Something Negative

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

First off, don't diet. Just change the way you eat.

Secondly, sugar is fine. Fat is fine. Everything is fine. It's moderation that determines it. Clearly candy and chocolate bars aren't the best thing for you, but having a Coffee Crisp won't send you 15 pounds overweight. Having 2 a day, however - will.

The main killer is pop, and juice. Personally, I don't drink pop anymore, maybe a couple times a month, but that's about it. Considering it's mostly sugar, it's one of the worst things you can have on a regular basis.

Natural sugars are just as bad for you as sugar that's loaded in every-day crap, but you'll eat less fruit on average for that type of sugar to ever become a problem with weight gain or tooth decay.

The things to stay away from, is pretty much just things like pop and ice cream. Switch to lean meat hamburgers (if you make your own), and try use lean meat in cooking instead of "regular" meat. Eat fish, rice, pasta, toast, cereal, lean meats, salads, soups.

If you don't like the monotony of those things, do what I did and take up cooking for yourself, and experiment with adding spices/sauces to things to change them entirely.

In the end, it's just about moderation and discretion. But no "diet" will cause you to lose weight without exercise. Exercise is clearly the most important thing if your goal is to lose weight, and not just eat healthier.

Yeah...this is good advice. I actually am not "dieting" per se, it is more of a permanent lifestyle change. I'm just trying to stay in my recommended calorie intake. I'm not going to any extremes, and with 1800-2400 calories allowed daily, I have a lot of options in terms of cooking. I'm trying to make this a change I can keep up with for the rest of my life.

I have been cooking a lot of fun foods with Chicken, Turkey, and Fish. You can make some amazing meals with Tuna. And you can do a lot of things with chicken and turkey that you normally think of doing with beef; things like Chili, or Tacos. And someday in the near future I'm going to try out some exotic Turkey Burger recipes.

I've been avoiding pop and candy like the plague...I know that seems like a no brainer, but last year I REALLY went overboard with the pop. And I don't like ice cream all that much so that one is easy for me to avoid. I'm also staying away from chips as much as possible...I tend to binge on those.

I also enjoy cooking. One nice thing about pursuing better eating habits is it does open up a window of cool new recipes and sauces and spices.

Originally Posted by magus113

I actually have the most trouble gaining weight and keeping weight on. I have Cystic Fibrosis, so my digestive system doesn't work like it should. So I'm always on supplements and high calorie/high fat diets to add more weight and keep it up.

Heh, my friend has an a ridiculous metabolism so he has to eat like 3000 to 4000 calories a day to maintain weight. You guys must poop a lot.

[Angrist]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

And I don't like ice cream all that much so that one is easy for me to avoid.

Hah, we must be the only 2 in the world!

I don't get people's love for ice cream. I'll eat it and I'll like it, but you won't get me excited about it.

[magus113]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

Heh, my friend has an a ridiculous metabolism so he has to eat like 3000 to 4000 calories a day to maintain weight. You guys must poop a lot.

Haha understatement.

[TheGame]

Just count calories and set a limit for yourself, and eat what you want. When you realize that bad stuff doesn't fill you up and costs tons of calories, you'll eventually move into eating better.

And on that note... I let myself go crazy yesterday. Ate 4,400ish calories. (I aim for 2,200-2,400)

Milkshakes are baaaaad.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by TheGame

Just count calories and set a limit for yourself,

Counting calories is actually really bad, and in many cases leads to obsession with your calorie intake, followed by a form of purging (be it throwing up or extreme exercise).

My advice would be don't count calories, and don't weigh yourself every day (Weight is actually a terrible way to judge size, considering muscle weighs much more), instead - just make an estimated guess of what you should and shouldn't be eating.

I count calories, and because of it I only eat 1 meal a day, and after eating more than 1 meal, I'll work out for 3 or 4 hours. Don't count calories, my advice.

[TheGame]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

Counting calories is actually really bad, and in many cases leads to obsession with your calorie intake, followed by a form of purging (be it throwing up or extreme exercise).

My advice would be don't count calories, and don't weigh yourself every day (Weight is actually a terrible way to judge size, considering muscle weighs much more), instead - just make an estimated guess of what you should and shouldn't be eating.

I count calories, and because of it I only eat 1 meal a day, and after eating more than 1 meal, I'll work out for 3 or 4 hours. Don't count calories, my advice.

Only eat one meal? Then you don't eat enough calories (unless you pig out bad). Plus if you don't eat at least 3 decently spread out meals per day, you run the risk of killing your metabolism and making your body hold onto fat.

Calorie counting, and knowing your intake vs your output.. is the basic scientific way of losing weight.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by TheGame

Only eat one meal? Then you don't eat enough calories (unless you pig out bad). Plus if you don't eat at least 3 decently spread out meals per day, you run the risk of killing your metabolism and making your body hold onto fat.

Calorie counting, and knowing your intake vs your output.. is the basic scientific way of losing weight.

I'm aware it's not healthy to eat 1 meal a day. My point was more it started when I started counting calories and got obsessed with it. Which is why I said "Don't count calories, just estimate."

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Angrist

Hah, we must be the only 2 in the world!

I don't get people's love for ice cream. I'll eat it and I'll like it, but you won't get me excited about it.

Yeah...I have to REALLY be craving Ice Cream and when I am I go all out and get something really unhealthy at Coldstone or DQ or Baskin Robins. I like fruit smoothies though...homemade ones, that is. Jamba Juice is such a fucking rip off.

Originally Posted by TheSlyMoogle

Err that's actually the norm for men.

Today I couldn't find Trump tower in Chicago, and it's a fucking giant tower... FML.

It's on the river.



I'm actually counting calories so I can eat 7 smaller and more balanced meals throughout the day. I have not read a single good thing about limiting yourself to 3 huge meals in a day. Every source suggests the best way to go is smaller portions spread across the day to keep your metabolism going and your hunger suppressed. I have no intentions of weening down to 1 meal...I have considered the option of not eating for a day to binge on a pizza or something but I doubt I will resort to that.

And on that note...once I drop my weight into a more healthy range, I will stop counting calories. I've attempted diets before without counting calories or taking servings into consideration, and it is incredible how much excess I would eat. Right now my BMI is not too hot and neither is my weight. I'm trying to cut fat and increase muscle without bulking up too much. That means lean meats and the occasional protein shake (for muscle), lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies for carbs (energy to run), and some fat to keep everything balanced.

I'm only adding 1 serving of protein 3 days a week after I lift (23 grams of protein), and right now my body doesn't seem to like the whey protein. Anyone have firsthand experience? I hate reading shit on bodybuilding forums and google is incredibly biased for this stuff.