobby that you enjoy that either takes your mind off food or burns up calories. I find dieting doesnt actually work for me, cos every minute of the day, I am dreaming of what I can eat next,but when I am on a diet I cannot go near fruit or salads, depressing, but when I am off the diet I love them.
I also dont weigh myself every minute of the day like I used to, once a week.
This is not evidence based practice by the way........

Fruitcake:waycool:

[stewart38]

Originally posted by Dance Demon
)


Although any low carb diet seems to have a lot of protien in it, I didn't replace the carbs with more protien, but increased the amount of veg I was eating to pad out the quantity. You can make very tast chips out of turnip, coated with chilli powder & roasted in the oven. You can also make mash out of cauliflower, with butter & cheese through it. I also found out how lovely roasted veg is.....carrott, turnip, peppers, butternut squash, green beans, shallotts,all done in a baking tray with olive oil & seasoning.:drool:
I have always had weight problems, and have tried various diets over the years but the low carb one was easiest for me to stick to

Did you lose weight ?

[Dance Demon]

Originally posted by stewart38
Did you lose weight ?

Only 2 1/2 stones...:wink:

[Claire]

Originally posted by Claire
WEIGHT WATCHERS EVERYTIME!!!
I have lost a considerable amount of weight and dress sizes....
Got back from weightwatchers this evening having lost 3lbs over the festive period.
~is very pleased!!!

[Heather]

Originally posted by Dance Demon
Only 2 1/2 stones...:wink:

And you look great , too, John !!

:hug: :kiss:
Heather,
XX

[Dance Demon]

Originally posted by Heather
And you look great , too, John !!

:hug: :kiss:
Heather,
XX

Oohh Heather......flattery will get you everywhere.:wink: ..:rofl:
:hug: :kiss:

[fruitcake]

Originally posted by xSalsa_Angelx
I dont want to be fat, but bigger hips would be nice instead of looking like a straight up and down match stick looking like its on fire with my red hair :rofl:
Well, I've got more than my fair share on my hips so you can have some of mine!:really:
Fruitcake

[stewart38]

Originally posted by fruitcake
Well, I've got more than my fair share on my hips so you can have some of mine!:really:
Fruitcake

I have few inches on the waste line that I'm happy to 'give away'

:cool:

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally posted by stewart38
I have few inches on the waste line that I'm happy to 'give away'

:cool:
EEEEEWWWW! :sick:

[Forte]

Just cause you've got no flab to give away oh perfect figured one! :grin:

Oh and P.S. Weight Watchers works...I lost 16 pounds that's over a stone last year using their counting points method. I still have an inch too pinch though! :blush:

[Tiggerbabe]

Ehrm! Miss - you did say you were an English Language teacher? :sorry
I'm sure there's nothing wrong with Stewart's WAIST - but not convinced we need to know about anything he's giving away from his WASTE.

(Perfect figure :blush:- not after all those chocolates that Janet brought to Perth last week :drool: )
Thanks though :hug:

[CJ]

We know what has happened to Kilroy now that freedom of speech has been taken away...

If Stewart wants to give away those inches @ his WASTE line, then good luck to him. I jist hope he can find some takers...:sorry

[Forte]

Originally posted by Sheena
Ehrm! Miss - you did say you were an English Language teacher? :sorry
I'm sure there's nothing wrong with Stewart's WAIST - but not convinced we need to know about anything he's giving away from his WASTE.
I have a polocy of never crticising anyone's spelling when I am off duty...besides...what if they are dyslexic? :grin: :hug:

[Claire]

Do diets work?

59 lbs so far says Weight Watchers works!

(It was 69 and 1/2 until a small relapse the week prior to, during and then after OFSTED at work....lol)

:grin:

[thewacko]

Originally posted by Lory
Because in the media, being only 6stone is seen as a POSITIVE thing! The thinner the better! Thin equals beauty, youth, intelligence, fitness and affluence.

On the other hand, being overweight (and not even THAT much over weight) equals all things opposite :sad: :hug:

High horse time!

Bu**ar the media!
some of us blokes actually prefer a woman with a bit of meat on their bones. Hard to beleive that sometimes a fella actually dates a woman for her personality rather than the fact you can see her rib cage through her overcoat.

If you are overweight or at least over the weight suggested by the followers of fashion, try that old black magic stuff that you women are so good at, and I have said it once and I will say it again - buggar the media (oops sorry frank!)
:cheers: